Stereotypically Not Typical!


I watched the movie, Two States over the weekend and realised how movies have largely contributed to the cultural stereotypical images people have cultivated and nurtured in their brains.This North Indian, South Indian divide is a barrier created by movies that are assumed to be mirrors that portray culture.Even though this movie has tried to break the stereotype at places , it gives into it at some other places.

I am a South Indian and a proud one at that. And NO, I am not a Madrasi! I am a Kannadiga (Google it), I am fair skinned, like most South Indian people( you read it right) and I hate curd rice and Idly. I do not know Bharatnatyam, I also speak Hindi without any kind of BOKWAS accent, fluently. None of my South Indian guy friends can carry off a lungi without a belt to hold it secure. Doesn't fit your typical South Indian image? Take it or leave it, I am still one.

We, South Indians also have certain stereotypes instilled in our heads since childhood. All North Indians are Marwadis. Like they call of us "Madrasis" we call all of them "Sethu(Sethji 's version)". We assume all of them eat Paranthas dipped in butter, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We cannot imagine a North Indian being dark skinned. We also believe their weddings are nothing less in grandeur compared to what is shown in a Karan Johar movie and son on and so forth. Thanks to half of Bangalore, being filled with North Indians, who are nothing close to all this, I no longer believe in these stereotypes.

I watch movies for entertainment and not to base my opinions. I know these stereotypes are exaggerations of reality and laugh at most of them and wince at a few. I am fine with all these stereotypes as long as I get invited to lavish Punjabi weddings and know I have to go home and eat curd rice, reluctantly! ;)




Comments

  1. Oh, yes, we are so fond of stereotyping others, but hate it when others stereotype us!

    Reached here via A-Z. My A-Z theme, ‘26 Positive Takes on Life’ generally focuses on positive, truly heart-warming, real-life incidents involving ordinary persons whom we can all emulate.

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    1. I know, right? We are so crazy like that. :/

      Thanks for stopping by and reading. :)

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  2. Oh I like stereotypes...if they did not exist....life would not have been so humorous. :D

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    1. I agree, Red! :D
      But sometimes things go overboard, that's when it gets ugly! :/

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  3. I agree with Red! Stereotypes make life very interesting :D

    Regarding the movie the only hing I disagree is about the North South clash. I'm married to a man from a neighboring state of South India and still the culture clash exists. About about any two stares in general. Not only the north and south.

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    1. What fun would life be without clashes? :D
      I don't understand why the North- South difference is hyped to such an extent, though.

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  4. How we love to bucket people into categories and attach tags of our own choosing :) And I agree with Red as well, so much fun to be had when there are people who believe in stereotypes around :P

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    1. Haha, I know what you mean! ;)
      Welcome to my blog, PeeV ee :D

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  5. i know how it feels. I am an Assamese and normally people think I am a Bengali. Our cultures, food, language ARE different. They just don't want to know the difference. Indians think that eastern India ends at West Bengal.

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    1. Ah! I hate how North eastern people are cut off from India. :/
      I also hate the cruel stereotyping they go through! :/

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  6. the image was created due the fact that most of the people was not able to connect with different people long ago due to various constraint .. illiteracy was one major .. ! yeah i watch south indian movies though with subtitles so have learnt lot about their culture :)

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    1. Yes yes, I agree! :)
      You watch those South Indian movies with subtitles? They are too funny and exaggerated, Ankur! :P

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    2. yeah(subtitles in English) can't understand the language :(.. and some movie are so nice .. like magadheera , eega to name a few.so have to watch that way only. not funny really .. except in songs section :D

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    3. I was talking about the flop movies, that are dubbed and shown on TV .
      Maghadeera and Eega are amazing! :D

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  7. aah i dont know why i just dont feel like watching the movie. chetan bhagat stories dont make me happy

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    1. Haha, why so? Not like I like his books so much. I watched the movie for time pass :P

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