A Study of Cultural Invasion: A Subaltern Perspective through the Movie Kabali

Authors

Dr.Kannan. D

Assistant Professor of English, Universal Group of Institutions, Bengaluru- 560074 (India)

Dr. Narasimhamurthy S V

Professor, School of Advanced Studies, S-Vyasa University, Bengaluru- 560059 (India)

Article Information

DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.101100055

Subject Category: Social science

Volume/Issue: 10/11 | Page No: 579-585

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2025-11-26

Accepted: 2025-12-02

Published: 2025-12-12

Abstract

This article concentrates on how cinema is used to spread an ideology. Indian cinema, known for its diversity and vibrancy, has witnessed several films that have left an indelible mark on both the industry and the audience. Among these, "Kabali" stands tall as a cinematic masterpiece that transcended regional boundaries and garnered international acclaim. The movie was released across the globe in July 2016. The challenges, problems, and daily battles of the subaltern classes are depicted clearly in this movie. The movie conveys to the audience that the "culture invasion" and the need for education must be extremely careful. It means that caste should be annihilated. This movie has visuals, images, symbols of culture and icons from the world's 'equal rights movements.' This film aims to legitimize their places in the mainstream media by the subaltern classes. Additionally, the movie exemplifies on how Malaysian Tamilians fight against Malaysian authoritarianism and the discrimination as they endure from China, as well as the internal splits of castes of Malaysia. The entire film expresses the togetherness of Tamilians. The structural use of semiotics in this film shall be discussed with respect to the subordinate classes.

Keywords

Cinema, Subaltern Classes, Education, Cultural Invasion, Semiotics

Downloads

References

1. Bywater, Tim. Introduction to film criticism: Major critical approaches to narrative film. (Pearson Education India, 2009). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Carroll, Noël. "The Power of Movies." (Daedalus, 1985),79-103. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Pa. Ranjith, Is Kabali a Dalit Movie? An interview with Kabali director Pa. Ranjith, News18 Tamilnadu, YouTube, 26 July 2016, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDs9Z7SP4J> [ accessed 23 July 2022] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Thinkal Menon, ‘Kabali movie review, Times of India (2016) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kabali/movie-review/53335675.cmsl> [accessed 28 July 2022] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Beverley, John. Subalternity and representation. (Duke University Press, 1999). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Velayutham, Selvaraj (ed) (2008): “The Diaspora and the Global Circulation of Tamil Cinema,” in Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India’s Other Film Industry, (Oxon: Routledge, 2008), 172–188. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Arun Venkatraman, ‘Kabali movie review: Pa. Ranjith's attempt to take a god and give us a man’, Deccan Chronicle (2016) <https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/220716/kabali-movie-review-pa-ranjiths-attempt-to-take-a-god-and-give-us-a-man.html> [accessed 20 July 2022] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ambedkar’s demand for ‘separate settlement. Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution, 3(9) (November, 2011), 151-168, [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Guha, Ranajit, ed. Subaltern Studies VI: Writings on South Asian History. Vol. 6. Oxford University Press, 1989. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. McNally, Mark, ed. Antonio Gramsci. (Springer, 2015). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Ambedkar, B.R. What Congress and Gandhi have done to Untouchables (Gautam Book Center 1945). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Mishra, Shewta N., ed. Socio-Economic and Political Vision of Dr. BR Ambedkar. (Concept Publishing Company, 2010). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Guru, Gopal, and V. Geetha. "New phase of Dalit Bahujan intellectual activity."(Economic and political weekly, 2000),130-134. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Ilaiah, Kancha. Post Hindu India: A discourse on Dalit-Bahujan socio-spiritual and scientific revolution. (Sage Publications, 2009). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Nisha, Jyoti. "Gender Media Culture: Term Paper School of Media and Cultural Studies, (Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, 2018). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Garvey, Marcus, and Bob Blaisdell. Selected writings and speeches of Marcus Garvey. (Courier Corporation, 2004). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Chatterjee, Partha: “Caste and Subaltern Consciousness,” Subaltern Studies VI: Writings on South Asian History and Society, Ranajit Guha (ed), New Delhi (Oxford University Press, 1994) 169–209 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Desai, Manan. "Caste in black and white: Dalit identity and the translation of African American literature." (Comparative Literature, 2015): 94-113. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles