(This article is authored by Alar)

Nelson Dilipkumar, the director of the much-awaited Tamil action thriller Beast, starring Vijay, has opened up about the reasons behind the film’s failure at the box office. The film, which was released on April 13, 2023, received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, and failed to live up to the expectations of Vijay’s fans.

In an interview with media outlet, Nelson revealed that he had faced several challenges while making the film, and that he had not been able to execute his vision properly. He said that he had planned to make the film in a certain amount of time, but his calculations were wrong. He mentioned, "If I had six to seven months of time, I would have done an extra detail to narrate the story correctly and the film would not have received the mixed reviews,"

"I thought I could complete the film in a particular amount of time, but my calculations were wrong," added the director. The filmmaker also attributed the incomplete scenes in his project to the Covid-19 pandemic, which had disrupted his shooting schedule. He expressed regret for not having enough time to perfect and rectify the film.

Nelson also expressed his regret for disappointing Vijay, who had trusted him with the film. He said that Vijay had been very supportive and cooperative throughout the film’s making, and had given his best performance. He said that Vijay had told him not to be upset about the film’s response and that they should try to do better next time. He also said that Vijay had congratulated him for the success of his next film Jailer, starring Rajinikanth, which has become a blockbuster hit.

Beast is a film about a former RAW agent (Vijay) who comes out of retirement to save a group of hostages from a terrorist group in a shopping mall. The film was produced by Sun Pictures and had music by Anirudh Ravichander.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Vijay’s charisma and action scenes, but criticized the film’s flippant writing, inconsistent tone, and lack of logic. The film also faced controversy for its depiction of terrorism and violence, and was banned in Kuwait and Qatar. 

While Beast may have been a disappointment, Nelson has firmed his foot as a director with Jailer, which has garnered enthusiastic praise from both critics and fans. Jailer is a film about a father (Rajinikanth) who goes on a rampage to avenge his son’s death at the hands of a ruthless gangster (Vinayakan). The film was released on August 10, 2023, and has collected over Rs 375 crore worldwide.