Producer Naga Vamsi is stirring the pot once more, this time by highlighting some issues within his own industry. After a recent spat with producer Boney Kapoor, he’s now expressing that filmmakers in the South often hesitate to create quality films because they prioritize money over artistry.

Naga Vamsi in the world of South Indian cinema

During a roundtable discussion on Galatta Plus, producer Naga Vamsi, known for films like DJ Tillu and Jersey, shared his perspective that profits take precedence over film quality. He mentioned, “We often hesitate to take risks on unconventional projects. We look at potential earnings from OTT platforms before deciding to risk a theatrical release. After crunching the numbers, we think twice about making quality films. Our focus is on creating movies that generate revenue. Filling the theaters is our top priority.”

Boney Kapoor, who was also on the panel, had a different viewpoint. He pointed out how Rajkummar Rao found success with offbeat comedies like Stree 2, and noted that Nag Ashwin achieved similar success in the south. “When Ashwini Dutt and Nag Ashwin created the comedy Jathi Rathnalu with newcomers, it likely earned them more than they had ever made before, even more than with Kalki (2989 AD). Likewise, Rajkummar Rao became a recognizable name through films that didn’t have big budgets or extensive marketing,” he explained.

Despite Boney's counterarguments, Vamsi remained firm in his stance, labeling the success of niche films like Lucky Baskhar and Jersey as exceptions. "In the end, when it comes down to it, money is what matters most to us,” he concluded.

Boney Kapoor taking on Naga Vamsi

Naga Vamsi and Boney Kapoor had a bit of a clash during a discussion when the southern filmmaker took a jab at Hindi filmmakers, saying they only cater to audiences from Bandra and Juhu. Boney pushed back, reminding everyone that Hindi cinema has been creating mass appeal films since classics like Mughal-e-Azam and Sholay. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta also chimed in, expressing his annoyance at Naga Vamsi's comments on X (formerly Twitter), calling them disrespectful towards Boney. Later on, Naga Vamsi cleared the air, stating there was no disrespect intended and that he and Boney shared a hug after the panel wrapped up.

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