It is not a South film but an Indian film that is succeeding: Kamal Haasan on South vs Bollywood row

Mumbai (Maharashtra): The Bollywood vs South Films row has caused a lot of debate in the Indian film industry. Everyone has an opinion on it, where some think that South films are better while many others tout the Bollywood industry to be the boss. The debate that was begun after Mahesh Babu said that Bollywood cannot afford him, has spread like wildfire. Now, South superstar Kamal Haasan also had to share his opinion on the matter, which may end the debate soon.

During his press conference for the release of his next venture ‘Vikram’, Kamal Haasan was asked about his opinion on the South vs Bollywood controversy. To this, the Sadma actor gave a fitting reply to end the debate. The actor began his answer by stating, “Films speak the world language. It is a language on its own. We are a country with such diversity and fantastic unity. Many might disagree but India is a country where many people do not speak a language but say their national anthem with pride. People down South do not know a single word of Bengali but they sing their national anthem in that language with pride.”

He further added, “That is one sensibility that unites us all, otherwise we were just princely states. We made what was considered to be a silly dream into the truth and we are living it. We have forgotten how difficult it was to put it all together. Just like the success of a movie. Once it comes, you think it will keep coming while forgetting the hardships you went through to make it. No, you will have to keep your vigil.”

 The superstar called films to be the only place where people are united. “This is the only place where you don’t check the caste or community the next man sitting to you is. You got your ticket; you got your entertainment. That is how the country should be,” he said.

Haasan further exclaimed that when someone says that a South film is succeeding, it is the Indian film that has succeeded. “When people say, South films are succeeding, I think it is an Indian film that is succeeding as compared to a Hollywood movie doing well in India. It does not matter which part of the country makes it,” he said.

The actor further revealed that the South film industry learned to make larger-than-life films from Hindi cinema as well. “We learnt to make big films from films like Mughal-E-Azam and Sholay. These movies were so big that Tamil or Malayalam films couldn’t even try them. Mughal-E-Azam is not just intelligence, it is about guts. So, we do understand and respect each other. We should. If you think a film is good, appreciate it. Language does not matter,” the actor stated.