Is Sivakarthikeyan Truly Ruining Tamil Cinema as Critics Claim?

Much has been said and written about Sivakarthikeyan and his impact on Tamil cinema. Critics like Tamil Light argue that he is spoiling the industry with his cheap and mindless entertainment. However, a closer look at Sivakarthikeyan's career and the current landscape of Tamil cinema may reveal a different narrative.

The Myth of Sivakarthikeyan Ruining the Industry

While Tamil Light and others may point to Sivakarthikeyan as a villain in the Tamil cinema industry, it is important to question this claim. Sivakarthikeyan, like many other actors, is merely catering to a mass audience with entertainment that is both popular and appealing. There are more factors at play in ruining the industry than just one actor's choices. Many mass heroes, including Sivakarthikeyan, have been giving mindless masala entertainers to the audience, which may lack depth and substance.

SK, as a commercial movie star, draws fans with mindless entertainment that revolves around stereotypes and familiar clichés. While he has managed to stay relevant by covering family audiences, this approach will not sustain him in the long run. In the past, even actors like Ramajan and Mohan had a similar approach, but they managed to succeed by referring to the Rajini and Vijay style of selection, which relies on unique content. If SK were to follow a similar route, he would likely see changes in his career trajectory for the better, gaining more success on a worldwide scale.

Sivakarthikeyan's Aspirations and Choices

Sivakarthikeyan aspires to be the next Vijay or Ajith, heroes who were once smaller beginnings. He chooses scripts that always place him as the focal point, similar to the big heroes. An exception is his role in Velaikaran, where Fahad scored brilliantly. Fans love admiring actors who grow up to be sensations, and SK is smart enough to manipulate emotions and evoke sympathy by playing his hardships, no matter the stage.

Although SK is a decent actor, it is clear that his primary focus is on enhancing his stardom. He often positions himself as a Rajini fanboy to market himself better. Since his early days as an anchor, influencers and movie reviewers have shown a soft bias towards him, rarely giving negative reviews even when his movies lack quality. SK strategically releases his movies during long holiday weekends to ensure his films perform well, sometimes at the expense of other good movies.

While he may not be explicitly abusing the industry, his actions do benefit his personal growth rather than the industry as a whole.

Are Critics Right?

Tamil Light, one of the critics, never outright claimed that Sivakarthikeyan is ruining the industry. Instead, he pointed out that Sivakarthikeyan's social media team promotes him shamelessly as a small-town actor who struggles daily. It is true that he has a massive social media presence, but does this translate to his success in the film industry?

Prince, despite its hype, was a massive box office flop, demonstrating the limited appeal of mindless entertainment. SK must focus on the quality of his content rather than relying solely on hype and emotional manipulation to continue thriving in the industry.

In conclusion, Sivakarthikeyan, like many actors, is trying to succeed in an industry that often values mass appeal over quality. While his approach may not be ideal, he is not single-handedly ruining the industry. Instead, it's a multifaceted issue that requires a more nuanced approach to address.