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More than three decades after its initial release, one of Indian cinema’s most influential action dramas is gearing up for a return to theaters.

Star Nagarjuna and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma have revealed plans to re-release their groundbreaking 1989 film “Siva” in a technologically enhanced presentation that promises to introduce the cult classic to a new generation of moviegoers.

The crime drama, which drew from Varma’s own student experiences in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, delivered a gripping portrayal of students being exploited by anti-social elements. The film starred Nagarjuna alongside Amala and Raghuvaran, with music composed by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja.

The Annapurna Studios production, which redefined Indian action cinema of that era with its raw intensity and realistic sequences, will hit theaters in its original Telugu-language version first, with Hindi and Tamil versions to follow. The re-release coincides with Annapurna Studios’ 50th anniversary celebration, marking a full-circle moment for the...

Mani Ratnam’s Underrated Movie To Watch On Ott(Photo Credit –Wikimedia)

Celebrated Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam is gearing up for his upcoming action-drama movie Thug Life, which features veteran actor Kamal Haasan in the lead. The eagerly anticipated movie is slated for a theatrical release on June 5, 2025. Until Thug Life hits the big screens, we recommend checking out these three underappreciated yet unmissable movies helmed by the Nayakan director on his birthday. You can stream these movies right now on Indian Ott platforms — and trust us, they’re well worth your time.

1. Dil Se.. Release Year – 1998 Streaming On – Amazon Prime Video & Netflix IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Plot: The intense romantic thriller follows a radio broadcaster, Amar (Shah Rukh Khan), who falls in love with a mysterious woman named Meghna (Manisha Koirala). Though she remains emotionally distant, Amar becomes increasingly obsessed with her, not knowing about her true motives. When he is...

Dhanush, the celebrated South Indian actor, has gifted fans some of the most unforgettable characters on screen. With his versatile acting style and raw intensity, he brings to life characters who are deeply flawed yet endlessly relatable. Here, we dive into five of Dhanush’s most iconic roles, exploring the life lessons they leave behind for us.

1.Resilience is Key – Raanjhanaa’s Kundan

Dhanush’s portrayal of Kundan in Raanjhanaa is unforgettable. A young man with relentless love for Zoya, Kundan embodies the lesson of resilience in pursuit of one’s dreams. Even though his love remains unrequited, Kundan’s dedication and commitment are unwavering. Through his journey, he teaches us that while love may not always come with a happy ending, persistence and courage can still shape one’s character. Resilience, despite the odds, is a powerful trait that keeps us moving forward, even if the world seems against us.

Top ten films of Power Star Pawan Kalyan That Every Fan Should Watch ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

With a distinguished career in the film industry, Kalyan has left a lasting mark both on and off the screen. He produces films through Anjana Productions and Pawan Kalyan Creative Works.

A black belt in Karate, Kalyan incorporates his martial arts training into his film performances. He also founded the charity organization Common Man Protection Force, reflecting his commitment to philanthropy.

Despite his political and charitable engagements, Pawan Kalyan’s primary identity remains that of a film star. As a testament to his impressive career, we present a list of his top 10 films.

Trending Bhansali’s Big Break To Kk, Amala Paul Welcomes Baby Boy, Alka Yagnik Battles Hearing Loss – Top Trending News Pushpa 2’s Official Arrival In December To Stree 2’s Indulgence In A Three-Way Box Office Clash – Release Date Chaos Made Simple!

Ajay Devgn’s deep love and devotion for Lord Shiva is no secret, as it shines through in his films from Omkara to his latest, Bholaa. The film pays homage to Lord Shiva, with Bholaa taking on the role of the human embodiment of the God of Destruction. However, not just Ajay Devgn, Lord Shiva’s name and image have been a source of inspiration for artists and writers for long for their content.

Many artistic and literary works, including movies, series, and audio series, draw inspiration from his name and image to depict his remarkable power, wisdom, and compassion.

Let’s take a look at these 5 films/series that have the blessings of Lord Shiva’s name. Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva

A film that bears the name of Lord Shiva in its title, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, follows the journey of Shiva, a young DJ in Mumbai...

Malayalam cinemaShammi Thilakan’s real breakthrough came somewhere during the turn of the last decade, with the entry of new filmmakers and writers.Neelima MenonFor the longest time, Shammi Thilakan lived under the shadow of his legendary father Thilakan. Shammi, a stage artist, made his debut on screen in the Kg George film (Irakal) and struggled to find his space in Malayalam cinema shortly thereafter. In hindsight, that his father was already or well on his way to becoming an established actor might have stalled his chances during the initial phases of his career. In the early 90s, the roles that mostly came his way were those of an antagonist, cop, or yes man – largely one-dimensional and unmemorable. Interestingly, Shammi Thilakan was known more as a voice artist during this period. If his deep baritone fitted Raghuvaran (Vyooham) and Salim Ghouse (Thazhvaram) perfectly, it added heft to the wickedness of...

KollywoodSuriya has now won his first ever national award in a film career spanning 25 years — a journey that has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for the Tamil actor. Saradha UInstagram/ SuriyaAs Maara stands at the cusp of success, shedding tears of joy, overwhelmed with emotions that his dream is finally coming to life after a series of trials and tribulations, we hear the dialogue “jayichitom Maara” (‘we have won Maara’) correspondingly playing in the background. It was this dialogue from the Sudha Kongara directorial Soorarai Pottru that was widely shared by fans online, close on the heels of the announcement earlier this week that actor Suriya has won the 68th National Film Award under the category of the ‘Best Actor’ for his performance in the same film. The fans’ response seemed fitting, for Suriya has now won his first ever national award in a film career spanning 25 years...

KollywoodAVM Productions, which bankrolled the film, has also been unveiling unseen images and videos from the sets of ‘Sivaji: The Boss’ to celebrate 15 years since its release. Tnm StaffTwitterThe hit Tamil movie Sivaji: The Boss, starring Superstar Rajinikanth, celebrated 15 years since its release on Tuesday, June 14. Since then, the makers have been delighting fans with special pictures and clips from the sets of the film, which was released in 2007. Avm Productions, the production banner that bankrolled the film, has so far shared some exclusive videos and behind-the-scenes clips of Rajinikanth and the cast and crew of the film to mark the occasion. Shankar Shanmugham, who directed Sivaji: The Boss, took to social media on Thursday, June 15, to share a picture of himself with Rajinikanth. He wrote, "Elated to have met our 'Sivaji the Boss' Rajinikanth sir himself on this very memorable day marking 15 years of 'Sivaji'. Your energy, affection and positive aura made my day!

CinemaHere are some south Indian films where fathers have been supportive of their daughter's ambitions and dreams.Tnm StaffThe film industry in India often portrays dads as stern serious father figures in their daughter's lives. As mothers are shown to understand the needs of their daughters and act as close confidantes, when it comes to realising their ambitions, daughters are shown to eventually turn to their fathers, hoping to get some nudging and emotional support. This relationship of mutual trust has often translated into success stories, many of which have been captured in Indian cinema. Here are some examples from the south Indian film industry, where fathers have been supportive of their daughter's ambitions and dreams.  Anjali: Mani Ratnam's 1990 Tamil film is about a small child with intellectual disability. Since she's born with a terminal illness and likely to pass away in a few months, the doctors advise Shekar (Raghuvaran), the father,...

BlogSeveral landmark films released in 1995, from comedies to hard-hitting dramas and action flicks.Nandhu SundaramI am eternally grateful to Kollywood for making 1995 quite a delightful year. It was blockbuster time with Rajinikanth's Baasha leading at the box-office. Landmark films such as Bombay, Sathi Leelavathi, Kuruthipunal and Muthu added to the allure of the flickering image. Gnana Rajasekaran’s Mogamul won him the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film for a Director. IV Sasi’s Kolangal and Nasser’s Avatharam, one of my favourites, won big at the Tamil Nadu State Awards and further cemented the place of the auteurs. The list of good films didn’t end here — Indira and Aasai made the cut too. All these films have seen 25 years since release. I also remember unabashedly enjoying lesser films like Makkal Katchi, a rip-roaringly funny political comedy from film student turned director R K Selvamani, which had me in splits.

Listicle The portrayal of the father-daughter bond in the newly released film 'Gunjan Saxena' has come under much praise.Tnm StaffGunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, based on the true life story of the first Indian woman to join the Iaf (Indian Air Force), has been getting rave reviews. The portrayal of the relationship between Gunjan (Janhvi Kapoor) and her father (Pankaj Tripathi) has particularly been appreciated. Gunjan belongs to an army family and her dream from childhood is to fly a plane. Since a flying course is too expensive, she signs up for the first batch of women who are allowed to join the Iaf on the suggestion of her father. While her brother and mother find her choice of career inappropriate, her father is always supportive, finding ways to keep his daughter's dream stay alive. Here are some south Indian films where fathers have been supportive of their daughter's ambitions and dreams.

Flix FlashbackThrough the screenplay, Mani highlights the mental pain and challenges the parents undergo in bringing up a child with intellectual disability in a judgemental society like ours.Anand Kumar RSYouTube screenshotAnjali, in my book, may not feature among the top three best films from director Mani Ratnam’s oeuvre. It might not be among the top grossers among his films as well, though the film did pretty well at the box-office when it released in 1990. Yet for me, Anjali stands out as an important film in Mani’s impressive body of work. First up, in Anjali, Mani takes up a very sensitive subject, completely different from the films he had done till then. His few films prior to Anjali were Nayagan (don story), Agni Natchathiram (urban family/love drama) and Geethanjali (romance). Not just that, Anjali was also different from the usual themes of Tamil cinema at that time,...

KollywoodEven today, it comes across as a well-scripted and well-made film that is almost flawless. Not surprising, considering the kind of talent Rajiv Menon worked with.Anand Kumar RSYouTube screenshotAnother day, another anniversary of a film release and another hashtag. Amidst this clutter though, few films deserve to be remembered and celebrated. Rajiv Menon’s Kandukondain Kandukondain (Kk), which completes 20 years today since its release, is one of them. I remember watching this film in Mumbai, back in the year 2000. It was probably the first Tamil film to be released with subtitles with an intention to reach the non-Tamil audiences. The presence of non-Tamil actors like Aishwarya Rai, Tabu and Pooja Batra (in a song sequence) perhaps influenced that marketing decision. And reach it did. The film ran to packed houses for a few weeks even in Mumbai. I vividly recall reading rave reviews of the film by Bollywood beat critics,...

Flix FlashbackThe couple completes 20 years of marriage on April 24.Sowmya RajendranIt would be an understatement to say that Amarkalam was an important film in Ajith's career. Not only did the 1999 film directed by Saran pave the way for the actor to do more action films, it was also on the sets of Amarkalam that Ajith fell in love with his co-star, Shalini. The couple celebrates 20 years of marriage on April 24, Friday. A few months before the release of Amarkalam came Vaali, a film where Ajith played dual roles -- as the hero and antagonist. Though it was rated 'A', it went on to become a blockbuster and proved that Ajith could pull off negative characters and not only the sensitive, romantic hero. In Amarkalam, his character Vasu is an amoral goon with a troubled past; he lives on the premises of a theatre, and spends his days fighting and getting drunk.

ObituaryBest known for his comedy dramas, the actor-director had reportedly been suffering from age-related health issues.Tnm StaffTamil actor, writer, and director Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan, popularly known as Visu, passed away in Chennai on Sunday. He was 75. The actor had reportedly been suffering from age-related health issues. Visu started his career on the stage, working with theatre artiste Yg Parathasarathy’s drama troupe. He began writing scripts for stage, before shifting to the film industry as an assistant director to K Balachandar. Visu wrote scripts and dialogues for the director’s films. This period of collaboration saw Visu writing the script for the Rajinikanth-starrer Thillu Mullu, in which he also has a cameo. He later took on small roles in the director’s films, before branching out on his own as a writer and director. His first on-screen major role was in the film Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, for which he also wrote the script.

ObituaryBest known for his comedy dramas, the actor-director had reportedly been suffering from age-related health issues.Tnm StaffTamil actor, writer, and director Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan, popularly known as Visu, passed away in Chennai on Sunday. He was 75. The actor had reportedly been suffering from age-related health issues. Visu started his career on the stage, working with theatre artiste Yg Parathasarathy’s drama troupe. He began writing scripts for stage, before shifting to the film industry as an assistant director to K Balachandar. Visu wrote scripts and dialogues for the director’s films. This period of collaboration saw Visu writing the script for the Rajinikanth-starrer Thillu Mullu, in which he also has a cameo. He later took on small roles in the director’s films, before branching out on his own as a writer and director. His first on-screen major role was in the film Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, for which he also wrote the script.

InterviewIn this interview with Tnm, Saran discusses his 21 years in the industry, the time when he almost brought on board late actor ‘Crazy’ Mohan for this film and his thoughts on the latest talents in the film industry.Anjana ShekarDirector Saran who made his debut almost two decades ago with Kaadhal Mannan in 1998, which turned to be a big hit for actor Ajith, is ready with his latest film titled Market Raja Mbbs. Starring Aarav and Radikaa Sarathkumar in the lead, the film is scheduled to release this Friday. The director has quite a few successful films to his credit like Vikram’s Gemini, Ajith’s Amarkalam and Kamal’s Vasool Raja Mbbs. In this interview with Tnm, we discuss his 21 years in the industry, the time when he almost brought on board late actor ‘Crazy’ Mohan for this film, and his thoughts on the latest talents in the film industry.

KollywoodDirector Vijay Sri speaks to Tnm about the making of 'Dha Dha 87' and what makes the film stand out.Anjana ShekarDirector Vijay Sri G will be making his debut with Dha Dha 87, an action romedy starring Charuhasan in the lead. The film, which has been in the making for over 1.5 years, also stars 80-year-old Saroja, actor Keerthy Suresh’s grandmother, who is making her debut in this film along with actors Anand Kumar and Sri Pallavi. The film’s trailer shows Charuhasan as the ageing don Sathya, a ruthless killer, worse than Yama, the god of death. Upon a closer look, you notice the metal bracelet on his arm and a black thread around his neck, a distinct style from Kamal Haasan’s 1988 social drama Sathya. The film’s leads are also named Sathya and Geetha. So, is Charuhasan’s character a continuation of Kamal’s Sathya as reports suggest?...

KollywoodWhile ‘Lkg’ makes liberal use of recent political events and is entertaining for those who catch the references, it fails to go beyond that. Sowmya RajendranFacebook/ Rj BalajiA saint in saffron remains seated as the 'Tamizh thaai vaazhthu' is played; a Governor throws a sidey glance at one of the women on stage, right in the middle of an important political event. The audience needs no encouragement to laugh. They've seen it all play out in the theatre of the absurd that Tamil Nadu politics has become. Rj Balaji's Lkg, directed by Prabhu, is among the many Tamil films in recent times to question the government at the state and central level. Quite interesting, because Bollywood too has had a slew of releases that are pertinent to the election season, only those films have pandered to the government that is in power while Tamil cinema has made the opposite choice.

Kollywood‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’ with its visceral violence is just following a long tradition of filmmakers choosing to show gore on screen to entertain audiences. Nandhu SundaramThe fact that one of our best directors – Mani Ratnam – has returned to his ‘Nayakan days’ with his new film Chekka Chivantha Vaanam gives us an excuse to examine the thorny issue of how violence is represented in modern Tamil cinema. I mean if we did this with regard to Saamy Square, you probably would not read the rest of the story, right? Violence, though not always graphic, is nearly omnipresent in Ccv. How did we reach this point when it became okay to show audiences such high levels of savagery? In Ccv, we are shown a paranoid world where brother turns against brother (in nearly biblical proportions) and gunshots mark every other scene. When a major character casually walks to a window, we...

EntertainmentThe album comprises of six songs, for which Raghuvaran composed music and wrote lyrics. Digital NativeRaghuvaran, one of the best villains that Tamil cinema has ever seen till date, passed away in 2008. However, not many knew that Raghuvaran was also a music composer and lyricist too. In order to let the fans of the actor, know about his proficiency in music, his ex-wife and actor Rohini and his son, decided to release his music album. This album, comprising of six songs, was launched by the Superstar Rajinikanth while it was received by Rohini and her son. Incidentally, Rajini shared a good rapport with Raghuvaran and the two had shared the screen space in several films. One of the movies they worked together was Baasha, which was the biggest hit in their career. Raghuvaran played the villain, Mark Anthony, in this flick with Rajini in the titular role. Some of the other blockbuster movies that Raghuvaran had starred in, include, Mr. Bharath, Oorkavalan, Mandhira Punnagai, En Bommukutty Ammavukku, Raja Chinna Roja, Siva, Bheema etc. The last film he had starred in was Ellam Avan Seyal. In his career spanning over 25 years, Raghuvaran had acted in all the four south Indian languages – Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada – and in Hindi movies as well. Despite being in the film industry for a long time, not many were aware of his interest in music. He wrote lyrics in English and composed music for it. There are six songs in the album that has been released by Rajinikanth. Raghuvaran has won several awards in his career and went on to win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain for his role in the Shankar directorial Mudhalvan, which had Arjun in the lead role. The iconic villain passed away in the year 2008 and has left a void that can never be filled. Listen to the songs below. Content provided by Digital Native.

KollywoodThe Superstar became an overnight rage among the auto drivers of Tamil Nadu and his punch line, ‘Naa oru dhadavai sonna, nooru dhadavai sonna maadhri!’ was immortalised Digital NativeDigital NativeIn the year 1995, 23 years ago, Rajnikath's cult-classic Baasha was released for Pongal. Baasha was a trend-setter in the nineties which was the first of the many films that showed the hero in a ‘negative’ role. The film ran for 368 days grossing record collections and went on to become a massive hit. Directed by Suresh Krissna, who also delivered another classic hit Annamalai with the Super Star, Baasha has Rajini playing an auto driver with a deadly flashback. The movie is considered to have changed Rajinikanth's career and set the path for his defining style. The film was also instrumental in creating a market for Rajinikanth in Telugu and Hindi. The Superstar became an overnight rage among the auto drivers of Tamil Nadu and his punch line ‘Naa oru dhadavai sonna, nooru dhadavai sonna maadhri!’ was immortalised. It starred Nagma, Raghuvaran, Janagaraj and Vijayakumar in supporting roles. The digitally remastered version was released last year in 14 cinemas with 100 shows across Chennai and it had minted Rs 40 lakh on its opening weekend itself. On the other hand, Rajinikanth’s 2.0, has shaped up very well. Made on a lavish budget, the film is believed to feature over 11,000 computer graphic shots, making it the highest number for an Indian film. A sequel to Enthiran, the film has also stars Amy Jackson, Akshay Kumar and Sudhanshu Pandey in key roles. Kaala directed by Pa Ranjith, who has reunited with Rajinikanth after last year’s Kabali, features Thalaivar in the role of a slum lord turned gangster who fights for the rights of oppressed Tamils in Mumbai. Since the film has been mostly shot against the backdrop of Mumbai, the makers have simultaneously shot the film in Hindi.