At the pre-release event of veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's upcoming film 'Sing Geetham', Kamal Haasan used the occasion not only to celebrate his longtime mentor but also to speak candidly about how filmmaking has evolved over the years. Praising the 94-year-old director's unwavering dedication to cinema, Kamal observed that passion once sat at the heart of filmmaking, whereas commercial calculations now often take centre stage.
Kamal Haasan's Reflections on Cinema
Talking to Cinema Express, the actor shared, "Cinema is fundamentally driven by passion. Only after that does it become a business. But today, the situation has been reversed. Even before a film is made, people start calculating whether it will collect Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore."
Lessons from 'Pushpaka Vimana'
Drawing from his own experiences, Kamal pointed to the enduring success of 'Pushpaka Vimana', the cult classic he made with Singeetham Srinivasa Rao in 1987. The actor revealed that although the film was produced on a modest budget, its impact far exceeded expectations.
"'Pushpaka Vimana' was made on a budget of just Rs 15 lakh, but gave us the satisfaction of making a Rs 150 crore film. It's not an exaggeration. It must have already collected Rs 200 crores. That's the truth of the industry that we don't realise or fully monetise. We are still learning. Singeetham's passion has not dwindled at all and I don't see why the industry should lose its passion."
Kamal urged younger filmmakers to look toward veterans like Singeetham as examples of how creativity and commitment can outlast industry trends. The actor also reflected on the uncertainty that comes with filmmaking, stressing that nobody can accurately forecast whether a project will become a blockbuster or fail at the box office.
"But we can say with confidence, 'We will be happy with this film when it is completed. If we are not happy with it, we simply will not release it. That is exactly what happened with 'Apoorva Sagodharargal'." According to Kamal, every film begins with excitement and optimism, but the narrative often changes once the final result is out.
"Filmmaking begins with euphoria," he said, adding that it eventually turns into either a "blame game" when a movie underperforms or a celebration of accolades when it succeeds.
Why the team scrapped 'Apoorva Sagodharargal'
One of the most striking revelations from Kamal's speech was about the making of 'Apoorva Sagodharargal'. He disclosed that the team discarded nearly 20 days of footage after realizing the project was heading in the wrong direction. "We completely discarded the footage shot during the first 20 days. Had we continued with that version, it would have turned out to be a failed film."
Despite the financial setback, the team chose to restart rather than compromise on quality. "We stopped that failure before it happened. We had to answer for the money that had already been spent, but we firmly believed that it was better to do the right thing than to continue with something that was wrong," he added.
The challenge of creating 'Appu'
Kamal also revisited the creative hurdles involved in bringing the iconic character Appu to life in 'Apoorva Sagodharargal'. He admitted that the team initially struggled to find the right approach for the role. "Even after shooting three scenes, we still did not know how I was going to portray Appu."
The breakthrough, he recalled, came only after extensive experimentation and discussions, eventually resulting in one of the most memorable characters of his career.
A creative partnership that defined an era
Kamal Haasan and Singeetham Srinivasa Rao have shared one of Indian cinema's most celebrated actor-director collaborations. Together, they delivered acclaimed films such as 'Raja Paarvai', 'Apoorva Sagodharargal', 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan', 'Pushpaka Vimana', and 'Magalir Mattum'.
As Singeetham prepares to release 'Sing Geetham' at the age of 94, Kamal's reflections served as a reminder that great cinema is rarely born from budgets or box-office projections alone. More often, it begins with a powerful idea, a willingness to take risks, and the passion to see that idea through to the end.
