Director Pandiraaj, who last helmed Thalaivan Thalavii, is gearing up for the release of his next project, Parimala and Co. The film, starring Urvashi, Jayaram, Sanjana Krishnamoorthy and Ananthika Sanilkumar in lead roles, was initially scheduled for release on May 28 but was later pushed.
In a recent interview promoting the film, director Pandiraaj opened up about the negative reviews and criticisms placed on his previous outing, Thalaivan Thalaivii. The film, headlined by Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, received mixed reviews upon release but earned well at the box office.
"I have always trusted the audience. Even during the reviews for my previous film, Thalaivan Thalaivii, many criticised it for being loud and pointed out several flaws, with a flood of negative reviews coming in. But the film became a massive success," he explained in an interview with Indiaglitz.
He then said that despite negative reviews, the film went on to be commercially successful. "Kadaikutty Singam had huge collections, and they said Thalaivan Thalaivii surpassed even Kadaikutty Singam’s collections. It has become the highest-grossing film in Vijay Sethupathi sir’s career so far and also the highest in my career," he said, adding, "So when people like a film, no matter how many negative reviews you give, audiences will still come and watch it. That means the public has their own understanding."
He then said that the reviews do not impact a film's success. "So what does that say about the audience? It means they are not taking these reviews seriously. If people genuinely like something, no matter who tries to stop it, it will still reach them. The audience decides who becomes a leader. Just like they decide what food they want to eat or avoid, they also decide whether they want to watch a film or not," he shared.
Parimala and Co. also stars Mysskin, Yogi Babu, Sandy, Santosh Sobhan, and Tamilkumaran, among others. The film has been produced by Lyca Productions, Tamilkumaran Productions and director Pandiraaj's own Pasanga Productions. The film will now open in theatres on June 5.