Kamal Haasan: We made Pushpak in 15 lakhs
Chennai, June 8
Actor and parliamentarian Kamal Haasan has now disclosed that his critically acclaimed superhit film 'Pushpak', directed by veteran director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, was made on a budget of just Rs 15 lakhs and that if the film had been made today, it would have collected Rs 200 crore.
Speaking at a pre-release event of director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's upcoming film 'Sing Geetham' in Chennai, Kamal Haasan recalled his experience of working with the veteran director on several films including Pushpak, which received critical acclaim for being a film without dialogues.
Kamal Haasan pointed out that cinema was all about passion and that business only came later but now, filmmakers were first looking at the business aspect and then making films.
He said, "Cinema is all about passion. And then only, it becomes a business. We are doing it the other way around. We now check how much a film will make -- 100 crores, 200 crores, 300 crores. No, the day we made Pushpak for 15 lakhs, we felt like we made 150 crores. But that's not an exaggeration. It must have already collected more than 200 crores. That's the truth of the industry. We don't realise. We don't even fully monetise our films. We are learning now. But he (Singeetham Srinivasa Rao) has travelled from that time of passion and his passion has not dwindled at all and I don't see why the industry should lose its passion."
Showering praise on director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao for being ahead of times, Kamal Haasan said, "He's always ahead of Gen Z. And I'm happy to celebrate a young man like Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. Age is a nuisance. But mind can surpass it. And he's a great example. And I'm learning. In that, I want to be his assistant director."
For the unaware, legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao has returned to the director's chair at the remarkable age of 94 with 'Sing Geetham', which is slated to hit screens on June 11 this year.
With a career spanning decades and nearly 60 films across multiple languages, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, who is known to have delivered several iconic classics including the Kamal Haasan-starrer 'Pushpak', has consistently redefined cinematic storytelling in India.
'Sing Geetham' is being claimed as India's first musical fantasy. The film has been produced by Nag Ashwin under the prestigious banners of Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema and features Ayaan, Ahilya Bamroo, and Shalini Kondepudi in the lead.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao at 94 directing again is just incredible! Films like Pushpak are timeless - no dialogues needed, just pure visual storytelling. But let's be real, the economics of cinema have changed. With inflation and star salaries, making a film today for even a fraction of what Pushpak cost would be impossible. Still, Kamal's point about passion is spot on. 🙌
I remember watching Pushpak as a kid - it was such a unique experience! No dialogues, but the story and performances were so powerful. Kamal and Singeetham garu were truly ahead of their time. The industry does need to balance business with passion, but the pressure to recover huge budgets is real. Hope Sing Geetham brings back that magic! ✨
Kamal Haasan always speaks with such wisdom. The comparison between passion and business is so relevant not just for cinema but for all creative fields. When you love what you do, the money follows. Pushpak proved that content is king - no VFX, no big sets, just brilliant storytelling. Can't wait to see what Singeetham Srinivasa Rao does at 94!
Honestly, while I appreciate the sentiment, I think Kamal is being a bit nostalgic here. Yes, Pushpak was great for its time and budget, but saying it would collect 200 crores today is a stretch. The audience has changed, and without the novelty factor of a no-dialogue film it might not work as well today. Still, respect for Singeetham garu's passion at 94! 🎬
K Kavya N