96 Director Prem Kumar Criticism of Reviewers and Audiences

Karthi and Arvind Swamy's 2024 film Meiyazhagan, released in Telugu as Sathyam Sivam. Directed by Prem Kumar, received praise for its emotional depth and performances but underperformed at the box office. Despite the positive reviews, the film failed to generate the expected revenue, prompting Prem Kumar to express his disappointment. In a recent interview, Kumar suggested that if Meiyazhagan had been made in Malayalam, it might have been better received by Tamil audiences, highlighting a perceived bias towards films from other languages.

Prem Kumar has also criticized reviewers, claiming they pose a bigger threat to movies than piracy. He alleged that many online reviews are paid and influence audience perception, distorting expectations and harming films that take creative risks. Kumar's comments have sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some defending his right to speak out and others questioning his blame-shifting. While critics praised Meiyazhagan, the director's frustration stems from the film's box office performance, which he attributes to negative reviews and audience indifference.²

The director's remarks have ignited a debate about the role of critics and the impact of paid reviews on a film's success. Prem Kumar's film Meiyazhagan is currently streaming on Netflix, where it has received positive feedback from audiences. Despite the film's underwhelming box office performance, its OTT reception has been encouraging.

Prem Kumar is now gearing up to direct several projects one includes Fahadh Faasil. The controversy surrounding paid reviews and their influence on box office collections continues to be a topic of discussion in the film industry.