“He Talks Of Producer Pressure, Yet Keeps Thanu Waiting For Vaadivasal”, Tirupur Subramaniam Tears Into Dravidianist Director Vetrimaaran
Producer and theater association president Tirupur Subramaniam has voiced strong criticism against Dravidianist director Vetrimaaran, who recently announced the closure of his production house, Grass Root Film Company. Subramaniam questioned the hypocritic reasoning behind the decision, especially in light of Vetrimaaran’s ongoing commitments and prior financial dealings related to Vaadivasal movie, he committed.
Vetrimaaran, known for directing and producing critically acclaimed films, had launched Grass Root Film Company, through which he backed projects like Udhayam NH4 and Kaaka Muttai. His latest production, Bad Girl, hit theaters recently, and during its press meet, Vetrimaaran announced that the film would be the final release under his production banner. He cited the difficulties and financial strain involved in film production, including having to complete portions of Bad Girl through borrowed funds.
Responding to this, Subramaniam said he found it troubling that Vetrimaaran was shutting down his company while leaving other major commitments unresolved. He pointed to the long-delayed film Vaadivasal, which was to be directed by Vetrimaaran and star Suriya. The project, backed by veteran producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu (also spelled Dhanu), was announced over five years ago, with both Suriya and Vetrimaaran reportedly receiving full payments in advance. Despite this, no actual filming has begun.
“He says that as a producers he faces pressure, right? He started a film called ‘Vaadivasal’, didn’t he? He is the director, right? Why has he not completed that film for two years for Thanu? If there are directors like him, who say they are under pressure, shouldn’t he have properly finished the film he started? When we are starting a film like ‘Vaadivasal,’ as the director, a producer puts their money believing on us. We have to protect that producer. Should he have done that or not? Instead of doing that, he is now saying there’s pressure on producers in public. Is this justified in any way?” Subramaniam questioned.
He went on to say that instead of resolving the issue or compensating the producer, Vetrimaaran reportedly told Thanu that Suriya didn’t like the script, and they were stepping away from the project. “If that was the case, he should’ve returned the money or settled the issue properly. Speaking about his own struggles on stage is one thing shouldn’t Thanu also be allowed to share his emotional and financial pain publicly?” Subramaniam added.
The veteran producer didn’t stop there. He criticized the wider filmmaking approach of many modern directors, including Vetrimaaran, accusing them of drastically exceeding production schedules. Subramaniam concluded by urging Vetrimaaran to resolve the issues surrounding Vaadivasal and ensure that producers like Thanu are not left struggling due to incomplete projects and broken commitments.
Excerpts from the conversation below:
When the interviewer questioned, “What kind of problems do producers face?” at the backdrop of Vetrimaaran’s announcement.
Tirupur Subramaniam called out his hypocritic decision asking, “He says that as a producer he faces pressure, right? He started a film called “Vaadivasal,” didn’t he? He is the director, right? Why has he not completed that film for two years for Thanu? If there are directors like him, who say they are under pressure, shouldn’t he have properly finished the film he started? When we are starting a film like “Vaadivasal,” as the director, a producer puts their money believing on us. We have to protect that producer. Should he have done that or not? Instead of doing that, he is now saying there’s pressure on producers in public. Is this justified in any way? The producer of this film Thanu has come and talked to me about this several times over the last two or three months. He said, “Sir, it is very difficult. I have invested a lot of money in this film.” He (Thanu) is under more mental stress than him (Vetrimaaran). What should he (Vetrimaaran) have done? He should have said, “I am shutting down my company and my first job is to go and finish the film ‘Vaadivasal’ and rescue my producer.” If he had said that I would have been happy. But because of him (Vetrimaaran), do you know how much trouble he (Thanu) is in now? He (Vetrimaaran) says he feels the trouble and closing my company. Shouldn’t he have avoided causing trouble to others? No one else in the industry will ask these questions, but I want to ask. Because for 40 years, I’ve been in this cinema industry. I’m truly sad that a big director like him has realized the immense struggles in the production field, but he shouldn’t just say he’s closing his production company. He should have given a promise that from now on, I will finish any film I start according to the promised schedule. If he had given that assurance, I would be very happy. It is my wish that he gives that assurance.”
He added, “In general, what kind of problems do producers face? This kind of problems: when a director starts a film, they say they can finish the shoot in 60 days. But they end up shooting for 250 days. Won’t the producer feel the pressure? They have to change this. Big directors like Vetrimaaran should change this. Every film he has made is a hit. Vetrimaaran is not an ordinary director. But it’s not enough to just give a hit. The producer must also make a profit from that film. That’s the main thing. They shouldn’t be putting pressure on producers. They should finish the film on the promised date. It’s fine to have a 10-day delay, say, a 60-day schedule taking 65 or 70 days. But today, directors who promise 60 days are shooting for 250 days. This causes a lot of mental stress to many directors.”
Responding to director Vetrimaaran’s explanation for closing his production house, Tirupur Subramaniam dismissed the reasoning and held the filmmaker accountable for the challenges he now faces.
Subramaniam said If there were controversial scenes in his films, especially those that could face trouble with the censor board, they should have anticipated it. A director with his experience, who has made several acclaimed films, should be well aware of what might raise red flags. He should have avoided such scenes from the outset.
Drawing a comparison to established production houses, Subramaniam recalled, “Back in the day at AVM Studios, if a scene was likely to attract trouble, a senior member would immediately step in and say, ‘This won’t clear the censor board. Skip it.’ That’s the kind of foresight filmmakers need. Vetrimaaran could’ve saved himself from the current mental strain had he exercised that kind of caution.”
While expressing empathy for the pressures Vetrimaaran is under, Subramaniam also stressed that stepping away from production was not the right move for a successful and respected director. “It’s unfortunate that someone of his caliber is forced to shut down a production company. But he’s not alone many producers are also under immense mental stress today,” he noted.
Subramaniam urged Vetrimaaran to take responsibility for the long-delayed film Vaadivasal. He also criticized the power dynamics in the film industry, saying that unlike earlier times when producers had control, today it’s directors, actors, and technicians who are exerting pressure.
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