Geetu Mohandas Dummy -Yash REAL DIRECTOR / Kirthi with Govinda Son

Kirthi Shetty's upcoming film in Tamil is LIK starring Oradeep Ranganathan and directed by Vignesh Shivn.The makers of LIK have now officially announced that the film will hit the big screens on December 18, 2025.Now Kirthi has now signed a Hindi film; ccording to the latest reports, Krithi Shetty will be making her Bollywood debut in a film produced by Zee Studios. She will be sharing the screen with Govinda’s son, Yashvardhan Ahuja, who is also making his acting debut. The film is set to be a launchpad for both young actors. The cast also includes Nitanshi Goel, known for her recent work, who will be playing one of the female leads in the movie. This exciting cast is sure to create a lot of buzz. More Details On The Debut Film While the makers are keeping the details under wraps, it is being said that the film is a remake of a popular South Indian movie. As for who will be directing this big project, there is some interesting speculation. While not yet confirmed, reports are suggesting that director Sajid Khan might be helming the film. We will have to wait for the official announcement to know for sure.

Krithi Shetty, who is receiving a lot of positive response to her performance in the recently released song ‘Abdi Abdi’ from the upcoming film Genie, has spoken up on her experience of learning belly dance for the song. The song also features Kalyani, and showcases both leading ladies in a never-seen-before avatar as they deliver a mesmerizing belly dance performance that’s already setting social media ablaze.For Krithi Shetty, ‘Abdi Abdi’ represents a significant milestone in her career. The young actress, known for her girl-next-door charm in previous projects, transforms completely in this number, showcasing a confident, sensuous side that audiences haven’t witnessed before. Directed by debutant Bhuvanesh Arjunan, the film is produced by Ishari K Ganesh under Vels Films International. Jayam, Krithi Shetty, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Wamiqa Gabbi and Devayani also star in the film with music by Rahman. The film is currently in production and is expected to release sometime this year.

The highly anticipated film "Toxic," starring Yash and directed by Geetu Mohandas, is turning into a costly cautionary tale. Initially hyped as Indian cinema's biggest gangster saga, the film's production has been plagued by issues, with only 60% of the shoot completed after two years. The budget has ballooned to a staggering ₹600 crore, excluding Yash's hefty fee. Behind the scenes, there's turmoil, with reports of endless reshoots, scrapped schedules, casting changes, and a restless crew. Rumors suggest that Yash has taken over the direction of the film, sidelining Geetu Mohandas, due to a lack of trust. This has led to clashes and slowed down the production process. The stakes are high for Yash, who became a national icon after the success of "KGF 2." "Toxic" was expected to cement his legacy, but his obsession with control has stalled momentum. There's a growing fear that if the film doesn't do well, it could impact Yash's stardom, which is heavily dependent on the success of "KGF 2." Interestingly, Yash has also signed on for two massive projects where he won't be playing the lead role. This move has sparked speculation that he's hedging his bets in case "Toxic" doesn't do well. Fans who once saw him as the torchbearer of Indian mass cinema are now wondering if he's playing it safe. With its mounting delays, spiraling budget, and anxious hero, "Toxic" is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the film's title seems fitting – toxic for everyone involved. Kamaal R. Khan (KRK) alleged that Yash is managing every aspect of the film, including writing and direction. He also said the budget has now reached around Rs. 600 crores. According to KRK, Toxic won’t match the massive success of K.G.F. Chapter 2.

Sivakarthikeyan Film Drops BIG/ North Rejects Lokah / Coolie Soundtrack on YouTube

 After Amaran, Sivakarthikeyan release Madharaasi has failed the Monday sscare and numbed miserably. Unlucky streak for A R Murugadoss continue/ SK’s star power gave a good opening but after wards it slumped and Monday saw a 60 % drop. Reviews were mostly positive but word of mouth talk from non SK fans was negative as the stylish choreographed action  and songs fell flat.  Trademark SK humour- romance was missing. According to Sacnilk, Madharaasi minted ₹4.15 crore at the box office with maximum in Tamil language (₹3.5 crore), followed by Telugu version (₹6 lakh) and in Hindi the film earned ₹0.05. The movie witnessed a 61.03 per cent drop since Sunday, failing the Monday test miserably. It seems the negative word of mouth affected the business. Adding the four-day collection at the box office, the movie earned ₹40.55 crore at the box office in India. The film had an overall 25.91 per cent Tamil occupancy on Monday, with maximum reported in Puducherry (41 per cent).

While fans are looking forward to rewatching it on small screens, the makers have announced something special. A day before the film hits OTT, its original soundtrack (OST) will be released on YouTube and music streaming platforms.

Coolie holds a special place among audiences for its energetic songs and background score. Anirudh Ravichander has delivered hits such as “I Am the Danger,” “Chikitu,” “Mobsta,” and “Monica.”

The OTT reception of the film is eagerly awaited. The movie features actors such as Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and others, and is produced by Sun Pictures.

Lokah becoming a Pan Indian hit is not possible after the poor response in North belts. Mollywood recently started growing big, and now their films are doing well in Tamil and Telugu, but they are unable to crack big in Hindi. Even Lokah, which has collected double-digit gross in the Telugu States and double-digit gross in Tamil Nadu, struggled in the Hindi belt, as the collections are not up to the mark. But the advantage for the film is, because it is a franchise, if part one works well on OTT with North audiences, then the Hindi version also will add box office numbers for part 2. Lokah, with 100 Cr gross in India and around 195 Cr gross worldwide for 12 days, is all set to join the 200 Cr club tomorrow. At this pace the film is on track to chase Empuraan’s full run and to emerge as the all-time biggest grosser for Mollywood.

Following the Madras High Court order, Netflix is likely to remove Aajith’s Good Bad and Ugly from the platform, The film had its digital premiere on May 8, 2025, following its theatrical release. Ilaiyaraaja moved the Madras High Court, where Justice Senthikumar passed an interim order restraining Mythri Movie Makers from exhibiting, screening, selling, distributing, publishing, or broadcasting Good Bad Ugly on any platform, including OTT.

Will Lokah be the Stree 2.0 of Bollywood ? Kalyani Lady Superstar of Box Office

 Will Kalyani Priyadrashan Lokah create a box office sensation in Hindi like Stree Franchise ?, Both the films have many similarities as it is of a genre but otherwise the narration and charachter are not following Stree route. As of now Kalyani has become the undisputed Lady Superstar joining the ranks of Anushka. Nayanthara has fallen from the top and has given up the Superstar tag. READ ON

Mollywood’s latest superhero movie, Lokah, is making waves at the box office! This Kalyani Priyadarshan-starrer has made history as South India’s first female-led film to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark. And that’s not all, it’s also the third fastest Malayalam movie to hit this milestone.

Dominic Arun wrote and directed the film. The story keeps you hooked the whole way, and somehow, it doesn’t feel like a low-budget movie at all, it’s really polished. The Telugu and Tamil versions are doing pretty well too, and the team couldn’t be happier with the response.

Now everyone’s excited to see how North Indian audiences will take it when the Hindi version hits theaters on September 4, 2025.

Adding to the fun, the movie has some interesting cameos – Tovino Thomas, Sunny Wayne, and Dulquer Salmaan all make appearances that fans are loving. Sandy Master plays the villain. Jakes Bejoy’s music really hits the mark, and Dulquer Salmaan’s production values make the whole thing look top-notch.

As the excitement for the Hindi release builds, a fascinating discussion has started among movie lovers online. Many are drawing comparisons between Lokah and Bollywood’s own highly successful horror-comedy universe, particularly the blockbuster film Stree. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Lokah follows a similar path and how the Hindi audience will receive it.

What Are The Similarities?

On the surface, it’s easy to see why the comparisons are being made. The Stree franchise, which includes films like Bhediya and Munjya, often follows a successful template: a group of three male friends in a small town stumble upon a supernatural female entity. The story is usually filled with spooky moments and hilarious situations, often with one of the friends falling for the mysterious woman.

According to some social media comments, Lokah seems to use a similar formula. One user pointed out, “Lokah is on similar lines of Stree, but rooted heavily in Malayali culture.” The film reportedly also features a trio of male characters who get scared after discovering the supernatural powers of the female lead, with one of them providing comic relief through his romantic interest in her.

This is a significant departure from Stree, where the story, while centered around the supernatural woman, is told from the perspective of the male protagonist, played by Rajkummar Rao. In Lokah, the male characters, including the one played by Naslen, are part of the supporting cast. The film is fundamentally Chandra’s story, which gives it a fresh and powerful perspective within the genre.

 

 

Naslen- Kalyani Leads over Mohanlal / Only one says Pradeep / Mirna Menon with Lokesh

 Coming to the first superheroine movie, Lokah, it opens with blockbuster WOM and reviews. With such huge positive talk alongside the advantage of being a franchise film, Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Lokah surpasses Mohanlal’s movie.

Hridayapooravam is a family genre, and Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra took a very big lead from the evening shows on the first day. 

With Mohanlal’s stardom, Hridayapooravam opens bigger than Lokah on the first day, but today, which is the second day of both films, Lokah takes a clear lead, and it is trending over double of Mohanlal’s film.

The same trend is likely to continue in the coming days, which means Hridayapooravam might emerge as a decent success, whereas Lokah will be heading for a massive blockbuster run. Dulquer Salmaan is being appreciated for producing this female centric superhero film. Many have praised Kalyani Priyadarshan for her performance, calling it stunning and powerful, adding to the film’s growing reputation among Malayalam and pan-Indian audiences. Trade experts believe Lokah is a true pan-Indian film from Malayalam cinema, even without big stars. If the film performs well at the box office, it could inspire other industries to shape small-budget pan-Indian movies with strong storytelling. Though Lokah did not open big, the positive word of mouth is now driving ticket bookings upward. All eyes are on how it performs in the coming days and whether it sets new records in collections across India.

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj is all set to make his debut as a lead hero with a film directed by Arun Matheswaran. The latest news is that he pairs up with Mirna Menon.

The film’s pre-production work is going on currently, and it is being said that the team is discussing with Mirna Menon to pair up against Lokesh Kanagaraj in this action drama. She was previously seen in Jailer as Rajinikanth’s daughter-in-law.

Produced by Sun Pictures, this film will go on floors this year-end, and the Kaithi director also took part in some training to play a lead hero. 

As said above, it is an action film, and Lokesh will be excited to show up on screen as a lead hero and enthrall his fans, who are disappointed with his recent directorial, Coolie, starring Rajinikanth.

Pradeep Ranganathan’s upcoming two films, LIK and Dude, have been announced for Diwali release, and there was a report that both films will arrive on the same day. But Pradeep Ranganathan confirms that only one film will be released this Diwali.

A few days ago, both films’ teams started promotions with the festival release tag. Lately the LIK (Love Insurance Kompany) team released a teaser, and Dude released its first single.

With this, audiences expected that they would witness a surprise clash on Diwali, as both films feature the same hero. But Pradeep Ranganathan officially confirms that only one film will arrive this Diwali. LIK, as per the plan, has to release first, but due to some financial issues, the movie’s progress was delayed. Now, if they are able to sort the issues, then it will be the only film that is likely to arrive for Diwali, or else Dude will be released in its place.

there were huge expectations on Sai Abhyankkar  young music director, and his 1st single is out now, i.e., Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dude in both Telugu and Tamil. But the song failed to reach the expectations, as the listeners did not like it and felt that the music, visuals, lyrics, and vocals were completely out of sync. The majority opinion is that the song is a big mess. 

Naslen reminds Priyan of Vishnu Vijayam Kamal

 

Priyadarshan was about to direct Anbe Sivam with Kamal Haasan but it fell through. Later he directed the Hindi remake of Thevar Magan with Anil Kapoor. Kamal opted out of doing the remake of the film produced and directed by him as he wanted Dilip Kumar to essay Sivaji Ganesan’s role but could do so. Now Priyan who is Kochi for filming of the Hindi remake of Oppam that he directed in Malaylam was present at a promotional event of the film Lokah that has his daughter Kalyani in a central role of a superwoman. Here he startled everybody by saying Naslen was the second coming of Kamal Haasan. Naslen stood up and thanled the Directpr for the compliment. It maybe noted that Kalyani's mother Lissy acted with Kamal in Vikram ( old)

.... “Naslen is a favourite actor of mine. When I used to watch films like Vishnu Vijayam, I noticed the unique charm of Kamal Haasan as an actor. He exuded innocence while also conveying a cheeky confidence. Naslen feels like the second coming of that.” On hearing his words, a visibly moved Naslen stood up and expressed his gratitude, earning warm applause from the audience.

. The mention of Vishnu Vijayam is particularly significant. Directed by N Sankaran Nair, the film featured Kamal Haasan in the titular role opposite Sheela, during his formative phase as a leading man in Malayalam cinema. Earlier that same year, Kamal had already made a striking breakthrough with Kanyakumari, a landmark Malayalam film scripted by the legendary writer-filmmaker M T Vasudevan Nair and directed by K S Sethumadhavan. The film, which paired him with Rita Bhaduri in her debut, marked his very first outing as a full-fledged protagonist and introduced audiences to the adult performer who would soon dominate South Indian screens. It also launched the career of Jagathy Sreekumar and earned Kamal his very first Filmfare Award for Best Actor

Sharing the screen with Kalyani in Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Naslen leads what is being touted as one of the most ambitious Malayalam films in recent years. Written and directed by Tharangam-fame Dominic Arun, the upcoming fantasy spectacle promises to fuse myth and dystopia in a striking new visual language. Actor Santhy Balachandran has contributed as an additional screenplay writer and dramaturgist, while Dulquer Salmaan produces the film under his Wayfarer Films banner.

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra releases worldwide on August 28, clashing with Mohanlal’s Hridayapoorvam. Adding to the festive weekend, Fahadh Faasil’s Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, also featuring Kalyani, opens a day later.

Priyadarshan, meanwhile, is directing Haiwaan, a Hindi reimagining of his Malayalam thriller Oppam. Saif Ali Khan plays the blind protagonist originally essayed by Mohanlal, while Akshay Kumar is reported to step into the antagonist’s role.

 

 

 

Coolie goes Thug Life way- 8 week OTT release / Kalyani Priyadarshan Joins Kamal Haasan

 We reported about Kalyani Priyadarshan twin releases for Onam and now yet another biggie in her kitty . Read Or story L https://dhakshinscreen.blogspot.com/2025/07/mohanlal-effeminate-act-for-jwellery-ad.html. Read on

One of the most exciting updates about the project featuring Kamal Haasan and Director duo AnbuAriv , as per a report on News 18, is the addition of actor Kalyani Priyadarshan in a crucial role. The Malayalam actor, who previously starred in Tamil films like Hero and Maanaadu, is set to share screen space with Kamal for the first time. Anbariv, the twin brothers who made their mark with their choreography in big-budget spectacles like Vikram and Thug Life, are now taking full creative control as directors. Their signature high-octane stunt sequences are expected to be a major highlight of KH 237. Kamal Haasan,

Last seen in Varshangalukku Shesham, Kalyani Priyadarshan can next be seen alongside Ravi Mohan in Genie. In Malayalam, she has Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira and Lokah—Chapter One: Chandra, in the pipeline. 

Meanwhile, there's also anticipation for the release of Kamal Haasan-Shankar’s Indian 3, another major release on the horizon. Kamal, who was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, was recently seen celebrating the milestone with fellow actor and friend Rajinikanth, a moment that went viral on social media.

We had reported that Rajinikanth Coolie got a Hindi Distributor and now obeying to National chains, the film has agreed to a 8 week OTT window from theatrical release. Thug Life had agreed to this demand and after the debacle, it decided to compensate the national chains and go for a 4 week OTT release. Coolie which has Aamir Khan in a cameo and that his recent release is doing well, Coolie has got some North belt attention. Amazon Prime has got Coolie rights. Simlarly we had reported that Coolie will release in IMAX but not with the tag Made in IMAX. Chennai and Coinbatore IMAX has been confirmed. Read; https://dhakshinscreen.blogspot.com/2025/07/suriya-46-ghajini-cum-thief-coolie-gets.html

Shruti Haasan, who will be seen as Preethi in Rajinikanth's upcoming film, said, "All of Lokesh’s films have a common thread. They have action, high-octane stuff happening and underneath there’s an emotional core. That is similar in this story. There’s a line of story which he relies on in order to make that work. What’s different is that the scale is way bigger. In terms of scale, it is very different.”

Reports suggest that Coolie's storyline has been leaked

According to Letterboxd, Coolie follows Deva, a former gold smuggler once feared by all, who is now on a mission to reclaim his lost glory. Blending action, nostalgia, and gritty underworld drama, Rajinikanth’s character reunites his old mafia crew in a bold attempt to rise once again.

About the film

Coolie is produced by Kalanithi Maran's Sun Pictures. The film stars Rajinikanth, alongside Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR and Monisha Blessy. It releases along with Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s War 2 on August 14. Aamir Khan makes a cameo as Dahaa.

BRO DADDY Movie Review : You can sleep off and still not miss anything.

 

BRO DADDY movie is no laugh riot as the teasers make it out. It is something that you can sit in your arm chair with a cup of tea and samosas and watch it on TV. Once you get to know the plot   in the first half , then the latter half proceedings make you fall asleep as there is not much of a comedy and when Shoubin crops up, you expect something but here too there is nothing to retain your interest. Finally when the expected climax happens, you can get up with a feeling of NOT BAD ( koyampam illa).

The film starts with a good timing between Mohanlal and Prithviraj and a nice set of actors like Meena- Lalu Alex - Kanikha - Kalyani Priyadarshan, palatial bungalows, rich settings , tasteful costumes,  nice colour sense and a cinematography that captures it all. Now as the wafer thin plot is laid out, you need is a screenplay that has moments of rollicking laughter. It's  here that director Prithviraj totally fails , You do not have any great song sequences either.

This film makes you realize the worth of Priyadarshan - if only this was given to him !. Anyway the idea to  came on OTT ( Disney Hotstar) is good as it will keep the  50 + age group tuned in . There are  no loud BGM's to wake you up. Of the whole lot, Lalu Alex is only one with a role that calls for acting and he does it with ease. 

Hridayam movie review : It is no `Premam'

Hridayam is from  the genre of films of which ` Premam' belongs. So comparing  Hridayam to Premam , is inevitable. Hridayam is no patch on that movie. Secondly, Vineeth Srinivasan has slipped badly in fleshing out the main protagonist Arun played by Pranav Mohanlal. From here onwards take place  the slide in creating a film about relationships that one encounters in life's journey.  Arun is shown as one who has had no strong friendships with his peers except for the girl Darshana with whom he breaks up at the start of the movie and his other is a sidekick. With this character , how do you work out a subject of bonding and emotions  ?

The only friend that made an impression on Arun is Selva, a Tamil student who motivated him to study and clear the arrears. This guy meets with an accident and dies. After that Arun is shown to have not have kept in touch with his Tamil pals or any body else. it was only with Darshana .It is justified if all college mates turn up for Darshana's wedding but Arun who is not shown to have any bonding with his mates in and after college has a big gang turn up. Strange guys !!!.

So many cliches like the wedding in rain, lush green meadows, soft mushy music , college ragging, funny teachers and some what we call  cringe moments are filled in to keep the narrative going. When the wedding photographer falls in love with Kalyani Priyadarshan saga starts and the entire length up to the marriage and the baby care- in- laws is one that just does not merge with the main movie. It stands out like a sore thumb.  Kalyani plays the butter will not melt in my mouth role with ease.

Now as climax moves to Darshana's wedding , we expect some intense exchange between her and ex BF Arun.  We see this bold girl ask questions to Arun about what if the guy she marries turns to be  a bad choice and he gives a reply which means that a hubby/ wife and a baby is what everybody's  moment is all about.

Technically the film is top notch. Given a role that is not well defined, Pranav does not have much of scenes for us to see the actor in him, Only one scene is what you take home- When he video calls his ex and tells about him being a father. Wish Vinneth had given as much care to Arun character as much to Darshana's. Among the hollow characters around, Darshana had to shine and she did. Some actors like the side kick to Pranav and the guy who played Selva are a few you remember.

We have to talk about music separately in this film as the director has put in 15 songs and even got back the old cassette tape back for audio launch. Hesham steps in place for Vinneth's regular -Shaan and no doubt he does full justice ( except for the Hindi - Tamil bits ).  Except for three songs, all others are fillers. 

Is Hridayam as memorable as `Premam' - No.  In the middle of  all the muck- over exaggerated box office claims and pretensions of being a trend setter, Hridayam can definitely be watched. It is not big screen experience and so even an OTT will do.