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Novocaine is a romantic action comedy film co-directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen from a screenplay by Lars Jacobson. The 2025 film follows Nathan Caine, a young bank manager with a rare disease that allows him to feel no pain. When his girlfriend is kidnapped during a bank robbery, he decides to chase the robbers to get his girlfriend back and use his ability in his favor for once. Novocaine stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, and Jacob Batalon. So, if you loved the insane action, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Novocaine, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (Netflix) Credit – RSVP Movies

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is an Indian romantic action comedy film written and directed by Vasan Bala. The 2018 film follows Surya,...

In this installment of Subhash K Jha’s terrific This Day That Year series, he takes a look back at one of Vicky Kaushal’s knock-out performances.

Long before Chhaava, Vicky Kaushal scored high marks in a little-known film. Zubaan, which was released on March 4, 2016, saw Kaushal play what could be considered the antithesis of Chhaava.

For those who thought Vicky Kaushal’s debut in Masaan was just a one-off flash-in-the-pan affair, Zubaan was an eye-opener.

Kaushal plays Dilsher, the waylaid Sikh boy from Gurdaspur who only wants to be successful in ways that we normally describe as success. So he schemes his way into the heart, mind, home, and property of a business tycoon Sikand and ends up getting what he thinks he wants.

From here onwards, first-time director Mozez Singh charts Dilsher’s descent into a self-serving opportunism and then his sudden swerve into redemption. This journey back...

From Argentina to Austria, Congo to China, films from all corners of the globe are peppered through the programme of the Rotterdam International Film Festival (IFFR), which opens tomorrow, Thursday January 30.

Now in her fifth year at Rotterdam, festival director Vanja Kaludjercic – whose previous roles include stints at the Coproduction Office and as head of acquisitions at Mubi – says the 2025 edition presents filmmakers, themes and topics “that you do not often get a chance to see”.

Rotterdam’s two competitions – Tiger and Big Screen – each screen 14 films. Tiger is for emerging auteur filmmakers, while Big Screen “presents more classical cinema from dramas to arthouse,...

Welcome to a multi-part series on the History Of Hindi Cinema. Through individual films and the larger oeuvres of some Hindi filmmakers, we’ll explore the highlights of 70 years of cinema, starting with 1950, just three years after India won its independence from British rule, and ending in the 2010s.

(Due...

Mouly Surya’s new war drama This City Is a Battlefield (Perang Kota) will screen as the final film at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), which runs from January 30 to February 9. The film depicts Jakarta’s 1946 fight for independence by telling stories of people caught between personal lives and national struggle.

The story centers on Isa, played by Chicco Jerikho, a former war hero who teaches violin. He becomes involved in fighting Dutch colonial forces. His student Hazil (Jerome Kurnia), from a rich family, joins the mission and falls in love with Isa’s wife Fatimah (Ariel Tatum), who plays piano and works to keep her family safe during wartime.

Companies from eight countries made this film together: Indonesia’s Cinesurya and Starvision led the project, working with teams from Singapore, the Netherlands, France, Norway, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Willawati, Mona Surya, and Rieza Jusuf served as executive producers.

Asian Shadows has acquired international sales rights to “This City Is A Battlefield” (Perang Kota) the upcoming neoclassical war drama from Indonesian director Mouly Surya that will serve as the closing night film at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Set in 1946 Jakarta during Indonesia’s struggle for independence, the film follows Isa (Chicco Jerikho), a former war hero turned violin teacher who becomes entangled in the resistance movement alongside his wealthy student Hazil (Jerome Kurnia). When Isa is tasked with an underground mission to assassinate a Dutch official, complications arise as Hazil pursues not only the mission but also Isa’s wife Fatimah (Ariel Tatum), a talented pianist fighting to protect her family.

An Indonesia, Singapore, Netherlands, France, Norway, Philippines, Cambodia co-production, “This City Is a Battlefield” is produced by Rama Adi and Fauzan Zidni for Cinesurya, Chand Parwez Servia for Starvision, and Kaninga Pictures from Indonesia; in co-...

Vijay Sethupathi Love Story (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Vijay Sethupathi is one of South cinema’s most adored and accomplished actors today. With films like Jawan and Merry Christmas, he has also paved his way into Bollywood. However, did you know he also had a fairytale of a love story in his personal life? The actor often keeps his personal life private, but his love story with his wife Jessy is too endearing to miss.

Vijay Sethupathi’s Love Story With His Wife Jessy

According to Bollywood Shaadi, before making it big into films, Vijay Sethupathi used to do jobs ranging from a salesman to a cashier to earn a living. He then started working in Dubai as an accountant. It was there that the actor met Jessy on social media who was a Malayali and was raised in Chennai. The two started bonding and soon started virtually dating. In a throwback interview with a publication,...

Zebra Ott Release Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The Satyadev starrer Telugu action-thriller film Zebra was released on November 22, 2024. While there were a lot of expectations banking on the movie, it turned out to be a box office disaster. However, now the film is all set to be released on the Ott streaming platform.

Zebra Plot

The Satyadev starrer has the actor playing a man, namely Surya, who earns the ire of a ruthless millionaire, Adhi (Dhananjaya). This is after Surya helps his girlfriend Wathi (Priya Bhavnani Shankar) rectify a banking error by using a loophole in the system. All hell breaks loose when he is given an ultimatum to pay 5 crores in 4 days to Adhi.

Trending When Nayanthara’s Rumored Relationship With Karunanidhi’s Grandson Udhayanidhi Stalin Had Taken An Ugly Turn, Here’s What Happened Suriya 45: Vijay Sethupathi To Play Key Role Alongside Kanguva Star & Trisha Krishnan In Upcoming Film?...

The 54th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will open with the world premiere of dark comedy Fabula from Dutch filmmaker Michiel ten Horn and close with historical epic This City Is a Battlefield from Indonesian director Mouly Surya.

With the festival taking place from January 30 to February 9 next year, IFFR also unveiled its jury line-ups across its three Competition strands: the Tiger Competition, the Tiger Short Competition and the Big Screen competition.

The Tiger Competition Jury will be made up of Yuki Aditya, Soheila Golestani, Winnie Lau, Peter Strickland and Andrea Luka Zimmerman.

Angela Haardt, Frank Sweeney and Yaoting Zhang will form the Tiger Short Competition Jury.

The Big Screen competition Jury will comprise of Bero Beyer, Sara Rajaei, Dewi Reijs, Digna Sinke and Jia Zhao.

Fabula, co-produced in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, follows Jos, a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures. As his...

This Diwali, the much-anticipated Shanmukha lights up the screens, promising a unique mix of thriller and devotional themes, perfect for fans of supernatural cinema! Starring telugu actor, Aadi Saikumar, and the popular Anandi from “Baalika Vadhu“, Avika Gor, this film has been creating a buzz for its fresh concept and a gripping storyline that takes the audience on an adventure into the unknown. Under the direction of Shanmugam Sappani, Shanmukha aims to capture viewers’ imaginations with a plot filled with divine mystery and suspense that travels back centuries to uncover secrets hidden deep in the past​.

Table of Contents What’s Shanmukha All About? The Music & VFX Magic Why Shanmukha is a Must-Watch Final Thoughts What’s Shanmukha All About?

Without giving too much away, Shanmukha follows the journey of Surya (played by Aadi Saikumar), an investigative officer tasked with solving a mystery linked to ancient secrets. His performance brings...

This Diwali, the much-anticipated Shanmukha lights up the screens, promising a unique mix of thriller and devotional themes, perfect for fans of supernatural cinema! Starring telugu actor, Aadi Saikumar, and the popular Anandi from “Baalika Vadhu“, Avika Gor, this film has been creating a buzz for its fresh concept and a gripping storyline that takes the audience on an adventure into the unknown. Under the direction of Shanmugam Sappani, Shanmukha aims to capture viewers’ imaginations with a plot filled with divine mystery and suspense that travels back centuries to uncover secrets hidden deep in the past​.

What’s Shanmukha All About?

Without giving too much away, Shanmukha follows the journey of Surya (played by Aadi Saikumar), an investigative officer tasked with solving a mystery linked to ancient secrets. His performance brings depth and grit to a complex character, making the suspense even more captivating. It’s more than just a...

Get ready to grab the popcorn and settle in for an electrifying ride, because Saripodhaa Sanivaaram has finally hit Netflix! Released on the platform in multiple languages on September 26, this movie was already buzzing from its theatrical run and has since skyrocketed to the #1 spot on Netflix India. Directed by Vivek Athreya, who previously collaborated with Nani on Ante Sundaraniki, this film promises thrills, drama, and heart—a perfect recipe for a blockbuster!

Table of Contents The Plot: A Sneak Peek (No Spoilers!) Why Saripodhaa Sanivaaram is a Must-Watch #1 on Netflix India: A Sure Sign of Success The Verdict? It’s a Thumbs-Up! The Plot: A Sneak Peek (No Spoilers!)

In Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, Nani takes on the intense role of Surya, a man marked by lifelong anger issues and seeking peace amidst chaos. Surya’s quiet life is shattered when he finds himself caught up in a fierce battle involving local rivalries,...

Get ready to grab the popcorn and settle in for an electrifying ride, because Saripodhaa Sanivaaram has finally hit Netflix! Released on the platform in multiple languages on September 26, this movie was already buzzing from its theatrical run and has since skyrocketed to the #1 spot on Netflix India. Directed by Vivek Athreya, who previously collaborated with Nani on Ante Sundaraniki, this film promises thrills, drama, and heart—a perfect recipe for a blockbuster!

The Plot: A Sneak Peek (No Spoilers!)

In Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, Nani takes on the intense role of Surya, a man marked by lifelong anger issues and seeking peace amidst chaos. Surya’s quiet life is shattered when he finds himself caught up in a fierce battle involving local rivalries, village politics, and an enigmatic vigilante who appears only on “Saturdays“. Adding to the excitement is S.J. Suryah as Daya, a ruthless cop with a deadly agenda. Together,...

Here’s how financial issues forced Suriya to act.

Did you know that Tamil superstar Suriya got his start in the film industry because of some serious financial struggles in his family? Before becoming a household name, he worked at a garment factory. As a trainee, he made just Inr 750 every 15 days, which was later downgraded to Inr 1,200 a month. He spent about two to three years in the garment industry, earning around Inr 8,000 monthly.

Things took a turn when his mother revealed she had taken out a loan of Inr 25,000 without his father knowing. Surya was caught off guard. Given that his father was an actor, it was surprising to him that they were dealing with such financial issues. His mother explained that their bank balance never really went above one and a half lakh, and his father wasn’t one to chase after his salary; he just waited...

After the famous Wano Arc, the Straw Hats and fans saw a ray of hope for Luffy getting one step closer to becoming the Pirate King. Luffy achieved the title of Emperor of the Sea by defeating the Strongest Creature in One Piece lore, Kaido. Not to forget, the mangaka perfectly showcased each Straw Hat member’s iconic moments, leaving a lasting impression and cementing the arc as a fan favorite.

With the addition of the Former Warlord, Ifrit Jambe, to the Straw Hat crew, Oda-sensei unknowingly reignited the long-standing debate between Zoro and Sanji fans. Before the time skip, Zoro and Sanji were often seen as equals; however, the Wano arc shifted the spotlight significantly.

Zoro and Sanji | Cedit: Toei Animation

While Sanji fell victim to favoritism, another One Piece character lost some of his shine post-Wano, thanks to Toei’s harsh handling of his development. That’s right,...

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, aka Surya’s Saturday, is the story of a man named Surya who was dealing with his anger issues and couldn’t stop himself from standing up against the tormentors who made the lives of people a living hell. His own family was tired of dealing with the consequences of his actions, and they wanted him to be in control of his emotions. So, let’s find out what happened in the film and whether Surya was able to overcome the challenges that came his way.

Spoiler Alert

Why did Surya only become violent on Saturday?

Surya’s parents were always worried about his anger issues, and they didn’t know how to make him understand that his actions would have grave consequences. Surya’s mother was suffering from a terminal illness, and she wanted to make her kids understand certain things about life before she was gone.

Nani’s Saripodhaa Sanivaaram struggles to recover its 80 crore budget!(Photo Credit – YouTube)

The Nani starrer Saripodhaa Sanivaaram might have been well received by the masses and critics alike, but things seem not that rosy regarding the box office sphere. It is not a hidden fact that the Vivek Athreya starrer marks the most expensive film of Nani’s career. However, the movie is now struggling to recover its budget.

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram Will Struggle With The Budget Recovery

Talking about the same, within 21 days of its release, the total India net box office collection for Saripodhaa Sanivaaram comes to 60.30 crore. While this is not an alarming number, it is insufficient to recover its 80 crore budget. The Nani starrer needs 20 crore more to recover its budget, which seems extremely difficult now. The collections are moving at a languid pace, which will make this target challenging.

Trending Saripodhaa Sanivaaram At The Worldwide...

Netflix’s “Trigger Warning” is the kind of sturdy thriller that recalls movies from “First Blood” and “Commando” to the early John Cena vehicle “The Marine” and the 2004 remake of “Walking Tall”: a military veteran returns home, looking for peace, only to face violent antagonists who force him back into action.

The difference is that in “Trigger Warning,” the veteran is a woman (Jessica Alba), and the voice behind the camera is female also, as Indonesian director Mouly Surya makes her English-language debut. It’s not just Surya’s first American project after a series of acclaimed films in her home country but also her first action movie. As she told IndieWire, Surya was determined to deliver the traditional satisfactions of the genre while also exploring what it meant to have a woman in a role typically occupied by actors like Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and The Rock.

“I think from the get-go,...

Trigger Warning Image: Netflix Trigger Warning has all the makings of a shrewd contemporary Western, as well as housing career-defining opportunities for two women spotlighting their formidable talents. It’s a story that features great set-ups for deep dramatics: a woman seeking vengeance for the death of her beloved father,...

Descubre todos los detalles. © Netflix

Netflix ha desatado la acción con el primer tráiler y póster de su nueva película “Detonantes” (“Trigger Warning”), protagonizada por Jessica Alba.

“Detonantes” sigue a Parker (Jessica Alba), miembro del comando de las Fuerzas Especiales, que se encuentra en servicio activo en el extranjero cuando la llaman para que regrese a su ciudad natal con la trágica noticia de que su padre ha muerto repentinamente. Allí se reencuentra con su antiguo novio, convertido en sheriff, Jesse (Mark Webber), su temperamental hermano Elvis (Jake Weary) y el senador Swann (Anthony Michael Hall), mientras trata de entender qué le ocurrió realmente a su padre. La búsqueda de respuestas de Parker no tarda en torcerse y se ve enfrentada a una violenta banda que campa a sus anchas por su ciudad natal. Insegura de en quién puede confiar realmente, Parker recurre a su entrenamiento de comando mientras busca...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Jessica Alba and director Mouly Surya have opened up about their upcoming action thriller, Trigger Warning, which released its official trailer today. Alba expresses her admiration for strong, femal characters like Ripley from the Alien franchise and Sarah Connor of Terminator fame. Surya found it a "little surreal" working with Alba at first, praising the actress' fiery personality and straightforwardness on set.

Its been over 20 years since Jessica Alba first suited up as the genetically enhanced Max Guevara on television's science fiction drama Dark Angel. And while the Golden Globe-nominee admittedly hasnt done a ton of choreographed fight sequences since, the actress is ready for the challenge in her upcoming Netflix project, Trigger Warning. However, the action thriller did test its star's mettle when it comes to pulling off those larger-than-life on-screen brawls. Alba said in an interview with Tudum:

I havent...

Jessica Alba isn’t satisfied with the explanation for her father’s unexpected death in the first trailer for the Netflix action thriller Trigger Warning.

Mouly Surya directed the film that launches June 21 on the streaming service and includes co-stars Mark Webber, Jake Weary, Anthony Michael Hall, Kaiwi Lyman and Hari Dhillon. Trigger Warning centers on Special Forces commando Parker (Alba) becoming the new owner of her dad’s bar in their hometown after his sudden passing. Back home, she learns that the town is now controlled by a violent gang as she aims to get answers about the tragedy.

“I don’t think his death was an accident,” Alba says in the trailer. Later, she explains, “This is about more than just my dad. I need to know the truth.”

The action-packed promo features Alba exerting bodily harm with an array of garden tools. At one point, she responds to getting attacked by quipping,...

Have you ever stopped to marvel at the wonders human talent can achieve? Take Tom Hanks’ example, whose popularity stems from his roles in major blockbusters like Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan, making him one of Hollywood’s top actors. But that is not the only thing the 67-year-old is good at; he is also a terrific voice actor and is equally adept at comedy and impersonation.

Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can

Since he first joined the five-timers club, he has hosted numerous episodes of Saturday Night Live in addition to making several cameos. In a sketch titled ‘The Stand-Ups’, which Hanks performed during his first Saturday Night Live hosting gig, stand-up comedians conversed backstage while using the same voices they did on stage.

In one of his former interviews, Hanks disclosed that he had given Jerry Seinfeld a call to obtain approval...

The makers of ‘Undekhi’ starring Harsh Chhaya, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Surya Sharma, and Ankur Rathee unveiled the trailer for Season 3 on Friday, in which ‘Papa Ji’ delves deeper into the realm of darkness and deception.

The show features Harsh as Papa ji, Dibyendu as Dsp Barun Ghosh, Surya as Rinku Atwal, and Ankur as Daman.

This trailer takes viewers on a massive ride of emotions and thrill as the story progresses spine-chilling bloodshed. As the Atwal family unleashes chaos, grappling with family politics and confronting their concealed past becomes a massive challenge.

Thrilling encounters, a battle for ultimate supremacy, and long-buried mysteries resurfacing to haunt them, this season promises to showcase an electrifying fight for power amidst a relentless force of revenge.

Sharing the trailer, the makers wrote: “Papaji is back and so is his past! As he fights to reclaim his power, new predators emerge from the shadows. With every ally turned adversary,...

It was an incredible event when Prime Video announced what is coming up next! Hosted by Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, Shahid Kapoor, and Ananya Panday, the Prime Video Presents India showcase featured other stars such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor Samantha, Bobby Kapoor, Surya, Vijay Deverakonda and Boman Irani plus so many more as well as many directors all talking about their unique projects.

In fact, Prime Video unveiled an incredible ambitious and diverse content slate with close to 70 series and movies that span a myriad of genres and languages. Following closely on the heels of a successful 2023, Prime Video’s upcoming releases feature a diverse range of new series, returning favorites, shows for young adults, original movies, co-productions, and even post-theatrical releases, with most of them premiering on the service over the next two years.

Prime Video’s upcoming originals offer something for everyone in the household,...

Many mysteries remain unanswered in the world of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece. One such mystery that has stuck around ever since the start of the franchise is what are the true powers and intentions of The Five Elders who control the world government.

Amongst many of their motives, a theory put forward by this user on Reddit reveals how The Five Elders (or the Gorosei) are purposefully spreading diseases around the world. The user has managed to somehow link the group of these five elders to Hindu Mythology, and it surprisingly makes sense.

The Five Elders of the World Government | One Piece How The Five Elders In One Piece Are Linked To Hindu Mythology

There is no doubt that Eiichiro Oda, the author of the series has often opted to take inspiration from different mythologies around the globe. Some of these include the Luffy Gear 5 Bajrang Gun attack which...

Southern star Nani is all set to stun the audience with his upcoming action spectacle ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’, directed by Vivek Athreya – and its first glimpse ticks the right boxes. The official glimpse of ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ is packed with high-octane action sequences and an intense vibes.

Over a minute in length, the video introduces Nani as ‘Surya’, who flaunts his action and dark side throughout. Towards the end of the clip, S J Suryah is shown as a police officer saying “Happy Birthday Brother” with a devilish laugh.

A new poster of Nani was unveiled by production company Dvv Entertainment. It was captioned: “Happy Birthday Brother….@NameIsNani..Here’s our Mass treat for all… #SaripodhaaSanivaaramGlimpse.”

The film is set to release on August 29. It also stars S J Suryah, Priyanka Arul Mohan and S J Suryah Sai Kumar P amongst more in pivotal roles.

‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ marks Athreya and Nani’s...

The Indonesian horror film Suzzanna: Kliwon Friday Night is an example of a film that might entertain more in cinemas when you watch it with a crowd full of strangers than it does on Netflix. Sitting in your room, you might not feel what the film was going for. Directed by Guntur Soeharjanto, Suzzanna: Kliwon Friday Night is gory where it needs to be and also has that comedic touch, reminiscent of classical horror films from Hollywood. The story of the film is pretty straightforward, but with proper execution, the idea is brought to fruition. The film confuses in the beginning about if it’s going towards more of a ‘ghostly’ universe, but then mixes it with body horror. The performances in this film will be polarizing, but I feel Luna Maya, the Indonesian star, hits the perfect note for this film.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?...

Very little has been heard from Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya since her buzzy 2017 Cannes title Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts.

“I’ve been in the pandemic like everybody else, wearing a mask, staying at home afraid if I step out of the house that I might die, and taking the whole family with me,” Surya told Deadline at the Tokyo Film Festival, where she is set to receive the honorary Kurosawa Akira Award.

Surya has released three features. Her debut, Fiction, won four awards, including Best Picture at the Festival Film Indonesia in 2008. Her second feature, What They Don’t Talk About When They Talk About Love (2013), was the first Indonesian film to be selected for the Sundance Film Festival. In 2017, her third feature, Marlina, was released in theaters in 14 countries, including the US, Canada, and Japan, following it’s Cannes debut. It also won the Grand Prize at...

Tamil superstar Surya has now officially confirmed that his upcoming project ‘Suriya43’ will be directed by Sudha Kongara and G V Prakash. After previously having worked with Sudha Kongara for his blockbuster film ‘Soorarai Pottru’, this will now mark his second outing with the filmmaker.

Taking to his X, the actor wrote: “Dear all we are excited! Joining hands with @Sudha_Kongara again in a @gvprakash musical, his 100th! So looking forward to work with my brother @dulQuer and the talented #Nazriya and the performance champ @MrVijayVarma Glad @2D_ENTPVTLTD is producing this special film!”

Alongside the message, the actor posted a 45 second video announcing the project.

The video is touting this feature to be some kind of revolution based film with gangster elements, as the animated clip shows a crowd throwing Molotov cocktails, protesting with placards in their hands as one bottle explodes and showcases the poster for the film.

Tamil superstar Surya has now officially confirmed that his upcoming project ‘Suriya43’ will be directed by Sudha Kongara and G V Prakash. After previously having worked with Sudha Kongara for his blockbuster film ‘Soorarai Pottru’, this will now mark his second outing with the filmmaker.

Taking to his X, the actor wrote: “Dear all we are excited! Joining hands with @Sudha_Kongara again in a @gvprakash musical, his 100th! So looking forward to work with my brother @dulQuer and the talented #Nazriya and the performance champ @MrVijayVarma Glad @2D_ENTPVTLTD is producing this special film!”

Alongside the message, the actor posted a 45 second video announcing the project.

The video is touting this feature to be some kind of revolution based film with gangster elements, as the animated clip shows a crowd throwing Molotov cocktails, protesting with placards in their hands as one bottle explodes and showcases the poster for the film.

Following a generation of organizational drift, the Tokyo International Film Festival has charted a course towards greater global influence under the ambitious leadership of current chairman Hiroyasu Ando. A career diplomat for Japan’s Foreign Service, Ando took the helm of the Tokyo festival in mid-2019 and quickly set about remaking the event, changing its location, shaking up the programming ranks, recruiting arthouse star Hirokazu Kore-eda to program a seminar series and adding more glamor to the after-dark parties and filmmaker fetes. A lot of that revitalization went unseen by the international film community, however, thanks to the long interregnum of the pandemic. In 2023, the Tokyo festival’s renewed outlook will be harder to miss.

“Now that the coronavirus disaster is fully over, we were able to make further progress in moving forward and upgrading our festival,” Ando tells The Hollywood Reporter.

To leverage Japan’s strengths and boost the...

Korean powerhouse Cj Enm is set to continue its already extensive investment in Indonesia.

The company will announce a slate of Indonesian films imminently. It is also planning to produce films and series that can be remade in other international territories, said Justin Kim, head of international productions at Cj Enm, which has production and distribution businesses in Indonesia.

“There’s a lot of series that have been produced by us in Indonesia and we’re still waiting for that one definitive Indonesian series to break out,” Kim said.

Kim was speaking at a panel focusing on international coproductions with Indonesia at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents and Film Market. The Indonesian panelists included prolific producer Yulia Evina Bhara (“Autobiography”), director Mouly Surya (“Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts”) and Alex Sihar from the country’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology and was moderated by Lorna Tee,...

Previous recipients include Steven Spielberg, Yoji Yamada and Hou Hsiao-Hsien.

Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is to honour Chinese filmmaker Gu Xiaogang and Indonesian director Mouly Surya with the Kurosawa Akira Award at its upcoming 36th edition, which runs October 23 to November 1.

The award, which was revived last year after an absence of 14 years, is presented to filmmakers who have “made waves in cinema” and are expected to help guide the industry’s future. A ceremony to present the awards will be held at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel on October 31.

Director Gu broke through with internationally acclaimed debut Dwelling In The Fuchun Mountains,...

Suriya, the versatile actor who has delivered some of the most memorable performances in Tamil cinema, is all set to make his Bollywood debut with a grand project. According to reliable sources, Suriya will be playing the lead role of Karna, the legendary warrior from the epic Mahabharata, in a film to be directed by none other than Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the acclaimed filmmaker who has given us gems like Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Toofan.

Rang De Basanti Trailer

The film, titled Karna, is said to be a dream project of Mehra, who has been working on the script for a long time. The film will explore the life and journey of Karna, who was the son of Surya (the Sun God) and Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas), but was raised by a charioteer and his wife. Karna was known for his generosity, loyalty, courage and archery skills,...

The Tokyo International Film Festival revealed Monday that China’s Xiaogang Gu and Indonesia’s Mouly Surya will jointly receive the festival’s prestigious world cinema honor, the Kurosawa Akira Award, at the upcoming 36th edition of the event.

The award, which until last year had been on a 14-year hiatus, is presented to “filmmakers who have made waves in cinema and are expected to help guide the industry’s future.” The prize has been previously awarded to film luminaries such as Steven Spielberg, Yoji Yamada and Taiwan’s Hou Hsiao-hsien. Last year’s recipients were Mexican auteur Alejandro González Iñárritu and Japan’s own Koji Fukada.

The 2023 honorees were chosen by a selection committee including director Yoji Yamada, veteran actress Fumi Dan, casting director and producer Yoko Narahashi, film critic Saburo Kawamoto and Tokyo Festival’s programming director Shozo Ichiyama.

Hailing from southern China, Gu’s debut feature,...

Fans of Suriya are in for a treat as the actor has confirmed his collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a Hindi film based on the Mahabharata character Karna.

The film, titled Karna, will be a big budget period drama that will explore the life and times of the legendary warrior who was born to the sun god Surya and princess Kunti. Karna was abandoned by his mother and raised by a charioteer family. He became a loyal friend of Duryodhana and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war. He is considered as one of the most tragic and complex heroes in the Hindu epic.

According to sources, the film will be made in two parts and will have a pan-India appeal. The shooting will begin in 2024 and will be shot in various locations across India. The film will also feature a stellar cast of actors from different industries,...

Lauderhill (Florida), Aug 12 (Ians) West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the fourth T20I at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium here on Saturday.

West Indies are currently leading the five-game series 2-1.

After winning the toss, Powell said Jason Holder is back after recovering from injury, as well as Odean Smith and Shai Hope come into the playing eleven in place of Johnson Charles, Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph.

“Looks like a very good surface, we want to put up some runs on the board and try to defend it. I think it is an opportunity for us to win a series against a big team like India and the boys are excited about it,” he said.

India captain Hardik Pandya said he would have liked to bat first as well while adding that the visitors are unchanged from their last game in Guyana.

Georgetown, Aug 9 (Ians) After Suryakumar Yadav smashed a 44-ball 83 with shots all over the park to hand India a seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the third T20I, young left-handed batter Tilak Varma revealed that he had the urge to go for big shots on seeing the right-hander produce some scintillating strokeplay going for boundaries.

Suryakumar, the top-ranked T20I batter, hit ten fours and four sixes in his whirlwind knock, while stitching an 87-run match-winning partnership with Varma, who remained not out on 49, as India kept the five-game series alive.

“I was enjoying my batting and also enjoyed watching him (Suryakumar) batting from the other end. The ball was too slow and was getting stuck. I talked to Gill (Shubman Gill) after the game ended and asked what was so different in Surya’s batting. I just could not fathom the shots he played and on seeing that,...

New Delhi, Aug 9 (Ians) Amidst the applause directed towards Suryakumar Yadav for victory, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has highlighted the significant role played by Kuldeep Yadav in the third T20 against the West Indies.

Yadav picked 3 crucial wickets in the first innings of the match, dismissing opener Brandon King, Johnson Charles and the dangerous Nicholas Pooran, to put the clamps on the West Indies to reduce the hosts to a meagre total of 159/5 after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

“Surya was brilliant again but Kuldeep the real match-winner for me. Restricting Wi to 159 by taking 3 top-order wickets including that of Pooran. Well done Kuldeep,” Manjrekar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Chasing 160, India lost opener Shubman Gill (6) and Yashavi Jaiswal (1) early, but Suryakumar wasn’t fazed by the setback as he terrorised the opposition bowlers with the clean hitting and played a magnificent 83-run knock, laced...

Georgetown (Guyana), Aug 8 (Ians) Under fire for his recent failures in Odi matches and first two T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav bounced back with an explosive knock of 83 off 44 balls while Tilak Varma struck an unbeaten 49 as India beat West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20I at Providence Stadium, here on Tuesday.

This triumph keeps India alive in the five-match series as they reduced to margin to 2-1.

After the early dismissal of debutant opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, India swiftly regrouped with Suryakumar Yadav’s classy performance as he built an impressive 87-run partnership for the third wicket with Tilak (49 not out).

Thanks to Surya and Tilak’s impressive knocks, India chased down the 160-run target in 17.5 overs, revitalising their hopes in the series after facing defeats in the first two matches.

Chasing 160, India had a shocking start as they lost Jaiswal early in the first over. Then, Yadav...

New Delhi, Aug 6 (Ians) When Rahul Dravid took over as India’s head coach, he was seen as a ‘crisis man’ by fans and experts, who expected him to bail Team India out from all the off-field controversies and also end the Icc titles drought. However, his tenure as a coach so far has been very disappointing and has invited severe criticism before the upcoming Odi World Cup.

Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri as India’s head coach after a successful stint as the head of cricket at Nca, where he oversaw a successful India U-19 and A tour programme. He was initially hesitant to take on a coaching role with the senior team full of stars, but he was convinced by Bcci officials and he later accepted the job.

As a coach, Dravid had a smooth start as he along with new captain Rohit saw the team win the home series against New Zealand,...

Mumbai, Aug 6 (Ians) With the recent experimentation by the team management with the Indian playing XI giving mixed results, the senior national cricket selectors will be in a fix when they sit down to finalise the squad for the Asia Cup 2023 and the Asian Games which follow it, which will be important stops on the journey to the Odi World Cup to be held later in the year.

The Icc Odi World Cup in October-November in India follows on the heels of the Asia Cup 2023, which will be held from August 30 to September 17 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and the Asian Games in Hangzhou from September 23-October 8. It is apparent that the selectors will be left with little time to settle on their World Cup squad.

Thus the Indian squad for the Asia Cup will virtually be the one that would also represent the country in the World Cup — barring minor tweaks due to injuries,...

Bridgetown (Barbados), July 30 (Ians) India head coach Rahul Dravid has defended the decision to experiment excessively with the team combination in the ongoing Odi series against West Indies and the call to rest skipper Rohit Sharma and fellow experienced batter Virat Kohli in the second match, which visitors lost at the Kensington Oval, here on Saturday.

After rejigging their batting line-up in the first Odi, India continued their experimentation as they rested Rohit and Kohli for the second Odi and the move backfired as the Caribbean team cruised to a six-wicket triumph that squared the series at 1-1 on Saturday.

However, Dravid isn’t too concerned with the results and explained the selection decision, saying that it was important to get a look at fringe players like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup and Icc Men’s Cricket World Cup later this year.

Electronic music isn't exactly the soundtrack you'd expect for a film set in rural Mongolia, but this juxtaposition is part of the wider purpose of Qiao Sixue's debut feature “The Cord of Life”. Starring musicians and performers, this is a work about two different worlds becoming closer, in a film, and country, that can't escape their landscape.

The Cord of Life is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

Alus (Yider) is an electronic musician living in Beijing. Receiving an unusual call from his mother (Badma), he returns to his brother's (Surya) home where she now lives. Learning of her increasing dementia, he decides to take her back to the home where he grew up on the steppes. But he's bitten off more than he can chew, her condition seeing her often run off and getting lost. Local Tama (Nahia), therefore, becomes indispensable for Alus, as he tries to get by and make some music.

Actress Amrin Qureshi, who has been signed by some South Indian banners, said she is open to work in any language and industry.

Amrin, who made her Bollywood debut with ‘Bad Boy’, is signed by South Indian banners like Green Studio, Prince Pictures, Svcc and Saraswathi Film Division (Tagore Madhu) have signed the actress for their upcoming big budget films.

Known to produce larger than life films with big stars, Studio Green is currently producing a big spectacle film titled ‘Surya 42’ in which Surya is playing the lead role.

Prince Pictures recently gave blockbuster film ‘Sardar’ and producer Laxman under his banner is now currently busy shooting ‘Sardar 2’.

Tagore Madhu has many banners under his name and his Saraswathi Film Division has signed Amrin to play a leading role in one of his films.

An elated Amrin said: “I am really glad that I have been approached and signed by...

KollywoodMari Selvaraj, who is known for his anti-caste movies, said that watching Thevar Magan distressed him greatly and did not understand whether the movie was right or wrong.Anti-caste Tamil filmmaker Mari Selvaraj said that Thevar Magan, considered an iconic movie in Tamil cinema, had inspired him to make his latest movie, Maamannan–by reimagining the film about Thevars, a dominant community, with Dalit characters. In his speech during the audio launch of Maamannan’s on June 1, the director in the presence of actor Kamal Haasan, the lead actor of Thevar Magan, confessed to him that he did not understand whether Thevar Magan was right or wrong when he watched it for the first time. Besides playing the lead role, Kamal Haasan also wrote and produced Thevar Magan. Mari Selvaraj said on stage, “Today Thevar Magan is treated as a masterpiece. Every director would have watched it before making their films.

Kollywood Prarthana Theatre, India’s first drive-in theatre, is set to be demolished to make way for ultra-luxury villas.Courtesy/AjaySrinivasanTwitterPrarthana drive-in theatre has been a long cherished landmark in Chennai, and it has a significant heritage of being India’s first such endeavour. With the theatre now shut down and set to be demolished to make way for ultra-luxury villas, Chennaites recall their experiences of watching movies there as the city says its farewell to the iconic cinema hall. Crackling and unpredictable speakers, children stargazing while the adults watch films, heavy competition from corporate-run multiplexes, dearly held memories with a parent who has since passed away – Prarthana Drive-in Theatre has seen it all ever since its doors first opened to the public in 1991. The theatre had the advantage of being situated near the city’s beach at Injambakkam on the East Coast Road, adding another layer of charm and wonder for movie-goers.

EntertainmentRavi Teja’s upcoming film, which appears to be an action thriller, also stars Anupama Parameswaran, Navdeep, Srinivas Avasarala, and Madhubala. Actor Ravi Teja’s next film, directed by Karthik Gattamneni, has been titled Eagle. The title was announced through a ‘title announcement video’ released on June 12, Monday, which shows glimpses of Ravi Teja’s character in the film without revealing his face completely. The film also stars Anupama Parameswaran, Navdeep, Srinivas Avasarala, Madhubala and Kavya Thapar. The film is scheduled to release next year on Sankranti. The title announcement video shows Ravi Teja as a fugitive wanted by agents of the Research and Analysis Wing (Raw), the foreign intelligence agency of India. Ravi Teja covers his identity under the disguise of a painter. He is also shown being chased by the United States Army. The video suggests that Eagle could be an intense action thriller. Karthik Gattamneni has written,...

Mumbai, June 2 (Ians) Director Ananjay Raghuraj, who is gearing up for the release of his romantic-action film ‘Khiladi’ starring Pradeep Pandey ‘Chintu’ popularly known as Pandey ji ka beta and Sahar Afsa in lead roles, feels that it is a great time for Bhojpuri films because of the reach of Ott.

The director told Ians: “I hail from Motihari, Bihar, which is hardcore Bhojpuri-speaking, so I understand the pulse of the audience and their taste in Bhojpuri movies. The story has been written by Veeru Thakur ji who has written many successful Bhojpuri movies and after hearing it, I was convinced that I wanted to make this film.”

The film follows the story of Rahul who belongs to a very poor family struggling to meet ends. Debt-ridden Rahul decides to go to London to earn money so that he can pay off all his debt because if he does not repay the loan,...