Despite being one of the top industries in Indian cinema, the Tamil film industry is yet to deliver a 1000-crore-grossing film. Many pan-India biggies attempted to reach that mark in the past but failed to join the club. Now, all eyes are on whether Superstar Rajinikanth and director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s upcoming film Coolie will join the elite 1000-crore club.
However, Lokesh has a very mature and honest take on these magical four digits. He says that he will be the happiest if his film crosses that 1000 crore mark, but that would not be his intention while making the film. Thus, he doesn’t want to take that pressure before the release.
Speaking in a recent interview, Lokesh said, “It is all about those magical four numbers. Be it 1000 crores or 2000 crores. For example, if a cricketer gets out on 99, he beats his bat on the ground in frustration. But when he hits a 100, he celebrates by raising his bat. But 99 is still a score, right, if your team is winning? If you didn’t score that 100 and if your 99 is helping your team win, you can still raise your bat and go, no? If 100 is a record, your team is winning, and you score 99, it is still a win, right? That is important, right? Who cares about their own records?”
“If Coolie is collecting those magical four numbers, I will be the happiest. But that was not the reason I made this film. There was no talk or discussion about these four numbers while I was writing the story or making the film. So, why should I, my team or my production house take this pressure? We did a film. We all worked hard for it. We are now delivering it to people. They will decide if it is good or bad,” he added.
This is indeed a mature take from Lokesh in an age where his contemporaries are chasing big numbers with pan-India films. It is heartening to see him put his best into the film and let audiences decide its fate. It has to be seen if this honesty makes Lokesh the first director to achieve the 1000-crore mark in Tamil cinema with Coolie.
Related