How South cinema is stealing the show

In the last six months, movies such as Pushpa, RRR and KGF2 have shattered box-office records; trend expected to stay as more big-ticket regional films await release

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

Last week, West Indian bowler Obed McCoy, making his debut at the ongoing Indian Premier League, marked his celebration after taking a wicket by coolly swiping the back of his hand under his chin.

The imitation of actor Allu Arjun's iconic gesture was as good a reminder as any of the phenomenal run of Pushpa: The Rise — at the box office and beyond since its release four months ago.

Quite simply, films from South India are having a field day at the box office as viewers from across the country and even the globe flock to theatres.

In the last six months, hits such as Pushpa and RRR, both Telugu-language films, and K.G.F: Chapter 2, a Kannada-language film, have shattered records in terms of box-office collections. The trend, say experts, is expected to stay as more big-ticket regional films await release in multiple languages across markets.

Consider this: In June, the Tamil movie titled Vikram, starring Kamal Haasan, will be released in theatres in India and overseas. In July, another Kannada-language film called Vikrant Rona, starring Sudeep, will hit the market. Both films, like Pushpa, RRR, and KGF2, will be available in five languages — Hir Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

By August, a sports drama called Liger, which boasts a mix of southern and Bollywood stars, will be seen on the big screen. So will Agent, starring Malayalam superstar Mammootty, which is also expected to be dubbed in multiple languages.

What is creating the excitement around these films?