Where are the big bangs? Tamil cinema feels like a damp squib
Fading glory
Bison is about a kabaddi player's triumph, overcoming insurmountable obstacles and stars Dhruv Vikram.
Image: Facebook
ONCE upon a time, a Tamil Diwali release was an event. You didn’t just watch the movie; you lived it. You booked tickets days in advance, ironed your new outfit, stood in serpentine queues, and joined a theatre full of strangers screaming as if they were all family. Now? You scroll through the list of this year’s releases and wonder, huh… is this it?
Once, Diwali meant Sivaji: The Boss lighting up screens with Rajinikanth’s trademark swagger; Mersal giving us message and magic in one breath. Even Vaaranam Aayiram and 7aum Arivu had something cinematic to offer. There was spectacle, sound, and a sense that Tamil cinema is alive, sparking and lighting up the skies during Diwali.
But this year, what do we get? A forgettable lineup headlined by something like Bison - a film the name reminds me of the large American buffalo rather than a Diwali blockbuster.
I mean no offence to the makers, but it’s hard not to feel shortchanged when the festive calendar that once delivered mass moments for ages now feels like an afterthought. After watching just 20 seconds of the trailer, boy was I turned off?
The writer says Diwali meant Sivaji: The Boss lighting up screens with Rajinikanth’s trademark swagger but this year's release Bison was a damp squip.
Image: Facebook
Where are the stars? The goosebump-inducing openings? The big clashes that split fan bases and broke box-office records.
It’s almost as if the once-sacred tradition of Diwali releases has been surrendered to scheduling confusion, streaming platform anxiety, and plain old creative fatigue. A similar state of affairs in Kollywood afflicts Pongal releases each January.
Part of the problem lies in the industry’s shifting landscape. Big stars are spacing out their films, production costs have soared, OTT platforms have changed viewing habits, and smaller, safer releases now fill slots where giants once stood. Add to that the fear of competing with pan-Indian blockbusters, and suddenly, nobody wants to risk a true Diwali release.
It’s as if India King big bangs have turned into damp squibs or pop-pop crackers. And the result is a dull, sparkless festival season.
Tamil cinema has always prided itself on understanding its audience by keeping a finger on the pulse of the masses and adding to the joy of spectacle and the thrill of community by having blockbuster Diwali releases. Diwali used to be more than just entertainment – it was the ultimate expression of community. We don’t need fireworks for the sake of it; what we crave is the feeling engendered by big name stars on the silver screen.
Meanwhile we have to turn to reruns of Sivaji, Thuppakki, or Mersal as reminders of when Diwali in Tamil Nadu truly belonged to the movies. Now the only thing exploding is our nostalgia.
Saranya Devan.
Image: Supplied
Saranya Devan is a theatre-maker, dance performer, academic and proud Tamilian. She holds an MA in dance from UCT, and a MA in Bharatha Natyam from the University of Madras.