Cine-Addictions: Image Trails Running from the Intimate Sphere to the Public Eye

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Abstract

Fan clubs devoted to Tamil movie stars are a widespread phenomenon in Tamil Nadu vigorously contributing to their heroes' success by organizing events in their names. These events are visualized by a whole array of images produced, disseminated and consumed by fans. This photo essay is about the ephemeral yet consistent trail of images left by fan clubs devoted to the celebrated movie star Rajinikanth. I will trace fan images as they are personally collected and displayed and as they are exhibited in the public realm as giant cutouts, hoardings, or posters. In the second part of this essay I will explore the recent transformations brought about by new design and printing possibilities that radically changed the ways in which fans employ and display imagery of their star and, more importantly now, also of themselves. I will argue that these image-related practices both inform fans' daily relation with their hero and make this hero as well as their fans more publicly "visible". As a result, fans not only actively (re)produce their hero but pursue their own socio-economic aspirations as well.