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KollywoodThe posters lining the entrance of Vettri Theatres in Chennai’s Chrompet on New Year’s weekend were all women-led films — Trisha’s ‘Raangi’, Kovai Sarala’s ‘Sembi’, Aishwarya Rajesh’s ‘Driver Jamuna’, and Nayanthara’s ‘Connect’.Tnm StaffTwitter/ @kannandeepanThe sight of large banners, posters, and life-size cutouts being placed outside cinema halls have always brought joy to movie buffs. In addition to functioning as advertisement, it speaks to the fan-following and power that celebrities hold. In what was perhaps a first for Tamil cinema, the banners placed outside well-known cinema halls across Chennai last week featured only women actors as all the major releases of the week were women-led films. The posters lining the entrance of Vettri Theatres in Chrompet — Trisha’s Raangi, Kovai Sarala’s Sembi, Aishwarya Rajesh’s Driver Jamuna and Nayanthara-starrer Connect — were highlighted by a social media user on January 2. The first three films hit...

KollywoodHelmed by Prabhu Solomon, ‘Sembi’ revolves around the lives of Veerathaayi (Kovai Sarala) and her 10-year-old granddaughter Sembi (Nila). Saradha UTwitter/ Trident ArtsTrigger warning: Child abuse, violence. Director Prabhu Solomon is quick to set the tone for Sembi and set the expectations right with the introductory scene of the film. Visuals of a bus tumbling and falling downhill is accompanied by a dramatic background score, which is then followed by a narration where the bus is personified and introduces itself as ‘Anbu’ (love). The makers of Sembi badly want viewers to understand that the bus is a character in the film, and that it is a metaphor about life. So much so that when a goon is sent to follow the people in the bus later in the film and when it slides downhill, he dubs the line: “Aiya Anba palathula thaliyachu” (I have pushed love), which comes across as out of place.

Tamil superstar Suriya is reportedly playing a double role in the upcoming movie tentatively titled ‘Suriya 42’ because it is the actor’s 42nd film. Directed by Siruthai Siva, the fantasy-action movie also features Bollywood actress Disha Pattani in a leading role.

The first schedule of the shoot was completed in Goa and the crew has begun shooting in Chennai. Thereafter, they will move across Tamil Nadu. The shoot is on at a brisk pace and the movie is likely to be released also in the 3D format.

Sources in the industry said that Suriya is playing a double role – the two characters he plays live in the present and the past, respectively.

In a statement, Disha Pattani, who is making her debut in the Tamil film industry, said: “I am super kicked to announce my next with Suriya Sir and Siva sir. It feels great to be a part of...

Stating that fans had a great responsibility, actor Kamal Haasan said that they must make it a point to call good films good and bad films bad.

Speaking at the audio launch event of director Prabhu Solomon’s ‘Sembi’, featuring Kovai Sarala and Ashwin in the titular roles, Kamal Haasan said: “During those days while seeking a chance, I would carry a photo album with my pics from the film ’16 Vayadhinile’.

“I would keep showing it to people saying, ‘I am acting in this film as its hero’. Some would have good words to say. There were others who would say, ‘Don’t you feel ashamed carrying a book in which you have a picture of yourself in a loin cloth?’ I remember all those words today when one of the speakers here praised me saying I attend the audio launches of both big and small films.”

“One cannot decide...

Actor Santhanam, who will be seen playing the lead in director Prasanth Raj’s upcoming entertainer ‘Kick’ has, for the first time, sung a song in his film. Santhanam has sung the song ‘Saturday Is Cominguu’, the lyrics of which have been penned by lyricist Vivekha. Music for the film has been composed by Arjun Janya, who is renowned in the Kannada film industry. The full lyrical video for the song will be released on October 10.

Sources say that Santhanam plays a person who works in an advertising firm in the film and that he expects to get a ‘kick’ out of everything he does.

The story revolves around the hero and the heroine who work in rival advertising firms and the cat and mouse fight that takes place between them due to the rivalry.

The director, sources disclose, has made this film into a full-length comedy.

Apart from Santhanam and Tanya Hope,...

Actor Santhanam’s upcoming film which is being directed by well-known Kannada director Prasanthraj has been titled ‘Kick’, its makers announced on Wednesday. Taking to Twitter, actor Santhanam, tweeting the First Look poster of the film, said: “Happy Vinayakar Chathurthi everyone. Here is the first look of my next #SANTA15, titled ‘Kick’.”

The film, the shooting of which began in Bangalore a few months back, continued in full swing in Chennai. The final schedule, which happened in Bangkok for 15 days, was wrapped up recently.

Produced by Naveen Raj under his banner Fortune Films, the film will mark the directorial debut of Prasanthraj in Tamil.

Actress Tanya Hope, who acted in the hit film ‘Dharala Prabhu’, has played the female lead in this film, which also features Thambi Ramaiah, Brahmanandam, Senthil, Kovai Sarala, Mansoor Ali Khan, Manobala, Y.G. Mahendran and Mottai Rajendran among others.

Sources say that Santhanam plays a person...

TollywoodThese women comedians might play the supporting role of a friend, mother, or even neighbour in Telugu movies starring big names, but their contribution is no less.Rajeswari ParasaImageCredit: Twitter/ Gangavva, Youtube/iDream Telugu Movies/Ramaprabha PrayanamThe Telugu film industry is known for its larger-than-life films and a plethora of famous stars who have a massive fan following. But an integral part of most Tollywood films is the comedic side story and the funny elements, which serve as a welcome relief from the drama and action that make up the main plot. It is no wonder then that Telugu comedy actors like Brahmanandam, Ali, and Babu Mohan command such respect. Not to mention the several women comedians such as the iconic Surya Kantham to the more recent. These women comedians might play the supporting role of a friend, mother, or even neighbour in Telugu movies starring big names, but their contribution is no less.

CoronavirusIn addition to an illustrious film career, Pandu is also known for having designed the Aiadmk party symbol of two leaves and party flag.Tnm StaffActor Pandu, known best for his comedy and character roles in Tamil cinema, passed away early on May 6. The actor was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai after having tested positive for the coronavirus. Pandu was 74. Pandu’s wife, Kumudha, who also tested positive for the coronavirus, is currently being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit. In addition to an illustrious film career, Pandu is also known for having designed the Aiadmk (then Admk) party symbol of two leaves and party flag, after they split from the Dmk. The actor was assigned this task by late veteran actor-politician Mg Ramachandran himself. Born in Namakkal, Pandu is the brother of late actor Idichapuli Selvaraj who has also worked as assistant director in...

VivekKnown best for his comedy with a message, Vivek pioneered his own style that can never be mimicked by another.Anjana ShekarSaradha UYouTube ScreengrabTamil Nadu’s most loved comedian Vivek passed away early on April 17. The actor went into cardiac arrest the previous day following which he was rushed to the hospital. While he was resuscitated and put under critical care, the actor, unfortunately, passed away much to the despair of Tamil cinema fans all around the world. Padma Shri awardee Vivek has given us numerous memorable performances. From playing wide-eyed, small roles in K Balachander films during the late '80s and early '90s, to becoming Vaigai Puyal Vadivelu’s sole competitor during the peak of their careers in the 2000s, Vivek made himself indispensable in the Tamil comedy scene. Known best for his comedy with a message, Vivek pioneered his own style that can never be mimicked by another.

KollywoodIn return, Kangana thanked him, adding she was amazed to "know such a great human being". Digital NativeThe shooting of the upcoming biopic on the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa recommenced recently. Speaking about Kangana Ranaut, who plays Jayalalitha in the film, director Al Vijay lauded her dedication. In an interview with the Times of India, Al Vijay was quoted as saying, “Everyone knows how good Kangana is as an actress. Her screen presence, performance and dialogue delivery as Jayalalithaa was amazing. To look like Amma, she took a lot of effort; she put on 17 kilos and had to reduce 15 kilos for a song.” In reply to this statement from the director, Kangna thanked him by putting out the tweet: “Thank you Vijay sir not many men acknowledge a woman’s brilliance, dedication and efforts.... you are one person I met in my life who enjoys my...

ReviewRemakes are legitimate creative pursuits, but what are we gaining or losing in the process?Nadika NLet’s get some of the hygiene things out of the way, shall we? Laxmii, starring Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani, Sharad Kelkar and a bunch of others, is a comedy-horror film, written and directed by Raghava Lawrence. It’s a (fairly faithful) remake of Raghava’s Tamil film Kanchana and has released on Disney+Hotstar. By now, we’ve had five iterations of Raghava Lawrence’s Muni/Kanchana franchise. In Tamil, that is. So no major plot lines need be discussed, but for the Hindi audience who may have strayed absentmindedly south, a quick recap. A young man is possessed by the ghosts of a trans woman, a Muslim man, and a young man with an intellectual disability. The spirits perform a few scares and stunts, then reveal the reason for possession: revenge. They...

Flix FlashbackDespite the long gap between releases, the ‘Muni’ franchise is extremely successful in Tamil cinema. Sowmya RajendranThe Muni series, directed by actor-choreographer Raghava Lawrence, is among the most successful franchises in Tamil cinema. The first film was released in 2007, the second in 2011 and the last in 2019. Despite the long gaps in between, the franchise has stayed popular with audiences, spawning several more attempts at the horror comedy genre. If box-office collection reports are to be believed, the 2019 instalment collected over Rs 100 crore. The Hindi remake of the second in the series, Kanchana, will be released as Laxmii (it was first titled Laxmmi Bomb) on Disney+ Hotstar on November 9. The lead role, which was played by Raghava himself in the original, is being reprised by Akshay Kumar. Raghava will also be making his directorial debut in Hindi with this film. Made nine years ago, Kanchana may not have aged well in all aspects.

Bollywood The decision was taken after the screening for the Central Board of Film Certification members.Tnm StaffThe Akshay Kumar-starrer Laxmmi Bomb has been renamed Laxmii, following suggestion of the Central Board of Film Certification (Cbfc). The decision was taken by Akshay along with co-producers Shabinaa Khan and Tusshar Kapoor on Thursday. The news was confirmed by trade analyst Taran Adarsh on Twitter. "New Development... #LaxmmiBomb title changed... New title: #Laxmii... Premieres 9 Nov 2020 on #DisneyPlusHotstarVIP... Stars #AkshayKumar and #KiaraAdvani," he tweeted. The film directed by Raghava Lawrence was submitted for censor board’s certification and the decision was taken after the screening for the Cbfc members. According to earlier reports, the makers had received a legal notice from the Rajasthan-based outfit, Shri Rajput Karni Sena, claiming that the name ‘Laxmmi Bomb’ was demeaning towards goddess Laxmi, adding that the title insulted sentiments. The horror comedy starring Akshay Kumar and...

KollywoodFrom Vivek teaching us the meaning of “Awas Anjing” in Malaysia to Yogi Babu playing a hacker in London, here are some hilarious scenes set in foreign lands.Anjana ShekarWe’ve seen Vadivelu as ‘Vakkil' Vandumurugan getting exasperated when his opponent cuts him off mid-sentence during a hearing in court: “I am speaking, no cross speaking. Sit down please!” he roars in one breath and we’re barely able to contain our laughter. But what happens when ‘Vaigai puyal’ Vadivelu plays an advocate in London? Well, we’ve seen that too…only you may not recall the “London” part too well. In the 2005 film London (that was surely shot in Chennai), Vadivelu as Advocate Vedimuthu lives and practises law in London. But, many of our stars have indeed flown to other countries to give us some memorable comedy. One of the earliest references is actor Nagesh playing a bearer at...

KollywoodDirected by Adhik Ravichandran of 'Trisha Illana Nayanthara' fame, 'Bagheera' has music by B Ganesan Sekar. Digital NativeThe first look of the upcoming film Bagheera, starring Prabhu Deva, was released amont few months ago and it has garnered the attention of the film buffs. Prabhu Deva sports a bald look with droplets of blood on his head. He is seen wearing glasses with three lenses and with each of the lens carrying different reflections. While one has 'Jungle Book's' Mowgli seated on Bagheera the black panther, there's a digital clock showing 11:11 on one, and a vintage car in the other. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran of Trisha Illana Nayanthara fame, Bagheera has music by B Ganesan Sekar. It may be noted here that the director had told in an interview much earlier that Prabhu Deva was impressed with the script of Bagheera from the very beginning and agreed to go...

KollywoodThe comedy crime film 'Mayabazar 2016' was released in February this year to positive reviews.Digital NativeReports have emerged in the tinsel town that ace director-producer-actor Sundar C has bagged the Tamil remake rights of the hit Kannada movie Mayabazar 2016. Badri, an associate of Sundar C, will be wielding the megaphone for the remake and Prasanna, Shaam, Ashwin Kakumanu, and Yogi Babu have been roped in to play the roles in this comedy crime thriller. Sundar C will be bankrolling the venture under his banner Avni Movies. The comedy crime film Mayabazar 2016 was released in February this year to positive reviews. Starring Vasishta Simha and Chaithra Rao in the lead roles, the film was directed by Radhakrishna Reddy and it was bankrolled by the Kannada Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar’s home banner Prk Productions and distributed by Sri Vajreshwari Combines. Puneeth has appeared in a cameo in this film,...

Bollywood'Laxmmi Bomb' is the remake of the smash hit Tamil flick 'Kanchana', directed by Raghava Lawrence. Digital NativeDigital NativeReports have emerged that the Bollywood flick Laxxmi Bomb may be released on Disney+Hotstar during May end. According to a report in Mid-Day, “Akshay wants to make sure none of the invested parties make losses, and that the movie reaches a wide audience. While Disney+Hotstar ensures a worldwide reach, making the film available across small towns in India will be a concern for them.” However, there is no official confirmation on this yet. Laxmmi Bomb is the remake of the smash hit Tamil flick Kanchana, directed by Raghava Lawrence. While Raghava Lawrence is directing the Hindi version as well, it stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role with Kiara Advani playing the female lead. It is a horror comedy and will mark the debut of Raghava Lawrence in Bollywood.

Bollywood'Laxmmi Bomb' is the remake of the smash hit Tamil flick 'Kanchana', directed by Raghava Lawrence. Digital NativeDigital NativeReports have emerged that the Bollywood flick Laxxmi Bomb may be released on Disney+Hotstar during May end. According to a report in Mid-Day, “Akshay wants to make sure none of the invested parties make losses, and that the movie reaches a wide audience. While Disney+Hotstar ensures a worldwide reach, making the film available across small towns in India will be a concern for them.” However, there is no official confirmation on this yet. Laxmmi Bomb is the remake of the smash hit Tamil flick Kanchana, directed by Raghava Lawrence. While Raghava Lawrence is directing the Hindi version as well, it stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role with Kiara Advani playing the female lead. It is a horror comedy and will mark the debut of Raghava Lawrence in Bollywood.

KollywoodThe actor is celebrating her birthday on April 7 and here’s a look at some of her best performances over the years. Anjana ShekarFrom playing the peacemaker in one of the most hilarious comedy scenes in Tamil cinema, involving a missing banana, to playing the wife who beats to pulp her good-for-nothing husband, to adopting a cartoonish caricature for the amusement of children later on in horror comedies, there can be only one actor who comes to mind when we think of these roles - Kovai Sarala. ‘Kovai' Sarala, if the prefix to her name wasn’t clue enough, then the natural Coimbatore flavour in her manner of speaking will tell you more of where she’s from. She entered the industry at a time when comedy queen Manorama was relegated to picking up motherly/grandmotherly roles and it may not be an exaggeration to say that there was a...

KollywoodThe actor is celebrating her birthday on April 7 and here’s a look at some of her best performances over the years. Anjana ShekarFrom playing the peacemaker in one of the most hilarious comedy scenes in Tamil cinema, involving a missing banana, to playing the wife who beats to pulp her good-for-nothing husband, to adopting a cartoonish caricature for the amusement of children later on in horror comedies, there can be only one actor who comes to mind when we think of these roles - Kovai Sarala. ‘Kovai' Sarala, if the prefix to her name wasn’t clue enough, then the natural Coimbatore flavour in her manner of speaking will tell you more of where she’s from. She entered the industry at a time when comedy queen Manorama was relegated to picking up motherly/grandmotherly roles and it may not be an exaggeration to say that there was a...

KollywoodFurther details on the film's cast and crew are awaited.Digital NativeActor-filmmaker Sunder C will soon be back with the Aranmanai franchise. Reports have emerged in the tinsel town that the third installment of his horror-comedy will have Arya and Raashi Khanna in the lead roles with an ensemble of stars to be roped in for supporting roles. Aranmanai, released in 2014, was co-written and directed by Sundar C. The film had Sundar C, Vinay, Hansika Motwani, Andrea Jeremiah, Raai Laxmi, Santhanam, Nithin Sathya, Kovai Sarala and Manobala in the star cast. This film turned out to be a blockbuster hit with positive reviews. While Aranmani 2, that released two years later, had Sundar C, Siddharth, Trisha, Hansika Motwani, Soori, Kovai Sarala and Manobala in the star cast with Vaibhav Reddy making a cameo appearance. The second installment also turned out to be a hit. Sundar’s last release was Vishal and...

Kollywood'Bigil' was the sixth most trending hashtag of 2019, even surpassing #AvengersEndgame. Tnm StaffActor Vijay’s Bigil has broken many records and raked in one of the highest collections of this year’s releases. Now, it's also been revealed that the film was ranked among the top 10 most tweeted hashtags in 2019. “From #chandrayaan2, to #diwali and #eidmubarak - 2019 was a year for celebrations on Twitter in India. Here are the top most Tweeted about hashtags in 2019 #ThisHappened,” reads the tweet from Twitter India’s official handle. From #chandrayaan2, to #diwali and #eidmubarak - 2019 was a year for celebrations on Twitter in India. Here are the top most Tweeted about hashtags in 2019 #ThisHappened pic.twitter.com/as1791mPzv — Twitter India (@TwitterIndia) December 10, 2019 The film was the sixth most trending hashtag of the year, followed by #diwali, #avengersendgame, #ayodhyaverdict, and #eidmubarak. The top 5 trends for 2019 were #LokSabhaElections2019, #Chandrayaan2, #CWC19, #Pulawama, and #Article 370. Bigil...

KollywoodThis film will be produced by Saravanan.Tnm StaffSaravana stores owner Saravanan, who became popular by appearing in TV commercials shot for his store, will now be making his debut as an actor and a producer in a Tamil cinema soon. The announcement came on Sunday following a puja that was held at Avm Studios in Vadapalani, Chennai. Saravanan who goes by the name “Legend” Saravanan, has appeared alongside actors like Tamannaah and Hansika on the television commercials shot for his store, the Saravana Stores. Soon, rumours abounded that the entrepreneur will be making his acting debut on the big screen. This film, called “Production No. 1” for now, will be directed by Jd and Jerry (Joseph D Sami and Jerald Arockiam), of Ullaasam fame. Starring Ajith, Vikram and Maheswari, Ullaasam was released in 1997. Interestingly, this film was produced by Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan and received a good response from the audience.

KollywoodDirected by Don Sandy, ‘Gorilla’ is a confused film that feels like a half-hearted effort right from the start.Anjana ShekarHeist comedy is an exciting genre. There’s plenty of action, risky plans that involve extreme stunts and, more importantly, there’s plenty of thrills. Often for us the audience, there’s excitement from having watched a perfectly executed heist on screen, the more impossible it looks the more thrilled we are. But in actor Jiiva’s Gorilla we only end up feeling robbed of our time and money, and generally sad from realising that such films are still being made. Turns out, the film’s posters showing a group of people, armed and striking a pose, standing along with a stylish looking gorilla carrying a machine gun is the most elaborate trick the makers pulled on us. Gorilla, directed by Don Sandy who made his debut with Mahabalipuram in...

KollywoodActor S Ve Shekher alleged that many outstation artistes will not be able to cast their votes due to a disorganised election process.Tnm StaffFacebook/RajinionlinefansAs drama surrounding the Nadigar Sangam elections came to an end after the Madras High Court gave its go-ahead for conducting the polls on Sunday, actor Rajinikanth has said that he will not be able to cast his vote. In a tweet on Saturday evening, Rajinikanth said that he was in Mumbai for a shoot and despite his efforts to receive the postal vote earlier, he received it only at 6.45 pm on Saturday. “I regret that I was unable to cast my vote because of this delay. It is strange and unfortunate. This should not have happened…,” he tweeted. pic.twitter.com/8YepBK8MSK — Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) June 22, 2019 Following this, actor S Ve Shekher took to Twitter to announce his decision to boycott the elections. Accusing...

KollywoodKamal and Crazy Mohan have produced some of the best comedies together.Sowmya RajendranJust a few hours after Girish Karnad passed away, fans of cinema and theatre were in for another rude shock. Mohan Rangachari, best known as Crazy Mohan, too chose this very day to bid his final goodbye. If you were born in the '80s or '90s in Tamil Nadu, Crazy Mohan was an inevitable part of your childhood. Before stand up comedy shows became all the rage in our metros, an evening of humour in a Chennai weekend usually meant a Crazy Mohan stage play. You could go for these plays with the entire family; the humour rarely hurt, though it landed all the right punches. Many a time, the joke was only half-funny, but we laughed because of how it was delivered, how cleverly the words were used to distort the meaning. The crowd...

KollywoodSwami Sankardas is a Tamil writer, actor, playwright, songwriter and drama producer who is well known and highly regarded for launching the acting careers of many formidable names.Tnm StaffWhile Nasser’s Pandavar Ani has filed its nominations for the Nadigar Sangam elections that will be held on June 23 in Chennai, the opposing team will be headed by actor-director-producer K Bhagyaraj. Nadigar Sangam or South India Artistes Association is a union for film, television, and stage actors in Tamil Nadu. In a press meet that was held on Sunday, Bhagyaraj announced the name of his group, 'Swami Sankardas Ani'. Also present during the press meet were Ishari K Ganesh, Prasanth, Bigg Boss fame Gayathri and Aarthi, actor Sangeetha and actor Udhaya. The nominations of the Pandavar Ani lead by Nasser was made public earlier. Nasser would be contesting once again for the post of President in this elections along with...

KollywoodFilming is expected to commence by the end of July.Digital NativeDigital NativeDirector Al Vijay is well known in Tamil film industry for having directed movies like Deiva Thirumagal and Madarasapattinam. His recent outing at the theatres was the Tamil – Telugu bilingual Devi 2 / Abhinetri, which had Prabhu Deva, Tamannaah and Nandita Swetha, in the lead roles with Dimple Hayati, Kovai Sarala, Rj Balaji, and Saptagiri in supporting roles. Following its release, Vijay has moved over to his next project, which is the biopic on the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa. Titled Thalaivi, the film will have Bollywood star Kangna Ranaut in the lead. Speaking about this film, Vijay has said in an interview published in in.com, “For the next 1 year and a half, I’ll be occupied with Thalaivi. It will portray the life of a strong woman who comes up and makes a mark in a male-dominated society.

KollywoodThe applications are currently open and the list of contestants will be announced on June 14 by the electoral officer.Digital NativeThe South Indian Artists Association aka Nadigar Sangam election date was announced recently by Electoral Officer Retd. Judge E Padmanabhan. Elections will be held for the post of President, currently held by Nasser, two Vice Presidents held by Ponvannan and Karunas, the post of General Secretary held by Vishal, the Treasurer post held by Karthi and the 24-member Executive Committee on June 23. The applications are currently open and the list of contestants will be announced on June 14 by the electoral officer. The contestants' list for Nasser's team, also called 'Pandavar Ani', for elections have been announced. Nasser would be contesting once again for the post of President in this elections along with his same team members Karthi and Vishal for Treasurer and Secretary respectively. For the post of Vice President,...

KollywoodThe 1989 film, which starred Ramarajan and Kanaka in lead roles, had turned out to be a cult hit.Digital NativeLyricist, music composer and director Gangai Amaren directed the Ramarajan starrer Karagattakkaran in 1989 and the movie had turned out to be a cult hit. The film was a commercial hit and had a successful 425-day run at the box office. And now, after three decades, Gangai Amaren is planning to make a sequel to the film. On this, the director told Cinema Express in an interview, “The film will focus on what happened to the lead couple, Goundamani, Senthil, all of their kids and the status of their families. The first draft of the script is ready and I am in talks with the artists. I want to bring in everyone from the original, except Gandhimathi and Shanmugasundaram. I will make an official announcement soon, after work on the re-writes is done.

KollywoodMany a time, forgettable films still remain in people's memory solely for Vadivelu's evergreen comedy.Megha KaveriPadithurai Pandi, Kirikaalan, Naai Sekar, Snake Babu. Behind these quirky names is one man, Vadivelu, who had taken Kollywood by storm when he was active. Though it has been a few years since he was seen in a memorable role in movies, his comedy tracks and one-liners continue to live on, years after the audience first watched the films on screen. The reason why Vadivelu is trending now is the hashtag #Pray_for_Neasamani which has been one of the top global trends since Wednesday night. The source for this strange hashtag was a Facebook post by a Civil Engineers page which had posted a picture of a hammer and asked the users what it was called in their regions. The reply to that post by a Vadivelu fan and the reaction to...

KollywoodElections will be held for the post of President, two Vice Presidents, General Secretary, Treasurer and 24-member Executive Committee. Tnm StaffThe election date for South Indian Artists Association aka Nadigar Sangam was announced on Tuesday evening by Electoral Officer Retd. Judge E Padmanabhan. The election is set to take place from 7.00 am to 5.00 pm on June 23 at Dr Mgr Janaki College for Arts and Science on Dr Durgabai Deshmuk Road in Ra Puram, Chennai. The appointment of Padmanabhan came after an Emergency Executive Council meeting held earlier this month in Chennai. Elections will be held for the post of President, currently held by Nasser, two Vice Presidents held by Ponvannan and Karunas, the post of General Secretary held by Vishal, the Treasurer post held by Karthi and the 24-member Executive Committee. Some of the existing Executive Committee members include Kutty Padmini, Kovai Sarala, Nanda, Prasanna, Sriman, Sangeetha, Pasupathy, Nalini and Nirosha.

Prabhudheva and Tamannaah Bhatia's "Khamoshi", which was slated to release on May 31, will now open on June 14. The makers have pushed the date to avoid a clash with "Devi 2".

In the film, Tamannaah plays a deaf and mute girl.

The step was taken so that both the movies can enjoy equal box office success, read a statement.

Saurabh Mishra of Pyx Film said that June 14 was the "best option for us and was a collective decision taken by the cast and our distributors".

"When Tamannaah and Prabhudheva suggested the change we instantly agreed to it as we did not want the audience to choose between two movies with the same actors. It was a better alternative," he added.

"Devi 2", a horror comedy, is a sequel to the 2016 film "Devi". The film features Prabhudheva, Tamannaah, Nandita Swetha, Dimple Hayati, Kovai Sarala, Rj Balaji, and Saptagiri.?

The Devi?2 star Tamannaah was recently in the summery outfit.

Controversy‘Laxmi Bomb’, the Hindi remake has Akshay Kumar playing the lead role and is set to release in June 2020. Tnm StaffFilmmaker Raghava Lawrence took to Twitter on Saturday to announce that he will be stepping down as director for the upcoming Akshay Kumar-starrer Laxmi Bomb. Lawrence tweeted that he will not be part of this Hindi remake of Kollywood hit Kanchana because he was disrespected and disappointed by the team. Kanchana, a horror comedy which was released in 2011 was a sequel to Muni and portrays the tale of a ghost-fearing man who gets possessed. The film is set for release in June 2020. And while Lawrence had written, produced and directed the original, in the Hindi remake his role was limited to direction. The film's first look poster was released on Saturday and proved to be the last straw for Lawrence, who announced his decision to quit as director. Bringing...

KollywoodThe film was premiered on Sun TV on May 1, to coincide with Ajith's birthday, and broke quite a few Trp records.Digital NativeAjith starrer Viswasam was out as a Pongal release earlier this year clashing with another biggie, Superstar Rajinikanth's Petta and was declared a blockbuster hit. The film's satellite rights were bagged by Sun TV even before its release for a whopping amount and had its world TV premiere was on May 1 to coincide with Ajith's birthday. The film broke quite a few Trp records. Viswasam recorded a Trp of 23.8 and viewership of 1,81,43,000 impressions racing ahead of all other recent Television premiers and creating a record. The makers took to Twitter to officially announce the same. #Viswasam sets a Record Breaking 18.1 Million viewership for a Tamil Film. Happy to be associated with @SunTV for #Viswasam @directorsiva @SureshChandraa @Actor_Vivek @immancomposer @AntonyLRuben @vetrivisuals @dhilipaction @DoneChannel1 pic.twitter.com/8SkVOUGLTK...

Kollywood Reports are that the filmmakers decided to put off the release, which was announced as May 1 earlier, in order to get the requisite number of theatres. Digital NativeDigital NativeDevi 2, the sequel to the hit horror comedy Devi that released in the year 2016 will not release on May 1 as announced earlier. The horror comedy was in the summer release race this year, but reports are that the filmmakers decided to put off the release by a few more weeks in order to get the requisite number of theatres. According to recent reports, it may be released on May 31 but we need to wait for an official word on it. The movie recently cleared the censor with a ‘U’ certificate. Devi was also simultaneously released in Telugu and Hindi, titled Abhinetri and Tutak Tutak Tutiya respectively and went on to earn good box office collections. Following the film’s success at...

KollywoodAll the tropes from the previous three films are there, making us wonder what the point is in making a new one.Anjana ShekarEver since Muni released in 2007 and became a huge success, actor/director Raghava Lawrence has taken it upon himself to keep the series alive, releasing an installment every four years. When the hero, usually a man who can single-handedly take on a group of goons and not break a sweat on a normal day, stutters and shakes for a silly ruse, the hilarity in the scene becomes endearing and fresh all at once. Rajinikanth's paambu jokes, for example. And it is perhaps this style that Raghava Lawrence, who is also a die-hard Rajini fan, had in mind when he sketched his character Ganesh in the first film. We have seen several horror comedies since - the Aranmanai series, cringe adult horror comedies like Iruttu Arayil Murattu Kuthu,...

KollywoodThe film is directed by H Vinoth of 'Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru' fame and marks the foray of producer Boney Kapoor into Tamil filmdom. Digital NativeAjith had commenced shooting for the official Tamil remake of Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu starrer Pink, last December. Titled Nerkonda Paarvai, the film is Directed by H Vinoth of Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru fame and marks the foray of producer Boney Kapoor into Tamil filmdom. The shooting of the film commenced earlier this year and took place at Ramoji Filmcity, Hyderabad. It was wrapped and the film has progressed into post-Production stage. The original plan, was to release the film on May 1,to coincide with Ajith's birthday, but the makers have now pushed the film's release and it will hit the screens on August 10. The film has Adhik Ravichandran, Rangaraj Pandey, Shraddha Srinath, Abhirami Venkatachalam and Andrea Tariang in the star cast with Vidya Balan playing a cameo role.

SandalwoodIt may be noted that Kanchana and Kanchana 2 were remade in Kannada with Upendra in the led role, and both the films did well at the box office.Digital NativeDigital NativeFilms of other languages dubbed in Kannada are doing well in Sandalwood following which there is a huge demand. We hear that the upcoming release Kanchana 3 will also be dubbed and released in Kannada along with the Tamil version. It is indeed a good move by the filmmakers as Vedhika, who plays the female lead in Kanchana 3 is quite popular in Sandalwood. The film is set for release on April 19. It may be noted that Kanchana and Kanchana 2 were remade in Kannada with Upendra in the led role, and both the films did well at the box office. Muni 4: Kanchana 3’s technical crew includes Jesse Samuel, Bharath, Sai Bharath, Saravedi Saran, Raj Thillaiyampalam and Kapilan Kugavel for music, with...

TollywoodThe film released in Tamil on January 10 and has already grossed over Rs 155 crore worldwide.Tnm StaffThe Ajith starrer Viswasam will be hitting screens in the Telugu states on March 1. Releasing along with Kalyan Ram’s 118, Viswasam is expected to release in around 450 theatres in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The film released in Tamil on January 10 and has already grossed over Rs 155 crore worldwide. Viswasam missed simultaneous release dates in Telugu in January as Tollywood had three major movie releases during the month. Ram Charan’s Vinaya Vidheya Rama, Venkatesh and Varun Tej’s F2 and the first part of the Ntr biopic, Ntr Kathanayakudu, were confirmed Sankranthi releases and hence the chances of Viswasam faring well at the box-office were slim. Viswasam is finishing its 50-day run in theatres this week. According to reports, the Ajith starrer has collected Rs 25 crore overseas and has made Rs 130 crore in Tamil Nadu.

TollywoodThe Kannada dubbed version is titled 'Jaga Malla' and the title for the Telugu version will be out soon.Digital NativeAjith starrer Viswasam was released in January as a Pongal release last month and now we hear that the Kannada and Telugu dubbed versions will be out later this month or early next. The Kannada version has been titled Jaga Malla, we hear and the title for the Telugu version is expected to be out soon. Sources in the know say that the dubbing rights of the Kannada and Telugu versions have been sold out for a huge sum. Considering the film’s family subject, its makers have decided to release the dubbed versions to cash in on the interest of family audience. Directed by Siva, Viswasam has Ajith and Nayanthara as the lead pair. It may be noted here that Ajith and Siva are teaming up for the fourth time with this flick.

KollywoodRaghava Lawrence will be teaming up with Akshay Kumar for this remake. Digital NativeLast seen in the sci-fi film 2.0 as Pakshi Rajan Akshay Kumar will be teaming up with Tamil director Raghava Lawrence for the Hindi remake of the hit Muni franchise. It will not just be a remake of Muni but it will be a combination of the first two films of the franchise - Muni (2007) and Muni 2: Kanchana (2011). After the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Akshay Kumar is making a comeback to the horror-comedy genre after 12 years. While an official announcement is awaited from the makers of the Hindi film, it is expected to go floors from April this year and slated to release in 2020. It may be noted here that Raghava Lawrence made his mark with his Muni series in Tamil and he is gearing up for its fourth film in the franchise, Kanchana 3, which is slated...

KollywoodFrom Kongu to Singala Tamil, many actors have tried out different dialects on the big screen to make their character more convincing.Anjana ShekarIn Viswasam, actor Ajith played a village goon from Madurai. In Red (2002) too, he had played the role of a local don from Madurai. To sound more authentic this time, the actor tried speaking in the local dialect, inserting phrases like ‘injarule’ (a local exclamation for ‘won’t you look at this?’) to make a pronounced effect. Although not one hundred percent authentic, we’ve seen actors trying out new dialects time and again which would give more edge to their character. And most times, this becomes a unique aspect of the film that is extolled by the makers before its release. Here's a list of dialects we've seen on the big screen and the films in which they featured. 'Madras' Tamil This is one of the...

Kollywood'Big Boss' fame Oviya has been roped in to play the female lead in this project.Digital NativeThe fourth installment of the Muni franchise, Kanchana 3, is gearing up for its release. The makers have now released the motion poster for the film. This motion poster opens at a housing colony and then shifts to some action scenes and finally the film's lead, Raghava Lawerence is seen in a new avatar wearing a white shirt and dhoti with Rudrakshas around his neck. The film, bankrolled by Ragava Lawrance, will be presented by Sun Pictures and is all set to be released on April 18th this year. The film is the sequel to Kanchana 2. According to reports, the horror-comedy flick is in its final phase of shooting with the filming of one song remaining. The first part, Muni was a massive success followed by its second and third part. Now, Muni...

KollywoodWhile you’re busy enjoying this year’s bounty, we’ll make your channel browsing much easier with a list of films you can watch for this harvest festival on TV.Tnm StaffPongal is usually a busy time for people in Tamil Nadu. Relatives are home, big, elaborate feasts are prepared and there’s a lot of activity and visits planned for the next three days. For those of you who were not able to book tickets for films running in theatres, television becomes the next best option. And Pongal comes with redemption if you had missed out on a few big releases from last year. While you’re busy enjoying this year’s bounty, we’ll make your channel browsing much easier with a list of films you can watch for this harvest festival from the comfort of your homes. From Karthi’s family entertainer Kadai Kutty Singam to crime thriller Ratsasan,...

KollywoodAfter touring Eastern Europe in 'Vivegam', Siva brings Ajith back to Tamil Nadu and it proves to be a wise move.Sowmya RajendranFacebook/ ViswasamAfter touring Eastern Europe in Vivegam, which didn't go so well, Siva brings Ajith back to Tamil Nadu and reinstates him in a veshti-white shirt. It's a wise move, because Viswasam is familiar territory to the director and he appears more sure-footed of what he's doing than in his previous ambitious venture. One can even say that Siva has risen like his favourite phoenix bird from Vivegam. And flown to the land of Veeram and Vedalam which the bird knows all too well. Oh the elements are still there. The hero has a pack of yes-men around him whose primary duty is to hail every move of his. As in times of royalty when the king's arrival would be preceded by a minion reading out his titles and praises,...

Kollywood'Viswasam' is set to release for Pongal 2019.Tnm StaffYouTube: Sathya Jyothi FilmsThe trailer of Ajith’s upcoming film, Viswasam, was released on Sunday. The film is his fourth collaboration with filmmaker Siva. Starring Ajith and Nayanthara in the lead, the film’s music has been composed by D Imman. The film is set to release for Pongal 2019. The trailer shows Ajith playing the role of Thookudurai, a local don from Theni. Clad in a white veshti and shirt, he is seen being greeted by the folks in town, suggesting he may also be a respected local leader. With the Madurai-accented Tamil and the moustache twirling, the makers seem to have made it clear that the film is directed towards what the industry calls ‘B and C centres’. The trailer also plenty of farmer sentiment, family feud and violence. Nayanthara, the female lead, makes a fleeting appearance as a rural belle romanced by Ajith,...

KollywoodSeventh Sense Cinema, who had released Rajinikanth’s '2.0' recently in Russia, will be taking care of the release of Viswasam in these two countries.Digital NativeDigital NativeActor Ajith, who was last seen playing an Interpol agent in Vivegam, is gearing up for his next Viswasam in which he will be next seen in a full-length rural avatar. Directed by Siva, Viswasam has Ajith and Nayanthara as the lead pair and the film marks Ajith's fourth-time collaboration with director Siva. The film will hit the theaters for Pongal 2019 while Rajinikanth’s Petta which was initially slated to clash with Viswasam will now release ahead on January 10. Viswasam makers are planning to release the film in Russia and Ukraine as well. Seventh Sense Cinema, who had released Rajinikanth’s 2.0 recently in Russia, will be taking care of the release of Viswasam in these two countries and the film is scheduled...

Kollywood The film, slated to release for Pongal, stars Ajith and Nayanthara in the lead.Digital NativeActor Ajith’s latest movie with director Siva, Viswasam, has been cleared by the Cbfc with a U certificate, thereby requiring no cuts in the movie. Sathya Jyothi Films, the makers of Ajith’s 58th movie, in a statement issued on Monday, said that it has made a perfect family entertainer and is happy about the certification. “Sathya Jyothi Films has always been linked closely with family entertainers. Over the years, it has carried this as a ritual and has churned out movies that cater to the family audiences. We are now happy that Cbfc has accredited our upcoming film ‘Viswasam’ with ‘U’. Our production house is thankful to Ajith Kumar sir and director Siva for being the supportive pillars in making this film happen,” read the statement. Calling the movie a wholesome entertainer for this season,...

KollywoodAccording to reports, there are plans to attach the digital motion poster of 'Kanchana 3' along with the release of Rajinikanth’s 'Petta'.Digital NativeThe Muni franchise from Raghava Lawrence is the most successful of his ventures till date. The actor–filmmaker is currently busy with the making of Kanchana 3. The latest on this project is that the makers have announced its release date. The film, bankrolled by Sun Pictures, will be released on April 18 next year. The announcement was out on the official Twitter handle of the production house. It said, “The much awaited Muni 4 – Kanchana 3 by Raghava Lawrence is nearing completion of shooting and will release in April 2019.” There are plans to attach the digital motion poster of Kanchana 3 along with the release of Rajinikanth’s Petta, we hear. The much awaited Muni 4 series – Kanchana 3 by Raghava Lawrence is nearing completion of shooting and will release...