Shankar finally speaks out on ‘Velpari’ after its box office struggles. Discover what went wrong and what’s next for the ambitious project.
Slated to be released in mid-2024, Director Shankar, one of India’s most futuristic filmmakers, is back in the news—and this time for more reasons than just a cinematic spectacle. His much-discussed upcoming film Velpari, based on the acclaimed Tamil literary epic by Su. Venkatesan is said to be a turning point in his career. After recent years of unexpected turmoil at both the box office and behind the scenes, Director Shankar is finally ready to tell us.
As audiences and critics are on the edge of their seats, Velpari is more than a movie—this is a statement. A redemption arc. A career-defining moment.
Shankar: The Maverick with a Vision
S. Shankar has made his reputation as a director who can create grand, high-concept films which combine commercial cinema with a social message. The films Gentleman (1993), Indian (1996), Anniyan (2005), Sivaji (2007), Enthiran (2010), and 2.0 (2018) have made him one of Indian cinema’s biggest bankable and risk-taking filmmakers.
He has been able to meld sci-fi level spectacle with Tamil cinema’s masala sensibilities. Shankar has built a career of throwing away the rulebook; he is known for making an investment in glorified and futuristic storylines with high production values, and he has hardly ever lost.
The Setbacks: A Career in Double Thoughts
Following the doom release of 2.0, Shankar made announcements of some ambitious projects, with Indian 2 being one: the sequel to his landmark hit of 1996. Meanwhile, the realization of Indian 2 has encountered a variety of obstacles. The film has been in limbo for an entire age, racing through legal disputes, cast changes, an on-the-set accident that turned fatal, and off the stage pandemic end. widelycast-through-shutil.
Meanwhile, audience tastes started to evolve: Pan-India films like RRR, Pushpa, and KGF were the in-trend, and Shankar’s absence during this change raised quite a few eyebrows.
Velpari, A Cultural Resurrection
Early 2024 saw a huge clamor with Shankar’s announcement about Velpari, a film adaptation of the Tamil epic novel by Sahitya Akademi Award-winning author Su. Venkatesan. The source material abounds with Sangam-era history related to the life of Velpari, the legendary chieftain famed for his courage, justice, and compassion.
For lovers of Tamil literature, this meant much more than an empty announcement of a movie.
Depth of History: Unlike commercial flicks, Velpari is a historico-folkloric episode long down into layers of dust.
Box Office Pressure: All Eyes on Velpari
What’s at Stake?
Make no mistake—Velpari is not another big-budget film. It is Shankar’s make-or-break situation.
After years of absence and foul speculations, this film is required not only to impress but also to restore Shankar’s image as a visionary who can carry a film critical and commercial on his own. In a time when the younger ones like Lokesh Kanagaraj command the creative side of things and the pan-India successes rule commercial film, Shankar has to prove that he still has a place at the top.
Heavy Comparisons
The audience is already putting Velpari up against:
SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali and RRR
Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan
And Prashanth-Neel’s KGF series
While these films made more or less successful attempts to draw from mythology and folklore, Velpari, on the other hand, carries the added burden of being a passion project—arguably even the most personal film-from Shankar.
Star Cast & Production: So Grand
Cast-wise, full official details are not revealed yet. But there have been reports that the makers are roping in all the big pan-Indian actors; hence scenes may very well feature all big stars coming from Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi industries.
Key Highlights:
Massive VFX work has been said to have been done by international studios-that have worked earlier on Avatar and Dune.
Filming in unique exotic and historic locations, such as the forested mountains found in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, along with films made outside India.
The design and costume are realism-based on Sangam art.
The music of Velpari will be by A.R. Rahman or another top composer (rumours suggest this, but not confirmed)—perfectly appropriate for the epic type of film on an epic scale!
Could Velpari Revive the Historical Genre?
In cinema, the Indian film has had a semi-friendly relationship with the historical epics. For every Baahubali or Ponniyin Selvan, there would be a Samrat Prithviraj or Shamshera that failed to connect with the audience. The genre requires that perfect mix of spectacle, authenticity, and emotional value.
Should Shankar manage to do so, then Velpari may well set the new standard for the historical epic in India.
More importantly, the pride of literature could be restored while shifting ancient Tamil history to international platforms.
Will Shankar Rise Again?
Velpari, far from being a mere movie release, is a metaphorical resurrection. For Shankar, it is another chance to come out of oblivion and into the limelight, and in the process reclaim the title of the grand orchestrator of Indian spectacle.
Concrete changes Shankar hopes to make through a successful Velpari could be:
Renewing interest in Tamil historical legends
Setting new standards for literary adaptations
Finally enshrining Shankar as the director that dared change
In an ever-evolving cinematic landscape, Velpari may well end up being the show-stopper comeback story.
One way or another, the fact remains that Shankar’s silence is broken: and Velpari is the loudest clap he has ever uttered.
FAQs
1. What is Velpari?
Velpari is an upcoming historical epic film directed by Shankar, inspired by the Tamil novel by Su. Venkatesan. Velpari is about the legendary Velpari from the Sangam era, a chieftain known for his bravery, compassion, and resistance to empires.
2. Who is directing Velpari?
The film is directed by S. Shankar, one of the highly regarded filmmakers in India. Some of his notable movies are Indian, Enthiran, 2.0, and Anniyan.
3. Is Velpari based on a true story?
While Velpari is based on ancient Tamil folklore and Sangam-era literature, it is a historical fiction based on real cultural heritage.
4. Is Velpari a pan-India film?
Yes, a pan-India film has been made in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.