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By Rinku Gupta Directed by PadmaKumar, Mamangam is the tale of the ancient valiant warrior clans of Vallavunadu in Kerala, who for generations prove their valour , challenging in the face of death, the powerful Zamorin. Mammootty , plays one such warrior from the Chandroth House who after a valiant attempt to fight them,  escapes the armies of the Zamorin. But he does not return to his home and instead resides with a group of women,  in an effiminate avatar as a painter. Many years later,  he meets two warriors from Chandroth, en route to Mamangam, who are his relatives ( Unni Mukundan and child actor Achyuthan). While training them further based on his own experiences, he also imparts the futility of continuing with the process,  instead of putting the issue to rest. What happens to the young warriors? Do they continue on their quest  ? The Kalari scenes ( especially of young Achuthan ) are a highlight as are the traditional battles by the Valluvanad...

By Rinku Gupta Suseenthiran's next film is a sports drama with football at the centre this time.  Vishwa, the nephew of actor and producer RK Suresh, makes his screen debut as hero opposite tik tok sensation Mirnalini Ravi and  Sowmika. Narain plays his coach while Manoj Bharathi Raja his father, and Stun Shiva the villain. The story is about how a North Madras boy ( Vishwa) who is talented in football,  becomes part of a good coach's ( Narain) team. But his mother's worst fears come true when his dead father's ( Manoj ) connect with the local thug and politico comes to the fore and her son seeks revenge for his dad's murder, instead of concentrating on building a new life. Does he get his revenge? What happens to him? Newbie Vishwa displays the body language of a sportsman and manages the emotional and action scenes well. Narain has a good role as the mentor as does Manoj. ( But Manoj somehow doesn't quite fit the role of a rough henchman). Mirnalini...

By Rinku Gupta An adult content film starring Jai, Vaibhavi and Athulya, directed by SA Chandrasekhar, Capmaari is basically about a guy who manages to have a love marriage , and at the same time have an affair with his colleague, while making it all look ok. The story as such is nothing elaborate. After a steamy night in a train, our hero ( Jai) marries his lady love ( Vaibhavi, skimpily clad most of the time). But that doesn't stop his bold colleague ( Athulya) pursuing him and managing to get pregnant after a bout of drinking.  As a result, she decides to move in with the husband- wife, staking a claim to the dad of her child. What upheaval does this cause in their lives? Watch it if you like steamy songs, double meaning jokes ( aplenty), skimpily clad heroines, and not much of a story line. The film seens to imply its ok to have illicit reationships after marriage and the whole tone is kept light hearted.  The crass jokes of Sathyan, Sid Vipin and Divyadarshini add...

By Rinku Gupta A thriller directed by debutant Sri Senthil ( of the famed Naalai Iyakkunar show ), Kaalidas stars Bharath, Adhav Kannadasan, Ann Sheetal, Suresh Menon, Velraj and Priyadarshini. Bharath is Kaalidas, an upright, hardworking cop whose wife  ( Ann Sheetal perfectly cast,  in a  wonderful, layered performance) is disgruntled because he never has any time for her.  In the midst of this martial discord,  Kaalidas is caught up in the imvestigation of a series of murders ( or is it suicides) of women. Suresh Menon is the IPS officer who works on the case with him and the team stumble on a series of clues. In the midst of all this,  a stranger ( Aadhav Kannadasan in a good role that he plays out superbly) enters as a tenant in  Kaalidas' home. Who is this person? Is he linked to the crimes? Does Kaalidas solve the crimes? The whodunnit thriller has many things going for it. For one, the casting is amazing.  Suresh Menon, Velraj, Bhar...

By Rinku Gupta Gautham Vasudev Menon and ‘Kidaari’ fame Prasath Murugesan together have wielded the megaphone for the web series titled “Queen”, a biopic based on the life of Former Late TN CM J Jayalalitha. The cast and crew of this web series  were present for the media interaction session along with the  special screening of first episode as well . Speaking on the occasion, Gautham Vasudev Menon said, “I really enjoyed working in this new venture as there weren’t restrictions like limited time factors. Moreover, I felt this as a good and efficient story telling platform. The first season has 11 episodes and we have already started working on the script for second season. I suggest that viewers can have a very good experience watching this series on small screens although it’s available on mobile as well.” Director Prasath Murugesan said, “The script written by Reshma Gatala was one of the major elements in attributing towards the origin of this web series. Wh...

  By Rinku Gupta   Theclatest production house to enter Kollywood is New Saravana Stores Brammandamai which is now entering  film production under this banner. Their debut  film, temporarily called “Production No. 1” has popular Saravana Stores owner, ( who is well -known for modelling in his store advertisements with popular heroines),  Legend Saravanan  , now debuting as an actor and producer in Tamil Cinema. The film is  written and directed by famed duo JD & Jerry . (  click here for full video of celebrities at the function! ) The camera’s  started rolling for this venture on 01 Dec, at AVM Studios, Vadapalani , with the blessings of AVM Saravanan who  lit the inaugural lamp. Ace director S P Muthuraman inaugurated  with the first clap.   Legend Saravanan plays the lead with Geethika Tiwary who also debuts alongside him in this movie, which has  music scored by Harris Jayaraj.  ...

By Rinku Gupta IUKG is produced by Neelam Productions and directed by debutant Athiyan Athirai, starring Dinesh, Munishkanth and Kayal Anandhi. In brief, the story is about a World War 2 bomb which lands up in TN, and makes its way to a scrap yard. Dinesh plays a lorry driver at the scrap yard and in a series of circumstances, lands up with the task of ferrying this bomb, which could go off any minute. He is accompanied by Muniskanth, an assistant. Close on thier heels are the police, unscrupulous villains and activists. In the midst of it all, is his pressing love story, with his lady loves' family forcing her to marry elsewhere. Does the lorry driver survive all the dangers he finds himself in? What happens to the bomb? Do the lovers unite? An unusual story line, racy screenplay, well fleshed out characters, good chemistry between the lead pair, Muniskanth in a brilliant performance as the comical sidekick inviting both laughs and empathy, layered writing, ...

By Rinku Gupta Jada directed by Kumaran is the next outing of Kathir,Yogi Babu, Kishore and artist turned actor Sridhar. Jada is a passionate footballer who trains hard in the sport to get a good job later, after playing at the right tournaments.  But he is distracted from his goal when he hears about the Sevens game, played without rules, for high stakes. He also wants top avenge the death of his childhood idol coach Sethu ( Kishore in a brief appearance, leaving you disappointed, when he dies nearly as soon as he appears in screen). The game finals take him and his friends to a haunted village, which turns out to be the home town of Sethu. Does Jada survive the villains who killed the coach and avenge his family's deaths? Just when you are expecting a gripping sports film, thanks to a good intro song, the film soon slips into horror mode. Players who hardly look the part of sportsmen, heroines who are in blink and  miss appearances, a puzzli...

By Rinku Gupta  The Sri Lanka born chairman of Lyca Mobile,  Lyca Group of companies and Lyca Productions head, Subaskaran Allirajah was conferred an honorary doctorate by a university in Malaysia recently. To felicitate him on the occasion,  a ceremony was held in Chennai in the presence of Ponniyin Selvan director, Mani Ratnam and Darbar director AR Murgadoss , yesterday. Mrs Prema Subaskaran was also present on the occasion. Incidentally, both ace directors revealed that Subaskaran's life, starting off from humble beginnings in Sri Lanka and rising to become a worldwide presence with  business across the world,  was worthy of an inspiring biopic. (Click here for full speech of AR Mugadoss and Mani Ratnam). Today the grand audio launch of Rajinikanth's Darbar is being held in Chennai. Lyca is gearing up for a Pongal release of the Rajinkanth magnum opus. Other dignitaries and journalists also spoke on the occasion.

By Rinku Gupta Dhanusa Raasi Neyargalae is the debut direction of Sanjay Bharathi starring Harish Kalyan , Muniskanth, Yogi Babu, Reba Monica and Digangana Suryavanshi. The film is a rom com with Harish breezing through the lover boy role that one now associates with him. He plays a young, urban man who believes strongly in astrology ( due to an idea ingrained in childhood at the loss of his father). He thus waits for the perfect match for himself according to the prediction of astrologers, rejecting many girls in the process. Until one day he falls for a girl (fresh and appealing debutante Digangana Suryavanshi from Bollywood , who is perfectly cast) who is aspiring to go to Mars in 2024 as she loves astronomy. Does she fit into his preset notions of the perfect girl for him? Or does he change himself? Does she give up her dreams for him? Who does he finally marry? The casting is good and as a debut director Sanjay seems to have all the boxes ticked, like romance, comedy,...

By Rinku Gupta Lipi Cine Crafts 50 : 50 is the next film of actor Sethu along with Yogi Babu, motta Rajendran and John Vijay. Dharan has composed the music for which John Vijay has sung a song. Abhinaya Sri has done the choreography. The film is directed by Krishna Sai. Sridhar master revealed he is acting in his own direction Chavadi by the same producer. " The film is about bike racing. Real life road racers have acted in the film," said Sridhar master. Sun TV Pavitra has acted in the film. Said she, " It's a full time family entertainer. This idea my first movie and the director has guided me fully. I share screen space with Sethu and Bala Saravanan a lot. It will be a laugh riot I guarantee. Shruti and Srinika are also the heroines who are all in love with the hero. Who gets the hero is the story " Hero Sethu said, " I studie medicine but acting was my passion always. In both professions one meets lots of people. But making films is a tou...

By Rinku Gupta A Baahubali kind of mega project is Mamangam, starring Mamootty. Kavya Film Company produces this film releasing in Tamil, Telugu, Malyalam and Hindi, the film is directed by Joseph fame M Padmakumar. The dop is Manoj Pillai. The producer is Vivek Kunnaapilly. Hindi and Telugu heroine and sportswomen Prachi Tehlan ( click for full speech ) has acted in along with Ineya. The film refers to a religious trade cultural festival written records dating back to 800 AD, taking place once every 12 years on the banks of a river, with trades people from China and Arabia. In the 14th century the Valluvan Nadu king started conducting it. When the Zamorin took over for 300 years and the Valluvanaadu revolted against his supremacy, what happened is the story. Mammootty has get-ups  in the film. The story should reach a larger audience is why the film is being made in 4 languages disclosed the team. Director Ram has written the Tamil dialogues. " I...