Why Hindi Audiences Are Embracing South Indian Films: Bollywood Director Anurag Kashyap

Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has made critical remarks about the state of the Bollywood industry, highlighting key reasons why Hindi audiences are increasingly drawn to South Indian films. Kashyap asserted that Bollywood has long ceased to cater to its core audience, focusing instead on profit-driven ventures. In contrast, he praised South Indian filmmakers for producing content that resonates deeply with their audience.

“South Indian films are built on storylines that connect with viewers, and that is why Hindi audiences are embracing them,” Kashyap stated. He emphasized that ignoring the audience's preferences has led Bollywood to its current predicament. “It is not correct to forget what our viewers want,” he added.

Kashyap remarked that while Bollywood continues to produce Hindi-language films, it has stopped paying attention to Hindi-speaking audiences. He pointed out that some entrepreneurs have taken advantage of this gap by launching YouTube channels, acquiring South Indian films at low costs, dubbing them into Hindi, and presenting them to the Hindi audience. “The interest in dubbed South Indian films has surged among Hindi audiences, and the viewership numbers for such movies have grown significantly,” Kashyap noted.

He further cited the example of the pre-release event for “Pushpa 2” being held in Patna, attributing the craze for South Indian films in northern India to this rising demand.

Criticizing Bollywood’s profit-oriented approach, Kashyap said, “Bollywood focuses solely on profits, starting with how to market a film even before production begins. It has lost the joy of filmmaking.” He went on to state that he might leave Mumbai next year, adding, “Bollywood filmmakers cannot create movies like ‘Pushpa.’ They lack the creativity to do so.”

Referring to Daggubati Rana's father, veteran producer Suresh Babu, Kashyap commended his contributions to Indian cinema and his influence on many filmmakers. “Why does Bollywood not listen to the words of someone like him?” Kashyap questioned. He accused Bollywood’s prominent figures of operating with arrogance and hubris, further aggravating the industry's decline.