Kamal Haasan brought attention to the concerning trend in the Tamil film industry where films are tailored to fit the image of a top star rather than focusing on producing meaningful cinema.
Last Updated: 02.22 PM, Dec 25, 2023
Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan expressed his dismay over the current state of the Indian film industry, particularly within the Tamil film industry. He lashed out at the current trend of audiences obsessing over the box office collections, instead of demanding quality content from filmmakers.
"How long will you be talking about the Rs 500 crore film or Rs 600 crore film? Don't you desire to watch good movies at all? If you don't have that desire, this is what will you get," Kamal said during Sunday's episode on Bigg Boss Tamil season 7.
He kicked off the Sunday episode by giving the opportunity to housemates to share their goals and aspirations that they would like to pursue after going out of the show. In addition to listening to their ambitions, he provided valuable advice, emphasizing the importance of acquiring proper knowledge and training to meet the demands of today's film market.
In the meantime, Kamal also held the audiences accountable, underscoring their crucial role in creating a conducive situation for the industry to produce more quality films as opposed to pandering to the masses. "You ask the menu at the hotel, right? But, you don't ask for it at cinemas. Even if you are served Pongal (read the same dish) every day, you eat it quietly and leave. This is your fault. I won't make that mistake. Because I am the biggest fan of cinema," Kamal told the audience.
Kamal also brought attention to the concerning trend in the industry where films are tailored to fit the image of a top star rather than focusing on producing meaningful cinema. "In the industry today, there's a tendency to ask whether a story suits this or that star. Unlike producers with the courage of A. V. Meiyappa Chettiar and Vasan sir, many don't tell directors, 'You narrate the story, and we'll decide on the star.' This leads to inevitable typecasting. To break this pattern, we either need new leaders or we should become the leaders. That was the purpose behind creating Raaj Kamal Films," he added.
Kamal urged aspiring filmmakers to pursue independence if necessary to bring their dream projects to life. "I declare today that spectacle films alone won't sustain Tamil cinema. This industry cannot survive without small-budget films. It needs good directors and thinkers. It can't thrive solely on superstars and top directors. You might question if I'm undermining myself, but I've reached this point because of those small-budget films," he emphasized.