Loosu ponnu

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The loosu ponnu (Template:Langx; Template:Translation) is a stock character in Tamil cinema, a girl who is portrayed as attractive but naïve and unintelligent. It is regarded as the equivalent of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and dumb blonde stereotypes in the United States.[1][2] The loosu ponnu trope became increasingly popular in 1990s Tamil cinema when the masculinity of the hero became severely overblown. It has since received criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.[3][4]

History and terminology

According to writer and critic Baradwaj Rangan, the 'loosu ponnu' trope emerged in an era where Tamil filmmakers began casting North Indian women, who could not speak Tamil, in leading roles; due to their lip syncing not being perfect (their lines would be dubbed over by others), wild gesticulation and their emotional reactions seeming unusual, "all of this ended up making them look like mad people".[5]

Characteristics

Loosu ponnus are typically depicted as being bubbly,[6] naïve, childish, lacking professional ambition, having easily detachable ties with their families, and showing unquestioning devotion to heroic males once they fall in love with them.[1] They are also depicted as angelic, in need of constant rescuing, and incapable of doing even simple things in life.[3] Very often, their "cuteness" is directly proportional to how insane their actions may seem to viewers.[1]

Examples

Known loosu ponnu characters in Tamil films are:

Character Actress Film Ref.
Anjali Amala Agni Natchathiram (1988)[7]
Suji Meera Jasmine Pudhiya Geethai (2003)
Mythili Jyothika Manmadhan (2004)[8]
Hema Meera Jasmine Sandakozhi (2005)[9]
Haritha Nayanthara Kalvanin Kadhali (2006)
Hasini Genelia D'Souza Santosh Subramaniam (2008)[10]
Devi Trisha Krishnan Kuruvi (2008)
Jahnavi Nayanthara Villu (2009)
Poornima Tamannaah Bhatia Sura (2010)
Keerthana Nazriya Raja Rani (2013)[11]
Liyana Chandini Sreedharan Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu (2013)
Anitha Taapsee Pannu Arrambam (2013)[5]
Chitra Devipriya Kajal Aggarwal All in All Azhagu Raja (2013)[12]
Yazhini Hansika Motwani Maan Karate (2014)[10]
Ankitha Samantha Ruth Prabhu Kaththi (2014)
Sowmya Kajal Aggarwal Paayum Puli (2015)[13]
Shakeela Samantha Ruth Prabhu 10 Endrathukulla (2015)[14]
Swetha Shruti Haasan Vedalam (2015)
Priya Hansika Motwani Uyire Uyire (2016)[15]
Saroja Keerthy Suresh Thodari (2016)[16]
Kavya Keerthy Suresh Remo (2016)[17]
Priya Rakul Preet Singh Theeran Adhigaram Ondru (2017)
Vandhana Sayyeshaa Ghajinikanth (2018)[18][10]
"Aarathu" Anandhi Sai Pallavi Maari 2 (2018)[19]
Padmini Priyanka Arul Mohan Doctor (2021)[20]

Other languages

Besides Tamil films, loosu ponnu characters were also noted in Telugu films (known as 'pichi pilla'). Known characters in Telugu films are:

Character Actress Film Ref.
Jaanu Genelia D'Souza Orange (2010)[21]
Shalini Rakul Preet Singh Spyder (2017)
Sukumari Keerthy Suresh Agnyaathavaasi (2018)[2]
Suryakantham Anu Emmanuel
Samskruthi Rashmika Mandanna Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020)[22]

They were also noted in Kannada films with Nandini (Reeshma Nanaiah) in UI (2024).[23]

Criticism

The loosu ponnu trope has received wide criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.[3][4][1] Actress Madonna Sebastian has expressed her dislike for it, saying, "I think it is disrespectful and when people endorse it, even heroines, it becomes a dangerous trend."[24] Aishwarya Rajesh has consciously avoided playing such roles, citing her preference for "sensible" roles.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 What I Learned About Love And Women From Tamil Movies, Iswarya, V. BuzzFeed(29 September 2016). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Women in Telugu cinema: Some common sense please?. The Hindu(17 January 2018). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The 'loosu ponnu' in Tamil cinema and why she should retire. The News Minute(30 September 2018). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 CS Amudhan's 'Tamizh Padam 2' speaks the truth about female characters in Kollywood. The News Minute(13 July 2018). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Arrambam"... Mission to "mass", Rangan, Baradwaj. Baradwaj Rangan(4 November 2013). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  6. ↑ Southern Lights: Are Tamil-Speaking Heroines Doomed In Tamil Cinema?, Rangan, Baradwaj. Film Companion(19 July 2018). Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Every Mani Ratnam Film, Ranked, Rangan, Baradwaj. Film Companion(20 September 2018). Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Manmathan. Sify(14 November 2004). Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Sandakozhi 2 movie review: This Vishal film is a lazy rehash. The Indian Express(18 October 2018). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Genelia to Hansika: The 'loosu ponnu' heroines who have ruled Tamil films. India Today(12 September 2018). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  11. ↑ “Raja Rani”… The Ex Files(29 September 2013).
  12. ↑ All in All Azhaguraja-A profoundly irritating film. Sify(3 November 2013). Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Paayum Puli: A few good portions don't make a wholesome meal. The Hindu(4 September 2015). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  14. ↑ 10 Enradhukulla: A slipshod road movie. The Hindu(21 October 2015). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  15. ↑ Uyire Uyire: Still life. The Hindu(2 April 2016). Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  16. ↑ Thodari review: Dhanush's thriller is like a local train; it's slow and makes frequent stops, Pillai, Sreedhar. Firstpost(22 September 2016). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  17. ↑ Half-Yearly report: GV Prakash Kumar to Eswari Rao, best performances of 2018. The Times of India. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  18. ↑ Ghajinikanth Review: Interesting premise wasted by dull writing. India Today(3 August 2018). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  19. ↑ 'Maari 2' review: An overlong yet entertaining sequel. The Hindu(21 December 2018). Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  20. ↑ Doctor review: Sivakarthikeyan's logic defying film is a thorough entertainer, Ganeshan, Balakrishna. The News Minute(9 October 2021). Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  21. ↑ Telugu Movie review – Orange, Jeevi. Idlebrain.com(26 November 2010). Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  22. ↑ Sarileru Neekevvaru Movie Review: Mahesh Babu film is utterly disappointing, K., Janani. India Today(11 January 2020). Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  23. ↑ UI review: Two hours of torture that passes off for a movie that you’ve to decode, Rao, Subha J(20 December 2024). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  24. ↑ The Madonna Sebastian interview: 'I fell in love with music because of Tamil cinema'. The New Indian Express(17 July 2018). Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  25. ↑ I was told a dusky, Tamil speaking woman like me can't become heroine: Aishwarya Rajesh. The News Minute(24 April 2017). Retrieved 7 December 2018.

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