Director Pandiraj recently opened up about the box office performance of his film Etharkkum Thunindhavan (ET), starring Suriya. In an interview, he admitted that the film did not perform well commercially, despite the hard work and dedication he put into it. Pandiraj revealed that he worked tirelessly on ET, even during the challenging Covid-19 period, but the film failed to resonate with audiences. He clarified that despite the film's lackluster performance, Etharkkum Thunindhavan still outperformed Suriya's subsequent films, including Kanguva and Retro, in terms of collections.

The director expressed disappointment over the film's lack of success and emphasized his commitment to giving Suriya a hit. He also responded to accusations that he may have worked harder for Suriya's brother, Karthi, with whom he made the successful Kadaikutty Singam. Pandiraj denied these reports, stating that he put in the same level of effort for Etharkkum Thunindhavan but admitted that there were mistakes in the film that led to its underperformance.

Pandiraj's comments come as Suriya continues to navigate his post-Etharkkum Thunindhavan career. After the film, Suriya starred in Kanguva and Retro, but both films received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, not surpassing the commercial success of Etharkkum Thunindhavan. As Suriya now shifts focus to his upcoming projects, including Karuppu directed by RJ Balaji, the actor’s fans are hoping that his future endeavors will find the success that Etharkkum Thunindhavan couldn't. Director Pandiraj, despite the setback, remains optimistic and continues to take full responsibility for the outcome of Etharkkum Thunindhavan, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the film industry.