Mumbai: Film director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has dismissed the long-standing notion of a divide between North and South Indian cinema, stating that films have nothing to do with language or region. He emphasised that a good film is appreciated everywhere, regardless of linguistic or geographical boundaries.
Speaking on the growing popularity of South Indian films dubbed or remade in Hindi, Agnihotri said, “Films have no connection to language. Good films succeed everywhere. The perceived divide between North and South cinema is largely a result of media-driven campaigns.”
He further added, “Personally, I have never seen any distance between South, East, West, or North India when it comes to films. We watch Hollywood and Korean films as well. Marathi and Malayalam films are also widely viewed. The distance shown between South and North is a media-orientated construct, and I completely disagree with it.”
Agnihotri pointed out that if South Indian films were too region-specific to succeed in the North, then why do many Hindi films adapt stories from the South? “This proves that a good story can come from anywhere,” he said.
Referring to his recent film ‘The Bengal Files’, Agnihotri urged the industry and audiences to break these regional barriers. “I always say ‘Indian cinema’ because I don’t make films from a North or South perspective, but for all of India. ‘The Bengal Files’ is based on the Partition, which was an event that affected the entire country, not just North or South. So, it is truly an Indian film,” he explained.
Appealing to filmmakers and viewers, he said, “We should not fuel unnecessary North-South conflicts. Those who understand should work towards ending these divisions. Films are meant to connect people, not divide them. I firmly believe that a good story, direction, and genuine emotion in a film cannot be confined by language or regional borders.”
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