Showing posts with label Indian 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian 2. Show all posts
Releasing the film now makes no sense, says Thug Life Karnataka distributor
9:08 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 20, 2025)
Despite getting a go-ahead from the Supreme Court, the distributor of actor Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life in Karnataka believes there is no point to a belated release.
The film premiered across India two weeks ago, but controversy around the actor’s remarks on Kannada resulted in a stay on its release in the state.
A day after the apex court’s decision, distributor Venkatesh Kamalakar noted, “It is not a good business decision to release the film now. [Kamal’s] previous films Indian 2 (2024) and Vikram (2022) also did not do well here.”
Venkatesh, who primarily distributes big-budget Tamil films in Karnataka, added, “When it comes to his films, the success depends on how good it is. Thug Life has generally not been considered a good film, so it’s too risky.”
According to industry sources, the distributor had already paid the production house Rs. 9 crore as an advance for distribution rights. Venkatesh said the banner had promised to return the money. However, he said he isn’t anticipating any difficulty in getting the refund.
He asked, “It is not like it is our fault. Things turned out the way they did, and when there is no profit, which theatre owner will agree to showcase the film?”
After Kolaveri, we realized language is never a barrier-Anirudh
8:08 AM
M Suganth (BOMBAY TIMES; July 12, 2024)
Ever since he burst on to the scene with Kolaveri (3), in 2011, Anirudh has bcome one of the sought-after composers in Indian cinema. In 2023, he made his Bollywood debut with Jawan, and this year, his slate is filled with films featuring big stars, with Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 being the first of those. In an exclusive interview, the composer opens up to us on the challenge of composing for a Shankar film, how he chose to deal with the pressure of comparisons to A R Rahman’s work in the original film, his learning from Jawan and more...
‘THE MAIN CHALLENGE WITH INDIAN 2 WAS PSYCHOLOGICAL’
Any sequel comes with extra expectations. More so if it is that of a cult film like Indian. So, the main challenge was to psychologically let go of such thoughts and enjoy the process. Contrary to popular belief, I find it very difficult to make dance numbers; I take the longest time to make them. Shankar sir’s vision is so huge that we have to match it sonically, which was a wonderful challenge to face.
‘SHANKAR SIR AND I JAMMED LIKE TWO FRIENDS’
It was a dream for me to even make music for one film. Being a ’90s kid, I always looked up to Shankar sir. So, when he told me I’d be his music director, it was indeed a special moment. The characteristic that differentiates him is that he already has a clear vision of what every song should speak about, and more so, how every frame of it will look. All the songs had specific themes even before we started composing them. Most of the songs of both Indian 2 and 3 were composed in 2017/18. In fact, all our sessions together were just like two friends jamming in my studio.
ON HANDLING THE PRESSURE OF COMPARISON WITH AR RAHMAN’S WORK IN THE ORIGINAL INDIAN...
Magic can never be recreated; one must create his or her own. From Day 1, it was a conscious decision to not take that pressure to heart and enjoy the process. Every film comes with the pressure of delivering bigger chartbusters than our previous outing. And we enjoy that pressure. It’s that pressure that makes us push the boundary every time. With respect to Indian 2, it was a series of enjoyable jam sessions with Shankar sir. Again, the emphasis was on different genres for different audiences. Fans of the original Indian’s patriotic soundtrack would appreciate Paaraa and Neelorpam. Kadharalz and Comeback Indian, on the other hand, were aimed at dance reel makers.
‘WITH JAWAN, I LEARNED LARGER-THANLIFE FILMS NEVER GO OUT OF FASHION’
Whether the film is made in Bombay or here in Chennai, the music comes out of Alwarpet (the Chennai locality where he has his studio). So, the experience with Jawan was similar to that of working on every other film. The takeaway was the happiness of entering a new market with such a big success. I’m ever thankful to SRK sir and Atlee for trusting in me. Working on the film, we learned that larger-than-life films will never go out of fashion. In fact, they will always be the most celebrated.
‘LANGUAGE BARRIER IS BEING BROKEN MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY’
Many composers and indie artistes work on a Bollywood film. Then, the score is done by someone else. So, that’s a pattern that works there. Here, we still have one composer who lives with the whole film. That said, immediately after Kolaveri, we (he and his team) realised language is never a barrier. And that barrier is being broken more and more every day.
‘SUCCESS COMES WITH TALENT, BUT THE REAL GAME IS SUSTAINING’
If one is talented, there will be a time that success beckons. But the real game is sustaining. And that is possible only if you update yourself with the times. Maybe I was today’s generation when 3 was released. But now, I know there’s a generation after me, and I make sure to keep myself updated. In fact, I am the eldest on my team. So, getting with the times is pretty organic and enjoyable.
‘COMPARING ERAS IS A WASTEFUL EXERCISE’
I feel we are blessed to be in an age with so many new composers. Not just now, but from the time we started, there has been an influx of wonderful musicians all around the country. And I listen to everyone. Most of them are my buddies; we even share our softwares and instruments. Comparing eras is a wasteful exercise. As I said at the audio launch of Indian 2, nobody can be the next someone. We should aim to carve our own niche.
Anirudh on his 2024 films:
- Vettaiyan is a strong, rooted story with Superstar Rajinikanth. Fans can expect an earthy soundscape.
- Devara (starring Jr NTR) is a period seabased tribal film, which is also a new space for us.
- Vidaamuyarchi (starring Ajith Kumar) is a travel-based whodunit set abroad, so the sound of that would be more international.
On both Jawan and Indian 2 straddling the vigilante space:
Jawan was the next big step in my career, which we (he and his team) were patiently waiting for. And I’m ever thankful for the astounding success of the film and its music. Yes, both Jawan and Indian 2 straddle the vigilante space, but the vision of both directors was different, both storytelling-wise and music-wise.
Indian thatha is like Superman. I’m against restricting him inside boxes like age-Shankar
8:57 AM
M Suganth (BOMBAY TIMES; July 9, 2024)
For the past three decades, the name Shankar has been synonymous with grandeur and big-budget commercial films. The filmmaker, who has been working on two high-profile films — Indian 2, the sequel to his 1996 blockbuster Indian, and Game Changer, his first Telugu film — almost simultaneously, talks to us about why he reunited with Kamal Haasan for Indian 2, why corruption is an issue that needs to be addressed, opting for Anirudh over AR Rahman, the criticisms directed at him and more. Excerpts:
‘INITIALLY, EVEN I FELT THAT I MIGHT BE REPEATING MYSELF IF I DID INDIAN 2’
After 2.0, I was thinking of doing another sci-fi film. It didn’t demand a big star. It’s a film in which the character was more important than the actor playing it. Like, say Spider-man. But its budget demanded a big star, so I had to drop it. That is when the idea of Indian 2 struck. You come across news about corruption constantly. It has not been possible for us to eradicate it. So, what if Indian thatha were to return now? That thought was interesting for me. But even I felt I might be repeating myself as the idea for a film did not form within me. But once I started thinking about what all I shouldn’t be doing for the sequel to not seem repetitive, I started getting ideas for angles that might be novel and true to life.
‘IF NO ONE CONSIDERS CORRUPTION TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE, DOES THAT MAKE IT RIGHT?’
Why would there be news about corruption if people have moved on from considering it a serious issue? So, the problem still exists. Just a few think that it’s no longer an important issue. Also, if no one considers corruption as a serious issue, does that make it right? In fact, that’s when the need to create awareness becomes bigger. If it has become an issue that people have gotten used to and are not shocked about, it becomes a necessity to remind them again of its evils.
‘I CONSIDER INDIAN THATHA TO BE A SUPERMAN-LIKE CHARACTER’
I consider Indian thatha to be a Superman-like character. I’m against restricting him inside boxes like age. I see him not as an old man but as a superhero who happens to be old. Also, Indian thatha is the collective form of all our anger — from a teen to an 80-year-old — against a social evil. Does anger have an age?
Kamal sir actually wanted us to do a sequel right after Indian as he felt there were more messages that could be given through this character. But at that time, I didn’t have a story to take this character forward and I had told him I’d reach out once I got a premise. When this idea struck, I went to Kamal sir, and he, too, loved it. Frankly, neither of us went into an exploration of what the character’s age would be in the present. Because if we begin to obsess over details like age, we’ll miss out on the chance to see a character that’s a representation of our anger.
‘I DIDN’T WANT TO BURDEN RAHMAN WITH THIS FILM AS HE WAS WORKING ON THE BACKGROUND SCORE OF 2.0 THEN’
I’m interested in working with many composers. Each one has their own, unique flavour. Fortunately, I’ve a great rapport with Rahman. In this film’s case, I’d completed the shoot of 2.0 but had to wait for a year for the VFX work. So, during this time, I almost finished scripting Indian 2. Kamal sir, too, was ready to shoot. But Rahman had a heavy workload with the background score of 2.0, so I did not want to burden him by asking for songs for this film. I enjoy the kind of music that Anirudh is coming up with, so I decided to get him on board. His songs are catchy, and his background score is also good. He gives a variety of songs, from melodies to fastpaced dance numbers, so I felt he’d be apt.
‘I DON’T START WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND DON’T LOOK AT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING’
I believe in my imagination. Everyone’s imagination is their own. I don’t see what someone else is doing. I just think of what I need to execute to bring my imagination to life. In fact, 2.0 had a huge budget and scale. After that, I didn’t think of doing a film that was bigger than it in terms of budget and scale. I focus more on the thought that I have after a film. If that thought demands a bigger scale, then the film will be of the required scale. I only look at what I feel I should do next, the idea that I’m excited about, and what the audience is expecting from me. I try to find a story that satisfies all these factors and work on it. I don’t start with technology. I never think, ‘Oh, this technology is available today, so let me create a couple of scenes that might need it.’ It’s the story that demands all that.
‘Game Changer is my way of returning love of Telugu fans’
Thanks to producer A M Rathnam, who dubbed every single film of mine from Gentleman till Boys in Telugu, many people in the Telugu states have been following my work right from the beginning. I feel I owe something to that audience, and I have been wanting to do a film in their own language. Projects like a film with Chiranjeevi sir and a Telugu remake of Nanban didn’t materialize. With Game Changer, I finally got the opportunity to do a Telugu film. It’s my way of returning the love that they have been showing me. It’s a mass film that will have all the elements that audiences expect from my film.
On his writing process...
Once I arrive at an idea, I start thinking it over and expanding it. Later, I discuss with my assistants and turn it into a screenplay. Then, I bring in the dialogue writers. They read more than us and write in an even more detailed manner, in a language that’s powerful. So, even if we write a script, when our thoughts go through a writer’s mind and come out, they get a new flavour. But we have to rework it to use it for a medium like cinema. So, I do a rewrite, which is a huge process that can take 200-240 days. I begin this simultaneously as we start preproduction work and somehow manage to finish it right before we begin shooting.
‘Social media criticisms don’t bother me’
I do follow social media. Earlier, we used to look at newspapers, radio and then TV for feedback. Now, you do that with social media. Since it’s also part of this particular story, I had to keep track of it. But like everything else, this medium, too, has both good and bad. So, we have to pick and choose what’s constructive and ignore the rest. You just have to go to the profile of the person posting a negative comment to get an idea about the person, so you can easily ignore it if you find it not constructive. So, criticisms on social media don’t bother me. The criticism about me highlighting a specific caste also doesn’t hold. But some people want to view my films only through the prism of caste. With both Gentleman and Anniyan, the story decided the Brahminical milieu, which served as a contrast to the actions of the protagonists. I never want to be for or against any particular community. My films are made only from the common man’s point of view.
CBFC instructs director Shankar to delete shot of a woman’s cleavage from Kamal Haasan's Indian 2
8:23 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 8, 2024)
S Shankar’s Indian 2 seems to be the latest film subjected to the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) snip-happy attitude. Only recently, it was reported that the CBFC granted a ‘U/A’ certificate to the Kamal Haasan-starrer after suggesting several changes. Among the changes directed was the removal of a shot of a woman’s bust.
The scene in question apparently arrives at the 34th minute of the vigilante drama. A unit member of the movie told mid-day, “It is a small change, but why are movies at the receiving end of such needless changes? To snip a shot or beep out abuses is just an attempt to sanitize cinema. This shows the ongoing debate between preserving traditional values and allowing artistic expression.” The other modifications reportedly include removing the label ‘Bribe market’ in a scene and replacing seven expletives.
The sequel to Shankar’s Indian (1996) takes the story of Haasan’s character Senapathy forward, as the aged freedom fighter-turned-vigilante resurfaces to battle corruption and social injustice. Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh and Kajal Aggarwal also star in the action fare that will be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.
I got to tick two names off my checklist with Indian 2-Rakul Preet Singh
2:25 PM
Roopa Radhakrishnan (BOMBAY TIMES; July 7, 2024)
“I am elated to be a part of such a legendary franchise,” says Rakul Preet Singh, who plays a major role in Indian 2, produced by A Subaskaran of Lyca Productions. The actress vividly remembers the impact the original Indian (1996) had on her.
“After watching it, I was like, ‘Wow, what a film’. It is one of those films that you remember for the kind of impact it had on society. I never imagined that there would be a sequel to that film and that I’d star in it. So, I’m just extremely happy to be part of such a grand film that could be the voice of the country,” she says.
Rakul is also elated that she got to tick two names off her wish list by working in the film, which is set to hit screens on July 12. “When you become an actor, there’s a checklist of people that you want to work with one day. With Indian 2, I got a chance to work with two of those people – Kamal Haasan sir and Shankar sir! I admire the work ethic of both these stalwarts in their respective spaces. On the first day, Kamal sir’s prosthetics makeup took four to five hours. We were shooting in the outdoor heat of Chennai. We were sweating without wearing any prosthetics, but Kamal sir went about it calmly. A person of that stature doesn’t need to take on so much hardship at this point in his career, but he’s pushing the boundaries with his work and that too with a happy smile,” she gushes.
She calls Shankar “a delight to work with”. “He has such clarity of thought. It’s not easy to handle so many people and such huge sets, but the calm and composed attitude with which he goes about it is just amazing,” she says.
The actress is all praise for her costar Siddharth, who she’s paired with in the film “We all know that he is a talented actor. Otherwise, it’s not easy to complete two decades in an industry that is so cutthroat. He is an extremely easy person to work with, as he is friendly, enthusiastic and always happy,” she says.
‘I relate to my character a lot’
“My character in the film is that of a headstrong and focused girl. She is very sorted and clear about what she wants. She voices out whatever she feels. I relate a lot to her because parts of her are also how I am in real life,” says Rakul.
The second half of the year looks far more promising-Exhibitors
2:29 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; June 29, 2024)
In the first half of 2024 Bollywood saw a lull at the box office. There weren’t too many big-ticket films released, and those that did, performed below expectation. Fighter, Shaitaan, and Crew brought in some moolah, and some medium-budget (Srikantj, Munjya, Article 370, Madgaon Express) films clocked in good numbers, but overall, the numbers didn’t give the industry a reason to celebrate. As we look ahead at the second half of the year, BT talked to industry experts to understand their expectations and hopes from the upcoming lineup of theatrical releases and why exhibitors are relying on Telugu films to bring in phenomenal numbers.
‘Positive about business in the next six months’
Industry experts seem quite optimistic about the second half of the year. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, “We are optimistic. Hopefully we will recover lots more.”
Amit Sharma, MD, Miraj Entertainment Limited, chimes in, “The past six months have been really dull for Bollywood, however, the calendar for the upcoming months look exciting. We have a medium budget get film coming in every month, along with big budget films. And to have that mixed slate is important. The next six months are going to be really crowded at the box office. I am positive about the business. The next six months we will repeat the numbers that we did last year.”
‘The big-ticket entertainers are the true-blue theatrical watches’
Film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi stresses on the importance of tentpole movies. He explains, “The second half of the year looks a far more promising because you have a much higher number of big-ticket releases. We have pan-India movies ranging from Kalki 2898 AD and Pushpa 2 - The Rule to big Tamil movies like Indian 2 and then of course, there is Singham Again, which is one of the biggest franchises. These big-ticket entertainers are the true-blue theatrical watches. Hopefully, these films will create an impact and get revenues for multiplexes, single screens - tier one, tier two, tier three - everywhere across the board.”
Exhibitors depending on pan-India films to rake in huge numbers
Devara, Kalki 2898 AD, Pushpa and Game Changer are few of the pan-Indian movies that the trade experts are pinning their hopes on. Moreover, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director, PVR INOX Ltd, mentions that Hollywood movies such as Deadpool & Wolverine, Joker, and Venom 2, might be saviours in the second half of 2024.
Anand Pandit says, “Indian makers are no longer making films for a single demographic.” He also said, “Every year, we may not be able to deliver back-to-back blockbusters but as long as we remain creative, inspired and optimistic, we will always see more success than failure.”
Akshaye Rathi elaborates, “It is not that we don’t have confidence in Hindi films, but there aren’t as many big-ticket Hindi films coming out this year. It is a year run by Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar on Hindi front. There is no Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor or Ranveer Singh film releasing. Hence, this dependence on the Telugu movies is huge.”
Films expected to be money spinners from July-Dec 2024
1. Kalki 2898 AD
2. Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
3. Sarfira
4. Stree 2
5. Singham Again
6. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
7. Chhaava
8. Welcome to the Jungle
9. Sitaare Zameen Par
10. Baby John
11. Devara
12. Game Changer
13.Kanguva
14. Indian 2
15. Pushpa 2
It would be extremely biased from my side if I were to ever make a film on dad’s life-Shruti Haasan
10:16 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 16, 2024)
Shruti Haasan followed her father, Kamal Haasan’s footsteps and became an actor, but not many know that during her formative years, she was inclined towards taking up direction. In fact, she reveals that what fascinated her about a director’s job was an incident that also traces back to her father.
“I always thought that my dad was the ultimate. There was He-Man (animated superhero) and there was my dad. So, I’d be like, ‘Papa is so cool’. One day, I went to a set and I saw him listening to his director. And I was like ‘Who is this person who gets to make my dad act like he is in a classroom!’. And then I was like, ‘Wow, directing is such a cool job’. It was a very silly motivation in the beginning,” she tells us on Father's Day.
The 38-year-old is now juggling roles of an actor, musician and a producer, and one wonders if she wants to resurrect her direction dreams, and maybe one day helm a biopic on her superstar father.
“Oh god no! Definitely not!” she exclaims, and shares why she won’t be the right person for the job. “It would be extremely biased from my side if I were to ever make a film on dad’s life. Also, I think there are more well-equipped storytellers who’ll do justice to his story.”
In fact, celebrating her father’s glorious journey, Shruti recently paid tribute to him at the audio launch of his upcoming film Indian 2.
Stating that it was a “great experience” performing on stage to her father’s songs, Shruti tells us, “Papa has such a prolific, insane career, so, it was like trying to find different things in the ocean. It was amazing fun to take all of these songs, and put them in a newly-produced set, which was indicative of my style and how I play it with my band. For me, to infuse my music while honouring what dad’s music means to people was really exciting,” concludes the actor, who will next be seen in Dacoit and Salaar 2.
Shruti Haasan's ‘sweet’ gesture at Indian 2 audio launch: performs on Kamal Haasan's old songs, touches his feet
8:22 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 5, 2024)
Shruti Haasan’s latest performance may be among her most cherished ones, purely for the emotional value it holds. On June 2, the actor-musician performed at the audio launch of Indian 2, which is led by her actor-father Kamal Haasan. Through their performance, Shruti and her band paid tribute to the superstar as they belted out his hit songs from the past decades, including Potta Padiyudhu and Akadanu Naanga. After a set, Shruti even walked to her father in the audience, touched his feet and hugged him before returning to the stage. Naturally, the heartfelt moment is going viral online.
Tell her that, and she says it’s a moment of pride for her. “I had a wonderful time putting [the act] together with my band. We had to revisit all his old songs and the new ones. It has always been special to perform for my father. A lot of who I am as a musician, singer and an artiste is because of my father. He enjoys the musician side of me. It’s an honour to perform for a legend, but as his daughter, it’s sweet to do this for him,” she says.
The event took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, and was attended by director S Shankar, actors Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh and music composer Anirudh Ravichander. The fact that it was in her hometown made it even better.
“No matter where I perform in the world, singing in Chennai, in the language I grew up speaking, is unparalleled. I write and think in English. But being a Chennai girl who listens to Tamil songs, it’s special to sing them to the people.”
Regional movies hold promise for PVR amid lack of Hindi blockbusters
3:27 PM
Box office collections fall 23% sequentially on poor performance of mid-and small-budget films and absence of major titles; likely boost this calendar year to keep stock on Street radar
Rajesh Naidu (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 17, 2024)
ET Intelligence Group: The stock of PVR, India’s largest multiplex company, has lost 15% over the past month notwithstanding the bullish sentiment in the broader market. The stock has lost momentum following an estimated sequential fall in the box office collection for the December quarter.
Analysts point out that only a few big-budget films worked at the box office during the quarter compared with the previous quarter which had successful films released in Hindi, English and regional languages. Poor performance of mid-and-small budget films -- fourteen such films were released in the December quarter-- added to the woes of multiplexes.
According to the estimates released by trade portal Sacnilk Technologies and compiled by Kotak Institutional Equities, the net box office collections in the December 2023 quarter fell by nearly 23% to Rs. 2,324 crore sequentially. On a year-on-year basis, they grew by 73% since fewer films were released in the December 2022 quarter.
The absence of major movie titles in the early part of 2024 is another reason for the underperformance of PVR’s stock. According to trade analysts, 2024 is expected to be a year of mid-and-small budget films. Till date, there has been no announcement of big-budget star-studded films in 2024. Given the poor performance of recent mid-budget films, 2024 may produce fewer money-spinners when compared with 2023.
Non-Hindi movie releases, however, may offer a ray of hope for exhibitors in 2024. Films of regional stars who have a proven box office record in pan-India distribution territories such as Allu Arjun (Pushpa 2 - The Rule), Rajinikanth (Lal Salaam), and Kamal Haasan (Indian 2) are expected to generate high footfalls in theatres.
Besides this, after over six-month strike by Writers Guild of America (WGA) over sharing of residuals (income from reruns on various platforms) and guarantee of minimum wages for writers in the US, the release of spectacle and franchise films from Hollywood is expected to boost the net box office collections in 2024. This may help PVR to stay on investors’ radar.
On the valuation front, based on the FY25 estimates, PVR’s enterprise value (EV) is nine times the earnings before interest, depreciation, tax, and amortisation (EBITDA) compared with the EV/EBITDA of 21.6 in FY23.
Rewind, repeat: Are we ready to revisit film brands?
8:27 AM
As makers envision sequels and remakes of films released as many as 20 years ago, experts decode if this would hit or miss the bull’s eye
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 2, 2023)
The films Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006) remain etched in the minds of cinegoers. Around 17 years later, the hit trio of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty are coming together for its third part. Similar is the case with Indian, (1996), which is being revisited for a second part after 27 years. Gadar (2001), which saw actor Sunny Deol rise to ranks of a superstar, is also getting a sequel.
However, there is ample proof of adaptations and sequels not working out — Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021), which came out 16 years after the first part, Namaste England (2018) and Love Aaj Kal (2020), both of which were revisited 11 years after the release of the original. All of these disappointed, both critically and commercially. Despite this, is it a safe bet or a risky proposition to be revisiting film brands that were established decades ago?
Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who successfully revisited Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) through Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 last year, says nothing is “safe” in this day and age. “People’s moods change every day. Aisa bol hi nahin sakte ki any film will work 100%. It’s just your gut feeling and experience. Iss tarah ki films ko revisit karna mehnat ka kaam hai. It’s a huge responsibility because the previous film has had such goodwill,” he adds.
Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Omkara (2006) and Desi Boyz (2011) are also on the list of films to be revisited. Producer Anand Pandit, who has backed these films, says: “Some stories are eternal, like Omkara. We have to tell it differently. But, if you bring, say, Sholay 2 today, it will not work. You can’t experiment with the main story. If it’s a franchise like Dhamaal or Masti, you can bring any story as ultimately, you just want to bring smiles on people’s faces. There is no connection with the first film as such. The name is just for recollection.”
The love for the story is what made director Anil Sharma revisit Gadar. “People gave the original so much love, it’s the public’s film. Maine kabhi pressure liya nahin. Public dekhegi, mere haath mein kuchh nahin hai. Business side of things is important, but so is the craft,” he says.
But, exhibitor Akshaye Rathi feels a story needs to be plated differently, if revisited. “The audience has changed completely. The older one is great to borrow from, but the content that comes out in the new version needs to be like old wine in a new bottle. You have to repackage and modernize it. As long as that can be done, why not [revisit]?” says Rathi.
South Indian filmmakers do their research very well for the films-Piyush Mishra
8:07 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 20, 2022)
Actor-singer Piyush Mishra did not mince his words while talking about why south Indian films are faring better than Bollywood nowadays.
In a conversation with ANI, the Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) actor said, “Directors of south Indian films are more intelligent, have more IQ and are more innovative compared to us (Bollywood filmmakers). It’s our foolishness that we are working on the same formula forever.”
Citing the example of Pushpa: The Rise (2021), Mishra said that while the film has a typical genre, the way it was presented to the audience made all the difference. Adding more about his tryst with the south film industry, the Tamasha (2015) actor said, “I also worked in a south Indian film named Indian 2 (Tamil film) with (director) Shankar recently. In my first experience working with him, I realised how innovative he was. He presents the same concept in a variety of ways and represents the culture better.”
He also noted that languages like Tamil and Malayalam are “very old languages” and parts of “very old cultures”, making the filmmakers do their “research very well”.
On being asked whether impactful Hindi films are still being made, the 59-year-old shared, “No such films are being made in north India.”
Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 back on floors after being stuck in production limbo for two years
8:39 AM
M Suganth (BOMBAY TIMES; August 27, 2022)
The shoot of director Shankar’s Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role, was halted in March 2020, following a fatal accident on the set, and the lockdown imposed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Later, disagreements over the budget of the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster between Shankar and the producers resulted in the film getting stuck in production limbo, with some even wondering if the project had been dropped.
Earlier this June, following the success of Haasan’s Vikram, actor, producer and politician Udhayanidhi Stalin had announced that he and the producers of Indian 2 had discussed the possibility of restarting the film. Shankar has resumed the shoot of the film on Wednesday.
“Good morning Indians, we are glad to announce that the remaining shoot for Indian 2 is commencing today! Need all of your support and wishes (sic),” tweeted the Endhiran filmmaker.
“While Haasan will be joining the team in September, some of the other stars, including Kajal Aggarwal (who is returning to films after the birth of her child in May), Siddharth and Priya Bhavani Shankar, will resume work in the next four days,” reveals a production source.
Kamal Haasan will resume work on Indian 2 in January 2021
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Deferred due to the pandemic, Shankar's Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan, to go back on floors in January
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 10, 2020)
After the Coronavirus pandemic disrupted their schedule, Kamal Haasan and S Shankar will resume work on their much-awaited film, Indian 2, in January 2021. The sequel to the 1996 film Indian, backed by Lyca Productions, will also mark the reunion of the two artistes after 24 years.
The actor-director duo had wrapped up three schedules of the vigilante action thriller by October 2019, in time to meet the 2021 deadline. For their fourth schedule, Haasan and Kajal Aggarwal began shooting in EVP Film City, Chennai by February 2020, but it was halted mid-way due to an accident on set that claimed the lives of three technicians and injured several. Before they could reassemble, the pandemic struck, delaying the film indefinitely.
Putting rumours to rest, a unit hand reveals that Indian 2 is definitely in the offing and the production is figuring out the logistics of the grand shoot adhering to safety protocols. "We intend to begin shooting by January or February 2021 in Tamil Nadu. It is a challenge for the production team, especially since the film will be shot across many locations - in India and abroad - and require several actors and big set-ups."
Co-actor Zakir Hussain, who plays a corrupt businessman from Gujarat in the film, confirms that the shooting will commence in 2021 and is kicked about working with Haasan. "Our next schedule will be from 2021. Kamal Haasan is a seasoned actor and a thorough professional. Despite being from the South, he [emotes] beautifully in all languages. He even spoke Gujarati effortlessly," says Hussain.
Creating era of 1971 was challenging. We had to go back 50 years to recreate the infrastructure-Naveen Paul
8:23 AM
Bhuj, scheduled for I-Day opening, still racing towards finish line; release date uncertain due to Coronavirus outbreak
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 25, 2020)
Naveen Paul, VFX supervisor and creative head of NY VFXwaala, informs that the film is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, so visual effects play a significant role in taking the story forward. “It’s like a grandmother’s interesting war story, with every sequence designed to make the visuals look seamlessly photo-real,” he points out.
Having worked on a period drama like Padmaavat, as also the stylish actioner Shivaay, which won the National Award for Best Special Effects, Naveen insists that Ajay Devgn’s next is unlike any other film seen before. “It’s not visually spectacular like some of the period epics. Instead, the VFX has been used to showcase what happened during the war. Creating the era of 1971 was challenging. We had to go back 50 years to recreate the infrastructure,” says Naveen who has been working closely with director Abhishek Dudhaiya and director of photography (DoP) Aseem Bajaj. “The war scenes have been designed to take the audience into the battlefield.”
Besides Bhuj, a team of 300 people from Mumbai and 100 more from Hyderabad are working from home on several other films. “We are giving finishing touches to Sooryavanshi while it’s work in progress on Radhe, Ludo, The Big Bull, Mani Ratnam’s upcoming period film and Shankar’s Indian 2,” informs Naveen, adding that the biggest concern is confidentiality and safety of data. “We have developed a proprietary way of sharing film clips for approval with the makers and the DoP.”
He believes that with travel restrictions and social distancing, they have to come up with creative solutions to make virtual sets possible. “Also, shooting schedules will be tight, so post-production will probably start sooner and last longer. And yes, overall production costs will increase too,” he concludes.
Kamal Haasan questioned by cops in crane accident case
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Gladwin Emmanuel (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 4, 2020)
Kamal Haasan on Tuesday appeared before the Chennai Police in connection with the crane accident on Indian 2 set, which claimed three lives on February 19.
Haasan arrived at the office of G Nagajothi, the deputy commissioner of police of the Central Crime Branch for questioning, which lasted three hours and was taped. “Police summoned me to collect details about the crane accident. I’m one of those who escaped unhurt. It’s my duty to narrate the sequence of incidents,” the actor-politician told the media afterwards.
He also discussed ways to prevent such incidents at shooting locations in the future. “Very soon, we will be taking it up with the film fraternity and seek police advisory on such accidents,” he informed. S Shankar, the film’s director, had appeared before the investigating team last week.
The Nazarethpet police registered a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (A) (death caused due to negligence) against the crane operator, production manager of the film and the banner behind the film, Lyca Productions. Later, the case was transferred to the Central Crime Branch and the crane operator was arrested.
Assistant director Krishna, art assistant Chandran and production assistant Madhu died and nine others were injured after a malfunctioning crane came crashing down at a private studio, where Haasan’s next film was being shot, on the outskirts of Chennai.
Had the crane fallen inches away, I would have been in the mortuary-Kamal Haasan
8:48 PM
Gladwin Emmanuel (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 21, 2020)
Three crew members died and several others sustained severe injuries when a crane came crashing down on the sets of the Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 at a private studio at Nazarathpet in Tamil Nadu, late on Wednesday night. The deceased have been identified as Krishna, 34, an assistant director, Madhu, 29 and Chandran, 50. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital.
The victims were in a box-like structure on top of the crane to rig the light setup for a scene, when the arm of the vehicle crashed. Kamal helped transport the injured to a nearby hospital, even visiting late at night to check on them. The following day, he visited the family of the deceased at the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital. The actor, who was only inches away from the location of the crash, termed the accident “cruel” and admitted he was lucky to survive. “If the crane had fallen a few inches away, I’d have been in the mortuary and somebody would have been here to speak,” he stated, announcing a financial aid of Rs 1 crore to the families of those killed in the mishap. Kamal’s co-star, Kajal Aggarwal, who was also present on the set, tweeted, “Words cannot describe the heartache I feel at the unexpected, untimely loss of my colleagues from last night.”
Kamal rued that it was shameful to see that the industry was not able to provide safe working conditions or insurance to its technicians. “I have been in this industry since my childhood, and this incident has once again proved that there is no safety compliance,” he lashed out, saying, “We boast about big budget films... without providing safety to people working for the movies.”
Lyca Productions, who are backing the project, announced a compensation of Rs 2 crore to the families of the deceased and the injured.
Crane accident kills 3 on the sets of Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2
8:47 PM
BOMBAY TIMES (February 21, 2020)
The South film industry is in a state of shock after a lighting truss came crashing down on the set of Shankar’s Indian 2. While three technicians died, 11 others were injured. Lyca Productions, which is bankrolling the Kamal Haasan-starrer, released an official statement expressing their grief over the unfortunate accident and identified the three personnel who lost their lives as Krishna (assistant director), Chandran (art assistant) and Madhu (production assistant).Talking about how the tragedy unfolded, a source from the production unit, on condition of anonymity, told us, “Shankar was filming a sequence with Kamal Haasan and Kajal Aggarwal at EVP Film City, when the lighting truss fell from a height. The technicians were changing the lighting when the truss came crashing down. Three died on the spot. The team always has an ambulance on hand, and the injured were taken to the hospital without losing much time. Shankar, Kamal and Kajal, who were near the spot, were unhurt.”
Though everyone working on the film is covered by insurance, the source added, “Subaskaran, Chairman of Lyca, has already reached from the UK. We can’t put a price tag on the lives that were lost, but the production house will offer financial support to their families.”
Kamal Haasan tweeted, “Although I have met and overcome several accidents, the mishap that happened today is brutal. I stand alone having lost three of my comrades. More than my pain, the anguish of their families will be several times more. I partake in their anguish as one among them. My deepest condolences to them.”
Kajal had earlier tweeted, “Words cannot describe the heartache I feel at the unexpected, untimely loss of my colleagues from last night, Krishna, Chandran and Madhu. Sending love, strength and my deepest condolences to your families. May god give strength in this moment of desolation,” she wrote.
Angamuthu Shanmugam, general secretary, Film Employees Federation of South India, said, “We always insist that every film crew takes insurance, but only few do that. From what I have heard, this (Indian 2) crew had used industrial crane and involved non-members. This was also against our rule. Using this type of crane in a place like EVP Film City, which lacks basic facilities, was taking a risk. We always request film crews to shoot only with our members and equipment.”
— With inputs from Sharanya CR, Lakshmi V and Thinkal Menon
Nobody is going to give you work just because you attended a party-Rakul Preet Singh
8:32 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 10, 2019)
When Rakul Preet Singh entered Bollywood with Yaariyan in 2014, many thought of her as just another South actress testing waters in Hindi cinema. However, over the years, slowly but steadily, she has proven that she is here to stay. The actress is now geared up for the release of her next — director Milap Milan Zaveri’s Marjaavaan. Ahead of the film’s release, she talks to BT about juggling South and Hindi films, what she looks for in a film and her definition of love. Excerpts...You were hugely successful in South films before you entered Bollywood, and continue to be so. Juggling two industries can be quite demanding, but you seem to have pulled it off. How do you manage to do that?
I am going crazy with the juggling act. In fact, people down South feel that I am not doing enough work there. If I am dividing my time between Hyderabad and Mumbai, I can’t take up four (South) films a year like before. I am still doing two Tamil films and one Telugu movie, running back and forth the entire time. It is back-breaking. Bollywood demands a lot of your time, and even when you are not shooting, you need to make your presence felt. In the South, your manager does the talking for you, but here, it’s critical to add a personal touch.
Are you saying that networking, socialising and attending filmi parties are necessary to bag opportunities in Bollywood?
No, that’s not what I meant. In Bollywood, it’s more about the personal touch you have with people, you reach out yourself for the kind of films you want to be a part of. Also, let me tell you, nobody is going to give you work just because you attended a party. It helps to touch base with everyone, but only good work begets more work. Today, content is what matters and because of that, there is an increasing demand for talent. If you are talented, it might take time, but at the end of the day, you will find your place. Mumbai and Hyderabad are both very welcoming that way. They also appreciate hard-work. If you are hard-working, people are ready to give you a chance.
Over the past few years, you have been dividing your time between Mumbai and Hyderabad. Does living out of your suitcase leave you with a sense of rootlessness?
I am an Indian at heart. Ours is a diverse country with multiple cultures, languages and religions, and I feel the same everywhere. I have always said that Hyderabad is my home, and Mumbai is my house. And, if I am shooting at some other location, I will belong there for some time. I am an Army kid, and I have lived out of suitcases and cartons all my life.
Marjaavaan will see you reuniting on screen with your Aiyaary (2018) co-star, Sidharth Malhotra. While you share a good rapport with him, this film also features Tara Sutaria. Did you guys try hard to make her feel a part of your group?
Sidharth and I hit it off really well during Aiyaary. It’s always fun to work with someone you share a rapport with. You do not really have to worry about whether he would like certain things you do during the shoot. You just have to give your best to the scene. With Tara, though, I shot only for a couple of days, as we did not have too many scenes together. But we shared a friendly equation during those couple of days.
So far, we have seen you in two-heroine projects in Bollywood. In such a scenario, do you ever worry about whether you are paired opposite the hero, or your screen time?
I look at everything — the script, role and the director. I will not take up a role, which is neither opposite the hero nor meaty. To be honest, the first few projects choose you. I would be lying if I said that I chose De De Pyaar De. The makers chose me and I am grateful for that. So far, I am happy with what I have done in Bollywood, since all of them have been performance-oriented roles. For me, it’s important that my character is part of the main plot. I don’t want to be there for just four songs and four scenes. I am not saying that I don’t want to do typical commercial films. I love the naach-gaana, but having said that, I also want to start filtering the offers. I am doing a Telugu film in which I play a criminal lawyer. Indian 2 (Tamil), too, is on the floors. I have also signed four Bollywood films recently. I am just looking for opportunities to showcase my versatility. It is my strength and I want to play to that. And, it’s not easy to sell versatility. Someone had asked me long back, ‘How do we categorise you? Hot? Cute? Girl next door?’ I replied, ‘If you can’t sell my versatility, that’s a problem.’ Why do you need to slot me into a category? Let me be hot, cute, the girl next door, and the girl kicking some mean butt, all in one.
Tell us about your role in Marjaavaan...
I have a special appearance in Marjaavaan, but my character (Arzoo), is paired opposite Sidharth. Also, the character, that of a prostitute, was so interesting that I just wanted to play it. Milap’s (director) selling point was, ‘Yeh meri Rekha hai Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) ki, Tabu from Jeet (1996), and Chandramukhi from Devdas . He told me that there are some vanilla roles, which are of a conventional heroine, and there others that are powerful. I realised that this character is different; in fact, such roles were mostly written in the 90s.
The film has been described as a ‘violent love story’. What is your take on love?
Love, for me, is a selfless emotion. But I feel that it has somehow lost its way in today’s time. We have started misusing it. I believe in the kind of love where you don’t really try to possess the object of your affection. You just love with your whole being. I know it’s deep and probably, that’s why I am single (laughs!).
Even Rekha ji didn’t have full-length role in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar-Rakul Preet Singh
8:26 AM
Rakul Preet Singh explains why screen time is inconsequential to her, promises more releases in the coming year and talks about being single in the city
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 5, 2019)
Marjaavaan is your fourth film since your debut in Yaariyan five years ago. What makes you so selective?
I moved to Mumbai after the Miss India contest and landed Yaariyan. Two days after wrapping that, I rolled with my first Telugu film. Yaariyan took a year to release by when I’d signed three-four more Telugu films. Being young and naïve, I didn’t know I’d to live in Mumbai to get work here. I was to do M S Dhoni - The Untold Story, but the dates changed because of the length of Sushant’s (Singh Rajput) hair. Neeraj sir (Pandey, producer-director) offered me Aiyaary, before that opened, I’d got De De Pyaar De and before that released, I’d landed Marjaavaan. I moved to the city after De De Pyaar De and have already bagged four films.
Isn’t Marjaavaan a special appearance?
Milap (Zaveri, director) sold it to me saying, “This is my Rekha of Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, my Chandramukhi of Devdas.” Aarzoo is a tawaif of the ’90s with nazaaqat and shayari. I’ve grown up on characters like her but haven’t seen them lately. Arzoo has raw sex appeal as opposed to De De Pyaar De’s girl-next-door Ayesha. Plus, there are Milap’s bhaari bharkam dialogues. As for screen time, Rekha ji didn’t have a full-length role, neither did Tabu in Jeet. Even Chandramukhi was a supporting role. Yet, they are all remembered. I’d rather see a role for what it is than compare it with what it is not.
Didn’t you want Tara Sutaria’s lead role?
Both roles are great and different. If offered Zoya’s role, I’d have done it.
Buzz is, you’ve signed up Attack opposite John Abraham.
I’ve signed four films which will be announced by the month-end.
And you’ve started Shankar’s Indian 2 with Kamal Haasan...
Shankar sir is a visionary, always calm and knows exactly what he wants. Kamal sir is one of the finest actors, I feel blessed to work with them in a film.
When the first Indian released, you must have been six years old?
(Laughs) I saw it much later, after I started working in Telugu films. When I was a kid, Kamal sir’s Chachi 420 was a favourite. When working with those who know so much, you end up learning a little too, without much effort.
How nervous were you?
If it had been my first or second film, I’d have been nervous but now I’m more excited. I always wanted to do big films with big actors. I’m greedy, give me better co-stars, and I will do better.
It also has Kajal Aggarwal...
Kajal is in the flashback portions with Kamal sir. I’m with Siddharth, who plays the younger guy in the present.
Do you have a secret man tucked away?
In the last five years, I’ve been busy with 30 films, there was no time for romance. Had I met the right guy, I wouldn’t have turned him away, saying “Now, is the time to work.” Even my parents are complaining, “The whole world knows you’re single.” This Diwali, my mom told me to go party and find a guy for myself.
Rekha in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar; Rakul in Marjaavaan
Rakul Preet Singh all set to romance Siddharth in Indian 2
8:17 AM
Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; July 24, 2019)
The cast of Shankar’s Tamil film Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead, is getting bigger by the day. The film will now see Rakul Preet join the cast. The actress was recently seen in the Bollywood film De De Pyaar De with Ajay Devgn. Indian 2 also stars Kajal Aggarwal, Aishwarya Rajesh and Priya Bhavani Shankar.A source says, “Rakul was excited when she was offered the role because it’s a Shankar-Kamal Haasan combination. She will be paired opposite Siddharth in the film, and she will join the team from August.”
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