Maestro’ Ilaiyaraaja's English song in 'A Beautiful Breakup' was released on June 21, World Music Day

 

A Beautiful Breakup is a Romantic Thriller English film that has been helmed by a team of technicians who have previously proved their mettle in their respective fields & have bagged multiple prestigious awards through their glorious careers in the film industry. Written and directed by Ajithvasan Uggina A Beautiful Breakup stars Krish , and Matylda in lead roles. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja's work for the music department of ‘A Beautiful Breakup’ elevates the image of the project to a large extent. A musician with such dominance over the global music scene has rendered his finest work yet for the film. The film placing itself in the list of horror films offers a wide potential for the music element to complete the experience it sets out to give. This space has been explored & elevated by Ilaiyaraaja's work truly makes the film a special one. He has created magical original soundtracks at the BOW TIE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA for the film. 

The “Maestro” himself in an interview stated ‘A Beautiful Breakup’ was a challenging project. He also heaped praises on the director and the movie. The recently released track has been receiving an unanimous positive response with listeners raving about the commendable work rendered by the team. 

One of the many positive comments received shows how the film is packed with musical content that is Grammy or Oscar worthy. 

“Isaignani's musical syntax, being absolutely unique, the western audience cud take to it in droves. Hence,  Isaignani's PR Team, in right earnest, shud widely publicise this film's music & present it fr competition in Oscar  Grammy, Golden Globe & all other apt, eligible fora.”

Apart from winning the best background score at The 12th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival Awards, A Beautiful Breakup also received the award in the category of Best Visual Effects (VFX) for Srikanth Kandaala and was also nominated for the best film. It also won some other international film festivals.

The film had the privilege of launching the first look at the prestigious Cannes 2022 international film festival. The first look had the audience and the industry insiders in awe. Krish, the London-based actor looked dapper while the actress Matylda is seen dazzling in her part. 

A top-notch team of technicians has handled the different crafts to make it a visual spectacle. Cinematography by Gunahsekar K.R and edited by Srikanth Gowda (KGF fame) who is a recipient of the Karnataka state award. V G Rajen who worked on sound effects (KGF Fame) is also a Karnataka state award winner.

Coming to the synopsis of the movie- Sometimes unconditional love pours when hate grows. Krish and Ruby oblivious to what destiny holds for them, set out on one last holiday to celebrate their Breakup. Destiny and the Destination have a lot to offer. Their fate will be now decided by the unseen.

‘A Beautiful Breakup’ is set in London. It is about a couple, Krish and Ruby, who are in a live-in relationship. After a brief time together they decide to break up and they plan to make the closure a beautiful one by doing their favorite thing, travel. They reach India and then their life changes altogether. It is a cinematic experience that combines elements such as romance, thriller, and horror.

Vikram Effect : Kamal Haasan - Shankar Indian 2 to have Bollywood actors

 Vikram blockbuster hit has spurred Lyca to pump in more money to make Indian 2 a truly Pan Indian in terms of casting, said a source. Vijay Sethupathi is likely to be added to the cast and casting directors are approaching some top Bollywood actors to join the cast. The makeover was sspurred by overseas box office record set by Vikram's Tamil prints and also that Shankar would finish the film and make this the next release of Kamal Haasan, This has made Lyca loosen the purse strings and decided to close all disputes over the money incurred so far on the film. Shankar's S Pictures  had overseen the production for Lyca till now. Hereafter the film will be a collaboration between Lyca and Udhaynidhi's Red Giant.

Like Sanjay Dutt in KGF 2, Indian 2 would focus on a top B Town actor to play the antagonist. The interesting part is that Kamal's role of a anti- corruption crusader is an anti- hero nature. Sources said that Sushmitha Sen who is now made a comeback with Arya web series is to be roped in for the project. Sushmitha had danced to Shakalaaka Baby song in Gentleman . Sushmitha's Arya is streaming on Disney Hotstar and this OTT has bought Vikram.

Source said that Lyca which has deep connections with BTown has decided to promote the film on the lines of RRR and KGF2. The idea is to revamp the project and plug in the flaws that did take Vikram's Hindi version to many terrotiries. It maybe recalled that Shankar- Rajinikanth 's Enthiran 2 still remains the top Box ofice draw in India and this was possible as the film had Akshay Kumar in the cast. Shankar saw Maamanithan and applauded Vijay Sethupathi's acting.

Maamanithan movie review : Melodrama overloaded

 

Maamanithan comes from Seenu Ramaswamy whose staple audience are those who like melodrama and cliched happenings. This film however will go down in Seenu’s list as where he over did all the melodrama bit to a ridiculous level. It is quite obvious that the intention is to make Vijay Sethupathi’s Makkal Selvan image get a boost or else why would anybody title this subject as Maamanithan (great human being) when he is just an ordinary auto driver who solves his personal problem and not that of a society at large 

A realtor takes advantage of an auto driver’s dream to put his children in a convent and sells his plots using the goodwill of the do Gooder. The auto driver takes upon himself the blame of investors losing money and so he flees the city and later comes to clear his name. In some scenes, Vijay Sethupathi the actor comes out and it once again proves that the selection of subject is his undoing and not that he has lost his talent. Gaythrie has one hell of a melodrama scenes and many think that she will get a NATIONAL AWARD. I wonder why she had to fall at the feet of her hubby as it was he who committed all the blunders and got greedy. Technically nothing much to root for.  

This is for `family’ audience means those who like melodrama and for Makkal Selvan fans. Problem is that Makkal Selvan is here is not a Super Man - toughie character.  It is Yuvan Shankar Raja production and he has done little to help in elevating the music score. Lalitha chechi ( KPAC) last Tamil film, I guess.

Post Vikram - Ponniyin Selvan 1 - Vaadivaasal most awaited

Ponniyin Selvan directed by Mani Ratnam and Vaadivaasal directed by Vetrimaaran are the next two films that Kollywood and the audience is waiting to see - post Vikram. As the houseful boards are still up for weekends, Vikram success saga continues. The unified acceptance is that the Vikram success lies entirely on director Lokesh Kanagaraj . The film is in all means a Lokesh film and a fact that Kamal Haasan accepted even before the release. With Vikram, young directors of Kollywood have got a tremendous boost since a 36 year old Lokesh has proved that he can out beat the records of Baahubali- RRR- KGF set in Tamil Nadu box office and with not even half the budget of these films. Vikram success also wiped away the charge that Kollywood has failed to throw up directors like before and other language film industries ( Telegu- Kannada ) flaunted SS Rajamouli and Prasanth Neel.

Two most awaited films that would purely be a director's film and they are   Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 and Vaadivaasal of Veetrimaaran ( winner of National award for Aadukalam) . Mani Ratnam film is a multi star cast  ( Vikram- Jeyam Ravi- Aishwarya Rai- Karthi - Trisha- Vikram Prabhu) film but it assumes great value as it a celluloid adaptation of the iconic novel of the same title written by Kalki. This historical saga is shot in two parts. It is a Lyca production and due for a September release. 

Mani Ratnam last movie to release was `Chekka Chivantha vaanam in 2018. It did well at the box office but it somehow left Mani's admirers unsatisfied as it was found to be lacking the director's `touch'. His outing before this was Kaatru Veliyidai ( 2017) with Karthi -  Aditi Hydari which was not much liked by his fans. The film box office was good in US markets but dull in the core market- Tamil Nadu. 

The novel of Kalki was to have a screen version and right from MGR onwards many tried but failed. Like Vikram which marked comeback of Kamal Haasan , PS1  is expected to put Mani Ratnam at the centre stage of Indian cinema once again.

Vetrimaaran is the recent hot shot director of Kollywood who with bold subjects and action oriented is able to balance critical acclaim and box office. All the six   films that he directed were hits and also bagged awards. His last outing was ` Viduthalai ' ' with Vijay Sethupati in 2021,  in 2019, Asuran directed by him with Dhanush was the actor's biggest blockbuster hit in his career. It also won the National award for best Tamil film.

In Vaadivaasal, he directs Suriya, who after Jai Bhim and Soorarai Pootru, is riding high.  Suriya's cameo in Vikram had the audience in raptures. This film too is adaptation of a novel on  Jaallikaatu ( bull fight), a sport that creates a controversy every year.  Film is expected to start shoot  by July end or in August. As per hype, the film OTT rights was sold for a big amount in the range of Rs 50 crores.

Box office wise, forthcoming films - Sivakarthikeyan's Prince, Karthi's Sardar and Jeyam Ravi's Iraivan for Diwali and under production films of Thalapathy Vijay 's Varisu and Ajith's AK 61 will keep Kollywood cash registers ringing.

Vikram's Pathala Pathala full song on Disney+ Hotstar - July 8th

 

Vikram film will stream on July 8th at Disney Hotstar with the full song Pathala Pathala , said a source close to the streaming giant. The song ( lyric video) released by Sony Music which had 50 million views on You Tube did not feature in  the feature film released on big screen. The lyrics written by Kamal Haasan had taken direct hits at the Modi Government management of Covid and a depleting coffers with the key to the treasury being with the robber ( reference to bad loans from public sector banks to private bizmen who are now underground ).

As per the source, the OTT platform is not bound by the censor regulations and can carry the song in total. The idea is to mute the audio and allow the subtitles to run in the song. This trick has been done before by the OTT players as in the case of Master. The song finding a place in the OTT version will lead to a full frontal flight with the Central 1&B ministry. Till now,tthe OTT players are told to do a self regulation of content.

The film also has reference to Union Government , a term that DMK uses to address the Central Government to show the federal nature of the governance.  A police complaint about the song is pending before Chennai Police Commissioner . A few days back, Udhaunidhi Stalin, distributor of Vikram said in a thanksgiving function for theater owners , that Rs 70 crores was the share  from Tamil Nadu alone till date. This amount is what comes after taxes - theater rentals and distributor shares.

South movie content driven Goldmines channel is No 3 in India

Goldmines TV channel according to latest BARC rating is third largest viewed channel in India after Sun and Star Maa , Tamil and Telegu channels respectively. Goldmines Movies a You Tube channel,, that runs mainly on dubbed South films was running Dhinchaak channel. It decided to rename this as Goldmines Movies and by end of March , it started getting rating from BARC. After Information ministry approval, it is now just Goldmines.

The Dhinchaak ch6annel launched in May 2000 was a movie channel on Prasar Bharti platform of Free DTH and DD's Free Dish. By September 2020, it became top movie channel across rural and urban audience in Hindi speaking market. The entire success was that the South content dubbed into Hindi became a massive hit with the audience. The reach of Allu Arjun's Pushpa to Hindi heartland was the dubbed movies of him that were telecast by this channel. Channel continues to be beamed from the planet cast platform and has same frequency.

Latest BARC rating has shown that Goldmine has overtaken Hindi channel Star Plus in terms of Average Minute Audience (AMA) . The entire library of 2000 films is dominated by South content with Telegu and Tamil films being top priority. The Hindi dubbing rights for non theatrical - digital streaming is bought by Goldmines and they dub it and put it on the You Tube channel. Later they started having premier release of these dubbed films on the Dhinchaak channel and it got tremendous response.

Now it has got in to the BARC rating network and notched up third position. Among the top South Indian channels in TOP 10 All India list comes Zee Kannada and Zee Telegu along with Tamil channel Star Vijay.

If Hindi market is taken alone, Goldmines is No 1. In the South market, no Malayalam TV channel figures in the top 5 and has Sun- Star Vijay , both Tamil with two Telegu ( Star Maa and Zee) and a  Kannada channel of Zee in it. Manish Shah who owns Goldmines Telefilms and been in business for 17 years is the force behind Dhinchaak that is now Goldmine Channel. Goldmines You Tube channel has 42 million subscribers and 15 channels. It is biggest digital streaming network of Indian films. After Times Network VP of Sales, Siddarth Chopra joined, the monestisation of Goldmines started. Joy Ch6akraborthy is CEO of Goldmines Telefilms.

Veetla Vishesham : Bad remake of Baadhaai Ho - full of cringe moments

 

The super hit Hindi film gets adapted to Tamil audience taste by R J Balaji. As per Balaji, the Tamil audience especially the theater going crowd is waiting to swallow a film loaded with parental advice and sentimental melodrama since they have been given overdose of action masala in recent times. So second half is full of what you would say is Boomer Uncle stuff. I think this is just right for OTT audience.

You have a huge line up of seasoned actors like Sathyaraj - Urvasi onwards . Treat to see the veterans have not lost their touch. RJ Balaji as an actor does stand up to the heavyweights. Now if you are looking for Aparna Balamurali of 8 Thottakal - Suriya's SP, then you will be disappointed. Anybody could have done this over the top character. The film on the whole lacks finesse of the Hindi.

O2 Movie review: You will not survive this survival drama

O2 movie will make you remember Director Bharathan - Baby Shamili - Urvasi and Jayram for the all time classic Malooty (Malayalam film) . It won Baby Shamili the Kerala Award for best child actor. If you have not seen it then please see it on any of the streaming platforms. This film's director has been clearly told that it is for OTT release and so 3/4th of money goes to Nayanthara on whom the story should revolve. Only then the film be bought and so damn the back stories of supporting actors. Next is that include melodrama as much as possible as it is about mother- child bonding. 

So you have O2 on Disney Hotstar. I saw the Tamil version as from pre- publicity, it was promoted as a Tamil film. Friends say Malayalam version has horrible dubbing for Nayanthara. Real time survival happenings are beamed by news channels as when such incidents happen and so in which way does director Viknesh ( Not Wikki) gives us a new story ?. As the script gets pulled too much to focus  USP Nayanthara , she too gives up some way down the line. Child actor Rithvik (YouTuber) is an apt casting.

Art director too is handicapped with budget as he has to spend it on only those scenes where Nayanthara comes. Rest be damned. A film buff came with a bit to add - It is rehash of film Buried. My foot !!!. Those who live in Kerala or those watching TV can never forget the 16 year old lone survivor Fathima in Malapurram who lay buried for 14 hours under the debris of the house hit by a landslide. It was in 2019 when entire nation prayed for the girl who lost her parents and sister in the landslide. Sitting at home the public watched this real life happening. As you watch O2, you feel that these guys deserved to be left to their fate. It was not that Bharathan came with an original . He had taken an idea from famous US TV  film `Everybody Baby ( 1989). His adaptation and use of Shamili with Urvasi- Jayram  clicked. 

Exclusive: Vikram Hindi sabotage exposed

 

Why was Vikram not given the screens that fell vacant after Samrat Prithviraj ‘s majority of 3500 screens went empty ? Odd hour timings were allotted for Hindi print of Vikram and prime time for Tamil – Telugu prints – Was it to see that Hindi flopped ?.  Three days after the release of Hindi print, Bollywood trade pundits rushed to say that Jayantilal Gada who bought the film for Rs 2.75 crores would lose 60 % of the investment. This happened with box office collection increasing from Day one onwards and touching Rs 1 crore on  Sunday .  If a Bollywood film is released, trade waits for week two weekend and Monday after to predict whether it is a losing one for distributors ?. 15 days after release, Vikram has literally forced it’s way from 400 to 600 screens.

Bollywood according to sources had put in place a plan to see that another Pushpa ( dubbed South film becomes a hit ) does not  happen, revealed a theatre owner in Mumbai. As his theatre runs on South straight films, he was in the know of the fate that was waiting for Vikram’s Hindi print. He told southfilmy . blogspot.com that the Bollywood trade was in jitters after hearing that the film was an extraordinary theatre experience and in terms of action was not less than KGF 2. At the same time, Samrat Prithviraj was rated as a film destined to flop.

The source said that they had decided that Vikram’s Hindi print did not get theatres widely in the first week and flooded the South Indian pockets with Tamil-Telegu prints . To see a Hindi Vikram was a tedious task for anybody living within the `city’ of Mumbai. Next plan was the screens that fell vacant with Samrat’s exit would go back to Bhool Bhualiya 2 and even a Heropanti but not to Vikram. Two weeks with no major release, Vikram The Hit list( Hindi name) is running in 600 screens and according to Bollywood trade has Rs 4.94 crore nett and is termed as ` break even’. Now they put the blame on lack of publicity and that non Tamil speaking audience wanted to see Vikram after the post release media reports, but bad theatre distribution spoiled it . Truth is that with no new releases and  with no option, many theatres grudgingly added Vikram Hindi print.

The source further added that the mission of the lobby that is behind the #makevikramhindiflop has been successful. If today, Vikram is credited with breaking records worldwide, it is the Tamil language version and not the Hindi one. Kamal Haasan will remain a Tamil STAR and not a Pan Indian Star. “ Bollywood cannot withstand Kamal Haasan as he does not play ball with the Lobby that are the King makers and will make his own rules. He did not ask Khans to release the First Look of Vikram Hindi. All these are bad manners .  Allu Arjun- Yash – Ram Charan have all joined this lobby and have offered these guys a share of the profits. As they are still celebrating fall of Dhakkad ( Kangana), they cannot spoil the party with a Vikram Hitlist success” said the source with a parting shot that had me in splits – “ Do you know Akki ( Akshay Kumar) is desperate to get Rolex ( Suriya) make a guest appearance in Hindi remake of Soorarai Pottru / “.

Santana Dharma Lakshmi Priya of Bigg Boss Malayalam 4 tops votes

 

Santana Dharma follower  Lakshmi Priya contestant in Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 4 is top ranked in votes polled last week ending June 10^th 2022. Second most votes polled is Riyas Salim , a social media influencer and feminist. Both are two ends of a pole. Till Dr Robin exited and post the event, Blesslie was ranked second and Lakshmi Priya in third spot. This jump to top spot and Riyas who till now in last three coming to second shows voters are now in two camps – Hindu God fearing Santana Dharma believer Lakshmipriya and Riyas a Muslim by birth- feminist and a man who does not like to define his gender and not shown to be a practicing Muslim.

When Mohan Lal asked Lakshmi Priya about what she felt was communicating  to audience through BB4 Malayalam , she said that as a person who follows Santana Dharma, she was able to spread the wisdom enshrined in it and practices. To this, Mohan Lal asked whether refusing to accept a piece of birthday cake from co- contestant Vinay was part of  the Dharma ?.  What Lal meant was that despite getting heaps of veiled `abuses’ from Vinay, she should have deleted the incident and taken it as part of a game and danced with Vinay in the birthday song. That is Santana Dharma definition of Mohan Lal.

Many  say that Santana Dharma is eternal duty of a human being and it includes protection of  beliefs. This is interpreted as espousing violence. A charge that DMK has levelled against Tamil Nadu Governor for saying that Santana Dharma was need of hour and saying that he was talking like a Hindu and not a constitution head. Let’s not digress.

Let’s rewind- Lakshmi Priya and Riyas are in the jail of BB. As Riyas mounts an attack on her submissive attitude and ``conservative’ look on the dress worn by female contestants, She gets up and begins to chant the evening bhajan to drown out the `progressive’ thoughts. Riyas in his jibes mixes  Santana Dharma with Manusmriti to portray Lakshmi Priya as a regressive Hindu woman who cannot accept feminism. These exchanges are now coming to central focus as the anti  Dr Robin group has lost a target.

Akhil’s eviction was because he took on Lakshmi Priya and he was not in the Riyas camp which includes ex contestant Jasmine Moosa  nor of Dr Robin fans groups to prop him up. Ronson who by not taking part in the Call Center task escaped the wrath of all camps and stayed put. Neutrality helped Suraj. Blesslie had Dr Robin fan groups and his own to back him. In coming days, it will be Lakshmi Priya v/s Riyas .

Bharath and Guru Nanak colleges bag Bhumi campus awards 2022

Bharath Institute of  Higher Education ands Research ( Chengalpet) and Guru Nanak College ( Chennai) were top two  among 30 best colleges for excellence in various categories as socially responsible colleges by Bhumi Foundation.  A jury headed by Arun Krishnamurthy  Founder EFI along with K P Sunil ,MD Ecohealth Products, Sharadha Balasubramanian , environmental journalist, among others selected the colleges.  Bhumi Foundndation, which awards the best community volunteer college, college professors and college students, Launched in 2006, the Earth Foundation is an educational and charitable organization working in the field of education So far more than 5,000 children have benefited from the company. More than 30,000 students (volunteer's) attend and volunteer every year.

The purpose of the Bhumi campus awards is to show the field that students from all colleges in Tamil Nadu care about the community and to show their interest in the field.
The awards were presented to college-affiliated student-professors and colleges that work with a variety of community objectives such as environmental protection and animal protection education awareness.

The award ceremony was organized with the intention of encouraging such students and the college to motivate other colleges and students to do the same for us. Of these, more than 220 colleges submitted applications. We have selected 30 colleges out of seven categories namely Environment, Community Concerned Teachers, Community Concerned Student Encouraging College, Waste Management, Most Distinctive Community Initiative, Vote-Choose College.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Ismail, an environmental activist, was the special guest.
Shankar Viswanathan CIO TVS Sundaram, Hari Balachandran CEO ITC academy also attended Minister Meyyanathan addressed the function via video Sridevi Mogili Needi, Managing Director, Bhumi Foundation, thanked everyone for presenting the awards.

Charlie 777 movie : This is REAL theatre experience

After seeing Charlie 777 , I did a silent prayer.  Please make this film beat the RRR - KGF's and Vikram at the box office. Let the movie Moghuls know that it is not crores and the guns blazing or lavishly mounted sets alone that can give you a theater experience. A simple story and a producer who believes that audience will respond to a subject that actually offers you avenue to do self reflection of your life and the crazy way it is being lived - this is all it needs. I don't know Charlie might sink or sunk at the Box office but to me after a very long time, I am fully satisfied of seeing a film that gives you a movie going experience.

Once bitten twice shy was my approach to Charlie. For having seen a pet dog subject produced by Suriya - Jothika banner and with Arun Vijay and clan in the cast around this time last year, I was not in a mood to see a story on a pet dog - master. I had no clue on Rakshit Shetty either. I even giggled on reading that Charlie was a Pan Indian film. Add to top it  I thought it as  a Kannada film maker thinking that he has a KGF in hand.

Screenplay is just brilliant. The emotional pitch just builds up slowly and grips you. As you reach the climax  you are emotionally drained. Director Kiranraj keeps the focus on the dog Charlie and Rakshit Shetty is the supporting actor and hats off to this actor. Two technicians- Aravind Kashyap 's camerawork and Nobin Paul music lifts the subject to a higher level. Bangalore city in monsoon is beautifully captured. The scene where world of a recluse - violent man comes crashing down at the vets clinic and the climax were Charlie tells through her body language - thank you master , will stay with me for a long time.

Vikram Hindi dubbed film viewing experience

Experience of seeing Vikram Hindi dubbed in a city theater of Mumbai was told me . A nutshell of the viewer's observation : The first thing one gets to see is is that the audience of families with kids have come. It is obvious that the audience have not seen the teaser or have any clue about the film which is no stuff for kids.  As the film starts and moves forward , except for Kamal Hassan intro, Faahad Fazil and Vijay Setupathi get no whistles. Audience have no clue about Faahad or VJS. Biggest surprise is that  only a few recognised Suriya in the climax and that too as ' I have seen him in Tamil films '.  For  Hindi audience, Vikram is a Kamal Hassan film and not a multi- starrer one.

Now lets hear about the dubbing quality. Nothing bad or jarring. Here the biggest spoil sport is the censors. They have muted out so many portions in dialogues that got claps and whistles in Tamil. What is good for Tamil is poison for Hindi wallahs. Words like Rebel - terrorist are muted. Height of censorship was Suriya iconic dialogue on  life time settlement has been butchered ( muted).

Lokesh had said that if one sees Kaithi before Vikram, many things will fall in place. In Hindi, the character of Arjun das brother Adaikalam is Amruthraj   in Hindi and VJS is Santhnam which is Chandan ( sandalwood) in Hindi probably for same meaning. Like in Master Hindi version, here too a few different shots like a paper which has Chandan written on it have been shown and it is a good effort. Anbu becomes Billa, Dilli becomes Shiva and Adaikalam is Ranga in Kaithi Hindi dubbed by Goldmines. 

Wonder why Periyathambi and his village cooking YouTube channel  is retained in Hindi. For Tamil audience, it strike a chord and the way the recipe is presented is a big hit. To imitate it in Hindi is just foolish endeavour and serves no purpose.

Otherwise as far as musical score is concerned, there is no change. Hindi film does have the goose bump moments and not that it is a total waste. Advise is go through Wiki about Kaithi film role names as some are retained as in original. If you cannot get a Tamil print nearby, Hindi will not totally disappoint you is the parting summary by my Mumbai Ka Dost.

Major movie review : Kudos to Mahesh Babu for producing this film

 Telugu `Prince' Mahesh Babu is a co- producer and Major is his first Hindi production . Glad that he did not push the directorial team to jazz up the box office quotient to make sure that he got his money back. Secondly , big  thanks for not playing Major Sandeep . We have seen our Major Ravi directorial giving a pot bellied Major Mahadevan ( Mohanlal) series in name of war films. Incidentally, this film has a Malayalam dubbed version playing in theaters.

Thankfully, director did not go through the usual rigorous NDA camp etc and instead just glossed over it. He makes it up with the characterisation of Major to make us believe that he had the hero material in him. The family angle - Prakash Raj- Revathi of doting father- mother who are anxious about the career choice of their son and the love affair - marriage parts were all a diversion from the nail biting commando operation to free Taj Mumbai from terrorists.

I liked the poriton in which Sandeep gives a piece of is mind to the TV crews outside the hotel who are beaming it live. Though we know that Sandeep is a martyr, the run to the climax has it's goosebumps moments. Saiee Manjrekar ( childhood fiancée) gives a very good performance and found her better than Shobitha Dhulpalia ( wife). The funeral scenes ( one where the application for divorce is shoved away) to the rituals are all that bring a lump in the throat.

Adhvi Sesh as Major is terrific and kudos to director Sashi Kiran to have got together all the camera- music- dialogue- editing   departments to synch with the main plot. An interesting bio-pic that does not bore you and also a patriotic film that does go over board on the jingoism.

Atlee- Shah Rukh Khan film a Darkman adaptation ? Similar to Vikram story line ?

 Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) released the trailor of  Nayanthara -Atlee directed film and confirmed the title Jawan which we reported on September 1, 2021 (https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2021/09/srk-atlee-nayanthara-titled-jaawan-arya.html). At that point of time, media reported that film was titled Lion and produced a copy of the letter given by production company for Pune shoot in railway premises in which it was mentioned as Lion. We had in a later report said that SRK plays a Indian military officer and hence the title Jawan. We at Southfilmy.blogspot.com once gain proved right.

The latest teaser of the film shows SRK in a look that is same as of  Liam Neeson in Darkman , a Hollywood film released in 1990. Coincidentally, Jawan story line has similarity with just released Kamal Hassan film Vikram  In Darkman , Liam plays a scientist who was burnt alive and left as he was dead . He survives and to cover his burns, he bandages himself and with super hero powers , he starts a revenge battle.

In Jawan, SRK plays a RAW officer whose look is the bandaged one and he has a twin look of a normal guy who is a playboy son of a rich gangster. Like in Vikram, SRK the father who is taken to be dead comes to avenge  the death of his son. In Vikram, Kamal too is officially dead as he had faked his death. He comes to track the killers of his son ( Kalidas)

Vikram movie review: Kaithi + Master +Kamal Hassan ; only for gangster movie buffs

Vikram , re- entry of Kamal Hassan leaves no stone unturned to make it  big at box office. Yesterday, director Lokesh tweeted - Pls see or revisit Kaithi before seeing Vikram. Reason is that some of the characters in that film and roll over of scenes come in Vikram. If you have not seen it- nothing to worry. Anyway there is no need to say revisit Master - as it is still fresh in our minds.

A larger than life RAW ( bad days for RAW ref- Beast) agent is coming out of retirement. Reason being that his son is dead and trail leads to a bad cop ( Chemban) and a drug mafia kingpin Vijay Sethupathi with another undercover cop ( Fazil) on his trail . Now first half takes it's own time to build up even tough it has a racy start. From interval, film tempo builds up and there is no lag. Surya in the climax is a scene stealer.

Vijay Sethupathi has meaty portions that give him an instant appeal to viewers and Faahad needless to say is just brilliant. Compared to them, Kamal Hassan though the pivotal and USP of the film has taken a role that does not outshine these actors.

Though action choreographers AnbuAriv have directed most of the scenes, Lokesh signature is evident in many scenes like  the kid and Kamal or in the VJS scenes. Anirudh BGM is just apt and cinematography ( Girish) an added muscle to the technical excellence. For a gangster movie genre buff, Vikram is paisa vasool  and those looking for a family entertainer it is a red alert. Has excessive violent scenes but nothing revolting and the gangs are not that scary to frighten weak hearted women and kids. In fact, these baddies are a funny lot. 

Bigg Boss Robin fans file case against Jasmine- producer

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 4 contest Robin's fans have filed police complaint in various police stations in Kerala against contestant Jasmine and producer of Bigg Boss. Complaint says that Robin was attacked with alethal pesticide spray by co- contestant Jasmine with the intention to kill him. Producers Banijay instead of isolating the attacker h5as shifted Robin to a room on a different filmsy pretext. Fans fear for the life of theie idol and sought police protection. Contestant Robin got close to 27 lakh votes as per morning live poll results. This has put pressure on Bigg Boss show producers as they had prima facie declared Robin as offender who used force against another contestant. Jasmine who sprayed the pesticide was let off with a warning.

As the show jurisdiction is in Mumbai and any dispute regarding the show can be heard in Mumbai courts, a court petition was not possible. Fans acting on behest of a former Bigg Boss player is said to have moved the police instead to mount pressure to get Robin back to the game. Yet another compromise formula meted out is that Jasmine should go out if Robin goes. Contention being that both are guilty. As per voting results till noon today, Riyas the contestant who got jostled by Robin is last in the list of nomination list and should go out technically.

Robin- Blesslie- Dilsha - Vinay- Ronson- Kutty Akhil - Riyas are the ranking from top 7. From today onwards, Blesslie started targetting Riyas and make him go berserk and Jasmine was seen coming to his rescue. If Jasmine moves out with Robin, Riyas will face a combined attack from Blesslie aided by Dilsha and probably backed by Ronson. Others are expected  to play a safe game and stay neutral.

Sources say that producers are waiting for host Mohanlal to come to Mumbai and decide on the issue. As Bigg Boss declared publicly that for the first time a contestant was physically  pushed in the history of Bigg Boss Season and act was not condonable, Robin faces eviction. In previous season, Firoz - Sanjana were summarily evicted as they insinuated immoral activities against co- contestant.

Those evicted from the current season got together for a get- together and Nimisha posted it on Instagram.