Acclaimed filmmaker and producer Vetrimaaran announced that his production banner, Grass Root Film Company, will close operations after the release of its final film, Bad Girl. The announcement, made during a press meet in Chennai, has come as a surprise to many in the Tamil film industry.
Vetrimaaran, who established the banner in 2012, said the decision stemmed from the growing pressures of being a producer. “Being a producer is taxing work. A director only needs to focus on creative responsibilities, but as a producer, you are accountable for everything — even the comments under a teaser affect a film’s business. That kind of pressure is exhausting,” he said.
The filmmaker pointed to his experiences with Bad Girl and Manushi as tipping points. Bad Girl, directed by Varsha Bharath, was mired in controversy following its teaser release, with critics alleging that it promoted underage drinking and misrepresented communities. However, the film was eventually cleared with a U/A 16+ certificate by the revising committee.
On the other hand, Manushi, directed by Gopi Nainar and starring Andrea Jeremiah, went through multiple censor board screenings, revisions, and even court battles before finally receiving certification. The Madras High Court, in a recent judgment, praised the film as a “masterful exploration of the dark underbelly of power” and directed the CBFC to clear it after necessary modifications.
“Cases like these prove how difficult it is for small producers who procure finance and make films. This is why we have decided that Bad Girl will be Grass Root Film Company’s final project,” Vetrimaaran explained.
Founded with Udhayam NH4 in 2013, Grass Root Film Company went on to produce some of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated works. The banner is best known for National Award-winning films like Kaaka Muttai and Visaranai, alongside popular titles including Kodi, Vada Chennai, Viduthalai Part 1, and Garudan.
The announcement marks the end of an era for Tamil cinema. Grass Root Film Company has long been regarded as a creative hub that nurtured bold, socially conscious films. With the closure, Vetrimaaran has made it clear that he will continue to focus on filmmaking but will no longer shoulder the burdens of production.