Two and Two make Five – I am talking about multi starrers which are a rarity in Tamil Cinema but common in Hollywood and Bollywood. To increase the appeal, to bring in desired impact for Hindi movies, producers and directors are leaving no stones unturned and even actors see the bigger picture and abide. The result is quality pictures like Rang de Basanti, Tare Zameen Par, 3 Idiots, Salaam E Ishq, K series etc. I can only remember 3 good multi starrers in Tamil Anbe Sivam, Unnai Pol Oruvan and Pithamagan. Long way to go Kollywood!

Catch’em Use’em– Bollywood is always quick to recognize outside talents and use them. Though actors from the South did not have a very special experience, it was a dream run for technicians .e.g. Priyadarshan, Ram Gopal Varma, Mani Ratnam, Ravi K.Chandran, Remo, Mani Kandan etc. Be it Kollywood, Tollywood, Mollywood, if you have talent you have your place in Mumbai no matter what. Incidentally outsider’s contribution to Bollywood was and is immense. So isn’t it high time to find talents outside and use to our advantage?

Cath’em Fresh – Rang de Basanti, Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai would not be possible if Aamir insisted on an experienced director and Chak De India if Shah Rukh said no to a first timer. Even in music, a lot of talents are identified and nurtured. E.g. Pritam, Himesh, Shankar Ehsan Loy, Shantanu, Vishal – Sekar, Salim-Sulaiman etc. In Kollywood, our asst. directors are knocking the doors of Telugu cinema since none of the heroes are ready to listen their scripts. Our actors and directors prefer to have lucky mascots in the form of music directors thus shunning away fresh talent.

Not a child’s play – Today, Hindi producers give tough competition to the corporate strategist in employing management and marketing strategies. Top notch PR agencies are recruited, a clear strategy is drafted, metrics are defined, shooting and marketing activities go hand in hand. Product placements, Merchandise, Online Marketing, Unconventional Buzz, Global Star studded Premiere everything is planned to perfection. Except for a few directors we still reside in Stone Age as far as marketing and promotion is concerned. Marketing is not a child’s play anymore it’s going to be the bread and butter in a matter of days. Tamil stars are aloof when it comes to marketing, but if you want to reach new markets then our heroes have to flex their muscles off the cameras too.

One for All & All for One – To put in one word we should have one vehicle like IIFA to market Tamil Films globally. And when we have one such forum, our stars should put aside their differences, complexes, egos etc aside and come together for their own goodness if not for the industry. But they must realize they are as good or bad as Kollywood is.

A change is possible only if Tamil Cinema buckles up and sets right the issues mentioned above.

Regards,
Senthil Nathan R.,
raj_senthil82@yahoo.co.in