Chennai: Actress Andrea Jeremiah has sparked a significant conversation across South Indian film industries after boldly declaring that Malayalam cinema is superior to Tamil cinema, particularly in its approach to storytelling and treating artistes. The comments were made during a recent media interaction ahead of the release of her film, Mask.
The actress, who has worked predominantly in the Tamil film industry (Kollywood), expressed profound admiration for her neighbour, stating that the way characters are crafted in Mollywood is “much stronger and deeper” than in Tamil cinema.
”The quality of characters written in Malayalam is extraordinary,” Jeremiah stated. She went on to reveal her deep appreciation for the industry’s culture, adding, “If I knew the language fluently, I would have gone there and acted and settled there.”
Jeremiah highlighted that the respect given to artistes, the humanity found in the scripts, and the culture that prioritizes acting skills and content over stardom are the key factors driving her preference. She cited examples from Hollywood and Malayalam cinema where actors, regardless of having played the lead role, readily take up quality supporting roles if the character appeals to them.
She stressed the power of content, noting, “Even a film made on a budget of Rs. 4 crores can gross Rs. 100 crores just because of the content. This is only possible in Malayalam.”
While lauding Mollywood, the actress also offered constructive criticism for Tamil cinema. She acknowledged the progress in “technology, visual design, and sound design” but emphasized the need to strengthen the fundamentals.
”The strength of the story, the people in it, their journey, is what will sustain a film,” she stated, adding her hope that Tamil audiences would become more receptive to female-centric stories and scripts that prioritize character depth.
The actress also used the platform to announce her production aspirations, stating that if her latest film Mask is a box office success, she plans to personally take steps to release the long-delayed Pisasu 2. Her comments are expected to fuel a widespread debate on the narrative quality and cultural landscape of South Indian regional cinema.
