RJ BalajiIts ‘Karuppu’ became the biggest Tamil blockbuster of the year. Staring SuriyaStarring Trisha, Indrans, and Swasika, the film enjoyed a dream run in theaters and reportedly crossed Rs 300 crore worldwide. This success ended Suriya’s long wait for a big theatrical hit. After the great success of the film, Suriya even gifted cars to director RJ Balaji and key members of the technical team as a gesture of appreciation. However, the conversation around the film changed after its OTT premiere, where viewers started noticing some visual effects flaws that were largely unnoticed on the big screen.
RJ Balaji explains the challenges behind visual effects
As criticism over some of the CGI-heavy scenes mounted online, RJ Balaji addressed the issue during a recent interview with Galatta. Instead of avoiding the issue, the filmmaker openly explained the real challenges faced by the team. Talking about a much talked about head replacement sequence, he said, “For a head replacement shot, it takes about eight months to get it right. The payment has to be good too. Unfortunately, we couldn’t meet that deadline.” He also revealed that moving the sequence was never an option as it played an important role in the film’s narrative.
‘Kaarupu’ director admits mistakes and accepts audience feedback
RJ Balaji’s desire to take over was what attracted the attention of many. The director admitted that some parts did not meet the expected quality standards and said that the team was fully aware of the flaws. “We have to accept our mistakes. We will plan better next time,” he said. He added with honesty and humor, “More than the audience, I have screenshots of those mistakes. We know everything that is being discussed.His candid response was appreciated by many fans, who felt that the filmmaker handled the criticism in a mature manner instead of making excuses.
What else went wrong with the viral ‘Singam’ scene
RJ Balaji also spoke about the viral Singham sequence, which became a major talking point after its OTT release. According to him, the team deliberately used fewer shots in that segment to manage technical limitations. “We had hoped that this scene would be discussed after the OTT release because we knew it was not fully executed,” he admitted. He explained that action scenes often involve both lead actors and stunt doubles, which can sometimes create lighting and continuity problems.Although the movie received a lot of criticism on the internet, RJ Balaji’s clear explanation and willingness to admit their mistakes enabled their discussion to turn into one that reflected the practical aspects of filmmaking.
