After the release of Thamma, YouTubers quickly began sharing reviews and opinions on the film. Many of them compared it to recent South Indian mythological releases like Kantara Chapter 1 and Lokah.
Some viewers noticed a pattern in how North Indian YouTubers review South versus Hindi films. When reviewing Bollywood movies, their tone often seems flat or uninterested, and they tend to highlight how South cinema supposedly does it better.
Fans believe this growing bias may not be entirely organic. While some South films genuinely stand out, a few viewers suspect that certain creators are being influenced even paid to promote the idea that South cinema is superior and Bollywood is in decline.
This perception, they argue, shifts attention away from good Hindi films and amplifies negativity toward Bollywood. Many of these channels, when they do review Hindi movies, often end up trolling them.
There’s no solid proof of paid promotions, but fans say such commentary fuels the false belief that Bollywood is collapsing while the South industry alone is thriving. In reality, both produce hits and flops in equal measure.
Bollywood, for instance, released strong titles last year like Superboys of Malegaon, Dhadak 2, Kesari Chapter 2, and Homebound quality films that failed to get noticed despite positive feedback.
When YouTubers repeatedly say “Bollywood needs to learn from the South” or “Bollywood has ruined cinema,” audiences overlook these well-made Hindi films. Selective comparisons create a distorted image, making it appear that South industries alone deliver quality content.
Both film industries have gems and misfires. The growing bias spread through social media and YouTube narratives harms Bollywood’s credibility. Audiences must explore a wider range of films and form their own opinions instead of relying on influencers with narrow, and sometimes skewed, viewpoints.
