If Tamil Cinema has reached new heights in the last few years, its also because of the upcoming producers who have been investing their hard-earned money in projects that they believe will reach the audience. After being popular for a lot of wrong reasons, Kollywood can now stand up proudly because of a lot of films that it has created. Let us take at some of the nextgen producers who truly deserve a standing ovation for the kinds of scripts they have given life to. They have not only entertained us, they have also enlightened us.

Y NOT Studios - Helmed by S. Sashikanth, this production house has given us the opportunity of seeing pure magic on the screen. With one of a kind films like the ‘Thamizh Padam’ series, ‘Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi’, ‘Irudhi Suttru’, ‘Vikram Vedha’ and the latest ‘Game Over,’ Y NOT Studios has gone beyond the ordinary in their movies. These are not just films, they are beautiful works of art that we have witnessed.

Dream Warrior Pictures - Founded by SR Prakashbabu and SR Prabhu, Dream Warrior Pictures can proudly boast of films such as ‘Joker’ and ‘Aruvi’ which have spoken about important issues that need voicing. While the former film deals with the issue of poverty, sanitation and how the system’s inefficacy can even act as a trigger for mental illness, the latter deals with the topic of the stigma that exists around victims of AIDS and transgenders. Both were offbeat films and required courage for investment.

2D Entertainment - This production company established by actor Suriya has been at the forefront in producing movies with much-needed messages. Women-centric films such as ‘36 Vayadhinile’ and ‘Magalir Mattum,’ beautifully depicted an inward journey of self-respect and identity. ‘Pasanga 2’ touched upon the topic of parenthood and the education system, both of which are becoming increasingly crucial in our times. Finally ‘Uriyadi 2’ also has to be mentioned for dealing with a very relevant issue, a fight for justice against chemical plant pollution.

Stone Bench - Director Karthik Subbaraj’s Stone Bench Production House deserves to be in this list by all means. With ‘Meyaadha Maan’ treating us to an entirely different execution, depiction of scenes and a fresh script, the team proved their worth amply. Then came ‘Mercury,’ a dark tale dealing with mercury poisoning that in the most sinister way shows that life is a vicious cycle.

Thirukumaran Entertainment - CV Kumar has produced so many classics, it’s difficult to even choose which ones to mention for want of space. From ‘Pizza’ in which Vijay Sethupathi earned critical acclaim to ‘Soodhu Kavvum,’ ‘Thegidi,’ ‘Indru Netru Naalai,’ ‘Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum’ and ‘Iraivi,’ all scripts that portray different aspects of human nature beautifully, the producer truly deserves praise. His movies not only have a subtle dark side to them but somewhere they also seem to teach us about ourselves.

Vijay Sethupathi Productions - Vijay Sethupathi has not only impressed with his acting, but also with his production ventures. ‘Orange Mittai,’ a bittersweet tale that deals with the dynamics of family and relationships and ‘Merku Thodarchi Malai’ which depicts the dream of self-sufficiency of a daily wage worker are both stories that can all of us can relate to despite our backgrounds because they touch the heart.

Potential Studios - With films such as ‘Maya,’ ‘Maanagaram,’ and ‘Monster,' this company has proved that they value content more than anything else. While ‘Maya’ will always stand out when it comes to horror films, ‘Maanagaram’ reminded us of the interconnectedness that is inherent in society. The latest release ‘Monster’ helps us get in touch with our compassionate side and understand why we should treat all living beings with respect.

Sivakarthikeyan Productions - There’s one more producer who is definitely a pride to Tamil Cinema. With his first venture ‘Kanaa,’ Sivakarthikeyan not only gave a platform for his friends to shine, but he also presented to us a flawless saga with an impressive portrayal of themes such as women’s freedom and empowerment with an undercurrent of cricket, and the role and state of agriculture in the country. In the recent ‘Nenjamundu Neramiyundu Odu Raja,’ he set the stage for Youtube stars and a television personality to be seen on the silver screen. His next film with ‘Aruvi’ director Arun Prabhu titled ‘Vaazhl,’ has been announced and we can expect it will better than ever.

If all these producers have been able to take up such films trustingly, it’s also because of the audience who have been showing increasing love for movies that are meaningful. At the same time, we must appreciate the courage of these filmmakers who have broken stereotypes about success templates and changed the path of Tamil Cinema. The journey has just begun but it has already promised us that we have a lot to look forward to.