Director Suresh Triveni said Indian film producers and studios need to trust their instincts again, instead of just chasing data. The director, who recently released Subedaar with Anil Kapoor on Prime Video and is now following it up with Maa Behen starring Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri on Netflix, spoke about the industry’s post-pandemic struggle, the poor run of mid-budget films, and why risky choices like Saiyaara still work.
Suresh Triveni on Indian cinema and risky choices
In an exclusive interview with Variety India, Triveni said the industry has become overly cautious in trying to understand what the audience wants. “Decisions about gut feelings have to go back to the field. I think we’re a gut-driven industry. I feel like we’ve become too focused on data and calculations.”
He said it also falls into the same pattern. “And I include myself in this. I think even while approaching a topic, we think a lot about whether it will work or not.
We need more individual producers. Today’s studios must roll with the punches based on intuition, not just examples.Triveni cited Mohit Suri’s song “Saiyaara” as an example. The 2025 film was directed by two newcomers and was produced on a budget of less than INR 50 Crores, earning approximately INR 350 Crores. “No one gave it to her””Sayara”) Opportunity, and take a look at the work she has done. “I feel like this should happen more.”
Suresh Triveni calls for tax relief and praise Malayalam cinema
Triveni also said that the government should support the film industry as going to the cinema has become expensive.
He said there should be an extended tax break, even for six months, to bring people back to theaters.“I can make ‘Tumhari Sulu’ because studios can take the risks,” he said. “For a film, you risk Rs 2,000 and then feel bad. This is one of the worst decisions for anyone, as there are more entertainment options,” he added.Triveni, who grew up in Ranchi and comes from a South Indian family, also praised Malayalam cinema.
“I know people have watched a lot of Malayalam films after Covid-19, but I have grown up watching them,” he said. He described Srinivasan, Sibi Malayil and Priyadarshan as “amazing filmmakers”.He said that Malayalam filmmakers understand “local” storytelling and revealed that he once planned to remake Fahadh Faasil’s “Thondimuthalum Drisakshiyum” but “did not have the courage to go in that direction”. He also praised ‘Eko’, ‘The Patriot’, Mammootty in ‘Bramayugam’ and Mohanlal.
