Amaran premieres during Diwali, offering intense action and a symbolic battle between good and evil, blending authenticity with the festival.
Amaran (2023) is a Tamil action film directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, which premiered on 31 October during the Diwali celebrations. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important Hindu holidays, celebrated over five days. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. During Diwali, people decorate their homes with olive lights, come together to celebrate, exchange gifts, and attend fireworks displays.
About the film
The production of Amaran has a dark and raw style. Sivakarthikeyan plays the protagonist, an uncompromising man of action. Bloody marks on his face and body emphasize the brutality and drama of the story. The film tells the story of Major Mukund Varadarajan, who sacrifices his life in the fight against terrorism in Kashmir in 2014. His wife, Indhu Rebecca Varghese, along with her daughter and in-laws, travels to New Delhi to receive the posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra. As they travel, Indhu recalls their life together, from the time they met in college to the hardships of his military service. She also reflects on his heroic death.
Major Mukund Varadarajan dedicated his life to the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, a long-running armed conflict between India and various militant groups in the region that began in 1989. The Indian Army has been conducting counter-terrorism operations in the region against armed groups seeking the independence of Kashmir or its annexation to Pakistan.
Denotative analysis
Let us turn our attention to the film poster itself and carry out a semiotic analysis of it. On a denotative level, the poster depicts a muscular man in a singlet, covered in blood. This suggests intensity and violence, presumably a key element of the storyline. The slogan ‘There lived a man who never feigned to be a hero…’ adds context, suggesting the figure of a real hero – raw and authentic. The date of the film’s release is placed in large, strong letters, which draws the eye and indicates the importance of the event.
Connotative analysis. In search of the meaning of the film Amaran
The poster connotes themes of heroism, determination and courage. The hero’s face, covered in blood, is a symbol of ruthlessness and struggle. The dark colour scheme and vivid, bloody elements reflect the character’s dramatic and perhaps even anti-heroic nature. The image evokes the tradition of tough action cinema heroes who are willing to sacrifice themselves for higher goals. They remain authentic and unappealing. It is worth adding at this point that the name ‘Amaran’ in Tamil means ‘immortal’.
Such a hero is portrayed as someone who, like Rama in the Hindu religion. He fights evil selflessly, often going up against enemies who are stronger and better equipped.
Commutation test
Changing selected elements – for example, replacing the man in the singlet with a neater image without traces of blood – would have completely changed the perception of the poster. The film would lose its harsh, violent face and the character would be perceived as less authentic. Also, changing the background color to a lighter one could weaken the dramatic mood. This change would reduce the tension and anticipation of the violent action. The commutation test thus shows that each element of the poster plays a key role in building meaning.
Amaran. Myth analysis
The poster for Amaran’s film refers to the myth of the ‘true hero’ – the man who acts uncompromisingly, staying true to his principles and values. Moreover, this kind of anti-hero is a common motif in Tamil mass cinema. Consequently, audiences value characters who break out of social norms and reject artifice and hypocrisy. Furthermore, the figure depicted in the poster, with its traces of blood and intense gaze, embodies the archetype of the warrior who does not pretend. He does not hesitate to fight, even when it costs him a lot of pain.
In Tamil culture, people deeply value courage, honor, and sacrifice for the community, so this type of hero resonates particularly strongly. Such a hero is portrayed as someone who, like Rama in the Hindu religion. He fights evil selflessly, often going up against enemies who are stronger and better equipped. In this way, Amaran fits into the broad myth of the heroic struggle for justice that resonates with many audiences in India. The choice of timing for the release during Diwali further emphasizes the triumph of light and good. It highlights the victory over darkness and corruption.