South Cinema Faces Criticism for Increasing Violence and Gore
By : BVS Prakash
Update: 2024-12-09 06:13 GMT
After top Tamil stars like Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi, and Dhanush, Allu Arjun also turns ferocious and uses Trishul and swords in ‘Pushpa The Rule’ and punishes evil-doers who misbehave with women. “While Vijay Sethupathi goes on a killing spree and chops off hands and legs in his last release ‘Maharaja’ to avenge the rape of his daughter, and Dhanush in ‘Raayan’ also showcased his fiery side and brutally decimates his rivals” admits producer Lagadapati Sridhar.
While superstar Rajinikanth beheads a thug in “Jailer’ for making comments against his daughter-in-law, while megastar Chiranjeevi does a similar act in “Bhola Shankar’ during a deadly fight on a cruise before the interval. Followed by lover boy-turned-action hero Dulquer Salmaan who pierces a knife into a thug’s heart and tells him that he is performing cardiac surgery without any remorse. “These are truly inhuman acts and we shouldn’t encourage extreme violence in movies,” says director Teja, who claims that Rajnikanth has never done such gore acts in his four-decades-old career.
“Despite being a big action star, Rajinikanth avoided too much gore and violence. Hence, it was a bit shocking to watch Rajinikanth sever the head of a thug in “Jailer. No doubt, heroic acts are turning serious and unhealthy,” adds Teja. He also claims that Telugu cinema witnessed more violence in faction-ridden movies like ‘Samarasimha Reddy', ‘Narasimha Naidu’, and ‘Indra’ which shed more blood on screen. “Telugu films based on Rayalaseema faction boasted of more violence in comparison to other films. A variety of weapons were used to chop off heads, arms, and legs which spread a wrong message in society as they are billed to be real-life stories,” points out Teja.
Whether justified or not, violence and gore have always been part of South Indian cinema in the last few years. Recent blockbusters like ‘Vikram”, ‘RRR’, ‘KGF 2, and Veera Simha Reddy’ splattered bloodshed and violence on a grand scale on big screens.
Did KGF encourage big stars to indulge in gory acts? Particularly, after hotshot star Yash’s famed dialogue ‘Violence Violence’ from 'KGF 2' became a rage and triggered violence in movies. “I think we should not blame one film ‘KGF’ for growing violence in films in the south. For instance, Hollywood films are also loaded with action sequences but they are well choreographed and stylishly captured so they look good on screen. But our filmmakers lack that finesse,” says producer Lagadapati Sridhar, who blames a few directors who are trying to outwit each other with an overdose of action.
“Few directors have to think about showcasing heroism in newer ways, rather than just trying to outdo each other by bringing more fighters and increasing unnecessary bloodshed and crossing all the limits,” he concludes.
While superstar Rajinikanth beheads a thug in “Jailer’ for making comments against his daughter-in-law, while megastar Chiranjeevi does a similar act in “Bhola Shankar’ during a deadly fight on a cruise before the interval. Followed by lover boy-turned-action hero Dulquer Salmaan who pierces a knife into a thug’s heart and tells him that he is performing cardiac surgery without any remorse. “These are truly inhuman acts and we shouldn’t encourage extreme violence in movies,” says director Teja, who claims that Rajnikanth has never done such gore acts in his four-decades-old career.
“Despite being a big action star, Rajinikanth avoided too much gore and violence. Hence, it was a bit shocking to watch Rajinikanth sever the head of a thug in “Jailer. No doubt, heroic acts are turning serious and unhealthy,” adds Teja. He also claims that Telugu cinema witnessed more violence in faction-ridden movies like ‘Samarasimha Reddy', ‘Narasimha Naidu’, and ‘Indra’ which shed more blood on screen. “Telugu films based on Rayalaseema faction boasted of more violence in comparison to other films. A variety of weapons were used to chop off heads, arms, and legs which spread a wrong message in society as they are billed to be real-life stories,” points out Teja.
Whether justified or not, violence and gore have always been part of South Indian cinema in the last few years. Recent blockbusters like ‘Vikram”, ‘RRR’, ‘KGF 2, and Veera Simha Reddy’ splattered bloodshed and violence on a grand scale on big screens.
Did KGF encourage big stars to indulge in gory acts? Particularly, after hotshot star Yash’s famed dialogue ‘Violence Violence’ from 'KGF 2' became a rage and triggered violence in movies. “I think we should not blame one film ‘KGF’ for growing violence in films in the south. For instance, Hollywood films are also loaded with action sequences but they are well choreographed and stylishly captured so they look good on screen. But our filmmakers lack that finesse,” says producer Lagadapati Sridhar, who blames a few directors who are trying to outwit each other with an overdose of action.
“Few directors have to think about showcasing heroism in newer ways, rather than just trying to outdo each other by bringing more fighters and increasing unnecessary bloodshed and crossing all the limits,” he concludes.