Kamal and Mani unbridled in Thug Life / Keerthy Suresh finds new avatars in Bollywood/ BiggBoss Tamil back to Vijay TV

During a recent FICCI event, Kamal Haasan spoke about the film Thug Life scale, saying, “It’s a multi-starrer, and some of the actors in the film are going to become stars in the future. If we include them, it truly becomes a multi-starrer. This is the kind of film Mani wanted to make, and I wanted to do it too—so we are doing it.” He added - “The story has numerous characters, played by exceptionally talented actors from Malayalam, Hindi, and Telugu cinema. We have all sorts of great talent, and each one of them is capable of holding the film on their own.” At FICCI meet, Trisha pointed out that you might not know if the protagonist in Thug Life is good or evil even after watching the film, Kamal agreed and interestingly added, “Good and bad are the same. What is important for mathematics? Plus or minus? In Nayakan, there was a question about whether the protagonist is a good or bad person. Thug Life explores the same theme. Even after watching the movie, you might realize that the protagonist is a mix of both good and bad.”

Keerthy Suresh with release of the NetFlix webseries Akka is to shift to an action avatar, It is an Ysh Raj oroduction and after that we hear that there is a Rom Com in Bollywood that she will sign soon. Though Baby John did not set the box office on fire, Keerthy has got a good name as an actress. She has two Tamil films - Revolver Rita and Kannivedi, both of which are currently waiting release. Keerthy along with Radhika Apte, Tanvi Azmi, and Diptii Salvi, the revenge thriller is set in the fictional city of Pernuru in South India and follows powerful gangster queens. Keerthy plays the leader of an all-female gang, while Radhika’s character is set to challenge her dominance. The teaser hints at an intense power struggle . Akka is written and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty and produced by Yash Raj Films' Aditya Chopra, along with Yogendra Mogre and Akshaye Widhani under the banner of YRF Entertainment

After Manimekalai it’s Sivaangi Krishnakumar who has quit Vijay TV and joined Sun TV. The TV channel launched a promo of a kids show titled ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhan’ with with children on Tuesday. The promo revealed the new host who as ‘Akka’ is Sivaangi Krishnakumar. Joining as a host, Meanwhile Colors Tamil that is now part of JioHotstar ( includes Vijay TV) had a repeat run of BiggBoss Tamil season that just concluded with Vijay Sethupathi. It was stopped abruptly as TRP was poor. So it is likely that next seasonof BB9 will be back on Vijay TV – JioHotstar OTT.

Gore unlimited is Thug Life / Atlee - Vijay sethupathi- Balaji details - Siruthai Siva in news/ AK next

Thug Life starring Kamal Haasan- STR and directed by Mani Rathinam has three hours of edited running time. Those in the know say that this film is the most violent film from Director Mani. The violence in the film will put Animal , Kill and Marcos much behind. The source said that the violence is on par with any Hollywood or Korean film but what makes it stand apart is that it has so many situations that make you uneasy and squirm in your seat. The question that ariises is that the core Mani Rathinam audience will lap it up or puke over it ?. Will have to wait till June 5th. One guy remarked that Thug Life can be described as trailor of stunt choreographers Anbu Arivu directorial venture with Kamal Haasan.

Ajith is all probability to give a green signal to Adhik Ravichandran whose Good Bad Ugly is to release. Main reason being that Adhik has a story that appeals to Ajith and that he has a comfort zone and to top it all his execution is perfect. The film started streaming on Netflix on 3rd March, and in its opening week [3rd March – 9th March], it saw a good viewership on Netflix. It clocks 3 million views and trends globally at the 7th position in non-English movies, and it is also the No. 1 movie in 5 countries and among the top 10 in 14 countries, which is a very good achievement.

If you thought Siruthai Siva after Kanguva is going to find it difficult tohet a hero, you are wrong. His next is with Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi. Before release of Hindi film Baby John, Atlee and Murad, announced that they are doing a Tamil film with Vijay Sethupathi. Atlee shared his enthusiasm for the project: “Yes, it’s a film with Vijay Sethupathi sir. It’s a fantastic story that Murad sir and I have been working on for the past two years. This is the next banger from Cine1 and A For Apple.” Director of the Atlee film is Direction: Balaji Tharanitharan (Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, Seethakaathi). Sethupathi is shedding 15 kgs for the role. Shoot next month.

STR haircut for Thug Life - Mammooty v/s Kamal Haasan on June 13

Kamal Haasan v/s Mammootty on June 13th and STR is in Mumbai for a makeover to join Thug Life. The meeting between Oscar winner Alfonso Curano with Thug Life team in Chennai is another Kamal linked news. STR was sporting a long hair for the film produced by Kamal banner. The film has not move forward and now STR has joined Thug Life and he will replacing Dulquar Salmaan or Jeyam Ravi. Both these actors had to drop out as Kamal’s political engagements made the schedules go hatwire. STR is in Mumbai for a makeover and that includes a hair styling. So does it mean that STR film is on back burner ? Now as we had reported that Indian 2 will release on June 13th and that too when all media outlets had only to say what Lyca had put out that it was a June release. ( https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2024/04/kamal-indian-2-and-rajinikanth.html). Now we have a great battle on June 13th. Mammooty Turbo is coming on same date and announced by Mega Star himself. After a few offbeat films that won him acclaim from critics and audience, Mammootty is back to mass masala. So Kerala market is going to be difficult for Indian 2. Alfonso Cuaron the Oscar winner was in Chennai and Kamal hosted a lunch at his Alwarpet home and got Mani Ratinam, A R Rahman ,Ravi K Chandran, Siddharth and beau Aditi along with Kamal’s Man Friday Mahendran to talk about CINEMA. Alfonso apart from Best Direction has bagged award in Editing and Cinematography !!!.. He directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

No Vairamuthu- A R Rahman in Illaiyaraaja biopic

Illaiyaraaja biopic with Dhanush and directed by Arun who directed Captain Miller is going to be one without chapters about lyricist poet laureate and Vairamuthu, There will be no mention of A R Rahman as well as the Madras Mozart had no role in the maestro’s life history, The fall out between Vairamuthu and Raaja is still clouded in many versions, But all the same the combo had created history in Tamil music world in terms of biz and national awards. Ommiting this would a big vacuum. The another omission is that in life of Raaja thee is no mention of ARR, Raaja says that in that case he will have to start from how he dethroned MSV on wards and patronage of MHR and then also include Deva to many others and conveniently mises about the Oscars. In that case should Keeravani too figure as he was a Tamil music composer. Keeping this omissions comes another bomb. Raaja talks about royalty theaft by producers and singers like SPB. Raaja ‘s producer is Sathyajothi Films who produced Captain Miller with Dhanush. It seems Bollywood’s production company had first approached Dhanush father Kasthoori Raaja to work out the Raaja project, Dad had already gor Dhanush to shell out a few crores as he sold digital rights of film 3 to two Bollywood companies. At first R Balki who is close to Raaja was to direct the biopic was sidelined after Sathyajothi came in on behalf of the Bollywood company. Though Arun Mathewaran has been fixed, Raaja has been told that Arun’s three films were commercially disasters, Raaja now got Rajinikanth to agree to do in what is said in today’s parlance as extended cameo. We all know what happened to Lal Salaam, After this Raaja has sent Arun to see Kamal to sit on the screenplay. Now will Kamal put his name to a controversial one ? Will Kamal convince Raaja to change tacks ? In fact it was at a Thalapathy function that Raaja bombastically stated that films got sold on his name. K Balchander was Chief Guest, Vairamuthy lyricist, Mani Rathinam director and Raaja the music director. K Balcchander introduced ARR in Roja with Mani as Director and Raaja was getting back at them.

Thalapathy films make 44% of 2023 Tamil Box Office earnings

Thalapathy Vijay two films ( leo- Varisu) released in 2023 contributed to 44 % of the year box office top 5 films. The top 5 grossed more than Rs 100 crores plus, the rest of the five barely touched Rs 50 crore mark. Though the year was a Thalapathy- Thalaivar and Thala dominated year, the legendary Mani Rathinam held out in figured in top 5 with PS 2 clocking Rs 140 cr and fourth slot. Though the film had Vikram – Trisha- Karthi- Jeyam Ravi in the cast, PS 2 got the numbers on the strength of Mani’s name and the audience appreciation of his craft. Last year too he maintained his box office hold with PS 1. The year 2003 saw Vishal who was badly mauled year after year bounce back and that too with a bang. Mark Antony made on a budget of Rs 28 crores went on to collect a gross of Rs 100 crore and surprisingly it was directed by Adhik who is no great shaker at the box office. Similarly was the case of Por Thozhil a crime investigation thriller with Ashok Selvan and Sarath Kumar which made on a budget of Rs 8 crores that collected Rs 28 crores. Ajith’s Thunivu ( Rs 118 crore). Rajinikanth Jailor ( Rs 196 crore) are two other films that figured in top 5. Jailor was crucial for Rajinikanth as it had been quite some time that he delivered a blockbuster and to top it was directed by Nelson who got badly panned by critics for his outing with Vijay in Beast (2022). The film collected on Vijay’s stardom but it was a risk for Rajini as he was not keeping his form. Things turned in his favour and it brought him back. In the Rs 50 crore film slot and the last 5 of the 10, was another surprise. It was Vadivelu and Udhaynidhi Stalin film Mammannan . Vadivelu in a serious role and a not so commercial film by Mari Selvaraj, the film made at Rs 25 crores had collected Rs 71 crores. Two films Maaveeran of Sivakarthikeyan and Director Karthik Subburaj- Lawrence film Jigarthanda XX are put in top 10 list by some trade portals. Maaveeran budget was Rs 85 crore and it collected Rs 81 crore. Similarly Jigarthanda budget was Rs 65 crore and it collected only Rs 45 crore. Going by this yardstick, LGM starring Harish Kalyan made at Rs 8 crore collected Rs 9 crore and should be a hit. Harish had a winner in Parking but rains played spoil sport and ruined the run. Lady Superstar Nayanthara film Annapoorani too suffered the same fate but the film content was bad. Two biggest flops of 2023 were much hyped Chandramukhi 2 with Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut that cost Lyca the tidy amount of Rs 65 crores could come up with Rs 51 crore. The biggest flop was Japan starring Karthi. Its budget was Rs 80 crore and got back Rs 28 crores. Santhanam who started well with DD Returns bit dust with 80’s Buildup. Simbhu- Dhanush- Suriya had no releases and so also last year’s blockbuster film Vikram’s hero Kamal Haasan. 2024 will see all the Kollywood top draws at the box office is the point that excite Tamil movie buffs. To add more fizz, we will see Shankar too with Indian 2 to give Mani’s Thug Life a fight.

Kamal haasan puts off Production plans - Prabhu daughter to marry Director Adhik - Pooja Gandhi marriage 2'morrow

 

Rajkamal Films of Kamal Haasan has decided to put all production ventures in the pending list as it faces a problem with an OTT platform over funding. The said platform is under a takeover bid by another OTT platform and hencee any new projects would be approved only that. Before shooting, RKFI gets into an agreement with the OTT platform and the schedules of cash transaction’s. The amount for OTT rights is paid to RKFI in instaments while shooting and the rest comes from the production company. In view of this H Vinoth film with Kamal and STR film with Periyasamy and Vignesh with Pradeep Ranganathan is kept pending. Sivakarthiyean film under shooting has been told to cut down costs as budget has been trimmed. In view of this there is a possibility that Thug Life with Mani Rathinam might start soon.

Veteran Actor Prabhu’s Daughter Aishwarya is all set to marry Director Adhik Ravichandran of Mark Antony fame. Adhik is all set to direct Ajith in the actors next. Aishwarya married her aunt’s son Kunal and moved to USA and later she announced a bakery and that she is selling cakes baked by her. Later she came back after Kunal and she had difference of opinion. She was staying with Prabhu and somewhere along the line, she and Adhik met and fell in love. Now it seems that o December 17, she and Adhik will be married.

The impending marriage of Pooja Gandhi on November 28^th  has created quite a buzz in Karnataka, notably due to her stature as a highly sought-after actress in Kannada cinema. In Tamil she was last seen in Thalai Ezhuthu with Richard Raj in 2009. Her debut Tamil was Kokki with Karan and then P Vasu launched his son Skathi in Thottal Poo Malarum and Pooja was one of the heroines. Later she acted in Sarath Kumar in Vaitheswarran and Arjun’s Tiruvanamalaai, In Malayalam she acted in Maad Dad. All her outings in non Kannada language industries were flops.Pooja Gandhi's fiancé Vijay is a Bengaluru-based logistics firm owner and native of Karnataka. The couple, said to have been in love for quite a few years, is soon to begin their marital journey. Pooja Gandhi's transformation from a Punjabi-origin actress to someone deeply immersed in Kannada culture, mastering the language and now marrying a Kannadiga, has earned immense pride and admiration from the people of Karnataka. Born into a Punjabi family in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Pooja Gandhi spent her early years in Delhi. Her introduction to the Kannada film industry began with "Mungaru Male," where she established her foothold and later found success. Pooja Gandhi has also ventured into Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam cinema.The impending marriage of Pooja Gandhi has created quite a buzz in Karnataka, notably due to her stature as a highly sought-after actress in Kannada cinema.

Beast pushes down Kamal Haasan's Vikram film OTT prices

 The failure of `Beast' in the Hindi market ( theatrical) has affected the OTT price of many South films that had been riding on a ` pan Indian tag'. Kamal Haasan who has the tag of `Ulaga Nayagan' ( International Actor) given by fans is coming after a gap of 4 years with ` Vikram' that is scheduled to release on June 3rd. The actor who is also the producer was quoting a price that was on par with a Pan Indian film  with the OTT platforms. 

After the flop of `Beast'  the film which has Thalapathy Vijay as hero, Vikram stock has fallen. Vijay's BO rating is as high as Rajinikanth and much above Kamal Haasan in Tamil Nadu. The last release of Kamal was Vishwaroopam 2 that was an average grosser and nothing that electrified the box office. In the last four years, Kamal has floated his own party and is opposed to the two Dravidian majors. The fan base ( if any left) would have been divided. His party contested two elections and all the candidates including himself lost. Incidentally, the film is distributed by Red Giant Movies of Udaynidhi Stalin.

His only public outing has been the reality show Bigg Boss on Star Vijay. A  abridged version called Ultimate was telecast on Disney Hotstar and this  was a non starter as it was available to only those with Smart TV and Disney app. Nearing the end, Kamal quit hosting the show citing prior date issues.

Vikram has Faahad Fazil and Vijay Setupathi  to give a multiple language look. Amitabh Bachchan is said to have played a cameo. Lokesh Kanakraj,  the director had directed Vijay's Master and it was a block buster. It was dubbed and released in Hindi. With no promotion, it sank. Anirudh is the music director who has a high stock as his score for Beast is a hit across several languages especially the Arabic Kuthtu song. The story line of Vkram that is being circulated around, if true, is nothing novel.

The next big Pan Indian film is Ponniyin Selvan directed by Mani Rathinam with several South stars and  Aishwarya Rai. Mani's rating as a Pan Indian director is still high and commands a huge audience abroad. Film produced by Lyca , the film is fetching high prices in the OTT and digital rights market.  Here again what works for Mani is that the subject is a historical fantasy adventure film , a genre that clicked with Baahubali .franchise.

As per trade sources, only directors like Shankar, Rajamouli and Prasanth Neel who have added to Pan Indain list with Mani Rathinam are able to demand a price for their product. As Pushpa is a hit, the sequel has a high market value but the director does not and nor the hero Allu Arjun .  Prabhas Salaar commands a pan Indian price tag for the director Prasanth Neel as Prabhas Radhe Syam was a flop in Hindi.