Maitreyi Ramakrishnan passionately embraces her Tamil identity and cultural heritage in her latest film, Best of the Best, highlighting the importance of representation for Tamil audiences.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has a powerful message for those curious about her connection to her Tamil roots: “I am Tamil as fuck.” The star of Netflix’s *Never Have I Ever* opened up about her Tamil identity, family history, and cultural pride during a conversation with Hasan Minhaj, alongside her *Best of the Best* co-star Priyanka Kedia.
For Ramakrishnan, being Tamil transcends traditional expectations. It is about understanding her origins, embracing her family, and carrying that history with her, even while growing up thousands of miles away from Sri Lanka. “I love who I am as a Tamil Eelam woman,” she expressed on Minhaj’s show, *Hasan Minhaj Does Not Know*.
She emphasized that her career has deepened her appreciation for her identity. Her Tamil heritage, she noted, is integral to who she is as a person. Ramakrishnan also made it clear that she does not feel the need to conform to cultural stereotypes to claim her identity. While she acknowledges that she is still learning to become more fluent in Tamil and does not engage in every traditional practice, she firmly believes that this does not diminish her Tamil identity.
This unapologetic stance takes on added significance in *Best of the Best*, where Tamil culture is woven into the film’s visual and emotional fabric. One particularly poignant moment for Ramakrishnan was performing kuthu, an energetic folk and street dance associated with Tamil culture. She revealed to Minhaj that she cried on set, not solely due to the performance’s emotional weight, but because she recognized that Tamil audiences would eventually see this moment on screen.
Ramakrishnan imagined young Tamil viewers and older generations watching the scene and finding something familiar and deeply personal in it. This recognition is meaningful to her, as she recalls her own experience of seeing representation for the first time.
Before her breakout role in *Never Have I Ever*, Ramakrishnan was just a high school student balancing homework and watching Minhaj’s *Patriot Act*. When the credits rolled, she noticed the name of Prashanth Venkataramanujam, a Tamil individual involved in the show’s production. This realization struck her profoundly; she had seen someone from her cultural background working behind the scenes on a major show.
That moment resonated with her, as it represented a specific kind of representation—seeing a Tamil person in a creative role that felt significant. Years later, Ramakrishnan finds herself on the other side of that experience. She is no longer the teenager watching someone else’s name in the credits; she is now the actor bringing Tamil culture to a broader audience.
This shift in perspective adds a different kind of weight to the kuthu sequence in *Best of the Best*. It is more than just a dance number; it has the potential to resonate with viewers, prompting them to think, “That’s me.”
Ramakrishnan’s connection to her Tamil identity is shaped by the Tamil diaspora. Born and raised in Canada, her parents fled Sri Lanka as refugees during the country’s civil war. She identifies as Tamil-Canadian, reflecting the dual influences that have shaped her life. While Canada is her home, Tamil culture, language, family history, and heritage remain central to her self-understanding.
Importantly, Ramakrishnan does not feel the need to choose between these identities. Her message is clear: cultural identity does not have to be perfect to be authentic. One can be born in Canada, struggle with their heritage language, grow up surrounded by a different culture, and still learn and reconnect with traditions as an adult. And one can still be Tamil.
With *Best of the Best*, Ramakrishnan is not merely representing South Asians on screen; she is spotlighting a specific aspect of that identity, hoping to inspire recognition and connection among viewers. This film serves as a celebration of Tamil culture and a testament to the importance of representation in media.
As Ramakrishnan continues to navigate her career, she remains committed to showcasing her heritage and encouraging others to embrace their identities, no matter how complex they may be. Her journey is a reminder that cultural pride can exist in many forms and that every individual’s experience is valid.
According to The American Bazaar, Ramakrishnan’s work in *Best of the Best* is a significant contribution to the representation of Tamil culture in mainstream media.