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Nani Questions Double Standard Behind ‘Pan-India’ Film Label
Nani is an actor who works mainly in Telugu films.
He asked why successful South Indian movies are called “pan-India” movies, while successful Hindi movies are usually still called Hindi movies.
He thinks this makes South Indian movies seem like they must prove they belong to the whole country.
Nani said movies should be judged by whether they are good, not by where they come from.
He also spoke warmly about Chennai and Tamil cinema.
His two movies made directly in Tamil did not do well at the box office.
However, his Telugu movies dubbed into Tamil have connected well with Tamil audiences.
Nani still hopes to make another Tamil movie and wants to work with Mani Ratnam.
His new movie, The Paradise, is scheduled to arrive in theatres on September 24.
Nani said Hindi films successful in southern markets are still called Hindi films, while successful South Indian films are labeled pan-India.
He said he wants his films judged as good or bad cinema rather than as regional films that managed to travel nationally.
Nani described Chennai and Tamil cinema as deeply important to his personal and cinematic journey.
He said his two direct Tamil films, Veppam and Aaha Kalyanam, did not succeed commercially, while his Telugu films dubbed into Tamil perform well.
Nani’s The Paradise, directed by Srikanth Odela, will release across multiple languages on September 24 without a conventional trailer.
- Who
- Actor Nani, speaking about his films and Indian cinema.
- What
- Nani questioned the use of “pan-India” mainly for successful South Indian films and discussed his Tamil film ambitions and upcoming film The Paradise.
- Where
- At a press meet in Chennai promoting the Tamil version of The Paradise.
- When
- He spoke at a press meet on Thursday ahead of The Paradise’s September 24 release.
- Why
- Nani said the label reflects a double standard because successful Hindi films remain identified as Hindi films, while successful South Indian films receive a special national label.
Key facts
- Upcoming film
- The Paradise
- Director
- Srikanth Odela
- Release date
- September 24
- Setting
- 1980s Secunderabad
- Certification and runtime
- A certificate; 2 hours and 49 minutes
- Trailer
- The film will release without a conventional trailer
- Tamil films discussed
- Veppam and Aaha Kalyanam
Quotes
Nani
Indian actor speaking about industry terminology and the classification of his films
“When a Hindi film succeeds in the South, we still call it a Hindi film. But when a South Indian film succeeds across the country, we call it a pan-India film. That’s why I don’t want to label my films as pan-India films.”
indianexpress.com
“Tamil cinema is a Bible for me. My knowledge, love and interest in cinema began here, from watching Kamal sir, Mani sir, Bharathiraja sir, Bhagyaraj sir and many more legends who shaped the way I look at cinema.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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