Amid speculations, director Chidambaram has revealed that his next directorial venture will be a Hindi film.The filmmaker is best known for “January.” “E.Man,” “Manjummel Boys” and the recently released “Balan” said in a recent interview that the film is currently in development and is expected to begin production next year.The director shared the latest news in a conversation with Variety . He also explained that the project required extensive planning, especially since it was being installed in Hindi. As a result, the development process took longer than usual.
Casting is already underway
Talking about the project, Chidambaram revealed that preparations are progressing steadily. He said he has been traveling to Mumbai regularly for the past two years as work continued behind the scenes. According to the filmmakers, casting is currently underway, which remains one of the main reasons for the extended schedule.Sharing the latest news, he said, “I am doing a Hindi film. It is in development and I think it might be released by the end of next year. The casting process has already started and I have been coming to Mumbai every month for the past two years, but since it is a Hindi film, it will take time. In the meantime, I think I am suited to do a Malayalam film.”While waiting for the Hindi project to take shape, Chidambaram completed work on Balan.
Why Hindi films are important to him
The filmmaker also spoke about his long-term ambition to direct a Hindi film. He explained that the language offers filmmakers the opportunity to reach a national audience while also providing larger budgets and wider visibility.Explaining his point of view, Chidambaram said: “Making a Hindi film has always been a dream of South directors because it is a national film and we have a bigger audience, a bigger budget and a bigger voice.”
‘Balan’ director believes theater will continue to exist
Chidambaram also shared his views on the future of cinemas. Despite the rapid growth of OTT platforms and changing viewing habits, he believes audiences will continue to embrace the theatrical experience.Sharing his thoughts, he said, “I thought people would go to cinemas. When COVID-19 hit, we thought cinemas were over, but that was not the case. Look at the collection of other films like ‘Dhurandhar’ movie and ‘Jailer’. The ritual of watching something together hasn’t gone away. When television came along, we thought it was the end of movies and theater. Then, when cable TV came along, we thought that would be the end of theater. The same thing happened when OTT came and the pandemic came along with it. The collective experience of watching a movie will remain. Film or play, I think the format might change. Maybe it will become a 3D, holographic or VR experience, but the collective viewing experience, I think it’s here to stay. “
“Balan” box office continues to be stable
Chidambaram’s latest Malayalam film Balan continues to perform steadily at the box office.According to Sacnilk, the film’s box office collection on day 12 is estimated at Rs 45 lakh (net revenue in India). The film has earned a net revenue of Rs 164.3 crore in India, while its global total is currently around Rs 302.4 crore.
