From 100-crore budgets to casting: Prithviraj contrasts Malayalam films with Bollywood

Prithviraj Sukumaran has highlighted the informal and direct approach of the Malayalam film industry, contrasting it with the more layered processes of Bollywood. Speaking at the 16th edition of Expresso in Mumbai, the actor-filmmaker emphasized the industry's informal culture as a central strength, noting that Malayalam films have grown in scale to include big-budget productions, such as those with 100-crore budgets and 150-day shooting schedules.

Despite this growth, Prithviraj stressed that the industry maintains its informal process, which he believes keeps filmmaking grounded and humane. He illustrated this difference by describing how casting works in Malayalam cinema versus Bollywood. For Malayalam films, a director can simply call an actor and discuss a project, often leading to a direct agreement.

In contrast, Bollywood typically involves multiple layers of intermediaries, including agencies and managers, with negotiations involving fees and conditions before the project moves forward. Prithviraj acknowledged that Bollywood's corporate approach works but believes there is a simpler way of doing things.