Composer Thaman S has offered some forthright views about Telugu cinema versus the rest of the film industries in South India. While talking to SumanTV Times about his latest film Akhanda 2, among other topics, Thaman said that other composers from outside of the Telugu states land projects for lesser remuneration as compared to him. According to Thaman, this is an act of treachery that happens in Telugu cinema, and the same issue does not take place elsewhere.

Thaman argued that music directors such as Anirudh are able to get opportunities to work in Telugu cinema very easily, while he finds it challenging to land projects in the Tamil film industry. The composer offered a critical lens at what he suggests is a case of democracy that exists in Telugu cinema, which he claims does not happen in other industries.

However, Thaman clarified that he does not mind the high level of competition that he faces from other composers in Telugu cinema. The Akhanda 2 composer also cited the likes of GV Prakash, Jakes Bejoy, Gopi Sundar, Ajanesh Loknath, and Ravi Basrur. He also argued that there are composers who earn way more in Telugu as compared to their home markets and that they work just for financial gain rather than their admiration for films in Telugu.