Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Nani Challenges ‘Pan-India’ Label Applied to South Indian Films
Nani is an actor who mainly works in Telugu movies.
He asked why successful Hindi movies are still called Hindi movies, even when people watch them across India.
He said successful movies from southern languages are instead often called “pan-Indian.”
Nani thinks this creates an unfair difference in how films are described.
He wants The Paradise to be recognized as a Telugu movie, even though it will be shown in several languages.
He said movies should be judged by whether they are good, not by whether they travel to other regions.
Nani also spoke warmly about Chennai and Tamil cinema.
His two movies made directly in Tamil did not succeed commercially, although his Telugu movies dubbed into Tamil have done well.
The Paradise is scheduled to reach theatres on September 24 without a regular trailer.
Nani said successful Hindi films such as Jawan and Pathaan remain identified as Hindi films, while successful South Indian films are labeled “pan-Indian.”
He wants The Paradise to be recognized as a Telugu film and judged as cinema rather than by its national reach.
Nani said his objection is to the label, not to releasing films for Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada audiences.
He described Chennai and Tamil cinema as central to his cinematic journey, while acknowledging that his Tamil films Veppam and Aaha Kalyanam were commercial failures.
The Paradise, directed by Srikanth Odela, will release across multiple languages on September 24 without a conventional trailer.
- Who
- Actor Nani, discussing his films and the terminology used for Indian-language cinema.
- What
- Nani challenged the use of “pan-Indian” mainly for successful South Indian films and discussed The Paradise and his connection to Tamil cinema.
- When
- At a Thursday press meet ahead of The Paradise’s September 24 release; Nani also said this was the last time he would address the debate.
- Where
- At a press meet in Chennai promoting the Tamil version of The Paradise.
- Why
- Nani said the term reflects a double standard because successful Hindi films remain identified as Hindi films, while successful South Indian films receive a special national label.
Nani’s View
Continued Industry Usage
Use of the “pan-Indian” label
Nani’s View
Nani argues that successful Hindi films such as Jawan and Pathaan are still called Hindi films, while successful Telugu, Tamil or Kannada films are labeled “pan-Indian.” He wants The Paradise recognized as a Telugu film.
Continued Industry Usage
Nani acknowledges that he cannot stop others from calling films “pan-Indian,” and the term continues to be used for films released across India. He says his objection is to the label, not to reaching audiences in other languages.
- Upcoming film
- The Paradise
- Director
- Srikanth Odela
- Release date
- September 24
- Languages
- Releasing across multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada versions
- Setting
- 1980s Secunderabad
- Certification and runtime
- A certificate; 2 hours and 49 minutes
- Trailer
- Releasing without a conventional trailer
- Tamil films discussed
- Veppam and Aaha Kalyanam
