Murukku And Movies: Deepavali Duo Indians Cherish As 'Cultural Ritual'

By R.Ratcharathan

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- As Deepavali lights up homes across Malaysia, another kind of light draws the crowds - silver glow of the big screen.

For many Indians, Deepavali is not only about prayers, sweets and Murukku but also about the joy of watching the latest Tamil blockbuster, surrounded by family, laughter and the unmistakable scent of popcorn.

Each year, major Kollywood studios time their biggest releases to coincide with Deepavali, while Malaysian cinemas brace for a surge of moviegoers eager for first-day screenings and this unique intersection of festival and film has become a vibrant tradition that reflects the evolving cultural identity of the Indian community.

Malik Streams Corporation’s Production and Distribution head Pravindrran Joel Panersilbam said watching a movie together with family on Deepavali day has become a cultural ritual for many Malaysian Indians.

He said that since the festival coincides with extended public holidays, it provides an ideal opportunity for families to spend quality time together, making it one of the most important and strategic seasons for Tamil film distribution in Malaysia.

“The festive spirit, coupled with a line-up of major new releases, naturally boosts cinema attendance during Deepavali,” he told Bernama, recently.

Pravindrran said the Deepavali season is also a peak period for Tamil film distribution in Malaysia, as multiple distributors often compete for the same titles, particularly those that are highly anticipated. 

When selecting films for Deepavali, he said the cast plays the most crucial role, as big stars attract massive audiences, although directors, music composers and even bold storylines can also influence selection decisions.

“We always study current trends and audience sentiment before finalising a title. This year, we have about three Tamil movie releases for Deepavali and one of them is our own production Dude by Malik Streams, starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju,” he said.

Meanwhile, fan club culture has played a vital role in amplifying the Deepavali movie tradition and for Malaysian Vijay Fan (MVF) president and TVK Malaysia president Sharmanath Raman, Deepavali is not just the Festival of Lights but also a celebration of Tamil cinema.

“Watching a Tamil movie on Deepavali is like eating murukku, it is part of our culture. Apart from going temple and eating together, watching movies is also a time for family bonding and if we don’t watch a movie, it feels like something is missing,” he said.

Sharmanath, who was among the first to launch a dedicated actor fan club in the Malaysia in the late 2000s for actor Thalapathy Vijay, recalled a major milestone in 2017 when his club secured approval for the earliest Deepavali screening in the country with 7 am show for the film Mersal.

“There was concern about whether people would show up that early because it was the first of its kind in Malaysia but the crowd was huge and many came dressed in traditional attire. That moment proved how deep this culture runs.” he shared.

Since then, early morning screenings have become a Deepavali tradition, especially for movies featuring top stars such as Superstar Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, Vijay and Ajith Kumar,

He said fan clubs, often self-funded, take on responsibilities ranging from booking cinemas to organising events, adding to the festive atmosphere surrounding the screenings.

Despite digital disruption and the rise of over-the-top (OTT) platforms, Sharmanath believes that the tradition of watching Tamil films during Deepavali remains strong because the festive cinematic experience remains irreplaceable.

“Many still hold on to the tradition of watching movies in theatres during Deepavali because nothing truly matches the excitement and shared experience of watching a festive release on the big screen, even the fan club culture is also not fading - its growing,” he said.

Hindu devotees around the world observe Deepavali on Oct 20, to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and it will be celebrated on Saturthasi Tithi, the 14th day of the month of Iypasi, based on the Hindu panjangam calendar, every year.

-- BERNAMA