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5 Bollywood Stars who have acted in multiple Languages(Photo Credit –Instagram/Facebook)

It is important to keep in mind that the world of Indian cinema is not confined to Hindi films alone. India, with its diverse linguistic landscape, has a thriving film industry in various regional languages. Several Bollywood stars have not limited themselves to Hindi films but have also ventured into regional cinema, showcasing their versatility and broadening their fan base. Here are five Bollywood stars who have acted in multiple languages, making significant contributions to Indian cinema as a whole.

1. Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a name that resonates globally today. Starting her career in Bollywood, she quickly rose to fame with her exceptional acting skills and charming screen presence. However, her talent was not confined to Bollywood alone. Priyanka has acted in Tamil, Telugu, and even international films, including English-language movies and TV series.

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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Images From Mumtaz Look Test Have Gone Viral. (Photo Credit – Reddit)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been called the world’s most beautiful world many times over, and this statement holds true every day. While fans appreciate Aishwarya‘s every look, some old lool tests of Rai Bachchan as Mumtaz are going viral. The images showcase Aishwarya Rai donning ethnic and ethereal looks, and fans now say that the shelved Taj Mahal movie should be made.

The actress, who won the Miss World title in 1994, became a prominent figure in the film industry. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her acting debut with Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film Iruvar, and the same year, she entered Bollywood with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. Over the years, Aishwarya has showcased her remarkable acting skills, beauty, and charm, leaving audiences in awe. Recently, a series of photos featuring her in a royal look...

Film industry luminaries have paid fulsome homage to Indian DoP Santosh Sivan, this year’s recipient of the annual Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography award conferred during the Cannes Film Festival.

Hosted by professional cinema lens manufacturer Angénieux at Cannes, the award pays tribute to a renowned cinematographer and recognizes an emerging talent. Estonian-u.S cinematographer Kadri Koop will receive the Angénieux special encouragement honor.

Sivan has shot 55 feature films, including “Roja,” “Thalapathi,” “Dil Se” and “Iruvar” for Mani Ratnam, Cannes selection “Vanaprastham” for Shaji N. Karun, “Meenaxi” for M.F. Hussain and “Bride and Prejudice” for Gurinder Chadha, amongst many others. He has also shot more than 50 documentaries and directed 17 feature films including Sundance selection “The Terrorist” and Venice and Toronto selection “Asoka,” produced by and starring Shah Rukh Khan. Sivan is the first Indian member of the American Society of Cinematographers.

The DoP is the first Asian recipient of the Angénieux award,...

National Award-winning filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who last directed the magnum opus, the two part ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, shared an anecdote from his schooling days, when he would watch a film on the pretext of studying with friends.

The filmmaker who is known for films such as ‘Roja’, ‘Thiruda Thiruda’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Iruvar’, ‘Alaipayuthey’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Guru’ and others, recently spoke with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali during the Masterclass of Mami Mumbai Film Festival.

He spoke about his childhood days and also shared when his interest in cinema turned into a passion.

Mani Ratnam said: “Before I got into films I was just a cinema-goer, because I liked this world of films. I never thought I would choose cinema as a profession. I just used to go theatres every Friday and tell my parents that I’ll be away for group study with my friends but I would be in theatres watching a movie during that time.

One of India's top indie auteurs has hooked up with one of South India's biggest movie stars to present Mallaikottai Vaaliban, a big time action spectacle that looks spectacular. Director Lijo Jose Pellissery took the arthouse world by storm with the intense action of 2019's Jallikattu. In the intervening years he's made a pair of strikingly different films, 2020's mystical horror films Churuli (Spiral) and 2022's ethereal magical realist masterpiece Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (Like An Afternoon Dream). The latter film found him working with one of Malayalam cinema's biggest stars, Mammootty, and Malaikottai Vaaliban has him linking up with the other big daddy of the region's cinema, Mohanlal. Malaikottai Vaaliban is a period piece about a wrestler who is unmatched in the ring...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam, known for his works like ‘Roja’, ‘Bombay’, and Italian director Luca Guadagnino, who is known for ‘A Bigger Splash’, ‘Call Me By Your Name’, etc will be honoured with the ‘Excellence in Cinema’ award, here, at the Mami Mumbai Film Festival. Both the directors will attend the festival to receive this prestigious accolade, and will conduct masterclasses at the festival. It will be held at the Opening Night ceremony on October 27.

The award honours individuals who have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the world of film and cinema. Previous recipients include Darren Aronofsky, Sharmila Tagore, Fernando Meirelles, and Chen Kaige.

The festival will also screen Mani Ratnam’s most recent historical dramas — ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part one and two’, and Guadagnino’s Golden Globe-nominated film ‘I Am Love’.

With a career spanning four decades, Mani Ratnam is one of the most celebrated directors from South Asia. Over the decades,...

Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam, known for his works like ‘Roja’, ‘Bombay’, and Italian director Luca Guadagnino, who is known for ‘A Bigger Splash’, ‘Call Me By Your Name’, etc will be honoured with the ‘Excellence in Cinema’ award, here, at the Mami Mumbai Film Festival. Both the directors will attend the festival to receive this prestigious accolade, and will conduct masterclasses at the festival. It will be held at the Opening Night ceremony on October 27.

The award honours individuals who have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the world of film and cinema. Previous recipients include Darren Aronofsky, Sharmila Tagore, Fernando Meirelles, and Chen Kaige.

The festival will also screen Mani Ratnam’s most recent historical dramas — ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part one and two’, and Guadagnino’s Golden Globe-nominated film ‘I Am Love’.

With a career spanning four decades, Mani Ratnam is one of the most celebrated directors from South Asia. Over the decades,...

Italy’s Luca Guadagnino and India’s Mani Ratnam will receive the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival’s 2023 Excellence in Cinema awards.

Ratnam will receive the Excellence in Cinema (South Asia) award and Guadagnino the Excellence in Cinema (International) award. The awards will be presented at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 27. Both filmmakers will be present and will deliver masterclasses during the festival.

The festival will screen Guadagnino’s Oscar and BAFTA nominated “I Am Love” (2009) and both parts of Ratnam’s magnum opus “Ponniyin Selvan”.

Guadagnino’s films include “A Bigger Splash” (2015), the Oscar-winning film “Call Me By Your Name” (2017), “Suspiria” (2018) and feature documentary “Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams” (2020). “Bones and All” (2022) won Guadagnino the Silver Lion for best director at Venice. He made his TV debut with the HBO drama series “We Are Who We Are” (2020). His film “Challengers,” starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, is...

The much-awaited audio launch of Rajinikanth’s Jailer is finally happening on July 28 at Nehru stadium in Chennai. The event will be a star-studded affair with the presence of superstars from Kollywood, Mollywood and Sandalwood. Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar, Jackie Shroff, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah Bhatia and Sunil are some of the big names who will grace the occasion with their presence. The music of Jailer is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, who has delivered some chartbusters for Rajinikanth’s previous films like Petta and Darbar.

Jailer is written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, who is known for his films like Kolamavu Kokila and Doctor. The film is produced by Kalanithi Maran under his banner Sun Pictures, which has bankrolled some of the biggest blockbusters in Tamil cinema. Jailer marks the 169th film of Rajinikanth, who plays the titular role of a strict jailer who foils the plan of a notorious criminal to escape from prison.

Santosh Sivan, a filmmaker from Kerala, is one of the greatest modern cinematographers from the

Subcontinent. He has never restricted to just the Malayalam language area and worked on films in

Tamil, Hindi, and others. He is remembered for his fantastic collaboration with Mani Ratnam on such

movies as “Dil Se”, “Iruvar” or “Roja”. Quite early in his career, he also took the helm of the director.

He delivered various projects, some of which were recognized in the festival circuit, and some were epic blockbusters with a multistar cast (“Asoka” and

“Urumi”).

Moha is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam

“Moha” is his latest directorial venture, obviously created with the festival audience in mind. It

detaches from conventional narrative storytelling and differs from the other films by Sivan-the

director. Slightly it may resemble

“Navarasa”, which was contemplative and very experimental in form.

There are no dialogues in the movie, but it introduces the omniscient narrator,...

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who began her acting career in Indian cinema with director Mani Ratnam’s ‘Iruvar’, has said that the ace director will always, always continue to be her guru.

Participating in the audio and trailer launch of Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’, in which she plays the pivotal character of queen Nandini, Aishwarya said: “I am very happy to be here tonight. Mani sir is my Guru. He will always be my guru. Always, Always my guru.”

Looking at the director who was seated in the first row of the audience, the actress said: “Thank you so much for this opportunity yet again. For the privilege yet again. For the honour yet again. To take me as your student to work in your dream project ‘Ponniyin Selvan’.

“In all humility sir, I started my journey as a student in this magical world of cinema with...

The A R Rahman-composed “Chola Chola” track from Mani Ratnam’s upcoming epic period action film “Ponniyin Selvan: I”, which was released on Friday, has a rhythm rooted in the cultural of Tamil Nadu and is sung in praise of the Chola emperor, Rajaraja Chola I.

The song brings back the combination of Mani Ratnam and Rahman, who have earlier given memorable soundtracks to Indian cinema with “Roja”, “Iruvar”, “Dil Se…”, “Alaipayuthey” and “Yuva”, to name a few.

The song uses South Indian folk instruments in a big way with a prominent percussion section. Composer Vishal Mishra has gone behind the mic with Swagat Rathod to lend his voice to the lyrics of the veteran Mehboob.

The orchestra brings together the sound produced by three powerful forces: Chennai Strings, the A.R. Rahman Foundation-based Sunshine Orchestra and Budapest Art Orchestra.

“Ponniyin Selvan: I”, the first of two-part spectacle based...

Veteran lyricist Mehboob has crafted the lyrics for some of the legendary soundtracks like ‘Bombay’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Iruvar’, and ‘Yuva’ among many others. A frequent collaborator of maestro A R Rahman, Mehboob has teamed up with the composer again for their upcoming release ‘Heropanti 2’. In a recent conversation, the lyricist spoke about the idea behind […]...

Revered Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s hugely anticipated epic based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s classic Tamil-language novel “Ponniyin Selvan” has set a release date and first images have been released.

The first part of the two-part historical film, titled “Ps-1,” will release in cinemas worldwide on Sept. 30 in the Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

The story is set in the 10th century during a tumultuous time in the Chola empire when the power struggle between different branches of the ruling family caused violent rifts between the potential successors to the reigning emperor. During this time brave soldiers, cunning spies and evil schemers all try to win the empire for themselves. A civil war becomes imminent until the scores can be settled. All the political and military turmoil leads to the Cholas becoming the most prosperous and powerful empire in the continent and one of the most successful and long reigning in history.

KollywoodPeriod drama ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ marks director Mani Ratnam’s fourth-time collaboration with actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after ‘Iruvar’, ‘Guru’ and ‘Raavanan’. Tnm StaffInstagram/ Raaghavan MuruganYoung actor Raaghavan Murugan, who is currently working on Mani Ratnam’s upcoming period drama Ponniyin Selvan, took to Instagram to share a pic with actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Clicked in between shots, the selfies feature Aishwarya Rai sporting a casual look. The images shared by Raaghavan Murugan have gone viral on social media. Sharing the photos, he wrote: “With @aishwaryaraibachchan_arb mam at the break of #ponniyinselvan shoot and that was a great experience acting with her.” Raaghavan is known for his role in Dhanush’s directorial debut Pa Paandi, as well as for his appearances in movies such as Maari 2 and Sethupathi. Meanwhile, Ponniyin Selvan marks the fourth collaboration between director Mani Ratnam and actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She made her Tamil debut with the 1997 film Iruvar,...

DeathJayaram, who hailed from Warangal, has worked in popular films such as 1921, Devasuram and Mrugaya in Malayalam. He was 70 years old.Tnm StaffLeo Entertainment YoutubeVeteran Telugu and Malayalam cinematographer V Jayaram died on Thursday, May 20 in Hyderabad. He was 70 years old. He is survived by his son and daughter. His wife had passed away two years ago. A few days ago, he had turned coronavirus positive and was admitted in hospital. Jayaram, who hailed from Warangal, has worked in popular films such as 1921, Devasuram, and Mrugaya in Malayalam. In Telugu, he has associated with megastar Chiranjeevi and Mohan Babu. He also handled the camera for various hits of K Raghavendra Rao. Pelli Sandhadi, Iddaru Mithrulu, Paradesi, and Major Chandrakanth are some of his notable works. Jayaram's first movie was with actor Chiranjeevi in 1985. The movie titled ‘Chiranjeevi’, was a remake of Kannada film ‘Naane Raja’, directed by CV Rajendran. He...

MollywoodAR Rahman will reportedly play a cameo as part of a special music video in ‘Aaraattu’. Tnm StaffTwitter/MohanlalBody 2:

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal took to social media on Sunday to express his happiness at collaborating with Oscar winner Ar Rahman for his upcoming film Aaraattu. The actor shared a photo of himself with the music composer and the film’s director B Unnikrishnan, and wrote, “A rare and remarkable shoot with the Music Maestro @arrahman for #Aaraattu. @unnikrishnanb.”

A rare and remarkable shoot with the Music Maestro @arrahman for #Aaraattu. @unnikrishnanb pic.twitter.com/GPEz23e0lH

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) March 21, 2021

Ar Rahman will reportedly do a cameo as part of a special music video in the film. Fans of both Rahman and Mohanlal are eagerly awaiting the film’s release since the news was shared with them. It may be noted that Rahman had composed music for Mohanlal’s film...

CinemaWhile Deepika's debut was in Kannada in 2006, she did not do any south film after that for years.Sowmya RajendranIn 2006, Deepika Padukone made her debut in a Kannada film called Aishwarya in which she acted with Upendra. Her very next film, however, was the Bollywood biggie Om Shanti Om with Shah Rukh Khan. Though Aishwarya was also a big hit, Deepika, who grew up in Bengaluru, did not do any south film after that for a long time. She was supposed to do Rana with Rajinikanth in Tamil, but the project didn't take off due to Rajinikanth's poor health. She eventually settled for what Rana became – a motion capture film called Kochadaiiyaan in 2014. The film tanked badly at the box-office, and Deepika did not sign any south film after that. Until now. The announcement that Deepika, currently among the highest paid women actors in the country, will be starring opposite...

EntertainmentTwo films and a web series will soon release on the late Tamil Nadu Cm's life - but here's who we'd cast if we were making our movie!Tnm StaffThere are two films and a web series which will soon release on the life of late Tamil Nadu Cm J Jayalalithaa. Nithya Menen, Ramya Krishnan and Kangana Ranaut are playing the political leader in their respective projects, and social media is rife with discussions on who looks most suited to doing the role. While Nithya Menen and Ramya Krishnan have both found some acceptance, Kangana's look as the older Jayalalithaa has come under much flak. But what about the rest of the cast? The challenge of making a biopic is that the audience should be able to connect the cast with real life personalities. Here are our picks for who should play who in a biopic on Jayalalithaa. Jayalalithaa: We...

MollywoodThough he is the king of the box-office in Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal continues to play supporting yet substantial roles in films in other languages, what is the strategy behind it?Sowmya RajendranKaappaan, produced by Lyca, will release on September 20. The Kv Anand film has Suriya, Mohanlal, Arya and Sayyeshha in the cast. While Suriya is the male lead, Mohanlal is playing the pivotal role of Prime Minister Chandrakanth Varma. The film is also releasing in Telugu as Bandobast. Mohanlal is currently the highest paid actor in the Malayalam film industry. In 2018, he had three Malayalam releases where he played the lead role and he also did an extended cameo in Nivin Pauly's Kayamkulam Kochunni, stealing the thunder away from the younger star. In 2019, he's had two releases so far, with the first one, Lucifer, shattering multiple records and becoming the highest grossing Malayalam film ever till date. In fact,...

KollywoodSources tell us that the director is set on working with Vairamuthu despite widespread criticism.Digital NativeAce director Mani Ratnam is gearing up to take the most awaited film based on the epic novel Ponniyin Selvan to the floors. The groundwork for this project is on and reports have it that the shooting will begin later this year. An interesting piece of info doing rounds about this magnum opus is that there will be 12 songs in the album. Also, Mani Ratnam will be retaining his core team. Oscar-winning music composer Ar Rahman will score the music and lyricist Vairamuthu will be penning the lyrics for all the songs. Sources tell us that the director is set on working with Vairamuthu despite the widespread criticism. The lyricist has been accused of sexual misconduct during the recent #MeToo movement. This is an ambitious project inspired by the classic novel Ponniyin Selvan. The...

ObituaryMani Ratnam and Sriram started Aalayam Productions together and later parted ways.Tnm StaffProducer S Sriram of Aalayam Productions passed away in Chennai on Wednesday. He was in his mid-60s. Sriram had a mild heart attack four days ago and was undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai. He passed away on Wednesday morning and is survived by his wife Nalini Sriram, a well-known costume designer, and son Nikhil Sriram. Sriram and Mani Ratnam had together started Aalayam Productions. The two of them were friends. In Baradwaj Rangan's book Conversations with Mani Ratnam, the director says that Aalayam started out with films like K Subash's Chatriyan (1990), starring Vijayakant. The film is still considered to be among the best thrillers to come out of Tamil cinema. Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda was also made under the same banner. The two of them made a few more films together, including the blockbuster Bombay,...

Kollywood"I'll always be more than thrilled, excited, overwhelmed, humbled, and just happy to work with my guru," she had said in an interview to Film Companion.Digital NativeIt’s been Mani Ratnam’s longtime desire to adapt Ponniyin Selvan into a film with a huge star cast. Over a decade ago, he had almost announced the project with Vijay, Vikram and Mahesh Babu, and later with Karthi and Ram Charan. But for reasons unknown, the film never took off and after multiple attempts, it is learned Mani Ratnam may soon revive it with Karthi, Jayam Ravi and Vikram in the lead roles. According to the latest reports, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been roped into the essay the role of Princess Nandini, the wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar is the chancellor and treasurer of the Chola kingdom in the epic novel, written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. In an interview to Film Companion,...

SandalwoodIf Aishwarya signs on the dotted line, this will be her debut movie in Sandalwood.Digital NativeDigital NativeDarshan will soon be starring in the Kannada movie directed by Tharun Sudhir titled Robert, in which he will be seen playing the title role. The groundwork for this project has begun and the team is roping in other actors to play pivotal roles in the film. Reports indicate that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been approached to play the female lead in this flick. Source in the know say that the role requires the heroine to be fluent in Hindi and Aishwarya would suit the role well. However, there is no confirmation that the actor has signed on the dotted line. Aishwarya Rai made her acting debut with the 1997 Tamil movie Iruvar which was directed by Mani Ratnam. In her career spanning well over two decades, she has acted in different languages including Hindi,...

KollywoodSources confirm that Kalaipuli S Thaanu will be releasing the movie in Kollywood on May 3.Digital NativeThere is no doubt that Mohanlal has a huge fan following in Tamil Nadu. The star has acted in several Tamil films in the past. It’s then no surprise that the makers of Lucifer have decided to release the Tamil dubbed version on May 3rd. Sources confirm that Kalaipuli S Thaanu will be releasing the movie in Kollywood under his banner V Creations. Lucifer, which hit the marquee last month, turned out to be a massive success. The film was actor Prithviraj’s first as a director. Actor-writer Murali Gopy wrote the script for this political thriller. The film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner Aashirvad Cinemas. Lucifer has Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith, and the Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi in pivotal roles. Those in supporting roles include Kalabhavan Shajon,...

Mollywood Director Shrikumar Menon said that the film has already made Rs 100-crore from pre-release business through advance bookings and sale of rights. Sreedevi JayarajanMohanlal's Odiyan is among the most anticipated Malayalam films of the year. Made on a huge budget and with a stellar cast, there's a lot riding on the film's success. It is expected to release in 3500 screens in 31 countries. And now, the film's director Va Shrikumar Menon has said that Odiyan has made history by becoming the first ever Malayalam film to make Rs 100 crores from pre-release business. Tweeting on Monday, Shrikumar said that the movie had entered the Rs 100-crore-club 3 days before its release via advance bookings (including fan shows) and sale of satellite and remake rights. This is the third film from the South and 11th film in the history of Indian cinema to reach a 100-crore pre-release mark, he added. Here's a look...

MollywoodThe film’s director Va Shrikumar confirmed the news by putting a post on social media with a picture of the two of them.Digital NativeThe rumors that Mammootty might be lending voice for the Mohanlal starrer Odiyan are coming true! The film’s director Va Shrikumar Menon confirmed that Mammootty did do a voice over for the film and posted this on a social networking page along with a picture of the two of them, and wrote: "Thank You Mammukka. It’s a dream come true moment. Now with your thundering voice, my Odiyan is complete.” Odiyan is the ambitious project of Va Shrikumar Menon who is making his directorial debut in cinema after directing several ad films. It features Mohanlal in the title role with a bevy of stars in the cast. The film has Prakash Raj playing a pivotal role and interestingly he is sharing screen space with Mohanlal,...

MollywoodA new game will be launched a day after the film release, while another one is already being aired on Radio Mango.Digital NativeMohanlal starrer Odiyan, one of the most anticipated films of the year, is scheduled to hit the marquee on December 14th and the film unit has planned several promotional strategies. One of these is the launch of a new game. The teaser of the Odiyan game was launched recently and the game itself will be out on December 15th, a day after the film’s release. On this, director Va Shrikuma Menon said to The Times of India, “We have used a lot of marketing strategies for Odiyan. This is an ambitious project. Every film, based on a franchisee model, has different levels of income generation and engagement. We have done a lot of research and work for the game.” Meanwhile, ‘Kali Odiyanodu’, another game show to promote the film,...

MollywoodScheduled to release in April next year, the film marks the directorial debut of actor Prithviraj.Digital NativeThe Malayalam movie Lucifer is easily one of the most anticipated films in Mollywood. Scheduled to release in April next year, it will mark the directorial debut of actor Prithviraj Sukumaran. The movie stars Mohanlal and Manju Warrier in the lead roles supported by a bevy of other stars. While the shooting for Lucifer is progressing at a brisk pace, pics from the shooting spots are being released officially for the fans to enjoy. Recently, on the official Facebook page of the film, a candid photo featuring Mohanlal and Manju Warrier was released with Prithiviraj credited for the pic. In Lucifer, Mohanlal plays a politician and his character is named Stephen Nedumballi. The team is currently stationed in Mumbai after completing schedules in various locations in Kerala. Besides Mohanlal and Manju Warrier, Lucifer...

MollywoodWith the release just one month away, advance ticket bookings have begun already and the tickets are being sold out like hot cakes.Digital NativeMohanlal starrer Odiyan is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated films of the year. Set for release on December 14th worldwide, the film is getting a massive screening. Reports are that it will be released in about 3000 to 4000 screens across the globe making it the first ever Malayalam film to release in such a big scale. With the release just one month away, advance ticket bookings have begun already and the tickets are being sold out like hot cakes. In Kerala, special fan shows are being planned in several centers and the sales are skyrocketing. According to reports, the tickets for the fan show at the Kavitha Theatre in Ernakulam were sold out within two days and the sale is on at the Saritha Complex in the same city.

MollywoodThe stunt sequences choreographed by Peter Hein promise a lot of entertainment for action fans.Digital NativeThe trailer of the most anticipated fantasy thriller film Odiyan is out and has garnered the attention of film buffs. The trailer, which is 1.28 minutes long, was released on Facebook by the film’s lead star Mohanlal and has the right mix of mass elements that his fans would be looking for. Besides focusing on the titular character, the trailer also offers a glimpse of the other characters played by Prakash Raj, Narain, Innocent, Manju Warrier and so on. The stunt sequences choreographed by Peter Hein promise a lot of entertainment for action fans. Earlier, the plan was to release the film in October but with the film requiring a high amount of computer graphics to be included, its release has been rescheduled to December 14. The VFX work is being handled by Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn’s NY Vfxwaala.

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

MollywoodThe untitled film, which is reportedly a thriller, will also have Soubin Shahir playing a pivotal role. Digital NativeReports from the Malayalam film industry are that cinematographer-turned-director Santosh Sivan is all set to wield the megaphone yet again. The film is not titled yet, but it is going to be a thriller with Manju Warrier and Kalidas Jayaram playing central characters. Actor-director Shoubin Shahir is reportedly playing a pivotal role. Aju Varghese, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Ramesh Pisharody will also be seen playing supporting roles in the film. Sources in the know say that the director will be bringing in top technicians from India and abroad for this project, which has not been titled yet. The shooting of this flick will begin on October 20th in Alappuzha. Earlier, Santosh Sivan had planned to make a film on Kunjali Marakkar IV with Mammootty in the lead but this project has been dropped,...

KollywoodThe launch began with Ar Rahman performing the song ‘Mazhai Kuruvi' from the album.Anjana ShekarThe audio from Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam was launched on Wednesday in Chennai with Ar Rahman performing live. The film marks their 14th collaboration. Titled 'Cvv Live', the event saw the likes of poet and lyricist Vairamuthu, actors Arvind Swamy, Arun Vijay, Silambarasan, Aishwarya Rajesh, Diana Erappa and Aditi Rao Hydari in attendance. Hosted by singers Chinmayi and Karthik, the launch began with Ar Rahman performing the song ‘Mazhai Kuruvi' from the album. Accompanied by the transcendental percussion by Drums Sivamani, the song’s lyrics we learnt were taken from Vairamuthu’s poem. Speaking at the event, Ar Rahman shared that Mani Ratnam has been working with the same energy that he had from back when he started. “He has gone back to his Nayagan days," he said to thunderous applause. Actor Arvind Swamy,...

InterviewIn this interview with Tnm, Prakash Raj speaks about working with Mani Ratnam, his upcoming film '60 Vayadu Maaniram', and more.Siddarth SrinivasRun through Prakash Raj’s filmography, and it is not easy to put a finger on a single type of role that you could call a "comfort zone". For him, it has always been about the excitement that a good character can give and the search for something new in a script. Currently walking through his 25th year in cinema, the actor has two releases in quick succession over the next 30 days – 60 Vayadu Maaniram directed by Radha Mohan and the biggie, Mani Ratnam's Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, where he plays father to Aravind Swami, Arun Vijay and Silambarasan. Apart from these films, Prakash Raj is also working on a book on the late Dravidian leader and former Tamil Nadu Cm, M. Karunanidhi. The actor, who had played a role...

MollywoodThe trailer of Odiyan is set to be unveiled on August 15, Independence Day. Digital NativeDigital NativeThe trailer of the Mohanlal starrer Odiyan is slated to be unveiled on Independence Day, August 15 this year. Movie buffs are anticipating its release and there is buzz that mega star Mammootty may be releasing it officially. However, there is no official word yet.  It may be mentioned that the mega star had released the Odiyan calendar much earlier and he may do the honours yet again. Both Mammootty and Mohanlal share a good rapport and have been friends for several decades. Therefore, it would be no surprise if Mammootty agrees to unveil the trailer. The first teaser of the film was released in May this year and had the movie buffs waiting in anticipation to know more. While fans have been waiting to get a glimpse of what Odiyan is all about, the filmmakers...

MollywoodThe teaser says that the film will be released on October 11 this yearDigital NativeMohanlal has put out the second teaser of his film Odiyan on Twitter. The film that has been much discussed for the new look of the star will mark the directorial debut of ad filmmaker Va Shrikumar Menon. #Odiyan Official Teaser pic.twitter.com/tZ3YKjtiyd — Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) July 6, 2018 The new teaser shows Mohanlal walking away from a house with some heavy background music. His voice can be heard saying “We can now see the ‘podivelakal’ (small tricks) of Odiyan Manickan.” The first teaser that came out in May this year had not revealed much. The film with a huge star cast including Manju Warrier and Prakash Raj, is scripted by National Award winner K Harikrishnan. Prakash Raj and Mohanlal had earlier come together in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar nearly two decades ago. The rest of the cast include Innocent, Siddique, Manoj Joshi, Nandhu, Narain, Kailash, Sreejaya Nair, Sana Althaf and Appani Sarath. In a much younger, toned avatar, Mohanlal as Odiyan had raised a lot of skepticism as to whether the actor would be able to pull off the look. It has been reported that Mohanlal will be seen in different looks in Odiyan between the ages of 30 and 65. Apparently, the actor has worked out over eight hours every day to achieve the much younger look. The shooting of Odiyan began last year and was wrapped up in April. The film requiring a lot of VFX is currently in the post production stage. It may be mentioned here that Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn’s NY Vfxwaala is handling the film’s VFX. The teaser also says that the film will be released on October 11 this year. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: Latha Rajinikanth says Sc proceedings were erroneously reported...

TollywoodBigamy is often romanticised in popular culture, seldom viewing it from the woman's perspective.Priyanka RichiMahanati, the bilingual biopic on yesteryear actor Savitri, showcases a pivotal scene in which she (Keerthy Suresh) is reprimanded by her uncle after he discovers that she has married Gemini Ganesan (Dulquer Salmaan), and runs away from home. Savitri runs towards Gemini’s home, in the middle of a heavy downpour, and knocks on his door. Surprisingly, she is called inside by Alamelu, Gemini's first wife, who dutifully makes sure Savitri is comfortable at their home. Gemini and Savitri make their relationship public. Alamelu and her kids disappear from the scene. Gemini Ganesan’s involvement with the many women in his life is thus subtly pushed to the background, making him the evergreen ‘Kadhal Mannan’. In the end, we're given to understand that he still cared about Savitri, thus painting him in sympathetic light. While Mahanati is based on real life people, there have been several Telugu films which have romanticised and validated polygamy. A staple theme in the 1980s, the hero’s tryst with multiple women has been a symbol of his ‘machoism’. A hero juggling two wives and the confusion that ensues has often been the content for comical plots in films. But rarely has the trauma and pain a woman undergoes in such situations been addressed. Evolution of polygamy in cinema Telugu film critic Mahesh Kathi says that polygamy in cinema evolved out of the "family drama" genre, in which the hero getting into situations of conflicts in marriage was justified. This was also often made appealing to women audiences by citing instances from mythology. “We are fundamentally a patriarchal society with a male dominated film industry, where a hero is aspirational and heroine is an object of desire. As the majority of the audience is also male, having multiple heroines fighting for a hero appeals to their libido too,” Mahesh says. Polygamy has been made acceptable in cinema by taking refuge in mythology, in which most of the Hindu gods are known to have multiple wives, Mahesh adds. In the 1997 devotional flick Annamayya by K Raghavendra Rao, God is shown as personally conducting the wedding of Annamayya (Nagarjuna) with his cousins – Timakka and Akkalamma. Realising that their husband was born for humanity and the Lord’s service, his wives in the latter part of the movie give up their lives, freeing Annamayya of any earthly attachment. Vamshi Vemireddy, Assistant Professor of English at the Humanities and Social Sciences department, Iit Tirupati, says, “Telugu cinema has increasingly witnessed this trend with the emergence of the third generation stars such as Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and Balakrishna, though it has its roots way back in Shobhan Babu’s time.” From yesteryear’s Shobhan Babu to Nagarjuna, bigamy has been justified in spite of the law. Nari Nari Naduma Murari (1990), Allari Mogudu (1992), Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu (1996), Aavida Maa Aavide (1998), among others, are quite well-known for spreading this trend in Telugu cinema. A look at the posters of these films reveal the explicitly celebratory tone around bigamy. Myths of ‘macho’ or ‘masculine’ men who can handle two women (either through marriage or casual relationships) have been perpetuated in society since ages. “This particular folk myth ingrained in patriarchal mindsets which treats female figures as a trophy to be won or owned, may have propelled this phenomenon to creep into the silver screen,” Vamshi opines. So what has helped this trend survive in Telugu cinema? Continuous reinforcement of the trend in popular media, including TV serials, work towards normalising bigamy. Whatever the law may say, social acceptance is driven through media, says Mahesh. If one is to look at biopics, the genre has often tended to romanticise the multiple affairs of the hero in question. “For example, Tamizhselvan’s character, modeled on Karunanidhi, in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar (1997) is sketched in such a way that his affair with another woman becomes insignificant in the larger political scenario. To avoid controversies, biopics appease audiences so that they only empathise with the characters in the movie,” Mahesh says. The trend was also a ploy to ensure that no heroine gets sufficient screen time, and in turn, reducing her chances of getting anywhere close to the pay scale or stardom of the hero, says Tejaswini Madabhushi, a member of Hyderabad for Feminism. “As in many of Shobhan Babu’s movies, men are often shown as unwitting victims who suffer to keep two or more wives happy, while the women are shrewd and lacking in kindness and understanding. For example in movies like Mirchi (2013), the man’s behaviour is explained through a complicated backstory while a woman’s feelings of heartbreak are not explored because it is so casual for men to date or marry multiple women, especially when it is for the ‘right cause’,” Tejaswini says. The underlying algorithm Raghuramaraju, Assistant Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in Iit Tirupati, says that the legal restrictions on polygamy have led to ‘polygynyless patriarchy’, often depicted in popular films where men have relations with two women, but sequentially rather than simultaneously. “To trace the origins, from the 1980s, Telugu movies have had heroes who maintain a relationship with one woman in the first half of the movie and with another in the second half, following dramatic sequences. Soundarya in the film Super Police (1994) dies in a bomb blast planted by the villain and this is shown in flashback. Nagma is the other heroine. Here the hero has two women one after another without committing polygamy. These depictions subconsciously recall the earlier tradition of polygamy while, strictly speaking, following current customs,” the professor notes. A similar trend can be seen in Yes, Nenantenene (1994) and Criminal (1994) where the second heroine plays the role of a catalyst, facilitating the coming together of the other woman and the hero, yet not involved. Raghuramaraju in his book Modernity in Indian Social Theory explains that though apparently there is no polygamy from the point of view of the hero, from the point of view of the viewers, their voyeurism ultimately gives them the same feeling of polygamy being committed. “While polygamy has been rejected, patriarchy remains problematic and unfortunately, it’s still an enduring feature in our movies that requires further resistance,” Raghuramaraju opines. What about contemporary cinema? According to critics, even in contemporary cinema, we see sporadic instances of this trend especially in ‘mass’ films that supposedly cater to the working class and lower middle classes. “I don’t think bigamy as a subject is discussed seriously since cinema as an industry still revolves around star figures. However, there are plenty of new-age films that are breaking this old formula of ‘masala' films,” notes Vamshi. According to Vamshi, films such as Oohalu Gusagusalade (2014), Pelli Choopulu (2016), Jyo Achyutananda (2016) and Ami Thumi (2017) in recent times have gone beyond this formula of fetishising or romanticising bigamy or commodifying the female figure on the screen. In Tharun Bhascker’s Pelli Choopulu, the female lead (Ritu Verma) fights patriarchal constraints, choosing to become an entrepreneur rather than depend on her father or a husband. She also breaks stereotypes by giving a tight slap to her ex-boyfriend, not for abandoning her but for not having the decency to break up properly. "Jyo Achyutananda is also a clean emotional ride between the characters Jyostna, Achyuth and Anand. Achyuth and Anand are brothers and Jyostna is a tenant at their house. Jyostna's character is well beyond the stereotypical Telugu heroine who only sings and dances. Various facets of love, life and human relationships are portrayed through her character," Vamshi Reddy notes. But Raghuramaraju says, “It may not be an exaggeration to say that from the late '80s, one of the recurrent aspects of Telugu popular films is featuring two heroines. From Aayanaki Iddaru (Ramya Krishna and Sivaranjani: 1995), Shubhalagnam (Roja, Aamani: 1994),Suryavamsam (Meena, Prema: 1998) to Narasimhanayudu (Simran, Preeti Jhangiani: 2001) all feature multiple heroines, making it a recurrent theme. Even contemporary cinema has failed to address this patriarchal metaphor.” “There are no decisive voices so far towards the change as such. However, the number of films with such content has considerably reduced. Hopefully this is an indication of change,” Mahesh Kathi notes.

MollywoodDileep is stiff in the second half, but is convincing as crooked Kammaran, while Siddharth is a fine fit for Othenan. Fahir Maithutty“History is a set of lies agreed upon - Napoleon Bonaparte”. This appears on the screen as the closing credits of Kammara Sambhavam starts rolling. What you read in books or watch on screen about your real life heroes - Are they always true? Or were they twisted so that you would adore and admire the protagonist? This forms the crux of Murali Gopi’s script in Kammara Sambhavam. It is an interesting concept as it quickly makes you re-think the impact some of the great biographical films had left on you. The intentions of Murali Gopi’s script are right but it falters as a whole, because the lengthy film (3 hours 2 minutes) becomes tiresome when you realise where it’s heading. A set of producers (Vijayaraghavan, Sudheer Karamana, Baiju and Vinay Forrt) and director Pulikeshi (Bobby Simha) approach Kammaran Nambiar (Dileep), an old man and Indian Liberation Party member to make a movie on his life. What Kammaran tells Pulikeshi about his early life back in 1945 in a village named Amrutha Samudhram and how Pulikeshi makes it into a film forms the storyline of Kammara Sambhavam. Murali Gopi ‘the writer’ is in fine form in the first half when he etches out the characters well. He succeeds in bringing out the contrast in the ideologies of his protagonists. Kammaran, a medical practitioner is an opportunist and wouldn't mind treading the path of treachery to accomplish what he wants. Othenan, (played by Siddharth) on the other hand, believes in the principle - “You don't need to live long, just make sure you don’t bow down your head as long as you breathe”. It is a nice touch to connect various historic events like the Battle of Imphal, the deaths of Hitler and Subhash Chandra Bose and Japan’s fall in World War II to Kammaran and Othenan’s stories. The film's pre-interval sequence of around 20 minutes is its best portion as all the characters, who appeared so far are finely connected in the narrative with a twist and turn for everyone. But Kammara Sambhavam’s big problem is the second half when the flashback ends and you are brought back to the present day. Murali Gopi tries to mock many films by poking fun at how the songs, stunts and punch scenes are picturised. Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar isn’t spared either with the film taking a dig at the lyrics of Ayirathil Oruvan. But it all falls flat because the script just stalls over here. Rathish Ambat impresses in his debut as director when the script supports him in the first half, but equally fails when the writing lets him down in the second half. Captured in a few minutes, the Battle of Imphal is shot wonderfully. Cinematography (Sunil Ks) and art direction immensely help Rathish to take the film to the pre-Independence era. Gopi Sundar's background score is effective only in parts. Dileep appears in various avatars. He is stiff in the bearded, mass look in the second half, but gives a convincing performance as the meek but crooked Kammaran in first half. The actor is at his hilarious best in a scene when he learns about the Japanese defeat in World War II and realizes the Japanese money he had collected is of no value. Siddharth is a fine fit for Othenan’s role and it was good to see the actor lending his own voice for Malayalam lines too. Murali Gopi as an actor doesn’t have much to do. A bunch of good actors like Siddique, Bobby Simha, Indrans and Vijayaraghavan are wasted because they have such minuscule screen space. But at least Siddique as Boss, Kammaran’s son, has some decent one-liners to lighten you up when the proceedings are mundane. Namitha Pramod is adequate. Divya Prabha once again leaves a mark in a supporting role. It’s unfortunate that the talented Shwetha Menon is asked to overact when she could have done a lot more. Santhosh Keezhattoor keeps up with his track record of dying on-screen. When you leave the cinema halls, you cannot help but wonder if this same movie would have worked a lot better if its first and second half were swapped. It seems like a big trick missed by Murali Gopi as it could have held the attention of viewers for longer. For now, in its current form, you need a lot of patience to sit through Kammara Sambhavam, even for a one-time watch. Let’s hope that Murali Gopi backs up his big ambitions with apt execution when he teams up next with director Prithviraj and actor Mohanlal for the big Lucifer.

MollywoodSam Cs’s debut in music industry was with the Tamil film 'Kadalai' a couple of years ago.Digital NativeDigital NativeMusic composer Sam Cs has been roped in to wield the music baton for Odiyan. Going by the reports from sources close to the film unit, he has used a six-foot-long bamboo music instrument to compose the background score of the film. On using the special instrument for the Bgm, he is reported to have told, “It’s a thriller set against the backdrop of a particular time-period. This gave me an instant idea to utilise the ancient ethnic musical instruments of Kerala. The bamboo instrument is played to cast a spell on the audience, and we were able to find only one old lady, who knows how to play it. Somehow we roped her in.” Sam Cs’s debut was with the Tamil film Kadalai a couple of years ago and he went to compose music for films such as Puriyatha Puthir, and Vikram Vedha. Some of his upcoming films include Karu, Gorilla, Adanga Maru, Mr Chandramouli, and Vanjagar Ulagam in Tamil and Kanam in Telugu. He is now making his debut in the Malayalam film industry by composing the Bgm for Odiyan. Mohanlal, who plays the title role in this film, had worked on his physique and had reduced around 15 kgs of weight to look young for a particular get-up. Odiyan is a period fantasy thriller that also has Prakash Raj, Manju Warrier, Siddique, Innocent, Narain and Kailash in the star cast. The film marks the reunion of Mohanlal and Prakash after the Tamil political drama Iruvar hit the screens 23 years back. Directed by Va Shrikumar Menon, this film is bankrolled by Antony Perumbavoor under his banner Aashirvad Cinemas on a huge budget. Shaji Kumar is the cinematographer for this film and John Kutty is the editor. Peter Hein is choreographing the action scenes in the movie and Sabu Cyril is the production designer. The film is scripted by National Award winner Harikrishnan. The film is been shot in Palakkad, Coimbatore, Pollachi, Hyderabad, and Varanasi. The shooting of Odiyan is currently on with the filmmakers planning to release it on October 18 this year. With Mohanlal’s different looks in the film raising the expectation levels among the fans, news about the music director using unique instrument for composing the Bgm has upped it even more. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

KollywoodHe is collaborating with Mani Ratnam for the sixth time and is very excited to be a part of the film.Digital NativeDigital NativeAce cinematographer Santosh Sivan is all excited about Maniratnam's Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. Santhosh is collaborating with Ratnam for the sixth time. The duo has previously worked together in films such as Thalapathi, Dil Se, Iruvar and Roja and were last seen together in Raavan. The film had gone on the floors earlier this month and the cinematographer has tweeted a series of pictures from the sets. Its a interesting combo of actors, Mani is a Director who loves innovations and willing to grow with a bunch of versatile , dedicated and punctual actors — SantoshSivanASC. Isc (@santoshsivan) February 23, 2018 pic.twitter.com/P17Xu41FyZ — SantoshSivanASC. Isc (@santoshsivan) February 23, 2018 Since Thalapathy dayspic.twitter.com/Hk3VJiPyJI — SantoshSivanASC. Isc (@santoshsivan) February 24, 2018 Various industry sources have confirmed that the film will be an action-thriller and will be a departure from the filmmaker’s usual style of films. The film will be featuring Str, Arvind Swamy, Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Jyothika, Aishwarya Rajesh, Prakash Raj and Aditi Rao Hydari, who reunites with Ratnam after Kaatru Veliyidai. While it was also rumoured that Vijay Sethupathi will be seen in a special cameo role in the film as a cop, the actor came forward with a clarification during a recent media interaction that he will be playing a full-fledged role and would be seen throughout the movie. There are rumours that the film also stars senior actors Prakash Raj and Jayasudha, who have collaborated on several occasions. Apparently, they’ll be seen playing a pair and Arvind Swami, Fahadh and Simbu will be seen as their sons. Bankrolled by Ratnam's home banner Madras Talkies, double Oscar-winning Ar Rahman has been roped in compose the music and the multiple national award-winning editor Sreekar Prasad will also be a part of the team. Stunt choreographer Dhilip Subbarayan will choreograph the stunt sequences. David and Wazirfilmmaker Bejoy Nambiar, a longtime disciple of Ratnam, is listed as one of the film's creative producers. Sharmishta Roy will be the art designer and Eka Lakhani is signed as the film's costume designer. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

TeaserThe new teaser of the much-awaited film 'Odiyan' shows Mohanlal in a new avatar. Tnm Staff Odiyan_750X500.jpgA few weeks ago, actor Mohanlal had promised to unveil his character Manickan in the much-awaited Malayalam film Odiyan. On Wednesday, the actor shared a teaser that gives us a peek into the life of Manickan's younger self. Sharing the teaser on social media, Mohanlal wrote: "Odiyan Teaser. Unveiling the transition of #Odiyan Manickan. Presenting to you the young and vibrant Manickan in me who travelled back in time." While the poster of the film released a few months ago showed a younger and muscular Mohanlal dressed in a sleeveless shirt as Manickan, the new teaser gives us more than a glimpse of who he is. Dressed in a mundu and a sleeveless shirt, this time Manickan is seen wearing a white shawl over his shoulders, with betel leaves in hand. Pulling off a clean shaven look, Manickan wears a neck chain with a giant pendant. "Gratitude to time, for being able to defeat so many years. For bringing me back to Thenkurissi, to a time that was much eventful in my life. Odiyan Manickan is ready. The game will now begin," Manickan says, munching on the betel leaves. "Shall we start then?" he adds. The 1 minute 44 seconds teaser has broken the internet. Mohanlal has reportedly shed at least 15 kg to pull off this look. Odiyan is expected to hit the theatres in 2018 and ever since the shoot began, the makers of the film have been releasing promotional videos to keep the audience posted about the journey. According to the film's director Shrikumar Menon, Odiyan is an athlete, who can see and crawl in the dark, no matter how rough the surface is. In the film, Mohanlal will be seen portraying several stages of Manickan's life, spanning across decades. The story is set from 1950 to 2000 and all efforts are being taken to ensure the era is captured well on camera. Peter Hein, the popular Hollywood stunt master, is choreographing the stunt sequences for the film. It may be mentioned here that Peter Hein had worked with Mohanlal in Pulimurugan, which went on to become a huge hit, and they share a good rapport. Odiyan will be dealing with the age-old black magic known as Odividya, revealed the film’s director. Sharing screen space with Mohanlal in the movie would be Manju Warrier. And Prakash Raj, who had worked with Mohanlal in the critically acclaimed movie Iruvar, directed by Mani Ratnam, will be playing a deadly villain. To be produced by Anthony Perumbavoor under his banner Aashirvad Cinemas, the film is expected to hit the marquee sometime in 2018. The film is scripted by the National Award winner Hari Krishnan. It may be mentioned here that Mohanlal and Shrikumar Menon are also teaming up for the historical film Randamoozham, based on the Mt Vasudevan Nair novel of the same name. #Odiyan Teaser. Unveiling the transition of Odiyan Manickan. Presenting to you the young and vibrant Manickan in me who travelled back in time. #OdiyanRising pic.twitter.com/7ERbBeIsWg — Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) December 13, 2017 Enanble Notification: NoTnm Marquee: No...

Santosh Sivan talks about watching Satyajit Ray's Charulata for the first time at Ftii, Pune, and how he was bowled over by the 'timeless' quality of Subrata Mitra's cinematography. He also says his work on Mani Ratnam's 'Iruvar' was a kind of tribute.

In her very first film Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was cast as Jayalalithaa. It was a well-kept secret not revealed to this day by either the director or his leading lady. Though it was quite obvious that Iruvar was about the infamous friendship turned rivalry between two of Tamil Nadu’s most high-profile filmRead More

The post Revealed: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s character in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar was based on Jayalalithaa appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Since she first stepped on screen in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has created some incredible roles both in the South and Hindi film industries. That first film showed that Aishwarya is an actress that likes a challenge, because she played dual role in the critical and box office success. Since her debut, with each new film, the actress has always chosen her roles very carefully and showed tremendous versatility in the characters she portrayed on film. Think of her incredible performance in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, or in the brilliant Taal, as well as Jeans, Raincoat, Chokher Bali, not to mention her total transformation into the characters in Devdas, Jodhaa Akbar and Guzaarish and that is just to name a few.

The actress took a family sabbatical from acting and fans eagerly awaited her return. The question on everyone’s mind was when she was ready...

When talking about the great cinematographers of India, one name that has to be at the top is Santosh Sivan. He has won over 13 National Awards, was recently honored with a Padma Shri and also is the first Indian cinematographer to be inducted into the American Society of Cinematographers. Not only does he focus the lens and set the frame in both Indian and English films, he also has sat in the director’s chair to create his own magic. His credits include Dil Se, Asoka, The Terrorist, Before the Rains, Thalapathi, Raavan, Iruvar, Roja, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, and more.

As part of the London Indian Film Festival on July 11th, Mr. Sivan will be giving a special master class. I was lucky enough to chat with Mr. Sivan about his career, and it was a fascinating conversation covering many different and interesting topics. Enjoy!

Why films and...

The London Indian Film Festival (Liff, July 10-17) will host a Screen Talk with the multifaceted Farhan Akhtar and a Masterclass with the award-winning Santosh Sivan at the British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank.

Akhtar has come to the world’s attention over the last decade, as multiple award winning director, producer, and actor, straddling an impressive range of roles, from long distance runners to rockstars. He also commands audiences of thousands, at his live music shows, as he continues to juggle a career as a musician and songwriter, with his incredibly successful film industry career. He started his career as director. His directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai was a runaway hit. He went on to direct the remake of Don and its sequel, Don 2. Besides that he has produced many successful films. As an actor he has won critical acclaim for his performances in Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Renowned cinematographer Santosh Sivan will conduct a Masterclass at the upcoming London Indian Film Festival on July 11 at the BFI (British Film Institute) Southbank.

Sivan is the only Indian member of the American Society of Cinematographers. He shot to prominence on the national stage with Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi and is celebrated for his work on Roja, Dil Se, Iruvar and Kaala Pani. His international credits include Bride & Prejudice and Mistress of Spices. Sivan debuted as a director with Halo, followed by Malli, both films aimed at children. His next film, The Terrorist, premiered at BFI London Film Festival.

Director, producer and actor Farhan Akhtar will also deliver a talk at the same festival.

The London Indian Film Festival (July 10-17) will open with Jeffrey Brown’s Sold and close with Hemalkasa directed by Samruddhi Porey.

Also read: London Indian Film Festival unveils lineup...

Chennai, Jan 25: Cinematographer-turned-filmmaker Santosh Sivan, known for his work in films like "Kaalapani", "Iruvar" and "Dil Se", was Saturday conferred the Padma Shri on the eve of the 65th Republic Day.

The 49-year old Sivan got the award for his contribution to Indian cinema over the last two decades.

Starting his career as a cinematographer in the 1986 Malayalam experimental film "Nidhiyude Katha", Sivan has handled the camera for critically acclaimed films such as "Raakh", "Thalapathi", "Roja" and "Aham".

Having assisted his father while making documentaries as a youngster, Sivan has made over 30 documentaries.

She started her acting career with Mani Ratnam's Iruvar where she played a character uncannily similar to Jayalalitha. And now Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to make a comeback to screen after a long maternity leave with a film to be directed by Mani Ratnam. Mani is very close to both Abhishek and Aishwarya. He has worked with the couple in Guru and Raavan. But for his next, he wants only Aishwarya. Says a very reliable source, "Mani shares a fabulous equation with Abhishek and Ash. But this time he's planning to direct a film which has a very strong female protagonist's character. Mani feels there is little room for Abhishek in his next." Aishwarya has given her consent to her presence in Mani's next. Says the source, "Aishwarya was very clear about her priorities after she became a mother. She gave a hundred of her time and...