Manjari Fadnnis on how OTT has changed her career and ‘Miya Biwi Aur Murder’

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After two of her recently released shows ‘Masoom’ and ‘Miya Biwi Aur Murder’ (MBM), which have given her a chance to prove her versatility as an actress and earned her appreciation for her work, Manjari Fadnnis says that, finally, she is feeling satisfied as an artist.

Making her Bollywood debut with the film ‘Jaane Tu Yaa Jane Naa’ in 2008, the actress said that post the success of the film, she was getting typecast for the longest time and never got a real opportunity to grow with her craft.

In conversation with IANS, Manjari said, “I was facing a certain kind of typecasting by most of the casting directors. I was always offered sweet, girl-next-door characters, the girlfriend of a rich boy, etc. I am always told that I give a vibe on-screen with my smile, good looks, and so on.

“But my point was, if it is about my look, a makeup artist can change it. I am an actress so I need the chance to prove my skill. I always wanted to act as some character that is intense or quite opposite of who I am in real life. I was feeling so suffocated for the longest time.”

Though in between she kept working in Hindi, Marathi, and South Indian films, according to Manjari, it started changing in 2019 when she signed up for the web film ‘Barot House’.

She said: “That film and our director Bugs Bhargava changed the game for me and of course, I am thankful for that. But I also mentioned that it is because of OTT shows and films that actors like us are finally getting our due. Whether it is me, Pratik (Gandhi), or Amit (Sadh) who are in the industry from a young age but mostly got sidelined in mainstream Bollywood. Now things are good with us.”

While her performance in ‘Masoom’ starring Boman Irani and Samara Tijori in the lead was quite intense, her character in ‘MBM’ was just the opposite.

In MBM, which is a comedy show, she plays a housewife named Priya who does not get attention from her police officer husband and goes for a Tinder date with another guy.

A murder takes place and as bizarre as it may sound, Priya and her husband try to solve the murder, connecting the dots by taking references from the television show ‘CID’, which Priya used to watch in repeat telecasts while sitting idle at home.

Manjari said, “Yes, it was a bizarre comedy and everything about the character is crazy and it was a laugh riot. I got the script just after the first lockdown back in 2020. We all were going through a tough time then so, it was like comic relief in our real lives too, while shooting.”

‘Miya Biwi Aur Murder’ features Rushad Rana, Ashmita Bakshi, and Prasad Khandekar. It is streaming on MX Player.

 

‘Stranger Things 4’ finale leads to server crash at Netflix

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The final two episodes of the sci-fi horror drama series ‘Stranger Things 4’ caused the server to crash at Netflix, the platform that is streaming the show, reports ‘Variety’.

According to the global uptime-monitoring site Downdetector.com, user reports of problems with Netflix spiked around 3 a.m (U.S. Eastern Standard Time), when ‘Stranger Things 4’ Volume 2 went live.

‘Variety’ notes that complaints about errors with Netflix peaked at nearly 13,000 at the top of the hour before the situation seemed to be resolved within half an hour.

‘Stranger Things 4’ already has set the record as the No. 1 English-language series on the service in its first four weeks of release, as reported by Netflix based on total hours watched.

‘Stranger Things’ has been created, written, and executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, aka the Duffer Brothers.

The supernatural horror-thriller has an ensemble cast featuring Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, and Matthew Modine.

 

#SexiestPosterEver: Vijay Deverakonda’s bare look in ‘Liger’ poster trends on Twitter

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If the response to his ‘Liger’ poster is any indication, actor Vijay Devarakonda is well on his way to becoming the next South sensation across India. Saturday saw Vijay Deverakonda take to his social media handle to drop the poster of his pan-India film, ‘Liger’.

The young actor made jaws drop when he unveiled his bold poster, semi-nude with just a bouquet of roses for his highly anticipated next, ‘Liger’. The poster reads, “Saala Crossbreed”.

Vijay stars in the much-anticipated ‘Liger’, directed by Puri Jagannath.

Vijay is a popular star with several Telugu hits to his credit. His movies include ‘Arjun Reddy’ and ‘Geetha Govindam’.

The young actor is the latest star from the South to foray into pan-India movie space after Prabhas, Ram Charan, Jr NTR and Yash.

The actor took over social media within minutes of the launch of the poster. It started trending on Twitter instantly.

Netizens lost no time in heaping praise on Vijay’s sculpted physique. They took to their social media handles to share their admiration.

‘Liger’ hits the big screens on August 25.

Kiara Advani talks about the joys of being helmed by S. Shankar

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Kiara Advani, who is enjoying the success of her recently released films ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’ and ‘Bhool Bhoolaiyaa 2’, said her first-ever pan-India project, ‘RC15′, starring Telugu actor Ram Charan and directed by S. Shankar, has been quite a unique experience for her.

From the look to the world of the story, it was a very different journey for her, and that was the most exciting part.

Kiara told IANS: “Even though I am not allowed to reveal much about the story and my character just now yet, I can say, it is a different world altogether. We know the genius Shankar sir is, he can turn any story and character larger than life. He is like a magician and working with him is a huge learning lesson for me.”

“I am like a sponge on the set, constantly observing everything happening around us. We have been shooting since November last year and I will go for our next schedule soon. It is my first pan-India film, super excited I am!” she said.

Shankar, multiple award-winning Tamil directors, is best known for his films Gentleman’, ‘Jeans’, ‘Indian’, and ‘2.0’.

From her previous big films, ‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Shershah’, for instance, to ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, each one of the characters she has played has a distinct look. Creating a look for the character is very important for her, Kiara pointed out.

“I think the look of the character is the first visual reference we get of the overall imagination coming from the writer, and director. So look is like a mask for me that I wear and it transports me to that world,” Kiara said, and then she cited examples of how it works for her.

“One of the very different looks I had was that of Nanki from the Netflix original, ‘Guilty’. She was so alien to me as a character but her look helped me to play her. Nanki had tattoos over her body, her hairstyle, her clothes, and her whole appearance were so wild! It was because of the look and feel of the character, I got the body language right!” she stated.

She went on adding, “On the other hand, those two characters of Dimple Cheema in ‘Shershaah’ and Preeti in ‘Kabir Singh’ were the opposite of who Nanki was!

For Preeti’s character, I had a no-makeup look because Sandeep sir (Sandeep Vanga, the director) told me that she is exactly the opposite of what Kabir is and it was a love story between opposites. For Dimple Chimma in ‘Shershaah’, it was one of the simple yet much-loved looks I have ever sported. It was just a simple small bindi, kajal, and long hair. She was simple and yet a strong and dignified woman.”

Kiara also finished shooting for ‘Govinda Naam Mera’ which features Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar, a Dharma Production film that is expected to release by the end of this year.

 

Anya’s Tutorial: Cyber horror tale of two sisters and demons of their past 

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Duration: 30 minutes per episode (seven episodes in all). Director: Pallavi Gangireddy.

Lead Cast: Nivedhithaa Satish and Regina Cassandra.

The paranormal overtakes cyberspace in this tale of two sisters battling the demons from their troubled childhood with an evil spirit in the wings. ‘Anya’s Tutorial’ released in Telugu and Tamil on the OTT platform Aha, is the story of Lavanya aka Anya who sets out to become a social media influencer.

Living all alone in a flat, Anya is also the lone inhabitant of the entire apartment building. She starts streaming makeup tips online only to find that an apparition behind her is stealing the show. Set in covid lockdown times, Anya’s tutorial soon becomes the talk of the town. Even as Anya tries to cope with the situation, she is caught up in a simmering relationship with her elder sister Madhu.

It’s a good thing that the makers decided to stream seven episodes initially. Although initially snail-paced, the twists and turns in the tale make the story interesting as it progresses through the episodes. It’s evident that more episodes are in the offing.

Produced by Arka Media, the team behind Bahubali, Anya’s Tutorial brims with good production values, right from cinematography to special effects and the music.

The story and screenplay by Soumya Sharma, however, seem too cluttered and keeps zig-zagging between the past and present, cyberspace, the supernatural, and the outside world. It gives the impression that the idea was to stuff as many angles or topics into the storyline.

Although a bit shaky in the initial episodes, the director Pallavi Gangireddy soon has the show moving. But the fact remains that too many changes in the scene will require the full attention of the viewer to stay on track.

Casting for the movie is a plus point. Nivedhithaa Satish as Anya lives her role and makes it look effortless, even in contrived situations. Regina Cassandra as Madhu has done a good job while other characters come in and go making it difficult to really keep track.

All in all, with its slick production values and horror factor, Anya’s Tutorial despite its sedate pace should appeal to horror buffs.

Anya's Tutorial: Cyber horror tale of two sisters and demons of their past 

Shoot of Santhanam’s film with Prashanth Raj wrapped up

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The shooting of director Prashant Raj’s upcoming comedy entertainer, featuring actor Santhanam in the lead, has been wrapped up, its makers have announced.

Fortune Films, the firm producing the yet-to-be-titled film, took to Twitter to make the announcement.

It said: “It’s a wrap of our ‘Santa15’! Get ready to witness one awesome fun entertainer. More updates soon.”

Santhanam too confirmed that the shooting of the film had been wrapped up. He tweeted, “My next ‘Santa15’ shooting wrapped up. It was a super fun journey with director Prashant Raj. Get ready to witness one awesome fun entertainer. More updates coming soon.”

Director Prashant Raj responded to Santhanam’s tweet, saying, “Thanks for one of the most memorable working experiences brother.”

The film features actresses Tanya Hope and Ragini Dwivedi as the female leads and has music by Arjun Janya.

‘Sita Ramam’ made my Kashmir dream come true: Dulquer Salmaan

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Actor Dulquer Salmaan, who paid a visit to Kashmir for the first-ever time to shoot for director Hanu Raghavapudi’s upcoming film, ‘Sita Ramam’, says Kashmir is nothing less than a paradise on earth.

The ‘Sita Ramam’ crew spent more than 30 days in Kashmir and finished their filming on time. The scenery was stunning, and the entire cast and crew of the movie had an enjoyable experience.

Talking about his first-ever trip to Kashmir to shoot for ‘Sita Ramam’, Dulquer says: “This is my first time to Kashmir. Surprisingly, I had never got a chance to visit Kashmir before ‘Sita Ramam’, and this is my first personal and professional visit. It’s long been a big dream of mine to experience the valley. It was every bit as wonderful as people say it is and I can’t describe how breathtakingly beautiful Kashmir is.

“We got to shoot in Sonmarg and Srinagar and both were equally amazing. Sonmarg has mountains and snow and ski slopes and glaciers. Srinagar was like stepping back in time because of how historic it is. Most of the structures are still preserved as they were. The romantic Dal Lake and Shikharas were like poetry. I’m glad I got to experience all of it.”

The actor says the people around them were extremely kind, welcoming, and accommodating. “From those who looked after us at the hotels and shooting spots to even the local police, who made sure we were okay and told us to come back for more shoots and to encourage more films to be shot in Kashmir.

“Kashmir is so unique, it’s like stepping into a photograph or a painting or a film. It’s hard to take in the depth and beauty of Kashmir with your eyes and believe you are witnessing it in person. It’s that awe-inspiring.

“In a heartbeat. I would love to visit Gulmarg and Pahalgam. I want to someday do a skimobile safari as some friends I know have done. It would be a dream to spot a snow leopard in the wild,” he says.

‘Sita Ramam’, a beautiful love story set against the backdrop of a war in 1965, has Dulquer Salmaan playing the character of Lieutenant Ram, an orphan, serving the nation in the snow-clad mesmerizing terrains and gleaming lakes of Kashmir.

Pairing with Dulquer is Mrunal Thakur as Sita Mahalakshmi, the lead lady of the film, along with Rashmika Mandanna in an impressive role.

The film is presented by the 50-year-old Vyjayanthi Movies and produced by Ashwini Dutt for Swapna Cinema.

 

‘Dune: Part Two’ release pushed, to clash with ‘Hunger Games’ prequel

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The release of the sci-fi epic ‘Dune: Part Two’ has been pushed. The film will now open in theatres on November 17, 2023, instead of October 20, 2023, reports ‘Variety’.

The sequel will now open in theatres alongside ‘Hunger Games’ prequel, ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ and ‘Trolls 3’. Warner Bros., co-producers of the ‘Dune’ franchise, also announced that an untitled ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ is set to release on March 15, 2024.

According to ‘Variety’, Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem are returning for ‘Dune: Part Two,’ with Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken set to join the cast.

Director Denis Villeneuve is expected to start filming the ‘Dune’ sequel, which follows the second half of Frank Herbert’s seminal novel, later this year.

‘Variety’ further states that ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ filmmaker Adam Wingard is back to direct the next monster mash-up between Godzilla and King Kong after steering the latest other-worldly blockbuster to COVID-era glory.

There are no details available for Godzilla and King Kong’s upcoming brouhaha. It will mark the fifth installment in Warner Bros. and Legendary’s monster universe following 2014’s ‘Godzilla’, 2017’s ‘Kong: Skull Island’, 2019’s ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ and 2021’s ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’.

‘Fun-filled’ trailer out for Yogi Babu-starrer ‘Panni Kutty’

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Actor Arya on Friday released the trailer of director Anucharan’s much-awaited entertainer ‘Panni Kutty’, featuring comedians Yogi Babu and Karunakaran in the lead.

Lyca Productions, which is producing the film, shared the link to the trailer on its Twitter handle. “Here’s presenting the fun-filled trailer of ‘Panni Kutty’. Get ready for a rooted fun ride at the cinemas from July 8th onwards,” it said.

The trailer of the film, which has been cleared for release by the Censor Board of Film Certification with a clean ‘U’ certificate, gives away the fact that the story of the film is about a piglet owned by Yogi Babu.

Panni Kutty, which means piglet, has a series of comedians playing pivotal roles including well-known Tamil orator and comedian Dindugal Leoni, who will be making a comeback to Tamil cinema after almost 20 years.

Leoni plays a character called Kodangi in the film, the theatrical rights of which for the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have already been acquired by Dr. Prabhu Thilak’s 11:11 productions.

Shot by cinematographer Sathish Murugan, Panni Kutty has music by K and been edited by director Anucharan himself.