Multinational Research Society Publisher

MRS Journal of Arts, Humanities and Literature

Special Issue-LITFEST'26, Volume-3 2026

Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Deemed to be University, Chennai
The Literary Seminary: A Professional Society Presents:

LITFEST'26

A Two - Day International Conference
on
Unlocking Potential: Education and Film as Tools for Liberation
In Collaboration with
PG & Research Department of English, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai
DATE: 10th & 11th March. 2026
Chief Patrons
  • Dr. A. C. Shanmugam – Founder-Chancellor
  • Er. A. C. S. Arun Kumar – President
Patrons
  • Prof. Dr. S. Geethalakshmi – Vice Chancellor
  • Prof. Dr. C. B. Palanivelu – Registrar
Chief Advisors
  • Prof. Dr. M. K. Padmanabhan – Vice President
  • Prof. Dr. M. Ravichandran – Pro Vice Chancellor
  • Prof. Dr. D. Viswanathan – Rector
Advisors
  • Prof. Dr. P. Kalidoss – Sr. Additional Registrar
  • Prof. Dr. V. Cyril Raj – Additional Registrar
  • Prof. Dr. Malini Pande – Additional Registrar
  • Prof. Dr. Ethiraj – Dean (E&T)
  • Prof. Dr. ET Merlin Sathiaraj – Joint Registrar (H&S)
  • Prof. Dr. L. Ramesh – Joint Registrar (EPA)
Conveners
  • Prof. Dr. A. Anitha – Head, Department of English
  • Prof. William John Bosco – Head & Associate Professor, Presidency College

1. Lights, Camera, Action for Change: Film as a Tool for Social Awareness...
5

Annamalai Arumuga Perumal K.*
Independent Scholar, Department of English, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
1-3
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19876947

This paper presents a reflective exploration of social change and examines the role of cinema in shaping contemporary society. Social change refers to significant transformations in cultural, social, economic and political structures. While historical transformations occurred gradually, the modern era has accelerated social change through technology, awareness movements and mass communication. Within this context, film emerges as a powerful cultural medium that influences public perception and collective consciousness. The study examines how cinema functions beyond entertainment and operates as an instrument of awareness and transformation. Films represent social realities such as discrimination, inequality, education struggles and identity conflicts. By visually portraying lived experiences, cinema encourages audiences to critically reflect on social norms and injustices. Emotional engagement with characters often leads viewers to reconsider their beliefs and attitudes, thereby contributing to attitudinal and behavioral change. This paper argues that film acts as a catalyst for social awareness by amplifying marginalized voices and initiating public dialogue. Through narrative structure, visual storytelling and emotional appeal, cinema creates a space where social issues become visible and discussable. The study concludes that film plays a significant role in shaping progressive thought and fostering social responsibility. Thus, cinema operates as an influential tool for social change in contemporary society.

2. History, Literary Reform and Social Liberation: Cinema a Feminist Resi...
2

Ms. A. S. Anusha*
Assistant Professor, Department of English, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), 21, North Highground Road, Palayamkottai-627 002, Tamil Nadu, India
4-6
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19877217

Education historically functioned both as an instrument of control and a medium of liberation, specially in contexts that are moulded by patriarchy and hierarchy in the society. The Telugu movie Shyam Singha Roy (2021) directed by Rahul Sankrityan is set in the backdrop of colonial Bengal to explore the intersection of literary reform, women’s education and resistance against an oppressive religious practice. With the character of Shyam Singha Roy a social reformer and writer the film critiques the Devadasi System and insists women’s dignity, agency and freedom to think. This paper examines how cinema changes storytelling into a pedagogical space that challenges gender inequality and exploitation under the name of religion. When examined in the feminist theoretical perspectives and the concept of education as a social awakening tool of liberation. This film highlights education not as a formal instruction or knowledge but as awareness, critical thinking and moral courage. By highlighting women’s suffering within oppression and presenting reform with writing and activism, Shyam Singha Roy positions film as instruments of social transformation and reformation. The paper says that the film represents how cinema can revive historical injustices, grows empathy and inspire contemporary discourse on gender equality. It explains that intellectual resistance and creative expression are powerful means of unlocking new potential and advancement in social Liberation and equality.

3. Narrating Crime, Visualizing Justice: From Literature to Cinema in Aga...
2

Sanju R.*, Dr. A. Anitha
Dr. M.G.R Educational and Research Institute Chennai
7-10
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19877462

Crime fiction has long served as a literary medium through which society examines the complexities of justice, morality, and criminal behaviour. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is one of the most influential works of detective fiction, as it presents a multifaceted narrative that challenges traditional notions of crime and punishment. The narrative revolves on the murder of Samuel Ratchett, who is progressively revealed to be the criminal responsible for the Armstrong kidnapping tragedy as the investigation progresses. The plot takes place on the luxury Orient Express. Christie moves beyond the traditional structure of detective fiction by introducing moral ambiguity and collective responsibility into the framework of crime. This paper examines how the novel narrates crime not merely as an act of individual deviance, but as a result of social injustice and emotional Trauma. The investigation conducted by the celebrated detective Hercule poirot ultimately reveals that the murder was a collective act carried out by individuals connected to Armstrong family. Their actions emerge from a shared sense of injustice following the failure of legal institutions to punish the original perpetrator. The film Murder on the Orient Express has been the subject of numerous cinematic adaptations that visually reinterpret it’s central themes of crime and justice, as a result of its enduring popularity. These adaptions expand the ethical and emotional dimension of Christie’s narrative by converting it into visual medium, these adaptations extend the ethical and emotional dimensions of the story, enabling audiences to engage more directly with the moral complexities surrounding criminal behaviour and retributive justice.

4. Gender Equality and Women Empowerment through Learning in the Appalach...
0

Thirumagal Deepa. S.*, Dr. S....
Research Scholar, Department of English, B. S Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Vandalur
11-14
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19877763

The research will study the crucial role of women in Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Prodigal Summer and focuses on characters like Deanna, Lusa, and Nannie. The study will analyze the gender inequality encountered by women while trying to striving to save the integrity of crops as they use the organic fertilizers and sustainable agricultural practices to save the Earth. This reflects a profound commitment of women to nurture and preserve the soil and land. Their environmental awareness extends to conserving wildlife, notably their efforts to save coyotes from extinction, this highlights the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of biodiversity. Through an ecofeminist lens, the paper scrutinizes how the oppression of women and the exploitation of nature are interlinked, both rooted in patriarchal structures that the female characters vigorously oppose. The research will analyze how these women are empowered in the phase of being suppressed and emerge as empowered women with vitality in acting as stewards in conserving the environment. The discussion will address how the actions of these women align with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of gender equality in particular. It captures the wilderness and complexity of the Appalachian ecosystem, the article illustrates how Kingsolver’s narrative champions female stewardship and sustainable development as essential to ecological and social renewal.

5. Knowledge against Power: Education and Resistance in Jai Bhim
1

Dr. A. Ganesan*, Dr. M. Nagala...
Associate Professor, RKM Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai
15-18
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19878029

This paper gives a postcolonial reading of the film Jai Bhim. It studies how oppression still affects marginalized tribal communities even after India gained independence. The paper uses ideas from thinkers such as Frantz Fanon and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. The study examines how the Irular community is shown in the film as a subaltern group. They face injustice through systems like the police and law enforcement. These institutions often misuse their power against marginalized people. The story of Sengeni shows a woman‟s strong struggle to find justice for her husband. At the same time, advocate Chandru helps her through legal action. Their efforts show the conflict between power and resistance in a society that often ignores the voices of the poor and oppressed. By analyzing the characters and the story of the film, the paper argues that knowledge, legal awareness, and education can bring social change. These elements help people challenge systems of oppression. Finally, the paper concludes that Jai Bhim highlights the importance of education. Education becomes a powerful tool that helps marginalized communities gain justice, dignity, and social empowerment.

6. Fractured Minds, Found Voices: Cinematic Storytelling as a Blueprint f...
1

Ms. P. Shirlin Henreita*, Dr....
Research Scholar, Department of English, Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai -117
19-21
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19882754

This paper examines the critically acclaimed stage version of Mark Haddon’s groundbreaking novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003). This research paper investigates the connection between educational deprivation, deviance, and rehabilitation in order to explore how modern literature and its adaptations might act as catalysts for societal transformation. Stories that emphasize minority viewpoints may serve as a form of social pedagogy, teaching viewers to reject accusations of bias and support inclusive education. Through the unique consciousness of the protagonist, Christopher Boone—a fifteen-year-old likely on the autism spectrum—the novel provides a comprehensive investigation of cognitive variety as a form of marginality. Drawing on sociological concepts of deviance and social control, this paper contends that Haddon’s work systematically refutes the notion of Christopher’s ―deviance.‖ Through his investigation, he not only acquires knowledge but also develops agency, self-assurance, and the skills needed to endure in a society that has turned him away. This interaction exemplifies a highly restorative and socially reintegrating teaching approach. Finally, this study concludes by showing how the stage adaptation of this book can turn passive spectators into active advocates, proving that inclusive education is not just a policy but the foundation of a sustainable and morally upright society.

7. Women, Technology, and Transformation: ICT in Redefining Education, Sa...
0

Nayantara Mitra*, Shramana Dut...
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Application, Institute of Engineering & Management, Kolkata
22-27
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19883103

This paper explores the transformative role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in empowering women through technology-based language teaching, with a focus on education, safety, and awareness. ICT has emerged as a powerful tool to bridge educational gaps, offering women in remote and underserved areas access to quality language learning resources, digital literacy, and vocational training. Beyond education, ICT platforms enhance women's safety by providing critical tools for reporting gender-based violence, accessing emergency support, and promoting legal awareness. Moreover, technology fosters social advocacy, enabling women to connect globally, amplify their voices, and engage in feminist movements. Despite its potential, challenges such as the digital divide, cultural barriers, and online safety risks persist. This study highlights the dual role of ICT in not only advancing women's educational opportunities but also in fostering a safer, more informed society. Ultimately, the integration of ICT in women's empowerment strategies is pivotal for achieving gender equality and creating inclusive, sustainable communities.

8. Wounded Landscapes: An Eco-Memory Reading of Human–Nature Violence in...
0

S. Kaviarasu* & Dr. S. Arun Ku...
Research Scholar, Vels University
28-30
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19883450

This paper explores how select works of contemporary Indian climate fiction engage with the intertwined histories of ecological trauma and human violence through the lens of eco-memory. Situated at the intersection of environmental humanities and postcolonial literary studies, the study argues that Nilanjana Roy’s Black River, Prayag Akbar’s Leila, Bijal Vachharajani’s Savi and the Memory Keeper, and Shubhangi Swarup’s Latitudes of Longing depict landscapes deeply scarred by climate change, extractive capitalism, and colonial legacies. At the same time, these texts animate memory as a vital force for ethical engagement, resistance, and potential regeneration. Through qualitative textual analysis and theoretical grounding in trauma and memory studies, the paper demonstrates how each narrative situates violence at the intersection of environmental degradation, social injustice, and individual subjectivity. It further contends that eco-memory operates not merely as preservation but as an active, embodied archive inscribed in rivers, forests, wastelands, and urban ruins. By foregrounding silenced ecological histories and uneven climate experiences shaped by caste, class, and gender, these novels challenge anthropocentric frameworks and call for a rethinking of human–nature relations. Ultimately, the study positions Indian climate fiction as a critical literary site where storytelling becomes an act of witnessing, mourning, and reimagining more just and reciprocal ecological futures.

9. Ontological Reconfiguration of Human: A Posthumanist Reading on the Mo...
1

P. Kausalya* & Dr. M. Nagalaks...
Research scholar, Department of English, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies, Chennai- 600117
31-33
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19883699

Abstract: The paper focuses on the positioning of human through a posthumanist reading on the Tamil movie Anbe Sivam (2003) directed by Sundar. C. The paper argues that the film works as a catalyst to elucidate the ontological social change beyond the mere activisms. The film decentres the notions of autonomous human and presents the relationship of human with another human and animals. Though the movie echoes humanistic perspectives apparently, it brings out the relationality of the humans. Consequently, the paper demonstrates the interconnectedness that nurtures the existence of humans. Through a close reading, the paper centres the discussion on the representation of immanence on the ground of interdependence as the film posits love, compassion and empathy. It draws the theoretical concepts of Rosi Braidotti, Gilles Deleuze and other few theorists to support the study as the south Indian film is placed in the western contemporary concept posthumanism.

10. Parental Absence and the Psychological Development of Children: Educat...
0

Mr. R. Jayakrishnan* & Dr. A....
PhD Research Scholar, Department of English, Dr. M. G. R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai
34-37
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19884883

The emotional security and psychological stability of children during their formative years depend on their parents and their family's supportive presence. Children who face parental absence through neglect, separation, migration or other social factors experience emotional instability and anxiety and challenges to establish dependable personal identities. The resulting experiences lead to people withdrawing from social situations because they feel unsure about themselves and they find it hard to perform well academically and socially. The psychological effects of these conditions need to be studied because they help develop better support systems which enable children to recover their emotional stability while they work towards personal development. The study investigates how parental absence affects children psychologically while educational settings serve as places where children achieve emotional recovery and personal empowerment. The research uses psychoanalytic and developmental theories to show that children develop safety and belonging problems when their parents do not provide continuous care. The paper shows that educational institutions can substitute necessary parental guidance through their structured guidance and mentorship and social support systems. Classroom environments which include teachers and peers and accessible learning spaces help children build confidence while they develop emotional strength. When education moves beyond rigid academic evaluation and embraces emotional awareness and support, it becomes a powerful tool for psychological healing and social empowerment. The study shows educational spaces transform educational spaces through their role as safe spaces which help vulnerable students deal with their emotional requirements.

11. Education as an Emancipatory Tool: A Critical Appreciation of the Movi...
2

Tamijeselvane D.* & Dr. Sugant...
PhD Research Scholar (English), Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai
38-41
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19885119

This research paper explores education as a transformative and emancipatory process in the film, Freedom Writers. The paper will discuss education as a transformative and emancipatory process in the film, Freedom Writers, which is a biographical drama, authored and directed by Richard LaGravenese in 2007. It is a documentary on the real-life story of a teacher Erin Gruwell and her students in a school in Long Beach, California. The MTV Films and Paramount Pictures produced the movie with Hilary Swank as the star. The movie is adapted on the same-titled book The Freedom Writers Diary, the collection of the works of Erin Gruwell and her pupils. The film is set in the racially segregated, urban, and violent environment where the life of the marginalized youngsters who are battling the gang warfare, poverty, discrimination, and neglect in the system are captured. The paper, which applies the liberationist educational theory in critical pedagogical approach, argues that writing is a counter-hegemonic act in the classroom, which is both a testament and resistance. Pedagogical provocations created by Gruwell (played by Hilary Swank) of introducing texts such as The Diary of Anne Frank and dialogic learning are opposed with the institutional definition of students as at risk/unable to be taught; instead, students are defined as knowledge creators and moral agents. Diary form provides the students with an opportunity to tell the traumatic story, cross racial boundaries, and re-construct fragmented identities. The practice of writing is therapeutic and political: it will enable the students to turn the victimhood as agency and personal victimization into collective solidarity. The paper further elaborates on how literacy turns out to be a kind of social mobility and self-identification and refutes deterministic description of class and race. Through the comparison of their experiences with historical atrocities like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement, the students get to learn empathy, understand how to have a culture of understanding others, and realize of the responsibility to their civic duty. To sum it up, the paper suggests that the movie Freedom Writers recreates education not as a teaching process but as a relationship praxis of trust, relevance and critical consciousness.

12. Subverting the Silence: A Study of Intellectual Agency and Female Empo...
1

P. Suresh* & Dr. E. Sugantha E...
Research Scholar, Department of English, School of Languages, Vistas, Pallavaram, Chennai
42-44
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19885508

Subverting the Silence explores the intersection of intellectual agency and female empowerment within the mythological retellings of Kavita Kane. While traditional Indian epics have historically positioned women at the margins—primarily defined through their relationships to male protagonists—Kane’s narratives enact a radical re-centering of female subjectivity. By foregrounding marginalized figures such as Uruvi, Urmila, and Menaka, Kane reconstructs these women as intellectually autonomous individuals capable of critical thought, ethical reasoning, and independent decision-making. This study examines how Kane mobilizes intellectual and epistemic agency as tools of resistance against patriarchal structures embedded in mythological traditions. Moving beyond conventional representations of empowerment rooted in physical rebellion, Kane’s protagonists assert power through dialogue, introspection, and moral critique. Using feminist literary criticism and close textual analysis, this paper demonstrates how Kane’s narratives recover silenced voices and reinterpret mythological frameworks to align with contemporary feminist discourse. Ultimately, the study argues that Kane’s works function as literary interventions that challenge historical erasure, redefine female agency, and reclaim women’s intellectual presence within the Indian literary canon. Through these retellings, silence is not merely broken but transformed into a powerful site of resistance and rearticulation.

13. Revoicing the Screen: Film Dialogue Reenactment as Informal Language P...
0

Shenbaga Nachiyar C.* & Dr. A....
PhD Research Scholar, Department of English, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, India
45-48
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19885722

This study examines the role of social media-based film dialogue performances in supporting informal English language development among adult ESL learners. Drawing on frameworks of informal language learning, participatory digital culture, and performance-based language acquisition, the study adopts a conceptual-analytical approach to explore how learners engage with authentic input through digitally mediated practices. The analysis identifies three key patterns of engagement: imitation of linguistic forms, development of expressive speech, and heightened awareness of pronunciation. These practices emerge as learners recreate film dialogues on social media platforms, transforming passive exposure into active language use. The findings indicate that such performances function as informal yet meaningful opportunities for spoken language practice, extending beyond classroom boundaries. Additionally, the analysis highlights the role of digital environments in fostering learner motivation, creativity, and audience-oriented communication. These results suggest that integrating performance-based digital practices into English Language Teaching (ELT) may strengthen the connection between formal instruction and informal language use.

14. Cultural Hybridity in Mahesh Dattani’s Dance like a Man: An approach t...
0

J. Suwathi*
II PG and Research department of English, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, Sri Manakula Vinayagar School of Arts and Science, Madagadipet, Puducherry-605107, India
49-51
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19886048

Tradition and modernity are always considered as two opposing forces. This paper investigates the connection between tradition and modernity through the play Dance like a Man. Mahesh Dattani is an Indian playwright, whose works generally depicts social issues and societal norms. Dance like a Man, shows the generational metamorphosis of three generations of Indian society. It depicts how the character navigates the expectations of their tradition while grappling the demands of contemporary society. The postcolonial theory deals with literature written after the colonial period and the aftermath of the colonization. The cultural hybridity is a concept under post-colonial literature, it speaks about third space where new hybrid culture is born. This paper explores how the connection between the tradition and modern create a new culture which helps the society to become better and equal.

15. Reclaiming Identity and Negotiating Patriarchy through Knowledge in Ch...
0

Mrs. Sharmila Sudharsanam*, Dr...
Research Scholar, Department of English, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, India
52-55
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19886190

This paper examines the issue of gender equality and women’s empowerment via education in Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The novel depicts the lives of three generations of women Sabitri, Bela, and Tara whose stories illustrate how education, resilience, and life lessons facilitate empowerment. The paper contends that learning in the novel transcends formal schooling, arising from personal challenges, cultural memories, and intergenerational narratives. The novel illustrates Sabitri’s resolve to seek education despite societal constraints, emphasizing how knowledge serves as a means to challenge patriarchal norms and attain autonomy. Bela and Tara inherit the challenges and insights of the preceding generation, exemplifying how experiential learning influences women’s identities and decisions. The novel depicts empowerment as a progressive journey where in women navigate cultural norms, familial obligations, and individual ambitions. This study illustrates how Divakaruni’s narrative emphasizes women’s autonomy and resilience within patriarchal and diasporic contexts by analyzing the transforming effect of learning. The study examines that the novel frames learning both cognitive and experiential as an essential catalyst empowering women to confront inequity and alter their societal roles.

16. Negotiating Voice and Silence: Subaltern Agency in Mari Selvaraj’s Maa...
1

Dr. U. Thanesh*, Dr. A. Ganesa...
Associate Professor, RKM Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai-4
56-58
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19886423

This research paper examines the politics of voice and silence in the movie Maamannan, directed by Mari Selvaraj. The theoretical lens of Subaltern Studies is used to explore how the film presents subaltern agency within the structures of caste-based power. Employing qualitative textual and visual analysis, the paper highlights the important narrative moments, spatial orders, body language, pauses, and symbolic imagery to demonstrate how silence functions not merely as forced marginalization but as a tactical mode of resistance. The movie challenges contemporary movies by presenting the lead characters not as mere victims of oppression and voiceless within the dominant power hierarchy. The movie shows how subalterns can use silence not only as a sign of exclusion but as a form of dignity and democratic participation. Through his deft presentation, Mari Selvaraj highlights how movies can create new spaces for the Subalterns to voice their feelings, assert themselves, and rise to high positions of leadership. The research paper applies the theoretical insights of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and Antonio Gramsci to redefine subaltern speech as both a visible presence and a meaningful form of political action.

17. Feeding the Frame: Food, Culture and Class Identity in Kollywood Narra...
0

Mrs. S. Uma*
Ph. D Research Scholar, Department of English, VISTAS, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai
59-61
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19886578

This paper, titled ―Feeding the Frame: Food, Culture and Class identity in Kollywood Narratives‖ examines how food functions as a dynamic cultural and socio-political signifier in contemporary Tamil cinema. Through a close textual analysis of selected films, the study explores how culinary practices articulate questions of identity, ritual continuity, caste hierarchy, class aspiration, and economic transformation within Tamil society. Food emerges as a marker of rooted cultural identity in rural settings, where cooking rituals and communal feasts preserve intergenerational traditions while simultaneously exposing ethical tensions and generational divides. The paper further analyzes how globalized food commodities symbolize urban aspiration and class mobility, revealing the cultural anxieties produced by consumer capitalism. Ritual meals associated with marriage and death are examined as performative spaces that reinforce social order, kinship structures, and communal memory. In agrarian narratives, food production and land ownership are shown to reflect caste-based power structures and structural inequality. Additionally, the study highlights the role of small-scale food enterprises and farming economies in representing labor dignity, market vulnerability, and shifting economic aspirations. By foregrounding food as both symbol and material resource, the paper argues that Kollywood uses culinary imagery to critically engage with broader discourses on culture, class, power, and economic change.

18. Post-Method Media Criticism Contextualising Vernacular OTT Narratives...
2

Dr. P. Sitharthan* & Dr. M. Na...
Associate Professor & Research Supervisor, PG and Research Department of English, Presidency College, Chennai
62-66
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19886816

This article examines how vernacular OTT narratives in India invite a reconsideration of established analytical approaches, taking Chiraiya as a focal case. Rather than approaching the series through pre-existing theoretical models alone, the discussion develops what is described here as Post-Method Media Criticism (PMMC)—a flexible interpretive orientation that privileges context, textual detail, and emergent meaning. Drawing, in part, on the conceptual vocabulary of post-method pedagogy, the study attends to how the series constructs gendered and classed subjectivities through a restrained aesthetic marked by silence, duration, and minimal action. The analysis proceeds through close engagement with selected scenes, considering not only visual composition and performance but also the role of sound, pacing, and episodic structure. What becomes apparent is a narrative mode that resists the urgency often associated with streaming content. Instead, Chiraiya situates meaning within the ordinary—gestures, pauses, and everyday negotiations—while remaining shaped, albeit unevenly, by platform conditions such as format and visibility. The article suggests that such texts are not easily accommodated within conventional frameworks of realism or genre. PMMC is proposed, therefore, not as a fixed method but as a way of reading that remains responsive to local specificity and formal variation. In doing so, the paper contributes to ongoing discussions around digital media, vernacular storytelling, and the methodological demands posed by increasingly heterogeneous narrative forms.

19. From Silence to Revolt: Resistance and Subaltern Assertion in Asuran a...
3

Dr. Padmapriya P. *
Assistant Professor, Department of English, SRM Valliammai Engineering College, Kattankulathur, Chennai- 603203
67-71
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19887068

Tamil cinema has become an important space for expressing the voices of marginalized communities and questioning social inequalities. This paper studies the films Asuran (2019) and Karnan (2021) using Resistance Theory. It examines how these films portray the struggle of oppressed communities against caste oppression and social injustice. Both films show the harsh realities faced by marginalized people and present resistance as a natural response to violence, humiliation, and exclusion. Using Resistance Theory as the main framework, this study explores different forms of resistance shown in the films. Asuran presents resistance through the journey of an oppressed farmer who slowly changes from silent endurance to open rebellion against feudal power. In contrast, Karnan portrays resistance as a collective uprising where an entire village stands against neglect and police violence. The paper also studies how cinematic elements such as symbolism, storytelling, and character development strengthen the themes of resistance, dignity, and justice. By placing these films within the larger context of caste oppression and subaltern struggles, the study argues that Tamil cinema can function as a powerful medium of social and political resistance. The films ultimately show that resistance can help marginalized communities reclaim their dignity, identity, and rights.

20. Panoptic Shadows in the Selected Non-Fictions of Blaine Harden
1

Mr. K. Kalaivanan*, Dr. E. Sug...
PhD Research Scholar, Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Pallavaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
72-73
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19887303

The paper studies on the surveillance, resistance and resilience in the selected major non-fictions of Blaine Harden with respect to Michel Foucault‟s theory of panopticism referred in his text Discipline and Punish (Foucault 1995). Though the hypothesis of panopticon has been extensively implied to prisons and digital surveillance, this research widens its implications to autocratic reigns, colonial dominance and violence, ecological supremacy as portrayed in the non-fictions of Blaine Harden. Through the analysis of Escape from Camp 14, The Great Leader and the Fighter Pilot, King of Spies, Murder at the Mission, and A River Lost, the paper advocates that Harden‟s works build a visible structure of power that disciplines the subject from each novel into „docile bodies”. Nevertheless, these texts document resistance, defection, testimony, ecological awareness concurrently which interrupt panoptic sovereignty. With the aid of Foucault‟s Panoptic discourse analysis and postcolonial observation, this paper exhibits that Harden‟s non-fictions presents a unified voice of surveillance and resistance over various geopolitical and historical milieu. The study bestows the studies of surveillance, trauma, postcolonial literary criticism and totalitarianism by locating panopticism as a merging point for understanding contemporary writing.

21. Climate Cinema as Environmental Pedagogy: Ecological Consciousness in...
0

P. Vydehi*, Dr. A. Anitha
Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai
74-78
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19887474

Climate change has intensified the need for forms of public education that communicate ecological risk and social responsibility beyond scientific discourse. Cinema has emerged as a significant cultural medium through which environmental crises are translated into accessible narratives that shape public understanding. This paper examines climate cinema as a form of ecopedagogy by analysing Snowpiercer and Don't Look Up. The study employs ecopedagogy as articulated by Richard Kahn to explore how filmic narratives cultivate ecological consciousness and critical awareness of environmental crisis. The paper adopts a comparative approach to explore how two distinct cinematic modes represent the climate crisis. Snowpiercer presents a dystopian future shaped by a failed geoengineering attempt that freezes the planet. In contrast, Don't Look Up employs political satire to depict the inability of governments, corporations, and media institutions to respond responsibly to scientific warnings. The narrative illustrates how denial, spectacle, and profit driven interests undermine effective responses to ecological threats. Through these contrasting narrative strategies, the films reveal different dimensions of climate crisis. One visualises the consequences of ecological intervention and environmental inequality, while the other critiques contemporary political and media structures that undermine scientific knowledge. The paper argues that climate cinema functions as ecopedagogy by transforming environmental crisis into narrative experiences that encourage critical reflection on ecological responsibility and climate governance. Such representations expand public engagement with climate discourse and contribute to the formation of ecological consciousness.

22. Three Colours of Conscience: Power, Inequality and Social Pedagogy in...
2

Dr. M. Nagalakshmi*, Dr. U. Th...
Professor & Research Supervisor, Department of English, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies, Chennai -117
79-84
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19888025

This paper will attempt to analyse Nirangal Moondru through the conceptual framework of power, discipline, and social control proposed by the French social theorist Michel Foucault. The film, which explores the moral difficulties and institutional interventions in its characters‘ lives, uses the metaphor of ―three colours‖ to convey the struggle for truth and justice. According to Foucault, ―power produces knowledge‖ and operates through social institutions, rather than repressive power relations (Foucault 27). This study will contend that, in the context of Nirangal Moondru, the concept of conscience has been constructed and manufactured by society‘s disciplinary mechanisms. The film portrays how institutional forces, such as law and public opinion, shape and define the concepts of crime and deviance in society. Nirangal Moondru, in its investigation of social hierarchy and inequality, reveals how inequality operates on a subtle level to shape the construction of truth. The film, in its portrayal of the internalisation of surveillance and moral discipline, illustrates the ―automatic functioning of power‖ in society, in which individuals regulate and discipline themselves even in the absence of external power relations, as Foucault has proposed (201). Ultimately, the paper argues that the film operates as a site of social pedagogy, stimulating viewers to interrogate dominant narratives of justice and morality. By bringing to light the invisible circulation of power, Nirangal Moondru transforms cinema into a critical space that cultivates awareness of structural inequality and the politics of conscience.

23. Decentring the Male Gaze: Gendered Sovereignty and the Commodity of Go...
0

Khamarunnisa P. C. Pichencheer...
Research Scholar, Department of English, School of Languages, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai
85-87
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19888288

Male Gaze Theory, introduced by Laura Mulvey in her seminal 1975 essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”, remains a foundational concept in feminist film theory. Mulvey argues that mainstream cinema is structured around a heterosexual male perspective that positions women as objects of visual pleasure rather than as autonomous subjects. Through cinematic techniques such as camera framing, narrative alignment, and visual composition, women are frequently rendered passive, while men occupy active, controlling roles within the diegesis. This paper applies Male Gaze Theory to Ponman, a Malayalam-language dark comedy thriller directed by Jothish Shankar. The film narrates the story of P P Ajesh, a gold dealer who lends jewellery to families for weddings with the expectation of monetary return and social reciprocity. By examining the film’s narrative structure, character positioning, and visual strategies, this study investigates how female characters, particularly the bride are represented and whether they are framed primarily through a male-centred perspective. The study explores how the bride’s value becomes symbolically and materially linked to gold, positioning her within a system of exchange that reflects broader patriarchal economies. While the narrative foregrounds male agency and authority, the film may simultaneously function as a critique of these very structures. Thus, rather than merely reinforcing patriarchal ideology, Ponman potentially destabilizes it by exposing the commodification of women within marriage transactions. Applying Mulvey’s framework allows for a deeper understanding of how gender, power, and materiality intersect within the film. This study argues that Ponman is not only a thriller or dark comedy but also a text that reflects and possibly interrogates the gendered power dynamics embedded in contemporary society.

24. Reimagining the Legend of Manasa Devi in Gun Island: Literature as Env...
0

Divya. G. *
Research Scholar, English, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute
88-92
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19888543

Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island reinterprets the traditional legend of Manasa Devi, the snake goddess of South Asian folklore, to address urgent ecological concerns and the interconnected crises of climate change, migration, and cultural displacement. By reimagining the myth of Manasa Devi within a contemporary global narrative, Ghosh transforms folklore into a powerful medium of environmental education and socio-cultural liberation. The novel bridges myth and modernity, demonstrating how indigenous ecological wisdom embedded in traditional narratives offers alternative ways of understanding humanity’s relationship with nature. Through the protagonist’s journey across India, Bangladesh, and Europe, the text reveals how environmental disasters disrupt human lives, forcing migrations that mirror the ancient movements encoded in mythic memory. The legend of Manasa Devi functions not merely as a religious or cultural artifact but as an ecological metaphor that foregrounds the agency of non-human forces and challenges anthropocentric worldviews. Ghosh employs magical realism and intertextual storytelling to show that myths possess pedagogical potential, educating readers about ecological balance, environmental justice, and ethical coexistence with the natural world. The novel reframes environmental catastrophe as both a material and spiritual crisis, suggesting that liberation lies in rediscovering interconnectedness among humans, animals, landscapes, and belief systems. As literature becomes a space for ecological consciousness, Gun Island operates as an instrument of environmental humanities, promoting awareness, empathy, and responsibility toward planetary survival. The reimagined Manasa Devi legend symbolizes resistance against ecological exploitation and colonial modes of knowledge that separate culture from nature. Ultimately, the novel proposes that storytelling itself can act as environmental education—awakening ecological sensitivity while enabling intellectual and spiritual liberation in the age of climate crisis.





Submit Manuscript