Showing posts with label Vikram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vikram. Show all posts
Samyuktha reveals characters from Lokesh Cinematic Universe will be seen in Benz
10:02 AM
With Benz marking the fourth instalment in Lokesh Cinematic Universe, actor Samyuktha reveals characters from Kaithi, Vikram, and Le’ will appear in key roles
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 26, 2026)
Being part of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Cinematic Universe (LCU) is a big deal for any actor. But when Samyuktha was offered Benz, the fourth instalment in LCU, she reacted to the film not as an actor, but as a fan. “I thought that if I took the narration, I would be the first person to know what happens next,” she laughed.
The actor is currently shooting the Tamil action drama that stars Raghava Lawrence and Nivin Pauly. An LCU offering is known as much for its star presence as for its action, and Benz is no different. If anything, it may only up the ante in terms of the star presence.
Samyuktha teased that popular characters from LCU’s previous films — Karthi’s Kaithi (2019), Kamal Haasan’s Vikram (2022), and Vijay’s Leo (2023) — will make appearances in Benz.
She shared, “The makers developed [new] characters around the other popular characters of previous films. You will get excited about [how they are all] connected. The makers have brought the popular characters from the previous films here, and not as cameos. I don’t want to name names and say what exactly is happening. Similarly, the characters introduced in Benz will be seen in the next parts.”
The actor also described Benz as a story that the audience won’t be “expecting”. “It’s a rooted and stylish universe. It’s our very own Avengers, and fans are seeing all their favourite actors in one place.”
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?”
The idea of Tiger 3 is to give hope and spread positivity-Simran
8:50 AM
Defending Salman Khan-starrer Tiger 3’s storyline, south star Simran discusses the messaging behind the actioner
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; November 19, 2023)
While the Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif-starrer Tiger 3 is a fitting action-packed instalment of the long-running spy franchise, the film opened to mixed reviews from both critics and the audience. While the action has been lauded, the story, not so much. It didn’t sit well with many that Pakistan has been showcased as a peace-loving country. When questioned, Simran, who plays the role of Nasreen Irani, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, counters, saying that the idea of the film is to “give hope and spread positivity”.
“Humanity comes first, even before the boundaries that we have drawn and made different countries. When women and children are killed [in the name of war], humanity dies. [In the film], Tiger goes on to save another country’s PM, at the cost of his family and his life. I think we all have a Tiger within us somewhere. If we want to give people some hope, we have to fight to save humanity. Then the boundaries don’t matter.”
The actor, who was last seen in the R Madhavan-starrer Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and Manoj Bajpayee’s Gulmohar, is thrilled to be part of the Yash Raj Films franchise. “The role came with a huge responsibility. A lot of research and prep went into it before we began shooting. Even if there is just a paragraph of dialogue, it can’t be uttered randomly. It has to be imbibed, understood, and conveyed with authenticity,” says the actor, adding that she was honoured to play such an important part in the film.
Tiger 3 completes a hattrick for her in Hindi cinema. Next up, Simran has Shonali Bose’s Notorious Girls with Revathy and Nandita Das. She has also wrapped up the shoot for director duo Raj-DK’s Citadel with Varun Dhawan and Samantha. While the Hindi projects are yet to hit the screen, Simran is looking forward to seeing people’s reactions to her action scenes in Dhruva Natchathiram with Vikram, which releases on November 24. Unlike Tiger 3, in the Tamil film, Simran plays “an agent working for a cause”.
Having worked with the Ponniyin Selvan star in last year’s Mahaan, she says, “Vikram is a versatile actor. He undergoes drastic transformations for his characters and gives it his all. It is always great working with a determined actor like him.”
A list of 12 Indian films that crossed the 300 crore mark worldwide post pandemic
8:23 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The pandemic has been over for more than one and a half years and we have seen just five Hindi films cross the 300 crore mark worldwide. Two of these are THE KASHMIR FILES and THE KERALA STORY which have have not done the business due to the films being cinema but other reasons.
The have been seven films reaching the 300 crore mark from the South which is actually a benchmark for most of the films for South barring the likes of RRR and KGF - CHAPTER 2 which have a wider market due to the scale and branding be it director for the former or the franchise for the latter. For Hindi cinema the benchmark should actually be 500 crore now which only PATHAAN has crossed and by leaps and bounds.
Tamil cinema has got a big boost in overseas business due to heavy migration from Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu over the past few years. The numbers of big films from the Tamil film industry in the overseas market are really pushing this industry in terms of worldwide numbers. Tamil cinema had a 300 crore miss by a small margin with VARISU which hit 208 crore (GBOC) in India and 85 crore Overseas for a worldwide total of 293 crore. Hindi cinema also had a very near miss with SOORYAVANSHI which got 299 crore as India contributed 237 crore (GBOC) and Overseas was 62 crore.
The total of 12 films have crossed the 300 crore worldwide mark across India post the pandemic. The difference is that many Hindi films crossed 300 crore before the pandemic and only five have managed post the pandemic. While in South seven have reached post pandemic when before the pandemic there was only ENTHIRAN, KABALI, BAAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING, BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION and 2.0.
The films to have crossed 300 crore post pandemic worldwide from different industries is below.
Hindi Cinema
The Kashmir Files
Brahmastra
Drishyam 2
Pathaan
The Kerala Story (Expected)
Telugu Cinema
Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01
RRR
Tamil Cinema
Vikram
Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1
Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2
Kannada Cinema
KGF - Chapter 2
Kantara
Saif Ali Khan to play the villain in Jr NTR-Janhvi Kapoor film?
8:31 AM
Neeshita Nyayapati (BOMBAY TIMES; March 21, 2023)
After Janhvi Kapoor, it appears that another Bollywood A-lister will join Jr NTR in Koratala Siva’s upcoming #NTR30. We have learnt that talks are underway to cast Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist in the film. With an impressive track record in portraying complex characters on screen, Saif is seen as the perfect fit, informs a source close to the director.
“Koratala Siva wanted to cast an actor with an imposing screen presence as it is a menacing character. Saif seemed like a great fit for it. If everything goes to plan, an official announcement will be made soon,” the source tells us.
However, when approached, a representative of the film’s team remained tight-lipped saying, “We can’t confirm or deny this right now. ”
“Vikram and Vijay Sethupathi were also considered for the role, but Saif seemed like a better fit. A huge set is currently being erected because shooting of film is also set to commence soon,” adds the source.
Saif recently expressed his admiration for his potential co-star’s dancing skills, particularly in the song Naatu Naatu, stating, “The South has these incredible dance steps and half-beats that they work with, I think I would have a heart attack if I did that.”
2022: A record-breaking year for south cinema on all counts
8:22 AM
From the highest revenue earned at the box office to global glory – it was a record-breaking year for south cinema on all counts
Sridevi S and Neeshita Nyayapati (BOMBAY TIMES; December 29, 2022)
The year 2022 truly belongs to the south Indian film industry, with two films raking in over Rs. 1,000 crores, and quite a few inching towards the Rs. 500 crores mark. It was undoubtedly a landmark year, with the south industry even overshadowing its Bollywood counterparts. Add to this the fact that these south films have and still are continuing to break records, and garnering accolades not just pan-India but globally.
The latest being RRR that has earned itself two nominations at the Golden Globes and made it to the Oscar nominations shortlist. KGF - Chapter 2, RRR, Vikram and Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1 (PS-I) were also the most watched movies at cinemas this year, with the highest number of tickets sold, according to an entertainment ticketing company’s report, with KGF - Chapter 2 selling most tickets on the weekend as compared to any other film.
This is a trend that’s been a long time coming. In 2021, south Indian cinema generated three times the box office revenues of Hindi films, with a total of Rs. 2,400 crores, according to the March
2022 EY-FICCI report. Many trace the origins to the post-Baahubali phenomena, when Prabhas became a nationwide sensation following the release of the film in 2017. This was followed by the post-OTT boom in consumption of content across the nation.
While it’s natural to pit south cinema’s success against Bollywood’s many dismal outings at the box office in 2022, KGF star Yash feels otherwise. “Don’t disrespect Bollywood for this one year where south films have performed better,” the superstar said recently, adding, “This is just a phase. Bollywood has taught us so much. It is time to forget the north-south divide and respect all film industries. Instead of fighting about which industry is great, one should make good films, have good infrastructure, build good theatres. That is when the world will truly appreciate and say, ‘India has arrived’.”
Several trade experts have labelled the rise of south cinema as ‘the post-Baahubali phenomenon’. S S Rajamouli – who directed the two Baahubali installments, that released in 2015 and 2017 – said in an interview that Hindi films had stopped catering to the mass audience, who started watching dubbed south films online. “Unknowingly, we were building a big fan base for action films for a long time. And when Baahubali landed, everything exploded.”
2022: NO MORE WOODS?
The rising popularity of south cinema has made Bollywood move beyond its comfort zone and blend in with regional languages. The biggest examples being Salman Khan’s Telugu debut with Chiranjeevi’s GodFather, and Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon’s Kannada debut with KGF - Chapter 2 in 2022. Will this be the end of the ‘woods’ and the beginning of the Indian film industry?
IF ALL OF US GET TOGETHER, WE CAN CROSS 3,000 – 4,000 CR TOO: SALMAN KHAN
Both Bollywood and southern film industries can benefit from the cross-pollination of talents. People want to go to Hollywood, I want to go south. The thing is once you start working together, just imagine the numbers we will all have… If all of us get together, we can cross 3,000-4,000 crore.
GLAD TO SEE OUR CINEMA IS NOW GLOBAL, NOT JUST PAN-INDIAN: NAGARJUNA
There have been no language barriers for me since 1990 and I’ve always wanted to work in good films irrespective of language. It also used to be the norm for actors to settle across various film industries, even if they weren’t born there. I’m glad to see that cinema has now gone back to not just become pan-India but also global. There’s no need for there to be a divide.
NOT A FAN OF WOODS, CALL IT INDIAN CINEMA: ALLU ARJUN
I am personally not a big fan of words like Tollywood or Kollywood or Jollywood or Bollywood. This wood...that wood...no. I would love to call it all Indian cinema.
Torrents to Telegram: Piracy makes a comeback in OTT era
8:25 AM
A bunch of techies and copyright experts have teamed up to fight digital pirates who use offshore servers to cover their tracks
Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 13, 2022)
Ask any teenager from the late 90s and even the most unassuming one will confess to a notorious history of discovering new music and movies through piracy. The noughties arrived with bootleg video libraries and dial-up internet modems. And the new web-straddling generation — mostly ignorant or uncaring of ethical and legal bearings of piracy — were either buying shaky-cam versions of a blockbuster off the streets or downloading entire discographies and films over peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.
It was only a crackdown on illegal sites and shops and the advent of streaming tech that prompted ex-torrenters to kick their habit. However, piracy is anything but dead.
Turns out, if streaming services love the cloud, the pirates love it too since it makes it easier to download, mirror and circulate content illegally and harder for broadcasters to track them. The year 2020 particularly sparked a video piracy bonanza as the pandemic kept people home and out of theatres. Antipiracy agency Aiplex in Bengaluru notes that 23 million people in India had watched at least one episode of ‘Scam 1992’ although Sony LIV accounted for only two million subscribers while ‘Aashram’, one of MX Player’s most popular shows, would have gained 20% more viewership if watched legally.
“According to a report by Digital TV Research in 2021, the loss of revenue for OTT players on account of piracy in India is expected to hit $3.08 billion by 2022, while the cost of global online streaming piracy will reach $52 billion by 2022,” points out Girish Kumar, managing director of Aiplex.
Gautam Talwar, chief content officer for MX Player, calls piracy a “hard habit to break” given people’s inclination to download pirated versions of their content despite shows being available for free on their ad-driven platform. Talwar, during a recent consumer survey, stumbled upon hole-in-the-wall shops that have sprung up in cities like Indore and Bhopal where every web series available on every platform is being sold for as little as Rs 20.
“These are located close to coaching centres and youngsters equipped with laptops and catalogues of entire series with their IMDb ratings are transferring content onto people’s phones. It’s so organized that it’s scary. It’s hurting the business and creative people,” says Talwar.
“The exponential growth of OTT services has sort of facilitated piracy because the same technology of sending content over a high-speed internet connection is being leveraged by pirates to distribute and monetize content,” says Sharath Kumar, founder and CEO of the Chennai-based MassBunk Antipiracy that recently removed 14,000 pirated links of the film ‘Vikram’, within a week of its release.
As piracy enters this new landscape, techies like Sharath and Girish Kumar, with their teams comprising data scientists, software engineers, copyright experts and offline investigators, are using artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art proprietary tools to tackle the tidal wave of pirated content on the web.
“As a computer engineer fresh out of college in 2016, my dream was to become a filmmaker. But as a techie, watching piracy destroy budding directors and producers, I decided to get together with a few college mates and design something that would weed out piracy from its roots. Our motive was to protect not just the content but also investigate and nab those behind all the notorious sites,” recounts Kumar of MassBunk.
Helping a neighbour whose YouTube channel was deactivated because of a copyright strike gave Girish his most successful business idea. “It got me thinking about copyright enforcement. My team of engineers and I spent more than a year devising an antipiracy tool that can extract, validate and delete 95% of copyright infringements in the online space. Our AI-enabled pattern identification technology has also helped us draw up a list of potential and habitual offenders,” says Girish.
While much of it is still about movies and shows, digital piracy in its new avatar applies to e-books and gaming as well. If social media is often used to share pirated content within closed groups or as a signpost, the leading source of pirated content today, they claim, are popular messaging apps like Telegram with its end-to-end encryption that allows pirates and users to conceal their identity and share texts, videos, or other copyrighted content.
“Ninety per cent use Telegram to download their favourite movies, shows, music, and e-books. The process starts with a channel admin posting hyperlinks to pirated content available on a third party streaming/download site. These third-party sites pay the admins according to the number of visits, downloads and streams on their site,” explains Sharath.
“And pirates make most of their money from ad revenues. Legitimate businesses, including well-known brands in search of high traffic, inadvertently place their ads on pirate websites,” says Abhishek Dhoreliya, founder and CEO of MarkScan, an antipiracy agency in Delhi.
“Simulcasting or live streaming video to multiple channels from one platform; extraction of files and capturing videos from streaming services; mobile compatible modified versions of a streaming app that one can install on their Android device are some of the new trends,” says Girish, adding that, “NFT piracy is picking up pace, too, where pirates create counterfeit NFTs and sell them to unsuspecting buyers.”
The work of these antipiracy task forces begins at least a week before a film is about to be released, monitoring websites and Telegram channels round the clock that are likely to post links to the movie once the first pirated print is leaked. “We have teams dedicated to each regional language, and the moment anyone informs us over social media, DMs or email, we remove the links in bulk,” says Sharath, who has filed nearly 50 FIRs till date. MassBunk also teams up with social media influencers, fans and citizen collectives who often alert them to illegal links during a movie’s release.
“Our teams work round the clock to monitor online discussion forums, search engines, user generated platforms like YouTube and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook,” says Dhoreliya, who has partnered with many of these sites for access to their ‘takedown tool’ that allows them moderator privilege to remove any pirated content on their platforms.
That apart, search-engine delisting and domain blocking via Ashok Kumar order (Indian substitute for John Doe order), a legal remedy against unknown offenders, is an effective counter-measure, believes Girish, whose team recently helped keep films like ‘JugJugg Jeeyo’ (Hindi), ‘Bairagee’ (Kannada), ‘Nadi Dosh’ (Gujarati), ‘Khaao Piyo Aish Karo’ (Punjabi) from popping up on rogue websites. “Such legal orders are a crucial strategy in tackling piracy ahead of big-ticket releases,” says Dhoreliya.
While piracy in India is a criminal act that could attract a three-year prison term and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakhs, most of the perpetrators use offshore servers in foreign countries like UK and France where laws and punishments differ, say these antipiracy crusaders. “Unlike physical CD shops and sellers that were easy to identify and catch, pirates could be anywhere in the world using privacy protection services to hide on the Internet,” adds Dhoreliya, who feels that changes in the copyright laws in India to address new forms of digital piracy and collaboration between stakeholders — content owners, government entities and antipiracy agencies — could help take the bull by the horns.
Except Pushpa, RRR and KGF - Chapter 2, rest of the South films see a disaster fate in Hindi
8:33 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
There was this South bandwagon going on through the pandemic developed by the media mainly to put Hindi cinema down as within the digital world, that was the need of the hour to get views or likes. Now post the pandemic, there has been a record number of dubbed releases from the South and most of them have met their disaster fate.
The bigger thing than the final fate is that there are just no takers of South films from the first day as shows get cancelled. These films open to such limited audiences that even if there is some likeability in a region where South films are more appealing, it will still not get much collections due to the no show on the first day.
There will be the branded films like KGF - CHAPTER 2 and RRR which either have value from a previous film or the director has some value due to his previous film which you know have great chances to score. Then there will be a PUSHPA: THE RISE - PART 01 type of a film which comes along and surprises but even that will always be a rarity. Also PUSHPA: THE RISE - PART 01 had a budget and scale which also gives it a chance. But the sort of releases which we have been seeing are basically tack fests and met their deserved fate.
Some of the bigger Telugu releases which are probably the best bets did not even bother with a dubbed version as they knew the likely results. The box office collections of South films released in Hindi in 2022 are as follows and the fate outside KGF - CHAPTER 2 and RRR is a total disaster. Anything can be written to paint a certain picture but numbers never lie.
Khiladi - 1.4 crore
Valimai - 2.1 crore
ET - 6 lakhs
Radhe Shyam - 17.41 crore
James - 50k
RRR - 275 crore
KGF - Chapter 2 - 427 crore
Raw (Beast) - 2.3 crore
Major - 9.6 crore (2 weeks)
Vikram: Hitlist - 6 crore (2 weeks) (Note - This film has not done well but has held at those low levels. The film started with a 25 lakh first day and may well end up with around 10 crore nett lifetime driven by Mumbai circuit as third week should be better than second due to lack of releases)
777 Charlie - 1.65 crore (1 week)
There are going to be many more South dubbed releases this year or are being planned to be released and the disasters will continue to pile up.
(Crisp) Movie Review: VIKRAM: HITLIST by FENIL SETA
11:09 PM
Vikram: Hitlist, the Hindi dubbed version of Vikram, is a crazy mass entertainer. It takes a while to get the hang of the zone of the film and the context. Once that happens, there’s no looking back as the film is replete with some terrific entertaining moments. The way writer-director Lokesh Kanagaraj has got the three actors together and given them their rightful due, is seen to be believed and is also a lesson in filmmaking. Also, what’s praiseworthy is how he has told a very simple story and yet, it doesn’t give a been-there-done-that feeling. Sadly, the film is too confusing and complicated at places, unlike Lokesh Kanagaraj’s previous films, which were easy to understand. Speaking of performances, Kamal Haasan is in terrific form. He is missing for a major part of the first half but makes up for it very well later on. Fahadh Faasil, as expected, proves yet again why he’s one of the finest talents in India. Vijay Sethupathi is menacing to another level and delivers an able performance. Gayathrie Shankar is quite good in the supporting part. Narain (Bejoy) and Kalidas Jayaram are fair. Vasanthi has a cameo and is terrific. Suriya was okay and tries too hard to be scary. However, it’ll surely be interesting to see how he contributes to the madness in part 2. All in all, Vikram: Hitlist is worth watching and it’s great to see that the film is doing well, despite negligible awareness pre-release in the Hindi markets. (P.S.: Do watch Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Kaithi before watching Vikram: Hitlist as both films are connected)
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 728
9:12 AM
WILL SAMRAT PRITHVIRAJ BE ABLE TO BREAK THE DAY 1 RECORD OF BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2?
One of the biggest films of the year, Samrat Prithviraj, is all set to be released tomorrow, June 3. Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, this period flick also features Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood and marks the debut of Manushi Chhillar. The film is directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, a well known name thanks to his works like Chanakya, Pinjar etc.
Samrat Prithviraj is produced by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films. It is known for quality products and in this regard, the film looks grand, technically and visually. The budget of the film is skyhigh and it shows. As a result, it looks like a movie which can be best enjoyed on the big screen. Moreover, it is based on the life of Prithviraj Chauhan, a brave king who is fondly remembered even today.
Sadly, the film’s buzz is limited. Though the action and grandeur are topnotch, audiences have got a been-there-done-that feeling from the promos as the film looks similar to Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, Jodhaa Akbar etc. Akshay Kumar’s performance has also come under the scanner. He doesn’t seem to have put in the required hard work. The promotions have also been low-key. In the last one week, however, the promotional activities picked up big time. Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chhillar and Chandraprakesh Dwivedi travelled to Somnath and Varanasi and even showed the film to Home Minister Amit Shah. Today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will watch Samrat Prithviraj at a special screening in Lucknow.
Yet, the buzz remains low. As a result, it’s difficult to say whether it’ll have an opening of Rs. 10 crore plus. Even if it does, its target is to break the day 1 record of the recent hit, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The Kartik Aaryan starrer had collected Rs. 13.50 crore on day one and it remains to be seen if Samrat Prithviraj can cross the number.
Samrat Prithviraj is not a solo release. Major, starring Adivi Sesh, is a bi-lingual and based on the life of 26/11 hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. This film, too, has limited hype but the makers have adopted a smart marketing strategy. Since last week, they have held pre-release screenings in different cities. The response to these screenings has been very positive and it has aroused curiosity. Hence, it’ll start low but can pick up through a good word of mouth.
The third release is the Tamil film Vikram, which will be dubbed in Hindi. It has an enviable star cast, comprising Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil. The trailer is quite creative and massy. Yet, the excitement is just not there among the Hindi audiences. As a result, it’ll have a disastrous opening.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan kicks off final leg of Ponniyin Selvan in Hyderabad; Mani Ratnam lines up war sequence
8:15 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 6, 2021)
Mani Ratnam is making brisk progress on 'Ponniyin Selvan'. After a short stint in Puducherry, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi and others have apparently commenced the final schedule of the period drama in Hyderabad. A set of a huge fortress has been constructed on a hillock at Ramoji Film City, where Vikram’s character — Aditya Karikalan — will lead a war.
“Vikram has already shot a crowd sequence. Over the next few days, Mani sir will shoot some intense scenes with Aishwarya, Karthi, Trisha and Jayam, and a song with the entire cast. Post that, he will film the Chola expedition that sees Karikalan defeat the Pandya king, Veerapandyan,” reveals a trade source.
Envisaged in two parts, the magnum opus will trace the early days of Arulmozhivarman, who became Emperor Rajaraja Chola I. Rai will be seen in a double role as princess Nandini, and her mother, queen Mandakini Devi. “Nandini manipulates her husband, leading to the downfall of the Chola empire.” The source adds that some portions will be shot in Tamil Nadu and other regions across India.
I was a little doubtful about playing the old character in Malik-Fahadh Faasil
8:17 AM
Known for fronting offbeat subjects, Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil on ageing from 20 to 57 years on screen for Malik
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 13, 2021)
The pandemic hasn’t been able to slow down Fahadh Faasil. If anything, the lockdown made viewers, hitherto unfamiliar with his works, discover the Malayalam star, thus bringing him pan-India fame. After doling out four releases in the past 16 months, including the widely acclaimed Joji, Faasil is back with another outing — Malik.
The Amazon Prime Video offering, which reunites him with C U Soon (2020) director Mahesh Narayanan, sees him as the leader of a coastal community who fights the political and police corruption prevalent in the region.
With the narrative spanning almost four decades, Faasil’s character will age on screen from 20 to 57 years. “I was a little doubtful about playing the old character on screen because I have always played characters that belong to my age group. But once we cracked the look, there was no going back,” says the actor, adding that he found himself relying on Narayanan’s vision for the role. “[To bring a character to life], one depends either on a trial-and-error process or on someone else [to guide him]. Malik was a difficult film to design, so I totally depended on the director.”
Movie on movie, the actor has exploring out-of-the-box characters. Ask him if he ever craves to play the clichéd chocolate boy, and he says, “I need to believe in the screenplay. I have never picked a film basis my character. For me, the priority is to see how the film evolves. I am open to anything as long as it excites me.”
What has got him excited these days is Vikram, and with good reason. The recently announced film, after all, sees him rub shoulders with Kamal Haasan and Vijay Sethupathi. “I have grown up watching [Haasan’s] films. I have always wondered how he functions and how he approaches his characters, so this is an exciting chance for me to learn about that. We’ll begin shooting next month.”
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