As the weekend is approaching, I am planning to watch some movies. It is better to stay at cozy comfort of home during winter and enjoy some leisure time of our own. But choosing a good movies is absolute headache. Especially when it comes to mainstream Hindi cinema. But ultimately, I made up my mind to watch some regional south cinemas. Lately I develop a liking for it much more than Hindi cinema.
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Recently, I started liking some of the regional movies/ series. Especially those were made in the southern part of India. Even though there is language constraint and most of the series are not dubbed in Hindi. Still I kept on watching finding them much mind blowing series. Kooman, Shakahari, kavalidari, Tatsam tadbhav* are few to name. Thanks to English subtitles availabe over #amazonprime, which helps me to understand the storyline and plot. All the mentioned series are work of fiction but ample amount of thrill and suspense involved. Each of the series were exceptional work of directorship, acting and more importantly stories. They keep me hooked onto the seats till the last moment.
I am surprised to find my new taste of cinema. Earlier I was fond of English movies and obvious Hindi bollywood movies. But If I recall correctly, I don't remember what was my last bollywood movies that I watched so interestingly.
The changing audience taste
South Indian cinema has took the indian audience with surprise. There were few movies, which made a huge waves around the India theatres. Kaantara, KGF, Pushpa, Bahubali are few blockbuster movies of southern film industry which were released all over India in multiple languages, including Hindi, and English. The audience loved these movies much more than the regular Hindi movies. It was a surprise turnaround for the south Indian cinema. The liking and loves they receive from Northern territory and other parts were overwhelming. There was time, when south Indian cinema were restricted only to few territory. But not the case any more.
After watching few of the web series / movies over the OTT platform, I must say that the southern film industry has came much ahead in race as compared to other film industry in India. Leaving a deep trace of genuine professional work.
Audiences generally gravitate towards movies that offer a mix of exciting storylines, relatable characters, strong visuals, emotional depth, and genres like action, comedy, drama, science fiction, fantasy, and superhero films. Some of popular examples include blockbuster franchises like Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Star Wars," "Lord of the Rings," as well as critically acclaimed films with compelling narratives and performances. Same goes with the southern film industry. They understood the audience taste and are working towards garnering more views.
Rise of the South
South Indian movies are gaining popularity due to their unique storytelling, high production values, strong performances by actors, cultural authenticity, innovative marketing strategies, and a focus on diverse and engaging plots, which often resonate more deeply with audiences compared to some mainstream Bollywood films that rely on formulaic narratives. Essentially, south Indian cinemas are offering a fresh cinematic experience rooted in regional culture while still appealing to a wider Indian audience.
While the bollywood which involves in Hindi movies kept on repeating theme and stories. One can easily expect and anticipate the film story mere watching the trailer. Some of the key points which helps in the rise of South cinemas are :
South Indian films often delve into rich, complex stories with strong character development, avoiding typical Bollywood tropes.
Investment in advanced technology and visual effects creates visually stunning films comparable to Hollywood standards
South Indian cinema boasts a large pool of talented actors delivering powerful performances.
Films often stay true to regional traditions, languages, and lifestyles, fostering a sense of connection with the local audience.
This is why movies likes of "Baahubali", "RRR", "KGF" etc, showcase these elements and have gained significant pan-Indian recognition. Garnering much applauds and accolades even at the International level. Bollywood is currently considered to be lagging behind in areas like storytelling innovation, diverse representation, quality control, and global appeal. Critics often point to a reliance on formulaic plots, predictable storylines, and a lack of fresh perspectives in many Bollywood films.
I often heard, it is important to understand the audience. Now after differentiating, I can say that Understanding the audience is important because it helps to create more effective communication and build stronger relationships. Which I belive the south movies understood much better than any other regional industry. This is what makes bollywood lagging behind in race.
So now, I have few Tamil series in bucket with English subtitles for the weekend. Hope going to be a entertaining