Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
vii
Preface
ix
CHAPTER ONE
Cinematic Charisma and Political Dominance in Tamil Nadu
Why Bollywood is not representative of Indian cinema!
Tamil Nadu and its cinema
Tamil cinema as cultural artefact
in Tamil cinema
Politics and Tamil cinema
Ordinary Tamils, extraordinary celebrity devotion
Tamil cinema stars and Weber's charisma
Weber's charisma theory applied to Tamil cinema
5
7
25
28
36
CHAPTER TWO
MGR: Saviour the Masses
Nadodi
film summary
The MGR formula
The construction of MGR
Tamil nationalism
The politics of sentiment
Charisma MGR
Summary
39
40
44
50
52
64
CHAPTER THREE
Jayalalitha: Charisma of Complexion
Early life
Penn: film summary
Chastity and misdemeanours
Colour, caste, and class
Pongiyannan, Dhamu
Film and politics in India
cop. 2015
73
76
85
digitalisiert durch
IDS Basel/Bern, im Auftrag der
Schweizerischen Nationalbibliothek
The MGR - Jaya relationship in cinema and politics
Charisma of Jayalalitha
Summary
92
95
98
CHAPTER FOUR
Rajinikanth: The Political Influence of a Mystical Sensation
Heterodoxy of Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth - Jayalalitha animosity
Padayappa: film summary
Characterisation
Social discourse
Conservative values
The politics of sentiment and superstitions
Charisma of Rajinikanth
Smoking, drinking, and Rajinikanth
films as a source hope
Summary
101
102
105
109
123
125
127
131
CHAPTER FIVE
Vijayakanth: The Black MGR
Vijayakanth, Rajinikanth, and MGR
Captain
film summary
Charisma of Vijayakanth
Violence, weapons, and instant justice
Social discourse
Rape, chastity, and conservative values
The politics of sentiment
Landscape
Summary
134
137
143
147
152
CHAPTER SIX
Sarathkumar: The Rural
Naattamai: film summary
Naattamai
Charisma of Sarathkumar
The politics of sentiment
Patriarchy, caste, and feudalism
Social discourse
159
163
173
178
Conservative values and superstitions
Summary
CHAPTER SEVEN
Actor-Politicians: Past, Present, and the Future
Filmography
193
Bibliography
199