56. Renu Elsa Varkey

Abstract 56
RENU ELZA VARKEY  

Paradigm Shifts in the Professional Space
Represented In the New Generation Malayalam Movies

Abstract

Ritu directed by Shyamaprasad released in 2009, left a lasting signature in the Malayalam movie industry, creating a considerable ‘new wave’ of Malayalam movies, which later on came to be popularly known as the New-Generation Movies. Malayalam movies mostly known for its familial themes and cultural statements now seem to have undergone a paradigm shift, with the intrusion of the Global culture and its pre-dominance in all levels of social reality. The reflection of this is markedly visible in visual culture also.

This paper discusses the shift in the projection of professional space as represented in the new generation movies in accordance with the emerging metro culture in Kerala. There was a time when the Public sector (Government) jobs were considered as the most prestigious professions. But, this scenario has changed with the IT boom and the ensuing metro life, dominated by the international jet-set, the band of youngsters who prefer working in MNCs that offer them their dream salaries and a glamorous life.  Provided this shift in the choice of profession which is a social reality, these movies have come up with the exclusive faces and phases of their cubicle lives in multi-storied buildings and how their social and private lives get represented in these movies based on their professional ground.