How Tamil cinema has contributed to police brutality in its own way

“Naa ongi adutcha ondra ton weightra!” (My blows carry the weight of a tonne and a half) is likely one of the most popular punchlines from Tamil cop films. It was delivered by an enraged Suriya in Singam (2010), which yielded a three-part franchise and inspired the Hindi remake Singham in 2011.

The hero-centric narrative in Tamil cinema tends to give the male lead near-unassailable moral rightness. The cult status of actors often mean that they are above reproach no matter what…