News

A trio of world premieres from bankable stars across the Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam languages forms the thrust of streamer Amazon Prime Video India’s push into the country’s lucrative Southern market. It comes at a time when cinemas remain shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Malayalam-language drama “C U Soon,” starring Fahadh Faasil (“Trance”) bows Sept. 1 on the service, while action thriller “V” headlined by Nani (S.S. Rajamouli’s “Eega”) premieres Sept. 5, and aviation biopic “Soorarai Pottru” starring Suriya (“Singam”) is scheduled for Oct. 30.

Of the giant streamers in India, Amazon was the first to seize the opportunity arising from the enforced shutdown of the theatrical business. It announced the world premieres of “Gulabo Sitabo,” starring Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana, and “Shakuntala Devi,” starring Vidya Balan as bypassing cinemas.

Rivals, Disney Plus Hotstar and Netflix followed suit with strong slates of their own, including Sushant Singh Rajput...

MollywoodThe poster shows Arjun, Chemban Vinod and Sabareesh sharing a light moment during a break from work.Digital NativeIt is a trend these days for filmmakers to release a poster or first look of a film to commemorate the hero’s birthday. Recently, actor Arjun Ashokan celebrated his birthday and his fans got the treat that they had been waiting for. While the makers of Super Sharanya released the poster of the film featuring Arjun, the poster of his other upcoming film Member Rameshan 9th Ward also garnered the attention of his fans. The poster shows Arjun, Chemban Vinod and Sabareesh sharing a light moment during a break from work. The title seems to indicate that Arjun may be playing the title role, which means he could be seen as a panchayat member. Member Rameshan 9th Ward is written and directed by debutant Anto Jose Pereira and Aby Treesa Paul.

MollywoodMidhun Manuel Thomas will write the script and Arjun Das of ‘Kaithi’ fame will play the male lead.Digital NativeArjun DasNoted Malayalam filmmaker Anwar Rasheed’s last film to release at the theatres was Trance earlier this year. Following the critical success of this psychological drama, Anwar Rasheed is keen on directing a Tamil film. It has been confirmed that he has roped in Arjun Das of Kaithi fame to play the lead role. Midhun Manuel Thomas will be penning the screenplay for this venture. Confirming the news, Midhun wrote on his social media page that it is official he is penning the screenplay for Anwar Rasheed’s upcoming Tamil directorial debut and that Arjun Das has been signed up to play the main lead. His message reads, “Yup, it’s official. I am writing the screenplay for the first Tamil film that Anwar Rasheed is directing. Arjun Das is the hero!

MollywoodThe film has been released on Amazon Prime and is doing well among the netizens.Digital NativeHere is interesting information about Trance. Those who have watched the film must be aware that the climax portion was set in a red light area in Amsterdam. However, it has now been revealed that the team did not shoot those scenes in the real location but had sets erected in Kochi. Reports are that the filmmakers were keen on shooting the portions there and had applied for permission but it was later denied. Following this, the sets were erected in Kochi. Trance was one of the biggest hits in the Malayalam film industry this year and Fahadh Faasil’s performance in it was lauded by the critics. The film was released on the Ott platform Amazon Prime and is doing well among the netizens. Trance, scripted by Vadakkan Vincent was produced and directed by Anwar Rasheed.

MollywoodPC Sreeram is currently associated with the Telugu film 'Rang De' for which he is cranking the camera.Digital NativeDigital NativeAcclaimed filmmaker and cinematographer PC Sreeram has praised Fahadh Faasil’s performance in Trance. After watching the film, he wrote, “#Trancemovie @Fahadhfaasil performance keeps You in a trance throughout the film. Its a delight watching him perform. Every aspect of film keeps u in trance.” #Trancemovie @Fahadhfaasil performance keeps You in a trance throghtout the film. Its a delight watching him perform. Every aspect of film keeps u in trance. — pcsreeramISC (@pcsreeram) April 9, 2020 Trance has been scripted by Vadakkan Vincent. Anwar Rasheed, besides directing the film, is also bankrolling it under his banner Anwar Rasheed Entertainments. The film stars Fahadh Faasil in the lead role with Nazriya, Vinayakan, Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod, Sreenath Bhasi and Alphonse Puthran also included in the star cast. The lockdown has undoubtedly forced...

MollywoodK V Anand took to his Twitter recently to shower accolades on Fahadh's performance. Digital NativeDigital NativeVeteran cinematographer and filmmaker Kv Anand showered praise on Fahadh Faasil’s performance in the Malayalam film Trance. He took to his twitter recently to shower accolades on Fahadh's performance. He tweeted saying, "Watched #Trance Outstanding performance by #fahadhfaasil -Title card to the End, Perfect Creative amalgamation of cinematography, editing & sound #AnwarRasheed #AmalNeerad @resulp . Stylish @menongautham @PrimeVideoIN #StayHomeSaveLives" Watched #Trance Outstanding performance by #fahadhfaasil -Title card to the End, Perfect Creative amalgamation of cinematography, editing & sound #AnwarRasheed #AmalNeerad @resulp . Stylish @menongautham @PrimeVideoIN #StayHomeSaveLives — anand k v (@anavenkat) April 7, 2020 Trance, scripted by Vadakkan Vincent, was produced and directed by Anwar Rasheed. The film stars Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim in the lead role which brings together real-life couple Fahadh and Nazriya on the big screen after five years. It also starred popular Tamil director Gautham Vasudev Menon,...

EntertainmentAbout 10 new south Indian films are now streaming on Netflix and Amazon PrimeTNM StaffApril looks like another month of self-isolation and most of us have been searching for good listicles with good movie recommendations. If you are the kind who likes to keep up with the latest releases, here is a list of new films that are now streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Tamil Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (Netflix) This film, by debut director Desingh Periyasamy, stars Dulquer Salmaan and Ritu Varma in the lead. Released on February 28, the film is a well-made crime comedy that gets better in the second half. If you are in the mood for some good fun, then Kannum Kannum is worth your time. V1 Murder Case (Amazon Prime) This thriller by debut director Pavel Navageethan, who is also an actor, received good response for the film. However, it was not without certain flaws. The...

EntertainmentAbout 10 new south Indian films are now streaming on Netflix and Amazon PrimeTNM StaffApril looks like another month of self-isolation and most of us have been searching for good listicles with good movie recommendations. If you are the kind who likes to keep up with the latest releases, here is a list of new films that are now streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Tamil Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (Netflix) This film, by debut director Desingh Periyasamy, stars Dulquer Salmaan and Ritu Varma in the lead. Released on February 28, the film is a well-made crime comedy that gets better in the second half. If you are in the mood for some good fun, then Kannum Kannum is worth your time. V1 Murder Case (Amazon Prime) This thriller by debut director Pavel Navageethan, who is also an actor, received good response for the film. However, it was not without certain flaws. The...

MollywoodVinayakan plays the lead role in the film, written and directed by debutant Tharun Moorthy.Digital NativeThe first look poster of the Malayalam movie Operation Java was unveiled a few months ago. There are speculations that it will be a cop flick and the tagline ‘Stories of Unsung Heroes’ appears to fit the bill. Operation Java is written and directed by debutant Tharun Moorthy and has an impressive cast with Vinayakan, Balu Varghese, Irshad, Binu Pappu, Sudhi Koppa, Deepak Vijayan, Lukman, P Balachandran, Dhanya Ananya, Mamitha Baiju and Prashanth Alexander playing pivotal roles. Faiz Siddik is cranking the camera for this flick with Nishadh Yusuf handling the edits and Jakes Bejoy composing the tunes. Sound designers Vishnu Govind and Sree Sankar (Sound Factory), costume designer Manjusha Radhakrishnan and art director Dhundhu Renjeev Radha are the rest of the technical crew associated with the film. The shooting of this film has...

EntertainmentFrom Fahadh and Nazriya to Prasanna and Sneha, there are now several couples who work in the film industries and also collaborate with each other professionally. Tnm StaffWhile it's not unusual for people from the film industry to date each other and get married, it's not too common for both of them to continue to have an active career in the film industry. In most cases, it is the woman who takes the backseat while the man continues to work in the industry. However, times are changing and there are now many couples who work in the film industry. Some of the women may have taken a break but have since made a comeback and are continuing to find work. Naga Chaitanya and Samantha: Samantha is probably the first woman A-list star in the south to have married a fellow actor and continue to pursue her career without any break whatsoever.

MollywoodThe writer of the film, Vincent Vadakkan, appears to have deliberately drawn parallels with stories from the Bible and Christian legends to establish Viju's downfall and subsequent redemptionSowmya RajendranAnwar Rasheed's highly anticipated film Trance released outside Kerala recently. The film, which is a scathing take on scams perpetrated in the name of religion, has opened to mixed reviews. The second half of the film, which is psychedelic and open to interpretation, has especially left the audience hanging. Trance tells the story of an atheist, Viju Prasad (a brilliant Fahadh), who works as a motivational speaker. However, Viju himself is struggling and when he gets the opportunity to become a 'miracle worker', he decides to take the plunge. We're taken through his journey as he becomes Joshua Carlton, a pastor who draws humongous crowds, but ends up having a mental health crisis. There are several players in the drama that unfolds...

Micheal Winterbottom’s Greed stars Steve Coogan as a vulgar super-rich British retail tycoon based loosely on Philip Green.

Michael Winterbottom’s Greed starring Steve Coogan opens in UK cinemas this weekend though Sony, with the director looking to set a new high benchmark for his films.

Greed stars Steve Coogan as Sir Richard ‘Greedy’ McCreadie, a vulgar super-rich British retail tycoon based loosely on Philip Green.

David Mitchell, Isla Fisher, Shirley Henderson and Asa Butterfield round out the main cast; the late TV presenter Caroline Flack makes a brief cameo.

Winterbottom has directed an impressive 29 features for theatrical and television release since his first,...

MollywoodThe film is directed by Manju Warrier’s brother and actor Madhu Wariar. Digital NativePhoto courtesy - Rahul M Sathyan The shooting of Manju Warrier starrer Lalitham Sundaram has begun on February 19. Confirming the commencement of the shooting, the actor shared some pictures and captioned it: “Kick-start! Shoot of my first commercial feature film production. #lalithamsundaram Good luck @madhuwariar @bijumenonofficial @centuryfilms.in @pramod.mohan.” View this post on Instagram Kick-start! Shoot of my first commercial feature film production. #lalithamsundaram Good luck @madhuwariar @bijumenonofficial @centuryfilms.in @pramod.mohan Follow us on Facebook @lalithamsundaramofficial, Instagram @lalithamsundaram for regular updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes. @rahulmsathyan A post shared by Manju Warrier (@manju.warrier) on Feb 19, 2020 at 12:27am Pst Manju’s brother and actor Madhu Wariar is directing the film. Manju plays the lead role along with Biju Menon. The title of this film was revealed a few weeks ago by the icons of...

ReviewAnwar Rasheed’s filmmaking keeps you engaged in the first half during which a captivating story unfolds but the last half is not as impressive.CrisThe mirror is where it all happens for Viju Prasad. A few words, a few movements of his hands, and Viju walks away more confident, with a certain purpose. He follows it through all the changes that come in his life, including a whole new identity as Joshua Carlton. Fahadh Faasil, the actor who can convey much through every small gesture, easily transforms into both these characters in Trance, directed by Anwar Rasheed. Even as the film addresses a few grave realities, it has a certain hypnotic charm to it – the way Fahadh’s character is written, the way the lighting is used, the music shifts, and the pills that keep pouring out of mini bottles. Even the title track has psychedelic visuals and music.

MollywoodThe stellar cast has raised the anticipation among fans very high. Tnm StaffThe trailer for Anwar Rasheed's highly anticipated film Trance dropped on Tuesday, two days before the film's release in Kerala. Starring Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya in lead roles, the promos for Trance so far have stepped up the intrigue quite a bit. Taking off from the teaser, which gave us a glimpse of Fahadh as a motivational speaker, the trailer shows him as some kind of a guru who leads a lavish lifestyle. Inspired by Osho perhaps? The visuals are stunning and we see more characters from the film, including Soubin, who's interviewing him, and Dileesh Pothan. Nazriya also makes an appearance in the trailer, looking full of swag and in perfect sync with her role. Gautham Menon, Vinayakan, Sreenath Bhasi and Chemban Vinod are also part of the cast. The stellar cast has raised the anticipation among fans very high.

OpinionIt is upsetting that in order to tackle piracy, the industry is seriously considering postponing the release of Malayalam films outside Kerala by one or two weeks.Sowmya RajendranDear Malayalam film industry, I’m writing from a land where if I ask for parotta, I’m given paratha. I renew my connections with Kerala mostly through cinema, like many Malayalis world over (and there are Malayalis in every part of the world asking “Naattil evidaya?” to every newly arrived Malayali in their midst). Now we hear that in order to tackle piracy, the industry is seriously considering postponing the release of Malayalam films outside Kerala by one or two weeks. According to some movie trackers, Fahadh’s highly anticipated Trance, which is set to release in Kerala on February 20, will hit the screens outside the state as late as March 5! Okay, I know that many small producers are already following this procedure,...

OpinionIt is upsetting that in order to tackle piracy, the industry is seriously considering postponing the release of Malayalam films outside Kerala by one or two weeks.Sowmya RajendranDear Malayalam film industry, I’m writing from a land where if I ask for parotta, I’m given paratha. I renew my connections with Kerala mostly through cinema, like many Malayalis world over (and there are Malayalis in every part of the world asking “Naattil evidaya?” to every newly arrived Malayali in their midst). Now we hear that in order to tackle piracy, the industry is seriously considering postponing the release of Malayalam films outside Kerala by one or two weeks. According to some movie trackers, Fahadh’s highly anticipated Trance, which is set to release in Kerala on February 20, will hit the screens outside the state as late as March 5! Okay, I know that many small producers are already following this procedure,...

Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil is on a roll with some prestigious projects in his kitty. The actor is currently busy with the filming of Trance.

The film’s shooting is taking place in Mumbai, where the entire crew is presently stationed. While filming in Mumbai is expected to go on for another week, the team will then head to Kochi for the next schedule.

Directed by Anwar Rasheed, Trance has Amal Neerad wielding the camera.

There have been reports that cinematographer turned director Amal Neerad will be directing Mammootty in the biopic on Kunjali Marikkar. Quashing the news as mere rumours, Amal Neerad pointed out that it was baseless and wondered where such gossip cropped up from.

Currently busy wielding the megaphone for the Fahadh Faasil starrer Trance which is being directed by Anwar Rasheed, Amal said that he will not be directing the biopic as reported by a section of the media.

If the reports doing rounds in tinsel town are to be believed, Faahadh Faasil’s Trance would be the highest budget film in his career so far.

Sources say that the film is being made on a budget of Rs. 15 crores and that this is the highest budget ever for a Fahadh Faasil starrer. Directed and produced by Anwar Rasheed, the film’s cinematography is handled by noted cinematographer and director Amal Neerad.