Priyadarshan (Getty Images)

Such a ubiquitous term, Bollywood. Seems like anyone who talks about Indian cinema nowadays manages make the big B word the catch-all phrase for anything that splashed in front of the big screen and roots from the most populous region know as the South Asian subcontinent.

Of course, Indian cinema has a far greater expanse than Bollywood. One only has to venture to the Southern half of the country, where the Tamil and Telugu film industries are just as commercially viable, if not more than the Hindi film industry – and many Bollywood stars do, in fact, cross over into Kollywood and Tollywood, as the two biggest forms of South Indian cinemas are referred to.

About a month ago, the Indian Film Commission recognized the contributions of the South Indian film industry when they bestowed a National Film Award to director Priyadarshan for his socially conscious film, Kanjivaram. Yet, for the commercially successful filmmaker who does not have much of an audience beyond India’s borders, he is somehow convinced Bollywood is jealous of him, as he claims he is being stereotyped by India’s famed film industry as a director who is only capable of working on comedies and remakes to remain successful, even with the award-winning social drama of Kanjivaram under his belt.

And that is fine by him, as Priyadarshan has no intentions of straying away from directing films that make money.

“The whole problem is that, unfortunately, I have been successful,” he said in an interview with the media while at the Delhi International Arts Festival in the Indian capitol city. “In the history of Indian cinema, I am the only South Indian director who has survived for 12 years and 25 films in Bollywood. It is jealousy that leads people to tarnish you.”

Whether or not people are actually jealous of Priyadarshan, he still believes himself to be the “only successful South Asian director.” Yet, despite his commercial success and his plans to stay on track, Priyadarshan believes it is the off-the-wall movies – the independents – that are easier to work on, mostly because of the extra range offered to direct.

“Just because I won the National Award does not mean I plan to become the next Shyam Benegal or Adoor. Realistic, non-commercial films offer you a lot more liberty as a director than a usual film,” he said in his media interview. “On the other hand, while making a commercial film, you are constantly thinking, ‘Will the mass audience like this? Will they accept this?’ It is a lot more difficult to make a typical Bollywood film than a realistic film.”

Through it all, the director, who switches back and forth between Hindi film and South Indian cinema, ultimately enjoys what he does, mostly because he is convinced – rightfully so – that his work is a social service through comic relief.

“I am actually doing social service by making comedies, because making people laugh is the most difficult thing to do,” the director said on the heels of his next Bollywood-type comedy starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. “When people watch a film of mine, I am helping them forget their troubles. Isn’t that social service?”

In doing a social service, Priyadarshan ultimately hopes he can achieve as much for moviegoers by ultimately balancing commercial, studio-based films with independent cinema.

“I enjoy doing commercial cinema, and it gives me fame and money while the other gets me recognition. I want both,” he added. “I am currently shooting for a film with Ajay Devgan and Akshaye Khanna about Bihar, and there is a film with Aamir Khan about AIDS.”

Of course, there is his upcoming Bollywood comedy, De Dana Dhan, with Kumar and Kaif, already adding to his comedic super-hits Hera Pheri and Malamaal, as well as Malayalam cult classics Chitram and Kilukkam.

However, Priyadarshan is just grateful to be honored for his work on Kanjivaram, as it gave him an opportunity to shed a positive light on India as a nation.

“India is a cultural superpower — a nuclear superpower. It is not a slum like some people would like to believe,” he candidly said. “When I was making Kanjivaram, I wanted to make a film that would showcase India’s heritage — its culture and history.”