Veteran Director Laments Tamil Film's Decline Amid Regional Hits

As of October 13th, 2025, veteran filmmaker T. Rajender has voiced his deep concern over the current slump in Tamil cinema. In a recent statement, Rajender drew comparisons between the struggles of Tamil films and the success of recent South Indian blockbusters like the Malayalam hit 'Lokah' and the Kannada phenomenon 'Kantara'.

Rajender expressed a mix of happiness for the achievements of other regional industries and worry for the decline of Tamil cinema. He emphasized that while Malayalam and Kannada films have produced meaningful, culture-driven stories that have resonated with audiences, Tamil cinema is currently facing a creative drought. Despite over 200 Tamil films being released this year, only a few small-budget productions like 'Tourist Family', 'Dragon', 'Thalaivan Thalaivi', and Ajith Kumar's 'Good Bad Ugly' have managed to find success.

According to Rajender, Tamil cinema's obsession with massive budgets, "pan-Indian" hype, and grand-scale promotions has shifted the focus away from storytelling and originality. He believes this has led to a lack of compelling narratives rooted in Tamil culture, resulting in audience disinterest despite the numerous releases. Rajender expressed disappointment with filmmakers who draw inspiration from foreign films without properly adapting them to local sensibilities.

The veteran director concluded that if Tamil cinema can bring stories that have life and are deeply rooted in the region's culture, the industry will thrive once again.