For a very long time, director Shankar was known as the absolute master of grand and visually stunning movies in South Indian cinema. He became famous for using massive sets and very expensive action scenes, giving almost all of his movies a larger-than-life feel.
However, things are looking very different for him now. Because his recent movies, Game Changer and Indian 2, did not do well and became box office disasters, people in the Chennai film industry are heavily discussing his future. Right now, his biggest problem is that movie producers are finding it hard to trust him with their money.
Shankar had a highly ambitious dream project called Velpari. It was planned to be a massive story split into multiple parts with a giant budget. Unfortunately, this project is now struggling to move forward because the financial risks are simply too high in the current market. At the same time, his other movie, Indian 3, is also stuck because there is still work left to finish, and nobody is sure when or how it will be released.
To deal with these challenges, Shankar seems ready to change his style. At least for now, he is planning to step away from gigantic budgets and overly expensive visuals. Reports indicate that he is currently planning a fast-paced action movie. This new project can be completed much quicker and on a strictly controlled, smaller budget.
Many in the industry feel this is actually the smartest choice he can make right now. Instead of spending several years working on a risky, ultra-expensive film, Shankar is shifting his focus to proving his talent again through strong storytelling and excellent directing. People in the movie business say his new project will be similar to films like Kaithi or Vikram, where a powerful story and intense acting drive the movie forward rather than expensive sets and high production costs.
