Anupama Paradha gets OTT deal / Kubera - DNA ON OTT

 Even before the release date has been announced, the Anupama Parameswaran – Darshana Rajendran film Paradha directed by Cinema Bandi fame Praveen has signed a deal with Amazon Prime. The film is backed by the acclaimed director duo Raj and DK. Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., collectively known as Raj & DK, are an Indian filmmaker duo. They are best known for their work as creators, directors, writers, and producers of the Hindi-language thriller series The Family Man (2019–present), Farzi (2023–present), and Guns & Gulaabs (2023). Raj is BF of Samantha.

Kuberaa stars Nagarjuna and Dhanush in lead roles. alongside Rashmika as the lead actress. Directed by Sekhar Kammula, The film will be streaming tonight on Prime Video in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi

Garudan remake is Bhairavam Stars Bellamkonda Srinivas, Manchu Manoj, and Nara Rohit as the leads. Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, this action drama will be streaming from tonight on ZEE5. It is Aditi Shankar's Telugu debut.

 DNA the Tamil film starring Atharva and Nimisha is releasing on July 18 as My Baby and on July 19 it gets released on HioStar. So who will see the Telugu film in theatres ? This comes in the backdrop of a Exhibitors demand that films released in theatres should have a 4 week OTT window.

 According to the latest reports, Netflix has acquired Kingdom’s post-theatrical streaming rights for a whopping Rs. 50 crores. The deal reportedly includes rights for all languages. The makers are betting big on this Vijay Deverakonda starrer and have spent lavishly on the film without any compromises.

It is said that the producers have recovered a major portion of their investment through digital and other non-theatrical deals. Directed by Gowtham Tinnanuri of Jersey fame, the movie stars Bhagyashri Borse and Satyadev in key roles. Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya are producing the film, with music composed by Anirudh.

Dulquer Salman look as Thyagaraja Bhagawathar / Shahid Kapoor Deva a Prithviraj film remake

Dulquer Salman look as Bhagavathar through the hoarding outside the theatre has come out. Film is due for April release and Netflix has bought it. After Gemini Ganesan in Mahanati, now DQ in another biopic. Kaantha is a fictionalized film about the life of MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, a musical and movie star from the 1950s. The film is set in Madras (now Chennai) and explores the complexities of human relationships and societal change during that time. Cast: Dulquer Salmaan: Plays the role of MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar Bhagyashree Borse: Plays the female lead Samuthirakani: Plays a role in the film Crew: Selvamani Selvaraj: Director ( directed Hunt For Veerappan) Dani Sanchez Lopez: Cinematographer Jhanu: Music composer Ramalingam: Art director Tamizh Prabha: Writer Lewellyn Anthony Gonsalves: Editor Production: Rana Daggubati: Co-producer under his banner, Spirit Media Dulquer Salmaan: Co-producer under his banner, Wayfarer Films Prashanth Potluri: Co-producer Jom Varghese: Co-producer Release: The film will be released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi

‘Deva’ Trailer: Is Shahid Kapoor’s Cop Thriller a Remake of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Cult Hit ‘Mumbai Police’? Deva' marks the Bollywood debut of Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews. Shahid Kapoor plays the main lead, while the movie also stars Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Girish Kulkarni and Pravesh Rana. Now that the trailer has been released, those familiar with Mumbai Police are drawing comparisons. After Thri remake as Baby John and it's flop, nobody wants to say it is a remake.Here in Mumbai Police the climax is the highlight.

FFI bets on Aamir Khan to get Oscars for Lapaataa Ladies

 Film Federation of India or North India ? . After selection of Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry for Oscars , the goings on in the jury deliberation shows that the name Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan as producers just did the expected. If you read the shitty citation that FFI jury Chairperson put out ( even jury is misspelt) , you spot from where the mistake that started. “ “Indian women are a strange mixture of submission and dominance. It shows that women can happily desire to be home makers as well as rebel”. Now Ravi Kottarakara President of FFI and represents South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce gives his view on why the film was chosen – The goonghat or the veil that the woman wears and because of this the problem starts according to Ravi is something that is peculiar to Indian woman. He also admits that two bigger films Vaazhai and Thangalaan that came to finals were `too big’ to handle.

So the jury found in LL  the Indianness and the story  is  of a man married to a child bride and her being lost . Coming to the plot, Anant Mahadevan way back in May 2024 said that  that the mix-up and the ghunghatwala (face covered with veil) photo in Laapataa Ladies are straight out of his 1999 film Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. The endings differ. In Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol, the two women correct the mix-up but realise they have feelings for the other’s partner. The four characters end their marriages, switch partners and tie the knot again.

The point that Jury deliberated was not about whether Payal Kapadia film that won Grand Prix in Cannes was not Indian enough or that Ullozhukku'. , Thangalaan ,Vaazha and Aatam were fit to be India’s entry.  Critic Rangan hit the nail - Submitting a film for the Oscars is not just about the film being good but also whether the producers have the funds / desire / know-how / contacts to mount the hugely expensive Oscar campaign.

Look at all the so called films from South and background of the Production companies. Suriya did an exception as the film Jai Bhim was produced by him and he put it up as a private entry. Now take Payal Kapadia’s film. It needed a Rana to get a theatre in Kochi and then fulfil the Oscar criteria. Beyond that what can Rana do ? The five production companies that are behind Kapadia film seem to have given up on it, at least when  it comes to Oscars. Business wise they have got real solid distributors across the globe. Rana is part of the RRR team and all that is fine but is he a  Aamir Khan ?

Track record of Aamir Khan who is co producer of the film. Earth, Lagaan, rang De Basanti, Tare Zameen Par, Peepli Live were all Iscar entry. Out of this Laagan made it to top 5 in Foreign Film Category. Khan hired a Hollywood promotion agency and took a serious shot at it.

Last year, RRR Producers with SSR- NTR jr- Ram Charan team that had the bucks to do Oscar campaign were overlooked for an arthouse film. It did not make it to final and we know what RRR got. In 2022 , Surya was prepared to spend on Jai Bhim if selected for Oscars but instead Koozhangal an arthouse film was selected. In 2023, we send Malayalam film 2018 and that too sank without a trace. Koozhangal was bought by Nayanthara’s banner and she and hubby did some ground work in USA. Even this year Payal Kapadia film that had Rana Daggubatti from D Rama Naidu family backing and a person who is part of S S Rajamouli team from Baahubali to RRR  , lost out to Aamir Khan.

 

Going by track record – jury decided to correct the mistake . It is why  a North Indian Production House and that too with a Bollywood Star backing  and experienced in handling Oscar ,comes with a film , it will just find it Indian enough for official entry. Oscars. If it is a South  banner with Tollywood  Stars , it will find Indianness in an art house film that too from Gujarat.. Three Cheers to Film Federation of India ( North). Also the jury spared the embarrassment of having to wish Payal a win at Oscars. Read l 

Kerala Story ban not a soloution - Kamal Haasan - Dulquer Salman in Rana production - BiggBoss Kathrrvan turns hero

Kamal Haasan addressed the audience at India Today Conclave South 2023 and expressed his views on film censorship. He emphasized that he would not support banning any film and instead advocated for promoting understanding among viewers about the purpose and message of a film. He cited his personal experience with his own film, Vishwaroopam, which was initially banned in Tamil Nadu but later released after winning a legal battle. Haasan believed in the importance of free speech in the country and suggested that films should be certified for specific audiences rather than being censored or edited. Regarding a specific film, The Kerala Story, Haasan mentioned that although he hadn't watched it himself, he had heard people's opinions about it. He acknowledged that certain events portrayed in the film might be based on true incidents, but cautioned against exaggerating the numbers or presenting them as a national crisis.

According to reports, Dulquer Salmaan, the renowned actor, is currently discussing a new project alongside his upcoming Telugu film with director Venky Atluri. The film is expected to be a Tamil-Telugu bilingual and will be produced by Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media. Alongside Dulquer, popular Tamil actor Samuthirakani will also have a significant role in the movie. An official announcement regarding this project is anticipated soon. Dulquer recently completed filming for "King of Kotha," a highly anticipated Malayalam film in which he portrays a gangster. The film is co-produced by Wayfarer Studios and Zee Studios, his production banner, and is scheduled for release in August. Additionally, the talented actor is engaged in discussions with Malayalam filmmaker Tinu Pappachan for another potential collaboration.

Kathirrvan from Bigg Boss fame has secured the leading role in the upcoming movie 'Koodu,' helmed by JoylVijay. The film's storyline revolves around the real-life events that took place in Pothakudi village, situated in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu. In this extraordinary tale, the villagers bravely endured 35 days without electricity to safeguard a sparrow and its eggs. The sparrow had chosen to lay its eggs on the village's electricity board, and the villagers made the compassionate decision to protect the endangered bird. To support their cause, the villagers disconnected the streetlights that were connected to the same board, willingly living in darkness until the eggs hatched and the fledglings took flight. The villagers' selfless act stands as a testament to their noble nature.

Bheemla Nayak : Fair Telugu remake of Ayyappanum Koshiyum

Bheemala Nayak is not what I feared would have happened to Telugu remake of an iconic Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshy. To give due credit, Pawan Kalyan has towards the climax given more than expected footage to Rana's Liquor Daniel  (who plays Prithviraj's role) sort of made a balance equal. Though the original did  end with nobody declared a winner,  Pawan being POWER STAR, it has to be an exception.

Going by earlier remakes, the film has not been butchered badly as it was in Pink remake. If Pink was about whether consent is needed from a woman for sex was the issue, the Telugu remake was all about Pawan's love and caring to women folk . An exercise in brand building of Pawan the politician.

Here it does take place and an overdo of  it but the story line changes . Here  cop Ayyappan ( Pawan) gets suspended for arresting Koshy (Rana) who is not an ex-serviceman but a son of a liquor Mafia Don.  In final battle, Pawan losing the first round ( he was back stabbed by Liquor Danniel's goons) is itself a sacrilege to fans. If Ayyapan's trump card was his locking grip across the waist of opponent, here Bheema pulls out the hand of his rival from the shoulder as if it was a tuff of hair. What a deadly change in character !!!  

Nithya Menon ( wife of Bheema) is probably most pretty tribal woman seen on screen in recent times. Samyuktha Menon as Daniel wife springs to life in the climax. Samudrakanni role was a casualty as how can we forget  director Ranjith as estate landlord. As it is season of Lal baiting, I was wondering if the original film was in Telugu and remade in Malayalam  with Mohanlal in  Ayyappan role .