Box office shouldn't be benchmark: Jana Nayagan director amid film's modest run

Amid Jana Nayagan's box office debate, director H Vinoth said box-office numbers alone cannot define a film. He pointed to past underperformers by major directors and said a film's value can be recognised over time.

In Short

• Jana Nayagan director H Vinoth says box-office is not the sole measure of success
• He said only 10-20% of films succeed, even top directors face failures
• Vinoth praises Vijay and the producer for supporting the film

Jana Nayagan director H Vinoth has spoken about the audience reception to the Vijay-starrer, saying a film's box-office performance should not be treated as the only measure of its success. His remarks come after the film did not emerge as the kind of major success many expected, given Vijay's box-office record and what has been described as his last screen appearance as an actor.

In a recent interview with NDTV, Vinoth said only a small share of films go on to become box-office successes. Referring to filmmaker Mani Ratnam, he said even films by leading directors can sometimes perform below expectations, and that this does not define their ability or potential.

Asked whether the recent box-office failures of films fronted by major stars and made by big directors in Tamil cinema had concerned him, Vinoth said, "At any point in cinema history, if you see only 10 per cent of films will succeed. The success ratio in any industry is only 10 to 20 per cent. Cinema is no different. The intention of any creator / filmmaker/ director is pure, and they try sincerely to make a good film. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

Vinoth also thanked Vijay and the film's producer for standing by the project. He said, "Today, we see films being re-released after 10 years or 20 years and being celebrated. For instance, a number of Mani Ratnam sir's films didn't do well in theatres, like Nayakan. So, we shouldn't look at the box office as the benchmark, I think."

Jana Nayagan was released on July 23 and collected Rs 233 crore worldwide in five days, with a visible drop on Monday. The film earned Rs 10.15 crore nett in India on Day 5, taking its domestic total to Rs 134.90 crore nett.

Starring Vijay as the leader Tamil Nadu needs, the film recorded the fifth highest-grossing five-day run for a Tamil film in the state. However, it did not surpass the five-day business of Vijay's The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) and Leo.

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