In recent years, Shankar has faced a challenging period marked by massive budgets and mixed critical reception.
| Film (Year) | Star | Social Theme | Box Office Verdict | Notable Fact | |-------------|------|--------------|-------------------|---------------| | | Arjun | Social justice | Blockbuster | First of many collaborations with A. R. Rahman | | Indian (1996) | Kamal Haasan | Anti-corruption | All-time blockbuster | Won National Award for Best Popular Film; Kamal’s dual role as father/son | | Mudhalvan (1999) | Arjun | Political accountability | Blockbuster | Inspired by the film The Distinguished Gentleman ; one-day CM concept | | Anniyan (2005) | Vikram | Civic apathy & crime | Blockbuster | Vikram played three distinct characters; won Filmfare for Best Director | | Sivaji (2007) | Rajinikanth | Black money & corruption | Highest-grossing Tamil film then | First Indian film to use Dolby Atmos | | Enthiran (2010) | Rajinikanth | AI ethics & robotics | ₹290+ crore worldwide | India’s official entry for Oscars (Best Visual Effects) | | I (2015) | Vikram | Beauty standards & revenge | Above average | Vikram spent 3 years in prosthetic makeup for disfigured role | | 2.0 (2018) | Rajinikanth + Akshay Kumar | Mobile radiation & bird extinction | ₹800 crore worldwide | First Indian film shot entirely in 3D | | Indian 2 (2024) | Kamal Haasan | Vigilante justice (delayed) | Mixed | Plagued by production delays and director’s health issues | film director shankar
Despite his success, Shankar faces consistent criticism: In recent years, Shankar has faced a challenging