Downloads: 2
Research Paper | Cinema and Movies | Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026 | Pages: 1524 - 1526 | India
Exploring Modern Masculinity Through Cinema: A Study of Benoit Blanc and DCP Raghavan
Abstract: Cinema often becomes a quiet classroom where ideas of manhood are tested, questioned, and reshaped. This paper examines the portrayals of DCP Raghavan in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and Benoit Blanc in Knives Out to understand how contemporary films present emotionally layered and ethically grounded versions of masculinity. Rather than celebrating aggression or dominance, these characters reveal strength through restraint, empathy, and moral clarity. Raghavan embodies a form of traditional masculinity marked by discipline and grief, yet softened by emotional honesty and respect toward women. Blanc, by contrast, demonstrates intellectual confidence combined with humility and care, challenging the image of the loud and self-centered detective. Through close reading of key scenes and character interactions, the discussion highlights how both figures resist toxic patterns often associated with male identity. Their journeys suggest that vulnerability, patience, and ethical responsibility are not signs of weakness but central traits of mature manhood. The analysis argues that such cinematic representations provide young men with alternative models for self-reflection and growth, presenting masculinity as dynamic, humane, and shaped by lived experience rather than rigid expectation.
Keywords: Masculinity in cinema, emotional resilience, ethical manhood, character study, young men and identity, Family drama, Self-actualization
How to Cite?: Ravisankar S, "Exploring Modern Masculinity Through Cinema: A Study of Benoit Blanc and DCP Raghavan", Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1524-1526, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26225105608, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26225105608