Tamil filmmaker Vetrimaaran has decided to close down his production company, Grass Root Film Company, which he started in 2012. He announced that his upcoming movie Bad Girl will be the last project under this banner. The director explained that producing films has become too stressful for him, while directing alone gives him the freedom to focus only on the creative side.
At a press meet in Chennai ahead of Bad Girl’s release, Vetrimaaran opened up about the struggles he has faced with his recent projects. He said that as a producer, he has to handle not only the filmmaking but also public reactions, financial risks, and even the impact of what actors or crew members say. This constant pressure, he admitted, has taken away the joy of making films.
Both Manushi and Bad Girl ran into trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Manushi was delayed for months after the censor board demanded several cuts, forcing Vetrimaaran to take the matter to the Madras High Court. Bad Girl too faced controversy when its teaser drew criticism for allegedly showing Brahmins in a poor light. Despite the backlash, the film eventually received a U/A certificate.
Vetrimaaran said that producing films requires borrowing money, which makes the risk even heavier. He also mentioned that online reactions, like comments under a teaser, can affect a film’s business before it even reaches the audience. He admitted discussing these challenges with fellow director Mysskin, who agreed that the job of a producer is far more taxing than that of a director.
With Bad Girl set to release on September 5, Vetrimaaran made it clear that this will be his final venture as a producer. Going forward, he plans to concentrate only on directing, which he feels is a more creative and less stressful role. For fans of his work, this means they can still look forward to new films from him, just not under his production house.