Why Main Ratnam asked Hindi cinema to stop using the term Bollywood

Ace filmmaker, Mani Ratnam who is currently gearing up for the grand release of the upcoming film Ponniyin Selvan 2, recently suggested that the term Bollywood shouldn’t be used. The director attended the second edition of the CII Dakshin Media and Entertainment Summit in Chennai and spoke about the impact of South Indian cinema and how Indian cinema is regarded only as Bollywood.

When the conversation steered towards Indian cinema being constantly referred to as Bollywood in the West, Mani Ratnam said, “If Hindi cinema can stop calling themselves Bollywood, then people will stop identifying Indian cinema as Bollywood.” National Award-winning filmmaker Vetrimaaran echoed the same thought. He said, “I’m not a fan of the ‘woods’. Like Bollywood, and Kollywood. We need to see it as Indian cinema on the whole.”

Director Vetrimaran and Kantara filmmaker Rishab Shetty were also part of the panel discussion. They spoke about the importance of marketing locally and globally and said stories need to represent India’s major population living on a daily basis. Lately, it is to be noted that rural and local stories like Kantara, Balagam, and others did wonders at the box office and with audiences.

After massive success, Ponniyin Selvan 1, the team of Ponniyin Selvan is gearing up for the release of its sequel on April 28th. starring Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, and Trisha was released last September. It has its music composed by AR Rahman.