Tollywood star and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan says the phrase ‘Indian cinema’ sounds alien to him and that he prefers to call it ‘Bharateeya Chitra Parishrama’ instead. In a recent interview, the Hari Hara Veera Mallu star criticized Bollywood’s growing detachment from regional culture.
Pawan Kalyan emphasized that South Indian films have managed to retain a deeper connection to Indian traditions, unlike Bollywood, which has been heavily influenced by globalization. “Hindi cinema has evolved to cater to international markets over time, grossly neglecting its regional and cultural roots,” he added.
The actor-producer went on to say that Bollywood once produced movies deeply rooted in Indian culture, such as Dangal, which has now become rarer in recent years. He condemned Bollywood’s increasing focus on business and global appeal while losing resonance with India’s rural audiences. He also added that South Indian films, on the other hand, always maintained cultural relevance, thereby catering primarily to rural audiences, who make up a huge part of the market.
Pawan Kalyan cited that close to 70-80 percent of South India’s movie-going audience comes from rural areas. This is the main reason why South Indian films are resonating not only with regional viewers but also with Western audiences. Pawan Kalyan’s comments gain more prominence, especially amidst the ongoing debates about the changing dynamics in Indian cinema and Bollywood’s steep decline at the box office.