Kollywood
Thalaivar 173 Buzz: Is Parking director Ramkumar Balakrishnan in advanced talks to helm Superstar Rajinikanth’s next massive project after delivering a cult hit?
BY SACNILK
In the world of Tamil cinema, directing Superstar Rajinikanth is the ultimate dream. While titans like Lokesh Kanagaraj (Coolie) and Nelson (Jailer) are currently handling the Superstar's lineup, a surprising and exciting name has emerged as the frontrunner for Thalaivar 173. Reports suggest that Ramkumar Balakrishnan, the director of the critically acclaimed thriller Parking, is in advanced talks to helm Rajinikanth’s next project. If true, his career trajectory—and his remuneration—is witnessing a historic jump. According to circulating trade reports, Ramkumar Balakrishnan’s growth in market value is nothing short of cinematic. While he was reportedly paid a modest remuneration of ₹6 Lakhs for his critically acclaimed debut gem Parking (2023), his stock rose significantly with his signing of STR49 starring Silambarasan TR, for which he reportedly commanded a fee of ₹2 Crores. Now, the stakes have seemingly hit the stratosphere; reports claim that for the highly anticipated Thalaivar 173, the young filmmaker is being offered a whopping ₹10 Crores, marking a historic, exponential jump in his career graph in a very short span of time. For those who missed the wave, Ramkumar Balakrishnan delivered one of 2023's finest Tamil films, Parking. Starring Harish Kalyan and M.S. Bhaskar, the film was a tense, psychological drama revolving around a petty ego clash between two neighbors over a car parking spot. What made it stand out was its reliance on a tight screenplay, palpable tension, and character psychology rather than massive action blocks or item numbers. This narrative grip reportedly caught the eye of Superstar Rajinikanth, who is known for championing young talent and solid scripts—as seen in his previous collaborations with filmmakers like Karthik Subbaraj and Nelson. Rumors suggest that Rajinikanth personally watched Parking, was impressed by the director’s command over the craft, and expressed a keen interest in collaborating. Rajinikanth’s dates remain tightly packed, with the Superstar currently shifting his primary focus toward the highly anticipated sequel, Jailer 2, with Nelson Dilipkumar. This timeline actually works in favor of the potential collaboration, as the Thalaivar 173 slot remains open for a later commencement. This strategic gap provides Ramkumar Balakrishnan ample time to not only develop a robust script worthy of the Superstar’s stature but also wrap up his prior commitment—STR49 starring Silambarasan TR, produced by Passion Studios—before stepping onto the biggest set of his career. If verified, this move signals a healthy trend in Kollywood where scriptwriters are being valued over sheer scale. From a modest budget film about a parking spot to potentially directing the biggest star in Indian cinema, Ramkumar Balakrishnan’s journey proves that a good story is the most expensive currency in cinema.
