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There is this curious case in the South where a viewer, Raja Murugan, has approached the Madurai High Court with a plea to get the director of the film ‘Leo’, Lokesh Kanagaraja, checked for his mental faculties!

He has asked the court that the director be psychologically examined to establish whether or not he has lost his faculties!

Murugan finds the excessive use of violence, drugs, speeding and showing characters involved in illegal activities as the film’s main theme. Further, he has demanded that the film should be properly examined by the Censors and the director be tried for filming scenes that would incite violence.

The plea was to be heard by the court on January 3, but, strangely, Murugan did not turn up. If this is a publicity stunt to further promote the film, which is already a super hit, Murugan should be hauled up by the court.

Lucky...

Picture: Netflix

Movies were the focus in December, with no new Indian series debuting this month. The newly added films include a number of under-the-radar arthouse pictures as well as three new Netflix Originals: The Archies, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and the true-crime documentary Curry & Cyanide.

Here are all of the new Indian movies added to Netflix in December 2023.

N = Netflix Original

New Indian Movies on Netflix: December 2023 Thank You for Coming (2023)

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 117 Minutes

Director: Karan Boolani

Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Pradhuman Singh

Genre: Sex Comedy | Added to Netflix: December 1

An unhappy single woman consents to an arranged marriage and has her first sexually satisfying experience on the night of her engagement party — only she’s too drunk to remember who she was with when it happened. This sex-positive comedy is slow to get going and not as funny as it should be, but actor Bhumi Pednekar...

Raju Murugan’s Japan chronicles the story of Japan (Karthi), a genius thief skilled enough to break into any place with ease. Japan had a special interest in gold and diamonds and attracted scrutiny from the police following a robbery at a famous jewelry shop. Someone dug a big hole, entered the shop, and stole $200 crore worth of jewelry. The owner, Mitesh, begged the cops to recover his lost gold, stating that if they failed, he’d have no option but to commit suicide.

Spoilers Ahead

Who Are Sridhar And Karuppasamy?

The case became a top priority since the shop was co-owned by the home minister’s son-in-law, Sridhar (Sunil), and Karuppasamy was called to spearhead the case. Unlike Karuppasamy, Sridhar’s methods were unorthodox, and he didn’t shy away from using violence to align things his way. During their investigation, Sridhar and Karuppasamy found a golden coin with...

The shooting of Karthi’s 27th film, tentatively titled Karthi 27, has begun today in Kumbakonam. The film, directed by Premkumar of 96 fame, stars Karthi and Arvind Swami in the lead roles. The film is said to be a 30-day single stretch schedule in Kumbakonam, followed by other locations. The entire film is expected to be wrapped up in 85 days of shoot.

Karthi 27 is produced by 2D Entertainment, the banner of Karthi’s brother Suriya. The film has music by Govind Vasantha, who also composed the soulful songs for 96. The cinematography is by Mahendhiran Jayaraju, who was the associate cameraman for 96. The rest of the cast and crew details are yet to be revealed.

Karthi 27 is the second collaboration between Karthi and Arvind Swami, after the 2015 action thriller Thani Oruvan, where they played brothers. Karthi 27 is also the second film for Premkumar, who made his directorial debut with 96, the romantic...

Tamil actor Karthi’s upcoming action-thriller film ‘Japan’ has released its latest track ‘Sottangalla’. Sung by Sean Roldan, ‘Sottangalla’ is a very soft piece which has a feeling of emotional nostalgia, as well as a kind of romance to it.

The song is radically different from the previous song ‘Touching Touching’ from the movie which was totally sexual and laid out the character’s hedonistic lifestyle. ‘Sottangalla’ in contrast has no sexual elements and is entirely devoid of any such references.

Rather it is more of a looking back on things as the video shows the titular character’s early childhood, him growing up, and then falling in love at the very end.

The whole movie’s premise is about a man who was born into destitution and poverty, and how he rises up to become a wealthy thief who has no shortage of money.

As such, ‘Sottangalla’ perfectly complements this feeling of nostalgia.

Tamil actor Karthi’s upcoming action-thriller film ‘Japan’ has released its latest track ‘Sottangalla’. Sung by Sean Roldan, ‘Sottangalla’ is a very soft piece which has a feeling of emotional nostalgia, as well as a kind of romance to it.

The song is radically different from the previous song ‘Touching Touching’ from the movie which was totally sexual and laid out the character’s hedonistic lifestyle. ‘Sottangalla’ in contrast has no sexual elements and is entirely devoid of any such references.

Rather it is more of a looking back on things as the video shows the titular character’s early childhood, him growing up, and then falling in love at the very end.

The whole movie’s premise is about a man who was born into destitution and poverty, and how he rises up to become a wealthy thief who has no shortage of money.

As such, ‘Sottangalla’ perfectly complements this feeling of nostalgia.

Tamil star Karthi’s film ‘Japan’ has released its trailer and shows the actor in an eccentric, murderous, thrill-seeking, arrogant, and hedonistic new avatar as the titular character. Earlier in the teaser, the Karthi-starrer had shown the actor’s persona to be that of a thrill-seeking thief with a murderous attitude. In the trailer, it picks up on that and expands further on his new persona.

The trailer starts off in a very simple fashion in a village area by the sea, as Karthi’s character Japan narrates the story of a young fish that began digging in holes for his food such as scorpions, crocodiles, crabs. Before he knew, the fish had dug so many holes that he transformed into a whale.

This cuts to Karthi’s character raising himself up in the underworld as he soon gains a penchant for theft. Committing the biggest heist of his career ever,...

Tamil star Karthi’s film ‘Japan’ has released its trailer and shows the actor in an eccentric, murderous, thrill-seeking, arrogant, and hedonistic new avatar as the titular character. Earlier in the teaser, the Karthi-starrer had shown the actor’s persona to be that of a thrill-seeking thief with a murderous attitude. In the trailer, it picks up on that and expands further on his new persona.

The trailer starts off in a very simple fashion in a village area by the sea, as Karthi’s character Japan narrates the story of a young fish that began digging in holes for his food such as scorpions, crocodiles, crabs. Before he knew, the fish had dug so many holes that he transformed into a whale.

This cuts to Karthi’s character raising himself up in the underworld as he soon gains a penchant for theft. Committing the biggest heist of his career ever,...

Actor Karthi, who is currently busy with Raju Murugan’s Japan, has signed his 27th film with director Nalan Kumarasamy. The film, which is tentatively titled Karthi27, will be produced by K.E. Gnanavel Raja under his banner Studio Green.

Nalan Kumarasamy is known for his quirky and dark comedies such as Soodhu Kavvum and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum. He has also written the screenplay for Super Deluxe, one of the most acclaimed films of 2019. This will be his third directorial venture and his first collaboration with Karthi.

The cast and crew details are yet to be announced, but it is confirmed that actor Karunakaran, who has worked with Nalan in Soodhu Kavvum, will be part of the project. He shared a tweet from Studio Green’s official handle, which announced the film’s launch.

The genre and plot of the film are still under wraps, but it is expected to be...

Chennai, Oct 18 (Ians) Tamil superstar Karthi’s ‘Japan’ had garnered much interest after its poster was released. Donning the avatar of a highly clever, intelligent, thrill-seeking, thief, Karthi looks full of swag.

A heist-action-thriller-comedy film, ‘Japan’ sees the ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ star as the titular character. Contrary to the title, the film has nothing to do with the country Japan. Instead, Karthi is a criminal who goes by that pseudonym, and is a criminal with a very sharp mind who ends up performing a massive heist, managing to rob over Rs. 200 crore.

The Tamil Nadu police, who feel absolutely baffled by these robberies are left helpless as they reveal that Japan has committed over 182 such heists before, and each time the police have tried to catch him, they failed.

Attempting to catch him, Karthi’s character is revealed to be a gun swinging maniac who leads a hedonistic lifestyle, donning a lot of bling,...

Chennai, Oct 18 (Ians) Tamil superstar Karthi’s ‘Japan’ had garnered much interest after its poster was released. Donning the avatar of a highly clever, intelligent, thrill-seeking, thief, Karthi looks full of swag.

A heist-action-thriller-comedy film, ‘Japan’ sees the ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ star as the titular character. Contrary to the title, the film has nothing to do with the country Japan. Instead, Karthi is a criminal who goes by that pseudonym, and is a criminal with a very sharp mind who ends up performing a massive heist, managing to rob over Rs. 200 crore.

The Tamil Nadu police, who feel absolutely baffled by these robberies are left helpless as they reveal that Japan has committed over 182 such heists before, and each time the police have tried to catch him, they failed.

Attempting to catch him, Karthi’s character is revealed to be a gun swinging maniac who leads a hedonistic lifestyle, donning a lot of bling,...

Indian star Karthik Sivakumar, known by his screen name Karthi, is bullish about upcoming release “Japan,” his 25th film.

The film is due to release in November during the Deepavali holiday frame in Tamil, Telugu and a few other languages. “It’s a crime thriller, it’s got a manhunt to it. But apart from that, the writing and characters in the film are so well-rooted, and at the same time, it’s got a lot of flamboyance – it’s a very unique combination,” Karthi told Variety.

The film, from prolific south Indian studio Dream Warrior Pictures, is directed by Raju Murugan. “Being so grounded and yet having the flamboyance and the cockiness of this character is what got me hooked to the project, and the keenness to work with Raju Murugan – I’ve liked his earlier two films ‘Cuckoo’ and ‘Joker’ and his understanding of local community, the culture here,...

Karthi, the versatile actor who has impressed the audience with his varied roles and genres, is all set to collaborate with director Prem Kumar for his next film. Prem Kumar is the acclaimed filmmaker who made the cult classic 96, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha. The film, which is tentatively titled Karthi 27, is said to be a family drama with emotional elements.

According to sources, Karthi will share screen space with Arvind Swamy, who will play an important character in the film. Arvind Swamy is one of the most popular and talented actors in the industry, who has worked in films like Roja, Bombay, Thani Oruvan, and Bogan. The film will mark the first time that Karthi and Arvind Swamy will work together.

96 Trailer

The film is produced by Karthi’s brother Suriya under his banner 2D Entertainment. Suriya is also a renowned actor and producer, who has delivered some blockbuster films like Singam,...

Riding high on the success of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ franchise, Tamil star Karthi will soon be seen in ‘Japan’, a quirky action thriller helmed by Raju Murugan.

And on Thursday, to mark the actor’s birthday the makers have released the first-look teaser.

‘Japan’ is a milestone film for Karthi as it is his 25th film. It also has Anu Emmanuel, Sunil and Vijay Milton playing pivotal roles.

Dream Warrior Pictures shared the intro video in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. The caption read: “Here comes our #Japan – Made in India #JapanFromDiwali.” ‘Japan’ is slated for a 2023 Diwali release.

In the video, Karthi as ‘Japan’ is seen in entirely new flamboyant avatar, sporting curly hair, funky glasses and a track suit, and he wields two golden machine guns in both his hands.

The cinematography is by Ravi Varman and editing by Philomin Raj. The music and background score...

Prime Video’s Modern Love anthology series is back again and this time the creators have brought us entertaining and moving stories from the beautiful city of Chennai. Chennai is just like any other metropolitan city that nurtures the love stories of people from various facets of society. The meaning of love changes from time to time and episode to episode, but the core remains the same. Chennai brings us a love for Tamil music, especially music by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja, who is also one of the composers on some of the episodes. Modern Love Chennai runs for six episodes, and each episode explores the theme of love in many forms. The first episode is directed by Raju murugan.

Spoilers Ahead

Shobha’s Anger

Lalagunda Bommaigal, aka Dolls of Lalagunda, is set in the suburbs of Chennai and begins with Vaiju, Shobha’s friend, going from one room of a hospital to another room,...

Raju Murugan, best known for making the National Award-winning, critically acclaimed superhit film ‘Joker’, will be directing Karthi’s 25th film titled ‘Japan’, which went on the floors on Tuesday with a grand pooja ceremony.

Raju Murugan, who was a journalist before turning a director, will helm ‘Japan’ for S.R. Prakash Babu and S.R, Prabhu, the same producers who backed ‘Joker’.

Karthi will be reuniting with the production house Dream Warrior Pictures for the 6th time for ‘Japan’. The fact that this is Karthi’s 25th film has made this venture even more special.

Anu Emmanuel has been roped in to play the female lead opposite Karthi for the first time.

Telugu actor Sunil, who played the role of ‘Mangalam Seenu’ in Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpaa’ last year, will be making his Tamil debut through ‘Japan’ as one of its main characters.

With 25 years of experience as a cinematographer in...

‘Bigg Boss’ participant and actress Ramya Pandian, known for her brilliant performance in critically acclaimed films like director Raju Murugan’s ‘Joker’, has taken a fascination for the sport of shooting.

Taking to Instagram, the actress on Saturday posted a series of pictures of herself on a shooting range and said: “When unexpected things take you by surprise, there’s nothing like it. Last weekend, I unlocked a new passion, thanks to Rajsekar Pandian sir.

“Thank you for having me in the range, teaching me and motivating me. My first time, that too with a gun — Antolio Zoli , 175th anniversary edition, one of the only hundred guns in the world — It’s been a wonderful experience at the Royal Pudukkottai Sports Club, Trichy. Thank you Prithviraj Tondaiman for being a great host.

“And now, an Honorary member of the Rpsc is beyond what I could’ve imagined. This chapter is to be continued in Chennai.

KollywoodThe audio and trailer for ‘Viruman’ was launched at a big event in Madurai, which saw several film personalities including director Shankar and actor Suriya. Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeThe audio and trailer for actor karthi’s upcoming film Viruman were launched in a big event in Madurai’s Raja Muthiah Mandram on Wednesday, August 3. The M Muthiah directorial marks the debut of Aditi Shankar, daughter of director Shankar. The first single from the film, ‘Kanja Poovu Kannala’, was released in May. Billed as a family drama, the cast of Viruman also includes actors Prakash Raj, Karunas, Saranya Ponvannan, Rajkiran and Soori in pivotal roles. Among the attendees at the launch event were director Shankar, as well as actor Suriya, Karthi’s brother. Ahead of the launch event, the second single from the album titled ‘Madura Veeran’ was unveiled on August 2. The song is sung by composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, and debutant actor Aditi Shankar.

At a mega-event on Thursday 28 April Amazon Prime Video doubled down on content investments in India and announced 41 new titles in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and English.

Amazon’s attractive line-up for the next two years includes some of the biggest names of Bollywood. For starters there is Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi coming together for Amazon in Raj-dk’s serial Farzi.

In Raj-dk’s Farzi (Hindi), a small-time artist(Shahid Kapoor) working out of his grandfather’s printing press has designed the ultimate con job , a crime uniquely suited to him , and gets pulled into the murky, high stakes world of all that it demands. A fiery, unorthodox task force officer (Vijay Sethupathi) has made it his mission to rid the country of the menace this poses in this fast-paced, edgy one-of-a-kind thriller. Raj-Dk’s Gulkanda Tales (Hindi) will star Pankaj Tripathy and Kunal Khemu.

Vidya Balan, will be...

Directors Raju Murugan, Karthik Subbaraj, Ram Kumar, C V Kumar and music director Ghibran released the teaser of director Mahivarman’s much awaited courtroom comedy ‘Vaitha’, featuring actors Nassar and Mu Ramasamy in the lead. Taking to Twitter, National Award-winning director Raju Murugan, who was one of those who released the teaser, said, “I am immensely […]...

MollywoodThe Malayalam film industry in which 'Asanghadithar' was made, has, in itself, been hostile towards women’s demands for sanitation facilities.Sowmya RajendranIn Kunjila Mascillamani’s Asanghadithar (The Unorganised), part of Jeo Baby’s anthology film Freedom Fight, the women are engaged in a battle that amuses the men around them. They are fighting for a toilet because their workplace, Sm Street, does not have one, and none of the women employed in the small shops on the street can relieve themselves when they want to. Why can’t they hold their bladders until it’s the end of the work day? Why can’t they use the toilet at a restaurant nearby? Why can’t they find a discreet place to urinate like the men? Why can’t they take a membership with a union and then figure out a way? The unhelpful suggestions from the men only go...

Film commentaryThese three recent south Indian releases, belonging to different genres, engage with ideas on faith and religious values. Sowmya RajendranNetflix series A Suitable Boy recently ran into trouble for showing a Muslim man and a Hindu woman kissing in a temple. Apart from the expected outrage on social media from right wing handles, an Fir was also filed against officials of the Over the Top (Ott) platform. The representation of religion on screen has periodically run into controversy with religious groups and the government, as in the case of films like Mani Ratnam's Bombay, Rahul Dholakia's Parzania, Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam, Rajkumar Hirani's Pk or more recently Raju Murugan's Gypsy. In the current political climate, such outrage and censorship have become the norm, with a communal angle given to characters, scenes and subjects even if the film ostensibly does not deal with religion or communalism. In such a scenario,...

OpinionA few years ago, it was also not common for a mainstream, "mass" film to be dissected from different perspectives as it is now - gender, caste, class and so on. Sowmya RajendranPTI/Image for representation onlyThe last two releases from the Tamil film industry - Mohan G's Draupathi and Raju Murugan's Gypsy - have renewed the debate on who should review films and how they should be reviewed. While the first film has been called casteist and drubbed by a section of reviewers, it has been celebrated by other reviewers. Gypsy, which takes on communalism, and underwent numerous cuts at the censors, is being celebrated for its politics by a section of reviewers, but drubbed by other reviewers for its preachy tone. It's not only the film industries which raise these questions but the reviewing community itself. Before the explosion of social media, say till 2010 or so, film...

ReviewGypsy comes across as one-dimensional and unrealistic as it grapples with three distinct elements that don’t seamlessly blend with each other.Anjana ShekarDirector Raju Murugan’s Gypsy released this Friday, overcoming several delays, especially since the Censor advocated quite a few cuts. These scenes that have not made it to he film, including the “Very Very Bad” song and the one with the Yogi Adityanath parallels, are available to watch on YouTube. Gypsy starring Jiiva and Natasha Singh in lead roles is a film on music and love, as the director had already hinted in the trailer, with current day politics thrown in to reimagine this love in the times of religion based politics and political unrest. There's a Tamil word, ‘desandhri’. It translates to ‘traveler’, a person who has many homes, who considers the entire country their home. Jiiva who plays Gypsy (an unimaginative name) is raised by...

ReviewGypsy comes across as one-dimensional and unrealistic as it grapples with three distinct elements that don’t seamlessly blend with each other.Anjana ShekarDirector Raju Murugan’s Gypsy released this Friday, overcoming several delays, especially since the Censor advocated quite a few cuts. These scenes that have not made it to he film, including the “Very Very Bad” song and the one with the Yogi Adityanath parallels, are available to watch on YouTube. Gypsy starring Jiiva and Natasha Singh in lead roles is a film on music and love, as the director had already hinted in the trailer, with current day politics thrown in to reimagine this love in the times of religion based politics and political unrest. There's a Tamil word, ‘desandhri’. It translates to ‘traveler’, a person who has many homes, who considers the entire country their home. Jiiva who plays Gypsy (an unimaginative name) is raised by...

EntertainmentThe shooting of this film went on the floors recently with Bhagyaraj giving the first clap. Digital NativeDigital Native It has been confirmed that debut director Guru Ramachandran will direct Vetri of 8 Thottakkal and Jiivi fame in the upcoming thriller. Ramachandra Raju, who played the villain in the hit movie Kgf, has been roped in to play the baddie in this film. It may be noted that the actor is set to make his Tamil debut with Karthi's upcoming film directed by Bakkiyaraj Kannan. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna. The shooting of this film went on the floors recently with Bhagyaraj giving the first clap and is progressing well with plans to complete it in one single schedule. The team will be shooting the film predominantly in and around Chennai. The others in the star cast also include debutante Diyaa Mayurikha, Marimuthu, and Kabali-fame Vishvanth. On the film,...

KollywoodThough the film was wrapped up long back, it was put on hold because Censor Board had advocated several cuts.Digital NativeGypsy directed by Raju Murugan stars Jiiva and Natasha Singh in lead roles. The film has been lying in the cans as it faced issues with the Censor board. Now the makers have announced that the film is all set to release on January 24. Though the film was wrapped up long back, it didn't get through the censor formality as the censor board advocated several cuts following which the issue was taken to the Tribunal. Reports are that there are some scenes in the film that resemble the issues that happened in the Yogi Adithyanath government in Uttar Pradesh and that is the reason behind the Censor board’s disapproval. Finally, the film was awarded 'A' certificate with limited cuts and mutes. Director Raju Murugan made his directorial debut...

KollywoodThe censor board had advocated several cuts following which the issue was taken up to the Tribunal.Digital NativeJiiva and director Raju Murugan, known for helming Cuckoo and the critically-acclaimed Joker, have teamed up for Gypsy. Though the film was wrapped up long back, it didn't get through the censors. The censor board had advocated several cuts following which the issue was taken up to the Tribunal. Now the film has been censored with an 'A' certificate with limited cuts and mutes. Reports are that there are some scenes in the film that resemble the issues that happened in the Yogi Adithyanath government in Uttar Pradesh and that is the reason behind the censor board’s disapproval. The film has been produced by S Ambedkumar under the banner of Olympia Movies. Sources say that soon team Gypsy will be officially announcing the release date of the film. The film also stars Natasha Singh,...

Kollywood The issue has been taken up to the Tribunal and the film’s director Raju Murugan is confident that it will all be sorted out. Digital NativeDigital NativeGypsy is directed by Raju Murugan and stars Jiiva and Natasha Singh as the lead pair. Director Lal Jose plays the main antagonist in this flick. Also, Malayalam actor Sunny Wayne will be debuting in the Tamil film industry with Gypsy. The film is bankrolled by Ambeth Kumar under his banner Olympia Movies. Santosh Narayan is composing the tunes for this flick with Sathyan Sooryan cranking the camera and Raymond Derrick Crasta editing it. The official teaser of the film was released in January this year. The shooting of Gypsy was long wrapped up but there is still no news on its release date. The film’s director Raju Murugan had said that it went in for censor certification but the officials...

KollywoodThe shooting of this action drama was completed a few days ago and it is currently in the post-production mode.Digital NativeKalathil Santhipom is an upcoming multi starrer that has Jiiva and Arulnithi playing the lead roles. Roped in to play the female leads in this film are Priya Bhavani Shankar and Manjima Mohan. Actor Radha Ravi will be seen in a pivotal role in this flick which also has Robo Shankar, Aadukalam Naren, Renuka and Bala Saravanan in the supporting roles. N Rajasekar is the director of this friendship-based film and Jiiva’s father and ace producer Rb Chaudhury is bankrolling it under his banner Super Good Films. Yuvan Shankar Raja is the music composer of Kalathil Santhipom with the rest of the technical crew comprising R Ashok for dialogues, Pa Vijay and Viveka for lyrics, Abinandhan Ramanujam for cinematography, Dinesh Ponraj for editing and M Murugan for art direction.

One wonders how different the film would have looked had it been treated like Raju Murugan’s Joker. It just doesn’t look like a film that has made use of all the tools available for a film in 2019

The post Thozhar Venkatesan Movie Review: A Good At Heart Drama That Needed A Little More Money And A Lot More Filmmaking appeared first on Film Companion.

MollywoodThe trailer shows a glimpse of his character as a communist leader, while Malayalam filmmaker Lal Jose plays the main antagonist in this Jiiva starrer. Digital NativeMalayalam actor Sunny Wayne is all set to debut in the Tamil film industry with Gypsy. The actor shared on his social media, the trailer of the film which gives a glimpse of his character as a communist leader. He wrote, “A film that will be very close to my heart as it’s my first Tamil film. It was an honour to have associated with National Award-winning director Raju Murugan. I hope you all like and support the film.” Gypsy stars Jiiva and Natasha Singh as the lead pair. Malayalam filmmaker Lal Jose plays the main antagonist in this film ,that is bankrolled by Ambeth Kumar under his banner Olympia Movies. Santosh Narayan is composing the tunes for this film with Sathyan Sooryan...

KollywoodPublic anger in Tamil Nadu about the state’s leadership as well as the centre’s attitude is reflected in several of Kollywood’s recent films like 'Lkg', 'Sarkar', 'Nota', and others.Sowmya RajendranRJ Balaji’s Lkg is due for release on February 22. The film is a political satire, and from the promos it is clear that it will go after the state government and the centre, no holds barred. The Tamil film industry has always been closely linked to politics, with several leaders in the state emerging from cinema. While aspiring politicians have cemented their image through messaging in their films, cinema has also been a medium that voices the angst of the public against the government. In recent times, after Jayalalithaa passed away when in office, Tamil films have increasingly reflected the public anger against the state government and the centre. The people are...

KollywoodThe makers have postponed the release date due to a delay in getting clearance from the Animal Welfare Board of India (Awbi).Digital NativeVarmaa is the Tamil version of the Telugu of blockbuster hit Arjun Reddy, which starred Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey in the lead roles. The film marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Deverakonda’s role from the original as a young doctor with anger management issues. Varmaa was originally planned as a February 14 release, aligning with Valentine’s day but now we hear that the release is being pushed. The makers have postponed the release date due to a delay in getting clearance from the Animal Welfare Board of India (Awbi) and will now be out by the end of March. Talking to Silverscreen, the producer Mukesh R Mehta said, “Yes, the movie will not be releasing on the planned date.

KollywoodThe song from upcoming film 'Gypsy' features a number of prominent social activists like Thirumurugan Gandhi, Valarmathi, Grace Banu and others.Tnm StaffScreenshot/YouTubeJoker fame director Raju Murugan has released a song from his upcoming film Gypsy, starring Jiiva and Natasha Singh. Titled 'Very Very Bad', the song has been composed by Santhosh Narayanan. It begins with a shot of portraits of Ambedkar and Periyar behind bars. Next, we're shown Santhosh Narayanan being brought in by policemen to the prison. As he walks along, another inmate asks, "Did you protest against Sterlite, nuclear power plant, Neutrino, or sand mining?" This is none other than environmental activist Mugilan who has been to jail several times for his activism. The young woman next to him is Valarmathi, a student activist who was arrested for distributing leaflets asking people to support those who were fighting against methane and hydrocarbon projects. In the video,...

Kollywood'Varmaa', directed by Bala, is the Tamil remake of the Telugu hit 'Arjun Reddy' starring Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey in lead roles.Tnm StaffYoutube Screenshot/AP InternationalThe official trailer of Varmaa starring Dhruv Vikram and Megha Chowdhury in the lead was launched on Wednesday by actor Suriya. The film will mark the debut of both the actors, Dhruv being the son of actor Vikram. Varmaa is the Tamil remake of the Telugu hit Arjun Reddy starring Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey in lead roles. The film became a cult hit soon after its release. Made on a budget of Rs 5 crores, it went on to rake in Rs 65 crores at the box office. The Tamil version has been directed by Bala who made films like Naachiyar, Pithamagan and Paradesi. He was also the director to give Vikram the critically acclaimed film Sethu. Varmaa also stars Easwari Rao,...

KollywoodThis film will mark Riya’s Tamil debut.Digital NativeActor Jiiva and director Rathna Kumar, who is best known for directing Vijay Sethupathi in Rekka, have joined hands for the first time for a new project. Tipped to be a racy entertainer about friendship based on real incidents, the project was officially launched last month and is slated to go on the floors very soon. Telugu actress Riya Suman, who has worked in films such as Majnu and Paper Boy, has been signed to play the leading lady. In an official statement, it was announced that Riya has been signed for the project. This film will mark Riya’s Tamil debut. Talking about her character, she said in the statement as reported by Silverscreen, “My role isn’t just going to be just chirpy, but will be seen throughout the film. In fact, she will help the lead in unlocking...

KollywoodHe has been signed up by director Raju Murugan of 'Cuckoo' and 'Joker' fame.Digital NativeDigital NativeSeveral leading Malayalam stars including Mammootty, Mohanlal, Jayaram and Suresh Gopi have starred in Tamil films and earned a good fan base in the past. In fact, some of the smash hit films such as Thalapathy and Iruvar starred leading Malayalam actors Mammootty and Mohanlal respectively. Even the young generation actors like Dulqur Salmaan and Tovino Thomas have made their entry into the Tamil film industry much recently and carved a niche for themselves. Toeing in line with these actors, there would be one more new entrant to the Tamil film industry from Mollywood. Sunny Wayne is all set to make his debut in Kollywood. He has been signed up by director Raju Murugan of Cuckoo and Joker fame. Titled as Gypsy, the film will star Jiiva in the lead role. Posting...

KollywoodFollowing this, the makers released it officially a little ahead of its schedule.Digital NativeThe first-look poster of Varma, the Tamil remake of Arjun Reddy starring actor Vikram's son Dhruv was leaked online. While the makers had decided to release the title logo and the first-look poster on 23 September along with its audio, a photograph of the film's poster was leaked online. Following this, the makers were forced to release it officially. Directed by filmmaker Bala, whose last outing was Naachiyaar, debutante Megha, a model who hails from Bengal, has been signed to play the role originally played by Shalini Pandey. The film also stars Eswari Rao, Raiza Wilson and Akash in pivotal roles. Expectations are high on this film as it will mark the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv in the Tamil film industry. While Varma is based on Arjun Reddy which was written and directed by Sandeep Vanga,...

KollywoodThe film’s audio will be launched on the eve of Dhruv’s birthday on September 22.Digital NativeDigital NativeVarma, the Tamil remake of Arjun Reddy, marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Devarakonda’s role from the original. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film, according to reliable sources, began in Kathmandu, Nepal, in March this year. Six months since the project went on the floors its shoot finally got wrapped up earlier this week. To mark the occasion, the makers released pictures from the wrap-up event. Meanwhile, the film’s audio launch will be unveiled in a grand event on September 22 in Vit University on the eve of Dhruv’s birthday. Directed by filmmaker Bala, whose last outing was Naachiyaar, Bengali actress Megha Choudhary has been roped in to play the role originally played by Shalini Pandey. This project will mark Megha’s Tamil debut.

Kollywood'Varma' is based on the Telugu film 'Arjun Reddy' which was written and directed by Sandeep Vanga.Digital NativeFacebook/RaizaRaiza Wilson a model and actress, one of the most neutral, non-controversial candidates from the first season of Bigg Boss Tamil will be seen shaking legs for a special number in upcoming Tamil movie Varma. Varma which is a remake of Tollywood hit movie Arjun Reddy, helmed by Director Bala, best known for films such as Sethu, Pithamagan, and Paradesi, will helm the remake starring actor Vikram's son Dhruv. Expectations are high on this film as it will mark the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv in the Tamil film industry. It may be mentioned here that he will be reprising the role done by Vijay Devarakonda in the original. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film began in Kathmandu, Nepal in March. There were reports that Shriya Sharma was signed as the leading lady. It turns out it was merely a rumour that was circulated by a section of media. While Varma is based on Arjun Reddy which was written and directed by Sandeep Vanga, the dialogues for the Tamil version have been penned by Raju Murugan. The project which is going to be bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of films such as Ezra and Godha, and its producer Mukesh Mehta is honoured by the opportunity. Cinematographer Sukumar has been signed to wield the camera. Raiza Wilson is also playing the heroine opposite fellow Bigg Boss Season 1 star Harish Kalyan in Pyaar Prema Kadhal directed by Elan, who has previously pioneered Graghanam, the supernatural thriller starring Krishna and Chandra. Touted to be a feel-good romantic comedy. The music will be scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja, Raja Bhattacharjee handling the camera, Manikumaran Shankara the editing. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s Ysr Films joins hands with K Productions. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

TollywoodThe project will mark Bengali actor Megha Choudhary's Tamil debutDigital NativeTitled Varma, the Tamil remake of last year’s path-breaking Telugu film Arjun Reddy, directed by Bala, marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Devarakonda’s role from the original. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film, according to reliable sources, began in Kathmandu, Nepal in March. After wrapping up the first schedule in Nepal, the team had to stop shooting due to Kollywood strike, courtesy a stand-off between digital service providers and Tamil film producers. Three months since the project went on the floors, the makers have finally found their leading lady after trying out several options. According to a Times of India report, Bengali actor Megha Choudhary has been roped in to play the role originally played by Shalini Pandey. This project will mark Megha’s Tamil debut and apparently her expressive eyes caught the attention of Bala, who subsequently auditioned her and brought her on board. Recently, there were reports that Shriya Sharma was signed as the leading lady. It turns out it was merely a rumour that was circulated by a section of media. Megha has already started shooting for the project. Meanwhile, filmmaker Raju Murugan, known for helming films such as Cuckoo and Joker, has been signed to pen the dialogues. The project is being bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. Vikram had hinted in the past that his son will eventually follow in his footsteps. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be interested in acting or direction. Last year, Dhruv directed a short film called Goodnight Charlie which was about child abuse within a family. When the film came out, many assumed that he has directorial dreams and would enter the industry as a director. It’s surprising that he has decided to don the greasepaint and it won’t be an easy debut considering the high expectations people will have on the remake, thanks to the popularity of the character Arjun Reddy, a contemporary take on Devdas, which explored love and suffering in the most hard-hitting fashion.

KollywoodTo be produced by Studio Green, the film has music by Sean Roldan.Digital NativeDigital NativeSaravana Rajendran, an erstwhile assistant of writer-director Raju Murugan, is making his directorial debut with upcoming Tamil film Mehandi Circus. The film’s title and first look poster were released recently. To be produced by Studio Green, the film has music by Sean Roldan. Speaking to Times of India, Rajendran has revealed that the film features real-life circus performers in key roles. He also said that the story revolves around the relationship between a guy living in Kodaikanal and a circus performer. “There are two backdrops to this film — the circus and a musical centre (that relic of the 1980-90s, where people went to record songs on to cassette tapes), and the story happens in the 1990s and in 2010,” said the director. He also said that while the film starts off as a romance, it then moves into a painful area involving relationships. The film marks the Tamil debut of Bollywood actress Shweta Tripathi, best known for her work in films such as Masaan and Haraamkhoor. Coimbatore-based Rangarajan is being introduced as the hero. “Apart from the principal cast, we have roped in real-life circus performers to play the other characters that are part of the circus,” said Rajendran, who added that Shweta had to train with a circus performer to act in a scene that involves a life-threatening stunt. “It is a crucial plot point, so I cannot reveal what it is. We could find only one person in Tamil Nadu who was an expert in the act and got this person to train Shweta.” Cuckoo and Joker fame Raju Murugan has written the story and dialogues. Apart from assisting Raju Murugan, Rajendran has also worked with Kamal Haasan and late filmmaker Balu Mahendran. The film also stars Rj Vignesh, Vela Ramamoorthy, Ankur Vikal and Sunny Charles in important roles. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

KollywoodThe film's main character is a Chimpanzee named Kong. Digital NativeDigital NativeThe first look poster of Jiiva’s upcoming film titled Gorilla was released by its makers on Thursday. Helming the affairs of the film is director Don Sandy who had directed the crime thriller Mahabalipuram earlier. The film's main character is a Chimpanzee. The Chimpanzee which is named Kong, is from the world renowned Samut training station of Thailand, which boasts of training animals for Hollywood films like Hangover 2, Planets of the Apes hence the shooting of a major chunk of Gorilla is taking place there, a source reveals. In an interview the film's director told Toi, "We have had scenes in Tamil cinema that show bank robberies. But no Tamil film has explored the idea in totality, in a full-length film. This movie will be like those bank robbery movies in Hollywood. It will be an out-and-out comedy where the lead cast heads off to loot a bank. They all have a short flashback as to why they are doing it, too. It will be an interesting subject for Tamil audiences.” Shalini Pandey of Arjun Reddy fame has been roped in to play the female lead and the film also has a bevy of stars in the cast including Radha Ravi, Sathish, Muniskanth, Yogi Babu and Mottai Rajendran. It may be mentioned here that Rj Balaji was initially roped in to play a pivotal role in this entertainer but later he was replaced with Sathish. The film is bankrolled by Vijayaraghavendra under his banner All In Pictures, who bankrolled movies such as Masala Padam and Rum. The music for this comedy entertainer will be composed by Sam Cs of Vikram Vedha fame. Vetri Mahendran will crank the camera and Ruben is in charge of the cuts. Jiiva will be teaming up with Joker fame Rajumurugan for his next titled Gypsy. The pre-production work has begun and soon the team will start shooting for the movie. Unlike Raju Murugan's earlier movies, Cuckoo and Joker, sources say Gypsy will be a commercial entertainer with a subtle social message. It will be a travel based film which will be shot across the country. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

KollywoodThe film is the Tamil remake of the Telugu ‘Arjun Reddy’ and marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv.Digital NativeDigital NativeVarma, the Tamil remake of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy, marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Deverakonda’s role. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film, according to reliable sources, began in Kathmandu, Nepal, in March. After shooting some important scenes, the team returned to Chennai where they began filming the second schedule of the film, which is directed by Bala, fresh off the success of Naachiyaar. Apparently, the makers are yet to zero in on the woman lead. Shalini Pandey, who played the role in the original, was considered briefly but Bala is reportedly keen on roping in a newcomer. The team is still on the lookout for a suitable heroine and the process is taking more time than expected. Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that actress Easwari Rao, last seen in Rajinikanth’s Kaala, has been roped in for a crucial role in the film. Neither the actor nor the makers have confirmed the reports but the news has got film buffs excited as the senior actor earned many fans through her performance in Kaala. Vikram had hinted in the past that his son would eventually follow in his footsteps. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be interested in acting or direction. Last year, Dhruv directed a short film called Goodnight Charlie, about child abuse within a family. When the film came out, many assumed that he had directorial dreams and would enter the industry as a director. It was therefore surprising that he decided to don the greasepaint. It won’t be an easy debut considering the high expectations people have on the remake, thanks to the popularity of the character Arjun Reddy, a contemporary take on Devdas, the film exploring love and suffering in the most hard-hitting fashion. Filmmaker Raju Murugan, known for helming films such as Cuckoo and Joker, has been signed to pen the dialogues. The project is being bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. Also read: Puthiya Thalaimurai case: Opposition slams govt over curbing of press freedom (Content provided by Digital Native)...

KollywoodThe Tamil remake of 'Arjun Reddy' has resumed shoot after a short break.Digital NativeDirector Bala’s upcoming film Varma, which is the remake of the blockbuster Telugu movie Arjun Reddy, went on the floors and the shooting has recommenced recently after a short break. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film began in Kathmandu last month. The current schedule is happening in Chennai where key sequences are to be shot. Expectations are high on this film as it will mark the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv in the Tamil film industry. It may be mentioned here that he will be reprising the role done by Vijay Devarakonda in the original. On the film’s progress, we hear that the director is canning shots involving Dhruv and his buddies and this will go on for the next few days. Interestingly, Bala is yet to sign up a leading lady to pair up with Dhruv in this remake and the search is still on. Bala, the award winning director, has several critically acclaimed movies to his credit till date but he hasn’t made a single remake. Varma is his first attempt in remaking a film and reports say that he took up the project for Vikram who was keen on launching his son with a Bala directorial. Varma is bankrolled by Mukesh Mehta under his banner E4 Entertainments, the producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. While Varma is based on Arjun Reddy which was written and directed by Sandeep Vanga, the dialogues for the Tamil version have been penned by Raju Murugan. Arjun Reddy, one of the biggest hits in the Telugu film industry last year, was made on a budget of Rs. 5 crores but it went on to rake in Rs. 65 crores at the box office. Its immense success at the box office and critical acclaim prompted several filmmakers to vie for its remake rights but eventually it went to Bala. The original version starred Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey in the lead roles with Pranay Reddy Vanga producing the venture under this banner Bhadrakali Pictures. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: Tamil films summer schedule: New release dates after Tfpc strike called off...

Kollywood While Subbalakshmi's role in the film awaits confirmation, conflicting reports say that Shalini Pandey could bag the role. Digital NativePhoto provided by DNThe shoot of Bala’s Varma, the Tamil remake of Arjun Reddy, has been going at brisk pace. Announced last November, reliable sources say that the shoot began in Kathmandu, Nepal last week. The team has successfully wrapped up the first schedule after shooting some important scenes and recently returned to Chennai. The film marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Deverakonda’s role of an alcoholic medical surgeon. The makers are yet to zero in on the female lead. According to latest reports however, actor Gautami’s daughter Subbalakshmi is said to have bagged the opportunity. While that is yet to confirmed, some reports also suggest that Bala has decided to go with Shalini Pandey as she’s already played the role in Arjun Reddy, and was appreciated for it. An official announcement regarding the final cast can be expected very soon. Filmmaker Raju Murugan, known for helming films such as Cuckoo and Joker, has been signed to pen the dialogues. The project is being bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. Vikram had hinted in the past that his son will eventually follow in his footsteps. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be interested in acting or direction. Last year, Dhruv directed a short film called Goodnight Charlie, that was about child abuse within a family. When the film came out, many assumed that he wanted to be director and would enter the industry as one. It’s surprising then that he has decided to don the greasepaint. It won’t be an easy debut considering the high expectations people will have from the remake, thanks to the popularity of Arjun Reddy’s character which was a contemporary take on Devdas, and explored love and suffering. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

KollywoodVikram's son, Dhruv, is making his debut with this film.Digital NativeThe Tamil remake of last year’s critically-acclaimed Telugu film Arjun Reddy was announced some months ago. Titled Varma, the film marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Devarakonda’s role from the original. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film, according to reliable sources, began in Kathmandu, Nepal last week. The team has successfully wrapped up the first schedule after shooting some important scenes and is headed back to Chennai for the next schedule. Dhruv took to Instagram to share the news and wrote: “Home Bound” and put up a picture. The film is being directed by Bala, who is basking in the success of Naachiyaar. Apparently, the makers are yet to zero in on the female lead. Shalini Pandey, who played the role in the original, was considered briefly but Bala is keen on roping in a newcomer. The team is still on the lookout for a suitable heroine and the process is taking more time than expected. Meanwhile, filmmaker Raju Murugan, known for helming films such as Cuckoo and Joker, has been signed to pen the dialogues. The project is being bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. Vikram had hinted in the past that his son will eventually follow in his footsteps. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be interested in acting or direction. Last year, Dhruv directed a short film called Goodnight Charlie, and it was about child abuse within a family. When the film came out, many assumed that he has directorial dreams and would enter the industry as a director. It’s surprising that he has decided to don the greasepaint and it won’t be an easy debut considering the high expectations people will have on the remake, thanks to the popularity of the character Arjun Reddy, a contemporary take on Devdas. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

Kollywood The film is helmed by National award-winning filmmaker Bala and will lauch Dhruv Vikram in Kollywood. Digital NativeNational award-winning filmmaker Bala, fresh of the success of Naachiyaar, has begun shooting for the Tamil remake of last year’s critically-acclaimed Telugu film Arjun Reddy. Titled Varma, the film marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Devarakonda’s role from the original. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film, according to reliable sources, began in Kathmandu on Saturday. Apparently, the makers are yet to zero in on the female lead. Shalini Pandey, who played the role in the original, was considered briefly but Bala is keen on roping in a newcomer. The team is still on the lookout for a suitable heroine and the process is taking more time than expected. Meanwhile, filmmaker Raju Murugan, known for helming films such as Cuckoo and Joker, has been signed to pen the dialogues. The project is being bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. Vikram had hinted in the past that his son will eventually follow in his footsteps. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be interested in acting or direction. Last year, Dhruv directed a short film called Goodnight Charlie, and it was about child abuse within a family. When the film came out, many assumed that he has directorial dreams and would enter the industry as a director. It’s surprising that he has decided to don the greasepaint and it won’t be an easy debut considering the high expectations people will have on the remake. This is thanks to the popularity of the character Arjun Reddy, a contemporary take on Devdas, which explored love and suffering in the most hard-hitting fashion. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

Kollywood'Varma' marks the debut of Dhruv, actor Vikram's son.Tnm StaffNational award-winning filmmaker Bala, who awaits the release of Naachiyaar this week, is soon expected to begin work on the Tamil remake of last year’s critically acclaimed Telugu film Arjun Reddy. Titled Varma, the film marks the debut of Vikram’s son Dhruv, who will reprise Vijay Devarakonda’s role from the original. Announced last November, the regular shooting of the film is finally expected to commence from March, reliable sources have confirmed. Apparently, the makers are yet to zero in on the female lead. Shalini Pandey, who played the role in the original, was considered briefly but Bala is keen on roping in a newcomer. The team is still on the lookout for a suitable heroine and the process is taking more time than expected. Meanwhile, the pre-production work is going on in full swing. Filmmaker Raju Murugan, known for helming films such as Cuckoo and Joker, has been signed to pen the dialogues. The project will be bankrolled by E4 Entertainment, producers of popular Malayalam films such as Ezra and Godha. Vikram had hinted in the past that his son will eventually follow in his footsteps. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be interested in acting or direction. Last year, Dhruv directed a short film called Goodnight Charlie, and it was about child abuse within a family. When the film came out, many assumed that he has directorial dreams and would enter the industry as a director. It’s surprising that he has decided to don the greasepaint. It won’t be an easy debut considering the high expectations people will have on the remake, thanks to the popularity of the character Arjun Reddy, a contemporary take on Devdas, which explored love and suffering in the most hard-hitting fashion. (Content provided by Digital Native)...