Sekhar Kammula on Kuberaa: Tamil Audience Didn’t Embrace It as Expected

National Award-winning director Sekhar Kammula recently spoke about the mixed response to his latest film Kuberaa, particularly in Tamil Nadu. While the Telugu version continues to perform well at the box office, the Tamil version fell short of expectations. Sekhar expressed his disappointment, saying, “I thought Tamil audience would embrace Kuberaa with wider arms.”

Dhanush’s Transformation and Tamil Box Office Struggles

Kuberaa, featuring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and others, offers a bilingual experience. Sekhar and his team shot every scene separately in both Telugu and Tamil. However, many viewers wrongly assumed that the Tamil version was a dubbed one. Sekhar clarified this confusion, saying, “We made a true bilingual. We shot every scene twice, and that effort deserved a better understanding. Sadly, this misunderstanding hurt our reach in Tamil Nadu.”

Despite the slow start in Tamil Nadu, many viewers praised the film. Sekhar called Dhanush’s performance as Deva “transformative” and hoped that the film’s emotional depth and strong character arcs would pull more Tamil viewers to theatres.

Kuberaa: A Story with Universal Themes

Sekhar explained that the storyline of Kuberaa doesn’t belong to just one region. “I created a story based on the rich vs poor divide, a theme that fits anywhere. I didn’t root it in Telugu culture, which is why I naturally made it bilingual,” he said. The film explores empathy, survival, and social contrasts, bringing together characters from different walks of life.

He chose not to turn Kuberaa into a typical commercial film. “I could have added more action or made it a mass entertainer. But I wanted to stay true to the beggar’s story and give every character emotional depth. These beggars have backgrounds, they didn’t just appear out of nowhere,” he explained.

Sekhar’s Approach: Art with a Heart

Sekhar always gives priority to storytelling but also recognizes the importance of financial success. “I focus about 70% on art and 30% on business. But I know cinema needs money, time, and effort to work,” he said.

He added that he never shapes a story to match a star’s image. “I completed the script first and then approached Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika. I didn’t alter anything to suit their star value. They surrendered themselves to the story, and I respect that,” he noted.

Empathy Is Knowledge, Says Sekhar

For Sekhar, empathy stands as the most powerful form of understanding. Through Kuberaa, he wanted to explore different slices of society. “Every character reflects real-life struggles, whether it’s the middle-class man trying to survive, the greedy capitalist chasing money, or the beggar just living day by day. These contrasts form the soul of Kuberaa,” he shared.

Although he feels let down by the Tamil reception, Sekhar remains hopeful. He believes that over time, more viewers will discover the film’s message. “I want people to see the world from this perspective. That belief keeps me moving forward,” he said.

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