Loki mama 9 kiHyderabad witnessed a heart-warming moment when Tamil film director Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for his blockbuster pan-India films, was greeted with a special nickname by a young Telugu fan and that is Loki mama.
Lokesh was in the city to promote his upcoming film Coolie. As he was making his way to the stage, a young boy in the crowd called out, “Loki Mama!” The affectionate term, meaning “Uncle Loki,” caught Lokesh’s attention instantly. Turning back with a smile, the director responded warmly, saying, “I love you.”
This incident once again showed the strong connection Telugu audiences have with Lokesh. While Tollywood has many star directors like S.S. Rajamouli, Sukumar, Chandu Mondeti, and Prasanth Varma, it is rare for a director—especially from another film industry—to receive such personal affection.
One reason for this connection could be Lokesh’s 2022 hit Vikram. Though the story was about crime, it centred around a child—the grandson of Kamal Haasan’s character. The emotional bond in the film, along with memorable songs and Anirudh’s powerful background score, struck a chord with younger viewers.
Before Vikram, Lokesh had already impressed Telugu audiences with Kaithi (Khaidi in Telugu), which became a massive success. His later film Leo further strengthened his fanbase in the Telugu states. Despite being Tamil, many Telugu fans treat him like one of their own.
In Andhra Pradesh, nicknames like “Mama” are usually reserved for close family members or beloved personalities—former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was popularly called “Jagan Mama.” Now, “Loki Mama” is going viral in a similar way.
Unlike most film fans who reserve such emotional nicknames for actors, Telugu audiences have given this honour to a director—something truly unusual. Lokesh Kanagaraj now enjoys a hero-level following in Tollywood.
Coolie is set to release in just a few days, with high expectations from fans. After its release, Lokesh will begin work on Kaithi 2, which is already in the pre-production stage.
