Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2018 Toolkit Toolkit 2018 Final | Page 30

Youth in Tamil Film-Making
In recent years, a small but significant
number of youth have emerged in the
Singaporean Tamil Film industry to write
scripts and make films extensively in Tamil.
Although the choice of the language used
in the film is highly dependent on the target
audience and the filmmaker’s personal
preference, an increase in the number of
Tamil films is indicative of a generation
that is increasingly comfortable engaging
with Tamil as a language of visual medium.
○ It could also be attributed to this
generation of filmmakers trying to hold
onto their Tamil identities through this
art form.
○ With the rise of big budget non-Tamil
films such as Ah Boys to Men
dominating the box office, there is an
increasing need for Tamil films to make
their make their mark in the local film
industry

Films provide a means of
cultural education in multi-
ethnic Singapore and hence
helps to ensure that Tamil
culture is represented through
the local cinema scene.
▪
Films made by this generation of
filmmakers largely revolve along
a bilingual script, that reflects the
reality of the Tamil-speaking
population in Singapore.
○ A bilingual approach represents a
shift from language puritanism to
language accommodation, and hence
is generally more relatable to the
audience
○ There is also a certain local flavour
infused into Singaporean Tamil films
with a bilingual medium, especially
when dialogue is peppered with
commonly used Singaporean phrases.
This establishes a level of relatability
with the audience and creates a
unique Singaporean Tamil identity
that distinguishes itself from Tamil
culture overseas.
Recent Efforts in Consolidating the Efforts of Short-Film Makers
Official launch of The Indbox.sg - made
available a list of short films for online
viewership
o
o
Not just related to Tamil Films but also
Indian films in general
Seeks to collect every short film made
by an Indian filmmaker on a common
platform and in the process, document
the identities and experiences of the
Indian
community
for
future
generations of Singaporeans
▪
Currently houses a collection of 52
films by 32 local Indian
filmmakers (Indbox, 2018)
27
Singapore Indian Theatre & Film
Explorers (SITFE) - platform for aspiring
filmmakers to attend workshops to
develop their skills and collaborate with
one another
o Seeks to address the funding issues and
other problems faced by filmmakers
and act as a support system for these
individuals to publicise their works, as
well as acquire necessary resources
o Views the Singaporean film industry as
a collective enterprise that needs to be
nurtured and developed not for profit
but out of passion for the arts and
culture of Singapore