The filmmaker Shankar Shanmugam who once established himself as a leader in making high-cost films for diverse Indian audiences must now produce his upcoming project within the limits of his financial resources. The director who established new standards for Indian movie production has encountered difficulties since his recent films did not meet market expectations.

The productions Robot 2 Indian 2 and Game Changer resulted in significant financial losses because they did not meet their projected performance levels. The expansive vision which defines his filmmaking style has made it difficult for Shankar to secure top actresses and producers who are willing to finance his projects.

Shankar wanted to make his dream project Velpari based on the Tamil novel of the same name but the project faced financial difficulties because of its high production costs. New reports from Kollywood indicate that the project has secured a producer who will handle the project but only under specific conditions.

According to industry sources Pen Studios has established itself as a leading Bollywood production and distribution company which distributes South Indian movies throughout North India. The backing of the project comes with strict budget management requirements according to the report.

Shankar must provide the production house with two documents which include his complete budget plan and his complete shooting timetable. The director must give written proof to show that he will stay within the production budget throughout the entire filming process.

Shankar needs to make a decision about the conditions. The project will not continue until both parties establish a formal agreement which will determine how they will handle their budget needs.

Earlier, Shankar had expressed strong confidence about bringing Velpari to the big screen. While details about the cast and crew are yet to be announced, the period drama is expected to be one of the most ambitious films of his career — though this time, shaped by tighter financial discipline.