Suriya's Singam look sparks sequel talk / Salman Khan - Mahesh Narayanan to work

 Actor Suriya is currently creating quite a buzz on social media, after his latest appearance in his daughter Diya's graduation day grabbed the attention of fans.

His wife and actor Jyotika shared two pictures featuring Suriya. What caught everyone's attention was that Suriya appears to be seen in two different looks in the pictures. One of the now-deleted photos features him in his 'Singam' look which has sparked craze among fans.

Jyotika deleted the photo very soon. However, the picture is now being widely shared on social media. Fans are curious to know if this was the actor's look for Singam or RJ Balaji's film or just a new look of Suriya.

After Priyadarshan , it is Mahesh Narayanan from Malayalam cinema who is set to direct Salman Khan. As reports say that a rough narration by the Director has impressed the Actor and asked him to come with a full script.  Salman Khan will take up Mahesh project after he finishes the film on the war drama from Lakhia that is based on the clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020 but has no title yet. He portrays the martyred 16 Bihar Regiment commander, Colonel B. Santosh Babu. Writers Suresh Nair, Chintan Gandhi, and Chintan Shah are adapting a section of “India’s Most Fearless 3” into a screenplay. Final production is targeted for November, with an anticipated theatrical release in the first half of 2026.

Mahesh Narayanan is currently directing a Mega Project in Malayalam film that features Mammootty and Mohanlal in the lead with Nayanthara, Revathy, and Fahadh Faasil all play important roles in the film. Two Superstars come together after a 16 year gap. It is jointly produced by both the actor’s home productions. Mahesh’s C U Soon and Malik streamed on OTT had got huge appreciation from viewers outside  Mahesh was to direct Kamal Haasan but the project got shelved. Mahesh edited Viswaroopam. , Kamal was  quoted saying, “I have a commitment with Mr. Mahesh Narayanan. He began his career with me as a cinematographer and editor. We seem to understand each other and I have completed a script for me. We are tweaking it a bit and plan to hit the floors by July end or early August.”

Priyadarshan had directed Salman Khan in the 2005 Hindi film "Kyon Ki". The film also starred Kareena Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. According to IMDb, it's a drama and romance film about a psychiatrist who falls in love with a patient.  Remake of Thalavattam.

Sun TV No to Good Bad Ugly / MAD MAX Stunt Choreographer for Ravanan

 Sun TV has rejected Good Bad Ugly satellite rights as they fear that they will  their fingers post Vidamuyarchi. Both are Ajith starrer. "Vidaamuyarchi," which premiered on Sun TV as a Tamil New Year special, achieved a TRP (Television Rating Point) of 6.86 in U+R (Urban and Rural) markets. This indicates a decent viewership for the movie on its television debut. The movie also garnered 5.5 million impressions. On a normal Sunday this could be fantastic but the Ajith film was a   world television premiere on Sunday, April 14, at 6:30 PM, marking a grand celebration for Tamil New Year. Trade circles say that the TRP does not match up to the money that the spots were sold. Incidentally, Singam 2 of Suriya on a normal Sunday a few weeks later in May first week got a TRP of 8.6.

Now Good Bad Ugly did better at the box office but Sun is finding it difficult to sell the spots at high price to make a profit. A new negotiation is likely.

Once the film releases on OTT, the TV viewership is crashing. One reason is that DTH providers are offering OTT bouquets for a song. Like home video went out after TV started streaming films. OTT is taking the life out of TV satellite rights. OTT’s are now  shirking away from offering a package that includes TV rights. Sun TV has Sun Nxt the OTT app but the latter is not as popular as four major players and in turn cannot offer big prices. Aamir Khan has decided that his upcoming film will stream first on TV and later on OTT.

Actor-Producer Yash and Mad Max Stunt Director Guy Norris Shoot Massive Action Sequences for Namit Malhotra's Ramayana, First Image Out

 

Designed to blend myth, scale, and spectacle — actor-producer Yash joins hands with Hollywood’s legendary stunt director Guy Norris for one of the biggest Indian films in the making.

Ramayana has become one of the most anticipated spectacles in Indian cinema, and the buzz has only grown stronger as actor-producer Yash begins filming for the magnum opus, produced by visionary producer Namit Malhotra. Rocking Star Yash is all set to bring Ravana to life in a larger-than-life action arc, working closely with legendary Hollywood stunt director Guy Norris — celebrated for Mad Max: Fury Road and The Suicide Squad. The film promises to be a landmark in filmmaking— a mythological epic powered by top-tier talent, a world class VFX team, grand sets and an ensemble cast that brings this story to life.  

Norris is currently in India choreographing elaborate, high-octane action sequences tailored for the scale of Ramayana, with Yash’s character at the center of the storm. Known for his close involvement across all aspects of his projects, Yash is actively collaborating with the team to shape a visual spectacle that pushes the limits of Indian action cinema. He is slated to shoot for 60–70 days for Ramayana Part 1.

Recent images from the set reveal Yash in peak physical form — ripped, intense, and battle-ready. His transformation hints at a fierce, reimagined Ravana and a performance that could redefine how Indian action heroes are viewed globally.

Crafted to elevate Indian storytelling for a global stage, Ramayana brings together an extraordinary vision, a stellar ensemble, and world-class talent. With Yash not just leading from the front with Ranbir Kapoor, but also contributing as a co-producer, this is more than just a film — it’s a cinematic milestone in the making. He has been involved with the project from the start, lending his creative insight every step of the way.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana Part 1 is slated for release on Diwali 2026, and the second part on Diwali 2027.

Dhanush is spiritual like APJ Kalam / Rajesh Williams last film- VJS--Merry Christmas

 "When portraying Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, it’s essential to capture not just his achievements, but also his spiritual journey and teachings. That’s the most challenging part of a biopic like this. And I don’t think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen. He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project," OM Raut Directorhe said

In the statement, which was shared by the filmmaker's team. Raut expressed his admiration for Dr Kalam, and said, "The teachings of Dr Kalam are instilled in every youth. I read his book 'Wings of Fire' when I was in college, and I can say that everything I am doing today, and everything I aspire to be, is inspired by the teachings in that book. It changed my perspective on life and that is exactly why I am standing here today."

he director said, "I've always been deeply inspired by Dr. Kalam’s journey. From what I’ve observed, his life was anchored in three key aspects. First is education. He was a great teacher who placed immense value on quality learning. Second is innovation, particularly indigenous innovation. He encouraged us to develop within our country. And the third is resilience, the willpower to stay committed to our purpose. I always wanted to make a film based on these principles."

Incredibly dedicated to his art of acting, Late Rajesh was the first Tamil actor who built a bungalow in 1985 near KK Nagar for the sole purpose of shooting. The studio was inaugurated by then-Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran. However, after shooting several Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi films, he later sold the bungalow in 1993 while starting his real estate business as advised by his friend, Jeppiaar. He also dabbled in hotel and construction business. Later, joining politics as a supporter of Janaki from 1987 to 1991. Rajesh also wrote briographies of Hollywood actors in Tamil and accounts about Astrology. In the past decades, he became popular for the films, Gethu, Jannal Oram, Doo and Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam, among others. His last appearance was in the film, Merry Christmas, starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi. He made his last TV appearance in the show, Karthigai Deepam as 'Dharmalingam'.

Santhanam- Nagarjuna in Jailer 2 / Dhanush Dad to sue Ajith Producer/ Ragini as Bad - Bold Girl

 

Latest buzz is that Santhanam has been approached to join Jaier 2. Balayya joining Rajini is not yet confirmed. Mohanlal and Shivarajkumar are confirmed. Telugu cinema icon Nagarjuna has been signed on to play the main antagonist in the film, reported Deccan Herald. Santhanam, a popular Tamil comedian, has a history of collaborating with superstar Rajinikanth in various films. They have previously worked together in "Enthiran" and "Lingaa". There are also ongoing discussions about Santhanam's potential role in "Jailer 2," the sequel to the Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer. 

His intense performance as Simon in Lokesh Kanagaraj's upcoming film Coolie has reportedly influenced this casting decision. The first Jailer had TK Vinayakan as the villain. Now, with Nagarjuna in the mix, fans are expecting an epic showdown.

The film's ensemble also includes SJ Suryah, who joins the cast, and Mirnaa Menon, who will reprise her role from the first part.

Shiva Rajkumar will return as Narasimha and has reportedly dedicated 15 days to shoot his portions.

Two major schedules have already been wrapped up in Chennai and Kerala.

Director Kasthuri Raja has come out strongly against the use of the folk song 'Oththa Roova' from his 1996 film Nattupura Pattu in the recent Ajith Kumar-Adhik Ravichandran film Good Bad Ugly without proper authorisation from him, its lyricist. During the promotions for his next film in Salem, the filmmaker discussed the rising trend of the reuse of old songs with no due authorisation.

Kasthuri Raja also revealed that his songs 'Panju Mittai', 'Otha Ruba Tharen' and 'Thoothuvalai Ilai Arachi' are used in the Ajith starrer with no permission. The filmmaker rebuked the use of old songs, calling it a case of being not creative or original. Describing the works of Ilaiyaraaja and Deva as "timeless music," he said that modern-day filmmakers appear to depend too much on nostalgia instead of their own creativity. He said that if filmmakers want to use such songs, they should seek permission from their original creators as a fundamental legal and ethical requirement. Reiterating the importance of respecting original music, Kasthuri Raja added that he would sue the makers of Good Bad Ugly. Earlier, Ilaiyaraaja's legal team sent notice to Good Bad Ugly makers.

Ragini Dwivedi’s most daring avatar in Kannada cinema is set to be showcased in the upcoming film, Jawa, which brings together Rajavardan and Ragini on screen. It also marks Rajavardan's debut production venture under his Barn Swallow Company banner. Directed by Devaa Chakravarthy, Jawa will be made in Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil, and is expected to blend mass appeal with intense storytelling

When asked if R Queen pays tribute to the present Kannada heroines like Ramya, Rakshita, Radhika Pandit, Rachita Ram, and even Ragini herself—Devaa nods. “This character is fictional, but she's born from the spirit of many. We’ve observed the industry, its highs, its shadows, and R Queen reflects that. She’s influenced by legends, but she’s her own woman. No one’s seen Ragini like this before.”

Devaa reveals that Ragini’s character will carry full-fledged grey shades. “Yes, she’s a superstar in the film. But more than that—she’s the antagonist - and I call her 'A lady villain'. It’s a face-off with the hero, Rajavardan, but done differently. I’m not going by the old formula. Jawa is about breaking patterns.”

 

 

Rima Kalingal Theatre poster at Cannes / Vijay Sethupathi Box Office Flop / Soori, Aishwarya Lekshmi film Hit, DD flop

 The trailer for the Rima Kallingal-starrer Theatre: The Myth of Reality, written and directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sajin Baabu (biryani), was officially launched at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 – Marché du Film. The event took place in the presence of veteran Bollywood filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, who launched the trailer, and Indo-German Film Week Festival director Stephan Ottenbruch, who attended as chief guest. The launch saw the attendance of Malayalam filmmaker Dr Biju Damodaran, actors Prakash Bare and Chhaya Kadam, and several film professionals from India, Germany, China, and France.

Theatre centres on two women who believe their suffering stems from a curse. Set on Illikkal Island in Kerala, the film explores how myth and reality intersect within a secluded community. Rima and Sarasa Balussery play the lead roles, supported by an ensemble cast. Rima received the Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Actress for her performance. Speaking at the event, Sajin said, “It’s honestly a bit surreal to be here at the Cannes Film Festival. Just being part of this space where world cinema is celebrated with such love is an honour in itself.”

The Santhanam starrer Tamil horror-comedy Devil’s Double Next Level aka DD is slowly inching towards 20 crores albeit in a snail’s pace. The movie is also yet to recover its entire budget. Here is taking a look at the box office performance of the film on its 10th day. On its 10th day, the Santhanam starrer earned 65 lakhs. This was a drop of around 32% since the movie amassed 97 lakhs on its previous day. The total India net collection of the film now comes to 16.25 crore. Including the taxes, the gross collection of the film stands at 19.17 crore. DD Next Level is mounted at a budget of 20 crores. With its current India net collection of 16.25 crore, the film has managed to cover 81% of its budget. It will be interesting to see whether the film will cover its entire budget in the coming days.

Maaman is mounted on a budget of 10 crore at the box office and against the collection of 18.55 crore in 8 days, it has churned out a profit of 85.5% at the box office. The action film stands as the sixth most profitable Tamil film of 2025.

The Vijay Sethupathi starrer Tamil romantic-crime flick, Ace has been witnessing dismal performance at the box office. While it has managed to cross 4 crores within its 3 days, this is hardly an impressive score, given Sethupathi’s star power. Here is taking a look at the box office performance of the film on its 3rd day. On its third day, the movie saw a dip of around 12% and earned 1.42 crore. The total India net collection of Ace now stands at 4.04 crore. The film is now inching towards 5 crore but needs a more positive word of mouth to see a boost in the collection.

Mani slams Rs 1000 Cr film craze / Meenakshi Chowdhary with Chiyaan

 Mani Ratnam when asked about the Rs 1000 crore club films, he felt irritated and answered : “Which is more important—box office or quality films? Earlier, audiences focused on quality. Now, it’s all about business. I hope this shift doesn’t kill quality in the future. I can’t make films just for the box office.”. Kamal Haasan is a co- Producer of Thug Life and going by what we hear the investment in hard cash is by RKFI and Madras Talkies contribution is Mani Ratnam’s direction.

Now audience of today that made Bahubaali – KGF – Pushpa franchise into Rs 1000 cr club cannot be called to be focussed on business and not quality and we cannot say that Director’s of these film compromised on quality to get more footfalls.  None of these franchises can be said to have gone out of the way to reach out to audience in a crass way. These films struck a chord with all regions in India. Take the case of Mani Ratnam films and his last outing PS 2. It worked largely with Tamil movie goers and nothing beyond it.

At one time quality films meant National awards and Mani was never a contender for this award. The box office masala formula is very much inherent in his films. For the first time probably the marketing is vey aggressive with Thug Life. Thogh Kamal speaks volumes about Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography , trailor is talked about for two things- Kamal- Abhirami liplock and Kamal’s I am your Adam seductive line with Trisha . Is Trisha the mistress of Kamal and his adopted son STR is dating her  is the problem? Add to it the Sugar Baby song.

We have seen biggest box office openers fall on Monday and finally go out by next Friday. Public is enamoured by the the boasts of entering Rs 100 cr club in one Day. It may matter to the Actor’s fans and his ego. Bottom of Mani’s line is that – Look Don’t evaluate me with likes of people whose films are in Rs 1000 cr club .I simply have no idea on how to make it jell with all kinds of audience. I am happy with my niche audience .

While his response sounds idealistic, it also feels outdated. Does he really believe that only bad films make 1000 crores? Were Baahubali, Dangal, or RRR lacking in quality? Were Jawan or KGF poor films? . It was Rajamouli who inspired Mani to make Ponniyin Selvan into two parts. Mani Ratnam has publicly acknowledged Rajamouli as an inspiration, particularly for the two-part structure of "Ponniyin Selvan". He has stated that "Baahubali," directed by Rajamouli, paved the way for him to make "Ponniyin Selvan" in two parts, as it demonstrated the viability of a two-part film format. 

Meenakshi Chaudhary has been making headlines for being the frontrunner to play the female lead opposite Kollywood star Vikram in the latter’s 63rd film, tentatively titled Chiyaan63. As per the latest buzz, Meenakshi has finally signed on the dotted lines. However, an official announcement is awaited to confirm the news.

Chiyaan63 will be going on floors in a few weeks. This highly anticipated biggie will be directed by Mandela and Maaveeran fame Madonne Ashwin, while Arun Viswa is bankrolling the project. Stay tuned for further updates. The actress was part of blockbusters like Dulquer Salmaan’s Lucky Baskhar and Venkatesh’s Sankranthiki Vasthunam. She is currently working on Naga Chaitanya’s NC24 and Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju. made her Hindi film debut with the movie "Upstarts" in 2019. She is expected to make a larger Bollywood debut with Maddock Films under Dinesh Vijan. 

 

Thalapathy Vijay for Madurai West / Parasakthi about Brothers not anti - Hindi - Sudha

 Thalapathy Vijay is eyeing the Madurai West constituency for being elected to Tamil Nadu Assembly in the coming polls. From this constituency MGR was first elected to the Assembly. Currently the seat is represented by AIADMK’s Sellur Raja. Popularly known as Termocol Raja, he won twice from Madurai West, considered an AIADMK bastion. However, Seemans NTK garnered 9 % of total votes polled and played spoilsport for DMK. Raja promises to turn Madurai into Sydney on becoming Minister in AIADMK ministry still remains unfulfilled.

It seems Revathi who played sister to Vijay in Thamizhan is now Mother to him in his last film Jana Nayagan. Bollywood – Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra’s first Tamil film was Thamizhan.

Sudha Kongara Director Parasakthi the Sivakarthikeyan film has debuked media reports and first one is that the film is about Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu. We never said it. It’s about two brothers. So we assume that the brothers are Sivakarthikeyan and Ravi Mohan. About L2 Empuran, Prithviraj saaaaaaaaid that politics is in the background but nothing political in it. Similarly the Hindi imposition agitation is in the background and the two brothers are having their feud at that time. So the leaked photos are justified. Second media report debunked. After Dwan Pictures Akash got raided by ED, Parasakthi is shelved. No. Heaar Sudha - There are about 40 more days of shoot left for Parasakthi. We're currently waiting for Sivakarthikeyan's schedule. He is shooting for Madhrasi in Sri Lanka. Once that wraps up, we’ll resume the remaining schedule for Parashakti.” .

Now Madharasi was completed and waiting for release and after Sikandar’s historic drubbing at Hindi box office, SK wanted a relook and so that is why fresh shooting in SL. Now third report- it is releasing opposite Thalapathy Vijay Jana Nayagan. Sudha says - We haven’t officially announced our release date yet. That decision is with the producer.”

Background info on Parasakthi - Parasakthi stars Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan (formerly known as Jayam Ravi), Atharvaa and Sreeleela. The music composed by GV Prakash.The film has garnered attention not only for its solid star cast but also for its title. Since the name Parasakthi was first associated with the iconic Sivaji Ganesan classic film, its reuse sparked controversy,

Mani Ratnam next new face Project not confirmed / Charlie DQ's father is no More

 

The next film featuring Naveen Polishetty and coming from Madras Talkies is not directed by Mani Ratnam , as the Director in an interview to a Tamil publication y said that if the right story and actors fall into place, he will direct a film with new faces. In short the new faces project of Madras Talkies is not a Mani Directorial. The whole news of Naveen in a Madras Talkies film could be a figment of imagination.

Mani Ratnam revealed how Nayakan and Thug Life happened. “Right after Mouna Ragam, I was back home. When Muktha Srinivasan suddenly dropped by, and he handed me a videocassette, saying it was something Kamal Haasan wanted me to watch. It was a Hindi film, but I hesitated. I told him, ‘I’m not the right fit for the project.’ He returned the next day, and I repeated my stance. Srinivasan simply said, ‘Then tell that to Kamal directly.’” That meeting changed everything. “Kamal was warm, curious. He asked me plainly, ‘What’s the issue?’ I told him I’d love to work together, but I had a different kind of story in mind—not the one on that cassette. I shared some ideas. He listened. And that’s how Nayakan was born.

Then one day, Kamal calls me again, just as casually, and says, ‘Let’s make a film.’ That film became Thug Life. The spontaneity was the same. The passion, still intact. Kamal, even after all these years, remains unchanged where it matters most—his hunger to create, to collaborate, to challenge the norm.” Sudhakar Reddy is releasing the Telugu version through Sreshth Movies.
During a press meet in Mumbai, director Mani Ratnam revealed that the title Thug Life was suggested by Kamal Haasan. “It just felt right,” he said, explaining that they were checking different options. He added, “We are Gen-Z,” reflecting his awareness of changing trends and evolving audiences

Talking about how quickly they finalised the title, said, “We were looking at various titles. We kept telling each other different options. He just said yes to one title. That’s how quickly we agreed on it. "

Renowned photographer and actor Radhakrishnan Chakyat has passed away at the age of 53. The popular Indian fashion photographer and Malayalam cinema personality, passed away on May 23 due to a heart attack. Actor Dulquer Salmaan who played his son in the film Charlie, expressed his condolence on social media. He began his independent photography career in the year 2000, he soon gained recognition for his unique vision. He then went on to shoot campaigns for leading brands and has mentored several aspiring photographers. In 2017, he founded Pixel Viilage, a popular YouTube channel offering photography education to several followers.

Dhanush in Kalam biopic / Rajini about Jailer 2 wrapup / Deepika back with Atlee- Allu Arjun

 Dhanush who was to play Illaiyaraaja in his biopic is now to play Dr Abdul Kalam. Dhanush teams up with the Adipurush director for the Kalam biopic. Director Om Raut, who faced a lot of criticism for bad VFX and content in Adipurush, has announced his new film, Kalam: The Missile Man of India, starring Dhanush. This biopic focuses on APJ Abdul Kalam, the former president of India and aerospace scientist, Om Raut shared an official poster of Kalam on Instagram. He captioned the post as, “From Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the journey of a legend begins… India’s Missile Man is coming to the silver screen. Dream big. Rise higher. #KALAM—The Missile Man of India.” 

Produced by Abhishek Agarwal, Anil Sunkara, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar, this film’s title poster was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival

Rajinikanth Shares Update About Jailer 2's Shoot Completion

When asked by the press about Jailer 2’s shoot and post-production, the actor said, “I am not sure when exactly we will complete shooting for Jailer 2. But the shoot will mostly be done by December.” He also added that the post-production work for Coolie is going on well.

n a power move that’s shaking up the Indian film industry, Deepika Padukone has exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and has signed on to star in Atlee’s ₹700-crore action fiasco opposite Allu Arjun.

Tentatively called AA22xA6, the pan-India film will mark Deepika’s return to the Telugu movie landscape after the earlier success of Kalki 2898 AD and will put her in a part suited to her star status.

Second Collaboration After Jawan

This also marks Deepika’s second movie with Atlee after their massive debut, Jawan, which grossed over ₹600 crore at the box office in a global release in 2023.

Deepika Padukone Chooses Scale & Stardom Over Spirit

Sources in the know have stated Deepika was in talks for Spirit, the Sandeep Reddy Vanga movie with Prabhas, before they dropped out to go with Atlee’s edgy sci-fi action movie—where she has found scale, vision, and star power.

“Deepika wanted something that was scale, vision and star power and the Allu Arjun – Atlee film has it all,” states a source in the trade.

An Explosive Pairing Years in the Making

Both Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone have spoken publicly about how much they admire each other over the years—this will be the first time these two stars will share screen space—such a big moment.

Atlee’s film, mounted globally by Sun Pictures, will have Allu Arjun in a double role and Deepika in some serious action form. She is also reportedly taking a fee that is going to upend all records due to her box office position after Jawan.

Three Heroines, Double Roles & A Parallel Universe

Mrunal Thakur and Janhvi Kapoor will round out roles for Deepika and the three fabulous females. The story is a multi-starrer, high-octane action-thriller set in a parallel universe, so it will be boundary-pushing.

Stunning visuals are coming our way with Los Angeles-based, high-end special effects teams now on board and principal photography to commence in July or August 2025.

Deepika’s Deliberate Comeback Post-Maternity

Currently on maternity leave since September 2024, Deepika’s planned return includes back-to-back tentpoles.

Deepika is currently shooting Shah Rukh Khan‘s ‘King’, an action thriller from Sujoy Ghosh, before jumping on to Atlee’s project.

“Deepika is choosing high visibility projects that will build her brand in several markets,” said a source. ( https://boxofficeworldwide.com/movies-latest-news/deepika-padukone-opts-out-of-spirit-joins-allu-arjun-atl) 

STR- Mani combo with LYCA - Sudha Kongara to film Vettai Naigal book

LYCA big time film is with STR- Mani Ratnam and another one with Sudha Kongara based on VettaiNaigal ; Read on:

STR52 - Mani Ratnam & Lyca:

• This script has been in discussions with STR and Ratnam even before Thug Life, and they plan on launching it in mid-2026.
• The film is an out and out Love Story. Rahman has been roped in no surprise here.
• Ratnam is going to do a Tamil-Telugu bilingual love story film with Naveen Pollishetty, while Simbu wraps up his commitments.
• They plan on releasing this film in late 2027. It is not a big budget film.
• 

Along with these films, STR53 has also been signed with Sudha Kongara and Hombale. This movie is a rooted one which takes place in North Madras- inspired by Vettai Naigal novel. Sudha about the book;

sudha_kongara

 

 35w

Naran’s Vettai Naaigal.
A world rich and rooted in the seas and shores of Thoothukudi.

Having bought the rights to this marvellous story, I’m now Very very excited and eager to start on the screenplay of the novel…a journey that’s usually excruciating but exhilarating too.

I get to live a life through this film that I haven’t experienced before - a Film maker’s greatest reward!

And then the cherry on top will be the CASTING. Who will bring this to life ? 😊

STR53 is to be done with Jude Joesph, which is a massive scale film.

Also STR60 will be written, directed, and performed by Simbu- likely a spiritual sequel to Manmadhan. Script is finished. Yuvan has been roped in, and it looks like AGS wants to do it but STR first wants to lock in a deal with them for STR50.

Confirmed STR Projects

STR49 - Ramkumar Balakrishnan & Dawn:

• Shoot begins from June 16th, primarily happening inside a college.
• Simbu plays a college rowdy, and Santhanam has been roped in as the second lead. STR will be sporting shorter hair and a clean shave.
• The shoot stretches for 60 days and the film will get wrapped up with this.
• All songs are completed but vocals need to be recorded.
• They have locked in the Christmas 2025 date and are working towards it.

STR50 - Ashwath Marimuthu & AGS:

• Shoot begins from early September this year, and updates will flow in from August.
• The screenplay and dialogue work is in full flow and will be completed in Late July.
• The story is not a remake/adaptation, and Ashwath has made sure that it doesn’t have any similarities in terms of arcs and beats to his previous films.
• The heroine has been locked along with a few other cast members. Mrunal Thakur seems to be their choice, but this could also be false.
• The film will be released in June 2026; STR wants to release it on the 6th, as then all parts of the date align with the number 6- his Manmadhan number.

STR51 - Desingh Periyasamy & STR:

• The pilot promotional shoot for this film has been happening since the start of May, and it likely that it has almost been finished.
• They are looking to release this promotional video in early July to space it away from Thug Life release. It has also a lot of VFX and musical work towards it.
• This project has been pitched to AGS to co-produce with Simbu, and they have struck the following deal. If the STR51 team shows the completed pilot video to Netflix and they agree to buy the film, AGS will join in. If not they will discuss another plan.
• Shooting for this film is likely to begin in the first quarter of 2026. Simbu will grow his long hair again for this, so wig rumors aren’t true.
• Simbu plays the hero and villain in this periodic film. It will be different from other period films, it is purely character driven and features unique dance and action. He has been personally trained for these segments.
• The team is planning for a Pongal 2027 release, which they plan to announce in the promotional video in July.

 

 

 

Meet BULLET BOSE who ENCOURAGED AJITH to take Racing as Sport

 Who is Subhash Chandra Bose the man who encouraged Ajith Kumar – AK to take up bike racing as a professional sport.

During an interaction with Mashable India, Thala Ajith Kumar opened up about his inspiration for racing. He said, “In September 1990, we had an endurance race for two hours. I finished fifth. I remember Mr Subhash Chandra Bose walking to my pits, and he said you should pursue motorsports. It's there in you.”

The individual who encouraged the actor Ajith to pursue car racing was Subhas Chandra Bose,ra Bose, also known as "Bullet Bose," was a renowned motorcycle racer who won the Indian Grand Prix title 15 times between 1968 and 1994. He is the one who approached Ajith after a race in 1990 and encouraged him to pursue motorsports. 

When asked what the young Indian bikers need to do to get into motorsport, Bose  said, “They need to have their parent blessings and support in the first place. You must be able to afford the safety gear. Once you can do that, you are good to enter into a good motorsport school.”

Ajith Kumar said, “Thanks to the film industry. It got me to a stage in my life where I could fund myself and pursue my passion for motorsports. I remember my father told me very clearly that the day you earn your bread and butter, you can do whatever you want to. When I decided to start racing again in 2002, he had nothing to say.”

Old School Riders's post on FaceBook

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Sharing the frame with Chennai based Subash Chandra Bose aka Bullet Bose and my Royal Enfield Super Meteor. Bose’s passion for racing started in 1968 on his fathers old Lambretta scooter. Although didn’t win but completed the 50 lap race. Soon he upgraded to a 250cc Jawa and the racing continued. It was in 1974 when he entered in the 350cc class with a borrowed Bullet from his friend. Very soon he became the bullet rider attaining an eye-popping speed of 100mph (160kmh) on the tracks of Sholavaram. During this time he was known as Bullet Bose amongst the fellow riders. Bose racing career spans wide with winning the Indian Grand Prix 15 times a record by its own.Bose dominated all the major racetracks in India from Sholavaram in Chennai to Juhu airport in Mumbai, Barrackpore in Kolkata to Safdarjung in Delhi and the Agram track in Bangaluru.Today I guess he certainly has lost count of his victories as his home is filled with the trophies. Despite having retired from active racing in 2007 Bose still rides across the country to name few Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh or the Khardung La pass in Ladak.

Bullet Bose photo from royalenfieldmotorspo nstagram page.

 

 

Samantha - Raj Age difference / Kamal most Generous co-Actor - Trisha/ Dhanush Kubera Highest OTT Price

 

Age difference between Samantha and Raj Nidimoru 

There is a lot of curiosity around Raj and Samantha's relationship. As we wait for the couple to formally announce their relationship, we look at their age gap. Samantha's birth date is public knowledge. She was born on April 28, 1987. As of 2025, she is 38 years old. As for Raj, according to reports, his date birth is August 4, 1979. The filmmaker is therefore 45 years old as of 2025. This makes the age gap between the two artists 7 years. 

Samantha‘s production debut Subham is mounted on a budget of 6 crore and it has recovered 59% of its entire budget. It still needs to earn 2.07 crore to successfully recover its entire budget and enter the profit making zone. However, the film is too far to be declared as a hit at the box office, since it needs a total collection of 12 crore, to claim the hit verdict.

“Kamal sir and Mani sir are [greats]. I always knew they wouldn’t ever waste [me] in a film, irrespective of the [character I] play in it. Being in the best of hands, [I was sure] Mani sir would fine-tune me into becoming the character. Kamal sir always makes sure that his co-actors have their space in the film. He is one of the most generous co-actors I have worked with,” Trisha  smiles.

 Deccan Chronicle mentioned that Prime Video has allegedly bought Dhanush's Kubera  the film’s digital rights for a whopping 50 crore. This makes it one of the most expensive OTT deals in the Telugu film industry.

Kuberaa has a powerful cast featuring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh. This combination of talent from multiple film industries has already given the film a hot buzz in cinephile circles.

The movie is being bankrolled with a whopping 120 crore (via Deccan Chronicle), one of the costliest films in Dhanush’s career. Moreover, fans also have high expectations from Rashmika Mandanna, who has already delivered massive hits like Animal, Pushpa 2, and Chhavva.

Director Sekhar Kammula is helming Kuberaa. It will be released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, so audiences across India can enjoy it. With a strong team like that and a vast OTT deal, Kuberaa appears to be one of the year’s biggest films. Now, all eyes are on June 20 to see how this action-packed drama performs at the box office.