Top 10 South Indian Directors Earning Huge

Growing popularity? Check. Rapid technological developments? Check. Copy-worthy plots? Check. Blockbuster sagas? Check. The South Indian film industry is gradually transforming into a giant at par with Bollywood, not to mention other regional contemporaries. With movies making big and scoring huge at the box office, it is the talent behind the scenes that is also making huge monetary gains. The directors. Masterminds of the entire show, their effort and novelty deserve much more than just end credits.

So here goes a list of top 10 South Indian directors who have been earning tons and how!

1. ‘ S Shankar’

Having begun his career as an assistant to Director S. A. Chandrasekhar, Shankar made his directorial debut with Gentleman. With several blockbusters like ‘ Sivaji’, ‘ Enthiran’ and ‘I’ to his credit, Shankar is one director you can call the hit machine! Tending to be repetitive with his actors, he creates the magic of movies with a message, of vigilante genre mostly. He has been awarded for his contributions by CNN-IBN and is certainly one of the highest paid directors in the country today. Pocket speak? Fifteen staggering crores!

2. ‘ A R Murugadoss’

Best known for the success of the Aamir Khan starrer ‘ Ghajini’, story of a businessman-turned-lover-turned-psychopath, which was a remake of the Tamil original also directed by him, Murugadoss is known to cast new actors for every different film. He has remade his own movies in different languages. His films are always a talking point for making it to the 100-crore club each single time. He is also well-known for huge successes ‘ Kaththi’ and ‘ Thuppakki’. Pocket speak? Twelve dazzling crores!

3. S. S. Rajamouli

Already the talk of the town for the commercial aspect of his movies, S. S. Rajamouli shall always be remembered for nailing it with the blockbuster ‘ Baahubali’, which earned 600+ crores gross worldwide. Starring ‘ Prabhas’ in the backdrop of ancient India, it was made to break all records, and even surpassed contemporarily released Bollywood films in popularity and profits, taking Rajamouli to the top of the list in 2015. He is also known well for big hits like ‘ Magadheera’, hugely popular in the South. Pocket speak? Well, “Baahubali 2” will tell you straight!

4. Mani Ratnam

With evergreen hits like ‘ Roja’, “ Dil Se” (Bollywood), and ‘ Nayagan’ to his name, Mani Ratnam is known for making movies of all genres, often relying on mythological bases. The man who revolutionized Tamil cinema is one of the most highly esteemed men in this profession. His films are a combination of soul and style. Talk of the beautiful backdrops of his songs or the freshness of his story-telling, Mani Ratnam is one big name for sure, and earns big too! Pocket speak? Five smashing crores!

5. ‘ K S Ravikumar’

Director of megahits like ‘ Lingaa’ and ‘ Kochadaiiyaan’ starring ‘ Rajinikanth’ and ‘ Dasavataram’ starring Kamal Haasan, K S Ravikumar is a safe option for earning big bucks at the box office. A favorite for Rajini and Kamal Haasan movies, Ravikumar is one secure bet to play! Lingaa had registered record breaking openings, while Dasavataram had made it huge with its popularity and Haasan’s remarkable performance in ten different roles within a single film. Pocket speak? Five crores and counting!

6. ' K V Anand'

It was under his direction that the South Indian film industry got superhits like ‘ Ayan’, ‘Ko’, and ‘Maattraan’. His films are generally of thriller and action genres, and he prefers shooting in exotic locales. Having worked as a cinematographer in his early career in Bollywood, Anand has been widely appreciated and awarded for his movies. Pocket speak? Well, five crores it is!

7. Koratala Siva

Director of decidedly unbeaten movies like Janatha Garage, which released earlier this year, and ‘ Srimanthudu’ starring Mahesh Babu, Siva is an incredibly talented director. Films that gain mammoth popularity with the audiences are the key behind his soaring fame and bank balance! Pocket speak? Four towering crores!

8. ' Hari'

A director known for his top-gun action movies, Hari tends to work with the top actors of the industry. His films ‘ Saamy’, ‘ Aaru’ and “Singham 2” have proved blockbusters at the box office. Centering his entertainers within a single city or town is his unique style. Pocket speak? Four deserving crores!

9. ‘ K Raghavendra Rao’

A legend of the Telugu film industry, Rao is well-known for his family-oriented movies. His flourishing career spans four decades, having directed and produced more than a hundred films in different languages. Lovingly called the Icon of the Telugu cinema, Rao stands out among all the rest.

10. Kamal Haasan

Concluding this list would be none other than legendary actor Kamal Haasan, who has also proved successful in his directorial ventures with ‘ Vishwaroopam’ and “Vishwapooram 2”. Though initially shrouded with controversies and delays, the film did truly well worldwide, thanks to the innovative plot and Kamal Haasan’s evergreen talent in both acting and direction.Pocket speak? As astounding as he is!