Amid all the speculations, director Chidambaram has revealed that his next directorial venture will be a Hindi film.The filmmaker, known for ‘Jan. E. Man’, ‘Manjummel Boys’ and the recently released ‘Balan’, said in a recent interview that the film is currently in development and is expected to start production next year.The director shared the update during a conversation with Variety. He also explained that the project required extensive planning, especially since it is being shot in Hindi. As a result, the development process has taken longer than usual.
The casting process is already underway
Speaking about the project, Chidambaram revealed that the preparations have been progressing steadily. He said he has been traveling to Mumbai regularly for the past two years as work continues behind the scenes. According to the filmmaker, casting is currently underway and remains one of the main reasons for the timeline extension.Sharing an update, he said, “I’m doing a Hindi film. It’s being developed, and I think it might go on floors by the end of next year. The casting process is on, and I’ve been coming to Mumbai every month for the last two years, but since it’s a Hindi film, it’s taking time. Meanwhile, I thought I fit in a Malayalam film.”While waiting for the Hindi project to take shape, Chidambaram completed work on ‘Balan’.
Why does he care about a Hindi movie
The filmmaker also spoke about his long-held ambition to direct a Hindi film. He explained that the language gives filmmakers the opportunity to reach audiences across the country while offering bigger budgets and wider visibility.Explaining his perspective, Chidambaram said, “It’s always a dream for southern directors to make a Hindi film, because it’s a national film, and we have a bigger audience, a bigger budget and a bigger voice.”
The director of ‘Balan’ believes that theaters are here to stay
Chidambaram also shared his views on the future of cinema halls. Despite the rapid growth of OTT platforms and changing viewing habits, he believes audiences will continue to embrace the theatrical experience.Sharing his thoughts, he said, “I think people are going to cinemas. When COVID-19 came, we thought cinemas were over, but that’s not true. Check out the collection of both ‘Dhurandhar’ movies and other movies like ‘Jailer.’ The ritual of watching something together does not disappear. When television came along, we thought it was the end of movies and theaters. Then when cable television came along, we thought that would be the end of theaters. The same thing happened when OTT arrived and the pandemic followed. The collective experience of watching a film will remain. A film or a play, I think the format can change. Maybe it will become 3D or holographic or a virtual reality experience, but the collective viewing experience, I think, is here to stay.”
‘Balan’ continues its steady run at the box office
Chidambaram’s latest Malayalam film ‘Balan’ continues to perform consistently at the box office.According to Sacnilk, the film grossed approximately 45 lakhs (India net) on 12. The film’s India net collection has reached Rs 16.43 crore, while its worldwide gross now stands at approximately Rs 30.24 crore.