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Kamal Haasan Reveals Why Regional Cinema is the New National

Kamal Haasan made a powerful statement about the shifting landscape of Indian cinema at the South Unbound event in Chennai. He argued that southern storytelling, backed by hits like 'Kantara' and 'Pushpa', has broken through to become a national and global phenomenon. The event was highlighted by a landmark Rs 4,000 crore investment pledge from JioHotstar into Tamil Nadu's creative sector. Haasan urged creators to seize this unprecedented moment, declaring it the best time to be a storyteller.

Key Points: Kamal Haasan on Southern Cinema Rise at South Unbound Event

  • JioHotstar announces a massive Rs 4,000 crore investment in Tamil Nadu's media industry over five years
  • Kamal Haasan cites hits like Kantara and Baahubali as proof authentic stories have global appeal
  • He describes today's audience as the true platform, with stories being screen-agnostic
  • The actor emphasizes the need for strong ecosystems of creators and supportive policies to thrive
3 min read

Regional is becoming new national: Kamal Haasan on growing prominence of Southern cinema at 'South Unbound' event

Kamal Haasan declares "regional is the new national" as JioHotstar pledges Rs 4,000 crore investment in Tamil Nadu's creative economy at South Unbound.

"Today, regional is becoming the new national, and ethnic the new international. - Kamal Haasan"

Chennai, December 9

Actor Kamal Haasan attended the JioHotstar Programme 'South Unbound' in Chennai and highlighted the growing national and global prominence of Southern storytelling.

At a star-studded event that marked a watershed moment for South India's Media & Entertainment industry, JioHotstar announced an investment of Rs 4,000 crore over the next five years to boost the region's creative economy.

The event was attended by the Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister of Tamil Development, Information and Publicity MP Saminathan and executives of JioHotstar.

Kamal Haasan said stories today are "screen-agnostic" and follow viewers across platforms.

"Today, stories are truly screen-agnostic. They travel with the viewer. The audience has become the platform. And when that happens, the relationship between the medium and the message changes forever. Stories do not belong to any screen; they always travel with the listener and belong to people. Screens simply follow them," said Kamal Haasan.

Highlighting the growing national and global prominence of southern storytelling, he pointed to films like 'Kantara', 'Drishyam', 'Baahubali', 'Pushpa', 'Vikram' and 'Amaran', saying their success proves that authenticity is a currency "that can never be demonetised."

Drawing parallels with global successes like Squid Game, he noted that southern Indian languages together speak to more than 275 million people, giving the region unprecedented potential for global reach, as per the press note shared by JioHotstar.

"It is this tectonic shift that makes JioHotstar's initiative so consequential for Tamil Nadu - not only for its ambition, but for the architecture of opportunity it unlocks. In this new world, every Tamil creator, producer, and storyteller can reach every Indian, on every screen, every day. Today, regional is becoming the new national, and ethnic the new international. Stories born in Madurai, Malappuram, Mandya or Machilipatnam are no longer "regional cinema" - they are national cultural events," added Kamal Haasan, according to the press note.

Kamal Haasan emphasised that a thriving creative economy needs strong ecosystems of creators, technicians, platforms and supportive policymaking as well.

The 'South Unbound' Letter of Intent signed between the Tamil Nadu government and JioHotstar marks a Rs 12,000-crore commitment to southern storytelling, with more than Rs 4,000 crore earmarked for Tamil Nadu over the next five years.

During his speech, Kamal Haasan described M&E landscape as one shaped by a young audience, rapid digital expansion, a regional surge influencing national tastes, supportive state policies and global interest in Indian ideas.

"There has never been a better time to be a storyteller," he said, urging the industry to seize the moment or risk losing it.

On the work front, Kamal Haasan was last seen in the film 'Thug Life.' It was directed by Mani Ratnam.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who moved to Bangalore from the US, I find this fascinating. The storytelling from South India has a unique rawness and cultural depth that Hollywood often lacks. "Authenticity is a currency that can never be demonetised" – what a powerful line!
P
Priya S
While I celebrate the success, I hope this doesn't lead to homogenization. The beauty of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema is their distinct flavors. With big money coming in, will they start making pan-India 'formula' films and lose their soul? A valid concern.
V
Vikram M
Rs 4,000 crore for Tamil Nadu alone? That's massive! This will create so many jobs for local technicians, writers, and artists. It's high time our talent got the infrastructure and budgets they deserve. Hope the funds reach the right people and not just the big stars.
R
Rohit P
True that! As a Hindi film viewer, I now eagerly wait for South Indian releases. The storytelling is just superior in many cases. The 'regional is national' shift is real. My only request: please improve the Hindi dubbing quality sometimes! The emotions get lost.
K
Karthik V
Fantastic news. But alongside investment, we need to protect our intellectual property and ensure fair royalties for creators. OTT platforms often have lopsided contracts. Hope Kamal Haasan and the government address this ecosystem issue too.

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