Characterization and Kabali

Characterization is nothing but how a character is characterized. There are many ways of classifying characterization. One such way is called Showing and Telling. In Showing, characterization of a character is characterized by the author showing who the character is. This is done by narrating how the character behaves, how he/she reacts, what the character speaks (direct speech), etc. In showing, the character is shown by the author so that the reader will construct the character by the information provided. But in telling the narrator takes full control of the characterization. He does not leave much room for the reader to construct the character. But the narrator tells who the character is by descriptive words. Though telling is a straight forward means of chracterizing a character it is not a preferred means of chartcerization. A good characterization should involve both. While the author may take precedence in telling who the character is he must also show and revalidate this characteristic feature by showing that characteristic feature by the showing technique. Telling technique will raise more suspicion while making the reader construct the character by showing technique will make the characterization more authentic and with less suspicion. Therefore, showing technique should be preferred more than telling. Even though telling technique is used it must be used equally with showing. Biblical narratives balance this very well. To authenticate the characterization either showing characterization must be used equal to telling or more. Failing this will rise questions of the authenticity of the narration as the reader is not allowed to verify for himself of the characterization presented by the narrator.

In John 1, in the beginning, until v.18, the narrator tells how Jesus was God by using telling technique. But from v.19 onwards he shows how John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God by using showing technique. This shows the both ways John uses characterization. Though John mentioned that Jesus is God in Jn 1.1-18, he shows how Jesus is God throughout the book of John. Therefore, this technique validates the characterization as authentic.

When the Kabali movie was released many reviews in paper and media gave bad reviews. I asked my director friend, Surya, about the movie and the reviews. I asked him why the reviewers gave bad ranking for Kabali. Surya mentioned that in the movie, the director tells many things but he doesn't show how it all happened which discredits the story and characterization. I think Surya is right. The director does not show how Kabali became a Don,  he just tells that he became a Don with few clips. He does not show the whole story, which discredits the story and characterization of Kabali. Because of this, the character called kabali does not come as authentic.  As he is not seen as authentic the story does not make much effect on the heart of the audience. Kabali then just becomes a superficial character and makes the movie as a fantasy movie as the character is not reliable because his characterization is not reliable. Therefore, characterization should involve both showing and telling which is beautifully used in Biblical narratives.