Prithviraj to Direct Hrithiik ? / No Ticket Price Cut for Thug Life

 

The buzz is that Prithviraj of Lucifer0 L 2 Empuran is to direct Hrithik Roshan for Hombale films. It sounded possible as Prithviraj had said that he was to do a film for Hombale films. However Hombale clarifies; No director has been signed yet. Please do not believe in rumors — we will announce all updates of this project officially when it is time,” said the source.

Speaking on the partnership, Vijay Kiragandur, founder of Hombale Films, said:

“Partnering with Hrithik Roshan is an honest step towards accomplishing our goal of making a film where intensity meets imagination in a large-scale sense.”

Hrithik added:

“Hombale has previously been home to unique stories through the years. We are dreaming big and are ready to execute that vision.”

Hombale Films: A Consistent Game-Changer

Hombale Films has changed the course of Indian storytelling and produced consecutive box office monsters such as KGF Chapter 1 & 2, Kantara, and Salaar while embedding their identity in cultural momentum and delivering spectacular visuals. A project with Hrithik is bound to be nothing short of a monumental piece of work.

After Mahesh Narayanan – Salman Khan, Prithviraj- Hrithik is latest talked about combo.

The Entertainment tax cut by Tamil Nadu Government will not be passed on to te movie goers as the 4 % that is got will be shared by Theatres- Distributors and Producer,  The bookings open online show that rates that prevailed before cut are still in force.

Now, with advance bookings officially open nationwide, all eyes are on how fast the tickets will be snapped up and how that pre-release frenzy will reflect in box office collections. The film’s gripping promos and strong word-of-mouth have already made it one of the year’s most awaited theatrical releases.

Featuring a stellar cast that includes Trisha, Silambarasan (Simbu), Abhirami, Nassar, Joju George, and Ashok Selvan in key roles, Thug Life also boasts a powerful musical score by A.R. Rahman. The film is being released in multiple languages, including Telugu, and trade circles are keenly watching to see what kind of opening day records it might set.

According to industry tracker AB George, advance booking reports show a positive trend, with overseas pre-sales crossing $700,000 (approximately ₹6 crores), indicating a strong overseas interest ahead of its global release. The movie is scheduled for a global release on June 5, 2025, and will be available in both regular and IMAX formats. Kerala distribution is managed by Sree Gokulam Movies, while overseas rights are handled by Home Screen.
 The film is a collaborative production between Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and R

Simran spoke about Laila / Empuran team to clash for Onam / Yash Hindi stuns Hindi bhaiyaas

 New input to Simran-  Jyothika issue , Guessing game is on ; Others believe the comment could be targeting Trisha, who recently worked with Simran in Good Bad Ugly alongside Ajith Kumar. Another name that popped up was actress Laila, her co-star in Sabdham. It is not Trisha as film was not released when Simran spoke on stage in March. Sabdham was released in February, 2025 . Laila and Simran while working in Parthean Rasithean did not share good vibes and in Pithamagan it was Laila who got meaty role. Laila was approached to do Andhagan role that went to Simran says source.  Andhagan was released on August 2024.

In an awards show, Jyotika was asked about her friendship with Simran. She said, "I've told this several times, Simran is my favourite actress. When I entered the industry, my mom told me to copy Simran, become as slim as her and dance like her. "

Several are guessing that she is talking about actress Jyotika, who recently starred in the series Dabba Cartel, hinting Simran's use of the word "dabba" as a subtle reference. However, no official word has come from either side, leaving the matter open for netizens to specualte.

Simran and Jyotika have starred together in Vaali and 12B.

After Empuran, Prithviraj and Mohanlal are clashing at the box office with two of their awaited films and joining them is Fahadh with his film. Epic clash is on ONAM. Mohanlal – Satyan Anthikad combo that has never failed with Hridyapoorvam, Prithviraj with Vilayath Bhudha and Fahadh Faasil with Odum Kuthita Chadum Kuthira are the three films to compete. Never before has these three heroes clashed at one time. Prithviraj directed Empuran starring Mohanlal is coming on JioHotStar on April 24^th.

In a video shared by ANI, Yash, dressed in a simple white shirt and sporting his trademark long beard, humbly expressed his feelings in Hindi after the darshan. The Kannada star said, “Bahot khushi huwa. Shiv ji ka aashirwaad chahiye tha. Aur main Shiv ka bahot bada bhakt hu. Bachpan se mujhe… mane-devaru bolte hai. Ghar ka Kuldevta bhi Shiva hai. Bahot khushi huwa. Woh vibration hi bilkul alag hai, hum jis tarah se baithe the, samay kaise chala gaya pata hi nahi chala. Dhyan mein baith gaye toh bahot accha laga. Sabka bhala ho, sabko achha ho, sabko abhivrudhi mile.”

This roughly translates to, “I felt very happy. I needed Lord Shiva’s blessings. And I am a big devotee of Shiva. Since childhood… we call him ‘Mane Devaru.’ Shiva is also the family deity at home. I felt pleased. That vibration is truly unique, as is the way we were sitting — we didn’t even realize how time passed. Sitting in meditation felt really good. May everyone be blessed, may everyone be well, and may everyone progress.”

Kannada superstar Yash, known for his powerful performances in the KGF franchise, recently visited the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain. Before the shooting of Ramayana, a much-awaited mythological epic, the actor went to the temple to visit Lord Shiva and seek blessings for the new venture.

Tabu joins Vijay Sethupathi / Parvathy- Prithviraj back on screen

 Tabu Comes On Board For Vijay Sethupathi, Puri Jagannadh, Charmme Kaur, Puri Connects’ Most Ambitious Pan India Project!

Dashing Director Puri Jagannadh recently unveiled his most ambitious Pan-India project, starring the Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi. Announced on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, this epic extravaganza will be produced lavishly by Puri Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur under their banner, Puri Connects.

In this highly anticipated venture, Puri Jagannadh will present Vijay Sethupathi in a never-before-seen role, showcasing the actor's immense range and versatility. The script has been meticulously crafted by Puri, ensuring that every character holds significant weight. The narrative is set to be an intense and gripping tale, where each character contributes meaningfully to the unfolding drama.

Adding to the excitement, actress Tabu comes on board for a very pivotal role in the film. Known for her selective choices, Tabu was immediately drawn to the character and the compelling storyline, which led her to give her consent to be a part of this ambitious project.

The regular shoot is slated to begin in June, and the movie is set to be released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.

The makers will announce the other cast and crew of the movie soon.

Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Tabu

Technical Crew:

Writer, Director: Puri Jagannadh
Producers: Puri Jagannadh, Charmme Kaur
Banner: Puri Connects
CEO: Vishu Reddy

PRO: Yuvraaj
Marketing: Ha

The much-anticipated film #NOBODY, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Hakim Shajahan, commenced its journey with a formal pooja and switch-on ceremony held at the picturesque Wellington Island, Ernakulam.

Directed by the acclaimed Nissam Basheer and penned by Sameer Abdul, #NOBODY promises to be a compelling cinematic experience, blending intensity, emotion, and power-packed performances.

The film is jointly produced by Supriya Menon, Mukesh Mehta, and C.V. Sarathi, under the prestigious banners of Prithviraj Productions and E4 Experiments.

Adding further depth to the film’s atmosphere is the music by Harshavardhan Rameshwar, known for his intense compositions in Animal.

With a stellar team both in front of and behind the camera, #NOBODY is all set to deliver a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience.

Stay tuned for more updates from the sets of #NOBODY.

CAST:

Prithviraj Sukumaran
Parvathy Thiruvothu
Ashokan
Madhupal
Hakkim Shajahan
Lukman Avaran
Ganapathi
Vinay Fort

CREW:

Director – Nissam Basheer
Writer – Sameer Abdul
DOP – Dinesh Purushothaman
Music – Harshavardhan (of Animal fame)
Executive Producer – Harris Desom
Production Controller – Rinny Divakar
Production Design – Gokul Das
Costume Design – Dhanya Balakrishnan
Makeup – Ronnex Xavier
Promotions – Poffactio

ashtag Media

RSS put cowdung on Mammootty posters to help Mohanlal / Rahman- Ram Charan combo record price

 

When Sangha Parivar is mad with Mohanlal  after Empuran, Producer Allepy Ashraf flashback tells us the days when RSS shakas in Kerala were told by none other than Advanji to boost Mohanlal through their shakas. This boosting led to Mammootty’s film posters across the State being smeared with cowdung and people booing inside theatres. Finally a truce was arrive with Suresh Kumar ( Keerthy Suresh’s father) a close pal of Mohanlal being approached by Mammootty to call of the RSS attack. It was after that Mammootty’s posters and FDFS in theatres were spared. Ashraf says that  L K Advani had come to Trivandrum for a RSS function and his hospitality was with film people. Advani was told that Mammootty was No 1 and with a help from RSS shakas , Lal at No 2 could overtake him. Advani immediately called RSS Chief and told to boost Lal.

According to reports, Ram Charn’s PEDDI’s music rights were acquired by T-Series for a staggering ₹35 crores, setting a new benchmark in Telugu cinema. The agreement includes audio rights across all languages. This massive deal underscores the film’s hype and the audience’s expectations, especially with A.R. Rahman composing the soundtrack. (after Doctor, Don, Amaran) to reach 100 crores. Hopefully Japanese audience like this film. Will SK become a household name in Japan like his idol Rajinikanth??
The movie PEDDI shall be jointly produced through the auspices of Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writing, with Buchy Babu Sana directing it. The other producer of this film is Venkata Satish Kilaru from Vriddhi Cinemas.

With Rahman’s association, fans are eagerly waiting to experience the film’s music. His first-time collaboration with Ram Charan has become a major talking point, and industry insiders believe that the soundtrack will be a game-changer.

Prithviraj’s daughter Alankrita who sang for her Dad’s film L2 Empuran got from Music Director Deepak Dev  a set of Harry Potter toys. She had liked J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World novels. Along with the gifts, he also gave her flowers, a gesture he knew would be appreciated, thanks to his experience as a father of two daughters. The idea of getting Harry Potter toys had actually come from Prithviraj.

The recording was held in a Mumbai studio, with Deepak and Prithviraj joining via Zoom call. Deepak remarked that she was truly her father’s daughter, as she instinctively understood how to convey emotions. He only needed to mention a  feeling once, and she grasped it immediately, delivering effortlessly. In the theme song she only sang a single word twice, its impact on the audience was huge.

Suresh Gopi name removed from Empuran re-censored version; 27 cuts details and censor board members

We learn that the name of Union Minister Suresh Gopi and IRS officer Jyithish Mohan has been edited out of Thanks section credit list of Empuran in re-censoring. Gopi implied that the makers were doing the cuts voluntarily and aim was to get publicity for the film. A conversation in which the Central party leader says that he hates Kerala for it ‘s greenery implying the green colour associated with Muslim religion has been edited out. The four censor board members who had given the Empuran clearance figure in the revised censor certificate. The background of these members show that they are top level figures in BJP- ABVP ranks. A post from Mohanty with Mint cover says that purification has to happen with and later the Jihadis.

Nanda Nandan Mohanty

18h  · 

Members who said go ahead for Emburans release in Censor board
1. *Swaroopa Kartha*: Wife of an employee at the Kerala Governor's residence.
2. *Roshni Das*: Wife of the former General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
3. *G.M. Mahesh*: Former Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
4. *Manju Hassan*: BJP Councilor from Nedumangad.
Let's clean the garbage inside the house (Bjp), before cleaning up the Jihadi groups..

The Hindu reports that 24 cuts were made and from April 2 , digital streaming Qube will stream the new recensored. Here are the cuts : As per the re-censor certificate, one of the major changes is in the name of the character Balraj, alias Baba Bajrangi, the antagonist who leads a mob, which appears to be a reference to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi who was sentenced to life imprisonment for masterminding the Naroda Patiya massacre as part of the Gujarat pogrom of 2002. The character has been renamed Baldev in the re-edited version. The display card mentioning the period of events as ‘India 2002’ has been changed to ‘a few years ago’. The visuals of vehicles passing in front of a religious structure, violence against women and visuals of dead bodies during the riot scenes in the film have also been removed. A conversation between a young Zayed Masood (played by the director of the film Prithviraj Sukumaran) and his father Masood during the riots has been removed. References to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is shown as being used by the ruling party against political opponents, also got the scissors. Audio mute has also been employed to cut out any mention of NIA.

Empuran re-censor costs Rs 40 lakhs / Michella from Sri Lanka in Rasayya Kannan,film

To enforce the three minutes cut in L2 Empuran, the digital projection arm Qube has raised a bill of Rs 40 lakhs . It has to be removed and re-edited version has to be ransmitted from central server to 4000 screens. Gokulam Gopalan The producer further talked about the losses the film might incur and said, “Don’t know what technical difficulties they might face while making the changes, because if it were to be changed in a certain theatre, it would cost a lot. The film is showing in 4000 cinemas, so my guess is that at least Rs 40 lakh would have to be spent on those changes.”. The earliest that the new version could be seen by public is Tuesday. More delays mean more box office returns in Kerala as viewers are eager to catch the first version. With 59 crores in the kitty, L2: Empuraan is inches away from surpassing its predecessor, Lucifer, which earned 65.21 crores in its lifetime run. The difference between both films is 6.21 crores, which is expected to be covered today. Since the reported budget is 180 crores, the Mohanlal starrer might struggle to secure a clean success verdict at the Indian box office. Today, being an Eid holiday, there will be some boost in collections, but on regular weekdays, some big drops might come, considering mixed word-of-mouth.

“Rasayya” Kannan presents, Samuthirakani - Ramya Nambeesan starrer “Baila” Filmmaker Rasayya Kannan, who shot to fame for his commercially successful movie ‘Rasayya’ and later proved his credibly as a great filmmaker through ‘Kadhayalla Nijam’. He is now producing a movie titled ‘Baila’ for his production house of Kala Theaters. Samuthirakani is playing the content-driven protagonist in this movie and Ramya Nambeesan is performing his wife’s character. Rajkumar is playing his brother’s role, and Sri Lanka based actress Michella is performing his pair. The others in the star-cast include Yogi Babu, Ilavarasu, Singampuli, Madhumitha, Vijay TV fame Andrew, N. Ilango and many others. Filmmaker K. Veera Kumar, who earlier made the film ‘Chasing’, is writing and directing this film. Producer Rasayya Kannan is writing screenplay for this film. Viji, who has written dialogues for this film, and he has already written for ‘Azhagiya Theeyae’, ‘Mozhi’, ’36 Vayadhinile’, & ’Goat’. Sanugha, who won the global acclaims for his Chartbuster Indie song ‘Ayyo Saamy’ is composing music for this film. Sri Lanka based lyricist Pothuvil Ashwin is penning lyrics. A.S. Senthilkumar, who has worked as assistant to Balu Mahendra, Rathinavel, Arthur A Wilson is handling cinematography for this movie. Vijay Thennarasu is overseeing art department and Dhilip Subbarayan is choreographing action sequences. Dinesh is choreographing dance for this film. Sukithan Sakthivel is the Executive Producer and T.N. Gokulnath is the Production Executive. Baila is co-produced by co-produced by Nilgiris Murugan for Nilgiris Murugan Dream Entertainment and K.R. Muruganantham for K.R.M Movies. This shooting commenced at the Uttarakosa Mangai Amman Temple and Vaa Vidu Murugan Temples in Rameswaram. The production is currently taking place in both Rameswaram and Sri Lanka.

Empuran voluntary cuts to avoid BAN on TV channels -OTT

To avoid Empuran being denied certificate for screening on TV channels and OTT, team is to cut 17 scenes from the film and it will take place only next week and only Friday coming the newly revised version will be screened. So those thronging the theatres to see the film before re-censoring has five more days. Sources say that Kerala Censor has delayed the procedure citing that censor board members and also officials are on leave. Empuran Producer Gokulam Gopalan was told that it will face Marcos fate – no TV release, if they do not come forward with cuts voluntarily. Added to this the cuts have to be passed on to OTT platform that has already got the first censored version. OTT platform can renegotiate the price after the 17 cuts are implemented. Muslim countries in the GCC regions are witnessing huge crowds and the bold scenes of Hindi outfits violence gainst Muslims are a key attraction. Ironically Empuran’s Director Prithviraj ‘s outing as an actor in aadujeevitham faced ban in GCC and Saudi. "Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life," a film based on a Malayalam novel about a migrant worker's struggles in the Gulf, faced censorship and release delays in several GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while having a limited release in the UAE. <

Social media has been abuzz with discussions about L3 since the big reveal. Several users took to online platforms to share spoilers, confirming that the title of the much-anticipated sequel is L3: The Beginning. A fan even shared an image of the film’s logo on X (formerly Twitter), sparking a debate among netizens. While some urged the user to remove the spoiler, others speculated whether the trilogy could extend into a fourth instalment. However, Prithviraj has consistently maintained that the Lucifer series is planned as a three-part saga. According to a report by Pinkvilla, L3: The Beginning will delve deeper into the world of power and crime, dominated by Mohanlal’s Stephen Nedumpally, aka Khureshi Ab’raam. The conclusion of L2: Empuraan introduces a formidable new antagonist alongside a Chinese gang, setting the stage for an intense final chapter. The sequel is expected to explore their influence on global crime syndicates while pushing the Lucifer storyline to its grand climax.

Mohanlal - Prithviraj Pan Indian Dream Empuran Crashes

Prithviraj- Mohanlal’s dream to be the Yash- Prabhas and Rajamouli- Prasanth Neel of Malaylam filmdom and be the first duo to be makers of a Pan Indian film through L2 Empuran has failed miserably. For Mohanlal , he has notched yet another box office record of being the first Malayalam film to enter Rs 100 crores club in two days and that it beat Aadujeevitham starring Prithviraj. Sacnik puts the worldwide net at Rs 64 crores. Take look at this post and it is summary of Sacnik figures Kerala opening was Day 1- Rs 14cr and Day 2- Rs 9 cr. As Eid comes in we can expect a jump in the North Kerala areas. Similarly in GCC too the collections will soar. Just yesterday, Salman Khan said that Hindi film heroes films are not patronized by South filmgoers and they prefer to watch their own heroes and so no Hindi film can be Pan Indian like a Baahubali or KGF. He said that personally he is acceptable to South Superstars and even people call him Bhai Bhai but they do not patronize his films. This is the case with Malayalam films too.

Post Empuran, the top 5 openers in Kerala box office have three non Malayalam films. Look at Empuran box office in neighboring South States. Unlike Salman, Mohanlal has acted with Vijay- Surya- Kamal Haasan in Tamil and with NTR Jr in Telugu. All of thee films had a good response. As Gokulam Gopalan and Mohanlal are facing fury, hate posts pour in. Prithviraj has been asked to go for re-certification. In case of film Marcos, too the Thrivanthapuram Censor Regional officer was caught off guard. After a backlash, he asked for a non certification of the film to be screened for TV audience. By them everybody had seen it inOTT platforms. Sanghis in the board are trying to wriggle by saying word Godhra has not been used but it is obvious that the incident is the base. Falling for Murali Gopy’s talk, Mohanlal who is said to be a Modi sympathizer and Producer Gopalan who runs a host of financial companies have a lot to lose if BJP feels offended. Mercifully Hindi version has not caught the eye of Balrang Bali and other Hindu activists. One section are laughing as some time back Mulim Groups were asking for a ban on Kerala Story and same censors gave 30 cuts to their own Kangana’s Emergency.

Chempaneer Poovu Tamil version actress in video leak / Citadel actress mix up / Prithviraj next TYSON

Chempaneer Poovu the Malayalam serial on Asianet has it’s Tamil version Siragadika Asai on Vijay TV. In the Tamil serial Sruthi Narayanan who plays the role of close friend of character Kalyani who poses as rich girl from Malaysia, was caught in a video leak that was taken at an audition. She had termed it as fake. Gomathi Priya who acted in the Tamil serial had initially acted in the same role in Malayalam but was subsequently replaced by Rebecca. Gomathi in her short span in the serial got many Kerala fans.

Citadel: Honey Bunny actor Shruti Narayann has shared that she has been affected personally and professionally after her identity was mistaken for Tamil actor Shruthi Narayanan. Shruthi Narayanan has been in the spotlight after an alleged video of her casting couch was leaked online. Several outlets have attributed Shruti Narayan's work to Shruthi Narayanan, causing confusion.

The serial had introduced the Pongal celebrations as part of Kerala culture. The Tamil festive season is shown as part of Kerala culture like Onam and celeberated in villages of Kerala. Also a custom where daughter in laws mother or parents has to come with tray loaded with gold, diamonds and costly saree is shown as part of the culture. Probably after Keerthy Suresh celebrated her Pongal after marriage and video was circulated, the serial writers decided to add this in Chempaneer poovu and make Pongal a Onam like festival . No harm but the daughter in law family coming with gold will be adapted by greedy mother in laws and add fuel to fire to the already dowry meance and deaths in Kerala.

Prithviraj next Directorial is Tyson produced by Karnataka based Hombale Films. At the promotion of Empuran in Nengaluru, Prithviraj said that his next is backed by Hombale Films. This company has got distribution of Empuran in Karnataka. Way back in 2022, Prithviraj had said his film with Hombale is Tyson. While Lucifer had an opening day collection of 6.1 crore in India, L2: Empuraan is all set to bring a collection of 20 – 22 crore at the box office! Clearly, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s new offering will bring at least 260% bigger opening than his debut opening day as a director. Lucifer was mounted on a very controlled budget of 25 crore at the box office. With a total collection of almost 65 crore in India in its lifetime, it churned out a profit of 40 crore, delivering a 160% return on investment! In order to surpass Lucifer’s profit, L2: Empuraan needs to earn a total of 468 crore at the box office. The action thriller has been mounted on a budget of a reported 180 crore. So, while it needs 360 crore at the box office to be called a hit, it will still need 100 crore more than that to surpass the profits earned by Lucifer!

35 minutes of Empuran is in Hindi/ Mohanlal says no Politics

Two Malayalam actor Mohanlal and Prithviraj were on Times Now interview and many new things came out. One that 35 minutes from Empuran start the dialogues are in Hindi as it involves North Indian charachters. Director Prithviraj reason was that he did want something like M16 guys talk in Malayalam. Mohanlal asked whether he follow Thalapathy Vijay and Kamal Haasan to politics said no not my cup of tea. In an exclusive interview with Times Now, he was asked whether he would follow in the footsteps of his contemporaries, such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who have ventured into the political arena. Mohanlal responded by stating that acting is his true passion and that he ways to dedicate his life to cinema. The seasoned actor emphasised that he is content with his career and wishes to continue entertaining audiences through his craft. No no. I'm an actor," he responded without a thought. When asked about other South stars joining politics, he went, "So what? This is not my cup of tea. Let me act, just let me act." "Why you want me to put into that league? I'm fine. I am happy with this. I know only this job and let me complete my beautiful life with this job," he emphasised.

Speaking about this choice to keep Hindi dialogues, Prithviraj explained to Navika Kumar from Times Now that a significant portion of the film is set in North India, making it crucial for characters in that region to speak Hindi rather than Malayalam. He emphasized that forcing Malayalam dialogue in such settings would feel unnatural, much like expecting MI6 officers to converse in Malayalam. With over 35% of the film in Hindi, Prithviraj trusts that audiences will appreciate this realistic approach, noting that the first 25 minutes of the movie will feel like a Hindi film due to the setting and characters involved. Regardless of which language version audiences choose—Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, or Kannada—they will still experience the first 35 minutes with Hindi dialogues as dictated by the story. Despite the massive anticipation surrounding Empuraan, Prithviraj remains modest in his expectations. As he did with Lucifer, he continues to downplay the hype, calling it a “small” film despite its grand scale. He urges audiences to watch the film with an open mind rather than expecting an overhyped spectacle. Acknowledging that the final verdict rests with the audience, Prithviraj stated that no amount of promotional effort can determine a film’s fate—only the audience’s reception truly matters.

Mohanlal L2 Empuran Producer Lyca steps down enters Gokulam / Sona hates Vadivelu Why ?

Finally Gokulam Gopalan of Gokulam Movies has stepped in to ensure Mohanlal’s L2 Empuran release on March 27th. We had reported that Ashirwad Cinemas the company owned by Antony Perumbavoor is running to raise money to atleast partly pay the Rs 80 crores plus interest that Lyca has been asking ( read; https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2025/03/mohanlal-most-crucial-film-l2-empuran.html). As Red Giant is not chipping in with any money, Gokulam Gopalan who regularly buys Tamil films for Kerala Distribution has chipped and mediated a settlement by joining Ashirwad Movies as producer. Lyca will get a part of the invested amount and rest it can recover through theatrical collections. Gokulam and Ashirwad will share the Malayalam version proceeds. To put an end to speculation that film is not releasing on March 27th, it has put out a post reaffirming that it is sure to come. Mohanlal is at shooting spot and so also Prithviraj at Rajamouli shoot. From what we hear is that Lyca will remain as Tamil Nadu distributor and not co- producer. Ashirwad had tried to rope in Confident Group to step in but it did not fulfill. Lyca was the presenter of the film and out of Rs 150 crores, it put in Rs 80 crores and rest of it came by accounting the salaries of Mohanlal and Prithviraj and footing VFX bills. Lyca wanted 50 % of the proceeds as it knew that it cannot recover the money from Tamil Nadu and two Telugu States. To this Ashirwad has not agreed and now that Lyca will get compensated by Gokulam. Another reason for Lyca to have a scare was that the Kerala Producers and Exhibitors negative approach about the film. Times Group Junglee Pictures and Mumbai based biggest Digital rights holder GoldMine had stepped in to produce Malayalam films. Lyca has a business arrangement with Gokulam over Kerala distribution of their Tamil films. Overseas deals are not confirmed yet as Lyca and Ashirwad differences existed. Lyca is a major player overseas. Similarly OTT platforms will not confirm any deal without release clarity.

Sona Heiden who is busy doing a biopic on her life and career was quoted saying that even if she is given Rs 1 crore, she will not act opposite Vadivelu. They had become a good pair with Chandramukhi. Now that Vadivelu has made a comeback was the question posed. She said that she had a bitter experience with him. Kerala Producer Alleppey Ashraf said that Vadivelu and a Malayalee actress were in a relationship and unlike Kerala actors who promise to compensate with money and cheat, the comedian bought for his lady love a bungalow. Sona seems o have a different story. Her biopic is coming on OTT.

Kamal Haasan- Suriya in Chennai- Prabhas in Hyderabad for Empuran promo / Priya Varrier on photoshoots

Empuran Tamil promotion event is a Lyca backed one as they are co- producers and have got Kamal Haasan and Suriya as special guests for the Mohanlal film directed by Prithviraj. Moving to Hyderabad, Prabhas with whom Prithviraj has worked will be chief Guest. In Bengaluru it is Kicha Sudeep and in Mumbai, it will be Akshay kumar. On March 15, 3 minutes trailor of Empuran will release. 90 % of Kerala screens are to screen Empuran on March 27th. One event in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and UAE are planned. L2E: Empuraan, has officially cleared its censorship process and received a U/A certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Helmed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and led by Mohanlal in the iconic role of Khureshi-Ab’raam, the film has a locked runtime of three hours. The screenplay, crafted by Murali Gopy, further builds on the gripping narrative established in the first installment. Produced by Aashirvad Cinemas and Lyca Productions, the film has been made on a massive scale, raising expectations sky-high. With Deepak Dev composing the music and Sujith Vaassudev handling the cinematography, The teaser and character reveal have only heightened the excitement surrounding the film.The film features a stellar cast, including Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Game of Thrones fame Jerome Flynn, among others. Shot across diverse international locations such as India, the UK, the US, and the UAE, the movie is set to bring a visually grand spectacle to the audience. The screenplay, crafted by Murali Gopy, further builds on the gripping narrative established in the first installment

Priya Varrier who was last seen in Tamil NEEk directed by Dhanush says that Malaylam film indstry has not been giving her films as they have a preconcieved notion about the kind of roles that she can do. In other language industry this is not there and so she is busy in the these industries. About her hot photo shoots, she says that the idea is not to show off and please anybody.I'm doing photoshoots to present myself as much as I can, She says that she has attended many auditions but nothing has come up. Tags like arrogant and socail media comments have affected her career in Malayalam. She says photoshoots are not to get new offers.

Dhruv Vikram Bison look out/ Prithviraj spotted at Mahesh Babu shoot / Dhanush NEEK on March 21

Applause Entertainment and Neelam Studios unveil the First Look of ‘Bison’ – A Gritty Sports Drama Directed by Mari Selvaraj! The much-awaited first look of Bison is here! Applause Entertainment, in collaboration with Neelam Studios has unveiled the striking first look of Bison, an electrifying sports drama helmed by the acclaimed Mari Selvaraj. Starring Dhruv Vikram in a transformative role as a Kabaddi player, alongside Anupama Parameswaran, the film is inspired by true events and brings to life a gripping tale of passion, resilience, and triumph against all odds.

Prithviraj joined Mahesh Babu at the Odisha shooting schedule. Mahesh Babu getup and a long shot of both at the sets were leaked. Prithviraj will be back on March 16 in Kochi to complete a few last minute post production work. Censoring is over and now the runup to March 27th is to start. After Empuran, he is to report for Santosh Trophy directed by Vipin das of Guruvayoor Nadyil fame. It is produced by Stephen and Prithviraj Productions.

Dhanush directed Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK) will be arriving on Prime Video on 21st March and it’s expected to receive a big response after OTT release. NEEK was a commercial failure due to its poor release date. NEEK started its journey on a fair note by earning 1.15 crores. However, since word-of-mouth was mixed, it failed to show a desired jump over the weekend. On weekdays, things went downhill, and a total of 6.38 crores came on board. During the second week, things became worse, with the collection reaching a low of 7 lakh on a single day. n the second week, NEEK earned a dismal 1.05 crores. Overall, it raked in a poor total of 7.43 crore net at the Indian box office in 14 days, as per Sacnilk. The budget of the film is Rs 12 crores.

Shivaji Ganesan's grandson tells about his pain / Prithviraj in SSR- Mahesh Babu film confirmed

I was speechless hearing the TV news that portion of Shivaji Ganesan’s house was going to be auctioned. My friend DeviMani ( both of us are few of the fading group called Sivaji Fans or Appa’s favourites) was first to inform me. I still cannot understand how Rs 9 crores due to the disputing party became an issue and how did Rs 3 crore loan be allowed to go up to Rs 9 crore ? Many may rush to portray Dushyanth as the black sheep of Sivaji family and responsible for the famous Annai Illam on Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan road pave way to a new owner ( partly ). Just read his Instahram account iamjayadusshyanth Readl 112w , about my headaches and mental instabilities. Medications did not work. Fits happened. I was hospitalized. After a while, doctors discovered the depression I was going through unknowingly, which had caus"My first two films failed to work out well. Without proper training, I jumped into the film industry after my college. Even though I come from a versatile ‘acting’ background (Mr. Shivaji Ganesan’s grandson), the film industry doesn’t instantly welcome anyone. When the clock strikes right, with the proper dose of talent and patience, only then one can hit the success string. Having the letdown in mind, I was determined to turn things right. I traveled to the US and joined a film workshop in 2004 for 3 months. I learned things better. After returning back to India, I stepped into understanding production through our movie, Chandramuki, and a couple of movies and TV serials as well. The acting was set as a back burner then. In 2015, I started my own Production Company, Eshan Productions. We did produce a couple of movies, but then the demonetization began, laying our faiths off. After the point of so many tries, I lost confidence; I entered a cave of blackouts and kept telling my wife, whom I married in 2011ed all this harm. I was drowned in negativity and fluctuation throughout the 6 months. Also, there was a time when I had attempted suicide, assuming I was a toxic hindrance to my family’s happiness. The sufferings were real and drilled so hard. With my wife’s, the doctor’s, and the family’s constant backing, I recovered my consciousness by focusing on self-improvement. I turned out to be stronger than before and never granted a license to anyone to disturb my mental peace.

Bestowed with positivity, I was called upon for a stage play and later for a guest role in a Malayalam movie. I started adapting to situations. Fortunately, my acting career knocked on my door again, which now is resulting in the release of my recent movie ‘Theerkatharisi’ in the month of Feb ‘23. Film is available on Prime Video.

In a casual social media interaction, Mallika seemingly confirmed that Prithviraj is indeed part of Rajamouli’s next. Responding to a comment, she revealed that the actor is set to leave tonight to join the film’s set, putting an end to months of speculation.The revelation comes just after Prithviraj’s own Instagram post on Monday, where he detailed his upcoming schedule as an actor. He captioned it, "Finish and hand over film and all marketing assets on your directorial✅ Get into appearance for your next as an actor✅ Realise you have long monologues in a language that’s not native to you and start becoming nervous✅" Fans immediately connected this to SSMB29, which is reportedly an action-adventure set against an African backdrop.

Prithviraj replaced by John Abraham / Thalapathy Vijay wife shifted to London

Prithviraj has been replaced by John Abraham in SS Rakamouli film with Mahesh Babu says a source. Reason being that Prithviraj does not have the dates as he is moving on new projects in South and Bollyood. John will take part in a few scenes in the Hyderabad schedule going on in Hyderabad Raed https://dhakshinscreen.blogspot.com/2025/01/malavika-in-aishwarya-lakshmi-out-no.html John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, who have shared screen space in films like Karam and Dostana. Starring Mahesh Babu as the leading man, the film is expected to be an action adventure that will also be shot extensively in international waters. From what we hear, the makers kicked off the schedule with a Mahurat pooja on January 3 and later, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas flew down to Hyderabad sparking rumours of her association with the entertainer. Earlier this week, Rajamouli too shared an intriguing post about ‘capturing’ Mahesh Babu finally for the shoot of the movie. Meanwhile, John is gearing up for the release of The Diplomat. The film will hit the screens on March 7, 2025 and the first poster of it is out. The actor looks sharp in a grey suit and red tie, sporting a mustache and an intense expression. The poster carries a powerful tagline – “True hero needs no weapons” – and also reveals that the film is based on a true story. Sharing the poster on Instagram, he wrote, “Honoured to bring this story of courage and diplomacy to life. See you in theatres on March 7th.” The upcoming film follows the courageous journey of an Indian diplomat who embarks on a mission to rescue an Indian girl trapped in Pakistan, where she was allegedly coerced into a forced marriage against her wishes. The film also features Kumud Mishra, Sharib Hashmi, Amitoj Mann, Benjamin Gilani, Sadia Khateeb, Ashwath Bhatt, Ram Gopal Bajaj among others.

Bollywood Shaadi.com reports The report further stated that due to Thalapathy Vijay’s rumored relationship with Trisha Krishnan, his marriage with Sangeetha Sornalingam has been severely affected. Sangeetha has been absent from the public eye for quite some time now. According to a report, she is living separately from her husband in London where their daughter Divya Saasha is also pursuing her education. Sangeetha lives with her parents in London and this has furthermore led to rumors of her marital discord with the Theri actor. Thalapathy Vijay and Trisha Krishnan were seen in Ghilli, Aathi, Thirupachi, and Kuruvi. However, after Kuruvi, they did not collaborate on any film for 15 years. However, they reunited onscreen for the 2023 film Leo.

Malavika in Aishwarya Lakshmi out / no phones for Priyanka Chopra / LYCA banks on Prithviraj MAGIC

A report stated that the core team, including Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). This agreement stops them from sharing any details about the project. If someone breaks this rule, they face financial penalties. Priyanka arrived from Toronto to Hyderabad and shoot is on at an Aluminium factory at outskirts of Hyderabad (Serilingampally). Even the actors cannot bring their phones to the sets. To describe this situation SS Rajamouli put a post In the photo, he holds a passport. In the background, there is an image of a lion behind bars. Is Mahesh Babu the Lion ?

Malavika Mohanan is to act opposite Mohanlal in Hridyapoorvam directed by Satyan Anthikad. This is the 20 film of Lal- Anthikad combo. At first Aishwarya Lekshmi was play this role but now Malavika has replaced. Satyan’s two sons are assisting Dad. Produced by Ashirwad Cinemas.

Subaskaran's Lyca Productions Makes Explosive Malayalam Debut with Mohanlal's High-Octane Action Thriller "L2: Empuraan"; Teaser Out Now Lyca Productions, one of South India's leading production houses, is set to make its entry into the Malayalam film industry with the highly anticipated project, L2E Empuraan. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film stars "The Complete Actor" Mohanlal in the lead role, marking their hat-trick third collaboration as director and actor after the super successful films, Lucifer and Bro Daddy. As the second instalment of the trilogy that began with the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer, L2E Empuraan promises to deliver an epic cinematic experience. The teaser launch was held in Kochi today and was graced by the presence of Megastar Mammootty as the chief guest, the film's principal cast and crew, and other prominent personalities. https://youtu.be/AYzSvao5RbQ The teaser sets the stage in an abandoned town in Northern Iraq named "Qaraqosh," introducing the character Steven Nedumpally, a saviour with a dark and intriguing side as Ab'raam Qureshi, who leads the most powerful mercenary hit group in Asia. The film showcases Mohanlal in an action-packed avatar with larger-than-life visuals. The film explores themes of power, betrayal, and control by blending elements of the political nexus and the world of mercenaries. Lyca Productions, founded by Subaskaran and headed by G.K.M. Tamil Kumaran, is a top production house known for delivering high-budget and content-driven films. For its Malayalam debut, Lyca Productions partnered with renowned producer Antony Perumbavoor's Aashirwad Cinemas Pvt. Ltd banner and bankrolled this massive project. The stellar ensemble cast includes Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Saniya Iyyappan, Sai Kumar, and Baiju Santosh in pivotal roles.

L2E: Empuraan was written by Murali Gopy, with music composed by Deepak Dev and cinematography by Sujith Vaassudev. Suresh Balaje and George Pius served as Executive Producers. Prithviraj Productions handled the Production Design and Mohandas served as the Art Director. L2E: Empuraan is slated for a grand worldwide release on March 27, 2025, in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi languages.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRITHVIRAJ

 Makers of Salaar wishes Superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran a happy birthday by dropping the first look of his character Vardharaja Mannaar from the film

Happy Birthday Superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran: The makers of Salaar drop the look of his character Vardharaja Mannaar from the film

A new poster of the highly anticipated film Salaar directed by Prashanth Neel, Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the Hombale Films banner featuring Prithviraj Sukumaran was released by the makers today. As actor Prithviraj turns a year older, the makers took today as an opportunity to wish their star member and to introduce a new character from the film Salaar. The magnitude of the character required an individual like Prithviraj who will be seen playing the character of Vardharaja Mannaar in the film. Him being the superstar from the Malayalam industry brings on an aura that can effectively influence the story of Salaar.

While the makers are now here with the first look of Prithviraj from the film, it has come as an absolute wonder to watch his magnanimous aura. While his character of Vardharaja will be equal to that of Prabhas in the film, it will bring a great drama between these two stars that will be the highlight for the audience to watch out for in the film.

While speaking about Prithviraj's character, director Prashanth Neel said "Having such a superstar like Prithviraj in the film is an absolute pleasure. We couldn't have had a better Vardharaja Mannaar. The way he played such an enormous character in the film justifies his magnificent presence with his brilliant performance. The drama is surly going to be insane having him in the movie. Being a superstar of the Malayalam industry he has a huge fan base who will be truly mesmerized to see him playing such a huge character on the screen. It was an amazing experience to direct two great actors like Prithviraj and Prabhas together in the film."

After the Box Office success of KGF Chapter 2, Prashanth Neel and Homebale’s next film Salaar has become one of the most awaited movies in the Indian film industry as it unites the filmmaker with the Baahubali star Prabhas. The excitement amongst the fans for Salaar has increased with each passing day, especially with two powerhouse artists coming together. Netizens are thrilled to watch Prabhas and Prashant Neel working together for this one.

While Salaar is big in itself, it becomes even more promising with Prashanth Neel, India's most sought-after director directing it. Post the success of the KGF franchise, Prashanth is certainly one of the biggest Pan India directors.
 
Salaar is one of the most anticipated films, starring Prabhas who enjoys pan India appeal. Paired with Shruti Haasan, the movie is being released pan India in 5 languages. The movie also has versatile actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, besides a superlative ensemble cast of Jagapathi Babu, Easwari Rao, Sriya Reddy and others in the key role. Salaar is a combination of India’s two biggest franchises Bahubali and KGF as this is for the first time the Hombale Films, producers of KGF, the director of KGF, the technicians of KGF, and the hero of Bahubali will be coming together to serve India yet another blockbuster in 2023.
 
The fans surely can’t miss the dynamic collaboration of Director, Producer and Technicians of KGF and the hero of Bahubali!

India’s highly anticipated PAN India venture Salaar starring Superstar Prabhas, and directed by Prashanth Neel, Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the Hombale Films banner. is all set to be released on 28th Sept. 2023