When Kalyan Varma began researching for the film Wild Tamil Nadu back in 2020, he was surprised at how little we know about the wildlife found in the state. “If you talk about wildlife in Tamil Nadu, what usually comes up is Mudumalai, the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, the Nilgiris or Anaimalai Hills,” says the Bengaluru-based…
There is an anecdote about nagaswaram player Tirumeignanam P. Natarajasundaram Pillai, whose centenary is currently celebrated. After his cremation, the vettiyan (crematorium worker) is said to have remarked that his death had brought enormous relief to thavil players. Such was his rhythmic prowess that thavil players dreaded the prospect of accompanying him. The late thavil player Needamangalam…
On October 10, 2015, the face that launched a million laughs passed away. Manorama, the undisputed queen of comedy, who had acted in more than 1,500 films, did not have an easy life, though. Her mother, Ramamritham, a single parent, made a living by selling sweets in Pallathur. Manorama’s original name was Gopishantha, who, by…
A still from ‘No Other Choice’ | Photo Credit: Neon Park Chan-wook is back and this time, unemployment is a killer. The acclaimed South Korean filmmaker behind Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave has unveiled the first trailer for his new film, No Other Choice, a darkly comic thriller about capitalism, desperation, and murder….
“Cinema is my prayer, it is my protest, and my purpose.” Anshuman Jha, the lover boy of Dibakar Banerjee’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha, has come a long way. After making his presence felt as an actor-producer in India’s first animal vigilante flick, Lakadbaggha, he is making his directorial debut with Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, a rare chamber film from the…
Puneeth Rajkumar as Mayurasharma in ‘Maarigallu’. ZEE5, in collaboration with PRK Productions, announced the premiere date of the Kannada web series Maarigallu through a teaser narrated by actor Dhananjaya. In a surprising moment in the teaser, the late Puneeth Rajkumar appears as Mayurasharma, the founder of the Kadamba dynasty and Karnataka’s first king. Set against…
Mohanlal in ‘Vrusshabha’. | Photo Credit: Aashirvad Cinemas/YouTube The makers of Vrusshabha, starring Mohanlal, have announced the release date of the movie. Directed by Kannada filmmaker Nanda Kishore, the movie is bankrolled by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor under the banners Balaji Telefilms and AVS Studios. Production houses Connekkt Media, Abhishek Vyas Studios and Aashirvad…
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has demanded the makers of the Malayalam film, Haal to remove several scenes from the films, including one in which the characters are consuming beef biryani, for the film to be certified for exhibition. Similar to the case of the Malayalam film JSK – Janaki Vs State of…
The newly-launched dine-in movie experience from PVR INOX. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT PVR INOX has launched India’s first dine-in cinema in Bengaluru. The film-watching meets gourmet dining concept has been introduced at M5 ECity Mall in Electronic City. “PVR has been at the forefront of innovation and ensuring the best movie-going experience. The thought…
In Kubitachi, a sleepy village caught in the slow boil of a Japanese summer, the world tilts imperceptibly off its axis. Considered missing for over a week, a silver-haired teenager Hikaru Indo walks down from the mountains one day, smiling as though nothing has happened. His best friend Yoshiki Tsujinaka looks at him and understands…
