‘Tamil Nadu cheers ‘Lokah’, ignores Telugu heroes’: Kiran Abbavaram’s explosive take

In a no-holds-barred chat with Galatta Plus, Telugu actor Kiran Abbavaram opened up about what he calls a “silent wall” between Tamil and Telugu cinema audiences.

Referring to Kalyani Priyadarshan’s ‘Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra’, he said, “I saw Lokah in its second week in Hyderabad — full shows, great reception. But imagine if a Telugu film were released in Tamil Nadu — would it get the same love?”

Kiran pointed out the striking imbalance: while several Tamil stars such as Sivakarthikeyan, Dhanush, Vijay, and Suriya enjoy strong markets in Telugu states, not a single young Telugu hero has managed to build a foothold in Tamil Nadu.

“Some people say good content travels everywhere. But if that’s true, why aren’t Telugu heroes’ films finding audiences in Tamil Nadu? There are ten Tamil heroes with a solid market in Telugu, but none of us are there,” he said.

The K Ramp star went on to highlight the struggle faced by his film and compared it with Pradeep Ranganathan’s upcoming ‘Dude’, which is getting a wide release in Telugu states, while his own film struggles for space in Tamil Nadu.

“I can’t call it a mafia — it’s business. But we want the same love we give,” Kiran added, hoping for a fair chance with his next film, Chennai Love Story.

His remarks have since ignited a fiery conversation online about regional barriers, cultural bias, and the politics of film distribution.

Many fans have praised Kiran for “speaking the truth out loud,” while others argue that audience loyalty cannot be forced. Either way, his Lokah-inspired rant has thrown fresh light on an old South cinema divide.