# Nani questions why only South films get pan-India tag

2026-09-18T07:36:59+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Telugu star Nani has questioned why only South Indian films are called 'pan-India' when they find audiences nationwide, while Bollywood hits like Jawan and Pathaan are not given the same label even when they succeed in the South. He spoke at a press event for his upcoming film The Paradise, saying he does not want any film to carry the tag. 'I don't understand this term,' he said, adding that he can only request people not to use it for his films. The term 'pan-India' gained popularity after films such as Baahubali, KGF, and Pushpa earned heavily in Hindi markets. Nani argued that a film should earn its wider identity through audience response, not by being released in multiple languages. The Paradise, which also stars Kayadu Lohar and Raghav Juyal, is set to release in Telugu and other languages on September 24.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The coverage is uniform on facts: Nani questions why South Indian films alone carry the 'pan-India' tag while Bollywood hits like Jawan and Pathaan do not. The stances diverge only in tone. Hindustan Times and Cinema Express give the most complete, neutral-report treatment, including his 2022 remarks and the film's release details. M9.news leads with a short, drama-heavy quote and skips context, typical of its sensationalist framing. Pinkvilla is straight wire copy. The key omission across outlets is that none examine whether trade analysts or producers defend the tag. With The Paradise releasing on September 24, the test of Nani's argument will be how the industry labels its next cross-regional hit.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/nani-does-not-like-the-pan-india-tag-why-it-is-only-used-for-south-films-nobody-calls-jawan-or-pathaan-that-the-paradise-101789702074028.html>
  Full neutral report, adds background on the term and Nani's 2022 comments
- m9.news (sensationalist) <https://www.m9.news/movienews/nani-questions-pan-india-tag-south-films/>
  Brief and dramatic, leads with Nani's unhappiness
- cinemaexpress.com (neutral report) <https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Sep/18/nani-doesnt-want-the-paradise-called-pan-india-heres-why>
  Detailed neutral-report, including prior Nani quotes and film release context
- pinkvilla.com (neutral report) <https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/nani-questions-why-pan-indian-tag-is-only-used-for-south-films-and-not-bollywood-i-dont-want-any-film-be-called-1405484>
  Straight news summary, lacks background on term

Tags: Jawan, Nani, Pathaan, Srikanth Odela, The Paradise
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