Can certain castes lay claim to heroism? What is the politics of Pettikakali? 

And here the series questions the idea that heroism belongs only to a certain caste. The treatment of women, power, caste enmity is the cause of some important points touched upon.

Director Raj Kumar wrote and directed the web series “Pettaikali”. The first episode was released on 21st October on ‘Aha’ OTT platform. Director Vetrimaran’s production company “Gross root film company” has produced this web series.

The story of the webseries revolves around the game known as Jallikattu or Manchuvirattu. The word jallikattu is mixed with the sentiment of Tamils. The 2017 protest against the Jallikattu ban across Tamil Nadu is a good example.

Dalit activists had criticized that those who fought seriously at that time did not think about the need of that struggle and that there is politics behind the fabrication of Jallikattu as the identity of Tamils.

The view that the protest as a whole was an emotional outburst of the youth of Tamil Nadu was presented. In this case, the ‘Pettaikali’ web series has touched on some important points of the heroic game called Jallikattu.

The story is depicted as taking place in Sivagangai, South Tamil Nadu. The introduction of the first episode begins with the words – “The Great Eruption of a Dormant Volcano”. The story is introduced to us by the character who hides and attacks some people and runs away.

It is said that their forefathers were soldiers in the Pandya king’s army and subsequently they were converted into agricultural laborers and lived without their own land. We should see this as a key point. The caste riots caused by the agricultural laborers against the farmers caused them to lose their jobs. Then they go somewhere else. Then the story explains how they improved themselves.

The people living in Mulaiyur are agricultural labourers. They improve their livelihood by keeping wild cattle. It is amazing to see other cows coming to the place where the leader of the cow herd is, according to the voice over that plays behind the screen.

The series approaches elements such as jallikattu games and heroism between the village of Mulaiyur, an oppressed community of agricultural laborers, and Thamirai Kula (Ur), the land grabbers.

Muthiah (Kishore) is the main decision maker of Mulaiyur. He tells the story of his town on the way to escape from hiding. Selva Shekar Parmanyar (Vela Ramamurthy) becomes the chairman of Tamirai Pond. His cow is given the first honor in all competitions. And the Mulayurkars are advised not to touch his cow in the upcoming Jallikattu.

In spite of this Pandi (Kaliyarasan) who is Muthiah’s nephew catches the cow. Enraged by this, Selva Shekhara Parmanyar (Vela Ramamurthy) thinks that he should take the blame. This ends the first episode.

In the second episode Pandi (Kaliyarasan) who goes to seek forgiveness is murdered and lies in the forest. What happens after this can only be seen from the next episode. The series does not approach Jallikattu as just a heroic sport of Tamils, but the caste politics associated with it as a story. We have to see that this is the need of the hour. 

Here is a general view that jallikattu is a sport for all. But this story is based on the fact that only certain castes can own their own and it is customary for the grafters to order not to capture the cattle of their caste.

Also in the film, Tandora is placed that the milkers should not capture the cows of Tamirai Kulatu. These scenes show us the real field situation. And it also reminds us of what we have gone through in the news. We would have gone through the caste graft system in the news where the youths who were attacked for catching the cows of a particular caste, even attacked the houses of the oppressed because their bull went inside the residence. The series speaks to this.    

And here the series questions the idea that heroism belongs only to a certain caste. The treatment of women, power, caste enmity is the cause of some important points touched upon.

The visuals, especially the natural setting of South Tamil Nadu, the color of the land thus treat a viewer to the visuals of the series. And the choice of character is perfectly matched. Kalaiyarasan, Kishore and Vela Ramurthy have fitted the story perfectly. Let’s hope that the upcoming episode will give us a deeper look.