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Coolie Box Office Day 1: Rajinikanth Is Ready To Dethrone Thalapathy Vijay In Tamil Nadu?(Photo Credit –Facebook/Netflix)

We’re less than a month away from the high-voltage box office clash between two of the biggest films of their respective industries, War 2 and Coolie. While both films are mounted on a huge scale, they have enough space to emerge victorious by performing strongly in their targeted markets. For the Rajinikanth starrer, Tamil Nadu will be a key market, and all eyes are set on how it performs in Thalaiva’s home state. It also has a golden opportunity to beat Thalapathy Vijay’s dominance in the state with its day 1 collection. Keep reading for a detailed report!

Thalapathy Vijay is enjoying unreal dominance at the Tamil Nadu box office

Vijay, Rajini, and Ajith Kumar are currently the three biggest crowd pullers in Kollywood. Out of these three states,...

L2: Empuraan Box Office: Mohanlal’s Magnum Opus Beats Pathaan & Pushpa 2, On A Rampage Mode In Gulf(Photo Credit –Facebook)

L2: Empuraan has shocked everyone with its outstanding performance in the advance booking stage. Apart from sensational response in India, the upcoming Malayalam magnum opus is going full-throttle in Mohanlal’s strong markets. This is not just about posting big numbers; this time, the Mollywood legend aims to break records. In the recent update, the film emerged as the fifth biggest Indian opener at the Gulf box office even before hitting the big screen. Keep reading for a detailed report!

Crazy response in the Gulf market

For Mollywood, Gulf countries have always been the market due to the significant Malayali diaspora. This time, with Mohanlal coming with a magnum opus and that too with a sequel factor, Mollywood is ready to witness its record opening. As per yesterday night’s update,...

Amaran Malaysia Box Office: Wraps Up Its Run By Being 7th Highest-Grossing Indian Film (Photo Credit – Netflix/Instagram)

Sivakarthikeyan’s Amaran has almost ended its run after posting a sensational total at the box office. Overseas, the film is already out of theatres, and particularly talking about the Malaysian market, the Kollywood biggie amassed a blockbuster collection. It has wrapped up its run by being a part of the top 10 Indian grossers in Malaysia and crossed the lifetime collection of Thalapathy Vijay’s Mersal.

Over the years, we have witnessed significant growth in centers that are favorable to Tamil films. Malaysia is one such center where the business of Tamil films has kept growing over the years. Except for Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale, all top grossers among Indian films belong to Kollywood. The Sivakarthikeyan starrer was the latest addition to the list.

Amaran closed its theatrical run at the...

Box Office: Rajinikanth Dominates Top Hindi Openings Of Kollywood (Photo Credit – Instagram)

In the last few years, Tollywood and Sandalwood have managed to leave a mark in the Hindi market with breathtaking opening-day collections. Unfortunately, despite popular stars and potential blockbusters, Kollywood has failed to create a big pool. Only one film managed to earn big on its opening day until now, and that’s 2.0. Thus, we see the dominance of Rajinikanth at the Indian box office whenever we talk about the biggest Hindi openings by Tamil films.

Suriya’s Kanguva was released in theatres on Thursday. It registered a fair start of 3.25 crores. Considering the presence of Bobby Deol and Disha Patani, the film was expected to earn at least 5 crores on day 1, but it didn’t happen. Despite such an underwhelming start, the magnum opus has managed to grab the third position among top Hindi openings by Tamil films.

Spoiler Alert !!!Don't read further unless you're in for potentially getting 'Joker: Folie à Deux' spoiled for yourself.

If Todd Phillips left you baffled with 2019’s Joker, then you need to be even more prepared to have your mind blown – now more than ever before, that the Joaquin Phoenix-led sequel Folie à Deux will soon be debuting on the big screens. And while this one will be bringing Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, it might also be the hub for some really groundbreaking surprises.

Joker: Folie à Deux. | Credits: Warner Bros.

This is because the filmmaker’s previous foreshadowing of the scariest reality about Batman’s most formidable enemy just may have come true. A few years ago, Phillips warned the world with a teasing comment that said Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck may not actually be the true Clown Prince of Crime after all. And this upcoming...

The Greatest Of All Time Box Office (Hindi): Soon To Surpass Ponniyin Selvan 2 & Become 7th Highest-Grossing Hindi Dubbed Tamil Film(Photo Credit – YouTube)

The Greatest Of All Time, starring Thalapathy Vijay, might have suffered a big setback with its Telugu version, but it managed to bring in a decent chunk of collection from the Hindi dubbed version. We have repeatedly discussed the potential of Vijay’s films in the Hindi market. Unfortunately, neither the Kollywood superstar nor the makers of his biggies have made an effort to capitalize on the popularity of Vijay in the Hindi belt. Keep reading to know how much the Hindi version has earned at the Indian box office in 14 days!

During Vijay’s Leo, we saw how the film was not approved for showcasing in the national cinema chains (PVR-inox and Cinepolis) of North India. It happened due to the 4-week Ott window of the film.

The Greatest Of All Time Box Office (Malaysia): Thalapathy Vijay Starrer To Replace Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale For The Top Spot(Photo Credit – YouTube)

The dominance of Shah Rukh Khan in the overseas market is unreal, and over the years, he has maintained his stronghold. Surprisingly, his Dilwale, which received mixed reviews, is still at the top in Malaysia to be the highest-grossing Indian film. But it seems that Thalapathy Vijay’s The Greatest Of All Time will knock down the biggie from the No. 1 spot. Keep reading for a detailed box office report!

Released in December 2018, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer Dilwale was a big success in the overseas market, with surprising numbers coming in from Malaysia. Back then, it enjoyed a record-breaking response. After that, a couple of films from Kollywood (Jailer and Leo) had the potential to smash Dilwale’s numbers, but they failed to do so.

Flix Flashback‘Annamalai’, which came out 30 years ago today, kickstarted the ‘riches to rags to riches’ Rajini film template, which was repeated in many of his later films – mostly to success, says the author.Anand Kumar RSYouTubeIn the last many years post Sivaji – The Boss, if directors and writers have been struggling to make a “Superstar” film that is universally appealing to all his fans, with the exception of Enthiran, blame it on Annamalai, which was made 30 years ago. In my opinion, it is from Annamalai that the ‘Superstar padam universe’, if I may so term it, germinated. Looking back, there is no doubt that Annamalai turned out to be a landmark film in Rajinikanth’s filmography in more ways than one. Ask any fan what his favourite Rajini film is, chances are Annamalai will certainly be a top response. In Tamil cinema, we always had this two-horse race – Mgr-Sivaji and then later Kamal-Rajini.

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

KollywoodDirected by Pa Ranjith and starring Arya in the lead, ‘Sarpatta’ will release on Amazon Prime Video on July 22.Tnm StaffDirector Pa Ranjith announced that the trailer of his much-awaited sports drama Sarpatta will be released on Tuesday, July 13. The film, starring Arya in the lead, will be released on July 22 on Over-The-Top (Ott) platform Amazon Prime Video, the film unit had announced earlier. The decision to release the film on Ott was made due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. Making the announcement about the trailer, Ranjith tweeted, “The man who has no imagination has no wings- Muhammed Ali! Trailer out tomorrow.” Arya also tweeted about the trailer, “Destined to be the Best Trailer out tomorrow.” The plot of the movie is reportedly set in North Madras of the 1970s and revolves around a fight between two boxing clans – Idiyappa Parambarai and Sarpatta Parambarai. Co-produced and directed by Pa Ranjith,...

Kollywood Arunraja Kamaraj is recovering from Covid-19 at the private hospital in Chennai where he and his wife Sindhuja were admitted.Tnm StaffTwitter/ Kayal DevarajKollywood singer, actor and director Arunraja Kamaraj and his wife Sindhuja recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus and the couple was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai. Unfortunately, Arunraja Kamaraj’s wife Sindhuja passed away due to Covid-19 on Sunday. While Arunraja is still undergoing treatment at the hospital and is recuperating, Sindhuja didn’t respond well to the treatment and her health deteriorated. Many celebrities from the Tamil film fraternity have taken to social media to convey their condolences and extend their support to Arunraja. Actor Kayal Devaraj, who has appeared in supporting roles in Kollywood movies wrote, “Director #ArunrajaKamaraj’s Wife Passed Away Due To #COVID19 (sic).” In another tweet, he shared a health update about director Arunraja. “Lyricist and Actor and...

TollywoodOn the occasion of Diwali, the actor made an official announcement and has promised content-oriented movies on the banner.Digital NativeDigital Native Manchu Manoj, son of veteran Telugu star Mohan Babu, has launched his production house Mm Arts. On the occasion of Diwali, the actor made an official announcement and has promised content-oriented movies on the banner. Announcing his new venture Manoj tweeted saying, "New Journey has begun, My Own Production House Mm Arts is born and my upcoming movies work has begun with Full Force under Mm Arts. I am looking forward to meet, bring in many new talents and I am excited to bring forward some Great movies in future for you all." On this festival occasion, i am happy to announce that i have started my production house "Mm Arts" and here are the details. Need all ur love and blessings for this new journey of mine ❤️#HappyDiwali everyone #MMArts pic.

TollywoodIt will be the fourth Indian film to be screened at the theatre.Digital NativePrabhas starrer Saaho directed by Sujeeth, is set to hit the screens on August 30. According to the latest reports, the film is will be screened at Le Grand Rex in Paris. The theatre has a total of 2,800 seats and after super star Rajinikanth’s Kabali, Baahubali 2 and Vijay's Mersal, Saaho will be the fourth Indian film to be screened in this prestigious theatre. The official Twitter handle of the distribution company posted that the screening will happen on August 29. #Saaho | A man uses an arsenal of weapons to battle a gang in the city. the city under fire and people's lives at risk, #TheOneMan to give everything he has got to take the city back. [ L’Avant-PREMIÈRE ] 29 Août 21h au GrandRex GrandLarge Tickets : https://t.co/W2nhzeCDmh pic.twitter.com/YiDFqR6wJ5 — Eoy Entertainment (@eoyentertainmen) August...

Radhika Apte Screen Talk at the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival 2019 on Sunday 23rd June, 2019 at Cineworld Leicester Square, London England

Darren Brade Photography

At a very special event on June 23rd at this year’s London Indian Film Festival Radhika Apte gave a special talk with Girl With Pearl Earring director Peter Webber about her stunningly varied career. The brilliant actress has been seen in hit films like Padman, Andhadhun and Kabali garnering rave reviews. She is also known for her independent films like Parched, Phobia and Bombairiya where she really shone in her amazing performances. Apte has also appeared in English films like The Wedding Guest and The Ashram. She won a Jury Award at the Tribeca Film Festival for her bravura performance in Madly. Not only that she has done several Netflix series headlining the original Ghoul, Lust Stories and Sacred Games with great acclaim.

Along...

SandalwoodThe movie will be released in four south Indian languages. Digital NativeAfter a gap of almost two decades, actor Kiccha Sudeep and director Sunil Kumar Desai are set to team up for a new project. However, instead of acting, Sudeep will be doing the voice-over for Udhgarsha, Sunil Kumar Desai’s upcoming project. Sudeep, who made his debut in V Umakanth’s Thayavva, considers Sunil Kumar Desai as his mentor since it was his Sparsha that put him on the road map to become a top star. The actor-director duo had worked on Prathyathra before Sparsha. Udhgarsha, which will have Sudeep doing the voice-over will be released in four languages – Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. The actor will be doing the voice over in English so that it can be retained in all the languages. Starring Thakur Anoop Singh as the male lead, Udhgarsha has Sai Dhansika will mark her...

InterviewKarthik Subbaraj speaks to Tnm about Rajini's character Kaali, why he cast Simran, and what fans can expect from the film. Anjana ShekarKarthik Subbaraj’s Petta is up for release this Thursday and Rajini fans can barely contain their excitement. Petta is hitting the screens even while Rajinikanth’s 2.0 is still playing in theatres, and this is the first time in years that the star will be having two of his films running in theatres at the same time. The film’s trailer, teasers, and first-look posters have all suggested that Petta would be a Rajini fans' celebration. Director Karthik Subbaraj, too, has admitted this on more than one occasion. During the film’s audio launch, he had said, “Petta is a film inspired by, performed by and dedicated to Rajinikanth.” The story was written specifically for Rajinikanth, and Karthik had said that his dream of making a film with...

KollywoodTipped to be a coming-of-age road drama, the film is gearing up for a summer release.Digital NativeFilmmaker Pa Ranjith is ready with his second production titled Irandaam Ulaga Porin Kadaisi Gundu. The regular shoot of the project began on Friday. Starring Attakathi Dinesh in the lead, the film is being directed by Athiyan Athirai, a former associate of Pa Ranjith. Tipped to be a coming-of-age road drama, the film is gearing up for a summer release. The first look of the film was unveiled last month to mark Pa Ranjith’s birthday. The poster features Dinesh sitting on a lorry, with a tea glass in hand. The film stars Dinesh as a lorry driver and the story follows his encounters with different people on his journey. Anakha and Ryithvika play the female leads while Muniskanth, Marimuthu and Ramesh Thilak play the supporting cast. Tenma of the Casteless Collective band...

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

InterviewThe 'Neruppuda' singer speaks about his own cricketing days – including the time he stole a ball – to making the film with his best friends.Sowmya RajendranArunraja Kamaraj was in middle-school when he stole a cricket ball. It was the only object he'd ever coveted in his life. And so, now that the actor-lyricist-singer is making his directorial debut, it's not surprising that the subject of the film revolves around cricket. Kanaa, produced by his close friend actor Sivakarthikeyan, stars Aishwarya Rajesh in the lead role, and is about a young woman from a village who wants to become a cricketer. Speaking to Tnm, Arunraja, who shot to fame with his song 'Neruppu da' from Kabali, says, "I had no dreams of joining the film industry when I was a child. I'm from a village and my connection to cinema was limited to watching films in the theatre. When I was in college,...

EntertainmentAs per the latest trends, opening figures for '2.0' in AP and Telangana is bigger than the number in Tamil Nadu on day one.Priyanka RichiImage: Balakrishna GaneshanRajinikanth and director Shankar’s glitzy sci-fi big-budget entertainer 2.0, which released amidst much fanfare on Thursday, has swept theatres across south, with the film releasing in more than 10,000 screens across India. While the film obviously has its own fan-base in Tamil Nadu, especially after the massive success of its prequel Enthiran in 2010, in 2018 the sequel has seen a phenomenal opening in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. According to sources close to the film, 2.0 -Tamil and Telugu dubbed version- has taken to an extraordinary opening with close to 75 percent of theatres in both AP and Telangana screening the film. Film producer Dil Raju is the official distributor for the film in the Telugu states. “The movie has released in 700 screens in both the Telugu states,...

LawA Pil filed by G Devarajan seeks that Rajinikanth’s upcoming '2.0', 'Petta' and Ajith’s 'Viswasam' can only be exhibited at the charges prescribed by the government.Tnm StaffMadras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to respond before December 19 to a public interest litigation (Pil) filed by G Devarajan seeking action to be taken against theatres that over price movie tickets. The Pil that was filed on November 19 came up for hearing by a bench presided by Justices Rajamanickam and Sathyanarayanan on November 27. The bench has asked the government why it has not yet implemented the ticket pricing regulation rules that were made in 2017. It has also directed the government to explain the present status of the regulatory committee that was formed to oversee ticket pricing. Devarajan has named a total of 59 respondents in his Pil including the Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department), Revenue Administration Commissioner,...

TollywoodThere's no other Tamil actor who does as much business for a film dubbed in Telugu than Rajinikanth.Hemanth Kumar C REveryone’s talking about Rajinikanth, Shankar’s upcoming sci-fi adventure 2.0 and quite rightly so. The film has been in the making for a long time now, and it’s become one of the most talked about south Indian films since Baahubali 2. Much like the scale of the film, the numbers alone are mind-boggling, whether it’s the budget or the number of screens it’s slated for release. While the film is expected to take a record-breaking opening in Tamil Nadu when it releases on November 29, the two Telugu speaking states - Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - are also expected to contribute a significant amount to the overall gross of the film. It wouldn’t be surprising if 2.0 sets a new benchmark not just for a Rajinikanth film in Telugu,...

KollywoodThe film has had a phenomenal opening and has broken several collection records, including the one held by 'Sanju' for all India collections.Tnm StaffVijay-ar Murugadoss’s third collaboration Sarkar has broken collection records, joining the 100-crore Gross Worldwide Club in just two days. It has become the first Vijay film to do so. In the state, too, Sarkar broke records by reaching the spot that was previously dominated by SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali - The Conclusion. Sarkar made over 30 crores on its first day in the state while Baahubali 2 had stood at 19 crores on day one. The film also collected Rs 2.41 crores in Chennai city on its first day of release, surpassing Rajinikanth’s Kaala that made Rs 1.76 crore. Rajinikanth's previous release Kabali had made Rs 46.50 crores in the Indian box-office on Day 1, which includes Rs 21.50 crores from Tamil Nadu totally and Rs 1.12 crores from Chennai city.

KollywoodSiblings Anbumani and Arivumani approached the Madras Hc and obtained an interim injunction against their removal from the South Indian Cine and TV Stunt Artistes Union.Digital NativeDigital NativeThe stunt choreographer duo, Anbumani and Arivumani, have been removed from the South Indian Cine and TV Stunt Artistes Union. In a statement issued by the Union, it has been alleged that “Anbumani and Arivumani, who have been working as stunt director in the industry, have violated the union rules regarding stunt performances. The two have, under the pretext of rehearsals, been choreographing actors to perform dangerous, rope-based action sequences for films such as Madras and Kabali. This is in violation of the rules of the Union. The union’s governing body has therefore decided to remove them from the basic membership.” The sibling’s who work under the screen name Anbariv, had choreographed stunts for films such as the Rajinikanth starrer Kabali and Karthi’s Madras.

CinemaRishab Shetty’s 'Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasargodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai' speaks loudly at a time cultures, languages are being appropriated with impunity. Subha J RaoA still from the movieTen days ago, a small film set out to speak about a subject that would go on to touch a chord among a large swathe of people. Director Rishab Shetty’s Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasargodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai is the kind of film that speaks loudly at a time when cultures and languages are being appropriated with impunity. Set in Kasargod, a lovely place by the sea that has a sizeable Kannada population, but which has never been part of modern-day Karnataka, the film tells us the story of children studying in the only Kannada-medium school in the district, which is in Kerala. When an official from the Education Department issues orders to close the school, the children decide to take matters into their hands,...

KollywoodThe two directors have only a handful of films to their credit but they have created a space for themselves in the industry.CV AravindThere is hardly any dearth in numbers as far as the release of Tamil films is concerned, only a handful of films have impacted the box office while the others have returned to the cans in record time. But, the silver lining is that the industry now boasts of a number of young filmmakers who can be counted on to hold the banner of Tamil cinema aloft in the coming days. Themes considered taboo are being tackled with gusto, and audiences which were lulled into a soporific slumber by the monotonous fare now have something to cheer for. Two directors who have already made a name for themselves though they have helmed only a handful of films are Vetri Maaran and Pa Ranjith. To the former,...

KollywoodThe actor posted a picture of himself rehearsing lines for the Karthik Subbaraj film with Rajinikanth.Tnm StaffBollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has started preparing for his first Tamil film. The Karthik Subbaraj directorial has Rajinikanth in the lead role and a host of other stars as part of the cast, including Vijay Sethupathi, Trisha, and Simran. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is expected to play the role of the villain. The actor, who is known for his gritty performances, posted a picture of himself rehearsing the lines for the film on Instagram, adding that he was excited to work with the "Superstar Thalaivar". Earlier, reports suggested that Karthik Subbaraj had met Siddiqui and narrated the story to him when he was promoting his silent thriller Mercury in Mumbai. However, it was several weeks later that the news of Siddiqui being in the star cast was confirmed. Although Siddiqui primarily works in Bollywood, he's...

KollywoodSivakarthikeyan’s first production is about a young woman who wants to play cricket professionally. Tnm StaffScreenshot/YouTubeThe official teaser for Aishwarya Rajesh’s Kanaa was released by the film’s producer, popular actor Sivakarthikeyan on Thursday. Kanaa, which marks Sivakarthikeyan’s debut production, is directed by Arunraja Kamaraj. Aishwarya Rajesh plays a young woman who wants to become a cricketer in the film. Actors Sathyaraj, Ilavarasu and Darshan are also part of the cast. The teaser begins with a girl child being dissuaded to pursue cricket because nobody in the village plays the sport. When she approaches a coach to join the game, he also tells her that it is not for “pombala pasanga”. However, we’re shown Aishwarya Rajesh in the next shot, throwing a ball into the air as she leads a team of men. Sathyaraj, who plays her father, is a farmer in distress. We’re...

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

KollywoodSun Pictures made the announcement on Wednesday.Tnm StaffKarthik Subbaraj's untitled project with Rajinikanth has got more stars joining the cast. On Wednesday, Sun Pictures, the producer, tweeted that Simran and Bollywood star Nawazuddin Siddiqui have agreed to be part of the film. Earlier, it was rumoured that Karthik Subbaraj had approached Nawazuddin Siddiqui with the script but that the latter had not given him his nod. While Siddiqui is an established actor in Bollywood, known for her gritty roles, this will be his first Tamil film. He may have already become a familiar face to the southern audience through his recently released Netflix series Sacred Games in which he plays one of the main protagonists. Vijay Sethupathi is also a part of this project, the details of which are still under wraps. Vijay Sethupathi signed up for the film in April and was the biggest name to join the cast after Rajinikanth. This will be Simran's first collaboration with Rajinikanth. The actor recently made her comeback to cinema but hadn't quite managed to bag a substantial role. The Karthik Subbaraj film will hopefully land her more such projects. Rajinikanth's Kaala hit the screens in June and the superstar is awaiting the release of Shankar's 2.0. Karthik Subbaraj's last film was the silent thriller Mercury and the young director has expressed his excitement about working with Rajinikanth. The superstar, after doing a slew of films with experienced directors, turned to fresher faces and younger filmmakers with Kabali. Unlike his contemporary Kamal Haasan who said that he will stop doing films shortly because of his plunge into politics, Rajinikanth has made no such announcement. We are happy to announce that for the first time, @SimranbaggaOffc and @Nawazuddin_S will be acting with Superstar Rajini in #SuperstarWithSunPictures pic.twitter.com/LmsAHuqdWM — Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) July 18, 2018...

ReviewThe film spares nobody and if you get all the references, it is a laughter riot.Priyanka ThirumurthyTamizh Padam 2 is a reviewer's dream. And this is not because it elevates the art of filmmaking. I call it a dream because it duly takes a jibe at scenes from mainstream films that have made movie-goers cringe and question all their life choices. The movie is the cathartic outlet you need to laugh away the pain of suspending reality every time you enter a movie theatre. From Baahubali to Bairavaa, Veeram to Vivegam and Santosh Subramaniam to Saamy, you name it and director Cs Amudhan has spared nobody in this film. The movie is a commentary on the state of cinema in Kollywood, what passes off as 'mass' and the complete lack of logic that audiences are forced to deal with. In a way, Tamizh Padam 2 is a review of the Tamil industry, one which the Producers' Council cannot bristle over, dismiss or brush away with its usual 'we have worked hard' excuse. The film revolves and rests on the shoulders of an able Shiva, whose very presence on screen brings a smile to the faces in the audience. Everyone is laughing even before he gets to the end of the joke because his deadpan expressions are so in contrast with the wild statements written out for him. The actor plays a policeman who is on a mission to find an international terrorist - P. This plot into which we've seen almost every mainstream hero plunge headfirst (arguably without thought), gives the director and actor a huge canvas to poke holes in. This is where films like Vikram Vedha, Sandakarra and Thuppaki are all dragged in. But these were the better of the lot, weren't they? Well it doesn't matter to Amudhan. He rips them all to shreds, using dialogues to create an organic flow of humour, seamlessly moving from one movie to another. Just when you begin guffawing over his dig at Surya's Singam, he has already moved on to Ajith's Vivegam. In a theatre of 200 people, it is likely that every single person is laughing at a different joke at the same time. Amudhan carefully plans the mise-en-scene of his shots to evoke laughter, with even Obama making an appearance if you notice carefully enough. The sets of Aramm, Kabali and even Game of Thrones are exploited, to leave the audience amused. But what I see as the biggest success of this film, is how it exposes the mindset of the industry when it comes to scripting a woman lead in a film. The heroines in Tamizh Padam 2 are constantly dying - a reference to the 'damsel in distress' role that our directors love to give women actors. And when they do stay alive, the hero has two conditions - one, she has to look like a 'maidha maavu' and two, she has to be loosu. The simple acknowledgment and then ridicule of this pattern, lends strength to the battle against it. Songs like 'Evan di unna pethan' and 'Adi da avala' see a much-delayed gender-reversal, laying bare the misogyny in the 'soup' song genre. The film's political overtones too, have to be mentioned . What even mainstream films are now afraid to criticise, Tamizh Padam takes on with candour. From the 'Sasikala Sabadham' to the 'Ops Dharmayudham', politics in the state over two years is a treasure trove for any comedian. And if you listen closely enough, you may even discover one little nugget about a certain 'thatha'. That being said however, not all jokes in the film work and this is not from lack of trying. There are moments when the audience is left waiting for a good line to tickle their funny bone. The movie's jokes are not clever like a Panchatantiram, they are merely slapstick. And like any other spoof, the humour relies heavily on the audience's ability to recall scenes from earlier films. And so, if you haven't seen the movie being spoofed, you will just have to wait for the next joke to arrive. The villain Satish by his own admission, doesn't act in the film. It is the costume department that has been burdened with this character, whose look changes to represent a different mainstream villain every time he appears on the screen. His jokes too fall flat multiple times. Iswarya Menon, who plays the heroine, has performed her role remarkably well. Her presence cannot be ignored on screen even when Shiva is the one with the funny lines. She swings from a smart working woman to a 'dumb girlfriend' with ease. The screenplay could have definitely been tighter, with lesser songs and more pace. The lyrics were not as rib-tickling as the songs in the first Tamizh Padam and merely brought the movie to a halt unnaturally. But if this film was mocking actual cinema, can you blame if for dragging on? The movie, in short, has shown Kollywood the mirror and the question is - Will the industry do anything to change its reflection? Well, if it doesn't, at least there will be a Tamizh Padam 3 to look forward to.    ...

Kollywood It's been a long time since Rajinikanth had two releases in the same year and there's a lot more riding on '2.0' than just its massive budget.Sowmya RajendranRajinikanth's 2.0 finally has a release date. On Tuesday, it was announced that the film will release on November 29. In over two decades, the superstar has not had more than one release in a year. In fact, since 2000, Rajini has been doing a film only once in 2-3 years mostly. In 2014, Lingaa and Kochadaiiyan released but the latter was a motion capture film and did not have Rajinikanth himself on screen. 2018, therefore, is a massive year for both the star and his fans. After a long time, the superstar will have two releases in the same year - Kaala and 2.0. And both of them coming out after he announced his plunge into politics.  What then is riding on 2.0 besides the usual frenzy around a Rajinikanth film? Pan-Indian film Rajinikanth is well-known all over India. However, outside of the south, the current generation treats him rather unfairly as a joke. For people who've never watched his films, he's a mere caricature who makes a few stylish gestures to get some whistles. They've never experienced his swag in the context of the films in which he has starred in.  2.0, however, is a pan-Indian film. It has to be, considering it's made on a massive budget which is reportedly between Rs 400-500 crore. That's nearly double of SS Rajamouli's Baahubali 2 which was made on a budget of around Rs 250 crore. Shankar's Enthiran, the first film, was made on a budget of around Rs 130 crore. In 2010, it was the most expensive Indian film to be made at that point. The dubbed version in Hindi, Robot, also did well, but this time around, the makers have shot the film simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi to make sure the Hindi audiences come to the theatres. Besides, the cast includes Akshay Kumar, one of the top billed actors in Bollywood today, in an important role. Dubbed versions are expected to release in several other languages. The phenomenal success of the Baahubali franchise has shown that linguistic and cultural barriers can be broken if a film manages to capture the imagination of the audience. Baahubali 2 was the first Indian film to breach the Rs 1000 crore mark at the box-office and it managed to do this despite having actors who are from southern industries and don't have much of a reach in the north. 2.0, with names like Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar, will want to repeat this success story and do even better.  For Rajinikanth, who is positioning himself as a political leader in Tamil Nadu, 2.0 may well be the vehicle which will increase his appeal across the country - if all goes well. Political messaging Rajinikanth's last two films have been with Pa Ranjith. Both Kabali and Kaala were politically loaded films that brought Ambedkarite politics to mainstream cinema on a lavish scale. While this was celebrated by many, several have pointed out that Ranjith's politics and Rajinikanth's real life politics appear to be poles apart.  Rajinikanth's debacle at Thoothukudi right before the release of Kaala, in which the actor ironically asks, "Kumaru, yaaru ivaru?" to a politician, proved to be a thorn in the flesh for the makers. Besides, many fans were also upset about Kabali and Kaala not following the Rajinikanth film template and the question of ownership - were these Ranjith films or Rajinikanth's?  It's not that Shankar's films are devoid of political messaging. But he's stuck to the "one-man army taking on the system" kind of formula, mostly dealing with corruption as a theme so far. Enthiran, which is a science fiction film, was about a robot gone rogue and its sequel, too, is expected to stay within the sci-fic genre.  At the very least, it's unlikely that the audience will see a chasm between what the character played by Rajinikanth says on screen and his political beliefs in real life.  Interestingly, both Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth are perceived to be close to the Bjp although it remains to be seen if 2.0 will take a pro-central government stance in any respect.  Rajinikanth's hold over the box-office If Rajinikanth has taken the plunge into politics today, it is because he has a wide fanbase that was created through his cinema. But is Rajini's power over the box-office on the wane? Several reports said that the bookings for Kaala were much lower than expected. The film released to mostly positive reviews but there were always murmurs that it was a flop. After media reports claimed that the film didn't make enough money, Wunderbar Films issued a clarification which said that Kaala was a profitable venture. However, they did not release any numbers. The Tamil film industry is cagey when it comes to box-office figures. Success parties are thrown days after a film's release, with stars, directors and producers claiming that the film was a "hit". They get extremely touchy when reports emerge that a big star's film didn't do as much business as expected.  While it's possible that the "flop" reports about Kaala may have been spurred by people with vested interests - those who have a problem with Ranjith or Rajinikanth - the superstar needs an emphatic victory to prove that he's still the king of the box office. If his popularity goes down here, it does not bode well for his political career. The success of 2.0, therefore, is more than just about whether the film makes back the money spent. For Rajinikanth, the actor and politician, the pressure is definitely on.  Also read: Rahul Gandhi meets director Pa Ranjith, says they discussed politics, films and society...

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

EntertainmentThe production house tweeted in response to news reports that had alleged that film’s run at the box office was dismal.Tnm StaffShortly after news reports emerged that the recent Pa Ranjith-Rajinikanth magnum opus Kaala was a flop, Wunderbar Films was quick to counter rumours, claiming in a tweet on Saturday that the film was a success. The production house, run by Rajinikanth’s daughter Aishwarya and son-in-law Dhanush, tweeted, “We would like to dispel rumours run in few articles on #Kaala. Contrary to it, #Kaala is a successful and profitable project for Wunderbar Films and we thank Superstar for the opportunity given to us. We also thank the audience for the positive response given to the film.” We would like to dispel rumours run in few articles on #Kaala. Contrary to it, #Kaala is a successful and profitable project for Wunderbar Films and we thank Superstar for the opportunity given to us. We also thank the audience for the positive response given to the film. pic.twitter.com/sJTCpx6NJh — Wunderbar Films (@wunderbarfilms) July 7, 2018 Over the past few days, news reports emerged on social media alleging that Dhanush had agreed to pay Rs 40 crores to ‘make up’ for losses faced by distributors. The reports claimed that distributors were unhappy with collections and that ticket sales in the theatres were low. Prominent Tamil daily Dinamalar said in a report that Kaala had failed to meet expectations following the Tamil film industry strike which brought most film productions to a grinding halt. It further said that Pa Ranjith’s first film with Rajinikanth, Kabali, had opened to 3,000 screens in the state while Kaala had only opened with 1,700. Distributors had reportedly told the newspaper that they were banking on the success of Irumbu Thirai, Tik Tik Tik and the yet-to-released Asurapadham, Mr Chandramouli and Tamil Padam 20. A few digital entertainment news websites went onto say that the film had caused a rift between Rajinikanth and Dhanush. The film was Rajinikanth's first release following his entry into politics in Tamil Nadu. Rajinikanth's fans too took to social media to slam the reports. Given Pa Ranjith’s subaltern style of film making and Rajini being viewed as ideologically to the right, the film had created a lot of hype and expectations shortly before its release on June 7. According to a report in Firstpost, the film had collected over 150 crores in its first three weeks. This reportedly makes Rajinikanth the only actor to have starred in three films that grossed over 150 crores. Also read: ‘It’s a secret, can’t reveal details’: Tn cops on Fir against filmmaker Divya Bharathi...

KollywoodRumours emerged that the film was going to be a gangster flick.Digital NativeDigital NativeEver since it was announced that Simbu and Venkat Prabhu are set to join hands for a yet-untitled project, rumours emerged that it’s going to be a gangster flick. However, sources close to the Saroja director have denied these reports and added that the film will be an action-thriller but definitely not a gangster film. It has also been clarified that the film’s title is not Athiradi and it doesn’t feature Simbu as a gangster. On joining hands with Simbu, Prabhu took to Twitter and wrote: “Yes, it’s official! My next is with my brother Str. Produced by Suresh Kamatchi and it’s a fresh script. Not a sequel. Artists, technicians, title and other details will follow! Get ready to be rocked. Need all your love and blessing as always.” Prabhu, best known for films such as Chennai 600028 and Mankatha, currently awaits the release of Tamil multi-starrer Party. It was recently announced that Simbu has four interesting projects, including a yet-untitled film with Vijaya Productions. According to a statement released by his PR team, his next project will be with Vijaya Productions, and apparently the popular banner has signed Simbu for a whopping remuneration. The statement also added that Simbu has directorial plans and he will commence work on the project later this year. He also has signed a new project with Kabali producer Kalaipuli Thanu. More information regarding these projects are yet awaited. Simbu also has a sequel to Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya with Gautham Menon; however, this project will not materialize until 2019. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also Read: These Tamil thrillers from before the ’90s are a must-watch...

KollywoodAnirudh Ravichander has been roped in to compose music for this film.Digital NativeDigital NativeThe Superstar Rajinikanth’s next will be directed by Karthik Subburaj and produced by Kalanidhi Maran’s Sun Pictures. The star has allotted a bulk call sheet of 40 days for this project and he is currently camping in Darjeeling where a 30-day-long schedule has been planned. The crew will shoot portions involving Rajinikanth in this schedule and rest of the cast will join later. Director Karthik Subburaj, known for making blockbusters such as Pizza, and Jigarthanda also has films such as Iraivi, and Mercury to his credit. His upcoming film will have Rajinikanth playing the lead role with an impressive star cast comprising of Vijay Sethupathi, Bobby Simha, Munishkanth and Yogi Babu. And for the first time, Rajini’s nephew Anirudh Ravichander will be composing music for this film. Interestingly, veteran singer Sp Balasubramaniam will be rendering Rajini’s intro song in the film. In fact, Spb has sung several of Rajini’s intro songs in various films in the past and they have all gone on to become blockbuster hits. Some of the chartbusters that Spb had rendered in Rajini’s hit films include 'Athanda Ithanda' in Arunachalam, 'Vandenthda Paalkaran' in Annamalai, 'Oruvan Oruvan' in Muthu, 'Devuda Devuda' in Chandramukhi, 'En Peru Padaiyappa' in Padaiyappa, 'O Nanba' in Linga, 'Enge Pogutho Vaanam' in Kochadiyaan and 'Puthiya Manitha' in Endhiran. The makers of Rajinikanth’s 165th film, which has not been titled yet, decided to rope in the superstar’s lucky mascot singer Spb for success. It may be mentioned here that director Pa Ranjith, who had directed Rajini’s Kaala and Kabali, had Santhosh Narayanan compose music for the films. Interestingly, these films were not the usual Rajini films that fans would expect and there was no intro song by Spb. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also Read: ‘Curly is beautiful’: This movement is helping Indian women accept their natural hair...

EntertainmentThis time around, Bigg Boss season two has 16 participants with one surprise addition. Tnm StaffYoutube screengrabBigg Boss Tamil, the popular reality TV show that was all the rage last year, is back again with its most-awaited second season. The show first premiered on Vijay TV in June last year. The contestants in Season 2 were revealed one after the other on Sunday evening. While the show’s tagline last season was ‘Odavum mudiyadhu, oliyavum mudiythu’ (you can’t run, you can’t hide), this time it is ‘Nallavar yaar? Kettavar yaar?’ (who’s bad? who’s good?). The season is once again hosted by Kamal Haasan who recently made his foray into politics. While Bigg Boss Season One had 15 participants initially, the show took in four others mid-season. This time around, Bigg Boss season two has 16 participants with one surprise addition. Here’s the complete list of participants this year: 1.Actor Yashika Aanand of Iruttu Arayil Muruttu Kuthu fame 2.Stunt master/actor Ponambalam 3.Actor Mahath Raghavendra of Mangatha fame 4.Daniel Annie Pope of Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara fame 5.Rj Vaishnavi (granddaughter of prominent Tamil writer Saavi) 6.Actor Janani Iyer 7.Voice trainer Ananth Vaidyanathan 8.Singer Ramya Nsk 9.Actor-comedian Sendrayan 10.Actor Riythvika of Kabali fame 11.Actor Mumtaz 12.Rj-vj Bhalajie 13.Actor Mamathi Chari 14.Bhalajie’s wife Nithya 15.Shariq Hassan - son of actors Riyaz Khan and Uma Riyaz 16.Actor Aishwarya Dutta The rules of the reality show, that follows Big Brother format originally developed and aired in the Netherlands in 1999, is very simple. A small group of people are confined inside a house with no access to the outside world for 100 days. The housemates take turns to cook, do chores etc. while their interactions are closely monitored by surveillance cameras. The contestants are then eliminated from the house in stages based on their popularity rating. They are given tasks to gain access to certain privileges inside the house. Bigg Boss Tamil Season One gained a lot of attention when it aired last year with people taking sides, and forming campaigns for their favourites. Some of the popular contestants from last time include Julie, dance master/actor Gayathri, lyricist Snegan, actor Namitha, actor/model Harish, actor/model Raiza, etc. Actor Oviya is one notable example for having gained huge fandom after appearing on the show. She will be appearing as a guest this time around, for a few days. Raiza and Harish have gone to sign films deals post-show. Actor Aarav emerged victorious at the end of the first season, winning Rs 50 lakhs cash prize. Read: Tamil film industry boycotts Filmfare Awards as organisers refuse to pay ‘donation’...

KollywoodThe star is currently camping in Darjeeling where a 30-day long schedule is planned for his next with director Karthik Subbaraj.Digital NativeRajinikanth undoubtedly enjoys a huge fan following across the world. His latest release, Kaala, opened to packed houses on June 7, but its box office performance deteriorated and the film bombed at the box office. It may be mentioned here that director Pa Ranjith and Rajinikanth had teamed up for Kabali earlier and the film turned out to be a massive success at the box office. Meanwhile, Rajinikanth has started shooting for his next with director Karthik Subbaraj. He is currently camping in Darjeeling where a 30-day long schedule is planned. The crew will shoot portions involving Rajinikanth in this schedule and rest of the cast will join later. West Bengal’s tourism minister Goutam Deb met Rajinikanth at the private resort in Kurseong where he is staying. Speaking to reporters in Darjeeling after the meeting, Rajinikanth said, “By god’s grace Kaala is doing very well all over India and abroad. I will be in Darjeeling and shoot for 30 days here.” He further added, “The land of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Subash Chandra Bose has mesmerised me. I am really happy to meet such lovely people, good and kind-hearted people. There are lots of beautiful locations here which are not explored. I hope, with this film, the whole country will know this place and explore the region.” Bankrolled by Sun Pictures, the yet-untitled film also stars Vijay Sethupathi in a pivotal role and marks the first time collaboration of Rajinikanth and Subbaraj. The film has an ensemble cast, including Bobby Simha, Munishkanth, Yogi Babu and Sanath. Kaala, which has Rajinikanth playing the title role, grossed Rs 112.2 crore worldwide in the first weekend. According to trade sources, the film’s weekend collection in Tamil Nadu stands at Rs 44.8 crore and in Chennai it had a good opening, managing to gross Rs 6.64 crore. The Andhra Pradesh and Nizam collection amounted to Rs 11 crore and Kerala it grossed Rs 4 crore. Bankrolled by Dhanush under his banner Wunderbar Films, Kaala has a bevy of stars in the cast including Nana Patekar, Samuthirakani, Aruldoss, Easwari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Anjali Patil, Sukanya and Aravind Akash. Santosh Narayanan is the music composer for this flick with G Murali being the cameraman and A Sreekar Prasad the editor. Also read: I broke stereotype of women writing only love songs: 'Kaala' lyricist Uma Devi to Tnm (Content provided by Digital Native)...

InterviewIn this Tnm exclusive, the lyricist shares her experiences on penning some of the latest earworms.Anjana ShekarMusic has the power to conjure worlds, to heal wounds. And lyrics work a whole different kind of magic. The romantics like me will tell you that the battle is real – is it the song’s lyrics, or is it the music? Which triumphs? Which becomes indispensable for a song? Ensnared by the charm of its lyrics, caught in the web of its music, a song can also be a dying mans’ last wish. I reluctantly turn down the volume on singer Ananthu’s version of 'Kannamma' that has been playing for the 100th time as I prepare to interview lyricist Uma Devi over the phone. When I tell her that I’ve been addicted to the song, there’s a pause and the faint sound of a smile on the other end. Uma Devi is among the very few who’ve tasted success in their very first attempt in the film industry. A literary scholar, poet and a language professor, Uma Devi shares that becoming a lyricist happened for her only by chance. Born in Athipakkam village in Vandavasi taluk of Thiruvannamalai district, Uma Devi did her schooling and undergraduation in her hometown. She then moved to Chennai to pursue her master’s. Coming from a family of artists, Umadevi’s foray into writing came very early. “My parents are koothu kalaignargal (folk artists) and my brother too is a poet. I’ve always been surrounded by a very creative environment,” she tells us. Having obtained a PhD from the International Institute of Tamil Studies, Uma Devi is currently an assistant professor at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai. She also regularly publishes her poetry in prominent Tamil magazines and is a well-known figure in literary circles. Director Pa Ranjith, before becoming a filmmaker, was a painter and a devoted literature aficionado, and the friendship between the two dates back to before either of their debut in the world of cinema. Already acquainted with her work, Ranjith requested Uma Devi to pen lyrics for one of his film’s songs. Out came the poignant and subtle ‘Naan Nee’ rendered beautifully by Shakthisree Gopalan in Pa Ranjith’s Madras in 2014. And this set the stage for Uma Devi the lyricist. The young poet has penned over 20 songs so far. “I was given the tune and the baseline of the story. In fact, 'Naan Nee' is a very story-like song,” begins Umadevi. She recalls the line ‘Uyir vaazha mulkooda oru paravaiyin veedaai maaridume’ and explains that it is the most basic imageries from life that she’s alluded to. “If you’ve observed birds, they pick up almost every object they can find to build their nests – thorns, wires, they don’t mind even if it hurts them. Isn’t that the most basic instinct of life?” Soon after Madras came Kabali in which Uma Devi penned the lyrics for two chartbusters – ‘Maya Nadhi’ and ‘Veera Thurandhara’. The songs also won her Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Lyricist. There’s an aching sadness in both 'Maya Nadhi' (Kabali) and 'Kannamma' (Kaala). Yet the songs are strikingly different in the images that they conjure up. “Both 'Maya Nadhi' and 'Kannamma' are about lovers reuniting. Both the songs are of intimacy but while you can feel the warmth in 'Maya Nadhi', it leaves you with a void in 'Kannamma'. It’s the kind that slips past your hand. I felt the heaviness while writing 'Kannamma',” shares Uma Devi. Her 'Veera Thurandhara' too was widely appreciated by many. “People often expect women writers to write love songs or songs that have feminine expressions. I feel I’ve broken that stereotype with 'Veera Thurandhara'. It was a challenging piece and my favourite to this day,” she shares. The workings of a creative mind is often a puzzle. Uma Devi shares that imagination is crucial for a creative person. “The experience of imagining a particular situation, something that I’ve not been through personally, is almost like teleporting from one body to another (koodu vittu koodu payardhu). This is how I’ve been able to create.” She goes on to add that a song gets more memorable when the picturisation is done right. “Sometimes I convey the image I have in mind to the music director or director,” she says. But in 'Kannamma', when the lines ‘Kaayangal aatrum, thalaikkodhi thetrum, kaalangal kaikooduthe’ play, Kaala literally tousles Zareena’s daughter’s hair. Was she present when the song was directed? “I was indeed surprised when I saw that picturisation. I would say it is the kind of understanding Pa Ranjith has of my work. Because we share similar ideologies, I’d say it has come through in the song,” she explains. A successful woman is often asked about being underrepresented, of how she manages to tackle the odds lined up against her. Uma Devi, however, says that the odds are not stacked up against her in this case. “I would say, of all the languages in the country, only Tamil has a good number of women lyricists. Writers like Thamarai have been able to sustain for over two decades in this industry. We do have great minds like Kutty Revathi, Tamazhachi Thangapandian, Rohini and others.” Uma Devi talks passionately about gender equality, both in real life and in her songs. Her ‘Vaadi Thimira’ from Jyothika’s Magalir Mattum, ‘Puthu Varalare’ from Nayanthara’s Aramm, are a few examples. “It was my way of expressing my anger and my longing for a society that treats its women fairly. This is not something new. We’ve been asking for it for over 2,500 years,” she says, adding, “If a woman asks for or talks about equality, she’s asking for everyone’s equality. But it is not the same when a man talks about it.” Uma Devi also refuses to acknowledge the constraints society has foisted upon women. “For most of my songs I decide the male and female parts. In Kaala’s 'Kannamma' song, I was asked why I made a man sing the lines, ‘Oottadha thaayin, kanakkindra paal pol, en kaadhal kidakkindrathe.’? Common sense might tell you motherhood is just a physical expression but it is more than that. I believe everyone can feel motherhood. If a woman were to sing these lines, it might sound normal. The effect is accentuated coming from a man,” she says. Her ‘Thoranam Aayiram’ in Aramm is another song with powerful lyrics. The song fetched her Best Lyricist Award in Vijay Awards 2017. “The song is about a necessity making someone murderous. I felt deeply about Anita’s fate while writing it. Education that is a basic necessity became murderous in her case. In the film too, water (a basic necessity) became murderous. I get to express the angst I feel through words,” she says. A devout literary enthusiast, Uma Devi talks at length of the beauty that can be found in Sangam era pieces. “I always believe that those who write with an affection for the language, its grammar and its ancient literature are the ones who’ll be able to bring out work that’ll last longer. Everything else will fade,” she finishes. Uma Devi has a number of projects lined up for this year, including Vijay Sethupathi’s 96 and Ashwin Saravanan’s Iravaakaalam starring Sj Suryah. A teacher during the day, she shares that most of her works are the fruits of night labour. After hanging up, I turn up the volume on Kannamma, playing it for the 101st time that day, but listening to it with a more nuanced understanding of having spoken to one of its creators. Also Read: Why Kerala loves its newspaper so much...

KollywoodThe Gujarat Mla and Dalit activist wrote, “Ranjith’s film is a brilliant cultural response to the Brahminical ideology.”Tnm StaffThe Pa Ranjith film Kaala, which released in theatres recently has been garnering praise from all corners. The latest to join the bandwagon is Gujarat Mla and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani. Jignesh took to Twitter to compliment director Pa Ranjith on his directorial venture. “Do watch P. Ranjith's #Kaala : Watched Kala yesterday and felt that I am also a Kala. Very good film. Our brother @beemji (also director of Kabali) has come up with one more very good film challenging the established order in many subtle yet entertaining way. Proud of Pa. Ranjith,” he tweeted. Do watch P. Ranjith's #Kaala : Watched Kala yesterday and felt that I am also a Kala. Very good film. Our brother @beemji (also director of Kabali) has come up with one more very good film challenging the established order in many subtle yet entertaining way. Proud of Pa. Ranjith pic.twitter.com/67eBv5MGT3 — Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) June 11, 2018 The film starring Rajinikanth in the lead, released last Thursday and is being praised by critics for its strong storytelling and for the way it has embraced the Dalit identity. Jignesh also voiced his praise for the movie in an article for The Print. “Ranjith’s film is a brilliant cultural response to the Brahminical ideology, and I love the fact that he has been able to harness the most commercial medium to do so,” says Jignesh in his article. The Gujarat Mla went on to say that “films like Kaala come as a relief” as he feels that “After the 1990s, we hardly get to see a working-class hero, a chawl, a basti, or the plight of a working widow”. In his article, Jignesh notes that mediums like cinema and journalism do not cover the issues of Dalits and the working class. “In films like Kaala, hearing the slogans of Jai Bhim, or seeing paintings and imagery of Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha is understandably very appealing to the Dalit masses, who are otherwise invisibilised in mainstream media,” writes Jignesh. Jignesh also questions the “celebrities” of India for not taking a political stand even as they have the power to influence people. “And then you have people like Prakash Raj, who has put his whole acting career at stake and is bravely asking questions, speaking truth to power even as it has cost him future Hindi film roles,” he writes. Read: The women of 'Kaala': How Pa Ranjith's film breaks gender moulds in Tamil cinema...

By Swarup Chakravarthy

SuperStar Rajni is a king among kings in Tamil cinema. From the mid-70s till today, his films draw in crowds all around the South purely because it’s a Rajnikanth film. He is very much Tamil cinema’s Amitabh Bachchan. For those with long memories Rajnikanth did have a brief run in Hindi cinema in which his most memorable role was 1983’s Hum where he starred alongside Govinda and Amitabh Bachchan. His latest film Kaala is bound to be a fresh super hit in Tamil Nadu cinemas, but as has been the recent trend in films, it has been brought north and redubbed into Hindi to give it a chance to shine amongst the great and good of Bollywood. Co-starring Nana Patekar and produced by Dhanush (from films such as Raanjhanaa with Sonam Kapoor and Shamitabh with who else but Amitabh Bachchan), its also directed by...

Film CommentaryWhether it's Zarina, Selvi or Puyal, Pa Ranjith's women characters are refreshingly different from the usual ones we see in Tamil cinema.Sowmya RajendranNote: This is not a review. Spoilers ahead. Pa Ranjith's Kaala will undoubtedly draw comparisons to Kabali, his first collaboration with Rajinikanth. Kaala, which released on Thursday, sees a more confident and assertive director, someone who appears to have figured out how to use Rajinikanth's larger-than-life image to make films that challenge the mainstream. Social thinkers and anti-caste revolutionaries like Br Ambedkar and Periyar have spoken extensively about the intersection of caste with other identities, especially that of gender. Ranjith, who has been vocal about caste oppression, in his art and real life actions, also recognises this. His women characters in Kabali came as a pleasant surprise, given the levels of misogyny usually present in a Rajinikanth film. Kumudhavalli (Radhika Apte) and Yogi (Sai Dhansika) defied several stereotypes of women characters in Tamil cinema. They were not merely decorative; they talked back to Kabali (Rajinikanth), and Yogi even protected him from the villains. Ranjith also did away with ideas of purity and honour that are considered vital for women characters in Tamil films - Kabali goes in search of Kumudhavalli despite knowing he might find her in a brothel; he adopts Meena (Riythvika) who allows men to molest her for money so she can buy drugs; he does not lecture Yogi on her appearance or behaviour, as far from the norm in Rajinikanth films as they are. In Kaala, too, Ranjith's women characters rise above the roles usually relegated to them. It starts right from the animation strip we're shown at the beginning of the film, explaining how war began with the origin of private property. It's common for popular art to depict the evolution of 'mankind' only through male representations. However, the animation strip in Kaala shows women hunters and gatherers along with the men. Interestingly, the women disappear as the wars for land become an established practice. Patriarchy is intertwined with the origin of private property; and though poets have waxed eloquent about a beautiful woman 'triggering' war between nations, the actual reason has simply been a desire for land and power. Kaala, which revisits the Ramayana and sets it in the hotbed of contemporary politics, sets the tone with its little hark back to history. Zarina Interestingly, though the film makes overt comparisons to the Ramayana, it is difficult to say who Sita is in it. The only character who comes closest to the Sita of the epic is Huma Qureshi's Zarina - she is someone Kaala (Rajinikanth, who plays Ravana) desires but cannot have. They were meant to be together but they are separated by flames twice in the film (like Lanka going up in flames during Rama's righteous war in the epic). Kaala is married to Selvi (Easwari Rao), who is kind towards Zarina though she has her insecurities about her - much like Ravana's wife Mandodari. Zarina is also a single mother, like Sita was, after she was abandoned in the epic. The Rama in Kaala, represented by Hari dada ('Hari' is another name for Vishnu), is not romantically interested in Zarina. The first time he hears her Muslim-sounding name, he asks her to repeat it, with a slight distaste on his face. He displays his abject disrespect for women with that casual line on a 'pombala' (woman) not being able to survive on her own. Then, he humiliates her by expecting her to touch his feet. Zarina's version of a trial by fire she must endure for the greater good? Was Zarina merely added to the script to give Rajinikanth another heroine to boost his ego? I don't think so. Zarina is a fair-skinned, assertive woman who was educated abroad. She is also romantically interested in Kaala, despite knowing he is married. In a Rajini film, this would automatically make her the villain - remember Nilambari of Padayappa? Instead, we have a Zarina who calls Kaala by his name, has agitated political disagreements with him (this is important, too - women rarely have such discussions with men in Tamil cinema), but is still his friend who understands her boundaries. And surprise, surprise, it is Kaala who jokingly compliments her on how young she looks - a certificate that's reserved for the Thalaivar in his films. There's a scene when she speaks in English to Selvi, Kaala's wife, and translates it to Tamil - a perfect opportunity to showcase her condescension or arrogance. But Pa Ranjith changes it to an endearing moment of bonding between these two women. Zarina also reminds Kaala that just as he has changed, she too isn't the Zarina of the past. When Kaala recounts their first meeting as young people, he tells Zarina that he noticed how she draped her shawl over her shoulders when he set his eyes on her. In the shot after Hari dada humiliates her by expecting her to fall at his feet, an angry Zarina drapes her dupatta over her shoulder as she walks out of the house - but the expression on her face is sheer rage and defiance. Not shame, not modesty. Selvi Selvi has shades of Kumudhavalli to her, but she doesn't have the latter's sophistication. She is the only one Kaala is afraid of, the only one who can shout him down. The casting of Easwari Rao in this role in itself surprised several people. Though she is at least two decades younger than Rajinikanth in real life, she is much older than the women who've usually played his heroine. She is also much darker than the average Kollywood heroine, a factor which held her back in her career. Selvi may not advise Kaala on his political moves; she may even strike us as naive. But it is Selvi who points out to her daughters-in-law that though Hari dada looks like a nice man, he is a casteist person who won't even drink water at their home. It's also Selvi who orders everyone to leave the room so Kaala and Zarina can have a private moment together when they meet after years. This is in sharp contrast to how the women in Hari dada's home behave - they are kept to the background, confined to their quarters when the patriarch of the family is having his discussions in the drawing room. When Kaala comes back after a dinner with Zarina, an annoyed Selvi tells him to book her tickets to Thirunelveli. Why? So that she may see her past lover, too! The scene is tender, comic and surprising all at once. It's not what one would expect Rajinikanth's heroine to say at all. She is also not the overly sentimental mom you find in Tamil cinema, even slightly mocking her sons when they are being dramatic. Puyal Kaala's to be daughter-in-law, the fiery Puyal (Anjali Patil) stands up to goons and politicians without fear. She's also a delightful subversion of the 'marumagal' role, calling Kaala by name and openly pooh-poohing her to-be-mother-in-law. And nobody reprimands her for the sass. Because Puyal isn't just Kaala's son's girlfriend. She's an activist who has a mind of her own. She is in the front line of every protest in her area, speaking out boldly even as her boyfriend tries to rein her in. The defining scene in Kaala's gender politics is when Puyal is stripped by policemen trying to quell a protest. They remove her salwar bottom and throw it. The senior cop watches in sadistic pleasure as she crawls towards the piece of cloth. But Puyal does not pick up the cloth, she picks up the stick next to it. She rises, partially undressed, and rushes towards the police to beat them black and blue once again. Contrast this to Rajinikanth's Endhiran, in which a woman commits suicide because the robot carried her naked to the road (the robot was saving her from a fire, by the way). With this one scene, Pa Ranjith succeeds in demolishing years of morality lessons on 'chastity' and 'honour' that Tamil cinema has delivered. Kaala's minor women characters, too, are palpably different. Beemji's mother remains defiant even after her son is murdered; women speak vocally about their sexual needs in a discussion on housing facilities; women dare policemen to shoot them dead when they are protesting; even the child who throws the first fistful of black powder on Hari dada in the end (which reminded me of the last scene in Fandry), is a girl. When the people of Dharavi strike, it is the men who cook meals for everyone.  Like Kabali, Ranjith's second film will lead to many discussions in the coming days. Not everyone will embrace Kaala. But at least, Ranjith cannot be accused of not walking the talk. Kaala's women will stay with us longer than box-office numbers and ticket sales. That is the victory of art over time, epic over mere story. Also read: If it's a war, enemy must be fought: Pa Ranjith on politics, films, caste and Rajini...

Review Pa Ranjith is surefooted in 'Kaala' and the joy of watching Rajinikanth the performer, minus the swish-swash music, is inexplicable.Sowmya RajendranThere is a reason why epics are timeless. The human emotions they locate within the theatre of life are eternal. The struggles they speak of have always existed. But there is yet another reason why epics endure - they are open to interpretation. The stories within the story have the power to change its meaning, depending on which episodes the storyteller wants to emphasise. And from whose point of view. The storyteller here is Pa Ranjith, his voice more assured than ever before. The point of view is that of Ravana's, the symbol of evil for caste Hindus. The idea isn't new, of course. Epic re-tellings have made their way to Tamil cinema before (Mani Ratnam's disappointing Ravanan, for one). It's the defiant way in which Ranjith situates it which makes Kaala such an immediate, thrilling experience. Rajinikanth plays Kaala, a don under whose protection the people of Dharavi live. Their fight is for the land - and as the film tells us in the beginning, war began with private property and it continues to be fought for it. Ranjith's films have been discussed a great deal for their subtext. In Kaala, however, the subtext isn't hiding in the margins. It's out in the light, for everyone to see. It's in the clothes Kaala wears - either blue or black. It's in the name of the builder who wants to destroy the slum - Manu realty. It's in the name of the political party the spotlessly white clothed Hari dada (Nana Patekar) belongs to - Navbharath Nationalist Party. Even in the breed of the dogs the two men own. Kaala has a mongrel named Asami. Hari dada has an almost white Labrador we spot briefly in a shot. But the film isn't just a did-you-catch-that game. It's not just about hoardings of Swacch Bharat that leer down upon Dharavi or the Buddha at Kaala's home. It's not merely the glimpses of Ambedkar in the background. Kaala is surefooted in going beyond that.  It weaves a compelling story around characters we cannot easily predict. There's Zarina (Huma Qureshi), Kaala's long lost love. But she's not just that. There is Lenin (who is suitably dressed in red for a good part), Kaala's son who disapproves of his father's ways and yet lives under the same roof as him. There's Charumathy/Puyal (Anjali Patil) who overturns Tamil cinema's favourite ideas of honour in one terrific scene that brought tears to my eyes. There is Selvi (Easwari Rao), who orders Kaala around (reminding us a little of Kumudhavalli) and shares a deliciously crafted romance with him. And of course, there's Valliappan (Samuthirakani) who is something of a semi-awake Kumbhakarna, always by Kaala's side. All of these people matter to the story, a story whose age suits the style of an epic. They are not there to make Kaala look good against the army of Ram. Nana Patekar is effortless in his portrayal of Hari dada. His dubbing in the trailer had some of us worried but in the film, the mix of Hindi-Tamil-Marathi that he slips into crawls under our skin in the way it is meant to. His face-offs with Rajini work so well because both stars are at the peak of their game.  Is it a Rajinikanth film? Well, there's that stunningly shot superman rain fight which will have fans go crazy. There's that scene at the police station where Rajini mocks a minister with a punchline (hint: if you've followed the Thoothukudi protests, the irony hits you in the face). Or the one where he actually seems to transform into a Ravana, waging battle through the flames. However, the joy of watching Rajinikanth the performer, minus the swish-swash music that has accompanied every on screen move of his, is inexplicable. He is still a demi-god but not one whose feet you need to touch. Ranjith is much more confident in handling Rajinikanth's star power and harnessing it than he was in Kabali - the 'young' Rajini in Kabali was to pander to the audience. In Kaala, young Rajini's story is an animation strip - to tell us what happened, not to get us clapping. Vengayin mavan is standing by himself, all right.  Murali G's cinematography and Santosh Narayanan's background score up the ante in nearly every scene. But, all of it is melded into a framework that has Pa Ranjith's signature all over it.   The ending, which explodes in a riot of colours, mimicking Holi (celebrated to mark the death of a demon...you know, the kind who is associated with Ravana) is brilliant. As black, blue, and red triumph and overturn our ideas of Good and Bad, Black and White, Pa Ranjith's achievement is unmistakable. He has made Rajinikanth meaningful, not a mere prop. Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither Tnm nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.  ...

Kollywood In his latest video interview, Gautham has confirmed that he will rejoin hands with Simbu for the sequel. Digital NativeActor Simbu, who has been going through a rough patch on the professional front, is trying to redeem his career with interesting career choices. Currently busy wrapping up work on Mani Ratnam’s multi-starrer, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam; he’s expected to join hands with filmmaker Gautham Menon for the third time for the sequel to their highly successful Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya. In his latest video interview, Gautham has confirmed that he will rejoin hands with Simbu for the sequel. Not long ago, Gautham had said that he plans to make the sequel with R. Madhavan; however, the plan didn’t materialize. In an earlier interview, Menon had said that the sequel will follow events eight years after Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya in its protagonist Karthik’s life. “This’ll be a story of four friends who meet and decide to go to the Us for their fifth friend’s wedding. It’s not a Hangover type movie but it’ll be light-hearted. Maddy has agreed to come on board and he’ll be reprising Karthik’s role which was originally played by Simbu. We are in the process of finalising someone from Telugu soon,” Menon said. However, the sequel most likely won’t happen this year as Simbu has signed four new projects. According to a statement released by his PR team, his next project will be with Vijaya Productions, and apparently the popular banner has signed Simbu for a whopping remuneration. The statement has also added that Simbu has directorial plans and he will commence work on the project later this year. He also has signed a new project with Kabali producer Kalaipuli Thanu. More information regarding these projects is yet awaited. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

KollywoodHere's how the actor has used props over the years to establish himself as a fashion icon way before Instagram.Tnm Staff The name Rajinikanth is synonymous with 'style'. Though Bollywood has given it the wildly inaccurate umbrella term 'lungi dance', Rajini has used several props to establish himself as a style icon - way before the days of Instagram. In Kaala, the actor's styling has once again made waves. Dressed entirely in black and sporting a pair of dark shades, Rajini sports a salt and pepper look. Sunglasses, in fact, have become a Rajini staple in recent times, lending him a classy look that suits his age. Here's a glimpse of the various superstar props that have sent the crowds wild over the years: Thundu The way Rajinikanth would throw his thundu (the piece of folded cloth) in the air and make it land again on his shoulder is legendary. He has used this prop to great effect in films like Ejamaan and Muthu. In Padayappa, which was all about a rich, arrogant woman lusting after his style, Rajini used the 'thundu' trick to create one of the most epic scenes ever. When Nilambari invites him home and removes all the furniture save her chair, Padayappa uses his thundu to bring down the big swing and seat himself in it. The scene still sends Rajini fans into paroxysms of joy. Stick Rajini's expertise in wielding the stick, which was a common prop in Tamil films of the '90s, was evident in films like Arunachalam. Twirling it with one hand and planting it on the ground assertively was a Rajini trick that was sure to draw whistles from the audience. Pipe Rajini has always excelled in playing roles with negative shades. He used the pipe in films like Netrikann, Billa and Johnny to build the bad boy image though he also played the hero in these films. The pipe in Tamil cinema has usually been used to suggest a rich background, and though Rajini played the underdog in several films, he was equally convincing in suits. Mouth organ In Padayappa, the mouth organ was another prop Rajini used effectively to suggest romance, style and also snub his arch-enemy Nilambari, played by Ramya Krishnan. One rupee coin If you wondered what could possibly be done with a coin, then you haven’t seen Rajinikanth do it. In Sivaji the Boss, this one rupee coin is his style prop. He flips it from one hand to the other, before tossing it in the air or into his pocket, a feat that can only be pulled off by the superstar. Cigarette/Beedi Rajinikanth's tricks with the cigarette/beedi are immensely popular. From chucking it in the air and catching it between his lips to lighting it with a loaded gun, Thalaivar has done it all. Several films like Annamalai, Baba, Moondru Mugam, Baasha, and Padayappa saw the superstar flicking his cigarette. Baasha, his most iconic film till date, had a song called 'Azhagu' which was basically a celebration of how Rajini can make the most innocuous actions stylish - sure enough, the cigarette features in it too. Chewing gum Though Rajini's cigarette style won him thousands of fans, the actor issued a 'stop smoking' message to his followers on his 63rd birthday. He confessed that he'd suffered from several health issues because of his smoking. Former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had also urged the actor to stop glorifying smoking in his films. In Shankar's Sivaji, Rajini shifted to the chewing gum. He flicked the gum to his palm and managed to get it into his mouth! Sunglasses Rajini has worn sunglasses in several films - Dharma Yuddham, Baasha, Padayappa, Chandramukhi, Endhiran, Lingaa, Kabali - to mention a few. Like the pipe, the sunglasses usually appeared when Rajini was playing a character who was considered rich or to suggest his makeover from 'innocent and poor' to 'enlightened and wealthy'. In Kaala, however, though Rajini is playing a gangster from the lower class, he already is seen sporting the glasses. As in Kabali, Pa Ranjith is looking to reimagine the oppressed as powerful in Kaala and the sunglasses is a conscious addition towards achieving this.

KollywoodRajinikanth films usually take good openings in the state and the ban will end up costing the makers a hefty sum.Tnm StaffThe ban on Kaala in Karnataka days before its release will cause heavy losses to the producers as well as theatres. Rajinikanth, a popular star in the south, commands a good opening in Karnataka as well. According to a leading producer, the ban will result in a Rs 7-10 crore loss for the makers. "Producers will straightaway lose a net earning of Rs 7 to 10 crores," he said. "Loss of theatrical revenue will be around Rs 25 crore." Adding that 20 to 30% of the revenue for Tamil films come from neighboring states, the producer said that the ban on the film in Karnataka will affect this collection. According to reports, Wunderbar Films, the producers of Kaala, have filed a case in the Karnataka High Court, seeking a direction to allow the release and provide security in theatres where the film is screened. It is to be noted that the state government has not banned the film. Rather, it is the distributors and theatre owners who have backed out of it due to pressure from pro-Kannada outfits which have objected to Rajinikanth's comments on the Cauvery issue. Wunderbar has reportedly said that the film was made on a budget of Rs 140 crore and that the makers will suffer a gross loss of Rs 15-20 crore due to the ban. . @wunderbarfilms has filed a case in #Karnataka Hc seeking a direction to allow and also provide security for the screening of #Kaala in the state.. The petitioners say the movie is made a budget of ₹ 140 Crs and they are expecting gross revenue of ₹ 15 - 20 Crs from Ka.. — Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) June 4, 2018 Rajinikanth's last release Kabali took a massive opening in the state and released in about 250 screens. Shows for the first few days were sold out within hours of the booking opening. Producer Sa Ra Govindu, who is also the president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, said, "Rajinikanth is a great artiste. His films in the past have run for more than a hundred days in Karnataka and there is sufficient interest in his films in Bengaluru and other parts of the state. I have nothing to say about banning of Kaala and I am not a person who deals with the money or numbers. You will have to ask multiplexes that but his films are popular, well received in Karnataka and often run for weeks." Previously, Vishal, president of the Tamil Film Producers' Council had said that he would meet Karnataka Cm HD Kumaraswamy regarding the Kaala ban. However, until now, no decision has been made to allow the film's release in the state. Also read: The Kollywood release race: Too many films, not enough screens...

KollywoodThe one question on everyone's mind after watching 'Saamy 2' trailer is – what's Vikram doing in this film?Sowmya RajendranYouTube/ScreenshotThe official trailer for Saamy 2, also called Saamy Square, has the Internet tripping. If the film is anything like the trailer, not even the most committed Vikram fan can deny that it will be disastrous. With bizarre 'punch' dialogues like, "I was not born in the womb of a mother, I was born in the womb of a ghost," (just because 'thaai' and 'pei' rhyme) and, "I'm not a god, I'm a monster," (whut?), the trailer is full of headache-inducing rapid cuts from the film. If the lines weren't bad enough, director Hari has lit up Vikram's badge, his eyes, hands and his hair in some shots – in case we felt compelled to look away. Needless to say, the villains don't just fall when beaten up by the hero. They fly. Keerthy Suresh also receives a hard slap on her face from the hero; he really is that macho. As the Twitterati put it, is this a regular film or a parody like Cs Amudhan's upcoming Tamizh Padam 2.0? To be sure, this isn't the first time director Hari has gone overboard. His last film, Singam 3, with Suriya in the lead role, was similar in treatment. Unbearably loud and with stunt sequences that looked comical, Singam 3 was a far cry from the first film in the franchise which released in 2010. Both Suriya and Vikram are fine actors who have time and again proved that they can do roles which go beyond the "mass" hero ones. But unfortunately, the pressure to appeal to a wide fan base appears to be pushing them to do one terrible film after another. Suriya tried to break out of the image trap with his Pongal release Thaana Serntha Koottam – but the remake of the Hindi Special 26 was diluted quite a bit to accommodate the superman hero. Meanwhile, Vikram's Pongal release was the immensely forgettable Sketch which sank at the box-office. Of the other two "mass" kings, Ajith and Vijay, it is Vijay who is picking the better scripts. Ajith's last release Vivegam was simply a praise-fest for the hero, with even the villain singing paeans to his greatness all through. Vijay's Mersal, in comparison, had a much better script and story-line. Although his films, too, have plenty of fan-pleasing moments and are unapologetic star vehicles, they have been striking the right balance within the mainstream masala film genre. Their seniors in the industry, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, meanwhile, have announced their decision to enter politics. Rajinikanth, who was caught in an image trap for the longest time, broke out of it at last with Pa Ranjith's Kabali, in which he played his age and subverted several tropes of the superstar film. Kamal Haasan, on the other hand, has always tried out different roles and genres although these films rarely gave equal importance to other characters. The younger superstars would do well to learn their lessons from the careers of their seniors in the industry – what they did right and what they didn't. Currently, it appears that only Vijay Sethupathi – who is not in the league of the top 4 yet – is interested in doing films that treat him as an actor and not a demi-god. Dhanush has branched out to direction and production, while also acting in Hindi and Hollywood films. In any case, the films he has done have typically been about the underdog rather than the superman. Sivakarthikeyan, who is a relatively new superstar and gets huge openings for his films, is trying out an image change from the jobless stalker to doing more 'responsible' cinema. But it remains to be seen how this will work out for him. The exorbitant salaries that the top stars command mean that the big budget flicks they act in should necessarily cater to the masses; they should have repeat value if they are to run for several weeks. Any film they act in gets massive openings but after that, what? Can a film that's written solely motivated by financial compulsions ever soar beyond it? Is it enough to make films only to satisfy the fanboy legions that these actors command? Are they happy, as artistes, to stay within this box? Saamy 2, like every other "mass" hero film will generate enough buzz for it to have a successful opening. But for several fans of Tamil cinema, it is yet another frustrating reminder of how underutilised some of our biggest stars are. Also read: Jyothika's 'Kaatrin Mozhi' goes on the floors...

KollywoodWunderbar has partnered with Cover It Up to produce official merchandise for the film.Sowmya RajendranCover It UpA Rajinikanth film release is nothing short of a festival in Tamil Nadu. With just days to go for the Pa Ranjith directorial Kaala to hit the screens, Rajini mania has gripped fans once again. The production house behind the film, Wunderbar Films, has officially tied up with the creative design company Cover It Up, to make the movie’s merchandise. The Chennai based company has been around for five years and offers ‘eccentric and edgy’ products including mobile cases, T shirts, and stationery items. For Kaala, they have created a wide range of products, including posters, T shirts, mugs, laptop sleeves and more. Speaking to Tnm, Ronak Sarda, design strategist at Cover It Up says, "We make a lot of products for companies and brands. Wunderbar wanted someone who works with retail and merchandising. The problem is that you can't just take the posters as they are and print them on the products, so we redesigned everything for them. Since we manufacture all the products available on our site, they were happy that one vendor was taking care of everything." In line with the film's promos the designs have shades of grey, red, and black. Kaala products from Cover It Up Cover It Up, incidentally, was also the official merchandise partner for the previous Ranjith-Rajinikanth collaboration Kabali. "We did the merchandise for Kabali as well and this was yet another Thalaivar film. The last time around, everything went well, so we were in their good books," shares Ronak. He adds that for Kabali, the team took 11 days to complete the design and that it was instantly approved by the filmmakers. "When Cover It Up was approached for Kaala, the entire team went full force to come up with amazing designs. References were taken from the Kaala moview trailer. Rajinikanth's look was kept in focus to create the products," he notes. Kaala products from Cover It Up When asked about sales and how the products are being received, Ronak says, "We've kept the pricing between Rs 250 to 500 maximum and not more than that. Some products like the laptop sleeves are a niche segment and not for everyone. People who want to gift something to a fan of Rajini sir can pick up a mug or if you're a fan yourself, you can pick up a T shirt, it's not expensive." Ronak says that Cover It Up is currently also in talks with some Ipl teams to create merchandise and that they also have plans to create official merchandise for three other films this year. "To be honest, once you do a Rajini film, everything else doesn’t seem as exciting. There was a festive feel around Kabali's release. Which is why we decided we’d only develop merchandise for a handful of films which would reach the right people," says Ronak. Pa Ranjith with Ronak Sarda Though Wunderbar has officially partnered with Cover It Up for merchandising, there are other vendors who are selling Kaala merchandise. "A lot of people have been doing this without taking permission from the production houses. The concept of merchandising is still not taken seriously here. They think it's like Ranganathan Street, ‘let's sell whatever we want.’ But at the end of the day, the rights belong to the producers. And anything you use, whether it's the name or design or anything else, the intellectual property belongs to them," says Ronak. Ronak adds that several people who have been merchandising without permission have been sent legal notices by the production house. "Action has been taken by Wunderbar to ensure that this doesn't happen again. A lot of people have actually removed their products after we came into the picture. A few continue to do so still, but it’s all done at their own risk," he says. Fully Filmy, another player in the merchandising market, had earlier sold Kabali merchandise. However, this time around, they are not selling Kaala products because of the official tie-up between Wunderbar and Cover It Up. The Superstar, nevertheless, features prominently in several of their products. Fully Filmy Superstar scrapbook Anand, Managing Director of Fully Filmy, says, "Fully Filmy was started with the phrase 'Superstar Thunai' in mind. We have a wide range of products dedicated to Rajinikanth which happen to be favourites among our customers. We will never be tired of making these tributes for our demi-god, Rajini sir." Fully Filmy Superstar phone cover Rajinikanth can be seen everywhere on their products: from scrapbooks to fridge magnets, phone covers, T-shirts, coffee mugs and more. For fans, this merchandise is just another way through which they can express their love and affection for the one and only Thalaivar. Kaala releases on June 7 in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Also read: Hold your breath, 'Kaala' trailer 2 is here!

KollywoodAn enraged Kaala says, 'Our body is our only weapon' as he gathers people for a revolution.Tnm StaffThe second trailer for Rajinikanth’s Kaala was released on Monday evening. The first trailer came out on March 2 at midnight, after it was pushed by a day because of the death of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswati. The second trailer begins with Nana Patekar promising to change poverty into 'light'. This is followed by a building that's up in flames. We see more of Nana Patekar in the trailer, as he clearly marks out Kaala to be 'Raavan' and stating that whoever opposes him will be killed. The song 'Patthu thala Ravana' plays appropriately in the background. Huma Qureshi is seen asking Kaala if he really likes her a lot, to which he replies in the affirmative. This is, however, followed by Kaala cheekily saying 'I love you di' to an unimpressed Easwari Rao. We also catch a glimpse of Anjali Patil, who appears to be playing an activist. She's violently hit on the head, as is Samuthirakani in an earlier shot. The trailer ends with an enranged Kaala saying, "Our body is our only weapon. We will show this to the world. Call all our people!" The beginnings of a revolution, it appears. The first trailer introduced Kaala by his name and what it means. It set the stage for the confrontation that will take place between Kaala, who is a slumlord-turned-gangster in the film, and the antagonist who is played by Nana Patekar. Rajini’s ‘punch dialogue’ from the first trailer, “Kya re settingah?” has already become a rage. The trailer also had Easwari Rao, who plays Kaala’s wife in the film. As in Kabali, the wife character appears to be an assertive woman in Kaala too. The trailer was rich in political subtext and suggested that the film would have several lines that would resonate with the Ambedkarite politics that Pa Ranjith’s films are known for. The first single from Kaala ‘Semma Weightu’ was released on Labour Day. The trailers have seen Kaala extol the labour of ordinary, poor people and the date was clearly not chosen by coincidence. The rest of the album was subsequently released and has been met with a mixed response. Kaala will release in three languages – Tamil, Telugu and Hindi – on June 7. On Monday, Twitter launched a custom emoji for the hashtag ‘Kaala’ in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and English. Watch: Its Finally Time, #Thekingarrives in style! Presenting to you, our Superstar Rajinikanth's, much anticipated #KAALATrailer. #KingKariKAALAnTrailer#Kaala #காலா #కాలా #कालाकरिकालन June 7 Th Worldwide Release https://t.co/wqoBfUQznG — Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) May 28, 2018 Also read: 'Kaala' emoji launched on Twitter as Rajinikanth fever begins...

Kollywood The film is said to go on the floors in the next two months and will be wrapped before the end of the year. Digital NativePizza and Jigarthanda fame Karthik Subbaraj is all set to direct superstar Rajinikanth next. The yet-untitled project is slated to go on the floors from June or July. It was recently confirmed that Vijay Sethupathi will play a pivotal role in the film. In his latest interaction with radio channel Suryan FM, Sethupathi revealed that he signed the film without even listening to the script. “Thanks to the relationship I share with Karthik, I blindly signed the film.” On working alongside Rajinikanth, he said that he will learn from the 67-year-old star as a silent observer from the sets. Anirudh Ravichander has been roped in to compose music. On teaming up with Rajinikanth, Subbaraj said in a chat with Sun TV: “Even though I’ve made four films in my career so far, I grew fascinated towards cinema because of superstar Rajinikanth sir. To get to direct him is the best moment of my life,” Subbaraj said, adding that he plans to go on the floors in next two months and wrap up the project this year itself. Asked if the project will be as ambitious as Sun Pictures produced Enthiran in terms of scale, Subbaraj said his film will be quite different from Enthiran. “It’ll be a proper Rajini film,” he said. He also sees collaborating with the superstar will come with its set of expectations and high responsibility. “I see it as an enjoyable challenge.” Rajinikanth currently awaits the release of Kaala, which has been directed by Pa. Ranjith and it’s his second time collaboration with the superstar after Kabali. The film, confirmed to hit the screens on June 7, is believed to revolve around the lives of oppressed Tamils in Mumbai and their fight for equality. Produced by Dhanush, the film also stars Nana Patekar, Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil, Huma Qureshi and Samuthirakani in pivotal roles. (Content provided by Digital Native)...