Ilaiyaraaja v/s Dude : OTT Release Delayed / Pressure Tatics ?

The copyright case filed by Ilaiyaraaja against Mythiri Movie Makers the Producer of Sude will delay the release on OTT. Good Bad and Ugly which hot released on NetFlix was removed through a court order over Ilaiyaraaja copyright case. While the theatrical run continues to flourish, Netflix has acquired the OTT rights for Dude, reportedly securing the film for around Rs 20 crore. According to TOI report, the platform is expected to release the movie on November 14, potentially offering it in multiple languages beyond the Tamil and Telugu versions that premiered in theatres. From my sources, Director Adhik and keertherswaran approached Illayraja legal team to give NOC for months and Illayaraja team kept delaying the NOC . Makers already agreed to give royalty to owner of song which is legally music labels which owned the audio rights. Generally music lables gives royalty to authors of the song ie Music director and Lyricists and finally post 2012 even singers of song got the status of author. Law also made it clear it is duty of owner of song to share the royalties of the song to authors if the song is used by someone for commercial purpose. So process is producers approach music label for song usage for commercial basis. They negotiate a price and agree on terms. Music label then pay royalties to author of songs as per legal terms . Producers no way are obligated to take permissions or get NOC from author. However Illayaraja legal team claims they never signed any legal terms to music label. About reuse of their song in any format… Back then (When these songs were made ) no such legal clauses existed which is grey area. AR Rahman from 1990s was first to include this clause legally . It is only then other music directors including Illayaraja started including the same clause. ________________________________________ So Producers are not obligated to ask Illayaraja an NOC or pay him royalty directly Illayaraja legal counsel are playing with one grey area.. If you observe all legal cases of Illayaraja copyright claims happen in Madras Highcourt where Judge out of respect to illayaraja gives injunction leaving Illayaraja and Producers to settle off the court. Ut all started with Manjummel Boys. They settled outside court. Mythri was different Mythri decided to not settle. They made money all they wanted already so they decided to fight out. GBU case was not setback where they lost . Court just gave interjection asking movie to be be stalled in OTT unless Illayaraja gives NOC. They are fighting it out to put an end of blackmailing technique of Illayaraja . Mythri is challenging them in different way. And Dude is actually building their case. The copyright case filed by Ilaiyaraaja against Mythiri Movie Makers the Producer of Sude will delay the release on OTT. Good Bad and Ugly which hot released on NetFlix was removed through a court order over Ilaiyaraaja copyright case. While the theatrical run continues to flourish, Netflix has acquired the OTT rights for Dude, reportedly securing the film for around Rs 20 crore. According to TOI report, the platform is expected to release the movie on November 14, potentially offering it in multiple languages beyond the Tamil and Telugu versions that premiered in theatres. From my sources, Director Adhik and keertherswaran approached Illayraja legal team to give NOC for months and Illayaraja team kept delaying the NOC . Makers already agreed to give royalty to owner of song which is legally music labels which owned the audio rights. Generally music lables gives royalty to authors of the song ie Music director and Lyricists and finally post 2012 even singers of song got the status of author. Law also made it clear it is duty of owner of song to share the royalties of the song to authors if the song is used by someone for commercial purpose. So process is producers approach music label for song usage for commercial basis. They negotiate a price and agree on terms. Music label then pay royalties to author of songs as per legal terms . Producers no way are obligated to take permissions or get NOC from author. However Illayaraja legal team claims they never signed any legal terms to music label. About reuse of their song in any format… Back then (When these songs were made ) no such legal clauses existed which is grey area. AR Rahman from 1990s was first to include this clause legally . It is only then other music directors including Illayaraja started including the same clause. ________________________________________ So Producers are not obligated to ask Illayaraja an NOC or pay him royalty directly Illayaraja legal counsel are playing with one grey area.. If you observe all legal cases of Illayaraja copyright claims happen in Madras Highcourt where Judge out of respect to illayaraja gives injunction leaving Illayaraja and Producers to settle off the court. Ut all started with Manjummel Boys. They settled outside court. Mythri was different Mythri decided to not settle. They made money all they wanted already so they decided to fight out. GBU case was not setback where they lost . Court just gave interjection asking movie to be be stalled in OTT unless Illayaraja gives NOC. They are fighting it out to put an end of blackmailing technique of Illayaraja . Mythri is challenging them in different way. And Dude is actually building their case. The copyright case filed by Ilaiyaraaja against Mythiri Movie Makers the Producer of Sude will delay the release on OTT. Good Bad and Ugly which hot released on NetFlix was removed through a court order over Ilaiyaraaja copyright case. While the theatrical run continues to flourish, Netflix has acquired the OTT rights for Dude, reportedly securing the film for around Rs 20 crore. According to TOI report, the platform is expected to release the movie on November 14, potentially offering it in multiple languages beyond the Tamil and Telugu versions that premiered in theatres. From my sources, Director Adhik and keertherswaran approached Illayraja legal team to give NOC for months and Illayaraja team kept delaying the NOC . Makers already agreed to give royalty to owner of song which is legally music labels which owned the audio rights. Generally music lables gives royalty to authors of the song ie Music director and Lyricists and finally post 2012 even singers of song got the status of author. Law also made it clear it is duty of owner of song to share the royalties of the song to authors if the song is used by someone for commercial purpose. So process is producers approach music label for song usage for commercial basis. They negotiate a price and agree on terms. Music label then pay royalties to author of songs as per legal terms . Producers no way are obligated to take permissions or get NOC from author. However Illayaraja legal team claims they never signed any legal terms to music label. About reuse of their song in any format… Back then (When these songs were made ) no such legal clauses existed which is grey area. AR Rahman from 1990s was first to include this clause legally . It is only then other music directors including Illayaraja started including the same clause.

________________________________________ So Producers are not obligated to ask Illayaraja an NOC or pay him royalty directly Illayaraja legal counsel are playing with one grey area.. If you observe all legal cases of Illayaraja copyright claims happen in Madras Highcourt where Judge out of respect to illayaraja gives injunction leaving Illayaraja and Producers to settle off the court. Ut all started with Manjummel Boys. They settled outside court. Mythri was different Mythri decided to not settle. They made money all they wanted already so they decided to fight out. GBU case was not setback where they lost . Court just gave interjection asking movie to be be stalled in OTT unless Illayaraja gives NOC. They are fighting it out to put an end of blackmailing technique of Illayaraja . Mythri is challenging them in different way. And Dude is actually building their case. The heart of the issue Unlike A.R. Rahman, who explicitly included clauses to retain copyright in his early contracts, Ilayaraja often did not have such provisions in his agreements with producers between the 1970s and 1990s. As a result, film producers and music companies like Echo Recording and Sony Music claim that they acquired the copyright to these songs. Ilayaraja maintains that he has always retained the copyright, and any agreements with producers only constituted a license for a specific use, such as for audio cassettes. He has consistently fought to defend his creative ownership and ensure that his economic and moral rights as the original composer are protected. The outcome of these ongoing legal battles will significantly impact the rights and royalties of music composers in the Indian film industry. Case against Dude movie makers: In October 2025, Ilayaraja sued the makers of the Tamil film Dude for using two of his songs, "Karutha Machan" from Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991), without permission. The Madras High Court permitted Ilayaraja to proceed with the legal action against Mythri Movie Makers, Sony Music, and other involved parties.

Lokesh set for Hero Launch / Bison set to overtake Dude / Tamannah in Sundar C

Lokesh has finally decided to go ahead with his launch as heroo and put all other projects with Rajinikanth solo and with Rajini and Kamal in the back burner. Read ON. The Tamil Star Director Lokesh Kanagaraj was all set to debut as a hero in Captain Miller fame Arun Matheswaran’s directorial, and despite the disappointing result of Coolie, he is not stopping acting. Besides Coolie, Lokesh also announced the most-awaited Kaithi 2 and a film with Aamir Khan. However, the bad result of Coolie brought a lot of changes in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s lineup, and it is said that he desperately wants to work with Rajinikanth immediately and wants to deliver a huge blockbuster. He is said to have three scripts ready for the film, and there was also another buzz that Lokesh Kanagaraj might hold his acting debut movie. But the latest news is that the Kaithi director is turning into a hero as per the plan. Arun Matheshwaran and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s film’s Pooja ceremony is happening today, which is said to be a gangster film. Lokesh also went through some extensive training for this film, and he will work in parallel as the lead hero, and on the other side, he will prepare the scripts for his next project.

We had reported that Bison is a long term hit and box office is moving towards it in Tamil Nadu. Read; https://dhakshinscreen.blogspot.com/2025/10/bison-long-term-hit-keerthy-in-balagam.html . For 5 days, Dude collected 40 Cr gross in Tamil Nadu, whereas Bison collected 26 Cr gross in Tamil Nadu, and Pradeep Ranganathan’s film has had a good lead till now. But on the 6th day, Bison performed neck-to-neck with Dude, and both films’ gross will be almost the same. This trend indicates that there is a chance of Bison taking the lead over Dude in the coming days if it continues its solid run at the theaters. Now, we need to wait and see whether Dude picks up during the coming weekend and takes the lead again, or Bison takes the lead and matches the Dude’s overall numbers in TN in the full run. The film is expected to gross more than 50 Cr in TN alone at the current trend. Dhruv Vikram finally scores a much-awaited blockbuster, and Mari Selvaraj continues his successful journey

Director Sundar C is currently wrapping up the shoot of Mookuthi Amman 2, starring Nayanthara. While the filming is nearly complete, the movie involves heavy VFX work, so post-production is expected to take some time. Meanwhile, Sundar C is preparing to begin his next project, bringing together Vishal and Tamannaah once again. The director had earlier worked with the duo in the 2019 film Action. This upcoming movie is said to be a full-fledged commercial entertainer filled with comedy, action, and emotional moments. Actress Kayadu Lohar, who is gaining popularity, is also said to play another female lead in the film. According to reports, the promo shoot has already been completed, and the main shoot is likely to begin in November 2025. Both Mookuthi Amman 2 and the new film with Vishal are planned for theatrical release in 2026. Fans can look forward to two exciting projects from Sundar C in the coming year.

Realistic Budget- Equal Theatres : Tamil Diwali Safe

Diwali box office for Tamil films has brought cheer as three films that did not have Superstars but gave all concerned profits. Major reason being that the three films got equal share of screens. This level playing field as well as the second factor being that the budget of each film was realistic enough ( Rs 20 crores to Rs 60 crores) to make it possible to get a profit. The profit mark was attainable as the films got a six day holiday to recover the costs. On expected lines, Dude the third outing by Pradeep Ranganathan is number one. This film is a hit in Telugu markets as well. Bison struggled at the opening but showed steady climb and stayed put. Diesel of Harish Kalyan too put in a god account with Rs 2 crore in the weekAccording to the latest update from the makers of Dude, the movie collected Rs. 95 crores gross globally in five days and is all set to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark by today. Pradeep Ranganathan is poised to create a sensation by achieving back-to-back Rs. 100 crore grossers just in the beginning days of his career. Dude’s collections once again prove that Pradeep has emerged as a massive crowd puller not just in Tamil but also in Telugu. The movie also stars Sarathkumar, Hridhu Haroon, Rohini, and Aishwarya Sharma in key roles. Sai Abyankkar composed the tunes. The movie performed strongly at both the domestic and North American box offices. By the end of Tuesday in North America, it earned around $46K from 204 locations, pushing the total gross past $575K. Dude is on the verge of crossing the Rs. 100 crore mark, making it Pradeep Ranganathan’s third consecutive film to achieve this milestone. At the end of its fifth day in theatres, the film Bison had earned over Rs 22 crore in India. While it had a slow start with Rs 2.7 crore, the film quickly veered past hurdles to catch up in the race, collecting over Rs 5 crore each on Monday and Tuesday, thanks to positive word-of-mouth reviews and critical ratings for the filmmaker's portrayal of caste issues in sports and throwing light on the life of a kabaddi player who rises past these struggles. The film Telugu version os releasing on October 24th. Diesel, on the other hand, had the quietest start of the three. The film recorded an India net of ₹1.01 crore and a worldwide total of ₹1.15 crore, with no overseas earnings reported. Despite limited buzz and smaller screens, Diesel did find some attention for its action moments and music. However, the competition from larger festive releases has overshadowed its box-office performance. While Bison and Diesel have earned their share of appreciation, they are unlikely to challenge Dude’s commanding box-office run. For now, the festive crown firmly rests with Pradeep Ranganathan’s energetic crowd-pleaser — a clear Diwali winner both in numbers and audience love.

James Cameron to annouce SS Rajamouli film / Vijay Sethupathi joins SSR/ Dude Pradeep Diwali Bomb

 Vijay Sethupathi has been added to SS Rajamouli- Mahesh Babu cast and shooting will start from January next year. VS currently busy with Puri Jagganath film will move to a film with Pandiraj that is produced by Lyca Produuctions. At present he has no other commitments or offers from any other makers. Thalaivan Thalaivii will premiere on Amazon Prime Video, starting August 22. Besides its original Tamil language, the film will also stream in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada as well. At the box office, the film collected over Rs. 75 crores in Tamil Nadu, while its Telugu version (Sir Madam) registered only an average run. With its digital debut, the response from streaming audiences will be closely watched.Joining the leads are Yogi Babu, Roshini Haripriyan, Deepa Shankar, and RK Suresh. Sathya Jyothi Films backed the project, while Santhosh Narayanan scored the music.

After the mighty blockbuster RRR, Indian cinema’s biggest director, SS Rajamouli, has teamed up with superstar Mahesh Babu for a globe-trotting action-adventure tentatively titled SSMB 29. Priyanka Chopra plays the female lead. On Mahesh Babu’s birthday, Rajamouli announced that a big reveal is scheduled for November 2025.

Media reports now suggest there is a solid reason behind the delay. Around November, esteemed Hollywood director James Cameron will be in India to promote his next big outing, Avatar 3. Rajamouli, along with his team, is reportedly trying to get Cameron to do the honors for the glimpse release.

At an awards event in Los Angeles, James Cameron spoke highly of Rajamouli, particularly praising RRR. Cameron also told Rajamouli that he would extend his support if needed. Hence, the latest speculation is gaining traction. If Cameron launches the first look or glimpse, it will mark a new chapter in Indian cinema and enhance our visibility among Western audiences.

 

The other day, it was officially announced that filmmaker Vignesh Shivan’s movie, Love Insurance Kompany (LIK), starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Kriti Shetty, is set to release on October 17, 2025, as a Diwali special.

This led many to doubt the release of the actor’s other movie, Dude, produced by Mythri Movie Makers and directed by Keerthiswaran. It was also announced for a Diwali release, but many thought it might be postponed.

However, today, the ‘Dude’ makers cleared the air by releasing a poster that confirmed the movie is still on track for its Diwali release. An update is scheduled for 06:03 PM today, which many believe will be about the release date.

So, both LIK and Dude are coming to entertain audiences this Diwali, giving double the entertainment.

 

Mohanlal - Manikandan in Thiagarajan Kumararaja film / Exciting Diwali Clash / Fahadh to retire as cab Driver

 Thiagarajan Kumararaja Director of Aranya Kaandam, Super Deluxe, Modern Love Chennai is said to have narrated a script to Mohanlal and Manikandan and locked them . It might start off in 2025  end or early 2026. His last release was in 2023. Aranya Kaandam  got the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Kumararaja.

Fahadh Faasil has once again said that after retirement he plans to settle down in Barcelona and be a Uber driver. He wants to drive people across Spain. Not just drive them around . “Absolutely. We were in Barcelona a few months ago. It'll only happen after people are done with me, you know? Jokes apart, just to drive someone from one place to another, witnessing someone's destination—I think that's a beautiful thing. I still do that every time I get a chance. Not just driving, you engage in things you love, be it a game or sport or watching TV,” Fahadh shared, describing the serenity he finds in the simplicity of the idea. He said now to Hollywood Reporter. Interestingly, this isn't the first time the Joji actor has spoken about such a plan. In a 2020 interview with The Indian Express, he had mentioned the same retirement goal, even highlighting that it’s something he has discussed and planned with his actress-wife Nazriya Nazim. “As of now, there is nothing else that I would enjoy doing other than being an Uber driver. I tell my wife that as a retirement plan, I wish to move to Barcelona and drive people across Spain. She loves this plan,” he had said then.

His Tamil film Mareesan with Vadivelu has been released. On the professional front, Fahadh Faasil is far from retirement. The actor is currently busy with a line-up of high-profile projects, including Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira, Don’t Trouble The Trouble, Karate Chandran, and Patriot, among others.

So this poster firstly clears the rumor that the film is getting postponed, and it is in fact a “Dude Diwali Blast”. This means it will clash with Bison and Karrupu.

Back to back Sai Abhyankar Musicals for Diwali. Interesting debut.

Secondly, it confirmed the working crew members of the team, on the left, as well as their already locked massive deal with Netflix.

Now we hear that Karuppu has too signed with Netflix. Two films committed to one OTT platform releasing on same date is usually avoided. Si speculation was that DUDE will get postponed but not so. As far as LIK is concerned ilm will instead, be locking in the February 2026 Valentines Day Date, and will be releasing a glimpse video confirming this on August 1st, like stated at the bottom of the poster of LIK.

Nayanthara's Pradeep film release date / Why Samantha company is Tralala Moving Pictures ?

 Nayanthara and SRK should have collaborated in Chennai Express but the former turned it down saying that personal reasons. It seems a song featuring SRK and her was to be be choreographed by Raju Sundaram. Raju is brother of Nayan’s ex BF Prabhdeva, The role went to Priyamani.

Nayanthara next Production with Lalit Kumar and directed by hubby Vignesh Kumar release date has been out. The romantic sci-fi drama Love Insurance Kompany has locked its release date for September 18, 2025. Directed by Vignesh Shivan, the film will give a mix of romance and futuristic storytelling. The project ensembles a star-studded cast featuring Krithi Shetty, SJ Suryah, Yogi Babu, and Gouri Kishan, with Pradeep himself playing the lead.  Nayanthara also gave a shoutout to her husband Vignesh's upcoming film and dropped the video. Sharing the clip, she captioned, "Come FALL IN LOVE, this FESTIVE SEASON♥️♥️✨✨ ✨✨

Love Insurance Kompany was originally announced with actor Sivakarthikeyan, but the earlier version was shelved. Now reimagined with Pradeep at the helm, the film is being produced on a grand scale.

The film's technical crew is nothing short of top-tier, with Anirudh Ravichander composing the music and Ravi Varman handling the cinematography. Pradeep E Ragav is on board as the editor.

The song featured in this highly anticipated film has been released and has been viewed by more than 33 million viewers, setting a record. In this context, it has been announced that the film will be released in theaters worldwide on September 18th. Following this, the film's songs, teaser, trailer, sneak peek, etc. will be released in succession, the film team has said.

Meanwhile, the first song from the film, which was released in the Pradeep Ranganathan - Vignesh Sivan - Anirudh collaboration, has been well-received by millions of viewers, and it is noteworthy that there are great expectations among the fans and the film industry for the songs of the film and the film itself.

About Pradeep's upcoming films

Adding to the excitement, Pradeep also stars in another upcoming film titled Dude, slated for a Diwali 2025 release. Directed by debutant Keerthiswaran, the film stars Mamitha Baiju of Premalu fame and will feature music by Sai Abhyankkar. However, it won’t be a solo festival release as Dude is expected to clash at the box office with Dhruv Vikram’s Bison, sparking early buzz.

In December 2023, Samantha launched her own production company, named Tralala Moving Pictures under which she produced her first film Subham. A horror-comedy, Subham has hit theatres on May 9, and opened to positive reviews at the box office.

As part of the film's promotions Samantha Ruth Prabhu discussed the reason behind the film production house's name to journalist Baradwaj Rangan.

Talking to Galatta Plus, Samantha Ruth Prabhu said, the Tralala is from Brown Girl in the Ring song. To which the anchor was surprised, as the song released in 1978, and he didn't think Samantha would know of it. She said "I put myself in the ring, in a man's world."

For the unversed the song is from the album Nightflight to Venus by Boney M. The lyrics goes "Brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la there's a brown girl in the ring Tra la la la la la." Samantha had once mentioned on social media that it is one of her favourite songs, which she listened to while growing up.

A statement by the actress about two years ago, read "Very excited to announce my production house, Tralala Moving Pictures! Tralala Moving Pictures aims to produce content representative of new age expression and thought. A nurturing space which invites and encourages stories that speak to the strength and complexity of our social fabric. And a platform for filmmakers to tell stories that are meaningful, authentic and universal. (Inspired from one of my favourite songs growing up. Brown girl is in the ring now...) (sic)."

Director Nandini Reddy recently revealed that Samantha had told her that she will ensure pay parity for everyone who worked on her production, tentatively titled Bangaram, under Tralala Moving Pictures. Samantha was last seen in Raj and Dk's Citadel: Honey Bunny.

 

Dragon Producer gets Rs 23 crores Profit after paying GOAT Andhra loss and gift to Director-cast

Dragon film crew salary and business details. Dragon to stream on Netflix on March 21. Apart from Tamil, the movie will be available on Netflix in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. According to film business tracker Sacnilk, Dragon earned ₹98.73 crore net after a 24-day theatrical run, while its worldwide collection currently stands at ₹146.97 crore. The film has been deemed a ‘blockbuster’ on Sacnilk. Budget:- Salaries - ₹17.83 Crore Pradeep Ranganathan - ₹ 12 Crore (Flat) Anupama Parameswaran - ₹ 8 Lakh per Day * 13 Days = ₹ 1.04 Crore George Maryan - ₹ 35 Lakh Mysskin - ₹ 1 Crore Gautam Vasudev Menon - No Fee (Part of a Production Investment Package with AGS) Kayadu Lohar - ₹ 25 Lakh PL Thenappan - No Fee KS Ravikumar - No Fee Ivana - No Fee Other Cast Salaries - ₹ 89 Lakh Technician Salaries - ₹ 1 Crore Ashwath Marimuthu - ₹ 50 Lakh Leon James - ₹ 80 Lakh (Expenses Only)** **- Simbu, Anirudh and Yuvan sang their songs without charging a fee Production - ₹12 Crore Cost of Production - ₹ 12 Crore Editing - ₹ 1.5 Crore Print & Publicity - ₹ 1.5 Crore Total Budget - ₹ 32.83 Crore ________________________________________ Pre Release Business TN Theatrical Rights - Own Distribution Mythri Movie Makers (AP) - No Amount in lieu of Losses incurred due to GOAT South India Rights (Tamil Only) - ₹ 3.50 Crore Overseas Rights - ₹ 4 Crore OTT Rights - ₹ 6 Crore (Part of 5 Picture Deal with AGS and Netflix for ₹ 45 Crore) Satellite Rights - Unsold, negotiation between Colors and Star Vijay Music Rights - 80:20 Profit sharing deal by Think music after ₹80 Lakh recovery Total Pre Release Business - ₹ 14.30 Crore ________________________________________ Post Release Business TN Theatrical Gross - ₹ 94.15 Crore TN Theatrical Nett - ₹ 81.70 Crore Theatrical Share - ₹ 36 Crore Distribution commission - ₹ 4.57 Crore AGS Final Share - ₹ 41.13 Crore AP/TG Theatrical Gross - ₹ 23.15 Crore AP Theatrical Nett - ₹ 18.80 Crore Theatrical Share - ₹ 8 Crore Distributor Share - ₹ 10.80 Crore Loss settled for GOAT - ₹ 8.50 crore (₹7.5 Crore plus ₹1 Crore interest) Balance payment to AGS - ₹2.30 Crore ________________________________________ Final Share for AGS ₹ 2.30 Crore (+) ₹ 41.13 Crore (+) ₹14.30 Crore (-) ₹ 32.83 Crore = (+)24.90 Crore Bonus payment for Ashwath Marimuthu - ₹ 1 Crore in the form of a BMW 5 Series Bonus payment for George Maryan - BMW 2 Series for ₹55 Lakh Bonus Payment for ‘Kutty Dragon' & other friends - Royal Enfield 350 Bikes - ₹8 Lakh to ₹10 Lakh (Total for all Bikes) Total Profits for AGS - ₹ 23.25 Crore ________________________________________ AGS made almost 70% Profit with Dragon while managing to pay off the losses incurred for GOAT by the AP/TG distributors This is excluding the Satellite right that could earn another ₹10–12 Crore easily and increase their profits to ₹35 Crore or 111% North India distribution was negligible with only 97 Screens ________________________________________ Dragon made a lot of money for AGS but compared to Love Today, its returns were lower It is safely a GUARANTEED HIT Source Kanthaswamy Balasubramnain Balus boxoffice.

DRAGON - PONMAN amd other OTT Release dates/ Poove Unakkaga, Sangeetha in Kalidas 2

Oru Jaathi Jathakam, the film would begin streaming on ManoramaMax from March 14 onwards. A comedy entertainer film, Oru Jaathi Jathakam features Vinneth Sreenivasan and Nikhila Vimal as the female lead. he streaming platform JioHotstar announced through their official social media handles that the recently-released Malayalam film Ponman, starring Basil Joseph and Sajin Gopu as the leads, would begin streaming on the platform from March 14. Ponman has been reportedly mounted on a controlled budget of 3 crore. Helmed by Jothish Shankar, the dark comedy earned 10.05 crore against its budget, churning out a profit of 7.05 crore and registering a huge 235% return on investment! Be Happy on Amazon Prime Video Cast: Abhishek A Bachchan, Inayat Verma, Nora Fatehi, Nassar, Johny Lever, Harleen Sethi Release date: March 14 DRAGON Pradeep Ranganathan’s Tamil blockbuster Dragon is expected to premiere on Netflix by March 28, 2025. Satellite rights with Vijay TV/ Ramam Raghavam will start streaming online on March 14, 2025, just a month after its theatrical release. Two platforms—ETV Win and Sun NXT—have acquired the film’s digital rights. Ramam Raghavam is a thriller film starring Samuthirakani in a pivotal role. It was directed by popular comedian Dhanraj, who also played the protagonist.

first look of Bharath-Ajay Karthik's 'Kalidas 2' is out. Actress #Sangita, who played the female lead in the 1996 Vijay-starrer Poove Unakkaga, will be making a comeback to Tamil cinema after 25 years, with #Bharath’s #Kaalidas2. The first look of the film 'Kaalidas 2', starring popular Tamil actor Bharath and newcomer Ajay Karthik for the first time, has been released. 'Makal Selvan' Vijay Sethupathi posted this on his social media page and congratulated the film crew. Following the critically and commercially successful 'Kalidas' released in 2019 starring Bharath, 'Kalidas 2' is being directed by its director Sri Senthil and stars Bharath, Ajay Karthik, Prakash Raj, 'Aadukalam' Kishore, Suresh Menon, Anand Nag, Bhavani Sri, Aparnathi, Raja Ravinder, DM Karthik and many others. Along with them, actress Sangeetha, who is popular with fans through the film 'Poove Unakka', has made a re-entry into Tamil cinema by playing a strong role in the film. Suresh Bala has handled the cinematography and Sam C. S. has composed the music for this film. Bhuvan Srinivasan will handle the editing, Durairaj will handle the art direction, and S. Palaniappan will handle the executive production. This film, which is being produced as a crime thriller, is being produced by renowned distributor and producer Five Star Senthil under his own production company, Sky Pictures. The shooting of the film has been completed and the post-production work is currently in full swing. In this context, the first look of the film has been released. It has impressed the fans as it is designed as a family photo that majestically reveals the character appearance and tradition of the storytellers. Speaking about the film, the director said, "Following the first part of Kalidas, which was well received by the fans, the second part is now being developed as a crime thriller. The film was shot in Chennai and Kerala. This film will provide a different cinematic experience to the fans." The film crew has stated that the film is scheduled to be released in theatres during the upcoming summer vacation.

Dragon Producer sets example / Yash- Geetu TOXIC in a FIRST

DRAGON Producer Archana of AGS has won hearts by putting out real BO figures #Dragon opening weekend 🔥🔥 Tamil Nadu : 24.9 Cr AP/ Telangana : 6.25 Cr Kerala / Karnataka/ North : 4.37Cr Overseas: 14.7 Cr @pradeeponelife @Dir_Ashwath @aishkalpathi @Ags_production

A groundbreaking cinematic endeavor, "Toxic" is the first ever large scale Indian film to be conceptualized, written, and filmed in both English and an Indian language, Kannada being the Indian language the film is being shot in, paving the way for a truly global film experience. The film will be dubbed in multiple Indian and international languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Rocking Star Yash’s "Toxic," written and directed by the internationally acclaimed Geetu Mohandas, is poised to redefine cross-cultural storytelling. Shot in both English and Kannada, the film aims for global resonance. Kannada captures the nuances for Indian audiences, while English ensures accessibility worldwide, reflecting the filmmakers' commitment to authenticity and diverse reach. "Our vision for 'Toxic' was to craft a narrative that resonates authentically with audiences both in India and globally," says director Geetu Mohandas. "We've strived to capture the nuances of the story in both Kannada and English, ensuring an authentic experience for viewers across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. 'Toxic' explores a collaboration of artistic vision and precision of commercial storytelling. It's a journey that transcends borders, languages, and cultural confines, designed to connect with hearts and minds worldwide."

Toxic, a film jointly produced by Venkat Narayana under KVN Productions and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, was conceived as a global cinematic experience. This vision is reflected in the collaboration between Yash, a box office phenomenon, and Geetu Mohandas, whose work has been awarded at many international platforms, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival. The film's international team—including action sequences by JJ Perry, best known for his work in the John Wick and Fast & Furious franchises, and visual effects by DNEG, who recently won the BAFTA Film Award for Special Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two—was carefully assembled to match the project's scale, further emphasizing this global approach. The filmmakers' commitment to authentic storytelling and messaging led them to embrace the bilingual format. Last month, on Rocking Star Yash's birthday, the team released a "Birthday Peek" offering a glimpse into the world of "Toxic." The teaser generated significant excitement, showcasing the film's scale and international-standard production values. The film's recently revealed bilingual nature has required extensive preparation and extended days of shoot. Filming began in August 2024. The filmmakers are invested in creating an immersive world, bringing together a top-tier global and Indian talent pool. These factors combined have contributed to the project's scale and timeline, positioning Toxic as one of the most expensive Indian productions to date. Producer Venkat K Narayana emphasized the film's ambitious scope, saying, "Our goal for "Toxic" was crystal clear: a film that resonates in India and globally. From the very beginning, we were driven by a deep conviction in this story and its potential. This unwavering belief fueled our "all-in" approach, required to bring this cinematic experience to life. We embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, confident that "Toxic" will not only captivate audiences worldwide but also showcase the brilliance of Indian cinema on a global stage.

AVM Property dispute in court /Dragon and NEEK budget and Profits - Dhanush next with H Vinoth

Aparna Guhan Shyam, one of the twin daughters of MS Guhan son of AVM Sarvanan, has filed a civil suit in the High Court asking for one-fifth of the share in the family properties. She has also sought an injunction which aims to restrain AVM Studios from competing with AVM Productions in the film business.Aparna claims that her father had developed a cold attitude towards her ever since she married a person from another caste.AVM has produced films featuring Superstar Rajinikanth, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajkumar, SS Rajendran, Vyjayanthimala, Kamal Haasan and several others. Aparna, of the great granddaughters of the founder A.V. Meiyappan has insisted on partitioning the family properties.

BREAKEVEN TARGETS FOR DRAGON AND NEEK- RAGHUL OPINION DRAGON Dragon Budget - 55 cr Theattical business- 29 cr TN- 18 cr TS - 3 cr ROI- 3.5 cr Os - 4.5 cr Non theatricals - Expected 37 cr (Split up yet to know ) AGS as claimed made table profits- 7 cr So any more theatrical profits are surplus to them. Gross targets Break even - 50cr to 58 cr HIT - 58 cr to 72.5 cr Super hit - 72.6 to 87 cr Blockbuster- 87 cr gross or more NEEK Budget - 20 cr (Without Dhanush fees ) Theatrical business - 12 cr TN - 6.5cr Telugu states - 1.5 cr ROI - 1.5 cr OS- 2.5 cr Non Theattical- 22 cr (Dhanuh factor) Table profits- 14 cr (Inclusive of Dhanush fees) Wubderbaar did good job in getting deals. Dhanush and Co should be happy. Gross targets- Break even - 20 to 24 HIT- 24 cr to 30 Super Hit - 30 to 36 cr Blockbuster- 36 cr gross ++++ My expectation Dragon - 70 cr gross NEEK - 20 to 23 cr gross

H. Vinoth is presently working on Ilayathalapathy Vijay’s final film before the actor transitions into full-time politics. He seems to also have big plans to follow, with Dhanush lined up for his next venture.In a recent interview with Kudumbam, Dragon editor Pradeep E. Raghav revealed that H. Vinoth and Dhanush had met and mutually agreed to collaborate on a project. He also shared that he was offered the role of editor for the film, accepted the opportunity, signed the contract, and received an advance payment. Dhanush is back in action, and this time, he’s bringing his signature Raanjhanaa energy to Delhi! The Maaran actor is currently filming Tere Ishk Mein, his next Hindi project with director Aanand L Rai. Fans went into a frenzy after spotting him at Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), with pictures and videos are going viral on social media.