“We initially released in just 100 screens. But as audiences embraced the film, the screen count doubled on the second day,” revealed Prabhakaran of SPK Pictures, the producer of Murmur, at a success meet in Chennai. The event was organized to celebrate the unexpectedly strong reception for Murmur, a found-footage horror film that marks a first in Tamil cinema.
The film’s distributor, Gugan, speaking at the same event, underlined the challenges of K’town. “In Tamil Nadu, the success rate of Tamil films is only about 4 to 6 percent,” Gugan stated, highlighting the intense competition faced by new releases, not just from current films, but also from a backlog of previous releases and the constant influx of content from OTT platforms. He stressed the critical role of media support for films like Murmur, especially those from debut teams. “When new directors or producers come in, it’s important to remember this success rate. Media’s continued support is essential,” he added, urging the press to amplify the voices of emerging filmmakers.
Murmur, directed by Hemnath Narayanan and featuring Richie Kapoor and Yuvikha Rajendran, is being lauded as the first found-footage horror film in Tamil. Despite an initial limited release, word-of-mouth propelled the film to approximately 400 screens across Tamil Nadu.
Hasini, the film’s production designer, expressed her gratitude to the audience, stating, “You have watched our film, enjoyed it, and turned it into a blockbuster. We couldn’t have come this far without you.” She praised Hemnath for his independent directorial work, especially in the challenging forest locations chosen for the horror film.
Prabhakaran echoed this sentiment, acknowledging Hemnath’s dedication. “Hemnath is the embodiment of hard work. He is a boon to me,” the producer remarked. He lauded the director’s vision in crafting a film that resonated with audiences and expressed thanks to distributor Gugan for his support. Prabhakaran also extended his appreciation to the film’s cinematographer, Jason Williams, sound designer Kewyn Frederick, editor Rohith, and the entire SPK Pictures team for their tireless efforts, revealing that his team even worked through weekends, an unprecedented commitment in their 12-year history.
Hemnath, in turn, credited the producer’s faith as crucial to the film’s realization. “I had immense belief in myself and my team, and Prabhakaran, you mirrored that belief. That’s why the film has turned out this way,” Hemnath said. He thanked the entire cast and crew, particularly spotlighting Jason’s resilience after an on-set injury and Richie’s commitment despite being new to Tamil cinema. Hemnath also touched upon the unique challenges of found-footage filmmaking, where actors had to directly address the camera, a departure from conventional cinematic norms.
The event highlighted the success of the film, while also touching upon the teamwork within the production and the broader film industry support structures. Speakers at the meet emphasized the importance of media attention for emerging filmmakers and novel projects like Murmur.