First look of Kajal Aggarwal’s ‘Uma’ out

The poster of the upcoming film ‘Uma’ starring Kajal Aggarwal released on Tuesday, gives a glimpse of the characters from the film.

Talking about the poster, director Tathagat Singha said, “The post production of the film is on. The poster has the look and feel of the film. It’s a slice of life, feel good family entertainer and we are really happy with the way the film is shaping up.”

The film ‘Uma’ also features Tinnu Anand, Harsh Chhaya, Meghana Malik, Gaurav Sharma, Shriswara, Ayoshi Talukdar and Kiaan Sharma, was shot in Kolkata in a start to finish schedule.

The story of the film is a family drama, set in an aristocratic household with a wedding backdrop where the entire family assembles. The drama unfolds through the multifaceted characters in the house with the arrival of a stranger Uma.

Produced by Avishek Ghosh and Mantraraj Paliwal, the makers are yet to announce the release date of the film.

‘Tadap’ makers release two new lead character teasers

‘Tadap’ starring Ahan Shetty and Tara Sutaria is one of the most awaited releases of the year and fans await sparkling chemistry of Ahan and Tara on the silver screen. The makers have now released two character teasers of its leads to rouse the excitement about the film.

The first teaser introduces the character of ‘Ishana’ essayed by Ahan as he stands with a chiselled body and his back facing the camera. The teaser has been strung together with an industrial dubstep track to give a grungy feel to the character.

The second teaser, released moments after the first, introduces Tara’s character of ‘Ramisa’. Ramisa’s teaser is rounded up by a soul-stirring flamenco track telling us that it is a character with more softer shades. It will be interesting to see the pairing of two characters with such opposite shades.

The impressive teasers gives us a sneak peek into the world of ‘Ishana’ and ‘Ramisa’, portrayed by Ahan and Tara and establishes their characters well thereby building more intrigue and mystery around them.

‘Tadap’ is an official Hindi remake of the Telugu blockbuster ‘RX 100’ and will be the first big canvas romantic drama to be released in theatres. The film is helmed by Milan Luthria who is known for films like ‘Taxi No. 9-2-11’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’.

Presented and co-produced by Fox Star Studios, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment production ‘Tadap’ is set to roll out in cinemas on December 3.

Suriya takes the stand on his upcoming courtroom drama ‘Jai Bhim’

Suriya Siva Kumar stars as an advocate in upcoming courtroom drama ‘Jai Bhim’ which will have an OTT release on Prime Video on November 2. The Tha. Se. Gnanavel directorial has Prakash Raj, Lijo Mol Jose, Rajisha, Manikandan, Rao Ramesh, and others in important roles.

Written and directed by Tha. Se. Gnanavel, ‘Jai Bhim’ is produced by Suriya and Jyotika under their production banner, 2D Entertainment. Actor Suriya had interacted with IANS, sharing his experience about working for ‘Jai Bhim’.

On being quizzed about what made him choose this subject, Suriya conveyed that this tale needs to be heard. “In the world we live, a few kilometers away from our own houses, these people who belong to so-called low castes suffer so much. The injustice they face in their daily lives needs to be portrayed. When I came across the story of advocate Chandru, it inspired a voice inside me. He has fought for the people, trying to give justice to the subaltern,” Suriya said.

Suriya also mentioned that he felt privileged to be a part of such a great movie, which portrays reality. “Tamil movies are all about the portrayal of reality and the lives of people around us. I find myself lucky to take this project,” the ‘Ghajini’ actor replied, on being quizzed about the realistic approach in Tamil movies.

Suriya explained, “This movie is all about the political injustice and Dalits being a soft target for the police. A journey of a lawyer, who is determined to bring justice to a lower caste woman, who is deprived of her basic rights. He used the law as his weapon”.

“These incidents happen every day in all parts of India. So, a hero like advocate Chandru, and his tale need to be amplified, so as to make everyone realise the power of law,” Suriya said.

On being quizzed about the OTT release of his movies, Suriya answered, “This is an era of a digital revolution. Though we all miss the theatrical releases, ‘Jai Bhim’ has got such a big release in India and across 240 countries and territories. So, considering the reach, I think it is not at all a small thing”.

Advocate Chandru fights for righteousness and struggles to achieve equality. Suriya’s role as Chandru strives for equal treatment and justice for the oppressed.

Prabhas’ mythological drama readies for a wrap

Tollywood’s superhero Prabhas’ upcoming mythological drama ‘Adipurush’ is among the most-anticipated movies in recent times. Touted to be a visual extravaganza, the movie is expected to be a treat for VFX fans.

Prabhas, who is busy with back-to-back shoots, has joined the team ‘Adipurush’. The current shooting schedule of Adipurush is taking place in Mumbai and is to be wrapped up by the end of next month. Director Om Raut is planning to wrap up the shooting before the movie enters into the post-production phase, which needs heavy VFX and graphical representation.

It is even stated that the graphics in ‘Adipurush’ would have triple VFX than the ‘Baahubali’ series. So, the expectations are rife.

Om Raut is planning on shooting non-stop, so as to release the movie, by August 11, 2022. As the upcoming movie ‘Adipurush’ had initial hiccups, it was also postponed multiple times owing to the pandemic. In this frame of context, the makers are trying their best to wrap up things related to the shooting, so that the VFX works are carried out soon.

In this upcoming 3D action drama ‘Adipurush’, actor Prabhas is to play the role of Lord Ram, while actress Kriti Sanon is paired up alongside Prabhas to play Sita. Bollywood’s famous actor Saif Ali Khan will be seen as Ravan.

Chiranjeevi lends his voice for Krishna Vamsi’s ‘Rangamarthanda’

Telugu director Krishna Vamsi, who wrapped up shooting for his upcoming directorial ‘Rangamarthanda’, has given a ‘mega’ update. As he starts dubbing for ‘Rangamarthanda’, he has roped in megastar Chiranjeevi to lend his voice.

Sharing his excitement about Chiranjeevi’s voice-over, Krishna Vamsi wrote, “ThQ annyya for ur generosity n unconditional kindness …one more crowned lightening on #rangamarthandas sky. THE MEGA VOICE”, on his microblogging site. The director also shared a picture, which features Chiranjeevi in front of the mic, wrapping up his dubbing for ‘Rangamarthanda’.

While Chiranjeevi had a minor surgery, it is a great gesture that he went all the way to lend his voice to Krishna Vamsi’s prestigious project. Chiranjeevi has a great line-up of movies, that includes ‘Acharya’, which is all set for its release soon.

‘Rangamarthanda’ is Krishna Vamsi’s upcoming directorial starring Ramya Krishna, Prakash Raj, Shivathmika, Adarsh Balakrishna, and Rahul Silpligunj in the lead roles. While the makers are trying to wrap up the post-production works as soon as possible, there is no clarification regarding the release date yet.

Earlier, there were talks that ‘Rangamarthanda’ would get a direct OTT release, but the makers came forward to clear things up. So, ‘Rangamarthanda’ is to see its theatrical release, and the makers are eyeing December to release this emotional, action drama.

Kriti Sanon and Rajkummar Rao to appear on ‘KBC 13’ as special guests

Actors Kriti Sanon and Rajkummar Rao will be seen as special guests on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 13’s ‘Shaandaar Shukravaar’ episode. They will be on the hotseat playing the game for a social cause and interacting with the host Amitabh Bachchan.

Actress Kriti Sanon goes down on her knees for proposing to Amitabh Bachchan and it will be followed by a ballroom dancing. Moreover Rajkummar Rao will be seen impersonating actors such as Shah Rukh Khan and Sunny Deol on the show.

He will also request the host to enact a few scenes from Amitabh’s iconic movie ‘Deewar’.

Kriti’s sister Nupur Sanon will be sharing a special message.

‘KBC 13’s Friday special episode will air on October 29 on Sony Entertainment Television.

Naga Shaurya in place of Naga Chaitanya for ‘Varudu Kaavalenu’

The movie ‘Varudu Kaavalenu’ is making some noise, prior to its release. With Naga Shaurya and Ritu Varma as the main leads, the movie is gearing up for its release soon.

Debutante director Lakshmi Sowjanya had a media interaction Monday, where she shares her experiences about ‘Varudu Kaavalenu’.

Lakshmi Sowjanya mentioned that she had narrated this story to Naga Chaitanya, even before she roped in Naga Shaurya. “I did have Naga Shaurya in my consideration. But, went on to narrate this ‘Varudu Kaavalenu’ story to Naga Chaitanya. The pandemic happened and many things went wrong with all of us. Finally, I feel like this story was destined to feature Naga Shaurya”, she said.

The director went further to explain Shaurya’s role, describing him as the guy next door. “Shaurya is the best choice to play this role. Out movie is slated for its release in theatres on October 29. I am sure the story is relatable and entertaining”.

Lakshmi Sowjanya, also shared that the film has come out quite well, as it is expected to appeal to both youth and family audiences. The makers of ‘Varudu Kaavalenu’ are leaving no stone unturned, as they are doing their best to promote the movie in a contrasting way. The pre-release event is titled the ‘Sangeet’ event, as the title ‘Varudu Kaavalenu’ indicates things related to marriage.

From bus conductor to Phalke Awardee, Rajinikanth’s life is the stuff of movies

As the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the superstar of Tamil cinema Rajnikanth crosses yet another milestone in a career that spans 45 years and continues to go strong. Rajnikanth was presented the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 67th National Film Awards function by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu in the national capital on Monday.

The Phalke Award is the latest of several honours that the thespian has garnered through his career. Apart from four Tamil Nadu State Film Best Actor Awards, and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award, Rajinikanth is the recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2000, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. He is the second Tamil actor after Sivaji Ganesan to receive the prestigious film award.

However, bracketing Rajinikanth as a Tamil movie star would be a grave injustice to the legions of fans and admirers he has acquired across regions and languages – Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi – he has acted in all the movie industries. His popularity breaches regional and national boundaries too. There was a time, when Rajinikanth was a big time craze in faraway Japan.

His life itself is reminiscent of some of the rags to riches roles he has successfully portrayed on the big screen. Born in erstwhile Mysore state as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, in a middle-class Marathi family of Bangalore, young Rajinikanth took up several odd jobs before landing a job as a bus conductor in the Karnataka capital. The acting bug caught him pretty young, and egged on by his bus-driver friend Raj Bahadur, he took off to then Mecca of south Indian cinema – Madras, now Chennai.

Interestingly, the 70-year-old superstar who has held sway over the silver screen for several decades, began his career as the quintessential bad man on screen. Legendary director K. Balachander’s find, Rajinikanth made his debut with a small role in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ in 1975. Thereafter, a series of negative roles in a succession of movies ensured he became a known face to movie-goers. His inimitable style quotient included mannerisms such as popping a cigarette and lighting it, or rocking on his heels while rattling off long dialogues, with a sneering smile plastered across his face.

In real life too, in the conservative Chennai society of the 70s and 80s, Rajinikanth briefly enjoyed a reputation as a bit of a bohemian. His smoking and alcohol-loving lifestyle used to be the talk of the town. Incidentally he first met his wife Latha, when she came to interview him for a college magazine.

Gradually, Rajinikanth took control of his life and turned a new page altogether. For some time, he made the headlines for his visits to his Himalayan guru’s abode, seeking solutions to many of society’s ills.

But throughout, Rajinikanth never lost sight of his cinematic career goals. Thanks to a couple of lucky breaks, including the hit movie ‘Priya’ where he portrays a detective, Rajinikanth had transitioned to lead roles. Along the way, he worked in Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam movies, in addition to the occasional Hindi movie like ‘Andha Kanoon’ and ‘Hum’ to name a few.

It was movies like ‘Baasha’, ‘Annamalai’, and ‘Sivaji’ that cemented Rajinikanth’s cult status. The poor young man with a heart of gold, who wins over the rich and mighty is a recurring theme in many of his movies, and something that fans relate to everytime he appears on screen.

Rajinikanth is also known for his sense of fair play. Just as he commanded astronomical remunerations for his movies, his conduct was said to be exemplary if his films tanked at the box-office. The Tamil film industry saw a new trend set when he supposedly called his film producers home and reimbursed their losses.

But Rajinikanth has also not stepped back from challenging roles either. Be it ‘Chandramukhi’ which dealt with the paranormal, or ‘Enthiran’ which set the ball rolling for sci-fi in Indian movies, Rajnikanth has done it with elan.

The superstar had also tried his hand at politics but better sense prevailed and ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, he disbanded his political party on December 31, 2020. Earlier too, he has been politically active, albeit from the sidelines when Jayalalithaa as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister made it to the headlines over her alleged corruption, Rajinikanth railed against her and contributed to the DMK victory in the polls of 1996. In later years, Rajinikanth cozied upto the BJP but never went beyond verbal support for the party.

With age and health concerns turning out to be hurdles, Rajinikanth has become choosy about his roles. ‘Annaatthe’ is his latest big screen outing currently under production. Meanwhile, the younger generation comprising of daughters Soundarya, Aishwarya, and son-in=law and actor Dhanush are active in the filmmaking business.

Dhanush too figured in the honours list on Monday, bagging the Best Actor award for his role in Tamil feature film ‘Asuran’.

Forty-five years ago, few including the plain-looking, swarthy young Rajinikanth himself, would have imagined that the most prestigious cinematic award of the land would be his. But on Monday, 70-year-old Shivaji Rao Gaekwad a.k.a. Rajinikanth did just that. And he didn’t forget the people who made it possible – his brother Satyanarayana Rao, friend Raj Bahadur, mentor K. Balachander, and his fans.

National Award-winning Mohanlal-starrer headed for OTT release

Movie theatres opened across Kerala after six months on Monday, with the first film slated to be released on the big screen on Wednesday, but the producer of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s award-winning film, “Marakkar: Lion of Arabian Sea”, directed by the acclaimed director Priyadarshan, is mulling a possible OTT release.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, the film’s producer, Antony Perumbavoor, said he was exploring all options, including a possible OTT release. “See, this film has been long delayed and we just cannot afford to wait anymore,” Preumbavoor said. “We have talked with Amazon Prime. If the decision is made to go OTT way, then there will not be any theatrical release.”

At the 67th National Film Awards, which was held in New Delhi on Monday, “Marakkar, the Lion of Arabian Sea” got three awards — Best Feature Film, Best Special Effects and Best Costume.

The film is centred around the life and times of Kunhali Marakkar, the famous naval chieftain of the Zamorin of Calicut, who is credited with organising the first naval defence of the Indian coast. Mohanlal, who’s known for his flexibility and adaptability to any character, plays the title role of Marakkar.

The star cast includes the thespian Madhu and Manju Warrier, besides Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, and a host of British and Chinese actors.

With many producers unhappy with the new rules restricting the audience to 50 per cent of the seating capacity of each movie theatre, and with the Malayalam cinema audience getting used to OTT releases, there are many others like Perumbavoor who are contemplating OTT releases.

Puri Jagannath’s viral video with kid on Mumbai roads

Leading Telugu director Puri Jagannadh was spotted by his fan on a busy road in Mumbai. Puri Jagannadh, along with his team had headed to shoot for a peppy song for his upcoming Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Pandey-starrer ‘Liger’.

As the director was heading towards his shooting spot with his team player Charmmee Kaur, they bumped into a young boy, who was shocked to see them. The boy approached Puri’s car, as he could not believe his own eyes, he kept saying “Puri sir” in exclamation.

The young boy introduced himself as Pramod. “I am unable to believe this sir. I am a huge fan of yours. As soon as I saw the Telangana number plate on the car, I guessed that it would be people from our state. But, as I came forward, I cannot believe my eyes,” the boy got emotional. He was also seen shaking the hands with Puri Jagannadh multiple times.

Pramod went further and asked Charmme to post the video on Twitter, as he could not snap a selfie because he had no phone with him. Charmee is seen assuring that she will post the video on Twitter. Puri Jagannadh is seen greeting his young fan, as he asks him to watch ‘Liger’.

“This cute kid came across #purijagannadh on mumbai traffic signal .. was mesmerised seeing him, this post is specially for Pramod, because he mentioned he wanted a selfie but unfortunately didn’t have a phone,” tweeted Charmme, who was beside Puri Jagannadh in the car.

‘Liger’ stars Vijay Deverakonda, Ananya Pandey, and US boxing legend Mike Tyson in key roles.