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'''Loosu ponnu''' ({{lit|Crazy girl}}) is a [[Trope (cinema)|trope]] in [[Tamil cinema]] referring to a girl who is attractive but naiive and unintelligent,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/iswaryav/things-i-learned-about-love-from-tamil-cinema |title=What I Learned About Love And Women From Tamil Movies |last=Iswarya |first=V |date=29 September 2016 |website=[[BuzzFeed]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> regarded as the equivalent of the [[dumb blonde]] stereotype in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/agnyaathavaasi-being-a-case-in-point-a-look-at-dismal-roles-for-female-actors-in-telugu-cinema/article22456618.ece |title=Women in Telugu cinema: Some common sense please? |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=17 January 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> According to critic [[Baradwaj Rangan]], it emerged in an era where Tamil filmmakers "began to get North Indian heroines who didn’t speak a word of Tamil. They wouldn’t move their lips according to the lines they were supposed to be speaking (and to be filled in later by a dubbing artist). They’d end up gesticulating wildly to make a point. Their emotional reactions would be a bit “off.” And all of this ended up making them look like mad people".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/arrambam-mission-to-mass/ |title=“Arrambam”… Mission to “mass” |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |authorlink=Baradwaj Rangan |date=4 November 2013 |website=Baradwaj Rangan |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> The trope became increasingly popular in 1990s Tamil cinema, when the masculinity of the hero became severely overblown.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/loosu-ponnu-tamil-cinema-and-why-she-should-retire-89332 |title=The ‘loosu ponnu’ in Tamil cinema and why she should retire |date=30 September 2018 |work=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>
'''Loosu ponnu''' ({{lit|Crazy girl}}) is a [[Trope (cinema)|trope]] in [[Tamil cinema]] referring to a girl who is attractive but naive and unintelligent,<ref name="BuzzFeed">{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/iswaryav/things-i-learned-about-love-from-tamil-cinema |title=What I Learned About Love And Women From Tamil Movies |last=Iswarya |first=V |date=29 September 2016 |website=[[BuzzFeed]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> regarded as the equivalent of the [[dumb blonde]] stereotype in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/agnyaathavaasi-being-a-case-in-point-a-look-at-dismal-roles-for-female-actors-in-telugu-cinema/article22456618.ece |title=Women in Telugu cinema: Some common sense please? |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=17 January 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> According to critic [[Baradwaj Rangan]], it emerged in an era where Tamil filmmakers "began to get North Indian heroines who didn’t speak a word of Tamil. They wouldn’t move their lips according to the lines they were supposed to be speaking (and to be filled in later by a dubbing artist). They’d end up gesticulating wildly to make a point. Their emotional reactions would be a bit “off.” And all of this ended up making them look like mad people".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/arrambam-mission-to-mass/ |title=“Arrambam”… Mission to “mass” |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |authorlink=Baradwaj Rangan |date=4 November 2013 |website=Baradwaj Rangan |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> The trope became increasingly popular in 1990s Tamil cinema, when the masculinity of the hero became severely overblown. It has since received criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.<ref name="retire">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/loosu-ponnu-tamil-cinema-and-why-she-should-retire-89332 |title=The ‘loosu ponnu’ in Tamil cinema and why she should retire |date=30 September 2018 |work=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="truth">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/cs-amudhans-tamizh-padam-2-speaks-truth-about-female-characters-kollywood-84716 |title=CS Amudhan's 'Tamizh Padam 2' speaks the truth about female characters in Kollywood |last=Rajendran |first=Sowmya |date=13 July 2018 |work=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>

== Characterestics ==
Loosu ponnu characters are typically depicted as being naive, childish, lacking professional ambition, having easily detachable ties with their families, and showing unquestioning devotion to heroic males once they fall in love with them.<ref name="BuzzFeed" /> They are also depicted as angelic, in need of constant rescuing, and incapable of doing even simple things in life.<ref name="retire" /> Very often, their "cuteness" is directly proportional to how insane their actions seem to viewers.<ref name="BuzzFeed" />


== Examples ==
== Examples ==
Known loosu ponnu characters in Tamil films are Hasini ([[Genelia D'Souza]]) in ''[[Santosh Subramaniam]]'', [[Taapsee Pannu]]'s character in ''[[Arrambam]]'', Yazhini ([[Hansika Motwani]]) in ''[[Maan Karate]]'',<ref name="indiatoday" /> Shakila ([[Samantha Akkineni]]) in ''[[10 Endrathukulla]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/10-enradhukulla-a-slipshod-road-movie/article7790285.ece |title=10 Enradhukulla: A slipshod road movie |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=21 October 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 December 2018 |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref> [[Kajal Aggarwal]]'s character in ''[[Paayum Puli (2015 film)|Paayum Puli]]'' (2015), Priya ([[Rakul Preet Singh]]) in ''[[Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru]]'', and Sayyeshaa's character in ''[[Ghajinikanth]]''.<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/photo/tamil-actresses-who-played-loosu-ponnu-genelia-hansika-1338459-2018-09-12/8 |title=Genelia to Hansika: The 'loosu ponnu' heroines who have ruled Tamil films |date=12 September 2018 |website=[[India Today]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>
Known loosu ponnu characters in Tamil films are Hema ([[Meera Jasmine]]) in ''[[Sandakozhi]]'' (2005),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/sandakozhi-2-movie-review-vishal-5407750/ |title=Sandakozhi 2 movie review: This Vishal film is a lazy rehash |date=18 October 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> Hasini ([[Genelia D'Souza]]) in ''[[Santosh Subramaniam]]'' (2008), Anitha ([[Taapsee Pannu]]) in ''[[Arrambam]]'' (2013), Yazhini ([[Hansika Motwani]]) in ''[[Maan Karate]]'' (2014),<ref name="indiatoday" /> Shakila ([[Samantha Akkineni]]) in ''[[10 Endrathukulla]]'' (2015),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/10-enradhukulla-a-slipshod-road-movie/article7790285.ece |title=10 Enradhukulla: A slipshod road movie |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=21 October 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 December 2018 |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref> Sowmya ([[Kajal Aggarwal]]) in ''[[Paayum Puli (2015 film)|Paayum Puli]]'' (2015),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/paayum-puli-a-few-good-portions-dont-make-a-wholesome-meal/article7616230.ece |title=Paayum Puli: A few good portions don’t make a wholesome meal |last=Srinivasan |first=Sudhir |date=4 September 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> Priya ([[Rakul Preet Singh]]) in ''[[Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru]]'' (2017), and Vandhana ([[Sayyeshaa]]) in ''[[Ghajinikanth]]'' (2018).<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/photo/tamil-actresses-who-played-loosu-ponnu-genelia-hansika-1338459-2018-09-12/8 |title=Genelia to Hansika: The 'loosu ponnu' heroines who have ruled Tamil films |date=12 September 2018 |website=[[India Today]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> [[Keerthy Suresh]] has played such characters in films like ''[[Remo (film)|Remo]]'' (2016), ''[[Thodari]]'' (2016), and ''[[Bairavaa]]'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/thodari-review-dhanushs-thriller-is-like-a-local-train-its-slow-and-makes-frequent-stops-3015908.html |title=Thodari review: Dhanush's thriller is like a local train; it's slow and makes frequent stops |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=22 September 2016 |website=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/half-yearly-report-gv-prakash-kumar-to-eswari-rao-best-performances-of-2018/photostory/65244332.cms |title=Half-Yearly report: GV Prakash Kumar to Eswari Rao, best performances of 2018 |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>

== Criticism ==
The loosu ponnu trope has received wide criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.<ref name="retire" /><ref name="truth" /> Actress [[Madonna Sebastian]] has expressed her dislike for it, saying, "I think it is disrespectful and when people endorse it, even heroines, it becomes a dangerous trend."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cms.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/jul/17/the-madonna-sebastian-interview-i-fell-in-love-with-music-because-of-tamil-cinema-1844214.html |title=The Madonna Sebastian interview: 'I fell in love with music because of Tamil cinema' |last=Sekhar |first=Arunkumar |date=17 July 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> [[Aishwarya Rajesh]] too has avoided playing such roles.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/i-was-told-dusky-tamil-speaking-woman-me-cant-become-heroine-aishwarya-rajesh-60893 |title=I was told a dusky, Tamil speaking woman like me can't become heroine: Aishwarya Rajesh |last=Rajendran |first=Sowmya |date=24 April 2017 |work=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 10:50, 7 December 2018

Loosu ponnu (lit. 'Crazy girl') is a trope in Tamil cinema referring to a girl who is attractive but naive and unintelligent,[1] regarded as the equivalent of the dumb blonde stereotype in the United States.[2] According to critic Baradwaj Rangan, it emerged in an era where Tamil filmmakers "began to get North Indian heroines who didn’t speak a word of Tamil. They wouldn’t move their lips according to the lines they were supposed to be speaking (and to be filled in later by a dubbing artist). They’d end up gesticulating wildly to make a point. Their emotional reactions would be a bit “off.” And all of this ended up making them look like mad people".[3] The trope became increasingly popular in 1990s Tamil cinema, when the masculinity of the hero became severely overblown. It has since received criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.[4][5]

Characterestics

Loosu ponnu characters are typically depicted as being naive, childish, lacking professional ambition, having easily detachable ties with their families, and showing unquestioning devotion to heroic males once they fall in love with them.[1] They are also depicted as angelic, in need of constant rescuing, and incapable of doing even simple things in life.[4] Very often, their "cuteness" is directly proportional to how insane their actions seem to viewers.[1]

Examples

Known loosu ponnu characters in Tamil films are Hema (Meera Jasmine) in Sandakozhi (2005),[6] Hasini (Genelia D'Souza) in Santosh Subramaniam (2008), Anitha (Taapsee Pannu) in Arrambam (2013), Yazhini (Hansika Motwani) in Maan Karate (2014),[7] Shakila (Samantha Akkineni) in 10 Endrathukulla (2015),[8] Sowmya (Kajal Aggarwal) in Paayum Puli (2015),[9] Priya (Rakul Preet Singh) in Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017), and Vandhana (Sayyeshaa) in Ghajinikanth (2018).[7] Keerthy Suresh has played such characters in films like Remo (2016), Thodari (2016), and Bairavaa (2017).[10][11]

Criticism

The loosu ponnu trope has received wide criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.[4][5] Actress Madonna Sebastian has expressed her dislike for it, saying, "I think it is disrespectful and when people endorse it, even heroines, it becomes a dangerous trend."[12] Aishwarya Rajesh too has avoided playing such roles.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c Iswarya, V (29 September 2016). "What I Learned About Love And Women From Tamil Movies". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  2. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (17 January 2018). "Women in Telugu cinema: Some common sense please?". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (4 November 2013). ""Arrambam"… Mission to "mass"". Baradwaj Rangan. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "The 'loosu ponnu' in Tamil cinema and why she should retire". The News Minute. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b Rajendran, Sowmya (13 July 2018). "CS Amudhan's 'Tamizh Padam 2' speaks the truth about female characters in Kollywood". The News Minute. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Sandakozhi 2 movie review: This Vishal film is a lazy rehash". The Indian Express. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Genelia to Hansika: The 'loosu ponnu' heroines who have ruled Tamil films". India Today. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  8. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (21 October 2015). "10 Enradhukulla: A slipshod road movie". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  9. ^ Srinivasan, Sudhir (4 September 2015). "Paayum Puli: A few good portions don't make a wholesome meal". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  10. ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (22 September 2016). "Thodari review: Dhanush's thriller is like a local train; it's slow and makes frequent stops". Firstpost. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Half-Yearly report: GV Prakash Kumar to Eswari Rao, best performances of 2018". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  12. ^ Sekhar, Arunkumar (17 July 2018). "The Madonna Sebastian interview: 'I fell in love with music because of Tamil cinema'". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  13. ^ Rajendran, Sowmya (24 April 2017). "I was told a dusky, Tamil speaking woman like me can't become heroine: Aishwarya Rajesh". The News Minute. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
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