Idli and dosa have long ruled as India’s favourite foods. But now the national news menu is dominated by a new flavour: paneer in the South Indian style. Calling a Tamilian that dreadful word ‘Madrasi’ has now been recognised for the cardinal sin it is, but clearly the North Indian palate, accustomed to paneer tikka, has never tasted this new ‘Madrasi’ paneer. The rasam of realpolitik is bubbling in Dravida Nadu. While Chinnamma Sasikala poses in Poes Garden, and Tamil pride is inflamed over the Apex Court’s strictures on jallikattu, who can deny the power of Tamil Nadu in India? Not only is Rajnikant India’s biggest star but from S. Ramanujan to Viswanathan Anand to T.N. Seshan to C. Rajagopalachari to R.K. Narayan to M.S. Subbulakshmi, Tamil Nadu rules on culture, brain power and political acumen. No wonder the impatient Tamil is forced to ask the North Indian, Tamil teriyuma? (Do you understand Tamil?), which to Hindi speaking people sounds like Tamil teri maa.

— Sagarika Ghose in The Times of India.