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Director Shankar’s dream project Velpari has finally found a producer amid reports of budget concerns.
Shankar’s last two films fell short of expectations.
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Veteran director S Shankar is reportedly preparing to start filming his beloved historical epic, Velpari, under new budgetary constraints following the lacklustre reception and box office performance of his 2025 film Game Changer.
Based on the critically acclaimed Tamil novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Velpari by S Venkatesan, the ambitious adaptation encountered years of developmental challenges and financial constraints due to its massive projected scale and the underperformance of Shankar’s earlier high-budget films. According to industry insiders, Velpari has finally found a producer and moved into pre-production with a focus on fiscal management.
Producer Backing Comes With Conditions
Shankar’s Velpari is one of the most anticipated, yet delayed, projects in Tamil cinema. Potential sponsors have been apprehensive of the financial dangers associated with another high-profile Shankar film after Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 and Ram Charan’s Game Changer’s box office performances fell short of expectations.
A large number of producers stayed away from taking a chance. However, things appear different now. Industry sources state that Pen Media has taken over as a producer but is demanding strict financial controls.
According to reports, Pen Media has requested Shankar to provide a comprehensive budget and a written assurance that expenses would not exceed the authorised limit. Compared to earlier Shankar films, known for their extravagant scale and associated high costs, this represents a substantial change.
Importance Of Velpari To Director Shankar
Shankar’s dream project Velpari is expected to explore the life and conflicts of the fabled Tamil ruler Vel Pari with the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms. According to Shankar, the plot is ambitious and epic, with aspirations similar to those of widely famous fantasy films.
“Once, my dream project was Enthiran. Now, my dream project is Velpari,” Shankar remarked during an event for the novel in 2025.
He also addressed why this movie holds such profound significance for him. “I think this film could be one of the biggest endeavours ever made, owing to the elements of costume, art, and the level of production it will require,” Shankar added.
Aftermath Of Game Changer
The reaction to the Ram Charan-Kiara Advani film Game Changer has affected industry attitudes, leading to both caution and a re-evaluation of Shankar’s future plans. Game Changer opened in theatres on Sankranti 2025 and received a poor response from both critics and viewers. The movie is currently available for watching on Amazon Prime Video.
Although fans are still excited about Velpari, producers are keeping a close watch on budgets and schedules, which reflects the sensitivity in the current funding environment for Tamil films.
January 29, 2026, 16:17 IST
