Kollywood director Lokesh Kanagaraj, who has also made a mark in Tollywood, recently attended a college conclave in Coimbatore, where he shared insights on filmmaking and his creative journey. He highlighted that he writes stories keeping audience expectations in mind, aiming to craft narratives that resonate with viewers.
Speaking about collaborations, Lokesh said he would not make a film without music director Anirudh in the future. “If he ever retires, I might explore artificial intelligence, but that time hasn’t come yet. Fifteen years ago, Kamal Haasan spoke about OTT platforms when hardly anyone understood the concept. Today, there is hardly a film without an OTT deal. AI will follow the same path; we are still learning about its potential,” he noted.
Reflecting on his early days, Lokesh said he once made a short film with just ₹4,000, relying on friends as cinematographer and editor. He advised aspiring filmmakers that big budgets are not essential—passion is enough. “Success is not measured by crores earned. Even a short film can succeed if the story is told well and reaches the audience. Box-office numbers matter to producers, not directors,” he added.
Lokesh also encouraged students to follow their interests and work in fields they are passionate about, crediting his achievements to doing work he loves. He noted that, apart from Nagarahavu and Kaithi, Anirudh has composed music for all his films, highlighting the significance of their collaboration.
