The earliest depiction of a polygar, or as is known in Tamil, Palayakaarar, was by an actor we are all rather fond of... Sivaji Ganesan in Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959)
The good fight was then taken up by the famous Maruthi Sagotharargal. This was showcased in the 1959 film, Sivagangai Seemai. Sadly, the East India Company put a swift end to that rebellion tooNot many know that the Sepoy mutiny of Vellore in 1806 occured half a century before the famous 1857 uprising Tamil cinema takes a break in the coverage of Indian Independence for the next 100 years.It is 1906. The country is no more under the EIC but is serving the British crown VO Chidambaram Pillai decides he's had enough. He registers the Swadeshi Shipping Company in October 19061907. The Surat Congress is deadlocked and there is a split between moderates and extremists VOC and bharathi decide to follow Tilak. Shortly after... Vanchinathan shoots District Collector AsheMeanwhile in Chennai, Subramania Bharathi writes against the British Government and becomes its targetNaturally, numbers pile up at the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar, as depicted in the 1996 film, SiraichalaiThese atrocities do not go unnoticed. Mahatma Gandhi, rises. (Hey Ram, 2000)Calls for the boycott of foreign goods in the form of Swadeshi movement gains full steam. It was briefly showcased in Shankar's IndianTheatre companies putting up plays on Indian independence saw huge audiences. In films like Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014), this facet of the freedom struggle was highlightedThe film, Thyaagabhoomi(1939), was one of the ways Tamil cinema stepped up to the plate to revolt against British government. The film gets banned but the Tamil spirit soars1942. The Quit India Movement is in full swing. A young Congress leader called Kamaraj gets involved. He would go on to become the Chief Minister of Tamil NaduFinally, India gains its independence on 15 August 1947. The AIR airs the voice of DK Pattamal across the country singing, 'Aaduvome pallu paaduvome'