Sivakarthikeyan is riding high on the success of Madharaasi, his latest psychological action-romantic thriller that also stars Rukmini Vasanth and Vidyut Jammwal. The film has earned praise for its layered storytelling and strong performances, further cementing his place as one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable stars.
While celebrating this milestone, the actor sat down with Cinema Express to reflect on a bigger industry question: why Tamil cinema hasn’t yet delivered a Rs 1000 crore blockbuster.
Sivakarthikeyan was clear that the pursuit of a round number should never dictate creative choices. “I’ve said this before, but when we made Amaran, we never thought about what number it would eventually reach,” he recalled. “Apart from the quality of a film, there are other factors that come into play, like ticket pricing. That’s something people don’t always talk about.”
He pointed out that Tamil cinema operates in a different economic environment compared to other Indian industries. In Bengaluru or Mumbai, ticket prices are higher, giving films there a chance to accumulate bigger grosses without necessarily pulling in more audiences. “I’m not in favour of raising ticket rates here,” he clarified.
“But if we had the same structure, a film like Jailer would have easily crossed Rs 800 crore, if not Rs 1000 crore.”
The actor’s comments underline the fact that quality alone cannot push a film into record-breaking territory. While Tamil films have long been celebrated for their craft, strong writing, and performances, the business side remains tightly regulated.
Ticket prices are capped in Tamil Nadu, ensuring affordability but also limiting the scope for box-office explosions.
Films like Jailer, Ponniyin Selvan, and Leo have shown that Tamil cinema can dominate the national conversation and attract global attention. But as Sivakarthikeyan pointed out, infrastructure, pricing policies, and distribution networks also need to evolve if Tamil cinema is to reach the Rs 1000 crore milestone.
Sivakarthikeyan said they should stay focused on the story, not the scoreboard. “The audience always responds to honesty and quality,” he said. “If we keep delivering that, the numbers will follow in their own way.”
Madharaasi is directed by AR Murugadoss.
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