The loosu ponnu is a stock character in Tamil cinema, a girl who is portrayed as attractive but naive and unintelligent. It is regarded as the equivalent of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and dumb blonde stereotypes in the United States. The loosu ponnu trope became increasingly popular in 1990s Tamil cinema, when the masculinity of the hero became severely overblown. It has since received criticism for being misogynistic and regressive.
History
According to critic Baradwaj Rangan, the loosu ponnu trope emerged in an era where Tamil filmmakers "began to get North Indian heroines who didn’t speak a word of Tamil. They wouldn’t move their lips according to the lines they were supposed to be speaking. They’d end up gesticulating wildly to make a point. Their emotional reactions would be a bit “off.” And all of this ended up making them look like mad people".
Characteristics
Loosu ponnus are typically depicted as being bubbly, naive, childish, lacking professional ambition, having easily detachable ties with their families, and showing unquestioning devotion to heroic males once they fall in love with them. They are also depicted as angelic, in need of constant rescuing, and incapable of doing even simple things in life. Very often, their "cuteness" is directly proportional to how insane their actions may seem to viewers.
Examples
Known loosu ponnu characters in Tamil films are Mythili in Manmadhan, Hema in Sandakozhi, Hasini in Santosh Subramaniam, Anitha in Arrambam, Yazhini in Maan Karate, Shakila in 10 Endrathukulla, Sowmya in Paayum Puli, Priya in Uyire Uyire, Aarathu Aanandhi in Maari 2, and Vandhana in Ghajinikanth. Keerthy Suresh has played such characters in films like Remo and Thodari.
Criticism
The loosu ponnu trope has received wide criticism for being misogynistic and regressive. Actress Madonna Sebastian has expressed her dislike for it, saying, "I think it is disrespectful and when people endorse it, even heroines, it becomes a dangerous trend." Aishwarya Rajesh has consciously avoided playing such roles, citing her preference for "sensible" roles.
