Jyotika defends Suriya-Trisha's Karuppu amid criticism, says it has its own soul
Actor-producer Jyotika defended her husband Suriya's latest film Karuppu amid criticism, saying the film has "its own soul" despite being a commercial entertainer. She added that Suriya's performance, especially in the final portions, has been widely appreciated alongside its box office success.
After the strong box office run of Suriya’s Karuppu, his actor-wife Jyotika has responded to the mixed reactions around the film, strongly defending its creative intent. She said the film is not just a commercial entertainer but a project with “its own soul.”
The film, directed by RJ Balaji and co-starring Trisha Krishnan, has emerged as one of Suriya’s biggest hits, turning into a full-fledged celebration at home.
During a recent conversation with critic-turned-YouTuber Sudhir Srinivasan, the host compared the film’s impact to a fan celebration that was similar to the one for Kamal Haasan's Vikram, suggesting that while it may not be Suriya’s most critically acclaimed work, but it delivers what audiences have been waiting for. Responding to this, Jyotika spoke about the balance between meaningful cinema and box-office success.
"We're very overwhelmed. Suriya loves telling good stories, and he always makes sure there's a story in every film. But the box office numbers are also required, I think, for the heroes. Or for actors, any actor, any budget. No one's here to be at a loss. So, it's very important for them also to churn out the numbers," she said.
'THE FILM HAS ITS OWN SOUL'
However, Jyotika clarified that Karuppu is far from a typical mass entertainer made purely for commercial gains.
"Definitely, it's very overwhelming. And if you see Karuppu, along with being an absolute fan and commercial film, there's a story going on. He's playing a God, and there's something to the script," she said.
"It's not just one of the run-of-the-mill commercial films. It has its own soul. It's just been put across differently for the masses to see. But the last ten minutes of the film, I mean, Suriya's really performed brilliantly. We're so overwhelmed and so happy with the love. It's a celebration at home," the actor added.
KARUPPU BOX OFFICE
Karuppu has now officially crossed the Rs 100 crore nett (gross minus taxes) mark in India, becoming the highest-grossing film of Suriya’s career domestically. According to Sacnilk, the film has collected Rs 175.96 crore worldwide so far, including Rs 121.96 crore from India and Rs 54 crore from overseas markets.
With a domestic nett of Rs 105.35 crore, Karuppu has also surpassed Singam 2 (2013), which previously held the record for over a decade. The milestone marks a strong comeback for Suriya after a rocky decade at the box office.
On the work front, Suriya will next be seen in Vishwanath and Sons with director Venky Atluri, along with an untitled project by Jithu Madhavan.
Meanwhile, Jyotika’s latest release System, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and also starring Sonakshi Sinha and Ashutosh Gowariker, is streaming on Prime Video on May 22.