Reports indicate that arguably one of Tamil cinema’s greatest directors, Lokesh Kanagaraj, is entering acting territory, and this has left fans and critics divided. Nicknamed Stylish Storyteller with Acceptable Grit, Lokesh has been raising standards as a master craftsman in filmmaking by delivering hits like Vikram and Leo in recent times. However, recent remarks were made regarding his camera presence, be it appearing in a music video with Shruti Haasan or in a teaser shot for an upcoming project. Are those his interpretational inclinations?

Lokesh Kanagaraj Receives Mixed Reactions from Fans

A lot of viewers found his presence goofy and overtly self-conscious. One fan commented, “Even the simple walk in the teaser wasn’t impressive.” Another said, “He looks very conscious in front of the camera; that’s visible right from the Inimel music video.” Criticism seems to abound that Lokesh finds it hard to work obviously natural expressions, especially beyond his run-of-the-mill intense or angry looks.

Comparisons to other directors who have made the transition to acting – like Basil Joseph and Pradeep Ranganathan – are inevitable. In the eyes of his fans, Basil’s performance in Ponman (recently praised as one of the best acting turns) draws inspiration from the film Ponniyin Selvan, whereas Pradeep, whose works received mixed reviews, has all the qualities to shine in roles he has written for himself.

Might He Be Late in Following Through?

There is a lot of speculation surmising the reason behind Lokesh’s behavior. Some think he is merely “buying into his own hype” surrounded by admirers encouraging him to increase his brand. Others, on the other hand, wonder if he might be looking for more creative outlets or just wanting to take a break from months of intensive directing-related work.

On whether this endeavor is born from curious exploration, want, or sheer confidence, only eternity would tell whether Lokesh Kanagaraj will mature from a hotshot director into an actor with some substance. Till the day of execution, however, the audience stands skeptical but just as curious to see whether the “Lokesh Cinematic Universe” creator can re-up his play of transformation yet another time.

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