The Tamil film industry, Kollywood, had a challenging year in 2024, marked by a significant financial loss despite the release of several high-profile films. Out of the 241 films released that year, only 18 managed to become hits, leaving the industry deeply concerned. From top stars like Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya, Vijay Sethupathi, and Dhanush to newer talents, most of their films failed to perform well at the box office. The industry’s investment in big-budget films, such as Kanguva and Indian 2, has reportedly caused a massive financial strain, with these films alone contributing to a loss of nearly 1,000 crores out of the 3,000 crore total spent on Tamil cinema in 2024.
A report highlights that, despite spending 3,000 crores on both small and big films, Kollywood was only able to recover about 2,000 crores. This has left the industry grappling with a loss of 1,000 crores, showcasing a significant downturn in returns. While films like Kanguva, Indian 2, Greatest of All Time, and Vettayan dominated the investment sector, their disappointing performance at the box office failed to yield the expected returns, further aggravating the industry’s financial situation.
However, amidst this grim scenario, there were a few films that performed unexpectedly well. Movies such as Maharaja, Aranmanai 4, and others like Sundari C, Rubber Pandu, and Vajai helped offset some of the losses, proving that smaller projects with less anticipation can still find success. These films, along with Dhanush’s and Vijay’s safer releases, provided a glimmer of hope for Kollywood, preventing the situation from being worse. Despite the setbacks, these success stories have helped stabilize the industry and keep it from spiraling into even greater financial turmoil.