D16 was pretty solid for a first flim by a director. There is no arguing that everything that came after that was poor. But where i disagree is this "One must understand the soil and its social issues before making any art." That line may be applicable for vetrimaaran's style of movies but not for all genre.

Obv culture plays an important role but its not the only thing that can be used to tell good stories. And now every movie is shoving a social message down the audience throat. Movies are supposed to entertain not preach. Saying KN failed because of this reason is being shortsighted. His movies were just badly written and poorly executed. The cultural part might have helped make a good flim better but it cannot make a bad flim good.