The Kannada film ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ is the most recent addition to the list of south Indian films enjoying box office success across India. Other films on this list are ‘Bahubali’, ‘KGF’ and ‘Pushpa’ franchises and ‘RRR’.

Although rooted in specific regions, cultures and languages, they have achieved national fandom. Not only are they reshaping mainstream tastes, but also competing with the regular fare produced in Mumbai. Film experts offer many explanations for the unexpected surge in interest — some believe the films feed into the hyper nationalistic narratives originating in the north, while others say they represent rooted cultures contesting homogenising narratives.

Narrative diversity

Bollywood has been the face of Indian cinema for a long time. With the rise in ‘pan-Indian’ ci

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