At home, if he had his way, every day would be Father’s Day. June 19 is an occasion for kids to tell their dads how much they to mean to them, and say thank you for all that fathers do for them. (Good luck finding the perfect text emoji to convey it all.)
Or, we could let these great father-child scenes do the talking.
Warning: Highly Emotional Content. Keep your handkerchiefs handy.
To start things off, we have a classic dad scene. Dhanush, Kollywood’s poster boy for unemployment (second only to Vemal) is being schooled by Raghuvaran and his classic swag. It’s oddly reminiscent of intense conversations we’ve had with our fathers at some point of life. And the dad-comebacks. Legen-wait for it- dary!
Kannathil Mutthamittal is one of the best movies to have ever been made, with a child as a central character. It beautifully showcased the emotions of a young girl who longs to meet her biological mother. But, it also had a great, albeit underrated performance by Madhavan, as the father who unconditionally loves this brat. At the same time, he isn’t overprotective, and lets her make her own decisions, even at that young age. When Amudha asks Thiruchelvan if he bought her for money, he says, “But you are priceless my child!” We fell in love with Thiruchelvan, that super-dad.
Daughters will deny that they have their fathers wrapped around their little finger. After all, there’s the never ending pleading with the dad to take her shopping. Suyambulingam from Papanasam is one of those dads, who was made to sit in a corner while the women took what they wanted from the store.
Fathers are typically unhappy with their daughter’s marital choices. After all, it’s hand over your entire world, isn’t it? That’s what happens in this Prakash Raj scene from Abhiyum Naanum where his anxiety bubbles over. How his little daughter is all grown up and has chosen to marry someone, a Sardaar at that. Much sympathy and laughter when he says, “I’ve never pictured a turban wearing son-in-law. Even in my dreams!”
In Nallavanuku Nallavan, it’s the mother who is suspicious of her daughter’s choice of husband. At first, Rajini seems to be supporting his daughter. It’s just to get on his wife’s nerves. (There’s the bonus of a hug from his daughter and the loving ‘Daaaaaddyyy’). Later, he goes one better. Calmly, and effectively, he tells her just how much he trusts her. Fathers need to watch this!
Actor Raghuvaran showing once again why he is one of the best actors we’ve seen. Anjali is arguably one of the best children’s films made in Tamil. Baby Shamili stole the limelight with her angelic antics, and made us weep buckets when she didn’t wake up in the climax. But Raghuvaran, the protective father who simply refused to give up on his daughter, was easily one of the best onscreen dads. In this scene, he explains to his children why Anjali was born into their family, in a manner a 5 year old kid can understand, and adults would well up to.
And since it is Father’s Day, here’s one to prove that dads are always right. No two ways about that. From Thevar Magan comes one of Indian cinema’s best-written scenes. Sivaji Ganesan tells his son Kamal Haasan about perseverance, “You can’t bear fruit as soon as you sow the seed. My children and grandchildren may enjoy the fruits, but the seed was sown by me, and that is most important.”
*****
