Director Gautham Menon shares his thoughts for not directing a second installment to this gangster film.

Acclaimed filmmaker Gautham Menon's crime thriller, the intense "Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu", led by STR in the protagonist role, made its big-screen debut in the latter half of 2022 and received a largely favorable response, witnessing a respectable run at the box office. This triggered supporters of the party to initiate the 'Boycott Laila' protest campaign across social media. Sahu Garipati revealed his shock regarding the reaction, stating, "We were caught off guard by the ‘Boycott Laila’ campaign, as we only learned about it through social media. In light of these developments, Vishwak Sen and producer Sahu Garipati called for a press briefing to shed light on the circumstances. Vishwak Sen's latest project, 'Laila' highly awaited cinematic release, "Laila," is poised for a significant theatrical premiere on 14th February 2025. We kindly urge everyone to view the film purely as a source of entertainment; we cannot control what our attendees say at events." An visibly emotional Vishwak Sen said, "I genuinely regret what has transpired. We were completely in the dark about Prudhvi’s comments, which are not associated with the film. With the direction of Ram Narayan at the helm and Sahu Garipati producing, the film has Akanksha Sharma playing the lead female role in the lead role. However, if one individual is at fault, should the whole production team be held to blame? We weren't aware of it. His words were made while we were receiving Chiranjeevi Garu, something we couldn’t manage. However, "Laila" has recently generated heated discussion after veteran actor actor Prudhvi made remarks laced with sarcasm that touched on a political affiliation. As the release date approaches, it is yet to be seen how this situation will unfold. Is it fair to judge a movie's success based on a small number of social media posts? We dedicated immense effort to this project, and I believe we should put this issue to rest. We should not be blamed for situations in which we had no role." Prior to this controversy, "Laila" had already gained attention following the release of its trailer, with some viewers noting specific aspects as awkward. Leading up to its release, online buzz increased with rumors that Superstar Mahesh Babu had a role in the film, adding to the excitement. Despite this, the movie failed at the Tollywood Box Office Collection office and faced disappointing reviews. Directed by Arjun Jandyala and produced by Somineni Balakrishna under the Lalithambika Productions banner, the film stars Manasa Varanasi in the lead role, with Devdatta Nage portraying the antagonist. This version will also have its world television premiere concurrently on the Colors Cineplex Hindi channel, although there has been no announcement regarding the release of the original Telugu version. In November 2024, Ashok Galla's mythological emotional drama, *Devaki Nandana Vasudeva*, made its theatrical debut, capturing audience attention with its captivating plot crafted by the renowned director Prasanth Varma. The musical score is crafted by Bheems Ceciroleo, and the supporting cast includes Jhansi, Shatru, Naga Mahesh, Sravan Raghavendra, and Sanjay Swaroop. However, an interesting twist is on the horizon: the Hindi dubbed version is set to premiere digitally February 8 on Disney Plus Hotstar. Now, more than two months after its premiere, *Devaki Nandana Vasudeva* has still not released on any OTT platform. Initial feedback for the action-packed drama were underwhelming, leading to a sharp drop in viewership. The ensemble features Regina Cassandra, actor Arjun, and actress Trisha Krishnan, but the film's music, composed by Anirudh, has also met with underwhelming feedback. 'Pattudala,' the newest film starring Ajith, was released on February 6, 2025, but it looks to have gone ignored in the Telugu-speaking regions. If this trajectory persists, the film could face an swift removal from theaters in the Telugu states by Monday. By the second release day of its debut, Pattudala was struggling to pull in even 40% attendance in theaters. Produced on a grand scale by KVN Productions, Jana Nayagan promises an enthralling visual spectacle with its intriguing narrative and visual extravagance. The project's impressive cast also includes Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and Priyamani, among others, all set to play crucial roles. The soundtrack, crafted by renowned composer Anirudh Ravichander, is likely to be a standout feature, with the film set to release in cinemas during Pongal 2026. Directed by director H Vinoth, the project stars Pooja Hegde in the female protagonist role, backed by a stellar cast. In an exciting development, the makers have announced that a second look poster will be unveiled at 4 PM today, further heightening excitement for fans eagerly waiting to watch Vijay in his latest persona. The much anticipated Thalapathy 69 has officially been titled Jana Nayagan, with its initial look unveiled on Republic Day. In my vision, it's a powerful story that deserved continuation. Menon further explained, "Just 25 days after VTK's release, Simbu seemed to lose interest, but this was not influenced by commercial success.