‘Big-hero salaries have gone through the roof’

One reason why movies today are commercially unviable: Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi’s (left) next film, ‘Nannbenda’, with Nayanthara and Santhanam (right) as co-stars, releases on Friday —Photo: Special Arrangement

When Udhayanidhi Stalin entered the film industry almost 10 years ago, it was thought in some quarters he would use cinema as a launch pad to politics.

If that was the script, it hasn’t gone as per plan. The actor-producer is now looking forward to the release of his third film, Nanben Da , on Friday, featuring actors Nayanthara, Santhanam and himself.

“As of now, I want to make a name for myself as a bankable star,” says Udhayanidhi. He seems to have consciously avoided any political content in his films, unlike his grandfather and DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi, who used cinema for propaganda purposes.

“I don’t have any political ambitions. However, I make films that won’t embarrass my family or the party. My movies won’t have too much vulgarity or violence,” he says. At the moment, he states he will stick to starring in light-hearted movies and says

Nanben Da is, in a way, a sequel to Oru Kal Oru Kannadi  ( OKOK ).

“When I did OKOK , I honestly didn’t expect it to become such a big hit. The audience seemed to like the scenes featuring Santhanam and I. In this film, we have tried to milk this hit combination. The film is about what happens between the main characters,” he says.

The actor says he has been treated unfairly when it comes to tax exemptions for his films.

“The government formed a new committee to decide on entertainment tax exemptions only to deny my films tax exemption. Why do we need two bodies to certify films?” he says.

The benefits of exemption are being pocketed by producers and exhibitors while it should have trickled down to the audience that buys the ticket, says Udhayanidhi.

“The ticket for a tax-exempted film must be priced lower. But, that is not happening,” he points out.

Ask him about the state the film industry finds itself in at the moment, he says ‘exorbitant salaries’ are one of the reasons most movies are commercially unviable.

“While cap on ticket prices and taxes contribute to the problem, it is also true that big-hero salaries have gone through the roof. They have to be rationalised. The salary of stars has grown at least six times from what it was when I started producing movies,” he says.

Will he call for a rise in ticket prices and relief from taxes in the future? “Definitely,” he says.