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The legendary duo of Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal and Priyadarshan, who have delivered many hit films and memorable characters, are set to collaborate once again in a new project titled Haram. The news was announced by singer Mg Sreekumar on his Facebook page, along with a caricature of the director and the actor. However, no further details about the film have been revealed yet.

Mohanlal and Priyadarshan have a long and successful partnership that started with the film Poochakkoru Mookkuthi in 1984 and continued till Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham in 2021. The latter film was a huge flop at the box office, but the fans are still excited about the new venture of the combo. There is also a buzz that Haram may mark Priyadarshan’s 100th directorial venture, adding more significance to this collaboration.

Marakkar Trailer

Mohanlal is currently busy with the shooting of Jeethu Joseph’s Neru. He also has several other projects lined up,...

Mohanlal, the superstar of Malayalam cinema, is all set to play a lawyer after a long time in his career, after ‘Harikrishnans’, Red Chillies and ‘Adhipan’. He has joined the sets of ‘Neru’, a realistic legal thriller directed by Jeethu Joseph, who is known for his blockbuster films like ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Memories’. The film is produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas.

‘Neru’ is based on true multiple incidents that happen inside the courtroom, such as judgement, manipulations, arguments, and emotions. The film will follow a procedural screenplay, without any suspense or twists. It will focus on the human drama and the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters involved in the legal system.

Neru Teaser

According to reports, The film has a stellar ensemble cast that includes Priya Mani, Siddique, Nandu, Dinesh Prabhakar, Sankar Induchoodan, Mathew Varghese, Kalesh Ramadevi, Kalabhavan Jinto, Reshmy Anil, and Dr. Prashant. The...

Fans of Dulquer Salmaan are eagerly waiting for the release of his upcoming Malayalam action thriller film King of Kotha, directed by Abhilash Joshiy and produced by Wayfarer Films and Zee Studios. The film, which also stars Prasanna, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Gokul Suresh, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nyla Usha, and others, is scheduled to release worldwide on 24 August 2023 during Onam.

The makers of King of Kotha have recently announced that the trailer of the film will be launched soon and will be attached with the highly anticipated Tamil film Jailer, starring Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Shiva Rajkumar, and others. Jailer, directed by Nelson and produced by Sun Pictures, is a black comedy action film that revolves around a strict yet empathetic jailer who tries to stop a gang from rescuing their leader from the prison. Jailer is set to hit the screens on 10 August 2023.

King of Kotha Teaser

By attaching the trailer of King of Kotha with Jailer,...

OTTThe stakeholders had previously agreed that producers would wait for 42 days after a film’s theatrical release before streaming it on Ott.Tnm StaffDigital NativeThe Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (Feuok) on Tuesday, July 26 requested that Malayalam films should be streamed on over-the-top (Ott) platforms only after 56 days have passed since their theatrical release. Currently, films are allowed to begin streaming on Ott 42 days after their theatrical release. According to an Indian Express report, the suggestion has been presented by Feuok to the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce. The report also said that a press conference was held in Kochi by Feuok, where it was said that Malayalam movies have not had a great run at the box office since audiences prefer watching them on Ott platforms where they were streaming without much delay. The Feuok letter urged the film chamber to implement the changes after Onam. The association...

MollywoodHelmed by director Vishnu G Raghav, the film will feature Tovino and Keerthy as advocates.Tnm StaffInstagram/ Keerthy SureshActors Tovino Thomas and Keerthy Suresh’s upcoming courtroom drama Vaashi is gearing up for theatrical release. Helmed by director Vishnu G Raghav, the film will hit the big screens on June 17. It is bankrolled by G Suresh Kumar and Menaka. The release date was announced on Tuesday, May 17 along with a glimpse video. Tovino and Keerthy will be playing advocates who face off against each other. Tovino Thomas, while commenting about the film earlier, had said that this film portrays something that's super relevant and that would reach out to audiences soon. Neil D Cunha is the director of Photography for the film, which has music by Kailas Menon.While unveiling the first look poster of the film in February this year, Keerthy Suresh wrote, "Presenting the first look of my next in Malayalam!

ReviewThe script is chock-a-block with references to old Mohanlal films. Such an indulgence can be forgiven if it was limited to a few scenes, but it becomes jarring after a point. Sowmya RajendranIt’s no secret that Mohanlal has been trying to expand his market beyond Kerala for the past few years. The star, still the darling of the masses in Kerala, appears to be miffed by the reception to his recent films, particularly Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham. In an interview with Manorama channel that went viral, Mohanlal can be seen praising the Telugu audience for how they reportedly “support” Telugu films and respect their stars. But is that the case here, he asks and laughs dismissively. Perhaps it is this that led director B Unnikrishnan to abandon the Oxford English dictionary used in his last Mohanlal film Villain and turn to Telugu instead. Written by Udaykrishna, Aaraattu employs not only...

CinemaDirector Gnanavel's critically-acclaimed Tamil courtroom drama and Priyadarshan's Malayalam war film failed to make it to the list of nominations for the 94th Academy Awards that were announced on Tuesday. IANSFacebook/ Suriya, MarakkarDirector Tha Se Gnanavel's critically-acclaimed Tamil courtroom drama Jai Bhim and Priyadarshan's Malayalam war film Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham which were shortlisted for the Best Picture Category, failed to make it to the list of nominations for the 94th Academy Awards that were announced on Tuesday. Both Jai Bhim and Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham (Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea), were on the list of 276 movies eligible for this year's Academy Awards. Ten nominees were announced in the Best Picture category, which was the last of the categories to be announced. The films that have been nominated under this category are Belfast, Coda, Don't Look Up, Drive My Car, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story.

MollywoodSince the budget of a film automatically goes up when a superstar is signed, it appears that filmmakers believe only a “mass” storyline can draw in audiences from across the states to ensure a profitable run.Sowmya RajendranThe trailer of Aaraattu, Mohanlal’s upcoming film with B Unnikrishnan, dropped on February 4, and it appears to be yet another “mass” film that projects the superstar as a demi-god. “I’m not a gangster, I’m not a monster, I’m sinister, I’m Lucifer,” he says, even as other characters in the video are asking curious questions about him to set up the viewers’ expectations. He is also shown beating up other men heroically. While many Mohanlal fans are enthused by this macho man display, several are disappointed by the star’s script selection that has gone downhill in recent years. The last Mohanlal film to release was Bro Daddy, directed by Prithviraj.

Top Indian actor and producer Suriya is all set to continue his existing deal with Amazon Prime Video India.

Suriya’s production and distribution company 2D Entertainment specializes in Tamil-language films. In May 2020, at the height of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, when cinemas were shuttered, 2D bowed J. J. Federick’s “Ponmagal Vandhal,” starring Suriya’s wife Jyothika, also a leading actor in Tamil cinema, directly on Amazon. Sudha Kongara’s “Soorarai Pottru,” starring Suriya, bowed on the service in Nov. 2020.

In Aug. 2021, 2D signed a multi-film direct-to-digital deal for several upcoming Tamil-language films with Amazon. When the pandemic hit, 2D had six films in production and, given that a typical Indian film directly or indirectly employs 600-800 people, Suriya says that he didn’t want to pause so many people’s sole means of livelihood.

“This was the best thing which happened to all the films – we got a wonderful audience,...

Two Indian films — the controversial Tamil film ‘Jai Bhim’ starring Suriya and Lijomol Jose and Priyadarshan’s Malayalam period drama ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham’ (Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea), with Mohanlal playing the titular character — are on the list of 276 movies eligible for this year’s Academy Awards. The voting for the Oscar nominations […]...

Mollywood'Marakkar' was to be released in March last year, but amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it had to be postponed and was finally released on December 2.Tnm StaffScreengrabMohanlal’s epic period drama Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, which hit the screen on December 2, will release on Amazon Prime Video on December 17. Prime Video tweeted that the movie will be available on the Ott platform in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. It was earlier reported that the epic film has been reportedly bought by Amazon Prime Video at a price between Rs 90 crore and 100 crore. The Mohanlal starrer was initially slated for Ott release but later, on the Kerala government’s intervention, the movie released in theatres, that too, after much delay. Marakkar was to be released in March last year, but amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it had to be postponed and finally it was released in 4,100 screens across the world on December 2. The epic...

Amazon Prime Video brings the exclusive streaming premiere of the biggest epic adventure of the year with Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, starring legendary actor Mohanlal in the titular role. Written and directed by Priyadarshan, the Malayalam magnum opus boasts of an incredibly stellar cast with Arjun Sarja, Suniel Shetty, Manju Warrier, Keerthy Suresh, […]...

MollywoodThe film is set to hit the big screens in December this year.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeActor Mohanlal unveiled the teaser from the much-anticipated magnum opus Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham on Wednesday, November 24. Directed by Priyadarshan, the big-budget period drama is set to release on December 2. The teaser gives a brief glimpse at the visual spectacle the movie promises. It features shots of battle sequences. Marakkar stars actor Mohanlal in the lead. It was initially slated for release in March but had to be postponed multiple times in view of the pandemic. Bankrolled by Antony Perumbavoor, the star cast includes actors Suniel Shetty, Keerthy Suresh, Manju Warrier, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Siddique in the lead roles. It is set to be released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. The makers of the film locked an Ott release for the film. However, they decided to go ahead with a theatrical release to support the...

MollywoodEarlier the makers of ‘Marakkar’ announced that they have opted for direct Ott release as they were unable to come to a consensus with theatres’ associations in Kerala. Tnm StaffKerala’s Minister for Culture Saji Cherian announced on Thursday, November 11 that actor Mohanlal’s much-anticipated movie Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham will be releasing in theatres on December 2. The announcement from the minister comes days after the producer of the big-budget period drama, Antony Perumbavoor, announced that the film will be premiering on an over-the-top (Ott) platform. The minister revealed that the decision was arrived at after holding a meeting with representatives from the film producers’ association and Antony Perumbavoor. Earlier the makers of Marakkar opted for a direct Ott-release as they were unable to come to a consensus with theatres’ associations. At a press meet held on November 5, the producer had confirmed that the film would be releasing on Ott. Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham...

Otta new trend observed is Ott platforms rushing to acquire the broadcasting rights of big banner movies helmed by prominent names in the south Indian film industry. Saradha UMohanlal/ FacebookWhen the theatrical release of Malayalam star Mohanlal’s Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham was announced in 2019, fans couldn’t wait to watch the movie in theatres. A historical war film, Marakkar is said to be the first Malayalam film to be made with a budget of approximately Rs 100 crore. Shot with grand sets, Marakkar features an impressive cast of actors including Manju Warrier, Prabhu, Keerthy Suresh, Pranav Mohanlal, Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu and Siddique, among others. It took many by surprise when after weeks of talks about a theatrical release, producer Antony Perumbavoor finally announced that the movie will release on Amazon Prime Video. Will Marakkar recover its huge costs? That is the question on everyone’s minds. Tnm has learnt that Amazon...

TollywoodUpbeat track ‘Bad Luck Sakhi’ from Nagesh Kukunoor’s ‘Good Luck Sakhi’ was released on November 8.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeThe first single, ‘Bad Luck Sakhi’, from actor Keerthy Suresh’s upcoming film Good Luck Sakhi, also starring actors Aadhi Pinisetty and Jagapathi Babu in pivotal roles, has been released. The song was released on November 8 and has been trending on YouTube in India. ‘Bad Luck Sakhi’, which is likely to be Keerthy Suresh’s introductory song, features her as Sakhi. As the title suggests, the visuals indicate how people consider her to be jinxed as chaos ensues in every place she visits. As she walks around the town, people point at her and sing ‘Bad Luck Sakhi’. The upbeat track is sung by Hari Priya, Sameera Bharadwaj and Mlr Karthikeyan, while it is set to tune by Devi Sri Prasad. Sharing the track with fans, Keerthy wrote: “I am pretty sure...

MollywoodActor Mohanlal and director Jeethu Joseph have previously collaborated in the critically acclaimed Malayalam movies ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Drishyam 2’.Tnm StaffTwitter/ Mohanlal Mollywood star Mohanlal’s next film with director Jeethu Joseph, 12th Man went on floors on Tuesday, August 17, coinciding with the first day of the Chingam month as per the Malayalam calendar. Actor Mohanlal shared photos from the customary puja ceremony on social media to the delight of his fans. Producer Antony Perumbavoor and actor Unni Mukundan were among those attending the puja. Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph have collaborated earlier for the hit Drishyam franchise. The critically acclaimed Malayalam movie Drishyam had a huge run at the box office and was also remade in several languages including Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Drishyam 2, which is the sequel of Drishyam, was released on Over-the-top (Ott) platform Amazon Prime Video this year. Before Drishyam 2, the director and actor duo had...

FilmsThe government's Ott platform will be more focussed on releasing smaller films.Tnm StaffImage courtesy - picxy / aniketgaikwad293In Kerala, the government is planning to run an over-the-top (Ott) platform for screening new films, Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian said at a press meet on Friday, July 2. This will either be a new platform or a collaboration with an existing one, he said. The move is aimed at overcoming the crisis faced by the Malayalam film industry over the past one and a half years, after Covid-19 struck. The government's Ott platform will be more focussed on smaller films and not big-budget movies, the Minister said. The big-budget films will be screened on the Ott after theatre release. "We will be starting a new platform or renting out an existing one, since the former would take time," the Minister said. Government funds alone may not be enough to save the industry,...

KollywoodThe yet-untitled movie will be bankrolled by Viacom 18 Studios in association with Pentela Sagar. Tnm StaffThe makers of Ashok Selvan’s next film announced details about the project on Monday, June 28. Bankrolled by Viacom 18 Studios in association with Pentela Sagar, the movie will star actors Ashok Selvan, Ritu Varma, Aparna Balamurali and Shivathmika in pivotal roles. The movie will be directed by filmmaker Ra Karthick. It will have music by Gopi Sundar and editing by Antony. George C Williams is on board as the Director of Photography. Sharing the announcement poster, production house Viacom 18 Studios, wrote: “Happy to announce our association with @riseeastcre for untitled film starring @AshokSelvan @riturv @Aparnabala2 @ShivathmikaR Directed by @Rkarthik_dir.” Actor Ashok Selvan too shared the poster on his Twitter handle and quoted the tagline as the caption. The tagline of the movie read: “Where you think it ends, Life begins”. He also added that...

KollywoodMeanwhile, Malavika Mohanan wished her 'Master' co-star by imitating his style of chucking chewing gum into his mouth.Tnm StaffActor Vijay celebrated his 47th birthday on June 22. While wishes came pouring in for the star from fans and celebrities alike, actors Malavika Mohanan and Keerthy Suresh, both of whom shared screen space with Vijay in recent films, put up special videos on their Instagram accounts. Keerthy Suresh, who starred along with Vijay in Sarkar that released in 2018, performed a peppy dance tribute to the actor. Dancing to Vijay’s 'Aal Thotta Boopathy' song from his 2002 film Youth, Keerthy wrote, “Dancing for Aal Thotta Boopathy! An ardent fan of #Thalapathy ! You are not only one of the best at performing, but you are one of a #Beast when it comes to entertaining. #ChummaCasualah with thambi.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Keerthy Suresh (@keerthysureshofficial) 'Aal Thotta Boopathy' is...

TollywoodThe Venky Atluri directorial hit the big screens on March 26 this year and is also streaming on Ott platform Zee5.Tnm StaffAfter releasing in theatres as well as on Ott, Keerthy Suresh and Nithiin’s latest Telugu romantic drama Rang De is all set for its television premiere. The film will be premiering on Zee Telugu on Sunday, June 20, at 5.30 pm. Announcing the news, Zee Telugu wrote on Twitter, “6 Days To Go Watch World Television Premiere #RangDe June 20th, Sunday at 5:30 Pm on #ZeeTelugu #RangDeOnZeeTelugu,” the tweet read. The movie is also now streaming on Ott platform Zee5. On May 31, team Rang De announced that the movie would be available to watch on the Ott platform from June 12. “The colors of life - love, fun & emotions comes to your home,” Nithiin wrote while sharing the announcement with fans. Helmed by Tholiprema fame director Venky Atluri, Rang De stars actors...

TollywoodHelmed by Venky Atulri, ‘Rang De’ released in theatres on March 26 this year. Tnm StaffFacebookFollowing its theatrical release in March, the Tollywood romantic drama Rang De is now streaming on Ott platform Zee5 since Saturday, June 12. Team Rang De announced on May 31 that the movie would stream on the Ott platform, however, the dates for the same weren’t revealed at the time. Sharing the news on Friday, actor Nithiin wrote on his social media, “The colors of life - love, fun & emotions comes to your home.” Spearheaded by Tholiprema fame Venky Atluri, Rang De features actors Keerthy Suresh and Nithiin in the lead roles. Rang De released in theatres on March 26 this year, and opened to mixed reviews from fans and critics. The movie tracks the lives of Arjun and Anu, who share a bittersweet romantic relationship. The project is produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under the banner of Sithara Entertainment.

Southern star Keerthy Suresh has found a way to keep tension at bay, going by her social media post on Wednesday.

Keerthy posted a picture on Instagram where she is seen doing Vrksasana. Alongside the image, she wrote: "Some yoga in the day keeps the tensions away."

Keerthy, who has featured in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, was feted with the National Film Award for portraying actress Savitri in the 2018 Telugu biopic film "Mahanati".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keerthy Suresh (@keerthysureshofficial)

She will soon be seen in films including "Good Luck Sakhi", "Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham" "Vaashi", and "Sarkaru Vaari Paata".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keerthy Suresh (@keerthysureshofficial)

The actress had her first lead role in the 2013 Malayalam film "Geethaanjali". She was then seen in films such as "Ring Master", "Idhu Enna Maayam", "Rajini Murugan", "Remo", "Nenu Sailaja", "Bairavaa", "Thaana Serndha Kootam...

Tollywood The Venky Atluri directorial released in theatres on March 26 this year. Tnm StaffFacebook/ NithiinFollowing its theatrical release in March, the Tollywood romantic drama Rang De is gearing up for its Ott release on Zee5. Announcing the news with fans, the Ott platform revealed that Rang De will be streaming from June 12. “The film that you have been waiting for a long time, the magical love tale Rang De streams from 12th June only on #ZEE5,” Zee5 announced on Twitter. Helmed by Tholiprema fame Venky Atluri, the movie features actors Keerthy Suresh and Nithiin in the lead roles. Rang De released in theatres on March 26 this year, to mixed reviews from fans and critics. The movie revolves around the lives of Arjun and Anu, who share a bittersweet romantic relationship. The movie is bankrolled by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under the banner of Sithara Entertainment. Rang De has music by composer Devi Sri Prasad.

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home, his spokesperson revealed on Wednesday.

“Mr Aamir Khan has tested positive for Covid-19. He is at home in self quarantine, following all the protocols and he’s doing fine,” the spokesperson said. “All those who came in contact with him in the recent past should get themselves tested as a precautionary measure. Thank you for all your wishes and concern.”

Khan will next be seen in “Laal Singh Chaddha,” the official Bollywood remake of “Forrest Gump,” being produced by Viacom18 Studios and Aamir Khan Productions. The film is due a Christmas release.

There has been a spate of Covid-19 infections in Bollywood recently as a new wave of the virus is growing exponentially in India. Those who tested positive recently include actors Kartik Aaryan (“Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety”) and Ranbir Kapoor (“Sanju”), producer Ramesh...

Kangana Ranaut was declared Best Actress for her performances in the Hindi films Manikarnika and Panga at the 67th National Film Awards that were announced in the city on Monday. Manoj Bajpayee, for the Hindi film Bhonsle, and Dhanush, for his role in the Tamil film Asuran, were jointly declared Best Actor.

In a year heavily dominated by Hindi films, Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan won the Best Direction award for Bahattar Hoorain. The Best Feature Film award went to Priyadarshan's lavish Malayalam historical drama, Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham.

The 67th edition of the awards were organised by Directorate of Film Festivals (Dff) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ceremony was scheduled to be held in May 2020 but had to be postponed owing to the Covid pandemic.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Feature Films

Best Feature Film: Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham (Malayalam)

Best Direction: Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan...

Priyadarshan’s “Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea” has won best feature film at India’s National Film Awards which were announced Monday.

The Malayalam-language film, a period epic starring Mohanlal, had its global release halted last year by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is now due to release in May 2021. The film also won awards for special effects and costume.

The awards are for 2019 and were due to be announced a year ago, before the pandemic intervened.

Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan was named as best director for Hindi-language film “Bahattar Hoorain.” The acting award was shared by Manoj Bajpayee for Hindi-language film “Bhonsle,” and Dhanush for Tamil-language “Asuran.” Kangana Ranaut won best actress for Hindi-language films “Manikarnika” and “Panga.”

Vijay Sethupathi won the supporting actor award for Tamil-language “Super Deluxe,” while Pallavi Joshi won supporting actress for “The Tashkent Files.”

In the writing categories, Kaushik Ganguly won the original screenplay award for “Jyeshthoputro,...

67th National Film AwardsThe Best Feature Film has been awarded to Mohanlal’s unreleased epic historical war drama 'Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham'.Tnm StaffThe 67th National Film awards for films that released in the year 2019 were announced on Monday. A number of notable films from south Indian states bagged awards. The award for the Best Actor was this time shared between Dhanush for the Tamil film Asuran and Manoj Bajpayee for the Hindi film Bhonsle. This is actor Dhanush's second National Film Award after Aadukalam in 2011. Actor Kangana Ranaut won Best Actress award for her performance in Manikarnika-The Queen of Jhansi and Panga. Actor Vijay Sethupathi won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Tamil film Super Deluxe. The Best Feature Film has been awarded to Mohanlal’s unreleased epic historical war drama Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham. The film that is based on the life of Kunjali Marakkar IV, a Malayali naval chieftain,...

MollywoodDirected by renowned filmmaker Priyadarshan, the film includes a number of stars including Manju Warrier, Suniel Shetty, Arjun Sarja and Prabhu.Tnm StaffMohanlal’s period film Marakkar – Lion of the Arabian Sea (Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham) will release in theatres on May 13. The Malayalam superstar tweeted the update on Sunday. The movie was set to release in March 2020 but had to be postponed after the outbreak of Covid-19. The film is directed by renowned filmmaker Priyadarshan and produced by Antony Perumbavoor’s Aashirvad Cinemas, Santhosh T Kuruvilla’s Confident Group and Cj Roy’s Moonshot Entertainment. A star-studded film, apart from Mohanlal it also stars Manju Warrier, Suniel Shetty, Arjun Sarja, Prabhu, Paresh Rawal, Keerthy Suresh, Suhasini, Ashok Selvam, Pranav and Kalyani. The film’s cinematography is by Tirru and editing is by Ms Ayyappan Nair. The film is based on the real life story of Kunjali Marakkar IV, a Muslim...

MollywoodActor Prithviraj made his debut in filmmaking with ‘Lucifer’ in which Mohanlal played a powerful hero. Digital NativeIn a recent Twitter interaction with his followers, one person asked Malayalam superstar Mohanlal to write about actor Prithviraj Sukumaran's directorial skills in one word. Mohanlal replied, "brilliant”. Prithviraj made his directorial debut in 2019, with Lucifer and Mohanlal played the lead in the film, which is the first part of a trilogy. Prithviraj is soon expected to direct the first sequel, titled Empuraan. Reports are that Empuraan will not be a continuation of Lucifer. Actor-writer Murali Gopy, who scripted Lucifer, will be in charge of Empuraan as well as the third part of this trilogy. Empuraan is expected to go on the floor later this year. Lucifer has Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith, and Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi in pivotal roles. The technical crew of the film comprised Sujith Vaassudev for...

MOLLYWOODWith theatres opening up after more than 10 months, 2021 will be an eventful year for audiences. Saradha UThe outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic came as a major setback for the film industry, with many filmmakers releasing their films directly on Ott platforms. However, with theatres opening up across the country, audiences can expect to see their favourite stars like Mammooty, Parvathy and Fahadh Faasil on the big screen again. Here is a list of eight Malayalam films that are all set for a theatrical release, starting from the second week of February. Varthamanam After a brief scuffle with the Central Board of Film Certification (Cbfc), Parvathy Thiruvothu and Roshan Mathew starrer Varthamanam is ready for a theatrical release on February 19. With National Award-winning filmmaker Sidharta Siva spearheading the project, Varthamanam tracks the journey of its female lead in a politically-charged university campus and tackles topical issues. The film is slated for...

MollywoodKalyani Priyadarshan and Pranav Mohanlal play the lead in the film, being directed by Vineeth.Digital NativeThe shooting of the upcoming Malayalam film Hridayam recommenced a few weeks after it was halted due to the coronavirus lockdown last year. Confirming that the shooting is progressing well, its director Vineeth Sreenivasan wrote on his social media page, “Day before yesterday, we finished the Chennai schedule of Hridayam.. 95% of the shoot is over now.. Waiting for the rest 5% to be shot in March!!!” On wrapping up a schedule earlier, Vineeth had written, “An amazing schedule of Hridayam got wrapped up in kochi today.. I think this is the most fun I had making a film ever since we made Thattam.. Tomorrow we r shifting our base to a new place.. Quite a few people showed up as our invited crowd for some of our shoots and they were all super nice and extremely co-operative.

Mollywood Also in the cast are Lal, Sunny Wayne, Oviya, Lena, Rachana Narayanankutty and Sudheer Karamana.Digital NativeTheatres across Kerala have reopened recently after the coronavirus lockdown and movie buffs are slowly and steadily flocking in to catch their favorite new releases. Of course, there is a steady line up for films waiting to hit the silver screens. The good news for hardcore film buffs is that Black Coffee is all set to hit the marquee on February 19. Interestingly, Black Coffee is a spin-off of the 2011 hit film Salt N Pepper. While some of the characters from Salt N Pepper are retained for Black Coffee, some new characters are also added to make the narrative interesting. The main characters in Black Coffee will be Baburaj playing Cook Babu, Lal appearing as Kalidasan and Swetha Menon as Maya. Also in the cast are Sunny Wayne, Oviya, Lena, Rachana Narayanankutty and Sudheer Karamana.

MollywoodThe date of the film’s premiere on Amazon Prime Video is also likely to be announced along with the trailer. Digital NativeThe much awaited trailer of Drishyam 2, directed by noted filmmaker Jeethu Joseph will be released on February 8. Sharing a poster of the film, Mohanlal wrote, "The mystery continues.. #Drishyam2Trailer out on Feb 8! #Drishyam2OnPrime @PrimeVideoIN." The film, which was shot during the Covid-19 pandemic, is a sequel to the 2013 Malayalam thriller Drishyam. The sequel will explore questions left unanswered in the first part. The makers recently announced that the film will skip a theatrical release and will be premiering on the Ott platform Amazon Prime Video. Reportedly, the premiere date of the film will be out along with the trailer. The mystery continues... #Drishyam2Trailer out on Feb 8!#Drishyam2OnPrime coming soon, @PrimeVideoIN.#MeenaSagar #JeethuJoseph @antonypbvr@aashirvadcine @drishyam2movie #SatheeshKurup pic.twitter.com/qNiNZ93tRJ — Mohanlal...

Mollywood The film is slated to hit cinemas on August 12, 2021.Digital NativeThe much-awaited first look poster of the Mohanlal-starrer, Aaraattu, has been released by the star himself on his social media handle on Monday. Sharing poster the star took to his Twitter and wrote, "#Aaraattu Official Poster (sic)." #Aaraattu Official Poster@unnikrishnanb pic.twitter.com/qd8uodthhX — Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) February 1, 2021 The poster features Mohanlal can be seen in a fierce look, ready to take his enemies head-on. His car can be seen in the background. From the poster, it is evident that Mohanlal will be playing a mass role in this flick. The film is slated to hit cinemas on August 12, 2021. Directed by B Unnikrishnan, the film has Mohanlal playing the role of Neyyattinkara Gopante Aaraattu. The film has been scripted by Udyakrishna. Aaraattu, which is being shot primarily in Palakkad, is being made on a budget of Rs...

MollywoodThe films include 'Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham', 'Jallikattu', 'Virus', 'Kumbalangi Nights', 'Moothon', 'Sameer', 'Vasanthi', and 'Ishq' among others. Digital NativeThis is perhaps the golden era for the Malayalam film industry with 17 films entering the final screening process for the 67th National Film Awards in various categories. Grapevine has it that 17 Malayalam films including Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham, Jallikattu, Virus, Kumbalangi Nights, Moothon, Sameer, Vasanthi, and Ishq, have been shortlisted for the final rounds. Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham, which was censored in 2019, has Mohanlal playing the lead role with Priyadarshan directing it. It is a star-studded film that also has Suniel Shetty, Arjun Sarja, Siddique, Prabhu Deva, Sudeep, Prabhu, Madhu, Manju Warrier, Paresh Rawal, Keerthy Suresh, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Pranav Mohanlal, Suhasini Maniratnam, Nedumudi Venu, Ashok Selvan, and others in pivotal roles. The film’s technical crew includes cinematographer Tirru and editor Ms Ayyappan Nair. Ronnie Raphael...

MollywoodThe film has been directed by B Unnikrishnan.Digital NativeTwitter/ B UnnikrishnanKannada star Garuda Ram of Kgf fame has been roped in for a pivotal role in the Mohanlal starrer Aaraattu. The upcoming mass entertainer is being directed by B Unnikrishnan. On Wednesday, director Unnikrishnan took to his social media pages and shared a picture with the leading man Mohanlal and Garuda Ram. "It was nice working with Ram, aka Garuda Ram in #aarattu," wrote B Unnikrishnan in his tweet. It was nice working with Ram, aka Garuda Ram in #Aarattu pic.twitter.com/9xOfZ4W5Sa — B Unnikrishnan (@unnikrishnanb) January 20, 2021 Even though nothing much has been revealed about the Kgf actor's character in the movie, the sources close to the project suggest that he is playing the lead antagonist. In the film, Mohanlal plays the titular role of Neyyattinkara Gopan, who travels from Neyyattinkara to Palakkad. Apparently, the actor travels in a black Mercedes,...

TheatreWith the uncertainty over the reopening of theatres lasting so long and the Covid-19 restrictions in place, Vijay fans’ associations haven’t made big plans.CrisThe wait had been too much for fans of Tamil star Vijay, who are scattered across the districts of Kerala. The question of movie theatres in the state reopening in time for the release of Vijay’s latest movie Master hung in the air for days. On January 11, finally, there was some respite – the morning meetings of various film and theatre associations with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan turned fruitful. Theatres will open on Wednesday, with a number of restrictions, following Covid-19 protocol. “Since there has been no confirmation until now, we haven’t really planned much for the release of Master. There’s also no permission to hold special shows for the fans like how it usually happens for Vijay movies. And there can...

EntertainmentThe actors shared videos of them celebrating Deepavali with crackers and they were starkly different.Tnm StaffThis year, many celebrities, including actor Rajinikanth, shared pictures and videos of their Deepavali celebrations at home. On the morning of the festival, a video of Rajinikanth lighting a thousand-wala firecracker was widely shared on the internet. Actors Aishwarya Rajesh and Keerthy Suresh too shared videos of them celebrating the festival of lights with firecrackers along with family. But while one set fire to a thousand-wala in one shot, the other bolted away four times before finally getting it done with a friend’s help. In her Instagram stories, actor Aishwarya Rajesh posed a video of herself bursting firecrackers outside her house with her family. The actor, who wore a bright pink Banarasi saree for the festival, is seen lighting the thousand-wala while deftly holding her saree gathered in one hand and the incense stick in the other.

MollywoodThe actor, an ardent fan of cricket, captained the Kerala Strikers team in the Celebrity Cricket League of 2011.Digital NativeAfter wrapping up Drishyam 2, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal flew down to Dubai and scooped some time out from his schedule to watch the Ipl 2020 final clash between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. Pictures of him suited up at the stadium are going viral. Mohanlal who is an ardent fan of cricket captained the Kerala Strikers team in Celebrity Cricket League in 2011. View this post on Instagram Dubai: Superstar actor Mohanlal and other guests watch the final cricket match of the Indian Premier League (Ipl) T20 between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (Pti Photos/Sportzpics for Bcci) A post shared by The News Minute (@thenewsminute) on Nov 11, 2020 at 12:30am Pst On the work front, Mohanlal recently wrapped up shooting for Drishyam 2, the...

MollywoodThe film is a sequel to the popular film ‘Drishyam’, directed by Jeethu Joseph.Digital NativeThe shooting of Drishyam 2, the sequel to the hit film of the same title, directed by Jeethu Joseph commenced last month. Besides Mohanlal and Meena, who played the lead roles in Drishyam, the film will also have Ansiba Hassan and Esther Anil playing their daughters as in the prequel. Now, the team has wrapped the shooting of the film. Drishyam 2 had a schedule planned for 56 days but the movie wrapped up its shoot in 46 days. Mohanlal after wrapping the film has headed to Dubai on a short break, and pictures of the star from the airport are doing the rounds online. After wrapping up the shooting of the movie director Jeethu Joseph wrote, “The shoot of Drishyam 2 has officially ended today. The film, which was scheduled for 56 days, has been completed in 46 days.

MollywoodDhinil Babu will be making his debut as a director with this film.Digital NativeMalayalam actor Manju Warrier made a stunning comeback with How Old Are You a few years ago and since then has been signing project after project. Recently, she has inked the deal to star in the Malayalam film 9 Mm, which will be her landmark 50th film. Dhinil Babu will be making his debut as a director with this flick and it will be bankrolled by Visakh Subramaniam and Aju Varghese under the banner Funtastic Films. The technical crew of this film includes Dhyan Sreenivasan for scripting with Sam Cs to compose the tunes and Vetri Palanisamy to crank the camera. The stunts for this entertainer will be choreographed by Yannick Ben. Dhyan, Sunny Wayne and Dileesh Pothan will be acting in the film along with Manju Warrier, Aju wrote in a post. Sit tight and buckle...

MollywoodThe shooting of 'Drishyam 2' is progressing in Idukki.Digital Native The Malayalam superstar Mohanlal joined the sets of Drishyam 2 last month after the coronavirus lockdown rules were relaxed. At present, the shooting is progressing well at a location in Thodupuzha in Kerala. While there are regular updates about the film, the latest we have is about the Biriyani treat the superstar treated his crew with. Yes, recently, Mohanlal treated the team to some biriyani and his co-stars shared the pics online while thanking him. Sharing pics of the Biriyani treat from their lead star Mohanlal, Esther Anil posted on her social media page, “Mohanlal got us delicious Biryani even though he is on a diet… @ansiba.hassan and I are in a food coma. I hope @meenasagar16 is okay in her room.” To this Meena, who plays Mohanlal’s wife in the film replied, “Yup I'm in food coma too.

Mollywood‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham’, made on a huge budget, is directed by Priyadarshan.Digital NativeThe release of the most expected film in the Malayalam film industry, Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham starring Mohanlal, has been postponed indefinitely following the coronavirus outbreak. The shooting of this mega project was completed last year and it was in the post-production mode. While the release date remains uncertain, the filmmakers have made it clear that Marakkar will not have a direct Ott release. Last year, a sneak peek of Marakkar was screened at the Aashirvadathode Lalettan event in Kochi, which triggered a positive buzz about the film. At a time when the expectations on the film are high, a pic from the sets has kicked up the buzz a notch higher. Actor Baburaj posted a pic online that shows star Mohanlal giving Baburaj’s make-up a final touch as make-up artist Pattanam Rasheed looks on. Baburaj captioned the pic: “Kunjali Marakkar…...

MollywoodThe Malaalam film star took a lesson on Project Tiger which is on the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Digital NativeIt was an exciting day for the class 10 students in Kerala as the classes began with the First Bell education programme on the Kite Victers Channel with none other than the Malayalam superstar Mohanlal explaining the lesson Project Tiger. It was apt for the star to don the teacher’s role for this lesson from the English textbook as it is on the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Mohanlal made the class interesting by referring to films like Eega / Naan Ee, Life of Pi, Hathi Mera Saathi, Sindooracheppu, and Nagin, which had animals in a pivotal role. The star also shared his experience in acting with elephants and tigers in Adiverukal, directed by P Anil. It may be noted here that Mohanlal has played a teacher in quite a few films in his career.

Indian cinemas are shuttered, production continues to be at a standstill and the country remains in lockdown until at least May 31 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Unsurprisingly, consumption of television and streaming services has surged during this period. But digital may not be an existential threat to the film business.

India remains the most prolific film-producing country in the world, with an insatiable appetite for cinema, Hindi-language Bollywood, and regional. The 2018-19 financial year alone saw 2,446 films in 49 languages certified in the country.

According to the Ernst & Young annual report on India’s media and entertainment sector, theatrical business for 2019 was valued at $2.5 billion, making it fourth in the overall pecking order behind television’s $10.4 billion, print’s $3.9 billion and digital’s $2.9 billion. Cinema screen numbers have shrunk over the years to 9,600 for a population of 1.3 billion, and producers of several films, led by comedy “Gulabo Sitabo,” starring...

InterviewPriyadarshan talks about who he believes is the best among the new breed of actors in Malayalam and why he hasn’t worked with Rajinikanth, among other things.Rajaneesh VilakudyFacebookThat old adage that the show must go on has come a cropper in this unprecedented season of the coronavirus. Nobody has an exact picture of how things may pan out and showbiz is equally in the dark, exploring strategies to wriggle its way out. While some small or medium budget films look for Ott windows, big films with massive budgets need to wait longer. Priyadarshan’s Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, the most expensive Malayalam film ever made with a budget of Rs 100 crore, was to hit the screens in March but its planned, simultaneous release — in over 5,000 screens across the world — has now been delayed indefinitely. What next? In a long chat with Tnm, Priyadarshan, who has directed close to 90 films in multiple languages,...

MollywoodPeople in the Malayalam film industry are hoping for concessions from the government when production can finally resume.CrisBy mid-March, production work of all the Malayalam films in Kerala stopped, same as several film industries across the country. Shooting, screening, distributing, everything put on hold due to the spread of coronavirus, the different film bodies announced. On March 11, when movie theatres across Kerala closed down, it was thought to be a temporary measure. The Distributors Association had then told Tnm that a review meeting was to be held five days later to plan the next course of action. That was a time when meetings were possible, the lockdown was still days away. “Now you can’t even consider the possibility of a meeting, and without a meeting, you cannot begin to discuss the crisis,” says actor Jagadish, who is the Treasurer of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (Amma). “If...

TollywoodThere have been reports that Keerthy has been approached to play the lead in the Vijaya Nirmala biopic.Digital NativeReports surface that Keerthy Suresh has been approached to play the lead role in another Telugu biopic. The actor played the legendary actor Savitri in the biopic Mahanati / Nadigayar Thilagam and pulled off the role with ease and élan. Following this, the makers of the Vijaya Nirmala biopic have approached Keerthy to play the lead role. Sources in the know say that Vijaya Nirmala’s son and actor Naresh will be directing the biopic and recently narrated the script to Keerthy through video conferencing. If things move well, we can expect an official announcement about Keerthy taking up the project. It may be noted here that Vijaya Nirmala, a popular actor and director of her times, holds the Guinness World Record for being the first female director to direct 44 films. Read: Remembering Vijaya Nirmala,...

MollywoodDavid John was in the first season of Bigg Boss and garnered a good fan base.Digital NativeBig Boss Malayalam contestant David John, who was part of the reality show during its first season is all set to star in the upcoming Malayalam movie Ram. The movie has Mohanlal in the lead role. Reports state that Mohanlal had personally recommended him to be cast in Ram. David John has previously acted with Mammootty and Fahadh Faasil. This Jeethu Joseph directorial is progressing well with the shooting on schedule. It was officially announced that Trisha is playing the female lead in this entertainer and we now hear that she will be seen as a doctor named Vineetha. Trisha and Durga Krishna’s roles have been revealed so far and fans are still waiting to hear about Mohanlal’s role. While Mohanlal and Trisha play the lead pair, Ram will have Durga Krishna playing Trisha’s sister.