Exclusive | RJ Balaji on Negative Online Reviews of 'Karuppu': 'Critics Not In Sync With Reality'

With his latest blockbuster directorial, Karuppu, crossing ₹200 crore worldwide, RJ Balaji talked about the film facing a crossfire of commercial success and critical backlash. Reviews have called the film heavy-handed, loud and reminiscent of YouTube skits, though Balaji remains unfazed.

“I felt this time, they're completely not in sync with the reality or with the people,” Balaji told THR India. “They are in a world where the truth of the people enjoying the film is completely different.”

He pointed out the condescending tone of online critics looking down on audiences who enjoy such “massy” films, stating, "I think they all demean somebody who's liking the film. That is very arrogant - it's a judgement where they already think they're brilliant, they're intelligent."

A former critic himself, Balaji explained that he stepped away from reviewing when he entered the film industry. "I thought it's a conflict of interest,” he expressed, adding that he ensured to keep his distance from filmmakers to ensure fairness in his reviews.

“In this film, my job is to cater to the 99% of the audience, and that 99% are celebrating the film,” elaborating that in his work as a critic and as a filmmaker, he has remained true to the role.

Coming back to the response received by the film, Balaji said, “I personally feel we need to respect the audience, they are not dumb people.” He compared the backlash received by the film to the mixed response to actor-turned-politician Vijay’s recent electoral win. “They didn’t vote for Vijay sir because they don't know anything. (The public) voted because there is a sentiment and an emotion attached to it. They like this film because they feel connected to it.”

Balaji says he does not respect critics who demean audiences, especially online critics who disregard "the audience’s suspension of disbelief or probably ridicule them for liking something.”

“After two months, I'll go read all the reviews and take whatever things that I have to change, but it was a very conscious decision to make the film for the audience.” He recollected being in disbelief seeing fans react to the film. “I see in a theatre of a thousand people, 500-600 people standing and watching the film, they're not sitting for the entire film. I myself was like, ‘What, seriously? This is happening?”

Critical acclaim, he makes clear, was never the goal. "I wanted this to be a commercial box office success, not critically acclaimed by 15 people who say, 'Oh, you should have done well, okay, Balaji, do well next time.' I didn't want that,” - calling critical acclaim, “a participation certificate.”

Watch the full interview with RJ Balaji on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube Channel at 8 pm tonight.