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At the grand audio and trailer launch of the upcoming horror-comedy Jinn – The Bat , veteran filmmaker and FEFSI president RK Selvamani voiced strong concerns about the current state of the film industry . The event, held in Chennai, brought together a host of industry veterans including Justice S.K. Krishnan, retired IPS officer Panneerselvam, producer K.R., and directors R.V. Udayakumar and Perarasu.

Selvamani Takes Aim at Rising Trend Among Stars

Using the platform to address what he sees as a critical issue, Selvamani criticised the growing reliance on star managers and assistants to listen to scripts on behalf of actors. “Cinema is failing because assistants hear scripts,” he stated, urging upcoming actors to engage directly with directors and writers. He stressed that this growing disconnect between actors and creators is undermining creative collaboration and weakening relationships within the industry.

“Lack of Respect Leads to Failure”

Drawing from personal experience, Selvamani explained that the absence of mutual respect and direct communication often leads to creative breakdowns. “When there is no friendship or mutual respect between a film’s lead and its director, the project is bound to suffer,” he warned, encouraging a return to more transparent and respectful working relationships.

Highlighting Producers’ Struggles

Selvamani also spotlighted the financial hardships faced by film producers. Despite theatres reportedly selling 7–8 lakh tickets daily and generating around ₹2 crore, producers, he said, see little of this revenue. Citing Madha Gaja Raja as an example of unrecovered earnings, he called on the Producers’ Council to take action and negotiate better rights and revenue-sharing models to protect producers’ interests.

About Jinn – The Bat

Directed by D.R. Bala, Jinn – The Bat stars Mugen Rao and features a diverse ensemble cast including Pavya Darisha, Radha Ravi , Bala Saravanan , Imman Annachi, and others. With cinematography by Arjun Raja and music by the Vivek-Mervin duo, the film blends horror and humour and is slated for release on May 30.