Is Meiyazhagan a box office flop or a hit? Producer Suriya breaks silence
Director C. Prem Kumar's Meiyazhagan found its perfect production home at 2D Entertainment, thanks to TJ Gnanavel's recommendation.
Updated : October 29, 2024 11:10 AM ISTDirector C. Prem Kumar's Meiyazhagan found its perfect production home at 2D Entertainment, thanks to TJ Gnanavel's recommendation.
Suriya produced Meiyazhagan
Director C Prem Kumar was advised by TJ Gnanavel to take Meiyazhagan to 2D Entertainment, founded by the power couple Suriya and Jyothika. Gnanavel believed only this banner could support the movie without compromising its soul for commercial gains, and he was right. Suriya took on the project with Karthi and Arvind Swamy in the lead roles, trusting Prem's vision entirely.
The outcome was one of Indian cinema's most genuine feel-good movies. Meiyazhagan avoided common crowd-pleasers, opting instead for an intimate, dialogue-heavy exploration of modern-day relationships—a bold choice for a film with a big-budget cast. Suriya revealed that he doesn’t believe in basing movie decisions purely on financial returns.
"I am supremely proud of Meiyazhagan. I don't even want to discuss its box office numbers. As a producer, I made over 25% profit on the budget, when I aimed for only 10%. So who knows what truly defines a film's success?" Suriya told The Hollywood Reporter, dismissing the idea that he faced a loss with Meiyazhagan.
Suriya explained that only producers truly understand a film's financial outcome, while other perceptions are speculative. "A water bottle can be priced at Rs 10 or Rs 500. Who’s benefiting, and who should be satisfied? Why feel proud if a bottle sells for Rs 1000 instead of Rs 10?" he added, questioning the audience’s obsession with box office results over artistic merit.
As both a producer and actor, Suriya is not focused on maximizing profits. His priority is sustainability and supporting his charity work. "We started 2D to make movies I love. I don't want the market dictating my choices. I balance both worlds—I make Kanguva, but I also make Jai Bhim. I follow my heart," he added.
After a successful theatrical run, Meiyazhagan is now available on Netflix, reaching even more viewers.