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Harkara means the bearer of messages, and the story revolves around the lives of two postmen belonging to different time zones. How the villagers of Keezh Malai respect the postmaster, Kaali, despite his hatred towards them in the beginning, moves us. Written by Ram Arun Castro, Ma. Kamadhurai and M. Vediayappan, the Tamil historical drama, is replete with elements of patriotism and passion, which seemed to have drawn in elements similar to those of Rrr. However, unlike Rrr, Harkara has not been stretched out unnecessarily. Ram Arun Castro played the main role of Madeswaran, along with other renowned actors like Kaali Venkat, Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan, and others. How did the villagers gain their faith in Madeswaran, their village deity? Let us find out what events led to the villagers’ beliefs and how that helped change Kaali as a person.

Spoilers Ahead

Why Did Kaali Dislike The Villagers Initially?

The new postmaster of Keezh Malai,...

Top stars feature in an 18-strong Tamil-language film slate that will bow on Netflix after theatrical release.

Several of the titles will also be made available on the service in the Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages.

Dream Warrior Pictures has “Japan,” starring Karthi, directed by Rajumurugan, Studio Green has “Thangalaan,” starring Vikram, directed by Pa. Ranjith and Sithara Entertainments/Srikara Studios/ Fortune Four Cinemas, “Vaathi,” starring Dhanush, directed by Venky Atluri.

Lyca Productions has six films on the slate led by a project identified as “AK62,” the next film from Ajith Kumar, who currently has “Thunivu” on release. P. Vasu’s “Chandramukhi 2,” starring Raghava Lawrence, the sequel to the 2005 smash hit starring superstar Rajinikanth is also from Lyca, as are their untitled 18th production, starring Vidaarth and Yogi Babu and directed by T. Arulchezhian; their 20th production, starring Jai and Aishwarya Rajesh, directed by Rohin Venkatesan; and 24th production featuring Bharatiraja and Arulnithi,...

KollywoodAfter a considerable delay, the tech-thriller 'Kee' will release on May 10. In this interview, the director talks about the reasons behind the year-long delay and why he thinks the story will still remain relevant.Anjana Shekar“Kee is a Tholkappiya sol (word). Every word has a meaning and ‘kee’ means that which has equal amounts of good and bad in it,” begins director Kalees, who will be making his debut with Jiiva’s upcoming tech thriller Kee. He draws a parallel between this Tholkappiya word and the modern day keyboard, “Similarly the keyboard, too, has an equal amount of good and bad to it,” he elaborates. With this brief, we begin an interview with the director, who has previously worked with director Selvaraghavan. His own directorial debut has, unfortunately, taken quite some time to hit the screens. Excerpts from a phone interview below: Your film saw a considerable delay. Why so?...

CinemaThis is the third edition of the festival.Tnm StaffFile image | Facebook/Nitte International film Festival Mangaluru’s third edition of the Nitte International Film Festival, hosted by the Nitte University, will be held for four days from April 8 to 11 this year. The festival has curated a total of 75 films in different languages including Hindi, Tulu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Portuguese and French this year and will see about 40 filmmakers from across the country in attendance. Speaking to Tnm, Professor Raviraj Kini, festival coordinator, says, “Very few films find a release in Mangaluru. The festival was a students' initiative to bring good cinema here, to encourage more people to watch good films. We have done two very successful editions so far.” The line-up this year includes award-winning films like Ee Ma Yau (Malayalam), Kaala (Tamil), Paddayi (Tulu), October (Hindi), Tumbbad (Hindi), Redu (Marathi), Dithee (Marathi), Sarkari Hiriya...

SandalwoodThis film, in which Dr Rajkumar played the lead, popularised farming and modern technology among the audiences.Aravind ShwethaIf one digs into the vast ocean that is Kannada cinema, s/he would encounter a number of classics, irrespective of genres. But if there is one film that everybody would vouch for as a classic, without any hesitation, it has to be Bangarada Manushya (Man with a heart of gold or Golden Man). Bangarada Manushya went on to become the longest-running Kannada film and the most successful movie of all time. It was not only a milestone in the career of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, but was also listed as his best performance by Forbes. The impact of the film on the audience was so much that hundreds of people quit their jobs and went back to their villages to take up farming, like the protagonist of the film. This film ran for as an exceptional 104 weeks continuously in theatres in Bengaluru, 60 weeks in Mysuru and 25 weeks in Mangaluru. The plot revolves around Rajiv (Dr. Rajkumar), a young man educated in the city, who goes on a visit to a village near Chikkamagaluru to meet his sister. Upon arrival, Rajiv finds that his sister has been widowed. The dutiful Rajiv takes the onus on himself to take care of his sister, while his elder brother deserts the family, fearing the additional responsibilities. As the sole breadwinner of the family and with the sister’s children dependent on him, Rajiv takes to farming and succeeds at it. The movie’s focal point is on the importance of farming and how one should respect the land. When Rajiv starts farming, he takes a handful of soil, heartily prays for good crops and only then goes on to learn about the nuances of agriculture. In the climax scene, before leaving the village, he goes to the farm, takes a handful of soil and again prays to ‘Mother Earth’ to take care of his family in his absence. These two scenes impress upon the audience the connection a farmer has towards the soil - the most important element in agriculture. In the second half of the film, Rajiv is seen bringing out ‘gold’ from the barren land. Rajiv brings in engineers to help him convert the barren land into a fertile one. The song Aagadu Endu, showcases the technology that can be implemented in cultivation. Not just that, it was also the first time people actually saw the great engineer from Karnataka, Sir M Vishweswaraiah, for the first time on the big screen. The song still stands tall for its inspiring lyrics. The makers took this opportunity to enlighten people about the technology they had back then. Be it the ones used to blast hard rocks or using earthmovers to create a flat surface, water pumping and more. The song even goes on to tell people about the Krs dam and how it was built and how, even after decades, it is helping millions of farmers in the Cauvery belt. The song and scenes had so much impact that thousands were inspired to take up farming and not just that, but also to use technology in farming. In one of the scenes in which he goes to meet the heroine (Bharati), he explains to her about co-operative farming in a very simple language - in turn explaining it to the audience. It was only in the '70s that co-operative farming was booming in Karnataka and the film succeeded in explaining the concept in the simplest way. In a scene in which he helps the father-son duo Balakrishna and Dwarkish break the ice, the makers have intelligently put in a conversation that sheds light on not selling one’s life to western ideology. Dwarkish and Balakrishna’s role is a metaphor of modern and traditional way of living, with a message that western or the modern ideology may not the farmer’s cup of tea. The film also touched on very important topics like rural development, modern agricultural practices, co-operative movement, social unity, honesty, love, dedication and most importantly, selflessness. Every song and scene in the film is beautifully crafted to show the lives of farmers. Though Rajiv makes an entry wearing pants and shirt, after he takes up farming, he is mostly seen wearing a Panche (Dhoti), shirt and a towel – which even today is used to represent farmers in films. Two songs – Aagadu Endu and Hani Hani Goodidre Halla - send a strong message about how and why the farmer is the backbone of the country. In fact, Hani Hani Goodidre Halla is all about celebrating Sankranti or the harvest festival. Hani Hani Goodidre Halla, which translates to ‘every drop counts’, talks about every farmer’s contribution to society and nature. The film’s success ensured that it was remade in Telugu in 1975 as Devudulanti Manishi, starring Krishna in lead role. For Kannadigas, Bangarada Manushya will remain as the epitome of films. Also read: Shruti Haasan to produce Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan's 'The Mosquito Philosophy'...

KollywoodThe film will reportedly release in Tamil and Hindi.Tnm StaffYouTube/ScreenshotThe trailer for X Videos directed by Sajo Sundar was released on popular YouTube channel Tamil Talkies which is known for movie reviews. The film is reportedly about homemade porn videos and ones taken with hidden cams. A similar theme was explored in Lens, which was directed by Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan. The trailer of X Videos shows a host of new faces and appears to be about a website that encourages ordinary people to upload homemade porn videos on it. The film, the trailer suggests, will go into the business aspect of how such websites are run. Calling it a 'cyber crime thriller', the trailer also hints that it will show how people are affected by such videos in real life. This is Sajo Sundar's first film and he has worked as an assistant director in films such as Ms Dhoni and Bangalore Naatkal. Lens, which released in 2017, was about a married man who is addicted to cyber sex and what happens when he falls into the hands of a dangerous person. The film was released in Tamil and Malayalam and went on to win critical acclaim. The Bobby Simha and Amala Paul starrer Thiruttu Payale 2, which had Prasanna play the villain, was also about how the Internet can be exploited for creating such videos and blackmailing people with it. X Videos, according to Tamil Talkies, will release in Tamil and Hindi. Watch: Also read: Teaser of Mohanlal starrer 'Odiyan' out...

KollywoodThe film will reportedly release in Tamil and Hindi.Tnm StaffYouTube/ScreenshotThe trailer for X Videos directed by Sajo Sundar was released on popular YouTube channel Tamil Talkies which is known for movie reviews. The film is reportedly about homemade porn videos and ones taken with hidden cams. A similar theme was explored in Lens, which was directed by Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan. The trailer of X Videos shows a host of new faces and appears to be about a website that encourages ordinary people to upload homemade porn videos on it. The film, the trailer suggests, will go into the business aspect of how such websites are run. Calling it a 'cyber crime thriller', the trailer also hints that it will show how people are affected by such videos in real life. This is Sajo Sundar's first film and he has worked as an assistant director in films such as Ms Dhoni and Bangalore Naatkal. Lens, which released in 2017, was about a married man who is addicted to cyber sex and what happens when he falls into the hands of a dangerous person. The film was released in Tamil and Malayalam and went on to win critical acclaim. The Bobby Simha and Amala Paul starrer Thiruttu Payale 2, which had Prasanna play the villain, was also about how the Internet can be exploited for creating such videos and blackmailing people with it. X Videos, according to Tamil Talkies, will release in Tamil and Hindi. Watch:...

KollywoodWhile the year saw many star vehicles, there were quite a few unusual films that went on to win big.Sowmya Rajendran2017 is drawing to an end, and this is a year that has seen some unusual films coming out of Kollywood. While big star vehicles like Singam 3, Bairavaa, VIP2, Mersal and Vivegam released with much fanfare, smaller films also came into the limelight and won critical acclaim. This was also an important year for films with women actors in lead roles. Not only did some of them do well commercially, they also led to much discussion on gender and women's rights. This list has films which won critical acclaim but also includes those that initiated worthwhile conversations and debates. Some of these films may be problematic but they have pushed the envelope in some way, pulled away from convention to give us something new on screen. 8 Thottakal: Directed by Sri Ganesh, the film was released at the same time as Mani Ratnam's Kaatru Veliyidai. However, the thriller with its ensemble cast and tight plot managed to do well at the box office. Ms Bhaskar's performance especially came in for appreciation. The revelations in the plot work well and the film maintains suspense throughout. Aramm: Gopi Nainar's film about a District Collector who is faced with a difficult task – rescuing a small child who falls into a borewell – had Nayanthara playing the lead role. The film, set in Kattur, asked relevant questions about the rural-urban divide and was devoid of the usual trappings of mainstream cinema. Aruvi: This film, directed by Arun Prabhu, is about a young woman who has AIDS. Apart from its strong storytelling, the film celebrates values that are usually associated with the feminine – of compassion and forgiveness – through an unusual protagonist. Aval: This horror film, directed by Milind Rau, wasn't really original when it came to plot but it had impressive VFX and sound. It also marked a return to the pure horror genre in Tamil cinema, which has for long been making horror-comedies. Kurangu Bommai: With an interesting non-linear plot, this film directed by Nithilan Swaminathan is about an honest driver who finds himself in a smuggling web. With great performances, especially from Bharathiraja, the film opened to critical acclaim. Lens: Shot on a shoestring budget, this film by Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan is a brave attempt to look at the issue of cyber crime. The director, who also plays the lead role, paints a vivid picture of a middle class man obsessed with pornography and cyber sex. The film is not without its flaws, but makes for an engrossing watch nevertheless. Maanagaram: Lokesh Kanagaraj's film is about a bunch of characters with no names (unlike a village where everyone knows everyone, anonymity is the norm in big cities). The film explores life in a big city and how people react and respond when they're thrown in a spot of trouble. The gripping screenplay made sure that the film became a hit despite having no big names in the cast. Magalir Mattum: Jyothika teamed up with veteran actors Urvashi, Banu Priya, and Saranya in this film about four women who go on a road trip. Directed by Bramma, the film evoked mixed responses from the audience – while some questioned the idea of women's empowerment that the film carries, many enjoyed the relevant questions that the characters ask through the film. The film also did well at the box-offiice. Oru Kidayin Karunai Manu: Directed by Suresh Sangaiah, this film is about a goat that's on its way to be sacrificed at a temple. But then, the vehicle with the goat and the people who are taking it, meets with an accident. Now what to do about the 'corpse' they have at hand? Funny and insightful, Oru Kidayin Karunai Manu is an unusual film. Pa Paandi: Although Dhanush, the director, makes a cameo, the film belongs to Raj Kiran, who plays a retired stunt master. A rare film about an elderly person discovering their dreams and following their heart. Revathi makes a delightful appearance, too. Rangoon: Rajkumar Periasamy's crime drama with Gautham Karthik in the lead role was a smart, well-executed film about gold smuggling. A good part of the film is set in Rangoon and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged to the end. Taramani: Ram's film about a single mother who works in the corporate sector drew mixed responses like Magalir Mattum. The posters and teasers of the film, which showed Andrea, the lead character, swearing and questioning the patriarchal world around her generated quite a bit of buzz. While many disagreed with the film for its idea of women's empowerment, it was also unique in celebrating a woman lead who went against the established traditions in Kollywood. Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru: Although it has its share of problematic representations, Theeran was a well-made cop film which went into the nitty-gritties of a police investigation. Directed by Vinoth, the film, which is based on real events, went on to become a blockbuster. Thiruttu Payale 2: Like Lens, this film was about the dangers of the digital world. A sequel to Susi Ganeshan's first film by the same title, the movie had interesting ideas – most notably, a husband who stands by his wife despite knowing another man is in possession of her nude videos. This was refreshingly different from the usual moral landscape in which such films tend to be located. Vikram-Vedha: Directed by Pushkar and Gayathri, this film about a cop and a criminal, was an interesting take on the Vikram-Vetal myth. Both Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathy turned in wonderful performances, making for a delectable thriller that explored the grey between the worlds of good and bad.