In today’s cinema world, a movie’s worth is often judged only by its opening weekend box office numbers.
Legendary actor Kamal Haasan recently criticized this trend, pointing out how the conversation has shifted away from great storytelling. Instead, the industry has become obsessed with financial milestones.
Where movies were once praised for their emotional depth and lasting impact, they are now grouped strictly into commercial clubs. This massive focus on numbers is changing how films are made.
When budgets and box office collections become the main talking points, creativity suffers. Filmmaking stops being about passion and becomes a safe business exercise. Producers start following strict formulas to make sure they do not lose money.
This mathematical approach creates a major problem for original stories. If every movie is forced to fit a specific pattern just to hit 100, 200, or 300 crores, unique ideas get pushed out. There is less room for challenging, unconventional, or deeply cultural storytelling.
True cinema thrives when the business is just a byproduct of passion, not the other way around. Great art should have an edge. It should have the power to make comfortable people think deeply, and bring comfort to those who are struggling.
A movie’s true success is never determined by a massive opening weekend. Its real value lies in how long it stays with the audience after the credits roll. The industry must remember that cinema needs a passion for craft, or it will keep making films that know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
“100 కోట్లు… 200 కోట్లు… 300 కోట్లు…” అన్నదే ఇప్పుడు Cinema
“Cinema is all about passion… తర్వాతే business”@ikamalhaasan pic.twitter.com/NRinYKFZww
— M9 NEWS (@M9News_) June 7, 2026
