Actor and parliamentarian Kamal Haasan has revealed that his critically acclaimed superhit film 'Pushpak', directed by veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, was produced on a shoestring budget of just Rs 15 lakh. He asserted that if the film were made today, it would have amassed a staggering Rs 200 crore at the box office.
Kamal Haasan's Remarks at 'Sing Geetham' Event
Speaking at a pre-release event for director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's upcoming film 'Sing Geetham' in Chennai, Kamal Haasan reminisced about his collaboration with the veteran director on several projects, including the dialogue-free masterpiece 'Pushpak', which earned widespread critical acclaim.
Haasan emphasized that cinema is fundamentally driven by passion, with business considerations coming later. He lamented that contemporary filmmakers prioritize commercial aspects over creative passion. He stated, "Cinema is all about passion. And then only, it becomes a business. We are doing it the other way around. We now check how much a film will make -- 100 crores, 200 crores, 300 crores. No, the day we made 'Pushpak' for 15 lakhs, we felt like we made 150 crores. But that's not an exaggeration. It must have already collected more than 200 crores. That's the truth of the industry. We don't realise. We don't even fully monetise our films. We are learning now. But he (Singeetham Srinivasa Rao) has travelled from that time of passion and his passion has not dwindled at all and I don't see why the industry should lose its passion."
Praise for Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
Showering praise on the director, Kamal Haasan called Singeetham Srinivasa Rao ahead of his time, saying, "He's always ahead of Gen Z. And I'm happy to celebrate a young man like Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. Age is a nuisance. But mind can surpass it. And he's a great example. And I'm learning. In that, I want to be his assistant director."
About 'Sing Geetham' and Singeetham Srinivasa Rao
Legendary filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao has returned to the director's chair at the remarkable age of 94 with 'Sing Geetham', which is scheduled for release on June 11 this year. With a career spanning decades and nearly 60 films across multiple languages, Rao is known for delivering iconic classics, including the Kamal Haasan-starrer 'Pushpak', and has consistently redefined cinematic storytelling in India.
'Sing Geetham' is being promoted as India's first musical fantasy. The film is produced by Nag Ashwin under the banners of Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema, featuring Ayaan, Ahilya Bamroo, and Shalini Kondepudi in lead roles.
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