Directors like Mani Ratnam began to delve deeper into the emotional psyche. Mouna Ragam
Contrasting the gentleman is the rough-edged village lover. Characters made famous by actors like Rajinikanth (in Mullum Malarum ) or later by Karthi ( Paruthiveeran ) represent "toxic but tragic" masculinity. Their romantic storyline involves violence, stalking disguised as protection, and a brutal, tragic ending. Audiences cry for these men because their inability to express love softly is seen as a tragic flaw of the land, not the person. Directors like Mani Ratnam began to delve deeper