News

How Did Producer Kp Chowdary Die? (Photo Credit – Twitter)

Telugu film producer Kp Chowdary, best known for the movie Kabali, was found dead in Goa. It is believed that he took his own life. According to India Today, local police revealed that Chowdary had lived alone in the Goa flat for six months. Authorities allegedly procured a one-page suicide note written in English from his bedroom. It stated that “no one should be held responsible for his suicide.”

The producer reportedly did not answer his friends’ phone calls on Monday, February 3, 2025. Shortly after, they notified the flat owner out of concern, who went to check on the producer and found him deceased. The owner contacted the police, who later informed Chowdary’s mother about the tragedy. She resides in Palvancha, Khammam, where Kp Chowdary originally hails from.

Kp Chowdary, also known as Sunkara Krishna Prasad Chowdary, graduated in mechanical engineering...

Radhika Apte Net Worth ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Radhika Apte is an actress who has repeatedly made noise for her unconventional choice of movies, performances, and experimentation. Dabbling in Bollywood, South, Marathi, and Bengali movies, Apte has grabbed several eyeballs for infusing a combination of boldness, vulnerability, and honesty in her performance. This has also been reflected in her stellar net worth over the years.

Radhika Apte’s Journey

Radhika Apte made her debut with the 2005 film Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! opposite Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao. After appearing in some regional films, Apte got noticed for her performance in the 2011 film Shor In The City. Her work in movies like Badlapur, Hunterr, Manjhi, Parched, Phobia, Kabali, Padman, and Andhadhun. She forayed into the digital sphere and tasted huge success with Ott films and series like Monica O My Darling, Lust Stories, Sacred Games, Ghoul, Ok Computer, and Made In Heaven.

Box Office: Shah Rukh Khan At The Top, Thalapathy Vijay’s 5 Films In Top 10 Of Highest Footfalls List Of Malaysia ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

The market for Indian films has increased exponentially, with other regional film industries coming to the forefront. In several countries, films from India are loved and cherished by audiences and one such country is Malaysia. While it is known that Rajinikanth enjoys an impressive fan following here, over the years, Shah Rukh Khan and Thalapathy Vijay, too, have built their fan base in the country. Keep reading to know more!

Shah Rukh needs no introduction when it comes to his face value in the international market. In majority of overseas countries, the actor is tremendously popular and that could be seen through the international collection of his films as well. Even his under-performers in India, have performed brilliantly in overseas. One such film is Dilwale, which was...

MaayaOne is an upcoming Tamil-Telugu bilingual film directed by C. V. Kumar, who is known for his critically acclaimed films like Attakathi, Pizza, and Maayavan. The film is a sequel to the 2017 hit Maayavan, which starred Sundeep Kishan as a police officer who investigates a series of murders involving a mysterious drug. MaayaOne will continue the story of the ProjectZ/Maayavan world, where a common man clashes with a supervillain.

The film marks the debut of Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, who has previously acted in Netflix films and series like Guilty, Ray, and Monica, O My Darling. She will play the female lead opposite Sundeep Kishan, who is also the co-producer of the film along with Rambrahmam Sunkara of Ak Entertainments. The film also features Pradeep Rawat, Mariyam George, Sai Dheena, and ‘Lollu Sabha’ Maaran in supporting roles.

The music for the film is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, who is one...

New Delhi, Nov 12 (Ians) The festivities are on and the anticipation for the celebrations in the evening is building up as Diwali is here.

On this Diwali, here are our suggestions for the Top 10 movie tracks to celebrate the festival of lights with songs that can make you sing, dance, smile, or just put you in a great mood:

‘Deepavali Deepavali’ (‘Mudduni Maava’) – Perhaps the ultimate song for celebrating Diwali, this song from the 1993 Kannada film starring veteran actors Shashi Kumar, and Shruti in the lead role, is a timeless Diwali song. It was sung by the legendary actor and singer Dr. Rajkumar, alongside composer S.P Balasubrahmanyam, and Manjula Gururaja. However, this is sadly one of the most overlooked songs for Diwali. The go-to song for the celebrations, ‘Deepavali Deepavali’ is nonetheless a timeless song which is perfectly suited for the occasion.

‘Naatu Naatu’ (‘Rrr’) – While not a song of Diwali by itself,...

New Delhi, Nov 12 (Ians) The festivities are on and the anticipation for the celebrations in the evening is building up as Diwali is here.

On this Diwali, here are our suggestions for the Top 10 movie tracks to celebrate the festival of lights with songs that can make you sing, dance, smile, or just put you in a great mood:

‘Deepavali Deepavali’ (‘Mudduni Maava’) – Perhaps the ultimate song for celebrating Diwali, this song from the 1993 Kannada film starring veteran actors Shashi Kumar, and Shruti in the lead role, is a timeless Diwali song. It was sung by the legendary actor and singer Dr. Rajkumar, alongside composer S.P Balasubrahmanyam, and Manjula Gururaja. However, this is sadly one of the most overlooked songs for Diwali. The go-to song for the celebrations, ‘Deepavali Deepavali’ is nonetheless a timeless song which is perfectly suited for the occasion.

‘Naatu Naatu’ (‘Rrr’) – While not a song of Diwali by itself,...

The much-awaited film of Superstar Rajinikanth, tentatively titled Thalaivar 170, has been creating a lot of buzz ever since it was announced. The film, which is directed by Tj Gnanavel of Jai Bhim fame, has a stellar star cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh and Dushara Vijayan. The film is said to be a message-oriented commercial entertainer with Rajinikanth playing a retired police officer who gets involved in a fake encounter case.

Now, the makers have revealed the technical crew of the film, which consists of some of the best talents in the industry. The cinematography will be handled by Sr Kathir, who has worked with Gnanavel in Jai Bhim and has also done films like Subramaniapuram, Nadodigal and Asuran. The editing will be done by Philomin Raj, who is known for his work in films like Kaithi, Master and Jai Bhim. The art...

Megastar Rajinikanth never misses a chance to showcase his swag and attitude, as revealed by the new poster of his upcoming feature production, tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 170’. Revealing his poster, the production has also announced the beginning of its shoot.

The poster shows the Tamil superstar who is also called ‘Thalaivar’ donning a pure gangster style menacing look. While making no attempt at hiding his age, Rajinikanth instead looks like a threatening old man who should not be messed with.

The monochrome poster shows the ‘Jailer’ actor donning a look similar to his 2016 gangster-action film ‘Kabali’, complete with a very stylish black suit, a slightly trimmed beard and black glasses.

Taking to their Instagram, Lyca Productions shared the slick poster of thalaivar and wrote: “Lights, Camera, Clap, & Action”

They added: “With our Superstar @rajinikanthand the stellar cast of #’Thalaivar170’ the team is all fired up and ready to roll!”

Concluding, they...

Megastar Rajinikanth never misses a chance to showcase his swag and attitude, as revealed by the new poster of his upcoming feature production, tentatively titled ‘Thalaivar 170’. Revealing his poster, the production has also announced the beginning of its shoot.

The poster shows the Tamil superstar who is also called ‘Thalaivar’ donning a pure gangster style menacing look. While making no attempt at hiding his age, Rajinikanth instead looks like a threatening old man who should not be messed with.

The monochrome poster shows the ‘Jailer’ actor donning a look similar to his 2016 gangster-action film ‘Kabali’, complete with a very stylish black suit, a slightly trimmed beard and black glasses.

Taking to their Instagram, Lyca Productions shared the slick poster of thalaivar and wrote: “Lights, Camera, Clap, & Action”

They added: “With our Superstar @rajinikanthand the stellar cast of #’Thalaivar170’ the team is all fired up and ready to roll!”

Concluding, they...

The action-packed thriller Leo, starring Vijay and Trisha, is set to hit the screens on October 19, 2023. The film, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Seven Screen Studio, has generated a lot of buzz among the fans and the trade circles. The film also marks the debut of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt in Tamil cinema, as well as the second collaboration of Lokesh Kanagaraj with Vijay after Master (2021).

Leo Promo

But what’s more exciting is that Lokesh Kanagaraj is not just a director, but also an actor. Yes, you heard it right. The talented filmmaker, who has delivered back-to-back hits like Maanagaram (2017), Kaithi (2019), and Master, is all set to make his acting debut in a film directed by the National Award-winning stunt choreographers Anbariv. Anbariv, who are twin brothers Anbu and Arivu, have worked with Lokesh Kanagaraj in Leo as well as in his previous films. They are known...

Fans of Rajinikanth are eagerly waiting for his upcoming film Annaatthe, which is expected to release in November this year. But before that, the superstar has already announced his next project, which is tentatively titled Thalaivar 170. The film will be directed by Jai Bhim Director Gnanavel. The shoot of the film is set to begin from September 15 in a grand set in Chennai, according to a tweet by a film journalist.

The tweet also revealed some interesting details about the film’s plot and cast. Rajinikanth will reportedly play a cop who goes against the fake encounter punishment, which is a prevalent issue in the country. The film is said to be an intense one that will showcase the performer side of Thalaivar, who has been mostly seen in mass entertainer roles in recent years.

Jailer Glimpse

The film will also feature Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in an important role,...

Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh Ravichander are two of the most talented and successful young talents in the Tamil film industry. Lokesh Kanagaraj is known for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as Maanagaram, Kaithi, and Master, while Anirudh Ravichander is one of the most popular music composers and singers in South India, who has delivered chartbuster songs for films like 3, Ethir Neechal, Vedalam, Remo, and Darbar.

The fans of both these artists were thrilled when it was announced that they would be teaming up for a film project, not as a director and a composer, but as actors. Yes, you heard it right. Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh Ravichander were supposed to make their acting debut in a film directed by the stunt master duo Anbariv, who have worked as action choreographers in films like Madras, Kabali, K.G.F: Chapter 1, and Master. The film was said to be...

One of Tamil cinema’s popular directors Pa Ranjith has said that ‘Jai Bhim’ is the phrase that got him to where he is now.

Participating in the audio launch event of his upcoming film, ‘Natchathiram Nagargiradhu’, Ranjith said, “‘Jai Bhim’ is the phrase that got me here. The journey which started in ‘Attakathi’ (his first film) has now come up till ‘Natchathiram Nagargiradhu’.”

Ranjith also downplayed the compliment that he had helped many people in the film industry grow by giving them opportunities.

He said, “I haven’t made anybody grow. They are skillful people and I have made use of them, that is all. I am happy that I worked with them.”

Showering praises on three directors and two producers, Ranjith said that he wanted them to be there at the audio launch event of the film.

“It is from director Venkat Prabhu that I learnt. His film...

Film CommentaryAs pertinent as it is to point out a flawed political statement or cinematic choice, are we equally conscious of the limitations many directors operate within and attempt to break free from?Bharathy SingaravelIt’s been a week since Jhund released, marking Marathi director Nagraj Manjule’s Bollywood debut. The film has received its share of both praise and critique. Many of the aspects that have been pointed out as flaws are not unfounded — that it in many ways caters to an upper-caste gaze, though it is a film about Dalit-Bahujan lives. While it is a fair demand to make of anti-caste films, it’s also essential to examine the industry parameters within which Manjule may have been required to operate for Jhund, or the formulaic limitations in Kollywood within which Pa Ranjith or Mari Selvaraj or other even younger filmmakers work in. Amitabh Bachchan’s outsider role in...

Chennai, Dec 19 (Ians) Actress Sai Dhanshika, who played actor Rajinikanth’s daughter in his film ‘Kabali’, says the superstar was shocked to see the transformation she has undergone for her upcoming Telugu film ‘Shikaaru’. Taking to social media on Sunday, the actress posted two pictures and said, “This was taken during ‘Shikaaru’ shoot! “We were […]...

Kollywood Tentatively titled ‘Chiyaan 61’, the film will mark the first-time collaboration between the actor and director.Tnm StaffTwitter/ Pa Ranjith Popular Tamil star Vikram had a surprising announcement in store for fans. The actor will be teaming up with Sarpatta Parambarai fame director Pa Ranjith for his next film which has been tentatively titled Chiyaan61. The announcement was made by Studio Green, the production house bankrolling the film, on Thursday, December 2. Sharing the announcement, the production banner also added that the film will be produced by Ke Gnanavelraja and details about the rest of the cast and crew will be out soon. “@StudioGreen2's #ProductionNo23 - The Mega Announcement of the Day. #Chiyaan61 #ChiyaanVikram with Director Pa. Ranjith from Producer Ke Gnanavelraja #Vikram. Other Cast & Crew announcements soon.” Director Pa Ranjith also took to social media on Thursday to express his excitement about the project. “Super excited to get this started,...

InterviewThe director talks about his new film, which explored the boxing culture of north Chennai.PTIPolitics will always form an important backdrop in his cinema whether it is speaking about Dalits or breaking the stereotypical image of the subaltern culture, says Tamil filmmaker Pa Ranjith. One of the most celebrated contemporary directors in Tamil cinema with films such as Madras and Rajinikanth-starrers Kabali and Kaala to his credit, Ranjith explores the boxing culture of north Chennai in his latest film Sarpatta Parambarai. According to the director, his past movies as well as Sarpatta deal with the ground realities of the working class in the most natural way possible. "My films are an extension of my ideology," Ranjith said. "I have brought sports into the framework of political drama for this project. Be it speaking about Dalit politics or breaking the stereotypical image of subaltern culture, I have always tried...

CinemaThe 5-member jury included Asha Bhosle, Mohanlal, Shankar Mahadevan, Subhash Ghai and Vishwajeet Chatterjee. Tnm StaffSuperstar Rajinikanth will be receiving the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Union Minister Prakash Javedkar took to Twitter on Thursday to confirm that the prestigious award will be conferred upon Rajinikanth, who is also popularly known among fans as ‘Thalaivar’. Praising the actor for his commendable contribution to Indian cinema, Prakash Javedkar wrote, “Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic I thank Jury @ashabhosle@SubhashGhai1@Mohanlal@Shankar_Live#BiswajeetChatterjee." Asha Bhosle, Mohanlal, Shankar Mahadevan, Subhash Ghai and Vishwajeet Chatterjee were on the five-judge panel. The award to be presented to Rajinikanth on May 3. Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji His contribution as actor,...

KollywoodActor Dulquer Salmaan penned a heartfelt note congratulating the newlywed couple. Tnm StaffInstagram/@planwcreadiosDirector Desingh Periyasamy, who debuted with the Dulquer Salmaan starrer Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal got married to actor Niranjani Ahathian in Puducherry on Thursday. Desingh’s wedding photos have been doing the rounds on social media, especially the one where he is striking a pose by showing Rajinikanth’s popular Baba sign. The intimate wedding ceremony was attended by friends and family members. According to reports, the couple will be throwing a wedding party in Chennai for the film fraternity shortly after the wedding. Actor Dulquer Salmaan, who shares a special bond with the couple, penned a heartfelt note congratulating them. He took to Instagram to share an image from the couple’s wedding and convey his wishes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dulquer Salmaan (@dqsalmaan) Sharing the photo, the 34-year-old-actor wrote, "Wishing this...

Entertainment In a recently posted video, Jagan is impersonating Santhosh by singing one of the most popular songs composed by him, ‘Neruppu da’ from Rajinikanth’s ‘Kabali’. Tnm StaffTwitter/screengrab Music composer Santhosh Narayanan recently surprised netizens with his response to stand-up comedian Jagan Krishnan. The comedian is infamously known for his stand-up shows that revolve around popular Tamil music composers. In one of his acts, he belted nine different compositions of music composer Harris Jayaraj from a single tune. The Chennai-based comedian has also parodied composer D Imman for the usage of casual everyday words in his music tracks. Recently, Jagan shared a clip from his show where he talks about music director Santhosh Narayanan’s compositions and his singing. Towards the end of the video, Jagan could be seen impersonating Santhosh by singing one of the most popular songs composed by him, ‘Neruppu da’ from the Tamil movie Kabali that starred actor Rajinikanth.

KollywoodThe film was eventually made with actor Vikram in the lead and has been awaiting release for a long time now.Digital NativeDirector Gautham Menon and actor ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram teamed up together for the spy-thriller titled Dhruva Natchathiram which is in the making for a long time. In a recent interview with Cinema Vikatan, Gautham Menon revealed that he had earlier pitched Dhruva Natchathiram to superstar Rajinikanth as well. The project was supposed to be produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu, producer of Menon’s Kaakha Kaakha. But due to unknown reasons, it did not take off, and eventually, Pa Ranjith landed the opportunity to direct Rajinikanth in Kabali. It may be noted that there were also reports that Rajinikanth's 169th film might be directed by Gautham Menon, but there has been no updates on the same. Dhruva Natchathiram, which has been struggling to release for quite some time now, is...

Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest co-production market, has revealed 21 eclectic projects from several countries and in a welter of languages, for its 2021 online edition.

The selected filmmakers will pitch their projects virtually to a curated audience of Indian and international producers, distributors, festival programmers, financiers and sales agents at an open pitch session. This year, Film Bazaar has also collaborated with the French Embassy in India which will be sponsoring the French Institute Award for one market project.

As is the usual case, the projects are a mix of festival favorites and debutants.

From India, Berlinale title “Eeb Allay Ooo!” editor Tanushree Das and Rotterdam title “Nasir” cinematographer Saumyananda Sahi make their directorial debuts with Bengali-language “Baksho Bondi” (aka “How Long Is Tomorrow?”), produced by Naren Chandavarkar (Rotterdam Fipresci winner “The Bangle Seller”); Tamil-language “Bommainayagi” (aka “Queen Doll”) by debutant Shanawaz Nizamudeen, produced by Pa. Ranjith, director of Rajinikanth...

EntertainmentThe noted musician of Tamil movies like ‘Jigarthanda’, ‘Kaala’ and ‘Pariyerum Perumal’ will make his debut in Malayalam with a Tovino Thomas film.Digital NativePhoto courtesy - Arun Titan Studio Santhosh Narayanan made his debut as a music composer with the Tamil film Attakathi in 2012 and since then has worked in several films. He is now all set to foray into the Malayalam film industry. Reports are that Santhosh Narayanan has been roped in to compose the tunes for a Tovino Thomas starrer which will be helmed by debut director Darvin Kuriakose. To go on the floor next year, this untitled film is scripted by Jinu V Abraham. The scriptwriter said in an interview with the Times of India, “For the movie, we needed someone like Santhosh and that’s why we approached him. He heard our narration and obviously liked it, that’s why he has agreed to be part of our movie.

MollywoodThe film, which was announced in 2014 and went on the floors by December of that year, has been getting delayed for various reasons. Digital NativeDigital NativeKalidas Jayaram starred in a film called Oru Pakka Kathai, which marks his debut on the silver screen, but it didn't release. The film, which was announced in 2014 and went on the floors by December of that year, has been getting delayed for various reasons. The film was also supposed to be the debut for Megha Akash and composer Govind Vasanth in Tamil. Later, the makers sold the rights to the digital platform Zee5 as the theatrical release failed to happen and the latest update is that the film will be premiering on the Ott platform on September 25. An official update from Zee5 and the makers is expected to be out soon. Balaji has arranged a special preview of the film to his close friends...

Actress Radhika Apte feels the nepotism conversation is complicated, and not just related to the film industry.

"I don't want to be a part of this discussion, really," Radhika told Ians when asked about the ongoing nepotism discussion, adding: "It is not just about the insider and the outsider. It is a larger discussion. There is not one answer to it. As a society, we have supported nepotism a lot and it's not just the film industry. In order to change everything, we all need to change how we look at it," she added.

Talking about how difficult it is to make a name in Bollywood, the actress said: "I think it's difficult for both the insider and the outsider to be successful. Success is not just about being born into a family. It is a complicated answer. I don't think it's easy to answer that."

Earlier in an interview to Ians,...

Entertainment Sushant Singh Rajput, who plays Immanuel Rajkumar Junior aka Manny in ‘Dil Bechara’, is a fan of Rajinikanth and wants to be like him.Tnm StaffWarning: Spoilers ahead Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s last film Dil Bechara released on Disney+Hotstar on July 24, and has left fans quite emotional. Also starring Sanjana Sanghi as Kizie, the film has Sushant playing an osteosarcoma (bone cancer) survivor by the name of Immanuel Rajkumar Junior, aka, Manny, a goofy, charming and happy-go-lucky guy who starts dating Kizie. Interestingly Manny’s character has a deep connection with the south – his love for Rajinikanth. Manny's grandmother speaks to him briefly in Tamil but there isn't much else to suggest that Manny is a Tamilian. However, his love for Rajinikanth is quite clearly on display. In fact, Manny’s introduction in Dil Bechara is him grooving to the iconic music that comes with the...

The makers of Rajinikanths upcoming Tamil film "Darbar" on Thursday released a special poster to mark the superstars 70th birthday.

The poster features Rajinikanth walking majestically with a fiery look on his face.

Also Read:?Darbar : Check out Suniel Shetty's first look!!

"Darbar", which has been directed by A.R. Murugadoss, is slated to hit the screens during Pongal in January.

The film marks his return to playing a police officer after 25 years.

Rajinikanth was last seen playing a police officer in the 1992 Tamil film "Pandian". His other police officer role includes Alex Pandian from "Moondru Mugam", which released in 1982.

At the audio launch of "Darbar" last weekend, Rajinikanth opened up on teaming up with Murugadoss for the first time.

"We couldn't think about anyone else but Ar Murugadoss to direct the movie. I loved his 'Ramana' and 'Ghajini'. I had wanted to work with him for long.

KollywoodIf rumours are to be believed, the film would be bankrolled by Ishari Ganesh of Vels Films International.Digital NativeSuperstar Rajinikanth who is currently awaiting the release of Darbar directed by Ar Murugadoss, will start shooting for his next with Veeram and Viswasam fame director Siva. This film has been currently dubbed as Thalaivar 168. There are reports that Rajinikanth's next film, 169th, would be directed by Gautham Menon. This speculation was sparked off after certain reports said that Rajini had heard Gautham's script recently. If these rumours are to be believed, the film would be bankrolled by Ishari Ganesh of Vels Films International. An official announcement is expected soon. Ishari Ganesh is releasing the Gautham Menon's long-delayed Enai Nokki Paayum Thotta and is also producing his next titled Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha starring Puppy fame Varun in the lead. Gautham has also signed two more films under his banner which might star Suriya and Anushka.

KollywoodThe audio launch for the film was held in Chennai on November 20, inside a packed Prasad Studios theatre hall.Anjana ShekarDirector Athiyan Athirai’s Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu is expected to release on December 6. The audio launch for the film was held in Chennai on November 20, inside a packed Prasad Studios theatre hall. Comrade Athiyan, as he likes being called, recounted the days when he worked in an iron scrapyard, bearing heavy loads, and about his relationship with producer Pa Ranjith. “The film will speak about an important way of life. I wanted to tell the story of where I come from. They talk about how air pollution reduces one’s lifespan today but every worker who spends 12 hours on an average day, breathing iron dust, loses half his lifetime. This was my life once,” he said. On the music When it was his turn to speak, music director Tenma...

As Kangana Ranaut?is gearing up for her upcoming biopic on the legendary superstar turned politician Jayalalithaa.. a newcomer is already labeled as the next Jayalalithaa by a veteran producer down south.? Who is she.. let?s find out?.

Remember Digangana Suryavanshi the cute and lovely television heartthrob that made the entertainer No.1 Govinda go crazy as the audience giggled in the comedy Fryday.

Digangana Suryavanshi is in big demand down south. The actress is bagging movies one after the another after the immense love showered by the fans for her first step in Tollywood with Telugu movie Hippi co starring Kartikeya Gummakonda and directed by T.N Krishna.

Following is the lineup of Digangana?s south projects - Telugu movie Valayam - a suspense thriller co starring Laksh Chadalavada to be helmed by Ramesh Kadumula. Another untitled Telugu movie starring Shiva which will be a love story, and her...

KollywoodThe film will be directed by Pandiraj, under whom the actor made his acting debut in 2012 with ‘Marina’.Digital NativeSivakarthikeyan is basking in the success of his debut production Kanaa apart from being busy with a handful of projects. In a surprise announcement, it was revealed that the star will team up with director Pandiraj for his next film. Interestingly, this will be the second film for the duo; in 2012, Siva made his acting debut with Marina which was directed by Pandiraj. After bankrolling Vijay’s Sarkar and Rajnikanth’s Petta back to back, Sun Pictures will be producing this film next. Announcing the project, the production company tweeted on Friday, “#SK16BySunPictures @Siva_Kartikeyan @pandiraj_dir”. #SK16BySunPictures@Siva_Kartikeyan @pandiraj_dir pic.twitter.com/2xPTk8psHu — Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) March 8, 2019 Last seen in the rural entertainer Seemaraja which hit the screens last year and opened to a decent response,...

KollywoodThe first look poster of the film showed the actor chasing down men with guns in her hands.Digital NativeSai Dhanshika has starred in several films in her career spanning more than a decade and has bagged some of the best roles. Her performance in Peraanmai, Paradesi, and Kabali are worth a mention. She, in fact, bagged the Filmfare award for the Best Supporting Actress for her role in Pardesi and Kabali. The actor currently has a number of films needing her attention and notable among it is Yogi Da, which is directed by Gautham Krishna, an erstwhile associate of directors Sibi Malayil and Chakri Toleti. Yogi Da is bankrolled by Jatpatma Cinemas. While it is a heroine-centric role with the main focus on Sai Dhanshika, the film has Bollywood actor Kabir Singh sharing the screen space with her. The film’s star cast also includes Sayaji Shinde and Manobala in the supporting roles.

KollywoodAfter 'Kaala', Ranjith will be doing a Hindi film to be produced by Namah Pictures.Tnm StaffFacebook/Pa.Ranjith FansHaving directed superstar Rajinikanth in two back-to-back films - Kabali and Kaala - early on in his career, Pa Ranjith is now set to make his Bollywood debut. The young director will be collaborating with Shareen and Kishor of Namah Pictures for a Bollywood film. Speaking to Tnm, Pa Ranjith said that the news was true. While it is known that it will be a period film, the cast is yet to be decided. Asked if rumours doing the rounds that Aamir Khan was going to star in it were true, Ranjith said, "No. The hero hasn't been decided yet." Namah Pictures, founded by Shareen Mantri Kedia and Kishor Arora, produced the critically acclaimed feature, Beyond the Clouds (2018), directed by the Oscar-nominated Majid Majidi. Starring Ishaan Khatter, Malavika Mohanan, Goutam Ghose and Gv Sharada,...

Wamg has your free passes to the advance screening of The Meg in St. Louis.

Enter For Your Chance To Win A Pass Good For Two!

Date: Monday, August 6th at 7Pm in the St. Louis area.

Answer the following with the movie titles:

What shark movie was LL Cool J in? What shark movie was Michael Caine in? What shark movie was Kristy Swanson in?

Add you name, answers and email in our comments section below.

No Purchase Required. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.

Jason Statham and award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing star in the science fiction action thriller “The Meg,” directed by Jon Turteltaub.

A deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct,...

Film CommentaryFrom going after the loosu ponnu to taking on Gautham Menon's obsession with killing women, 'Tamizh Padam 2' exposes the misogyny in Tamil films. Spoilers ahead.Sowmya Rajendran*Spoilers ahead Cs Amudhan's Tamizh Padam 2, much like the first film, takes a dig at Kollywood trends and spares no mainstream film. This time around though, the director has also addressed how female characters are represented in Tamil cinema, especially the heroine, who has been reduced to a "loosu ponnu." Agila Ulaga Superstar Shiva's first wife, Priya (Disha Pandey), is killed off unceremoniously because this is a sequel and obviously, a sequel can never have the same heroine. Besides, Tamizh Padam 2 is a cop film and as guruji Gautham Menon has taught us over and over again, a police officer's sincerity to the job is inversely proportional to his wife's longevity. So, Priya dies and is replaced by Ramya (Iswarya Menon). How? Shiva's friend advises him to simply close his eyes and fall in love with the first woman he sees. Shiva has only two conditions – a. The girl must be the colour of maida b. She must be a 'loosu ponnu'. This may seem satirical to people who are not familiar with mainstream Tamil films, but it's actually an accurate description of the heroine in most of them. Amudhan goes one step ahead and breaks down the conditions that establish a "loosu ponnu" – she must chase a puppy, she must help blind people cross the road, and she must eat ice-cream in the rain. While film critics have been lamenting this annoying trope for eons now, it's refreshing to see someone from the industry spelling it out in neon. Ramya also wears a T-shirt that says "Mental manadhil" and gets into a bus for patients with mental health issues (one supposes that mental healthcare professionals won't be delighted by this) to seal the deal for Shiva. He's in love! Among the films that Amudhan takes a dig at is the horrendous Remo which romanticised stalking on a whole other level. When his friends advise him to torture the heroine into falling in love with him, Shiva asks if that would not be wrong. They, however, tell him that he's the hero and that he can go to any extent to make the woman fall for him. Santhana Bharathi, who appears as one of Shiva's friends, also dresses up as a female nurse – to make sure we don't miss the reference. Ramya is hilariously oblivious to the fact that the heavily bearded person in the nurse uniform is not a woman – well, she's a loosu ponnu after all. 'Adida avala' from Mayakkam Enna and 'Evandi unna petha' from Vaanam (by Dhanush and Simbu respectively, the kings of the soup song genre) get a rehaul with Ramya singing the woman's version of it when she's dumped by Shiva for a stupid reason. Although the song is meant to be funny, it has some poignant lines that hit home, especially given the spate of stalker related murders in Tamil Nadu. "Love failurenu solli acid adikkara neenga/ engakita enda kolaveri pathi maanamkettu pesureenga" (Those of you who say love failure and throw acid, why do you speak to us about murderous rage without any shame?) are lyrics that Kollywood will do well to remember next time directors are tempted to make the same-old "suffering" hero nonsense. There's plenty of good-natured humour about a plethora of films – Vivegam, Vikram-Vedha, Thupparivalan, Thuppaki, Pisasu, Kaththi, VIP, 24, 7aam Arrivu, Thevar Magan, 2.0, Kabali, Ms Dhoni, Baahubali, Irudhi Suttru, Villain, Veeram, Saamy – the list is super long. However, what's appreciable is how Amudhan has also gone after the misogyny present in the films of directors who are considered to be "classy", particularly Gautham Menon. Although Gautham Menon is usually credited with giving "sensible" women characters who are not the "loosu ponnu", they tend to die brutal deaths, especially in his cop films. The misogyny is not as glaring as it is in the average mainstream film, but it's all the more disturbing. In Tamizh Padam 2, Shiva stalks Ramya (his tenant - Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya) to the Us (Vaaranam Aayiram) and the heroine eventually dies. But then, she hilariously comes back as Gayathri (the proposal scene is straight out of Vettaiyadu Vilaiyaadu). The self-obsessed hero voice-overs that are present in every Gautham Menon cop film – Khaaka Khaaka, Yennai Arindhal, Achcham Yenbadhu Madamayada – are also unmistakable. By the end of the movie, Shiva, the sincere cop, has a wall full of pictures of dead wives – so much so that his long-suffering paati decides to kill him and put an end to it. And oh, Kasthuri does an "item" number in the middle of an investigation because that's how the "classy" directors show off their "massy" side to the audience. Tamizh Padam 2 is not without its issues. It is essentially a string of scenes from popular films and if you don't get the references, chances are that it will not make any sense to you. But Amudhan has dared to show Kollywood an aspect that is seldom discussed by people from within the industry seriously – why can't we have better female characters? Why can't our love stories treat women with more respect? And when will our heroines grow up and behave like adults?...

NewsThe Congress chief took to Twitter to post a photo of the duo on Wednesday.Tnm StaffTwitter: @RahulGandhiIndian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi met with acclaimed director Pa Ranjith on Tuesday. Taking to Twitter to post a photo of the meeting on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “I met film director P A Ranjith the man behind blockbuster films like Madras, Kabali and Kaala and actor Kalaiyarasan, in Delhi yesterday. We talked about politics, films and society. I enjoyed the interaction and look forward to continuing our dialogue.” Rahul Gandhi is dressed in a bluish white shirt while Ranjith is seen sporting a smart black polo tee. The smiling men were clicked shaking hands in what seems to be a garden in the background. Present along with them was actor Kalaiarasan, who acted in Ranjith’s Attakathi, Madras and Kabali. The actor received praise from several quarters for his role as Anbu in Madras. The critically acclaimed filmmaker has been vocal about politics, both on and off camera. While the filmmaker has directed only four films, he has taken the industry by storm with the socio-political commentary in his films. Presenting a subaltern perspective through his filmmaking and exploring the uncomfortable realm of caste politics, the director has been vocal in his stance against the Neet examinations, among other pressing issues, which has been a point of contention between the state and the Central government. The director’s fiery speech on the suicide of Anita, a Dalit girl who fought against the one size fits all entrance examinations for medical studies, went viral last year. Ranjith has become the envy of the film industry after making two films with Rajinikanth, a feat formerly achieved only by decade-old directors. Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with the director comes ahead of the former’s likely bid for the country’s top job in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Also read: It’s official! Rajinikanth’s ‘2.0’ release date has been announced...

A new TV spot has been released for Jason Statham's upcoming giant shark film The Meg. This movie looks so over-the-top and ridiculous that there's no doubt it's going to be a crazy fun film. It's Jason Statham taking on a giant ass shark! What's there not to be excited about!

In the film, a deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep-sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing), to save the crew—and the ocean itself—from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon. What no one could...

"I'm gonna make this thing bleed."

Warner Bros. has released a new international trailer and poster for The Meg, which awesomely centers around Jason Statham fighting a giant-ass shark known as the Megalodon. In real life, Statham is probably the only person in the world that could handle a situation like this.

There's a good amount of new footage in this trailer that gives us a proper set up of the story and a lot more shark chomping action!

In the film, a deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep-sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter...

KollywoodArjunraja who has penned songs like 'Nerupu da' in 'Kabali' has turned director for this film. Tnm StaffTwitter/ SivakarthikeyanThe first look poster of actor Sivakarthikeya’s first film as producer was released on Twitter on Tuesday. Titled Kanaa, the film stars Aishwarya Rajesh of Kaaka Muttai fame and actor Sathyaraj. Very happy to share the First Look of our #SivakarthikeyanProductions first film #Kanaa #கனா Directed by my Nanban @Arunrajakamaraj with our dear #Sathyaraj sir @aishu_dil @darshan991 @dineshkrishnanb @AntonyLRuben @artilayaraja @Pali2285 @klaeking @vinciraj pic.twitter.com/aNdu2BRqx3 — Sivakarthikeyan (@Siva_Kartikeyan) May 15, 2018 The poster shows one half of Aishwarya’s face and the other half is Sathyaraj’s face. The visual is also split between sunset/sunrise in the fields and a sports stadium. The film is rumoured to be about the inspiring journey of a young girl’s cricketing dream and her ever-supportive father. While Sivakarthikeyan has had a good number of films coming his way, the actor recently announced in February this year that he would be producing his friend Arjunraja Kamaraj’s story. Arjunraja, who has penned famous songs like 'Nerupu da' for Rajinikanth in Kabali and 'Kattravai Pattravai' in Kaala has turned director for this film. Siva and Arunraja go a long way back as friends. They were classmates in college and hail from the same town. The film will have music by Dhibu Ninan Thomas, who also happens to be a classmate of Siva and Arunraja. Sivakarthikeyan was last seen in Mohan Raja’s Velaikkaran alongside Nayanthara. He is currently working on director Ponram’s Seemaraja. The duo has collaborated previously in two films - Varuthapadatha Vaalibar Sangam and Rajini Murugan. Sivakarthikeyan has two yet-to-be-titled projects with director Rajesh and Ravikumar respectively. Arjunraja Kamaraj first crooned for Santosh Narayan’s Jigarthanda prior to which he has penned lyrics for two songs in Pizza. He has also acted in films like Raja Rani, Remo and Pencil. Award-winning actor Aishwarya Rajesh has a good number of films coming this year including Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chevandha Vaanam, Rathindran R Prasad’s Idhu Vedhaalam Sollum Kadhai, Al Vijay’s Lakshmi, Vetrimaaran’s Vada Chennai and Gautam Menon's Dhruva Natchathiram. She was last seen in Gemini Ganesanum Suruli Rajanum. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 13.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; background-color: #ffffff} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 6.0px; font: 12.8px Arial; color: #222222; -webkit-text-stroke: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; min-height: 15.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}...

"Pleased to eat you." With movies such as The Shallows and 47 Meters Down, we've been experiencing a shark-aissance in recent years, and Warner Bros. is looking to bring the water-based subgenre to a whole new level with the first official trailer for The Meg (based on Steve Alten's 1997 novel), complete with enough one-liners to hold fans over until the movie's August 10th release:

Press Release: "Jason Statham (“Spy,” “Furious 7,” “The Expendables” films) and award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing (“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Forbidden Kingdom,” “The Message”) star in the science fiction action thriller “The Meg,” directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies, “Last Vegas”).

In the film, a deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside.

Even Amity Mayor Larry Vaughn would close the beach if he saw this shark.

With a new trailer for the massive shark movie The Meg (based on Steve Alten's 1997 book) expected to arrive soon, EW unveiled a new image from the film (see below) that shows the prehistoric size of the Megalodon shark, which makes beachgoers look like minnows in comparison.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub (Last Vegas, National Treasure) and featuring a cast that includes Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Cliff Curtis, Rainn Wilson, and Ruby Rose, The Meg is scheduled to swim into theaters on August 10th from Warner Bros.

Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, check out the previous press release and new image below, and in case you missed it, read our Q&A with Meg author Steve Alten (back when Eli Roth was set to helm the film adaptation). Also, be sure to head...

ControversyPosters came up around Rajinikanth’s house that asked if the actor turned politician who wants to save the people would save his family.Tnm StaffGP Selvakumar, the distributor of the 2016 Rajinikanth starrer Kabali, in south Arcot and Puducherry, has alleged non payment of dues by producer Kalaipuli S Thanu. The matter came to light after posters emerged near actor turned politician Rajinikanth’s house in Poes Garden. The black and white posters asked, “Will Rajinikanth, who has entered politics to save the people, save the family of Gp Selvakumar, who has no way for his next meal and is on the streets with his family?” The 2016 gangster drama Kabali, directed by Pa Ranjith, starring Rajinikanth and Radhika Apte in the lead role, was produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu. It went onto become a smashing hit according to industry insiders. The posters Speaking to media persons at the Chennai Press Club on Friday, a visibly upset Gp Selvakumar said, “I was out of town when I got the information and saw the poster. I was very affected mentally. I ran back here(to Chennai). That I owe debts is true, it cannot be denied. But because I have not received money from where I should be getting it, for over 20 months I have been telling them(my lenders) that I will pay them today or tomorrow. ” Denying any connection to the poster, Selvakumar suspected that his lenders may have plastered it on the walls, as they explicitly ask for Selvakumar to respond as well. Selvakumar also said that he would meet Rajinikanth and explain the posters plastered around his house. ‘Please return my money, I will pay my debts and leave the town’ Selvakumar alleges that he invested Rs 5 crore for the film which went on to collect a net total of over Rs 4 million on its opening day. Explaining his ordeal, Selvakumar said, “For 20 months I have had no work or income. I am sitting here after having pawned away my wife's thaali. Thanu sir had given me a lot of reassurances saying ‘you don't worry, I will give you the amount’. But debtors did not believe me. My godfather Kalaipuli S Thanu sir told me that there will be a solution to this after the business of selling the satellite rights(of the film) with a television network is concluded. But the lenders did not believe my word. I have explained my situation to Superstar Rajinikanth and my guru and godfather Thanu. They could have saved me before I came to this stage. Thanu sir did not save me. Debtors have pushed me to the point of putting a full stop to my life. Before they could end my life, I have come to feel that I should commit suicide.” However, when asked about whether Selvakumar had been cheated by the Kabali producer, he maintained that he did not feel cheated by his ‘godfather and guru’ Kalaipuli S Thanu. “I won't say Thanu sir has cheated me. I will say the circumstance for his returning my money has not come,” he said. Selvakumar explained that of the the Rs 5 crores he had spent, his loss was Rs 2,22,74,185. However all he wanted at this point was the Rs 1.5 crores that Thanu reportedly promised him. “I plead with folded hands to Thanu sir to please return my money. I will pay my lender's and leave the town,” he said. In 2016, a distributor for Trichy and Thanjavur had made allegations over losses incurred by him on account of the film and Thanu had said that the distributor should approach the theatre owners.

Film commentaryBoth films humanize the oppressed and give us superheroes who are quite unlike the ones we've seen all along.Rajesh RajamaniThe unmissable thing about Ryan Coogler's Black Panther (2018) is that it is strikingly similar to what Pa Ranjith's Tamil film Kabali (2016) tried to achieve within the superhero format. Both these movies pick all possible clichés and tropes for a superhero movie and interestingly subvert and invert them. (Note: One might wonder at this point if Kabali is really a superhero movie. The character Kabali certainly doesn't possess any real superpower. Neither does he posses any technologically aided suit that can compensate for his lack of superpowers. But still, it is important to note that since the movie Annamalai (1992), almost all of Rajinikanth’s movies are primarily a blend of the superhero genre with other genres. His superpower is that he is Rajinikanth!) A new politicized hero rises Of course, the most obvious similarity between both these movies is who the superhero is. By placing an African and a lower caste person of Indian origin as their protagonists, both these movies successfully negotiate for a space in the white and upper caste dominated movie industries respectively. Coogler's movie might be the first to envision an ambitious wide canvas for a black superhero. Black Panther/T’Challa is the King of Wakanda, a fictitious African nation. Here, the otherwise powerful white man gets to play the sidekick (a role often reserved for Afro-American actors in Hollywood) and tries to be a wannabe ally who is frequently mocked for the way he is. Comparably, Ranjith's film effortlessly inverts the meaning associated with the name Kabali. From being known as an uncouth, criminalized sidekick character in popular culture, Kabali transforms into an assertive superhero. In the movie, Kabali is a Tamil migrant labourer in Malyasia who rises to become an influential don. While the character Black Panther could be interpreted as an allusion to the politics of the Black Panther party (though I understand that there exists a claim that the comic character first appeared a few months before the party was formed), the reference becomes even more relevant at a time when the Us President Donald Trump has been openly peddling a White Supremacist position and the Black Lives Matters movement has been protesting against police killings of black people, and other issues like racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality. In Kabali, the protagonist is vocal about his Ambedkarite politics, which seems to be a very significant act at a time when Hindutva violence against Dalits has been on a rise under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Bjp rule. Interestingly, Black Panther released exactly a year after Trump came to power. And Kabali released two years after the Bjp’s rule at the centre. Humanizing the oppressed and the search for identity The most revolutionary fact about both Black Panther and Kabali is how they set out to humanize oppressed people and their lives on screen. While mainstream cinema has traditionally played oppressed people as either exoticized objects or as perennial victims, both these movies forcefully dismantle such stereotypes. While Black Panther records the culture, practices and even the costumes of various African tribes in mind-blowing detail, Kabali too documents important aspects of the lower castes - like the worship of indigenous local gods and the absence of a Brahmin priest in their temples. In the song ‘Veera thurandhara’, the lyrics of Uma Devi refer to Buddha’s eightfold path, a religion that Dalit Bahujans in India have embraced to emancipate themselves. Importantly, in these movies, black people and those from the lower castes are portrayed as individuals who are strong, vulnerable, flawed, assertive and those who are capable of love, hate, vengeance and forgiveness. By doing this, they liberate these characters and make them human, relatable and beautiful - all at the same time. Black Panther contrasts the African identity with the Afro American identity and voices the yearning of Afro Americans for an identity that they can securely embrace as their own without being subjected to white supremacy. On the other hand, the lower caste Kabali is an outcaste in his Tamil homeland and an outsider in Malaysia. His longing for an identity that will set him free appears to be drawn from the iconic lines of Dr. Br Ambedkar - “Gandhiji, I have no homeland”. Gender bender What is remarkable about the characters Black Panther/T'Challa and Kabali is that even though they exist in the hyper-masculine superhero universe, they both aren't afraid to be vulnerable men. T'Challa freezes when he meets his ex-lover, gets bullied by his sister and listens to the head of the all-female special forces and his mother. Kabali takes his wife's suggestions seriously, misses her when they are separated and doesn't have a problem breaking into tears when he at last meets her after several years. While the rules of the superhero genre dictate that he promptly saves women, children, the old and everyone else from danger, ironically in these two movies, both T'Challa and Kabali get almost killed. T'Challa is then saved by his mother and sister, while Kabali's assassination is terminated by his daughter. Both these movies consciously avoid all sexist tropes used in a superhero format. While the male protagonists do act as the pivotal point in both the narratives, they are still supported by very fiery, powerful women. In Black Panther, Nakia admires T’Challa, but repeatedly asserts that her mission is more important to her than being a queen. Okoye, the head of the all-female special forces Dora Milaje puts her nation and people before everything else. And the teenaged Shuri is an amazing science and tech wizard. All these women repeatedly save T’Challa and call their shots in both love and war. Similarly, the movie Kabali put an end to Rajinikanth’s over-repeated invincible characterization. Moving away from the usual sexist/misogynistic banter his characters indulge in, Kabali is a man who understands and practices gender equality. Traditionally, it is the task of the Rajinikanth’s character to save women in his movies, but in Kabali, his daughter Yogi saves him from being killed. Kumadhavalli, his wife influences his behavior and decisions. She even scolds him at times, which is quite an unseen feature in Rajinikanth’s movies. Meena, a student at the reformative school gets hold of Kabali to confront him at one point. Every time these women appear on screen, Kabali willingly plays a secondary role. In fact in one flashback sequence in the song ‘Mayanadhi’, Kabali is seen carrying a grocery bag and buying eggs at a store along with his wife Kumudhavalli. When have we ever seen a superhero or for that matter even a regular hero visit a grocery store in Tamil cinema? Marking another similarity, T’Challa’s sister Shuri makes the Black Panther’s suit. And Kabali wears the three-piece suit as suggested by his wife Kumudhavalli. The drum roll Another significant similarity between both the movies is how their musical scores sound. Generally, for superhero movies we are familiar with the kind of music that is composed by Hans Zimmer or other composers whose music sounds like his. But for Black Panther, composer Ludwig Göransson used artists and music from West Africa to create a score that is drastically different. For instance, to create the opening theme score, he collaborated with Senegalese singer Baaba Maal and used the Talking drum, which results in a score that is essentially African. For Rajinikanth, there existed an unwritten rule that the opening song shall only be sung by Sp Balasubrahmanyam. The rule was very rarely broken and even in circumstances where other singers were used, they have only tried to sound like Sp Balasubrahmanyam himself. But for Kabali, composer Santhosh Narayanan used a popular gaana singer Gana Bala for the opening song ‘Ulagam Oruvanukka’ (Gaana is considered as an urban folk musical form that originated among the working classes). That a gaana singer can sing the opening song or rather any song for Rajinikanth was unthinkable in the pre-Kabali days. Also, the song uses sounds from the Parai drum and the lyrics even claim ‘Parai Isai Adithitu Pattu Kattu’ (Beat the Parai drum and sing your song). Interestingly, the Talking drum in ‘The Black Panther’ and the Parai drum in Kabali sound similar to a significant extent. The superhero shall be seated Superheroes are mostly seen flying on movie posters. If they aren’t flying, they are shown in a pose that depicts a fighting action or if nothing else, they are at least seen standing grandly. But it is amusing to see that in one of the poster releases for both the movies, the characters Black Panther and Kabali are firmly seated. I looked around as much as I could but couldn’t find a poster of any other superhero where he/she is seated. Which makes one wonder - why are Black Panther and Kabali seated? The only possible answer is that for communities oppressed over centuries through slavery or caste, the very act of visualizing one of their members seated majestically, holding a position of power is in itself an act of assertion. In Black Panther, T’Challa has to fight his cousin Killmonger to retain his throne. And it is important for him to retain the throne because that is the only way he can protect his nation and its people. Similarly, Kabali too announces in the movie’s climax sequence that if his opponents were pissed off because he is able to sit with them as an equal, he would continue to do so. Differences and similarities There is however a very striking difference between these two movies. In Black Panther, the conflict between T’Challa and Killmonger appears to reflect the contrast in the ideologies of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X respectively. By making T’Challa win, the movie seems to side with Martin Luther King Jr’s path to achieve civil rights. However, in Kabali, there is no such conflict. The protagonist here blends and balances both violent and non-violent ways and doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. While he uses force to put down his rivals, he also invests in the education of his people for he believes that the future lies in there. But it is quite thrilling to see how these movies are fundamentally very similar (Amusing coincidental trivia: Both these movies are the third feature film made by the respective directors!) Could it be possible that when people from oppressed communities tell their own stories, they seem to do it in more or less the same way? Ryan Coogler, an Afro American and Pa Ranjith from a Dalit community in Tamil Nadu seem to be attempting three key things in their movies. One, to humanize the oppressed and document their lives with dignity. Two, to portray them as politically assertive individuals. And three, while envisioning an equal society in their movies, they are able to understand and illustrate how gender too is strongly interlinked to race or caste. It is the common objective of dismantling existing stereotypes and creating a new narrative for the oppressed that makes Black Panther and Kabali very similar. In fact, at one point in Kabali, the protagonist refers to himself as ‘Black Power’, clearly making a hat tip to the Afro-American slogan that aimed at achieving self-determination. So I mean, if Wakanda Forever is a society that is built on equality, it is sure a cause for Magizhchi!

KollywoodVadgam constituency Mla Jignesh was in Chennai earlier this month and celebrated Pongal with Ranjith.Tnm StaffFacebook/Pa RanjithEarlier this month, Jignesh Mevani, the independent Mla from Gujarat, met with Tamil director Pa Ranjith on January 14 at the latter’s residence in Chennai. The two of them celebrated Pongal together. Their meet was highly discussed by many. Now, director Ranjith has confirmed that the politician will make a cameo in his upcoming Tamil film. In an interview to The Indian Express he has said that it was wonderful meeting a young leader like Mevani and that he will play a role that suits him. The two also seem to have discussed various issues including Dalit rights. Director Pa Ranjith is currently wrapping up the shoot of his upcoming Rajinikanth starrer Kaala. The film is about oppressed Tamil people in Mumbai. Known for his politically vocal films like Madras and Kabali, the director has also been active in other pro-Dalit movements in the state. He has frequently asserted his belief that art is political. Pa Ranjith also recently initiated The Casteless Collective, a 19-member music band comprising entirely of Tamil gaana singers. After performing at an event in the city on January 6, the initiative received praises from many. His production house, Neelam Productions, has been encouraging several inspiring youngsters in their debut directorial ventures. The recent documentary on love, life and suicides among lesbian women, Ladies and Gentlewomen, directed by Maalini Jeevarathnam was also produced by Pa Ranjith. Neelam Productions' earliest venture was in 2016 with the release of two documentaries - Dr. Shoe Maker and Beware of Castes: Mirchpur. Vadgam constituency Mla Jignesh was in the city for The Hindu Lit for Life recently. At the event, he spoke about the problems faced by many Dalits in Gujarat and also on his plans for his constituency. It was during this time that the two met in Chennai. Director Pa Ranjith took to Twitter to express his happiness in meeting Jignesh. An unexpected lovely moment.Meeting with Comrade @jigneshmevani80.Thanks for coming all the way home.All the best for your work & my solidarity.Keep doing what you are doing.Much respect. pic.twitter.com/YLc5r5lPff — pa.ranjith (@beemji) January 14, 2018...

Director Steven Spielberg’s penultimate shark film Jaws spawned Deep Blue Sea, The Shallows and Open Water, just to name a few. Mankind has been chum in the cinema water for these sharp toothed beasties for decades.

Now comes the latest terror The Meg. In their recent 2018 preview, Warner Bros. Pictures has released a chilling first image from the film starring Jason Statham. Expect a first trailer to hit soon.

Statham plays Jonas Taylor in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Gravity Pictures’ action adventure. It is slated for release on August 10, 2018.

Jason Statham (“Spy,” “Furious 7,” “The Expendables” films) and award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing (“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Forbidden Kingdom,” “The Message”) star in the science fiction action thriller, directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies, “Last Vegas”).

In the film, a deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct,...

Known for taking films with strong social messages (Gabbar is Back, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha) Akshay Kumar is ready with his next release PadMan which is based on a real life, true story, showcasing one man’s decision to help women find sanitary solutions in India.

PadMan is the world’s first feature film on menstrual hygiene based on the story of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India turned incredible innovator and inventor, who was moved to provide women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago.

PadMan is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is produced by Aruna Bhatia, Mrs Funnybones Movies, Spe FIlms India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions. It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar who assumes the titular role of...

Fans have been asking and we even hear that his real life Twinkle Khanna has been asking when the trailer for Padman will be out! Well, now we have our answer!

Today Akshay Kumar gave fans a treat with a teaser and then announced the full trailer will be out tomorrow!

Check it!

So here's the news you've been waiting for! Watch and don't forget to Retweet to get the #PadManTrailer from Pad Man himself @PadManTheFilm @sonamakapoor @radhika_apte @mrsfunnybones @SonyPicsIndia @kriarj #RBalki pic.twitter.com/aJSeLNyUBU

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 14, 2017

Here’s something cool if you Rt the trailer you will receive a personal message from Akshay Kumar

As you know PadMan is a superhero like no other – he’s also a little crazy!

Akshay Kumar would love to see some of your crazy antics so please post any crazy images and videos of yourselves on your social media...

On January 26th, PadMan the world’s first feature film on menstrual hygiene will release in theaters. Based on the story of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India turned incredible innovator and inventor, who was moved to provide women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago. Billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, it stars Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali). Produced by Aruna Bhatia, Mrs Funnybones Movies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, PadMan is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa).

Talking about the social issue aspect of the film, director R. Balki said in a recent interview,...

Billed as the most progressive film entertainer yet, PadMan is Co-produced by Twinkle Khanna’s Mrs Funnybones Movies, Hope Productions, KriArj Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, India and written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India turned incredible innovator and inventor who invented a machine to make low-costm high-quality sanitary napkins, creating a sanitary napkin revolution in India. Muruganantham’s story has been fictionalised for its silver screen debut with PadMan, the world’s first feature film on menstrual hygiene releasing in cinemas around the world on 26th January 2018. Kumar is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali).

Talking about the film, Akshay said, “PadMan is a very special film for many reasons. It is my wife’s first production from Mrs Funnybones Movies. She...

Kannada movie College Kumar is turning out to be a blockbuster hit.

Released on November 10th this year to positive reviews, there is a good market for its remake rights. Recently, director Pa Ranjith of Kabali fame was at the special screening organised for him and others in the Tamil film industry by the film’s producer L. Padmanabha who had bankrolled it under his banner Mr Pictures.