Suresh Triveni on the ‘Commercial vs Meaningful’ Debate: ‘The Danger Is Making Films Based on Perception, Not Instinct’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Filmmaker Suresh Triveni finds the debate between commercial and "meaningful" cinema is fundamentally flawed, serving only to create a divide where none should exist. Triveni wants the conversation to shift away from labels and towards something more fundamental. The “Subedaar" director in an exclusive chat with Variety India opens up about catering to his audience. 

Cutting straight to the point, he says, “I don’t look at cinema as commercial versus meaningful. For me, it’s about what connects. You can make something mounted on a big scale, with stars and action, and still have emotion at its core. And you can make something very intimate and small, but if it doesn’t connect, it won’t work.”  His perspective comes from observing how audiences engage with films today. He believes scale and intent are not opposing forces.

That belief has pushed him to actively “explore that in-between space; that’s neither too commercial in a loud, obvious way, nor so niche that it becomes inaccessible,” he explains, continuing, “That space excites me because it allows you to tell stories that feel real but are still engaging for a wider audience.” 

He is wary of how quickly the industry puts filmmakers into boxes. “People often try to bracket you, that ‘he makes these kinds of films.’ But I don’t wake up thinking I want to make a certain type of film. I’m drawn to ideas.” What Triveni finds problematic is when decisions are driven not by passion, but commerce. “I think the danger is when you start making choices based on perception instead of instinct.”

In the present scenario where not every film finds an audience, the makers  face pressure to make films that are box-office friendly. Triveni articulates, “We’re constantly asking, ‘Will this work?’ But I don’t think anyone really knows. Some of the biggest successes have come from gut decisions. I feel we need to go back to that instinct, because cinema, at its core, is a gut-led medium.”

The "Subedaar" director's take on scale, stars and trends is interesting. He opines that as filmmakers grow, awareness of these factors  start influencing choices. “When you’re starting out, your naivety protects you. You’re not overthinking. As you go ahead, you become more aware, and that awareness can sometimes hold you back.” The challenge, he believes, is to stay true to self, while navigating the business realities.

The shift in audience behavior has only made this balancing act more critical. With endless viewing options available, the idea that a film will work simply because it is “commercial” no longer holds. Suresh elaborates, “You have to earn the audience's time and money. That’s why the lines between commercial and meaningful cinema are blurring, because ultimately, only what connects survives.”

From "Jalsa" to "Subedaar," perhaps it was the evolving landscape that shifted genres from female- centric film to a testosterone-filled action drama mainlining Anil Kapoor. The director has a simple explanation. “About "Subedaar," I didn’t want to stay in a comfort zone. I had never done action before, and I wanted to explore that language, not because it’s trending, but because I wanted to challenge myself.” Clearly expanding creative boundaries meant more than staying in the 'safe zone'.

The former ad filmmaker says, moving away from binaries and staying focussed on honesty in storytelling is key. “Just because a film is mounted on a big scale doesn’t automatically make it commercial, and just because it’s small doesn’t make it meaningful. Ultimately, it comes down to how honestly you tell your story.”