Director VetrimaaranThe trailer and audio launch of the upcoming political thriller Maamannan, directed by Mari Selvaraj, was organized in Chennai yesterday. The film stars Udhayanidhi Stalin, Keerthy Suresh, Vadivelu, and Fahadh Faasil.

During the event, celebrated director Vetrimaaran spoke highly about director Mari Selvaraj, who directed critically acclaimed films Pariyerum Perumal and Karnan. He also heaped praises on the Tamil audience and said, “Only Tamil audience makes unconventional content-oriented film box office successes.”

Vetrimaaran’s statement holds somewhat true, but the Telugu film industry also used to make unconventional films that showcased society’s ills.

Dasari Narayan Rao and R Narayanmurthy used to come up with rebellious films that received commercial success along with critical acclaim. Krishna Vamsi’s Sindhooram is one of the finest unconventional films to be made, but sadly it got rejected at the box office.

But it is true that Tollywood definitely lacks an unconventional storyteller like Vetrimaaran, PA Ranjith, TJ Gananavel, or Mari Selvaraj currently. Tollywood is now more into making nationalistic films that swing more towards the ‘right’ ideology than making films about communists or rebels.

Maamannan is one of the keenly awaited films in the Tamil industry. Comedian Vadivelu’s performance is speculated to be the highlight of the film.