Renowned director Lokesh Kanagaraj, celebrated for his swift rise to success, faced unexpected turmoil following the blockbuster release of ‘Leo,’ starring Vijay. Despite the film’s monumental success at the box office, recent reports have surfaced, revealing an unresolved financial matter between Kanagaraj and the movie’s producers.
According to credible sources, the makers of ‘Leo’ have allegedly not fulfilled their financial obligations towards Lokesh Kanagaraj, leaving a portion of his remuneration unsettled. This has caused discontentment for the acclaimed director, prompting speculation that he may seek intervention from the director’s association to address the issue.
However, in a contrasting narrative, distributor and social media influencer Karthik Ravivarman, closely associated with ‘Leo’ producer, vehemently refuted the claims made by an online portal. Mocking the portal for spreading what he deemed as false reports against Vijay and his films, Ravivarman clarified that Kanagaraj’s salary was duly paid in full. He highlighted the fact that Kanagaraj, having delivered the final cut of ‘Leo’ on time, had no grounds for dispute with the producers.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, it was revealed that Lokesh Kanagaraj, who previously earned Rs 6 crore for directing Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vikram,’ secured a substantial increase in his remuneration for ‘Leo.’ Reportedly, he received an impressive sum of Rs 20 crore for his directorial efforts on the film.
Despite the reported financial discrepancies, ‘Leo’ continues to enjoy success, currently available for streaming in multiple languages on a popular OTT platform. Additionally, the film is still running in select theaters across Tamil Nadu. The unfolding controversy raises questions about the intricacies of financial transactions within the Indian film industry and the potential impact on the relationships between directors and producers.
