Director Gautham Vasudev Menon recently shared his thoughts on the changing landscape of cinema, highlighting the decreasing interest of South Indian stars in romantic films. Speaking at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, he revealed his desire to make grand love stories but lamented that actors were hesitant to take on such roles. He noted that when he approached stars from Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada industries with a romantic script, they either delayed meetings or refused to discuss the project altogether.
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The Shift in Storytelling and Audience Preferences
Menon emphasized that his stories often stem from personal experiences, a practice he has maintained throughout his filmmaking career. He recounted how Kaakha Kaakha initially faced resistance before eventually being embraced by audiences. However, he acknowledged that attracting viewers to theaters has become increasingly difficult, especially with the dominance of OTT platforms.
Challenges of the Theater Business
The director admitted that he is still figuring out how to bring audiences back to cinemas. While films like Vendhu Thaninthadhu Kaadu managed to draw crowds, others like Joshua did not. He observed that Tamil and Telugu cinema still benefit from star power, as seen with Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan, which had a strong theatrical opening despite its unconventional storyline.
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The Impact of OTT on Cinema
Menon cited filmmaker Sean Baker’s Oscars speech, echoing concerns that the industry's reliance on digital sales is harming the theater business. Initially, he believed OTT platforms would make cinema more accessible, but he now sees them as a threat to traditional movie-watching experiences. He expressed hope that this digital dependence would fade and that compelling storytelling would once again draw people to theaters.
On Criticism and Changing Social Perceptions
Addressing the issue of personal attacks in film reviews, Menon criticized social media and YouTube reviewers for making disrespectful comments about filmmakers. He argued that reviews should remain professional and not turn into personal insults.
When asked about the portrayal of stalking in films, he defended his work, particularly Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, saying that different eras have different standards of acceptance. He mentioned that similar tropes existed in Mani Ratnam’s Mouna Ragam (1986) and dismissed attempts to define his films through contemporary social lenses.
Regarding industry-wide concerns like high star salaries and ticket pricing, he acknowledged the necessity of maintaining high-quality theaters and cinematic experiences. He also expressed no objections to accommodating the demands of major stars like Amitabh Bachchan if it meant enhancing the filmmaking process.
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