For the past few years in Kollywood, you have seen most star films turn into major failures, while medium budget movies continue to deliver super blockbuster results. Only one or two big star films escape this pattern, and the gap keeps growing.
This year, directors like Shankar, Mani Ratnam, Lokesh Kanagaraj and AR Murugadoss left the Kollywood audience disappointed. Sundar C entered the scene with a surprise collaboration with Rajinikanth, but he stepped out as well, leaving an even bigger vacuum for star directors.
After the successes of Theri, Mersal and Bigil, many expected Atlee to become the next Shankar of Kollywood. Instead, he shifted his path with his Bollywood entry and is now focused on his pan Indian journey with Allu Arjun.
Kollywood audiences also placed high hopes on Karthik Subbaraj, Pa. Ranjith and Venkat Prabhu. They believed these directors would break the regular commercial model and build their own mark with star actors. Their collaborations, however, turned into disasters and left fans disappointed.
Nelson Dilipkumar is now the only one still standing in this group. His dark comedy style continues to entertain, but even that has a limit. When the format reaches saturation, he too will face pressure to reinvent himself.
Because of this, Kollywood appears short of directors who can handle its top stars. The industry feels ready for fresh talent to take on bigger challenges and change the current cycle.
Meanwhile, many people on social media argue that if these star directors stop chasing glory and focus on strong content, they will bounce back and reclaim their place in the industry.
After Sundar C announced his exit from Rajinikanth’s project, social media filled up with debates and theories. This discussion is only one of the many conversations happening now.
