Bollywood and South Indian film star Tamannaah Bhatia, riding high on the success of her latest release Stree 2, recently shared insights about her career and the distinctions she has observed between Hindi and South Indian cinema. In a candid conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Bhatia discussed why South Indian films resonate so deeply with audiences and how this differs from Bollywood.
South Indian Films Tell ‘Rooted’ Stories
When asked about the differences between Bollywood and South Indian films, Tamannaah emphasized that South cinema is more grounded in its storytelling. “The difference I have particularly noticed is that South films talk more in terms of their geographical locations. I think their content is translating globally primarily because they are trying to tell rooted stories,” she explained. Bhatia believes that South Indian filmmakers focus on authentic storytelling, connecting with audiences through narratives that reflect local cultures and emotions.
Focus on Human Emotions
Tamannaah highlighted how South Indian films appeal to universal human emotions, rather than catering to specific segments of the audience. “They don’t work from the standpoint of choosing segments in people. They go for basic human emotions, related to mother, father… revenge on brother, sister… stories that tend to tell many more stories about basic human emotions through different storytelling formats,” she said.
Bhatia also praised the South Indian film industry for staying true to its roots. “They are not trying to service different kinds of people. They are trying to only tell what they know fully. That has really worked, I think, for the South,” she added.
Bollywood’s Broad Approach
In contrast, Tamannaah noted that Bollywood often aims to cater to a wider audience, which may not always succeed. She remarked, “Many a times in Bollywood, the films are made for the sake of ‘everybody’s consumption’.” Despite this, Bhatia commended certain Bollywood films like Laapataa Ladies for their strong storytelling and connection with the audience.
Upcoming Projects
On the professional front, Tamannaah is continuing her busy schedule with several projects. Following her performance in Vedaa, which was released alongside Stree 2, she will next be seen in the Telugu film Odela 2 and the Hindi web series Daring Partners.