Lokesh Kanagaraj has said that he will never do a film without music composer Anirudh Ravichander going forward. Addressing students at the SSVM Transforming India Conclave 2025 in Coimbatore on Monday, the filmmaker also spoke about the importance of passion in filmmaking and how he will never make films to meet audiences' satisfaction.
When asked whether there was a possibility of using AI in his film's music, Lokesh said, "I will never do a film without Anirudh in the future. If he quits cinema, I'll have to think about using AI for music. But that's not going to be the case anytime soon."
Further, while discussing the fears associated with AI replacing human beings, Lokesh said that one cannot judge AI until it is learnt fully and that he is currently learning about it. He also quotes an anecdote to support an argument about how AI could positively be a part of our future. "15 years ago, Kamal Haasan was the only one speaking about OTT platforms. He spoke during the release of Vishwaroopam, when we had no idea what OTT is. Today, there is not a film without an OTT deal. That's how I look at AI as well. We are still learning what AI is all about," he shared.
On a different note, when asked about how aspiring filmmakers can make films without the necessary financial support, Lokesh said, "I made a short film with just Rs 4000. A friend who had a camera was the cinematographer, while another friend with a laptop was an editor. So for starters, a big budget is not required." On how passion is important for good filmmaking, he added, "When it comes to cinema, success completely depends upon one's ability to make the story relatable. A story can be told in multiple ways. It is all about passion when it comes to cinema."
Lokesh then baffled the audience as he said that he is not a successful filmmaker. "I always wanted to work as an assistant for one particular filmmaker. But that never happened, and in that sense I am not successful. Success is not about making films that give crores of revenue. A film can be a minute long or three hours long. If it is shown to the audience, you are a successful director. The box office is only for producers." He reiterated to students that they should follow their heart by saying, "If I have become a filmmaker today, it is because I wasn't influenced by the advice given by so many people. I followed my heart, and I want to pass on that same message to these students as well."
Lastly, the filmmaker signed off by saying, "I will never write a story just to meet expectations. I will write a story and hope for it to please the audience."
