I find the generational shift in relationships fascinating

For filmmaker Simple Suni, choosing the subject of his next film came instinctively. Titled Lambodhara 2.0, the film dives into themes of artificial intelligence, Gen Z sensibilities and robotics — areas that the director admits fascinate him beyond cinema. “I’m intrigued by how nonchalant the current generation is about everything,” says Suni. “They openly discuss fancying someone else with their current partner. Kids today tell their parents things like, ‘Dad, I don’t like that,’ without hesitation. AI has taken over our algorithms and tells us what to watch. I find the generational shift in relationships fascinating.” He reflects on how ideas of commitment have changed over time. “In our time, the person you fell in love with was usually the one you planned to marry. Today, young people talk about experimenting with relationships — marriage isn’t even on their minds,” he says with a smile. According to Suni, Kannada audiences, too, have evolved dramatically. “There was a time when people came to theatres simply because a film starred a big hero or was directed by someone successful. That’s no longer enough,” he says. Today’s viewers are well-informed and globally exposed. “They’ve grown up watch ing Marvel, DC films, Stranger Things, anime and a steady diet of OTT content. Yes, big-hero films will still get an opening, but eventually only content survives,” he adds. Suni is candid about the pitfalls of trying to recreate past glory. “My film Simpallag Ondu Love Story was an experiment — made within a limited budget, with a fresh dialogue format. It became a huge rage among the youth, and many tried to replicate it. Ironically, even I couldn’t recreate that success when I attempted the second instalment,” he admits. He believes filmmakers often fall into the trap of repetition. “One must resist the urge to replicate earlier successes. With this film, I want to leave all that behind and enter a new chapter as a director.” While social media has become a powerful tool through memes and reels, Suni believes audiences can easily spot inauthentic promotion. “I once saw a meme saying actors in a film had ‘outdone themselves.’ That same day, I saw six other memes for six different films saying the same thing,” he laughs. Celebrity shows, he adds, are rarely worth the investment. “Most of the time, we don’t even recover the money spent on popcorn and cola. What truly matters is word-of-mouth publicity,” he says.