“They Have Lost Their Roots” : Prakash Raj Slams ‘Money-Oriented’ Hindi Films

Veteran actor and filmmaker Prakash Raj has criticised mainstream Hindi cinema for losing its cultural and emotional roots, saying it has become increasingly “fake” and driven by money rather than meaningful storytelling. The National Award-winning actor made these remarks while speaking at the ninth edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF).

Known for his work across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi cinema, Raj compared the current state of Bollywood unfavourably with Malayalam and Tamil films, which he praised for their strong, content-driven narratives.

“Hindi Cinema Has Lost Its Roots”: Prakash Raj

Speaking during a session titled “The Artist I Became”, Prakash Raj said mainstream Hindi films now prioritise surface-level beauty over substance.

“In the present context, I feel Malayalam and Tamil cinema are making very strong films. Hindi cinema, on the other hand, has lost its roots. Everything looks beautiful, wonderful, like plastic, as you see in the Madame Tussauds museum,” he said.

Raj added that South Indian cinema, particularly Tamil films, continues to explore socially relevant themes, including caste and marginalised voices, which gives him hope for the future of Indian storytelling.

Praise for Malayalam and Tamil Cinema

Highlighting the work of young filmmakers, Raj said new directors in Tamil cinema are addressing Dalit issues and lived social realities, something he feels is largely missing in mainstream Hindi films today.

We still have stories to tell. The new young directors of Tamil are talking about Dalit issues, and that gives so much hope,” he noted.

Multiplex Era Changed Bollywood’s Direction

Prakash Raj traced Bollywood’s decline in storytelling depth to the post-multiplex era, arguing that the industry began catering almost exclusively to urban audiences.

“After multiplexes, the Bombay film industry started making films only for multiplexes. Very cute films and things like that. Because they were running well. They went into that Page 3 culture, and with that lost touch with rural Rajasthan and Bihar,” he explained.

According to Raj, this shift toward glamour, celebrity culture, and aesthetics weakened Bollywood’s emotional connection with a large section of its audience.

Loss of Nation-Building Narratives

The actor also lamented the disappearance of the nation-building themes that once defined Hindi cinema after Independence.

To illustrate his point, he cited the 1977 blockbuster Amar Akbar Anthony, particularly the iconic scene where characters from three different religions donate blood to save a life — symbolising unity, shared values, and social harmony.

“Now, it’s not like that anymore. Today, it’s all about money and appearances — reels, Page 3 coverage, and loud self-promotion. In the process, I feel the industry has lost its connection with the audience,” Raj concluded.

About the Kerala Literature Festival

The four-day Kerala Literature Festival featured over 400 speakers from across the world, including Nobel Laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah and Abhijit Banerjee, astronaut Sunita Williams, author Kiran Desai, essayist Pico Iyer, Jnanpith Award winner Pratibha Ray, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.