Job Interviews + Tamil Movies

Interview scenes in Tamil cinema, especially when our hero attends a job interview is always an important scene. These are the scenes where our hero’ view towards the world, their own mental state and their family situation is expressed. I’m just listing few memorable job interview scenes in Tamil cinema in no particular order,  

Agni Natchatiram - *ing - Karthik and VK Ramaswamy.

Dir.- Mani Ratnam

Let us start with not much seen or telecasted scene in TV. Although this is a famous film, you can't see this scene in any TV channel like short-clips. When the interviewer VK Ramaswamy asks Karthik about his father, he gets angry and assaults VKR. While coming out of the room, he says to others “Nothing to worry, he is alive”. Most of the Mani Ratnam’ lead-characters are smart and cool. IMO he used this scene, which is the first scene in the film to convey the frustration of the hero and also a kind of coolness after the incident. 

Mouna Geethangal - *ing - K Bhagiyaraj

Dir.- K Bhagiyaraj

The big daddy of screenplay during his initial years. As usual, innocence mixed with smartness, Writer Bhagiyaraj jumps into the interview right in the middle. The interviewer, from nowhere throws a beemer, “What do you think about Nirodh ?”, the reply from the interviewee and way it is done is quite a memorable cinematic moment. But wait, do they really ask about condoms in a real interview ?

Thillu Mullu - *ing -  Rajanikanth - Thengai Srinivasan

Dir.- K Balachander

An evergreen scene and if I want to rate, then I would put it in the top of the list. The scene is set even before Rajani-Srinivasan meet-up. When the other interviewees getting rejected, we almost get into a conclusion that Rajani will get selected, but how will be a big question.  Hmm, he got the cheat codes!!  

Nanne Raja Nanne Mandri - *ing -  Vijayakanth

Dir.- Balu Anand

For a change our hero, Vijayakanth will be the interviewer. He is the head panaiyar of the village and he is recruiting for someone to manage the assets and property. He is portrayed as so dumb, that he doesn't even know the difference between 12th Standard, B. Sc. and M. Sc. By seeing his ridiculous questions, the group which came to interview run away.

IMO this scene might have been used by the director to portray how dumb and dumbest the hero-character is, since later in the film, our heroin changes the character of our hero.

Varumaiyin Neram Sivapu - Kamalhassan

Dir- K Balachander

Usually a interview scene will be placed in first 30-40 mins of the film. Which is used to establish the main character. This timing is applicable in above all films. But, in this film the interview scene comes almost after 70% of the running time. The viewer is already aware of our hero’-character, who speaks from heart and doesn't like to beat around. So with this hot-headed character, it is obvious that one can't get a job, which is known to the viewer, so why need of this scene ?. His anger and frustration goes up to the point that at the end of the interview he will tear his certificate and throw at the faces of the interviewers.

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Placement of the scene:- All the listed films went on to become big hits. IMO, I would say these are perfect examples of using the cinema as a visual medium, rather than just using it as a “talk-based or preachy” medium. In the case of Varumayiin Neran Sivapu, the character has to go his highest-point of frustration, by doing something nadir, which a normal job-seeker can't even imagine to do. If, the same scene is placed in the initial 30 mins, then there is nothing to tell in the rest of the film.

Job interview scenes involved with a female interviewee mostly ends up in sexual exploitation. A female character taking as a main-lead is very less. I could have missed, if there is something inline with the above scenes, would love to discuss about it.