Visionary filmmaker Mani Ratnam has weighed in on why Tamil cinema is yet to produce a film that grosses ₹1000 crore at the box office, a benchmark already achieved by some Hindi and Telugu films. In a recent interview with YouTube channel Gobinath, the 'Thug Life' director shared his perspective on the increasing focus on box office numbers and its potential impact on the industry's creative spirit.

When asked why Tamil cinema hasn't reached this milestone despite having renowned figures such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and himself, Ratnam responded with a thought-provoking question: "Are we making films solely to chase big box office returns, or are we trying to create something authentic and, at least to some extent, a truly good film?" He further elaborated that earlier, the primary discussion revolved around whether a movie was good, bad, or average, but now, the conversation heavily emphasizes box office collections.

Ratnam expressed his concern that such commercial pressures could potentially stifle creativity within the industry, a sentiment he hopes will not materialize in the future. He emphasized the importance of creating films that genuinely touch the audience's hearts, rather than merely focusing on achieving massive box office numbers. He noted that films in the past used to captivate audiences from beginning to end, a phenomenon that he believes is no longer consistently present. According to Ratnam, audiences earlier used to pay attention to a film's core content and its execution, but that focus has diminished over time. He also stated firmly that he has no interest in making films solely for the sake of box office figures.

However, some critics have pointed out that this argument may be outdated, suggesting that it presents a false dichotomy between quality and commercial success. They argue that films like "Baahubali," "Dangal," "RRR," "Jawan," and "KGF" have demonstrated that it is possible to achieve both critical acclaim and box office success. These films have managed to deliver both entertainment and quality, proving that commercial success and good cinema can coexist. It has been suggested that Ratnam could have acknowledged that Tamil cinema is lagging behind in making films that appeal to all sections of the audience like Telugu or Hindi films do.

Mani Ratnam is currently promoting his upcoming gangster action film 'Thug Life', which is slated to release on June 5, 2025. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR in the lead roles, and boasts an ensemble cast including Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film is co-written by Haasan and Ratnam. The story revolves around Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker (Kamal Haasan), an aging gangster presumed dead, whose disappearance elevates his adopted son Amaran (Silambarasan) to the head of the mafia. But Sakthivel's return triggers a deadly game to reclaim his legacy and confront the tangled destinies of father and son.