Tamil cinema has a long-standing tradition of depicting school life with a mix of realism and nostalgia. Key films that feature school-age girl protagonists or explore themes of education in Chennai and broader Tamil Nadu include:
A viral movement emerged when students from Chennai schools used social media to expose sexual harassment by a teacher, leading to his arrest and a wider conversation on child safety in educational institutions.
A nostalgic coming-of-age story that captures the essence of school life in the late 1990s.
A thriller set entirely within a school campus, featuring G.V. Prakash and Sri Divya as high school students.
The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has initiated monthly film screenings in government schools, showing classics like The Red Balloon to promote art and culture among students.
In March 2022, a video of three Narikuravar school girls—R. Priya, K. Divya, and S.S. Dharshini—sharing their positive experiences with social inclusion went viral. This led to a direct meeting with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat.