The central characters have been journalists in several Tamil films like Sivakarthikeyan’s Maaveeran. However, only a few films have managed to enter the newsrooms and capture the fast-paced world of journalists who break some news every other second. Such films tell ethically complex and socially relevant issues through the perspective of a journalist caught between the spokes of the system’s machinery. As Vijay Antony’s Raththam, an investigative thriller, is out on Amazon Prime Video, we take a look at other prominent Tamil movies that are about journalism.
Ko (2011)
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Ko is as mainstream as a film could get. The build-up sequences are crafted with suspense and edge-of-the-seat moments, with missing evidence and political adversaries. A humorous love triangle add more emotional stakes. There is even a song featuring several Kollywood actors. Yet it all blends evenly under the late KV Anand’s seasoned filmmaking sensibilities. The film’s core hinges on the ethics of the journalism profession and the hero Ashwin Kumar (Jiiva) is a stand-in for the morally upright reporter, who won’t back away from possibly life-endangering experiences, be it exposing a minister’s wrongdoings or covering a terrorist attack. Arguably, for a lot of young journalists out there, this film might’ve been the spark.