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Aranmanai 4 Hindi Trailer Review ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

After taking the Tamil and Telugu audience by storm, the spooky juggernaut Aranmanai 4 is all set to scare you in Hindi! Get ready for a thrilling cinematic experience that will send shivers down your spine and tickle your funny bone all at once.

The trailer for the Hindi dubbed version hints at a captivating story that expertly blends horror and humour. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions – perfect for a fun outing with friends or family. Packed with stellar performances by renowned actors, the trailer showcases the cast bringing their A-game, leaving you wanting more. The movie stars Tamannaah, Raashii Khanna, Sundar. C, Yogi Babu, Vtv Ganesh, Delhi Ganesh, Kovai Sarala & others.

Tamannaah In Aranmanai 4 (Photo Credit – YouTube)

But Aranmanai 4 isn’t just about the stars. Prepare to be spooked by the top-notch visual effects, especially in the chilling horror sequences,...

S. Shankar, one of the most prolific and highest paid film directors in India, is known for his big-budget films that deal with social and political issues, as well as his use of state-of-the-art technology and VFX. He has worked with some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, such as Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Vikram, and Vijay. He has also received several awards and accolades, including an honorary doctorate from M. G. R. University and two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Currently, Shankar is working on two highly anticipated projects that are expected to be game-changers in the industry: Indian 2 and Game Changer. Both films are sequels to his previous hits, Indian (1996) and Mudhalvan (1998), respectively. However, balancing two films simultaneously is not an easy task for any director, especially when they involve complex production and post-production processes.

Indian 2 is a Tamil-language vigilante action...

Sidharth, the Indian actor who is known for his roles in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films, has recently revealed his ambition to become the next Leonardo DiCaprio in the next 10 years. In an interview with Galatta channel, he said that he is super confident that he can reach the level of DiCaprio and everyone will call him the Indian DiCaprio. He said that the main reason he wanted to achieve this goal was his admiration for DiCaprio’s choice of films and directors.

He said that he was impressed by how DiCaprio worked with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg alternately, and he wanted to have a similar cycle with Mani Ratnam and S. Shankar, two of the most acclaimed filmmakers in India. He said that the first step towards this dream was his upcoming film Indian 2, directed by Shankar and co-starring Kamal Haasan. He said that he was very...

ControversySiddharth shared an Instagram story alleging that the airport security personnel harassed his parents, and accused the personnel of “showing off their power”. Tnm StaffSiddharth/ InstagramActor Siddharth took to social media on Tuesday, December 27, alleging that his parents were “harassed” by security personnel at the Madurai airport in Tamil Nadu. Sharing an image from the airport as an Instagram story, he alleged that the security personnel made his parents remove coins from their bags, and repeatedly spoke to them in Hindi despite the latter's request to converse in English. Siddharth also said that when they “protested”, the security personnel responded saying, "In India, this is how it is." "Harassed for 20 mins @ Madurai airport by Crpf. They made my senior parents remove coins from their bags! And repeatedly talked to us in Hindi after being told to speak in English," Siddharth wrote on his Instagram story. He also added, “When they...

HealthSources from Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre confirmed to Tnm that the actor-politician was admitted on Wednesday, November 23, after developing symptoms of fever. Tnm StaffPTIKollywood star Kamal Haasan was admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre (Srmc) in Chennai on Wednesday, November 23. Sources from Srmc Porur confirmed to Tnm that the 68-year-old actor was admitted for a routine check-up on Wednesday, after he had symptoms of fever. According to a press statement issued by Srmc on Thursday, the Makkal Needhi Maiam chief was admitted to the hospital with mild fever, cough and cold. “He is recovering well and will be discharged in a day or two,” the statement said. On the work front, Kamal Haasan is currently shooting for his upcoming movie Indian 2, the sequel of the hit 1996 movie Indian starring the actor in the lead and directed by Shankar. The film has been in the production stage for over two years due to unprecedented delays.

CinemaAccording to reports, Lokesh Kanagaraj will direct the first film of the production house.Tnm StaffTop directors of Tamil cinema including Mani Ratnam, Shankar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Ar Murugadoss, Mysskin, Vetrimaaran, Lingusamy, Sasi, Vasanta Balan, Balaji Sakthivel, and Lokesh Kanagaraj have jointly launched a new production house. The company has been named Rain On Films Pvt Ltd and its first production will be directed by founder-member Lokesh Kanagaraj. According to reports, the production house will produce content for a variety of platforms including big screens and Over-the-Top releases. The company will function as a corporate entity and has even been registered under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in September 2020, reports state. According to sources, director Vetrimaaran’s office will become the new headquarters for Rain on Films. According to a Dt Next report which quotes a source, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s next project after Vikram will be the first project produced by the film house.

KollywoodFeaturing an ensemble cast, the nine-part anthology marks the coming together of nine filmmakers and will stream on Netflix from August 6.Tnm StaffNetflixOver-the-top (Ott) platform Netflix recently unveiled new images featuring the lead female characters from its upcoming nine-part anthology Navarasa. Produced and presented by Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan, the anthology features nine stories. Each story focuses on one emotion from the Navarasas or nine emotions, namely-- anger, compassion, courage, disgust, fear, laughter, love, peace and wonder. Featuring an ensemble cast, Navarasa marks the coming together of nine directors. In a press statement on Wednesday, Netflix released images and details about the characterisation and storylines of female characters in the anthology. Veteran actor Revathy will play the role of Savithri, a pious woman torn between her grief and mortality, and who is forced to make a difficult choice over the course of the film. She stars in director Bejoy Nambiar’s short Ethiri,...

KollywoodThe anthology film has nine directors coming together, including Priyadarshan, Gautham Menon and others.Tnm StaffNetflixUpcoming Tamil anthology Navarasa is all set for its Over-the-Top (Ott) release on Netflix. Navarasa will feature nine shorts, helmed by nine directors. The shorts will each focus on a specific emotion based on the Indian concept of the nine human emotions – love, courage, compassion, wonder, laughter, fear, disgust, anger and tranquility. The list of nine directors includes actor Arvind Swami (in his directorial debut), Gautam Vasudev Menon, Priyadarshan, Bejoy Nambiar, Karthik Subbaraj, Sarjun, Vasanth, Karthick Naren and Rathindran Prasad. Navarasa is created by Mani Ratnam, while it is presented by Mani Ratnam under his home banner Madras Talkies and Jayendra Panchapakesan of Qube Cinemas. Ahead of its release, several images from the movie have gone viral after they were shared by Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan in a Twitter thread. The anthology stars an ensemble cast that includes actors Suriya,...

WeddingTamil Nadu Chief Minister Mk Stalin, politician and actor Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian were among those who attended the ceremony.Tnm StaffTwitter/ Kaushik LMDirector Shankar’ daughter Aishwarya married cricketer Rohit Damodaren on June 27, Sunday, in a traditional wedding ceremony. Photos and videos from the wedding are being circulated on social media. Aishwarya looks graceful in a maroon bridal saree paired with antique kemp jewellery while Rohit is seen in a festive cream kurta with a maroon and gold border. Aishwarya, Shankar’s eldest daughter, is a doctor by profession while Rohit, who is a part of the Madurai Panthers Tnpl team, is the son of industrialist Damodaren. According to a report in India Today, the ceremony took place at Welcome Hotel on East Coast Road, Mahabalipuram. The wedding ceremony, a private affair, was attended mainly by family members, close friends and select guests.

CourtLyca Productions had earlier sought to restrain Shankar from directing other films until 'Indian 2' is completed.Tnm StaffThe makers of actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s upcoming movie Indian 2 have been facing a slew of problems over production since the film was announced. Recently, Lyca Productions, which is bankrolling the film, had submitted a petition with Madras High Court on April 1, requesting a ban on director Shankar from working on other projects before completing this one, citing a delay. While adjourning the case to April 28, the Madras High Court has directed both parties to amicably resolve the issue among themselves. Shankar has signed up for two new films in recent times. He will be teaming up with Tollywood actor Ram Charan for a pan-Indian project and will also be helming the Bollywood remake of the 2005 Tamil movie Anniyan. Actor Ranveer Singh will be reprising actor Vikram’s role from the original.

CinemaReferred to as a “pan-Indian entertainer”, the film will go into production only in the middle of 2022.Tnm StaffDirector Shankar has announced that his next film will be the Hindi remake of his 2005 Tamil film Anniyan, starring Ranveer Singh in the lead. This film will be produced Dr Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios. Referred to as a “pan-Indian entertainer”, the film will go into production only in the middle of 2022. The film will be co-produced by God Bless Entertainment. Shankar is also directing the sequel to the 1996 film Indian, which has been put on hold. The film’s producer Lyca Productions has approached the Madras High Court seeking to restrain the director from signing up on other projects without completing their film Indian 2. Indian 2 will star Kamal Haasan, Kajal Aggarwal, Nedumudi Venu, Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, Bobby Simha, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Samuthirakani, Delhi Ganesh and Vivek among others. Indian 2...

KollywoodActor Chitra, who was popular for her role in TV serial 'Pandian Stores', was found dead in Chennai on December 9. Tnm StaffTamil movie Calls starring late television presenter and actor VJ Chitra will hit theatres on Friday. Calls marks Chitra’s first and last movie to hit the silver screen. Directed by debutant filmmaker J Sabarish, Calls stars Delhi Ganesh, Nizhalgal Ravi, R Sundarrajan, Devadarshini, Vinodhini Vaidyanathan, Jiva Ravi and Sriranjani in important roles. The trailer of the late actor’s debut film was released on January 29. It garnered over 1.5 million views on YouTube. Touted to be a woman-centric film, the plot revolves around the leading lady of the film, who gets caught in the middle of a series of murders. Chitra essays the role of a Bpo professional in the movie. According to reports, Calls is loosely based on Aditi Balan’s debut film Aruvi, which was directed by filmmaker Arun Prabhu.

Flix FlashbackFrom taking on 'injustice' in our personal lives to writing a college play based on the film, 'Nayagan' had a massive influence on young people.Anand Kumar Rsi remember the episode very well. Nayagan had just released for Deepavali in October 1987. There was no pre-release hype then as it is the case for new releases nowadays. However, the poster depicting a clean shaven Kamal with a bloodied nose intrigued us. To us, it was a “Kamal” film and in those days, we invariably caught up with all Kamal films. Three of us friends watched the film at Anand Theatre in Madras and after watching, we walked down the stairs. The usual quick post-mortem of a film after watching it was missing and the mood was sombre and reflective. There was an adrenaline rush inside among us with chests all pumped up. We got to the gate and...

KollywoodThe actor has penned lyrics for this song.Digital NativeWhile the coronavirus pandemic has halted the progress of films in the Indian film industry, several stars have come out with awareness video messages urging the people to stay at home during this lockdown period. Actor Kamal Haasan has also posted a video message requesting everyone to stay at home. According to the New Indian Express report, Kamal Haasan has teamed up with music director Ghibran for a song on coronavirus awareness and humanity. The duo has brought a slew of 49 prominent singers from the industry for this song. The actor has penned lyrics for this song. They have roped in composers Anirudh, Yuvan Shankar Raja and Devi Sri Prasad, singers Bombay Jayashree, Sid Sriram and Shankar Mahadevan, actor Siddharth, Mugen of Bigg Boss fame and Shruti Haasan to croon this song. For the chorus, the composer had put out a...

KollywoodHis comment came as a response to a tweet by a fan, who had recently watched ‘Power Paandi’ on television. Digital NativeThe lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic is ensuring that everyone stays home and catches up with movies that they failed to take note of during the busy times. Some of the best movies are being aired on television and movie buffs are simply enjoying it. It has also made fans gush about their favourite actors, on social media platforms. Recently, Dhanush’s Pa Pandi was aired on a private satellite channel and fans took to their social networking pages to heap praises on its making. When one such fan posted a message that he enjoyed the film on TV, its music composer Sean Roldan tweeted back, “A thousand films may release every year. But not all of them can remain evergreen like #Powerpaandi. @dhanushkraja the director will play...

Kollywood 'Indian 2' marks the reunion of Kamal Haasan and Shankar after two decades and the star actor has been shooting as a 90-year-old.Digital NativeThe team of Shankar’s Indian 2 will be commencing the next schedule in Chennai by the second week of February. During this schedule along with Kamal Hassan, Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and Kajal Aggarwal, who are playing important roles in the film are expected to join. The team had recently wrapped up schedules in Bhopal, Gwalior, Rajahmundry and Sriperumbudar. During the Bhopal schedule, a massive action sequence was shot over a period of four weeks and the makers had roped in National award-winning stunt choreographer Peter Hein to oversee and execute the action scene. Apparently, Lyca Productions had spent a whopping Rs. 40 crore to shoot this action sequence which will include over 2000 junior artistes. Indian 2 marks the reunion of...

MollywoodThe film will be the fifth one Vineeth directs and the first in which he will not be associating with Shaan Rahman for the music.Digital NativeSinger, actor and filmmaker Vineeth Sreenivasan announced his next directorial project, with Kalyani Priyadarshan and Pranav Mohanlal in the lead, some time ago. The groundwork for this film, titled Hridayam, has begun and the shooting will commence soon, we hear. Meanwhile, Vineeth has revealed that he will collaborating with a musician in Istanbul for the music composition of the film. Confirming this, he wrote on his Instagram page, “Recording live instruments with some incredibly talented musicians in Istanbul for Hridayam!! past few days have been a great learning experience. Can’t wait to bring the songs out to you guys.. keep us in prayers (sic).” View this post on Instagram Recording live instruments with some incredibly talented musicians in Istanbul for Hridayam!! past few...

MollywoodSources in the know say that Pranav is keen on doing a complete commercial entertainer and Vineeth is known for handling such subjects. Digital NativeDigital Native Actor Vineeth Sreenivasan made his directorial debut with Malarvaadi Arts Club, which went on to become a phenomenal hit. The film starred Nivin Pauly in the lead role, which also marked his debut. According to the latest reports, Vineeth has approached Nivin to play a cameo in his upcoming directorial that has Pranav Mohanlal in the lead. Sources in the know say that Nivin may be playing the hero’s mentor in the film and it is a meaty role. On the heroine, we hear that Keerthy Suresh is in talks to play the female lead. Pranav Mohanlal made his debut with Aadhi, which went on to become a huge hit but his second film Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu received a lukewarm response. Following this, he...

MollywoodAparna Das, playing the heroine, easily portrays the role of a regular-struggling-youngster.CrisIf you have always wondered how Photoshop worked and looked dreamily at the big plastic flexes on the road, then Manoharam might just be the two-hour long tutorial you need. The film takes you through everything from Photoshop classes to setting up a printing unit and finally tips you off on the need to switch to cloth and be environment friendly! But somewhere along the way it also tries to tell the story of a struggling artist called Manu – played very aptly by Vineeth Sreenivasan. The movie, directed by Anvar Sadik, starts with Manu growing up with an inferiority complex but then appears to change tack and delves into the technicalities of running a printing unit. It does fall into the ‘feel-good’ genre of movies, but goes through a very rocky path, losing the viewer at many places.

MollywoodActor-director Vineeth Sreenivasan is producing the film and debutant filmmaker Mathukuty Xavier is directing it.Digital NativeActor-director Vineeth Sreenivasan is producing a Malayalam film titled Helen. The first look poster of film is out online and features Anna Ben of Kumbalangi Nights fame. It shows Anna as a waitress, holding a tray of food and drinks. From the title, one can assume that it will be a heroine-centric project. Debut director Mathukutty Xavier is not only wielding the megaphone for this venture but has also scripted it in association with Noble Babu Thomas and Alfred Kurian Joseph. Noble Babu Thomas is also playing the male lead in this flick. Helen has Aju Varghese, Lal Paul, and Rony David Raj playing supporting roles along with a set of debutants. The technical crew of this entertainer will comprise Anend C Chandran of Premam fame for cinematography, Shaan Rahman for music and Shameer Muhammed for editing.

MollywoodAccording to reports, Vineeth Sreenivsan will be playing a teacher in this flick. Digital NativeDigital NativeVineeth Sreenivsan’s next film is titled Thaneermathan Dhinangal! Wielding the megaphone for this venture will be director Girish Ad and it will be bankrolled jointly by cinematographer Jomon T John, editor Shameer Muhammed and Shebin Backer under the banners of Plain J Studios and Shebin Backer Productions. The director has co-scripted the film with debutant Dinoy Paulose. According to reports, Vineeth Sreenivsan will be playing a teacher in this flick. Sharing the screen space with him will be Mathew Thomas and Anaswara Rajan. Jomon T john will be handling the cinematography for this entertainer with Justin Varghese composing the tunes. Director Girish, it may be noted, was one of the scriptwriters for Allu Ramendran, a comedy thriller that was directed by Bilahari. The film starred Kunchako Boban in the title role. Girish had penned...

KollywoodCrazy Mohan's wordplay was unique in the Tamil comedy world.Megha KaveriVinodh VelayudhanThe world lost quite a bit of its craziness on Monday as renowned playwright and inimitable comedy writer ‘Crazy’ Mohan passed away in Chennai due to a heart attack. He was 66. Earning his prefix ‘Crazy’ from one of the earliest plays he wrote, Mohan was known for setting a trend in Tamil comedy, which was clean and enjoyable for people of all ages. A distinct feature of his scripts was how he intertwined comedy with the story, thus ensuring that the narrative moved ahead quickly and the comedy track didn't poke out separately from the story. Some of the trademark features which made his scripts stand out and easily identifiable to the audience are the frequent usage of mistaken identities, wordplay and one-liners. He was known for his affable and intelligent comedy. While the comedy world mourns the death of their icon,...

MollywoodThe film is directed by Anwar Sadik who has earlier worked with Vineeth in ‘Ormayundo Ee Mukham’. Digital NativeThe filming of Mollywood actor Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Manoharam has been progressing for quite some time now and there is confirmation from him that the shooting has been wrapped up. Announcing it through his social media page, Vineeth wrote, “For the past two months, we all have been part of this beautiful journey.. from the rehearsal camp to our script reading sessions to shooting the film, everything about Manoharam was beautiful.. I hope and pray that when the movie releases, people will feel the same way too.” The film is directed by Anwar Sadik. The director and actor have earlier teamed up for Ormayundo Ee Mukham in which Vineeth acted opposite Namitha Pramod, who played a character like Drew Barrymore’s in 50 First Dates, her memory affected after an accident. Manoharam...

MollywoodThe first look of 'Manoharam' was released on Mammootty’s social media page recently and has gone viral. Digital NativeDigital NativeThe first look of the Malayalam movie Manoharam was released on Mammootty’s social media page recently and has gone viral. The film has Vineeth Sreenivasan playing the lead role with Anwar Sadik helming the project as its director. Incidentally, the actor and director had collaborated for Ormayundo Ee Mukham earlier. The film had Namitha Pramod and Aju Varghese as female leads. Shaan Rahman had composed music for this flick with Jithu Damodar as a cinematographer and John Kutty as editor. Manoharam has Deepak Parambol, Basil Joseph, Aparna Das, Delhi Ganesh, Indrans, Hareesh Perady, Jude Anthany Joseph and Vk Prakash in the supporting roles. The technical crew of Manoharam includes Sajeev Thomas — a former associate of Ar Rahman, for composing music, Jebin Jacob for cinematography and Nithin Raj for editing.

MollywoodThe film will be directed by Anvar Sadik who has earlier made the film ‘Ormayundo Ee Mukham’ with Vineeth in the lead.Digital NativeVineeth Sreenivasan has inked a new deal to act in a movie titled Manoharam. The film will be directed by Anvar Sadik. The two of them has earlier teamed up for Ormayundo Ee Mukham, a film that seemed to be inspired by the American romantic comedy 50 First Dates. Manoharam will be bankrolled by Jos Chakkalakal under the banner Chakkalakal Films. Besides Vineeth Sreenivasan, the film will have Indrans, Basil Joseph, Deepak Parambol, Hareesh Perady, Jude Anthany Joseph, Vk Prakash, Delhi Ganesh, Ahmed Siddique, Nisthar Sait, Manju Sunil, Kalaranjini, Sreelekshmi, Veena Nair and Nandini playing supporting roles. Jebin Jacob will be the cinematographer for Manoharam with Sajeev Thomas, a former associate of maestro Ar Rahman, roped in to compose the tunes and Nithin Raj doing the editing of the film.

TollywoodThe Telugu version of 'Irumbu Thirai' has become a hit.Digital NativeDigital NativeVishal’s Irumbu Thirai hit the silver screens on May 11th to positive reviews and its Telugu dubbed version Abhimanyudu released on June 1st amidst a lot of expectations. The star does have a good fan following in the Telugu speaking states, Andhra and Telangana, and his Pandem Kodi, released some years ago was one of the biggest hits in his career. However, none of his other dubbed films released after Pandem Kodi managed to break the record it had set but this is bound to happen soon with Abhimanyudu. According to trade reports, the Telugu version of Irumbu Thirai, Abhimanyudu, opened to packed houses on June 1st and is holding well in theatres. Despite two direct Telugu movies, the Nagarjuna starrer Officer, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and Raju Gadu starring Raj Tarun making it to the silver screens on June 1st, Abhimanyudu has managed to stand out. Abhimanyudu, according to trade reports, grossed Rs. 2 crores worldwide during the first weekend, of which Rs 1.03 crores came from the Telugu speaking states alone. Directed by Ps Mithran, the film has Vishal and Samantha playing the lead pair, with Arjun, Delhi Ganesh, Sreeja Ravi, Robo Shankar and Kavithalaya Krishnan in the star cast playing the supporting roles. The film is bankrolled by Vishal under his banner Vishal Film Factory. Speaking at the Telugu press meet, Vishal said that Irumbu Thirai has turned out to be the biggest hit of his career. Yuvan Shankar Raja has composed music for Irumbu Thirai / Abhimanyudu while George C. Williams is the cinematographer and Ruben is the editor. Initially, Arya was roped in to play the main antagonist in the film but he later opted out stating that he was not ready to play the villain right now in his career. Eventually, the role went to Arjun Sarja. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: 'Saamy 2' trailer: Kollywood's image trap and what it's doing to our biggest stars...

KollywoodDuring the film’s success meet, he had said that he would never forget the 10 hours before the film’s release.Digital NativeDigital NativeVishal is finally relieved that his Irumbu Thirai managed to hit the marquee despite a lot of hurdles. During the film’s success meet, he had said that he would never forget the 10 hours before the film’s release as it was doubtful if it would get a release as planned. However, things moved in the right direction with the intervention of producer Sr Prabhu, he said. Vishal also thanked the Tamil Film Producers Council for supporting him throughout and pointed out that no one can play around to stop a film’s release in the future with such strong support. Vishal, who is the general secretary of the South Indian Film Artistes Association and the President of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council, had been facing strict opposition from a section in the Tamil film industry. However, he managed to get Irumbu Thirai released on May 11 despite the strong opposition and is happy that it doing well at the theatres. Directed by Ps Mithran, the film was produced by Vishal under his banner Vishal Film Factory. Irumbu Thirai has Vishal and Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing the lead pair with the star cast comprising Arjun, Delhi Ganesh, Robo Shankar, Vincent Ashokan, Kaali Venkat, Gemini Mani, Madhusudhan Rao and Vivek Prasanna in supporting roles. While Vishal plays an army officer in it, Samantha was seen as a doctor. Arya was initially roped in to play the baddie in this flick but he later opted out citing that he wasn’t prepared to play baddie in a Tamil movie at this stage. Eventually, the role went to Arjun Sarja, was previously seen playing a character with negative shades in the Ajith starrer Mankatha. Yuvan Shankar Raja had composed music for this venture with George C Williams cranking the camera and Ruben editing it. With Irumbu Thirai out at the theatres and the film industry strike coming to an end, Vishal is all set to start work on Sandakozhi 2, which is the sequel to his movie Sandakozhi. Directed by N Lingusamy, the film has Keerthy Suresh and Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar playing the female leads. Yuvan Shankar Raja is composing music for Sandakozhi 2. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also Read: Sunny Leone’s first look in 'Veermahadevi' out...

KollywoodWhile nationalism is a popular theme in Tamil cinema, it does not equate it with supporting the Centre as in mainstream Bollywood flicks.Sowmya RajendranPS Mithran’s Irumbuthirai, starring Vishal, Arjun, Samantha, Delhi Ganesh and others, is doing well at the box office. In what seems to be a trend that’s gaining popularity in Kollywood, the film takes on the central government, this time questioning the security of Aadhaar data. Irumbuthirai raises some valid questions on data breaches, even if the film may stumble at times with the need to pump up the hero and age-old justifications for giving in to dowry demands. It also slams the central government’s much publicised ‘Digital India’ and takes potshots at demonetisation, ‘cashless’ economy and Gst. And, of course, the fact that people like Vijay Mallya have been let off the hook while ordinary folks are harassed by loan sharks finds its place. Interestingly, Ps Mithran put together the project in August 2016 and the film was ready for release in early 2018, just around the time when the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke out in March. However, it had to be postponed because of the Tamil film industry strike. While watching Irumbuthirai, however, one cannot help but notice how uncannily timely the film is. Towards the end, we’re told that in the future even our votes will be controlled by those who have our data. Given the scepticism around electronic voting machines, platforms like Facebook manipulating the political preferences of users, and concerns about misuse of Aadhaar data, the team has been quite brave in handling such a subject. Vijay’s Deepavali release Mersal last year famously got into a tussle with the Bjp for certain dialogues and scenes that made fun of demonetisation and the Gst. While some of the lines presented as facts in the film were straight out of WhatsApp university, the fact that a mainstream film with a big star was speaking about it showed that Kollywood wasn’t going to pander to the Centre in the same way as mainstream Bollywood films have. Take the difference in treatment between Joker and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, for instance. Both are films about a couple whose relationship depends on whether or not a toilet is built in the house. While the Tamil film was a tragedy that exposed the hollowness of government schemes, the Akshay Kumar starrer was in unapologetic support of the current central government and laid the blame on the people (and earlier governments) for the practice of open defecation. Akshay Kumar has been beating the nationalism drum for a while now (and winning a National Award while at it), whether in Airlift or Padman, and there are even reports doing the rounds that he’s all set to star in a film about the RSS. Irumbuthirai, on the other hand, has a hero who is surprisingly “anti-national”. He’s an army major whose only aim is to get out of India – a sharp contrast to the patriotic ‘jawan at the border’ the public is always asked to think about whenever they object to a government policy. Although Vishal’s Kathiravan does become more responsible and socially conscious as the film progresses, there’s no overcompensation with unnecessary lines on nationalism. It’s not that Tamil films have never indulged in whipping up nationalism. In fact, Irumbuthirai’s villain, Arjun Sarja, has played such roles in many films in his career. The ‘Action King’, as he’s known, has starred in several films where the plot revolves around fighting terrorists or taking on social evils for the benefit of the country – Gentleman, Jai Hind, Kurudhipunal, Mudhalvan, Thaayin Manikodi, and more recently Nibunan, in which he appeared as a police officer with a national flag tattoo. Actor turned politician Vijayakanth, too, has played such roles in several films. Nationalism is still a popular theme in Tamil cinema as it was in the days of Mgr and Sivaji Ganesan. Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai, for example, included a cringeworthy scene when the Pakistani flag falls down just to get a few whistles from the audience. In that sense, the nationalism that's showcased in Hindi films like Dangal is considered appealing here, too. However, the success of Irumbuthirai shows that a film that questions authority and real life government policies are welcomed by the audience in Tamil Nadu. That is, nationalism/patriotism is not equated to supporting the central govenment's policies or stances unlike the trend in mainstream Bollywood. This isn’t a sudden change. Soon after the jallikattu protests in January 2017, Tamil popular culture was full of references to the sport. The protests were widely believed to have been triggered by the cultural imposition of the Centre in Tamil Nadu. From filmmakers announcing projects about jallikattu to songs dedicated to the sport, Kollywood stood with the public mood. Several prominent members from the industry also spoke up in support of the sport, including stars like Kamal Haasan and Vijay. The teaser for Pa Ranjith’s upcoming film Kaala, with Rajinikanth in the lead role, hints that the film will have political references to schemes like Swachch Bharath. While the antagonist, played by Nana Patekar, says that he wants to make everything ‘clean’, Kaala (Rajinikanth) extols the virtues of black, equating it with the sweat and labour of his people. Tamil Nadu’s people have many a bone to pick with the Centre, whether it is jallikattu, the Neet exam, the Cauvery Management Board or the attempts to ‘Hindify’ the south. The Tamil film industry, which has birthed several leaders in the state (including the latest entrants Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan), has always had a close relationship with politics. With the public mood ostensibly against the Centre, one can expect many more Tamil films to indulge in a jallikattu with its policies. Also read: Taming of the bull: Jallikattu occupies a prominent place in Tamil cinema...

ControversyThe petitioner had alleged that the film portrayed Aadhaar in a bad light. Tnm StaffThe road for the release of Vishal’s Irumbu Thirai on May 11 has been cleared after the Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition filed against the film. The petitioner, Natarajan, had alleged that the film portrayed Aadhaar in a bad light after watching the film’s trailer. According to a report in The Hindu, a division bench of Justices V Parthiban and Pd Audikesavalu rejected the petition as they did not find any merit in the case. Questioning the petitioner’s counsel, Justice Parthiban reportedly said:“If the petitioner would decide which movie should be released and which should not be released on the basis of the trailer, then what was the purpose of having constituted a Central Board of Film Certification, which had already cleared the decks for the release of Irumbu Thirai?” It is interesting to note that a plea on similar grounds was filed against Vijay’s Mersal. The film, although a success, also kicked-up controversy post its release when the Bjp wanted certain scenes that criticised the Goods and Services Tax to be removed. Irumbu Thirai is set to release on May 11. Vishal had arranged for a special screening on May 8 for select members of the press. #IrumbuThirai special footage screening starts for the media. Only first half will be screened. Run Time : 2 hours 41 minutes. All the best to @VishalKOfficial and team. Release May 11 pic.twitter.com/hyloxgLtgp — Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) May 9, 2018 According to tweets from those who attended the screening, the film seems to have a gripping first half. #IrumbuThirai 1st half - @Psmithran rightly sets everything, an intelligent cybercrime thriller with a strong emotional connect. Vishal shines, loved Delhi Ganesh's characterization. @thisisysr Bgm. For a change, not an usual commercial heroine role for @Samanthaprabhu2 — Rajasekar (@sekartweets) May 9, 2018 Watched da 1st Half of #IrumbuThirai A racy riveting cyber crime thriller.. @VishalKOfficial is a Military officer.. But his part is more of civilian nature.. He is good.. @Samanthaprabhu2 looks pleasing and has a pleasant Doctor role.. Looking forward to the 2nd half — Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 9, 2018 #IrumbuThirai first half: Superbly paced thriller with an interesting plot. @Psmithran makes an impressive debut as a director. Packs in some exciting moments and thought-provoking dialogues on digital India. Wish they screened the full film. — Surendhar Mk (@SurendharMK) May 9, 2018 #IrumbuThirai Interval: Going solid so far. Pinning premise of a common man stuck in a cyber theft issue. Starts off well, gets lagged a bit and then picks up heat towards interval. Vishal is clean, but the hero of the film so far is definitely @thisisysr - terrific Rr! — Sidhu (@sidhuwrites) May 9, 2018 The film’s trailer was released on May 6 and has been produced by Vishal under his banner Vishal Film Factory. Directed by Mithran, the film stars Vishal and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in lead roles. This is Vishal’s 24th film. While Vishal plays an army officer, Samantha will be seen as a doctor. The film also stars Arjun Sarja in a pivotal role, with Delhi Ganesh, Robo Shankar and Vincent Ashokan forming the rest of the cast. The film marks Vishal’s first collaboration with Action King Arjun, who plays the antagonist. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 20.0px; font: 14.7px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; background-color: #ffffff} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.8px Arial; color: #222222; -webkit-text-stroke: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; min-height: 15.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.8px Arial; color: #500050; -webkit-text-stroke: #500050; background-color: #ffffff; min-height: 15.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}...

KollywoodThe action-thriller stars Vishal and Samantha in the lead roles.Digital NativeDigital NativeVishal’s next major outing is the action-thriller Irumbu Thirai. The actor has issued a clarification stating that the film will not hit the silver screens on May 11, as indicated in some media reports. According to his statement on this issue, “It is my duty to inform the media that there has been a miscommunication regarding the release date of Irumbuthirai on May 11. May 11 is not the release date. Due to the lack of communication and misunderstanding with the buyers, the date has been announced without the knowledge of Vff.” The note also states that the fresh release date will be announced according to the regulations of the Tamil Nadu Producers’ Council Releasing Committee. Directed by Ps Mithran, Irumbu Thirai is produced by Vishal under his banner Vishal Film Factory (Vff). Pairing up with Vishal, who plays the lead role in the film, is Samantha Akkineni. While Vishal plays an army officer, Samantha will be seen as a doctor. The film also stars Arjun Sarja in a pivotal role, with Delhi Ganesh, Robo Shankar and Vincent Ashokan forming the rest of the star cast. The film marks Vishal’s first time collaboration with Action King Arjun, who plays the antagonist. Yuvan Shankar Raja is the music director for this venture with George C Williams wielding the camera and Ruben being in charge of the editing. The shooting for the film began in October 2016 but was delayed for various reasons. Arya was initially roped in to play the baddie in this flick but he opted out later saying he wasn’t prepared to play the baddie in a Tamil movie at this stage. Eventually, the role went to Arjun Sarja, who was seen playing a character with negative shades in the Ajith starrer Mankatha. With Vishal making it clear that Irumbu Thirai will not be making it to the silver screens on May 11, a fresh release date is expected soon. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

Web seriesThe web series is about an Nri who claims that he is gay to avoid marriage pressure from his family.Sowmya RajendranAmerica Mappillai, the newly released web series produced by Trend Loud which gave us the popular As I'm Suffering from Kadhal, tackles an unusual subject. Unusual not because we don't see these stories in real life, but because they're rarely represented on screen. The 8-part web series, from Zee5 Originals, is about Ganesh, a young Nri, who is pestered by his single dad to get married. Encouraged by his friend Michael, who acts in melodramatic TV serials, Ganesh decides to tell his father that he is gay. Even as the family struggles to cope with this revelation, there comes a twist in the plot. Directed by Praveen Padmanabhan, the cast boasts of names like Raja Krishnamoorthy (Kitty) and Leela Samson along with Arjun Chidambaram, Gokul Anand, Namita Krishnamoorthy and Rakesh Ram. Actors like Sruthi Hariharan and Delhi Ganesh play cameos. Each episode is about 10 minutes long and is named after a colour which suggests its theme. Written by Raja Ramamurthy, a full-time screenwriter and filmmaker who currently lives in California, America Mappillai looks at relationships with all their complexity. Speaking to Tnm, 30-year-old Raja says that the inspiration for the series came from the 'America Mappillai' stereotype that we see in popular culture. "America Mappillai started off as a light-hearted take on the 'America Mappillai' character archetype. I was looking at ways to subvert the archetype and, hence, decided on making the America Mappillai gay. In Tamil cinema, we don’t see true to life America Mappillais – the female lead always chooses a stalker over the well-educated, good looking and well-mannered American groom. America Mappillai has become synonymous with the loser character who never gets the girl. I wanted my character to break that stereotype. Once the gay angle came in, I wanted to address the issues of marriage and homophobia in our society," he says. Although the series has stock characters like the sister and hero's 'useless' friend, it also includes some fresh ones – like a single dad who cooks meals for his children as a matter of routine, and an elderly woman who'd decided never to get married by choice. Raja says that these were deliberate decisions on his part. "It was a deliberate decision to challenge stereotypes since the show is all about subverting stereotypes. But it also informs the audiences about the dad – that he is a self-made man and how much he cares for his kids. We rarely get to see such families in Indian cinema, but we see them a lot in real life and I wanted to showcase that," he notes. Working on Vasantha Athai (Leela Samson) proved to be the hardest of the lot, Raja admits. "Leela Samson’s character (Vasantha) was the toughest to crack. It went through multiple drafts and transformations. Vasantha is authoritative and caring. She is an independent woman, but still deeply rooted to her family. I drew this character from real life. My family is filled with independent, free-thinking working women and they were my biggest inspiration for this character," he says. America Mappillai handles the gay identity with care, without turning the characters into needy and unstable people as has been the routine in mainstream Tamil cinema. The character of Karthik, Ganesh's friend, who is out as a gay man, is free of the usual "effeminate" characteristics that have been dumped on gay characters on screen. Further, he treats himself with self-respect and makes it clear that he isn't looking for anyone's sympathy. While writers are never asked why they chose to write about a heterosexual couple, the question inevitably arises when it is a gay relationship. The curiosity lies in trying to ascertain if the creator is also gay. Asked if this bothered him, Raja says, "I get that a lot and it doesn’t bother me. I was surprised the first time it was brought up and it has happened a lot more since then. But I consider this a win. It means I got the story and the characters right. You don’t have to be a serial killer to write about one, it’s the same logic." Though America Mappillai isn't bitingly funny, the scenes remain light and real. In the web series format, it's hard to sketch characters and establish empathy for them, given how little time there is at hand. Some like Sunanda, the sister, remain underdeveloped, while others like Karthik, are shaped better. Although the series takes on the Indian obsession with marriage and all its accompanying prejudices, it is silent on the issue of caste which comes to the forefront in such discussions. From the dialect spoken by the characters on screen, it appears that America Mappillai is about a Brahmin family. Commenting on this exclusion, Raja says, "I never dealt with caste because in all honesty it's a moot point in this situation. I think the family wouldn’t care about caste or religion when their son brings home a boy and tells them that he loves him even if he is from the same caste. I think in our society homophobia goes beyond caste and religion and the show reflects that." The web series format is still at an exploratory stage but it nevertheless offers opportunities for such original content to be showcased. Speaking about his experience on working on the show, Raja says, "The journey started in 2016. I'd be lying if I said it was smooth sailing from the get-go. It has been an uphill battle, but it has also been a great learning experience. With the advent of Ott platforms, it has become a gateway to bringing such projects to life with ease." He adds that Zee5 loved the idea and immediately came on board. "The experience has been fruitful since I got to work to with a great cast and crew. These types of stories need more mainstream media representation and I'm glad to be taking a step in that direction," he concludes. You can binge-watch the series here.

KollywoodThe producers have alleged that her exit will mean a big loss for them.Digital NativeDigital NativeVikram's Saamy 2, a sequel to his 2004 blockbuster Saamy, has been on the floors for the last few months. The project reunites Vikram with Hari after a long hiatus. The film originally starred Trisha, who played Vikram's heroine in the first part, in a crucial role. However, in October last year, she revealed that she is no longer part of the project and that she opted out due to creative differences. In a tweet, she confirmed her exit and wished the team good luck. Trisha’s exit came as a shocker to the team which had to reschedule dates for the shoot. Following her exit, producer Shibu Thameens is said to have filed a complaint against her over "non-cooperation" with the Tamil Nadu Producers’ Council. Apparently, Thameens has given Trisha an ultimatum – either be part of the film or compensate for the alleged heavy losses incurred due to rescheduling of shooting dates. Trisha is yet to officially comment on the issue. However, on Wednesday, she tweeted a picture which read – don’t care. She further wrote ‘yawn’. Many believe this is her response to the complaint. pic.twitter.com/hPVsmR0qzj — Trisha Krishnan (@trishtrashers) January 9, 2018 Vikram returns as the foul-mouthed cop Aaru Saamy in the sequel, which also features Keerthy Suresh in the leading role. Apparently, the principal shooting began from last week and the makers plan to shoot the film across various locations such as Delhi, Noida, Agra, Jaipur, Nainital and Kathmandu among other places. The supporting cast includes Prabhu, Delhi Ganesh and Soori. Harris Jayaraj, who was originally roped in, was later replaced by Devi Sri Prasad as the composer for the film. On his career front, Vikram awaits the release of Sketch, which is an out-and-out commercial flick and is slated to hit the screens on Friday. He plays a spy in Dhruva Natchathiram, which was originally planned with Suriya and later with Jayam Ravi. For Saamy 2, he sports a twirled mustache and has already been spotted shooting in smart formals.

Film: "Kalyana Samayal Saadham"; Cast: Prasanna Venkatesan, Lekha Washington, Delhi Ganesh, Uma Padmanabhan and Crazy Mohan; Director: R.S Prasanna; Rating: ****

What makes a man a 'man'? The premise of the boldly entertaining "Kalyana Samayal Saadham" surrounds whether the answer to the question is a man's ability to perform in bed.

The film's narrative captures scenes from a south Indian arranged marriage and helps us understand that the true definition of a man goes beyond his manhood. Walking a tight rope between a romantic comedy and an adult comedy, the film marries the two genres with a modern-day attitude and leaves a lasting effect.

At heart, the film is a love story of a soon-to-be-married couple - Raghu.

Film: Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga

Director: Pandiraj

Cast: Vimal, Sivakarthikeyan, Bindu Madhavi, Regina Cassandra, Delhi Ganesh and Parota Soori

Rating: ***

What you get to see in Pandiraj's "Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga" (Kbkr) is not out-of-the-box, intelligent or not even inspiring, but just plain entertainment that will make you leave the cinema hall with a sigh of relief, even when you know the plot is inundated with loopholes and unignorable cliches.

Despite glaring flaws, Kbkr manages to entertain because of the refreshing presentation of a story done to death in Tamil cinema.

We take a peek into the lives of three wastrels - Kesavan (Vimal), Pattai Murugan (Sivakarthikeyan) and Sindru (Soori),.