News

It’s a common misconception that Hollywood is at the top of everything sci-fi. Ever since the ’40s, Japan has actually dominated this field, both in the live-action and animated mediums. China has been making great strides in the genre too. And then there’s the South Korean entertainment industry that’s at the forefront of everything that’s synonymous with the genre. But, as the Asian country that makes the most number of films in a year, India has always fallen short for some reason or another. Yes, even the ones that we consider to be “good” are because we are nostalgic about them, not because they’re qualitatively superior to their peers. That said, recently, I feel that we’re making some competent stuff in the form of Baar Baar Dekho, Churuli, Minnal Murali, and Ayalaan. And, I guess for the first time ever, the Hindi entertainment industry...

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...]...

India’s Yoodlee Films has unveiled a star-studded 2024 release slate across languages.

Malayalam-language cinema superstar Mammootty, who had a phenomenal 2023 with critical and commercial hits “Kannur Squad” and “Kaathal – The Core,” headlines “Bazooka.” Directed by debutant Deeno Dennis, the film is a game thriller, a category not often explored in Indian cinema. The cast also includes actor-directors Gautham Vasudev Menon and V.K. Prakash, Siddharth Bharathan and Shine Tom Chacko. The Malayalam-language film is scheduled for release in early 2024.

Mohanlal, Malayalam-language cinema’s other superstar, leads action-drama-fantasy “Malaikottai Vaaliban.” Written by P.S. Rafeeque, the film is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery, whose credits include “Jallikattu,” “Amen,” “Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam” and “Churuli.” The Malayalam-language film is due to release on Thursday, Jan. 25, ahead of the Jan. 26 Republic Day holiday, ensuring a long box office weekend.

Punjabi-language cinema superstar Gippy Grewal headlines “Warning 2,” the second part of what is planned as an action franchise,...

Featured Image & Article Source : Fdfs Reviews

Kunchacko Boban, the versatile actor of Malayalam cinema, is on a roll with some exciting projects in his kitty. The latest buzz is that the actor has signed a new film with debutant director Jithu Ashraf. The film will be scripted by Shahi Kabir, the writer of acclaimed films like Joseph and Nayattu. The film will be produced by Martin Prakkat, the director of Charlie and Nayattu, under his banner Martin Prakkat Films.

According to sources, the film will be a big budget entertainer with a lot of action and thrill. The film is expected to start rolling after Kunchacko Boban completes his current commitments, which include Amal Neerad’s Film. The rest of the cast and crew details are yet to be revealed.

Nna Thaan Case Kodu Trailer

Kunchacko Boban is having a great run at the box office with his recent...

The Malayalam film industry is buzzing with excitement as two of the most talented and popular actors, Kunchako Boban and Manju Warrier, are set to share screen space in Lijo Jose Pellissery’s upcoming film. This will be the first time that the duo will work together after their highly critically acclaimed film Vetta, which released in 2016.

Lijo Jose Pellissery is considered as one of the best filmmakers in India after the release of his films Jallikattu, Nampakap Nerathu Mayakam and Churuli, which have won several national and international awards and accolades. His films are known for their unique style, unconventional narratives and stunning visuals.

Malaikottai Vaaliban Teaser

Lijo Jose Pellissery and superstar Mohanlal, who has recently completed the production of his film Malaikottai Vaaliban, which is slated to release on January 25, 2023.

The genre and plot of the film are yet to be revealed, but sources say that it will...

Malaikottai Vaaliban is an upcoming Malayalam movie that promises to be a mass entertainer with a lot of action, drama, and comedy. The film is directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, who is known for his unconventional and experimental films like Angamaly Diaries, Ee.Ma.Yau, Jallikattu, and Churuli. The film stars Mohanlal, one of the most versatile and popular actors in Indian cinema, who has won several national and state awards for his performances.

In a recent interview, Vijay Babu, the producer and co-star of the film, revealed some interesting details about the film and what the audience can expect from it. He said that Lijo Jose Pellissery always wanted to do a mass film that would appeal to a wide range of viewers. He said that Lijo had tried to do that with Double Barrel in 2015, but he was not satisfied with the outcome. He said that Malaikottai Vaaliban is Lijo...

MollywoodWith Arun Chandu’s upcoming science fiction mockumentary ‘Gaganachari’ promising madcap fun, here are five Malayalam sci-fi films from recent years that deserve a watch.Rahul Rajagopal as Joy in AavasavyuhamIt’s the year 2043, and three “dystopian morons” in post-apocalyptic Kerala are out on the hunt for “ferocious” aliens. The vibrantly hued trailer of Arun Chandu’s upcoming mockumentary Gaganachari promises madcap fun, and an intriguingly novel approach to the genre of science fiction. Anarkali Marikar plays an extraterrestrial being in this experimental flick, which also stars Gokul Suresh, Ganesh Kumar, and Aju Varghese in quirky lead roles. What’s more, the film has already been receiving rave reviews during its run in the festival circuits. Malayalam cinema so far has only rarely experimented with science fiction, especially owing to budgetary and technological constraints. But things have gradually been changing over the past decade or so, with the industry delivering...

As was the tendency in the last years, South Indian films continued to dominate the box office in 2022, with “Rrr” and “Vikram” being some of the highlights, and the former actually getting international recognition, as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu highlights. In another international success for Indian cinema, Pan Nalin’s “Last Film Show” was shortlisted for the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category, while Pan Nalin documentary “All That Breathes” won the Grand Jury Prize in World Cinema Documentary Competition in Sundance, before it was also shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature for the 95th Academy Awards. If you add to all these the fact that local movies seem to find more space in international festivals, it seems that finally Indian movies are getting the recognition they deserve. The feat can be attributed to both an “opening” from the West towards...

Film awards‘Aavasavyuham’, which tells the story of an environmental disaster, won the best film award, while Dileesh Pothan won best director for ‘Joji’. ‘Minnal Murali’, ‘Churuli’ and ‘Hridayam’ have also won multiple awards.Tnm StaffBiju Menon, Revathi and Joju GeorgeHushing stereotypes, middle-aged mothers and elderly fathers prove that they can lead great stories in films and walk quietly away with the accolades. Revathi, who has contributed many great characters to Malayalam cinema, has won the Best Actor (Female) award at the 52nd Kerala State Film Awards for playing a mother character so strikingly well in the horror flick Bhoothakaalam. Biju Menon, a 50 something actor who played a mysterious man in his 70s — a seemingly harmless doting father — in Aarkariyam has won the Best Actor (Male) award, along with Joju George, an actor who has been consistently delivering meticulous performances. This time, Joju has bagged the award for four different...

The Malayalam film industry, which was confined to the audience speaking the mother tongue, is now having a global touch with movies like ‘Minnal Murali’, ‘Marikkar: Lion of Arabian Sea’ getting international acclaim and films like ‘Churuli’ and ‘Jallikattu’ by young director Lijo Jose Pallisery being invited to the Cannes film festival. The other movies […]...

CourtThe plea had been moved by a lawyer, Peggy Fen, contending that there was an "overdose of foul language" in the film and sought the film's removal from Ott platform SonyLiv. Ptia still from ChuruliThe Kerala High Court on Thursday, February 10, dismissed a plea seeking removal of Malayalam mystery horror film Churuli from Ott platform Sony Liv. Justice Pv Kunhikrishnan, while dismissing the petition, said people should comment about a film only after watching it. Similarly, comments about a judgement should be made, especially by lawyers, only after reading it, he said. The plea had been moved by a lawyer, Peggy Fen, contending that there was an "overdose of foul language" in the film and therefore, it should be removed from the Ott platform "as expeditiously as possible". On a previous date of hearing, the court had termed as "atrocious" the language used in the film, which was released via...

ControversyThe petition was filed by a lawyer who contended that the abuse was included on purpose to draw more attention.Tnm StaffSCREENGRAB/ Sony LIVMalayalam film Churuli has been in the middle of a controversy ever since it was released on an Over-the-Top platform recently. The Kerala High Court on December 9, Thursday, admitted a writ petition filed against the film for containing "abusive and obscene" dialogues. The petition was filed by a lawyer who contended that this was done purposely to draw more attention. The court while admitting the petition after hearing parts of it orally observed that the dialogues were "atrocious". The film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery was released on SonyLiv in November. While there has been criticism from several people, others have pointed out that the abuse in the film serves a purpose and is used to characterise the village of Churuli and how its people's behaviour changes when they enter it.

The Kerala High Court on Thursday admitted a writ petition filed against the Malayalam film ‘Churuli’ which was recently released on an Ott platform for containing “abusive and obscene” dialogues. The petition was filed by a lawyer who contended that this was done purposely to draw more attention. The court while admitting the petition after […]...

In recent years, Lijo Jose Pellissery rose to the position of one of the most talented and daring directors of Malayalam cinema. With movies like “Ee.Ma.Yau” or “Jallikattu” he managed to break through the boundaries of regional cinema and with the latter he has even reached an international audience. He started his career with well-crafted genre films, to later gain a reputation of curious experimenter uplifting and extending the generic boundaries to challenging levels. With each of the recent projects, he kept looking for unique ways of expression, eager to show his distinctive voice and mastered the crowd scenes pulsating with nerve and controlled chaos.

Churuli screened at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival

In his latest venture, “Churuli”, based on a short story by Vinoy Thomas, he still proceeds along the bravado path, and charms with dazzling visuals, but at the same time rather sticks to his previous...

OpinionDifferences of opinion about movies are best put forth as reviews in private or public spaces, but it is problematic when you want a film banned because you didn’t like it.CrisThe way Malayalis are taking offence at the use of profanities in Lijo Jose Pellissery’s new film Churuli, you’d think we were raised in an underground barn, much like Brendan Fraser in Blast from the Past, shielded from the nasty world and its evil designs. You’d think we were fed a steady supply of evangelical films – no bad words, no horrible deeds, everyone is as nice and warm as a teddy bear. Are we now following the example of a curious lot of people who seem to take offence at anything at all, real or imagined? It would seem that way, given that all this while we didn’t flinch at the rogues in cinema,...

ControversyThe film, which premiered during the Iffk in Kerala earlier this year, was released on SonyLIV on November 19.Tnm StaffStill from 'Churuli'After Lijo Jose Pellissery's newest film Churuli came out on a streaming platform, there has been a lot of talk around the language of the film. Churuli, derived from a story written by Vinoy Thomas - Kaligeminarile Kuttavalikal, was adapted into a screenplay by S Hareesh for Lijo. The film, which premiered in Kerala during the International Film Festival of Kerala in February this year, got released on SonyLIV on November 19. Since then, viewers have been commenting about the amount of curse words used in Churuli, some taking offence at it while others defended the freedom of art. Even prime time channel discussions were held to debate about Churuli's choice of dialogue. The film, dark and fantastical and humorous as most Lijo films are, shows the journey of two...

Mollywood‘Churuli’ had its world premiere at the 25th International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk) earlier this year. Tnm StaffScreengrab/ Sony LIVDirector Lijo Jose Pellissery’s upcoming film Churuli is all set to stream on over-the-top (Ott) platform Sony Liv from November 19. A new trailer was unveiled by the streaming platform on November 11. The film had its world premiere at the 25th International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk) earlier this year. It was also screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Churuli stars Chemban Vinod, Joju George, Vinay Forrt and Jaffer Idukki in pivotal roles. Churuli marks director Lijo Jose’s second collaboration with writer S Hareesh, who wrote the screenplay for hit Malayalam movie Jallikattu. The trailer opens with a woman retelling a folk tale about a rural legend and ghost living in the jungle- Perumadan, who has fun misguiding people. “He is a monster who leads everyone astray,...

EntertainmentThe uncertainty over when theatres will reopen has made many producers look at an Ott release.Tnm StaffDhanush’s Tamil film Jagame Thandhiram is set to release on Netflix India on June 18, Friday. This will be the actor’s first direct Ott (Over-the-Top) release. Though rumours about its Ott release had been doing the rounds for a while, lead actor Dhanush and director Karthik Subbaraj made it clear that they wanted it to be a theatrical release. However, the uncertainty over when theatres will reopen has pushed the team to go the Ott way. Not just Jagame Thandhiram, with theatres remaining closed across the country in the second wave of Covid-19 starting April this year, many films may not wait until cinema halls and multiplexes reopen. Several films have been postponed indefinitely. Cutting their losses, many producers are choosing to opt for an Ott release. Here's a look at the...

MollywoodThe film will be directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, who made the award-winning film ‘Android Kunjappan Version 5.25’.Tnm StaffKunchacko Boban (middle) and Ratheesh Poduval (right)Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, director of the popular film Android Kunjappan Version 5.25, is coming out with a new film, Nna Thaan Case Kodu (Fine you file a case then). The film will star Kunchacko Boban and Vinay Forrt, along with Gayathrie Shankar, Saiju Kurup and Jaffer Idukki. Vinay Forrt shared the announcement on his Facebook page. "Happy to associate with my most favourite @ratheesh_balakrishnan_poduval once again# @kunchacks, @saijukurup @jaffaridukki_official gayathrieshankar # @santhoshkuruvilla, @aashiqabu, @madhuneelakandan," he wrote. Kunchacko Boban also shared the announcement, adding that 'the case will be filed this year!' "From Android version to Naadan version.The curious case of some exciting talents!!!!!" he added. The film is produced by Santosh T Kuruvilla and Aashiq Abu. The cinematographer is Madhu Neelakandan.

MollywoodKalyani Priyadarshan and Pranav Mohanlal play the lead in the film, being directed by Vineeth.Digital NativeThe shooting of the upcoming Malayalam film Hridayam recommenced a few weeks after it was halted due to the coronavirus lockdown last year. Confirming that the shooting is progressing well, its director Vineeth Sreenivasan wrote on his social media page, “Day before yesterday, we finished the Chennai schedule of Hridayam.. 95% of the shoot is over now.. Waiting for the rest 5% to be shot in March!!!” On wrapping up a schedule earlier, Vineeth had written, “An amazing schedule of Hridayam got wrapped up in kochi today.. I think this is the most fun I had making a film ever since we made Thattam.. Tomorrow we r shifting our base to a new place.. Quite a few people showed up as our invited crowd for some of our shoots and they were all super nice and extremely co-operative.

DocumentaryThe documentary will be an eight part series directed by Vivian Radhakrishnan, on the making of ‘Jallikattu’.Digital NativeAn eight-art documentary will be made on the critically acclaimed Malayalam film Jallikattu, India’s official entry to the Oscars. The documentary is planned as a series on the making of Jallikattu. Lijo Jose Pellissery directed Jallikattu, a film that’s loosely based on the short story Maoist written by S Hareesh, last year. Antony Varghese, Sabumon Abdusamad, Chemban Vinod and Santhy Balachandran played important roles in the film. Filmmaker Vivian Radhakrishnan, who is directing the documentary on the film’s making, said in an interview to Cinema Express that it is an attempt to understand the efforts of every department of the film. A lot of material – around 40,000 clips – are available, he said. Vivian added that the documentary will be a “documentation of the strenuous efforts behind cinema as a popular...