Semiotic Analysis of Climax Song

Manichitrathazhu & its Remakes

By Group 5

The Overview

• Gist of the story plot

• Climax song as the unit of analysis since it is the essence of the

whole story

• Poster Analysis for primary understanding

• Deriving the langue of the song sequence

• Semiotic Analysis of the principle characters

• Why compare all versions

• Conclusion

Poster Analysis

MANICHITRATHAZHUThe Ornate Lock

• Text/Font used– Movie name Manichitrathazhu (The ornate lock) bold & in regional language– A Trishul in the background connoting a mythological connection to the plot

• Central image– The female dancer in a graceful Bharatanatyam pose connotes that the story revolves

around her

• Other Prominent images– Suresh Gopi (man in the upper LHS) & Mohanlal (man in the lower RHS) play equally

important– Mohanlal sporting a spectacle connotes that he plays a role of a wise/intelligent

person/professional– Larger than life images of their faces connote the pull the poster trys to create by

leveraging on the actors’ stardom

AAPTHAMITRAClose Friend

• Text/Font Used– Movie name Aapthamitra (Close Friend) bold & in regional language

• Central image– Actor Vishnuvaradhan (the face in the background) implying that this is a movie about him

• Tries to leverage on his stardom• The coolers & his beard style indicate his character’s refined mannerisms in the movie

• Other Prominent image(s)– The female dancer in a graceful Bharatanatyam pose

CHANDRAMUKHIThe one with a moon’s face (Beautiful)

• Text/Font used– Movie name Chandramukhi written in english and sword-like font in white surrounded

by bright orange-red glow• Connotes of fieriness and a rebellious intention

• Central Image– Jotika (woman in the RHS) with smirked makeup, big eyes, unkept hair, eccentric smile

and a bharatnatyam costume• Connotes a eerie feel about her

– Ranjnikanth (man in the LHS) with his posh attire & menacing look & danish hounds• Connotes his anti-hero role

• Other prominent images– The palatial settings imply that the story is in a historic setting– The man’s face in the background adds mystery to the plot

BHOOL BHULAIYAAThe Maze

• Text/Font used– Movie name Bhool Bhulaiyaa (The Maze) in English in long thin white font surrounded by

a white haze• Gives a ghostly feel

• Central Image– Akshay Kumar with his hands in his pockets dressed casually and bespectacled– This is a ‘askhay kumar’ movie i.e. it has action, comedy, thriller etc– His role is that of a wise/intelligent person/professional

• Other prominent Images• A photo frame with the other characters traditionally dressed and mostly in white

– Gives a picture within the picture effect so it has a story within a story– They are in a surreal world

• Color Schema– Sepia colors

• Connects of something that is old and ancient

Langue of the song sequence

• Introduction

• The Heroine

• The Reverie

• Luring her to the rites

Semiotic Analysis of the principle characters

Conclusion

• Collective consciousness– A common myth across culture– Three archetypes

• The ruler• The lover• The nayika

• Frozen in time– Set in a traditional house which is protected from external influences

• Factors on which the parole is dependent– Culture

• Hero worship (esp. in Tamil & Hindi)

• Narrative style (song + dance) with flashback techniques • Woman is an object of desire whose acquisition adds value to a man's

pride

Thank you

The Possessed• Aarthi• Amy• Archana• Ranjani• Saeka• Srividhya