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Where can you watch Vallyettan?(Photo Credit – YouTube)

The movie was written by Ranjith and it was loosely based on the epic Mahabharata. Mammootty played the role of Arakkal Madhavanunni. He was a self-made man and a caring elder brother to his four younger brothers.

The movie completed 24 years since its release. The makers restored it in 4K resolution. The remastered version was re-released in theaters. Now, it is set to stream online.

The movie Vallyettan will stream on Manorama Max. The Ott release date is February 7, 2025. The platform announced this through social media. The movie was first released in theaters on September 10, 2000. After 24 years, it was re-released in 4K on November 29, 2024.

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Mammootty’s Valliettan Returning To Theatres In 4K? (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

For many of us, Mammootty’s Valliettan is a nostalgic film. A classic from 2000, this beloved movie has been a staple of festival viewing on Kairali TV, airing without fail during every celebration. Over the years, it has become a cherished part of our cultural tapestry, loved by audiences for its timeless appeal. After 24 years, the film is making a grand comeback, not on the small screen, but in theatres, in stunning 4K resolution with Dolby audio.

Loosely inspired by the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Valliettan is more than just a movie; it’s a saga of familial ties, power struggles, and values. You can find everything you need to know about this much-anticipated return, including details on the plot, release date, cast, crew, and more in this article.

Cast And Crew Of Valliettan

Directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Ranjith,...

During an extensive masterclass at the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Goa, veteran Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam engaged in conversation with actor-director Gautham Vasudev Menon about adapting literature to screen, his approach to period filmmaking, and his creative process.

Discussing his recent two-part historical epic “Ponniyin Selvan,” based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1950s Tamil novel, Ratnam emphasized authenticity in period storytelling. “We wanted to make it look like it really happened, that it’s not just a set or something shot in the studio. There should be sunlight, dirt, sweat – you should feel that you are there at that point in time,” he said.

The filmmaker revealed the practical challenges of shooting a period piece set in the Chola era. “If you go to Tanjore today, you’re not going to get any forts. There’s no palace, nothing left. So we shot in a palace in the...

Anand Ekarshi’s Malayalam-language “Aattam” (“The Play”) was named best film on Friday at India’s National Film Awards. The film also won editing for Mahesh Bhuvanend and original screenplay for Ekarshi.

Sooraj R. Barjatya won best director for Bollywood film “Uunchai,” starring Amitabh Bachchan. Neena Gupta won supporting actress for the film.

Rishabh Shetty’s Kannada-language “Kantara” won the award for ‘best film providing wholesome entertainment,’ while Shetty also won best actor.

The best actress award was shared by Nithya Menen for Tamil-language “Thiruchitrambalam” and Manasi Parekh for Gujarati-language “Kutch Express.” “Thiruchitrambalam” also won the choreography award for Jani Master and Sathish Krishnan, while Niki Joshi won the costume designer award for “Kutch Express.”

Pawan Malhotra won supporting actor for Haryanvi film “Fouja,” which also won best debut director for Pramod Kumar and lyrics for Naushad Sadar Khan. Sreepath won the child actor award for Malayalam-language film “Malikappuram.”

Arpita Mukherjee and Rahul V.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) has invited 487 artists and executives to become members, with Sandra Huller, Justin Triet, Celine Song and Da’Vine Joy Randolph among the high profile invitees.

Also invited to join are actors Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Fiona Shaw, directors Alice Diop, David Yates and S S Rajamouli, and writers Arthur Harari and Tony McNamara.

Executives invited to join that branch of the Academy include British Film Institute CEO Ben Roberts and Fifth Season co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor.

Among those invited to join the costume designers branch are Holly Waddington and Małgorzata Karpiuk.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) has invited 487 artists and executives to become members, with Sandra Huller, Justin Triet, Celine Song and Da’Vine Joy Randolph among the high profile invitees.

Also invited to join are actors Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Fiona Shaw, directors Alice Diop, David Yates and S S Rajamouli, and writers Arthur Harari and Tony McNamara.

Executives invited to join that branch of the Academy include British Film Institute CEO Ben Roberts and Fifth Season co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor.

Among those invited to join the costume designers branch are Holly Waddington and Małgorzata Karpiuk.

“Joyguru,” a fictionalized account of the life of Indian mystic artist and music icon Parvathy Baul, will launch sales at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

Parvathy Baul is a leading exponent of the syncretic Baul minstrel music tradition that is hugely popular and culturally influential across eastern India and Bangladesh.

Written and directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Soumyajit Majumdar (“#Homecoming”), the film will follow folk music icon Radhika Das Baul and popular Bollywood film music director Ritwik during their unlikely collaboration for a pioneering music album of Baul songs transcreated in Hindi, where they form a unique bond, a few days before her sudden and mysterious disappearance from her ashram near Shantiniketan, India.

Currently in scripting stage, the Hindi-language feature film will commence principal photography in 2025, with Asian Film Awards nominee Ravi Varman (“Ponniyin Selvan”) as DoP. The film will be shot across Shantiniketan, Kolkata, Vrindavan and Kerala in India and in parts of the U.

Director Jude Antony Joseph, who is known for his Malayalam films such as Ohm Shanthi Oshaana and Oru Muthassi Gadha, is all set to make his Tamil debut with a big-budget ocean survival thriller. The film, which is produced by Lyca Productions, will feature Chiyaan Vikram and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles. Rashmika Mandanna has been roped in as the female lead.

The film, which is yet to be titled, will revolve around a group of people who get stranded on a remote island after their ship sinks in a storm. They have to face various challenges and dangers as they try to find a way to escape. The film will have high-octane action sequences and stunning visuals of the ocean and the island.

2018 Trailer

Jude Antony Joseph said that he is excited to work with Chiyaan Vikram and Vijay Sethupathi, who are two of the finest actors in the industry.

Featured Image : Raaj Kamal International

Fans of Kamal Haasan are eagerly waiting for his upcoming film, KH233, which is set to go on floors in the first week of November. The film, which has a military backdrop, is directed by H Vinoth, who has also co-written the story with Kamal Haasan. The film is expected to be a pan-Indian project, with two other stars from different industries joining the cast.

KH233 is Kamal Haasan’s 233rd film in his illustrious career, which spans over six decades. The actor, who is also hosting the popular reality show Bigg Boss Tamil, will be juggling between the sets of the film and the show. According to sources, Kamal Haasan has allotted 60 days for the shooting of KH233, which will be completed in two schedules.

The pre-production work and casting finalization of the film are currently underway. The makers are reportedly in talks...

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

Rang De Basanti Trailer

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

S. Shankar, one of the most prolific and highest paid film directors in India, is known for his big-budget films that deal with social and political issues, as well as his use of state-of-the-art technology and VFX. He has worked with some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, such as Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Vikram, and Vijay. He has also received several awards and accolades, including an honorary doctorate from M. G. R. University and two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Currently, Shankar is working on two highly anticipated projects that are expected to be game-changers in the industry: Indian 2 and Game Changer. Both films are sequels to his previous hits, Indian (1996) and Mudhalvan (1998), respectively. However, balancing two films simultaneously is not an easy task for any director, especially when they involve complex production and post-production processes.

Indian 2 is a Tamil-language vigilante action...

Indian star Karthik Sivakumar, known by his screen name Karthi, is bullish about upcoming release “Japan,” his 25th film.

The film is due to release in November during the Deepavali holiday frame in Tamil, Telugu and a few other languages. “It’s a crime thriller, it’s got a manhunt to it. But apart from that, the writing and characters in the film are so well-rooted, and at the same time, it’s got a lot of flamboyance – it’s a very unique combination,” Karthi told Variety.

The film, from prolific south Indian studio Dream Warrior Pictures, is directed by Raju Murugan. “Being so grounded and yet having the flamboyance and the cockiness of this character is what got me hooked to the project, and the keenness to work with Raju Murugan – I’ve liked his earlier two films ‘Cuckoo’ and ‘Joker’ and his understanding of local community, the culture here,...

Dulquer Salmaan has announced his next project, a multilingual thriller drama titled Kaantha. The film is written and directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, who made his debut with the award-winning film Nila in 2016.

Kaantha is said to be a passion project of Selvamani Selvaraj, who has been working on the script for over five years. Reports are He has also collaborated with renowned cinematographer Ravi Varman and music composer A.R. Rahman for the film.

Nila Trailer

The film revolves around a mysterious character named Kaantha, played by Dulquer Salmaan, who faces various challenges and dangers in his life. The film also stars Nithya Menen, Prakash Raj, and Rana Daggubati in pivotal roles. The film is produced by Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media.

The film is expected to release in 2023 in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. The film’s poster was recently unveiled by Dulquer Salmaan on his social media accounts.

Kamal Haasan to look younger with de-aging technology as they joining hands with De aging experts worked in Avengers Endgame and Captain America

Fans of Kamal Haasan are eagerly awaiting the release of Indian 2, the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Indian, directed by Shankar. The film, which is expected to hit the screens in 2023, will feature Haasan reprising his dual roles of Senapathy, a freedom fighter turned vigilante, and his son Chandru, a corrupt bureaucrat. To achieve this feat, the makers of the film have roped in Lola VFX, a Hollywood-based company that specializes in digital de-aging technology.

Lola VFX is known for its work on films such as Captain Marvel, Gemini Man, Captain America and It Chapter Two, where they made actors look decades younger with the help of computer-generated imagery (CGI). The company has also worked on several Marvel Cinematic Universe films, such as Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2...

‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’, the 2006 thriller that featured Kamal Haasan as a fearless cop chasing a pair of ruthless serial killers, is one of the best films in Tamil cinema in the genre. The film, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, was a huge success and recently had a re-release that received a great response from the fans.

Gautham celebrated the re-release of ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’ by cutting a cake with music composer Harris Jayaraj and producer Manickam Narayanan. Now, he has spilled the beans about the sequel to the film in a recent interview. This is not the first time we are hearing about ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Part-2’.

Vettaiyadu Vilaiyaadu Scene

Gautham said in a media interaction, “I have narrated 45 minutes of ‘Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Part-2’ to Kamal sir and he liked it. The script work is done. I will take it to Kamal sir after ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’s release. I have written the story...

The much-awaited sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Indian, starring Kamal Haasan in a dual role, is nearing completion. The final stage of filming is currently in progress, and the makers have recently shot an action sequence featuring a younger version of Kamal Haasan’s character Senapathy.

The scene was filmed in Talakona, a forest area in Andhra Pradesh, with the help of prosthetics and VFX to make Kamal Haasan look younger. The director of the film, Shankar, who is known for his grandiose vision and spectacle, was reportedly busy with his next project, a sci-fi thriller tentatively titled Game Changer, starring Ram Charan and Kiara Advani. Therefore, he entrusted the action sequence to Arivazhagan, the director of acclaimed films like Eeram and Kuttram 23.

Arivazhagan took to Twitter to share his excitement and gratitude for working with Kamal Haasan and Shankar. He wrote, “It was an honour and a dream come true...

Riding high on the success of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ franchise, Tamil star Karthi will soon be seen in ‘Japan’, a quirky action thriller helmed by Raju Murugan.

And on Thursday, to mark the actor’s birthday the makers have released the first-look teaser.

‘Japan’ is a milestone film for Karthi as it is his 25th film. It also has Anu Emmanuel, Sunil and Vijay Milton playing pivotal roles.

Dream Warrior Pictures shared the intro video in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. The caption read: “Here comes our #Japan – Made in India #JapanFromDiwali.” ‘Japan’ is slated for a 2023 Diwali release.

In the video, Karthi as ‘Japan’ is seen in entirely new flamboyant avatar, sporting curly hair, funky glasses and a track suit, and he wields two golden machine guns in both his hands.

The cinematography is by Ravi Varman and editing by Philomin Raj. The music and background score...

Ponniyin Selvan 2

Mani Ratnam’s sprawling visually plush two-part Ponniyin Selvan has ended. I say this with a sigh of relief. The downpour of plot twists and torrent of characters, all abiding by no fixed law of existence, left me exhausted, in a good way.

Where but in Mani Ratnam’s epic excursion would you get such a torrent of events. It is as though the Gods have conspired to lay bare a treasury of lost events from a time when dynasties fought their battles with the sword and didn’t mind squandering their might in a game of thorns plucked from man’s (and in this case woman’s) very basic need to possess what is rightfully not theirs.

From the cornucopia of characters it is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Nandini, the Queen designate whose hunger for power is matched by her anger at the loss of love , which stands out.

Entertainment “If Baahubali was not made, and not made in two parts, Ponniyin Selvan would not have been made,” Mani Ratnam said at the Ps-2 pre-release event held in Hyderabad on Sunday. Filmmaker Mani Ratnam thanked director SS Rajamouli for creating a pathway through his Baahubali film which was released in two parts. “I said this before and I am saying this again. I want to thank Rajamouli. If Baahubali was not made, and not made in two parts, Ponniyin Selvan would not have been made,” the director said at the Ps-2 pre-release event held in Hyderabad on Sunday, April 23. Mani Ratnam added, “It created the path for me to be able to mount Ponniyin Selvan in two parts. And gave confidence to the entire industry to do a historical. He opened a huge passage for a lot of people and a lot of Indian history to be converted into films.

Chennai, March 30 (Ians) The makers of the Mani Ratnam film, ‘Ponniyin Selvan 2’ have released the trailer of the second installment of the magnum opus.

The trailer was released at a glittering function on Wednesday.

The movie based on the novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy, depicts the story of 10th century Chola dynasty. Raja Raja Cholan, the emperor from the Chola empire, is a major character in the movie.

At the function, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who plays a stellar role of Nandini in the film, walked the red carpet in a pink ensemble.

While Trisha, who plays the role of of Princess Kundavi, stunned in a Blue embellished saree.

The official page of the producers Lyka productions shared the video of Trisha sitting on the throne.

The first part of the movie, ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’ shows the Chola dynasty and the different feuds within the dynasty.

‘Ponniyin Selvan 2’, according to its makers,...

The much-decorated Japanese drama “Drive My Car” was named the best film Sunday at the Asian Film Awards, defeating hot favorite “Decision to Leave.”

Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.

“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.

While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.

The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.

Siva Ananth, one of the producers of Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus “Ponniyin Selvan: 1,” is ecstatic about the film’s rich haul of nominations at the Asian Film Awards.

The film has received a total of six nominations, including for best picture. It is an adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s classic Tamil-language novel.

The story is set in 10th century India 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 and a civil war became imminent. All the political and military turmoil led to the Cholas becoming the most prosperous and powerful empire in the continent and one of the most successful and longest-reigning in history.

“Ponniyin Selvan” was serialized in the Kalki magazine between 1950 and 1954 and was published as five novels in 1955. Ratnam, alongside Elango Kumaravel and B.

Chennai, Feb 23 (Ians) Tamil actor Vishal had a miraculous escape from a near-death situation during the shooting of his movie ‘Mark Antony’.

It happened when a truck on the sets lost stability and advanced towards the actor and his co-actors. The huge truck was on the brink of crashing into the place where the actors, including Vishal, were stationed. Fortunately, each one of them escaped unscathed.

According to the plan, the truck was to hit a wall and then stop, but the wall collapsed and the truck apparently lost control and advanced towards the area where the artistes were stationed.

Vishal said in his tweet: “Just saved my life in a matter of few seconds and a few inches, thanks to the Almighty. Numb after this incident. Back on my feet and back to the shoot.”

The movie directed by Adhik Ravichandran has Sj Surya playing a stellar role, the...

OpinionMani Ratnam developed a new syntax for filmmaking, where along with powerful storytelling, the depiction of each frame counted. From the way scenes were staged to songs were choreographed, it was all by design and never by chance.Anand Kumar RSTamil cinema, for as long as it has existed, has been ruled by its stars. From Mgr-Sivaji and Kamal-Rajini to Ajith-Vijay now, stars in pairs have consistently held sway over the Tamil audience and the industry’s market dynamics. But even amid this, once in a while, you see the ascent of a director who makes a mark with his indelible style of filmmaking. In the years of 1960s and 70s, it was CV Sridhar who emerged as the first director whose films were sought after by filmgoers — especially the women. K Balachander would be the next, making his presence felt in the 70s and 80s, followed by Bharathiraja in the 80s and 90s.

If you ever considered catching up with mammoths of world literature in a moviesque nutshell, this 1993’s Japanese animation may be a good way to tick off the Indian epic “Ramayana.” Yes, you’ve read it correctly. Indian classic made in Japan. It was marketed as an Indian-Japanese co-production, and Indian Ram Mohan, the co-director, aided a lot with culture-sensitive elements during the proceedings. However, the majority of the crew involved in this production were Japanese and all the work took place in Japan.

The Legend of Prince Rama is screening at Japan Society

From the official website of the film, we can learn that: the Indian side was in charge of the scenario, art settings, dialogue recording, music, etc., while the Japanese side was in charge of the storyboards, background, original drawings, animation, coloring, photography, and editing. On the Indian side, top-notch scenario writer, music director, artists, and film actors of the day participated,...

Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s ‘Drive My Car’ secures eight nods.

Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) with 10 nods including best film and best director.

Korean films have secured nominations in every category for the 16th edition of the awards, which will return to Hong Kong for the first time in three years, having been hosted in Busan for two years and not held in 2022.

Scroll down for full list of nominations

Korean romantic noir Decision To Leave premiered in Competition at Cannes last May, where Park won best director. As...

Park Chan-wook’s stylish crime drama Decision to Leave leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards with a sweeping 10 nods, including Best Director and Best Film.

The film’s impressive nominations haul also includes a Best Screenplay nod and acting nominations for leads Park Hae-il and Tang Wei, as well as below-the-line recognition for Cinematography, Editing, Music, and Production Design.

Decision to Leave follows a detective (Park Hae-il) investigating a man’s death in the mountains when he meets the dead man’s mysterious wife, a suspect in the case, and begins a tangled affair. The film debuted at Cannes where Park won the Best Director prize. Korea has also submitted the film as its entry for the international feature Oscar race.

Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s Drive My Car trails with eight nominations. The epic road movie also debuted at Cannes, but in 2021. Elsewhere, Hirokazu Koreeda...

Kollywood'Ponniyin Selvan’s' screenplay co-writers Elango Kumaravel and Jeyamohan speak to Tnm about the challenges in adapting the book to the screen, how visual elements are used to highlight the personality traits of characters, and more.Saradha ULyca ProductionsWarning: Spoilers ahead Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan: I has had a gargantuan run at the box office, having raked in over Rs 400 crore worldwide and setting the record as the highest grossing Tamil film yet. Based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's literary masterpiece set in the Chola era, Ps-1 which hit the big screens on September 30, blends themes of palace intrigue, power struggles, valour, conspiracy, love, romance, and treachery. Featuring an ensemble cast of actors including Trisha, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, and Jayaram among others, the film was released in five languages, namely Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Having had...

Music director Ilaiyaraaja is to score music for actor Ramarajan’s comeback film, ‘Saamaniyan’.

Both Ramarajan and Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja have together delivered some of the most iconic blockbusters in Tamil cinema. In fact, Ilaiyaraaja is considered by many to be one of the prime reasons why Ramarajan’s films emerged successful.

Ramarajan, who left cinema for an active political career, has now chosen to make a comeback with director R Rahesh’s film ‘Saamaniyan’.

What is interesting is that the unit of ‘Saamaniyan’ has now roped in Ilaiyaraaja to score the music for their film. The development is significant as Ilaiyaraaja and Ramarajan will be working together after a gap of almost 23 years.

Sources say Ramarajan personally met music director Ilaiyaraaja and requested him to score music for this film. Ilaiyaraaja is believed to have instantly agreed to this request.

Shedding lights on this new collaboration, director R Rahesh said,...

Dance Choreographer and director Brindha Gopal, who choreographed the songs in director Mani Ratnam’s recently released magnum opus ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, has lauded her director’s work in the film, saying, that he has “created magic on screen”.

The ace choreographer, who watched the film only recently as she is in the US, took to Twitter to register her thoughts on the film.

She wrote: “Finally got to see the epic ‘Ps-1’ in the USA. Mani Ratnam sir, you have created magic on screen. Such a mind-blowing experience. Amazing Bgm (by) A R Rahman sir.”

Congratulating the director of photography, S. Ravi Varman Isc (Indian Society of Cinematographers), she said: “Camera has made each and every frame look like a painting. Kudos to the entire team.”

The ace dance choreographer, who is also directing a film called ‘Thugs’ now, also showered praise on all the actors in the film.

She...

I am always weary of directors’ “dream projects”. Those that have been in the making for decades having had many false starts. Why? Simply because, all too often, the director has lost perspective with these projects and ends up churning out something full of faults that they ordinarily would have picked up. Notwithstanding, this was a Mani Ratnam film; I cannot deny that a part of me was nervous on behalf of the ace filmmaker.

With Ponniyin Selvan, Mani Ratnam has taken on the herculean task of delivering a film worthy of the literary masterpiece by Kalki Krishnamurthy, one that would satisfy the cult fans of the epic tale, as well as introduce the epic to a much wider audience who have never heard of Kalki’s novel Ponniyin Selvan.

Having watched the film without any prior knowledge of the Tamil novel, I would classify it as a period political drama.

The makers of the Adhik Ravichandran directorial, ‘Mark Antony’, which has actors Vishal and S J Suryah playing the lead, released the gangster look of Suryah from the film on Wednesday. Vishal, who took to Twitter to release the look, tweeted, “Presenting the Gangsta S J Suryah’s terrific look from ‘Mark Antony’. Welcome Jackie Pandian (sic).”

Director Adhik Ravichandran also tweeted the first look as he wrote, “Presenting you the first look of S J Suryah sir in ‘Mark Antony’! Jackie Panidan. What an experience each day on sets with you sir. Complete madness and craziness.”

‘Mark Antony’ will feature Ritu Verma as the female lead.

The big budget film, which is getting made in five languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, is being billed as a pan-Indian film by the unit.

Work on film began in the first week of May in Chennai.

The film, which will be Vishal’s 33rd film,...

Ace director S. Shankar, who is known for films like ‘Robot’, ‘I’ and ‘Nayak’,is the latest person to praise director Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus, ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’, which is based on the literary classic by eminent writer Kalki.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Shankar wrote: “‘PS1′ captivates. A quality Tamil historical film after years. Mani Ratnam sir’s mastery in filmma’King’ proven yet again (sic).”

He then went on to praise the film’s technical team and said: “Hats off to cinematographer Ravi Varman’s picturesque depiction. A R Rahman music riveting! Full three hours intrigue you for the sequel. Hail to the vast Army that made this epic!”

Shankar isn’t the only one to be impressed by the magnum opus. Scores of people including celebrities like Telugu star Nagarjuna too have been impressed by the epic.The film, which released last Friday much to the delight of fans,...

The epic drama film features a star studded cast comprising Chiyaan Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.Tnm StaffMani Ratnam’s epic drama Ponniyin Selvan-i has earned Rs 200 crore in its worldwide gross box office collection in the first week of its release, the makers said on Monday. Featuring a star-studded cast of Chiyaan Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the Tamil historical drama hit the theatres last Friday. Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, one of the banners behind the movie, took to Twitter to share the latest box office figures. "Marching on and making history! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the audience who've been showering us with love. Catch #PS1 in theatres near you!" the production house tweeted. Based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 historical fiction novel, Ponniyin Selvan-i chronicles the story of the early days of Arulmozhivarman (played by Jayam...

Actor Jayam Ravi, who plays the pivotal role of Arun Mozhi Varman (who is also called Ponniyin Selvan) in director Mani Ratnam’s just released magnum opus, ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’, has lauded music director A.R. Rahman’s background score for the film.

Taking to Instagram to share his delight at having been a part of the film, Jayam Ravi wrote: “The pride of Indian cinema has done it again and how! A Mani Ratnam celluloid extravaganza that transports us to an era we have been in awe of for centuries together.”

“Lived, laughed and loved experiencing the Chola empire for three hours as an audience!”

“A R Rahman sir, your music and Bgm is haunting and will be etched in history forever! Ravi Varman sir — Thank you for showing us an unseen era so beautifully and realistically. You are pure magic sir. Thottatharani sir… a pillar of strength as majestic...

Make no mistake about it, Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan – Part I’ is a masterpiece that deserves all your adulation and love. The auteur does a phenomenal job of bringing to life the exceptional characters of eminent writer Kalki’s finest creation, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’.

The beauty of Part one of the two-part film lies in the fact that Mani Ratnam has not only made the story concise but has managed to do so carefully, taking adequate care not to dilute the essence of the novel or its charm.

He narrates with flair the intense and gripping story that has all elements ranging from bravery to conspiracy to romance to revenge to loyalty and manages to showcase the multiple layers of most of his characters.

The story begins with a comet appearing over the Chola skies almost a 1000 years ago. The Oracles predict that the comet will claim the life of...

ReviewThe film does not try to amplify any aspect of the novel unnecessarily to fit a narrative that might be the flavour of the season. In fact, it downplays the praise that Kalki lavished on the Chola dynasty.Sowmya RajendranLyca ProductionsIt is believed that when Kalki wrote his timeless historical fiction Ponniyin Selvan, he had already imagined it becoming a film someday. And it’s not that the Tamil industry didn’t want to do it. From the time of Mg Ramachandran, superstars and directors have dreamed of turning Kalki’s vision into reality; to sit on a horse, as the cheeky Vandiyathevan, and revisit the Chola era, long gone but still alive in the memory of the people through the art and architecture that they’ve left behind. But it took seven decades and a stubborn filmmaker who wouldn’t give up to fulfil that dream. Mani Ratnam’s...

The unit of director Mani Ratnam’s upcoming magnum opus, ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’, has now released a sneak peek in to the movie, much to the delight of fans who are waiting with bated breath for the film to release on September 30.

The one-minute 32-second long video clip released by the unit shows the Pandyas swearing an oath to wipe out the royal lineage of the Cholas in the presence of Goddess Kotravai.

A dialogue that a character utters indicates that the Pandyas have been defeated in battle and have retreated to the jungles.

“The brave Pandyas will wash your feet with Chola blood. The Pandyan kingdom is where the Pandyan Emperor lives. This forest is Madurai to us,” he says and adds, “Behold Amarabujanga Pandyan, son of Veera Pandiyan. He graces the Pandyan throne.”

The warriors then pledge their lives to Goddess Kali and to the Pandya flag and its emperor.

The release of revered Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s hugely anticipated epic adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s classic Tamil-language novel “Ponniyin Selvan” is the realization of his childhood dream.

One of India’s most celebrated filmmakers whose films include “Nayakan,” “Bombay” and “Iruvar,” Ratnam read the novel when he was in high school and wanted to make it ever since. Post the tremendous critical and commercial success of “Nayakan” (1987), when that film’s lead Kamal Haasan wanted to make another film with Ratnam, the filmmaker considered “Ponniyin Selvan,” but the stars did not align at that time.

Ratnam’s last film, “Chekka Chivantha Vaanam” (2018), was co-produced by his Madras Talkies and Subaskaran’s Lyca Productions (“2.0”).

“After ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam,’ it happened – when Lyca asked what I was planning to do next, I told them, not planning anything, but I would like to do ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and Subaskaran said yes – and that’s when it started,...

Actress Sonal Chauhan is super excited about sharing screen space with Tollywood star Nagarjuna in his forthcoming power packed action-thriller ‘The Ghost’. Sonal took to her social media profile and shared a Behind The Scenes (BTS) video featuring herself and Nagarjuna undergoing weapons’ training.

The BTS video has interesting visuals of them prepping for the action scenes and holding some heavy guns, which definitely piques our interest.

Recently, Sonal had got injured on the sets but was undeterred. The actress had a fracture during her Mma training and was told to avoid any training/action scenes for a couple of weeks but despite that, she continued shooting.

‘The Ghost’, is written and directed by Praveen Sattaru. The film also stars Gul Panag, Anikha Surendran, Manish Chaudhari, Ravi Varma and Srikanth Iyengar. The film is slated to release on October 5, 2022.

Apart from ‘The Ghost’, Sonal Chauhan is also busy with yet another massive project,...

The unit of director Mani Ratnam’s much-awaited magnum opus, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, on Saturday released actress Aishwarya Lekshmi’s look as Samudrakumari Poonguzhali in the film. Taking to Twitter, Lyca Productions, which is producing the film along with director Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies, said: “Soft as the wind, mighty as the ocean! Meet #AishwaryaLekshmi as Samudrakumari Poonguzhali!”

The production house, in its tweet, reiterated the fact that a grand audio and trailer launch of the film was to take place on September 6 at the Nehru Indoor Stadium.

Earlier, the production house had also disclosed the looks of Sarathkumar and Parthiban in the film. The production house had introduced their characters saying: “Meet the fearless protectors of Chola pride! Presenting Sarathkumar as Periya Pazhuvettarayar and R Parthiepan as Chinna Pazhuvettarayar!”

The film, the first part of which is scheduled to hit screens on September 30, is based on the classic Tamil...

The unit of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ released a behind-the-scenes video of the second single ‘Chola Chola’, which celebrates the glory of the Chola empire. The BTS shows Vikram, who plays Adithya Karikalan, the elder brother of Rajaraja Chola I, in the film, dancing to the number. It also shows the scale of the song, and gives an idea of the large number of dancers who are a part of it.

The BTS video also shows dance master Brindha explaining a dancing sequence to Vikram even as director Mani Ratnam looks on.

The inspiring, foot-tapping number has been rendered by Sathya Prakash, Vm Mahalingam and Nakul Abhyankar and has lyrics by Ilango Krishnan.

The behind-the-scenes video, directed by Sruti Harihara Subramanian, was shot by cinematographer Anandan.

Called by Mani Ratnam as his dream project, the film, the first part of which is scheduled to hit screens on September 30, features a host of top stars,...

Telugu superstar Nagarjuna on Thursday disclosed that the term ‘Tamahagane’, which appears in his upcoming film ‘The Ghost’ and has triggered a lot of interest among netizens, actually referred to a legendary metal that was used to make swords for the fiercest of warriors.

Northstar Entertainment, the production house making ‘The Ghost’, had posed a question on social media, asking netizens if they knew what ‘Tamahagane’ was. It was a part of its efforts to promote the film, which is being released on an Ott platform.

Nagarjuna amplified the question posed by the production house. “What is Tamahagane? Can you guess?” he asked.

The question caught the attention of scores of fans and film buffs who tried to find out what the term meant. Not many had the answer, though. The promotional measure worked and the question kindled the curiosity of netizens.

On Thursday, Nagarjuna chose to give away the answer.

Telugu superstar Nagarjuna on Thursday disclosed that the term ‘Tamahagane’ actually referred to a legendary metal that was used to make swords for the fiercest of warriors.

Recently, Northstar Entertainment, the production house producing Nagarjuna’s upcoming film, ‘The Ghost’, had asked a question on social media, asking netizens if they knew what ‘Tamahagane’ was as part of its efforts to promote the film.

Nagarjuna too had reiterated the question posed by the production house, saying, “What is Tamahagane?? Can you guess?”

The question caught the attention of scores of fans and film buffs who tried to find out what the term meant. However, not many could succeed. The promotional measure worked and the question kindled the curiosity of netizens.

On Thursday, Nagarjuna chose to give away the answer. He disclosed, “#Tamahagane!! A legendary metal for the Katana of the fiercest of warriors through the ages. Now in the hands...

Mani Ratnam’s hugely anticipated epic “Ponniyin Selvan: I” will become the first Tamil-language film to release in the IMAX format.

IMAX Corporation and Lyca Productions have set a partnership to bring the film to IMAX screens in India and worldwide on Sept. 30. It will also release in non-imax screens on that date in the Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

Based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s classic Tamil-language novel, the film, set in the 10th century, revolves around the early life of Chola Prince Arunmozhi Varman who was latterly known as the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola and was the most powerful king in South India at the time. He is known for reinstating the Chola empire’s hegemony and ensuring its supremacy in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

The film boasts a powerhouse cast including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi,...

coronavirusOn the work front, Mani Ratnam is gearing up for the release of his upcoming period drama ‘Ponniyin Selvan I’ which is slated to hit the big screens on September 30.Tnm StaffDigital NativeFIlmmaker Mani Ratnam was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday, July 19. Speaking to Tnm, the director’s publicist confirmed that the director was checked for coronavirus but has tested negative. Speaking to Tnm, the director’s publicist confirmed that the director was checked for coronavirus but has tested negative. An official statement pertaining to the health of the filmmaker is awaited from the hospital. The 66-year-old director had recently attended the funeral of actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen, who died on July 15. Mani Ratnam had also taken part in the teaser launch of his upcoming period drama Ponniyin Selvan I, which was held on July 8 in the city. Speaking at the teaser launch about his magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan,...

CinemaMani Ratnam's magnum opus 'Ponniyin Selvan' is slated to hit the big screens on September 30.Saradha UThe teaser of Mani Ratnam’s upcoming period drama Ponniyin Selvan was unveiled at a launch ceremony that was held in Chennai on Friday, July 8. Actors Karthi, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Trisha, Vikram Prabhu, Sarath Kumar, and Jayam Ravi, filmmaker Mani Ratnam, music composer Ar Rahman, cinematographer ManI Ratnam and writer Jeyamohan, who has penned the dialogues, among others were present on the occasion. Speaking at the launch event, actor Karthi, who will be seen as Vandiyadevan said that it was a challenging film to make since the book has been widely read by lakhs of people and each one of them already has their own interpretation of the story. “I kept telling Ravi anna (Ravi Varman) that every day on the sets was a new experience for us. I could observe and learn from...

Teaser Release Set in the Chola period, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ — featuring a cast of top actors — brings to life author Kalki’s beloved book of the same title.Tnm StaffWith the much-awaited film Ponniyin Selvan set to hit screens on September 30 this year, the teaser for Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus has finally dropped. The teaser promises high action battle scenes, sea voyages, sieges and political drama. Actors Vikram and Karthi, who are playing Aditya Karikalan and the warrior prince Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan respectively, can be seen in intense fight scenes in the teaser. Sprawling historical sets, intense chases on horseback, elephant battalions and rich costumes suggest an interesting historical-fantasy film. Aishwarya Rai, who is playing the role of Nandini and Trisha, in the role of Chola princess Kundavai Pirattiyar, are also seen in the teaser. Set in the Chola period, the film brings to life author Kalki’s beloved book of the same title.

KollywoodThe film features an ensemble cast of actors including Vikram, Karthi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Jayaram, Jayam Ravi, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, among others. Tnm StaffTwitter/ Madras TalkiesThe first look poster of actor Karthi from his upcoming movie Ponniyin Selvan was released on Tuesday, July 5. He essays the role of Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan, a commander of the Chola army. Helmed by director Mani Ratnam, the magnum opus is set to hit the big screens on September 30. Sharing the poster, Madras Talkies, the production banner bankrolling the film wrote, “The Prince without a kingdom, the spy, the swashbuckling adventurer...here comes Vanthiyathevan!” The first look of actor Vikram’s character from the film was unveiled earlier this week. Vikram essays the role of Aditya Karikalan. The movie is based on the popular Tamil novel by writer Kalki that goes by the same name. It will be released in five languages including Tamil, Telugu,...

KollywoodThe team of director Mani Ratnam's eagerly-awaited magnum opus, 'Ponniyin Selvan' on Monday released the first look of actor Vikram as Aditya Karikalan.IANSTwitter/ Madras Talkies The team of director Mani Ratnam's eagerly-awaited magnum opus, Ponniyin Selvan on Monday, July 7, released a new poster of actor Vikram as Aditya Karikalan in the film. Taking to Twitter, Lyca Productions, the banner that is producing the film along with Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, said: "Welcome the Chola Crown Prince! The Fierce Warrior. The Wild Tiger. Aditya Karikalan! #PS1" The first part of the film is set to hit screens on September 30 this year and will release in five languages — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. It is based on the popular Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan by eminent writer Kalki. The story revolves around the early life of prince Arulmozhi Varman who went on to be known as Raja Raja Cholan. The film,...