Friendship is a beautiful and wonderful part of life; it is the warmth that nurtures the soul into being a beam of kindness. The kind of love that is shared between friends is unlike any other relationship one can have in this life. It is a relationship based purely on choice; unlike family, which one is born into, friendship is a union of strangers that choose to be in each other’s lives. It is the most equal and democratic relationship mankind has. In the spirit of protecting and honouring this humble feeling, in 2011, the United Nations declared June 30 as International Friendship Day.
Friendship has also been explored numerous times in Tamil cinema. It is a very popular theme that filmmakers use to express the relationships among people and how friendship develops their personal and political perceptions. In the film Madras, directed by Pa. Ranjith, the audience gets to witness how the friendship between the two characters, Anbu and Kaali, as a form of political and social solidarity between two people in the same circumstance.
Anbu’s unflinching conviction to fight for the liberation of his people influences Kaali as well. Real friendships are formed on the basis of principle and respect, which are foundational to the growth and development of both individuals involved.
The greatest and strongest of friendships can be a weapon of hope against oppression. Friendship does not discriminate between caste, ethnicity, nationality, or race; it can actually be a vehicle to destroy violent institutions that marginalise people.
In the critically acclaimed film Pariyerum Perumal, directed by Mari Selvaraj, another form of friendship is explored by the leading characters Pariyan and Jo. The role of the heinous caste system comes between these two young people, who share outmost admiration for one another. While Jo ends up falling in love with Pariyan, the young man states he feels more than romantic love for her; he sees Jo as a symbol of hope against the caste-violent world he lives in. Their friendship becomes a beacon of hope for him, revealing to him that it is indeed possible for the world to change for the better.
The greatest and strongest of friendships can be a weapon of hope against oppression. Friendship does not discriminate between caste, ethnicity, nationality, or race; it can actually be a vehicle to destroy violent institutions that marginalise people.
In Venkat Prabhu’s cult classic film, Chennai 600028, the playfulness and joy of friendship are fantastically represented. The film centres around the lives of a group of young men in the Mandaveli suburb of Chennai and explores the comedic failures and realistic culture of working-class boys in the city. In the end, friendship is a magical and necessary feeling that everyone should strive to protect and appreciate in their lives.
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