The practice of keeping mustaches in South India

A ‘mustache’ has been traditionally considered a prized possession of Indian men, often seen as a symbol of their virility. And the practice of growing mustaches is still pretty popular in the country. However, the phenomenon seems to be more distinct in the southern part of India. And believe us, there might be a proper explanation for our claims. 

They say, you often model yourself on someone you idolize or someone you look up to. With twice the numbers of films produced in India compared to Hollywood, it is safe to assume that a significant chunk of the population of the country idolizes movie stars. 

Given that more than half of the total revenue from the movies produced in the entire country comes from the South. It kind of speaks volumes for the fan-following of movie stars down south. To complement it, there is an equally strong following of South Indian television. 

What is worth noting is that the movie stars & TV personalities in the South still choose to keep mustaches, while it is relatively uncommon among artists in the rest of the country. The ‘moochh’ phenomenon in the South can also be attributed to demigods & village deities, who are often depicted wearing thick mustaches. 

Having said that, there are always exceptions to every rule. Similarly, the urban youth from South India seem to have shed their traditional or much-stereotyped look for a clean-shaven look or thick-bearded look that have become quite popular.  

Also, in spite of trying to decipher this old ‘South Indians be like’ stereotype, wearing a mustache isn't that unusual in other parts of the country. Who knows, there might be a time in the distant future when the good old ‘Moochh’ comes back in fashion. It will be a Mooch-olution! 

"Kyunki moochh nahi toh kuchh nahi…"