Pawan Kalyan slams Bollywood for losing 'Bharatiyata’, hails south cinema's cultural connect

Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan recently made waves with a candid take on how Indian culture is represented in cinema—and why Bollywood no longer dominates the narrative. In a thought-provoking conversation, he reflected on the shifting dynamics in Indian film industries, calling for a deeper recognition of the diverse cultural expressions found in regional cinema.

In an interview with the Organiser Weekly, when asked about the growing cultural footprint of South Indian films compared to Hindi cinema, Pawan Kalyan responded with clarity: for him, the term “Indian” itself sometimes feels distant. Instead, he prefers “Bharatiya Chitra Parishrama”—a phrase that, he says, fully represents the soul of Bharat and its collective creative spirit.

He acknowledged that while Bollywood once heavily influenced the perception of Indian culture, it was also impacted by globalisation and an earlier wave of left-leaning storytelling, where culturally rooted characters were often caricatured or mocked. But in contrast, regional cinema, particularly from the South, has maintained a strong connection with native traditions and rural audiences.


According to Kalyan, the dominance of southern cinema today isn’t just by chance—it’s rooted in storytelling that remains deeply connected to “Bharatiyata.” Films like Dangal, he noted, are rare instances from Bollywood that reflect authentic Indian values without needing to explicitly rely on religion. He concluded that South Indian filmmakers—often catering to a largely rural demographic—never fully lost that cultural link. Whether knowingly or strategically, they’ve held on to stories that resonate with the heart of India.

About Pawan Kalyan’s upcoming work

The much-delayed period drama Hari Hara Veera Mallu, starring actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, is now set to release worldwide on July 24. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and A.M. Jothi Krishna, the film was earlier scheduled for June 12 but was postponed. The makers cited the need to “take a step back for bigger strides ahead.” With music by M.M. Keeravani, the film is produced by A. Dayakar Rao under Mega Surya Production and presented by A.M. Rathnam.