Pullingo Explained
Pullingo (meaning squad of friends)[1] is a Tamil slang that became a phenomenon in 2019. It mainly refers to male teenagers from Tamil Nadu in India who color their hair, have unique hairstyles, wear skinny jeans, ride Honda Dio scooters and engage in reckless driving[2] in the name of street race. They use specific slang varieties.[3] The term is found in several districts of Tamil Nadu.[4]
The term was popularized by the 2019 Gaana song "Gumbalaga Suthuvom" by Gaana Stephen, which got 50 million views in 7 months.[5] [6]
Some feel that the term has been used in a derogatory manner. The term was mocked in a YouTube video by Eruma Saani which, after public outcry, was taken down.[7]
Notes and References
- News: People have reduced ‘Pullingo’ to a slur: Gana . S . Srivatsan . 25 October 2019 . The Hindu . 29 October 2019 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030212944/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/people-have-reduced-pullingo-to-a-slur-gana-stephen/article29798610.ece . live .
- Web site: TNN . Mar 20, 2022 . Bike Racers Play Cat And Mouse With Cops . 2022-10-25 . The Times of India . en . 25 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025135549/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/bike-racers-play-cat-and-mouse-with-cops/articleshow/90328673.cms . live .
- Web site: சமூக வலைதளங்களில் டிரெண்டாகும் புள்ளிங்கோ! . 27 September 2019 . News18 Tamil . 9 October 2019 . 8 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191008123304/https://tamil.news18.com/videos/trend/the-pullingo-hash-tag-is-being-trending-by-meme-creators-1-mj-210073.html . live .
- Web site: சில மீம்ஸ் எங்களை காயப்படுத்தியது - புள்ளிங்கோ கானா ஸ்டீபன் . 29 September 2019 . Puthiyathalaimurai . 1 November 2019 . 8 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191008051010/http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/news/tamilnadu/72313-gana-stephen-speaks-about-pullinko-trending.html . live .
- Web site: ஒரே பாட்டு ஓகோன்னு புகழ்... புள்ளிங்கோ புகழ் ஸ்டீபன் . 1 October 2019 . News18 Tamil . 1 November 2019 . 8 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191008123210/https://tamil.news18.com/videos/trend/a-special-interview-with-pullingo-fame-gana-singer-stephen-mj-211693.html . live .
- Web site: "புள்ளிங்கோ பாடலால் இப்படி ஆகும்னு நினைக்கவே இல்ல" - கானா ஸ்டீபன் பேட்டி! . 2 October 2019 . Kalaignar Seithigal . 1 November 2019 . 9 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191009040128/https://www.kalaignarseithigal.com/cinema/2019/10/02/gana-singer-stephen-shares-his-view-about-pullingo-song . live .
- Web site: 'Pullingo' is toxic: Tenma writes on Erumai Saani’s video mocking North Madras youth . Tenma . 14 October 2019 . The News Minute . live . 1 November 2019 . 28 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191028234234/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/pullingo-toxic-tenma-writes-erumai-saani-s-video-mocking-north-madras-youth-110502 .