Tamil cinema in 2023: From ‘Leo’ and ‘Jailer,’ to comebacks and trends the industry followed this year

With the Tamil film industry having one of its most creatively rewarding and financially lucrative years in recent times, here’s a look at what made 2023 special for those belonging to it and the audience

The year is coming to a close and it’s safe to say that 2023 has been one of the best years for Tamil cinema in the post-pandemic era. Almost all the movers and shakers of the industry had a release, with most of them turning out to be blockbusters. There were some endearing comebacks, some great performances from unexpected talents, and a certain shift in the kind of roles written for our protagonists. Here are some of the major trends in the year that went by:

Apart from the biggies that pull in audiences for the big-screen experience, each year also dishes out some comparatively-smaller films that garner plaudits and fans for their storylines. . This year, the list was longer than usual, with gems like Por Thozhil, Bommai Nayagi, Dada, Ayothi, Yaathisai, Good Night, Kida and Parking. What made this year extra special for those involved in these projects?

Por Thozhildirector Vignesh Raja says, “Extrapolating from my experience, most of the films were greenlit either during or just before the pandemic. That’s probably why there weren’t any debutants in 2020 after February, and in the following years, there were only a few. Films like Dada, Good Night and Por Thozhil were completed in 2022. I also strongly feel that the quality of films from debutants has been phenomenal. I think it was back in 2016 when we had a similar splurge with the debut of directors like Lokesh Kanagaraj, Sri Ganesh and Suresh Sangaiah. After the pandemic, the theatre footfall has also apparently increased and for them to choose a film, it’s got to be a star film or one with a strong content,” says Vignesh.

Dada filmmaker Ganesh K Babu echoes the need for filmmakers to understand the business. “There are many factors that decide the success of a director’s first film. The artists in the film, distributors, theatre owners, the release date, and films competing with us on that particular day are just some of them. We actually put more effort into figuring out the right release window for Dada, because Varisu and Thunivu were still running in theatres and we pushed our release date a little further. Red Giant Movies releasing our film was actually a selling point. So apart from the creative aspects, we also need to consider the business aspects of filmmaking.”

“The way we stage a film not only decides its success but also the scale of our next project. It might look like a debutant’s film winning but I’ve been in the industry actively for 12 years now. So the process of making a film is still a struggle and those aspects of filmmaking haven’t become easy. But today, streaming isn’t looked at as a secondary medium and one can make a film there before making their feature film debut as well,” he adds.

“These days, we have to finish the film’s business before going for the shoot. Kavin’s Lift did well and based on its selling value in OTT, theatres and other languages, it became a yardstick for my film. The fact that my film was completely shot in Chennai and didn’t have outdoor expenses makes it easy for the producer. Such minute factors and the overall business of making a film are necessary knowledge for first-time filmmakers.”

Manikandan, who played the lead inGood Night, says, “I personally believe that non-star films not having what it takes to work as an illusion. Time and time again, Tamil cinema has proved that wrong and we’ve seen smaller films working all the time alongside big films. It would be a healthy space if an equilibrium is maintained between such smaller films and the star-driven ones. The success of smaller films also encourages the next round of newbies waiting for their turn to turn filmmakers.”