Kamal Haasan Champions Independent Cinema at IFFI: “As Free as India”

Goa – Veteran actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan addressed the ongoing struggle faced by independent cinema in India, arguing that indie films are often unable to secure adequate theatrical space due to competition from big-budget commercial movies.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 in Goa, the actor firmly stated that independent cinema should not be judged by mainstream metrics.

🇮🇳 The State of Independent Cinema

• Definition of Freedom: Haasan championed the spirit of indie filmmaking, emphasizing, “Independent cinema is very independent, as free as India… don’t bring it into a confining space of a very commercialised cinema.”
• Theatrical Complaint: When asked about the lack of space for indie films in theatres, the acclaimed actor responded, “Yes, that’s been my complaint for about 40 years.”
• Blurred Lines: Throughout his successful career in Tamil cinema, Haasan himself often blurred the lines between experimental and mainstream, working in films like Nayakan and Sadma that achieved both critical acclaim and box office success.

🎥 Kamal Haasan Brings ‘Amaran’ to IFFI

Kamal Haasan walked the IFFI red carpet alongside the lead stars of his production, Amaran, Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi.

• Opening Film: The film, produced by Haasan’s banner Raaj Kamal Films International, serves as the opening film of the 56th IFFI.
• The Narrative: Directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, Amaran is based on the life of Major Mukund Vardharajan, who was killed in action during a counter-terror operation in Kashmir in 2014. The movie is an adaptation from a chapter in the book, India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes.

Kamal Haasan was most recently seen in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life.