Frames of Misrepresentation: Indigenous Insights into Cultural Depictions in the Mainstream Cinema

Abstract The research article discusses the portrayal of Tamil culture through the Bollywood movie "Chennai Express" in Indian cinema. The paper aims to discuss how mainstream Indian Hindi film depicts Tamil culture and portrays cultural misinterpretation. Through the close examination of the film's narrative, characters, wardrobe choices, cultural elements and reaction from pertinent critical comments, the research article reveals that "Chennai Express" often falls back into simplistic stereotypes of Tamil culture, traditional dress, customs and manners. The article explores the cultural hegemony of Bollywood and how Bollywood misinterprets other regional cultures. It also discusses the broader consequences of cross-cultural understanding and cultural identity misinterpretations. The article concludes by highlighting the effectiveness of cinema in presenting Indian culture and emphasising the need for more genuine portrayals of regional cultures to defend against stereotypes and misconceptions.