The South Indian media and entertainment industry is on a roll, with blockbuster hits like ‘RRR,’ ‘K.G.F 2,’ ‘Ponniyin Selvan: 1,’ and ‘Kantara’ driving record revenues of $3.5 billion in 2021, according to a report.
The report by media and entertainment consulting firm Ormax Media highlights the success of these movies, which have not only raked in huge box office collections but also garnered critical acclaim for their storytelling, direction, and technical prowess.
‘RRR,’ directed by S.S. Rajamouli and starring Ram Charan and Jr. NTR, is a period action-drama set in the pre-independence era of India. The movie has been a massive hit in India and overseas, grossing over $150 million worldwide.
‘K.G.F 2,’ the sequel to the 2018 movie ‘K.G.F,’ directed by Prashanth Neel and starring Yash, is a gangster drama set in the 1980s. The movie has shattered box office records in India, grossing over $100 million and counting.
‘Ponniyin Selvan: 1,’ directed by Mani Ratnam and starring an ensemble cast including Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Trisha, is an epic historical drama based on the Tamil novel of the same name by Kalki Krishnamurthy. The movie has been praised for its lavish production values and attention to detail, and has grossed over $60 million.
‘Kantara,’ directed by B. Unnikrishnan and starring Mohanlal, is a crime thriller set in the Middle East. The movie has been a commercial success, grossing over $30 million.
The success of these movies is indicative of the growing appetite for high-quality content in the South Indian entertainment industry, which has traditionally been dominated by commercial potboilers.
The report also notes that the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced theaters to shut down for a significant period of time, has accelerated the shift towards digital distribution channels, such as OTT platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hotstar.
The report predicts that the South Indian media and entertainment industry is poised for strong growth in the coming years, driven by a combination of factors including rising disposable incomes, increasing digital penetration, and the emergence of new talent and storytelling formats.
Overall, the success of movies like ‘RRR,’ ‘K.G.F 2,’ ‘Ponniyin Selvan: 1,’ and ‘Kantara’ bodes well for the future of the South Indian entertainment industry, which is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the global entertainment landscape.
