South Indian cinema is witnessing a growing divide in storytelling. Tollywood and Kollywood, once similar in approach, are now taking very different creative paths. Telugu films are embracing Hindu mythology, hero-driven plots, and grand visuals, while Tamil cinema continues to focus on caste-based and socially themed narratives.
Tollywood has found massive success with mythological and cultural stories that combine spectacle with emotion. Films like RRR, Kalki 2898 AD, Mirai, and Karthikeya 2 celebrate Hindu identity and offer larger-than-life experiences. These movies make audiences feel proud, entertained, and part of something epic. Their box office numbers reflect how strongly this formula is connecting with viewers.
Kollywood, meanwhile, has remained committed to portraying caste struggles and social injustice. While directors like Mari Selvaraj have earned critical acclaim, many viewers now find this genre repetitive. His latest film Bison, though beautifully made, struggled at the box office. Viewers felt the story was too heavy and similar to Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan.
The audience trend is clear. People are choosing entertaining and emotionally charged films over those built only on social relevance. Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dude, for example, has drawn crowds because it balances humour, energy, and emotion with a relatable story.
Telugu cinema is now pushing toward global recognition with projects like SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film starring Mahesh Babu, inspired by Indian mythology. Tamil cinema, in contrast, seems stuck in a loop, unable to draw large audiences even within the state.
In short, Tollywood’s use of mythology and cultural pride is helping it rise higher, while Kollywood’s repetitive caste-based storytelling is slowly losing its grip on the masses.
