Showing posts with label Mirai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mirai. Show all posts
Only South songs let me try something offbeat-Armaan Malik
10:20 AM
Shreya Varanasi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 13, 2025)
Proficient in singing across multiple languages and steeped in South Indian sounds, Armaan Malik has carved a niche for himself in both regional and global music. But the singer says it’s regional music that gives him the most space for freedom and discovery.
“I love singing in South Indian languages... It’s only here that I get to try something offbeat,” Armaan says, reflecting on hits like Butta Bomma, Ninnila, Emo Emo, and his recent chartbuster Vibe Undi. Ahead of his Hyderabad concert on Saturday, the singer spoke about his journey through regional and international music, his bond with the city, and the evolving landscape of Indian pop.
‘I want to give my 100% whenever I try something beyond my usual style’
Armaan recently recorded Vibe Undi for Teja Sajja’s fantasy action adventure film Mirai: Super Yodha, a track that challenged him to step out of his usual Bollywood-style romantic repertoire. “At first, I was a little surprised because in Bollywood, I’m usually called for romantic songs. It’s only in South Indian languages that I get to try something a bit offbeat, so this felt different right from the start. This song itself is uptempo, though it has romantic elements at its core. It required a tone quite different from my usual style, so I had to approach it in a completely new way. That challenge excited me! I always want to give my 100% when I get a chance to step out of my usual style. Another special aspect is that I’ve sung it in three languages: Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada. It’s been incredible to see how well the song has been received across all three languages,” he shares.
‘Right now, attempting a song in a language other than Hindi or English feels natural’
Armaan’s comfort with South Indian languages comes from years of practice and experience. “Telugu is my mother tongue, so it comes naturally. For other languages, I’ve learned over the years. Singing in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam has become second nature. Initially, pronunciation and expression were challenging. You first have to understand the line before emoting it. At this stage of my career, attempting a song in a language other than Hindi or English feels completely natural.”
‘Globally, people approach music differently than in India’
From collaborations with Ed Sheeran to working in studios in LA and London, Armaan reflects on his global music experience. “Singing in different languages and genres has always excited me. Working styles differ across countries, and I’ve been fortunate to understand both sides. Bringing Indian music to international audiences has been a wonderful experience, and I hope to continue pushing boundaries.”
‘Hyderabad is very close to my heart’
Armaan describes Hyderabad as a city close to his heart, both personally and professionally. “I have visited Hyderabad so many times because my mother is from here. Some of my favourite spots include Charminar, Golconda Fort, and Taj Falaknuma Palace, which I’ve been visiting since I was a child. It feels like my second home after Mumbai. Food-wise, I love Andhra cuisine! I enjoy all the pickles, achar, and the kaaram podi (spice powders). They’re to die for!”
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"Until recently, there was a lot of confusion about Indian music globally, with Bollywood often seen as the entirety of it. But in the last 5–10 years, non-film music has grown strongly and started competing with Bollywood songs"
Playing against God as Mahabir Lama felt like I was going against God-Manoj Manchu
8:38 AM
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; September 28, 2025)
There is much to be said about an actor who accepts a slump in his career, waits patiently for the tide to turn, and then returns boldly to the screen after eight years, despite industry whispers warning against casting him. Manoj Manchu plays the main antagonist, Mahabir Lama, also known as the Black Sword, a villainous sorcerer in the popular film Mirai.
Speaking about its success, Manchu said, “It’s a good movie. I am grateful that the director, Karthik Gattamneni, trusted me. We worked on it for three years.”
For the actor, the only apprehension when he signed the film three years ago was its spiritual dimension, especially when he had to “confront Rama” in the final fight.
“I was super excited. Only scary thing was once Mahabir Lama gets the ninth book, then the fight will be with Rama. It will be Rama versus Lama. I’m a very devotional person and an ardent devotee of Shiva. Playing against God as Mahabir Lama [felt like I was] going against God. That was challenging. But I was grateful to get such a larger-than-life character,” he explained.
Like any actor making a comeback, Manchu also feared his decision might not work out. However, the positive atmosphere on set and the enthusiasm of the cast and crew put his fears to rest.
“Everybody will have that fear for every movie you do. But then the percentage of the fear varies. For Mirai, the percentage was very less compared to any of my movies in the past. We were rooting and manifesting it to the universe,” admitted the actor.
The film’s production was not without hurdles. From visa delays to weather changes, Manchu recalled why it took three years to complete.
“Because we touched so many countries, visas were a major [reason for] delays. It happened with Turkey and then in the UK. So again, we had to wait another three months for the visa. By that time, the summer was gone. In the rainy season, the sets we built had to be recreated, so we got delayed again.”
Up next
Manoj Manchu has a pan-Indian period film ‘David Reddy’ set between 1897 and 1922. After that, he will shoot for the action-horror film ‘Abraham Lincoln’, where he plays a priest. His third film ‘Rakshak’, directed by Naveen Kolli, will see him as a police officer. He also has an untitled fourth project in the works.
(Crisp) Movie Review: MIRAI by FENIL SETA
5:28 PM
Mirai rests on a fascinating idea. The intermission point and climax are clapworthy. Also, the VFX is top-class, considering the budget of the film. The intention is to depict a modern-day action entertainer with a mythological touch and 2-3 years ago, this film probably would have had a better impact. At present, it comes at a time when one has seen films like Brahmastra, Karthikeya 2, Kalki 2898 AD and Teja Sajja's Hanuman. Mirai seems like a bhel puri of these films. Moreover, the comic track doesn't work at all. Teja, however, gives his best. Shriya Saran delivers a power-packed performance like never before. Manoj Manchu is fine as the villain, though he goes a bit overboard. Ritika Nayak, Jayaram (Agastya) and Jagapathi Babu (Angambali) leave a tremendous mark. Songs are forgettable. All in all, Mirai is an average flick.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 899
9:19 AM
JAPANESE ANIME FILM TO DOMINATE BOX OFFICE THIS WEEK; OPEN IN DOUBLE DIGITS
The Japanese anime films have always had a passionate but minuscule number of fans in India. A few of the films have opened in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores, which was quite good, considering the niche appeal. But all beliefs have been changed in the last few days with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.
This film, believe it or not, has sold more than 1 lakh tickets in the national chains on the first day and the number keeps growing as the release date nears. The demand was so huge that exhibitors decided to play shows at 5:00 am, a first for a Japanese film in India. Even that wasn’t enough to cope with the demand. As a result, the theatres are now playing round-the-clock shows, with the first show starting at midnight.
The advance booking is possibly the highest this year, and might surpass films like Chhaava, The Conjuring: Last Rites and Saiyaara, among others. As of now, it’ll open around Rs. 14-15 crores, but the number can go higher.
There is an audience that’s dying to see the film but there’s also a section of the audience who’s still not interested, as they haven’t possibly followed the series or are not into anime at all. Hence, the next few days will be huge for the film, but at some point, it’ll face a drop. Whether it happens on weekdays or next week remains to be seen. Nevertheless, with such an opening, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is all set to be one of the highest-grossing films of the year in the country.
The other significant release of the week is Mirai. It is a Telugu film starring Teja Sajja of Hanuman fame and is backed by People Media Factory, producers of Jaat and the upcoming Pan-India flick, The Raja Saab. In Hindi, the film is presented by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. In Telugu, it seems like it’ll open on a healthy note. But in Hindi, excitement is negligible. The opening will be weak, and it’ll need a strong word of mouth to make a big jump on Saturday.
Meanwhile, several small Hindi films will be up for release tomorrow like Ek Chatur Naar, Heer Express, Love In Vietnam, Mannu Kya Karegga and Jugnuma. Ek Chatur Naar has some chances, but the rest of the films will face a tough time getting an audience.
The Japanese anime films have always had a passionate but minuscule number of fans in India. A few of the films have opened in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores, which was quite good, considering the niche appeal. But all beliefs have been changed in the last few days with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.
This film, believe it or not, has sold more than 1 lakh tickets in the national chains on the first day and the number keeps growing as the release date nears. The demand was so huge that exhibitors decided to play shows at 5:00 am, a first for a Japanese film in India. Even that wasn’t enough to cope with the demand. As a result, the theatres are now playing round-the-clock shows, with the first show starting at midnight.
The advance booking is possibly the highest this year, and might surpass films like Chhaava, The Conjuring: Last Rites and Saiyaara, among others. As of now, it’ll open around Rs. 14-15 crores, but the number can go higher.
There is an audience that’s dying to see the film but there’s also a section of the audience who’s still not interested, as they haven’t possibly followed the series or are not into anime at all. Hence, the next few days will be huge for the film, but at some point, it’ll face a drop. Whether it happens on weekdays or next week remains to be seen. Nevertheless, with such an opening, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is all set to be one of the highest-grossing films of the year in the country.
The other significant release of the week is Mirai. It is a Telugu film starring Teja Sajja of Hanuman fame and is backed by People Media Factory, producers of Jaat and the upcoming Pan-India flick, The Raja Saab. In Hindi, the film is presented by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. In Telugu, it seems like it’ll open on a healthy note. But in Hindi, excitement is negligible. The opening will be weak, and it’ll need a strong word of mouth to make a big jump on Saturday.
Meanwhile, several small Hindi films will be up for release tomorrow like Ek Chatur Naar, Heer Express, Love In Vietnam, Mannu Kya Karegga and Jugnuma. Ek Chatur Naar has some chances, but the rest of the films will face a tough time getting an audience.
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