Kamal as Pinrayi - Balchandra Menon as Oomen Chandy / Beef Biryani cut out in Shane film

Shane Nigam’s much-anticipated film 'Soul of Haal' has run into a censorship crisis, with the Censor Board instructing the filmmakers to remove a scene featuring beef biryani and dialogues related to a ceremonial salute. In response, the film’s production team has approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the board’s directive. The board’s objections include the dialogue “Dhwaja Pranama, the team is on guard” and a scene depicting the consumption of beef biryani. These instructions have delayed the issuance of the censor certificate, putting the film’s release on hold. Filmmakers argue that these cuts compromise the narrative and have sought judicial intervention to resolve the issue. Directed by debutant Veer, 'Haal' was originally scheduled to release on September 12, but the date was subsequently postponed.Haal is written by Nishad K. Koya, who is known for scripting Ordinary, Thoppil Joppan, Shikari Shambu and Madhura Naranga. The film, one of the biggest budget projects in Shane Nigam’s career, features Sakshi Vaidya in the female lead role. Sakshi amade her debut with Akhil in Agent with Mammooty in a pivotal role, She also signeda Pawan Kalyan film.

The supporting cast boasts seasoned actors such as Johnny Antony, Nath, Vineeth Beep Kumar, K. Madhupal, Sangeetha Madhavan Nair, Joy Mathew, Nishant Sagar, Niyas Becker, Riyas Narmakala, Suresh Krishna, Ravindran, Sohan Seenulal, Manoj K.U., Unniraj, and Sreedhanya, promising a strong ensemble performance. 'Haal' is slated for a simultaneous release in Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada, positioning it as a colorful, multi-lingual entertainer. In addition, the film marks Bollywood singer Ankith Tiwari’s Malayalam cinema debut. The censorship row highlights the ongoing tension between creative freedom and regulatory oversight, with filmmakers urging the court to allow the film to be released without compromising its content. The High Court’s decision is eagerly awaited by fans and industry watchers alike, who have been anticipating Shane Nigam’s latest performance. As the legal proceedings unfold, the film’s release remains in limbo, intensifying anticipation for one of Malayalam cinema’s most talked-about projects of the year. --IANS

Balachandra Menon is expected to play Oommen Chandy, Nivin Pauly is likely to be cast as Chandy Oommen—the late Congress leader’s son and incumbent MLA representing Puthuppally.Noted director B. Unnikrishnan, who last worked with Mammootty in 'Christopher', is said to be at the helm of the project. According to a report by Manorama News, the film will not be presented as a biopic of Oommen Chandy, who is rated among the most popular politicians in Kerala’s history. Among the details expected to be included in the movie are the various corruption allegations that led to political uproar in the state. Earlier, there were reports that Unnikrishnan was shooting the Secretariat blockade protest organised by the CPI(M)-led LDF workers in 2013. The Opposition workers had surrounded the Kerala Secretariat in August 2013 as a part of the protest against the solar scam—a major political controversy of the time when Oommen Chandy was in power. The longest-serving member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Oommen Chandy passed away in 2023 and his son Chandy Oommen became the new MLA of Puthuppally. Nivin Pauly is expected to portray the 39-year-old's role in the movie. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and veteran actor Kamal Haasan is reportedly getting ready for a Mollywood return by being part of a rumoured biopic of incumbent Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Manorama News report said. The way his leadership dealt with the deluge of 2018 and the Covid pandemic will be shown in the movie. A younger Vijayan’s interventions during the 1971 Thalassery riots is also expected to find a place in the film. However, it was not exactly known if Haasan will be seen as Pinarayi Vijayan in the movie which is also expected to release before the southern state goes to polling booths next year. Report in The Week News Desk

BIG B KBC 25th year gets 26 Sponsors / BB7 Malayalam Opens BIG / Shanthnu Bhagyaraj with Shane Nigam

 Kaun Banega Crorepati marks 25 years with record 26-brand sponsorship line-up. Maruti Suzuki and the Aditya Birla Group have come aboard as Co-Presenting Sponsors, while the State Bank of India joins as Banking Partner and the Reserve Bank of India as Special Sponsor, underscoring KBC’s deep association with empowerment and trust.

The Co-Powered By category features UPI, Ultratech Cement, Stable Money App, Asian Paints, and Gowardhan Ghee, representing sectors from digital finance to FMCG. Special Partners include Patanjali Dant Kanti, BHIM Payments App, Polycab India Ltd., Dr. Fixit (Pidilite Industries), Vida powered by Hero Motocorp, and WinZO Games.

Further expanding its sponsor base, Associate Partners feature Amazon India, Kalyan Jewellers, Godrej & Boyce, Laxmipati Sarees, Groww, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), National Stock Exchange (NSE), Plasto Tanks and Pipes, Aashirvaad Select Atta, Director’s Elaichi, and Bikaji — reflecting the show’s pan-India consumer connect.

The season’s opening clocked 12.6 crore minutes of cumulative watch time—a staggering 225% surge over previous seasons. Connected TV has emerged as a significant growth driver, contributing nearly 30% of opening watch time—a 154% surge over the previous two seasons—signalling a shift toward immersive, large-screen viewing.

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 is presented by MyG Digital; co-presented by Berger Paints and Healthy Grocer; co-powered by Sunrich Refined Sunflower Oil and MYK Laticrete. Other partners include Regal Jewellers and Merino Laminates as Special Partners, Dazzler Etertna as Beauty Partner, and Cera as Associate Sponsor.

Shanthnu Bhagyaraj Returns to Malayalam Cinema After 16 Years with Balti  

After a 16-year hiatus, Malayalam cinema is set to witness the much-anticipated return of Shanthnu Bhagyaraj in Balti, an action-packed sports thriller that pairs him alongside the talented Shane Nigam. Directed and written by Unni Sivalingam, the film promises a compelling blend of adrenaline-fueled sports sequences and emotionally rich storytelling. More than just a high-octane sports drama, the film explores themes of teamwork, resilience, and the personal battles faced by its characters—offering viewers both thrilling action and heartfelt moments.
Adding to the film’s unique appeal is an impressive ensemble cast, including celebrated filmmaker Alphonse Puthren in a pivotal role as Soda Babu, along with a powerful musical score composed by Sai Abhyankkar. With such a dynamic lineup, Balti 2025 is shaping up to be a cinematic treat for fans of Malayalam cinema.

Shanthnu’s return has been eagerly awaited since his last Malayalam appearance in the 2007 fantasy drama Angel John, where he starred alongside Mohanlal. Though widely appreciated, especially during its television run, Angel John marked the beginning of Shanthnu’s focus on Tamil cinema, where he went on to build a successful career. Speaking about his comeback, Shanthnu shared, “It’s truly special to return to Malayalam cinema after so many years. This film is a fresh experience for me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better role to step back into the industry.”

The film industry is abuzz with the details of an exciting new project, a high-octane sports action thriller written and directed by debutant Unni Sivalingam. The movie, which is being produced by Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and Binu George Alexander under the banners of STK Frames and Binu George Alexander Productions, is generating significant anticipation.

The film's impressive technical crew and production team have caught the attention of many. Young music sensation Sai Abhyankkar, known for his viral hits, is composing the music and original score. This marks Abhyankkar's debut in Malayalam cinema, and his collaboration with lyricist Vinayak Sasikumar is highly awaited.

Adding to the stellar team is veteran cinematographer Alex J. Pulickal, whose recent work on "RDX: Robert Dony Xavier" was widely acclaimed.

 

 

Nivin Pauly with Karthi 29 / Sai to compose for Shane Nigam Tamil- Malayalam

Nivin Pauly to join Karthi who  is set to star in his 29th film, tentatively titled Marshal, directed by Taanakkaran fame Tamizh. The film is rumored to be a high-budget sea adventure, with shooting expected to take place along Tamil Nadu’s coastal regions. Vadivelu is reportedly part of the cast, while Kalyani Priyadarshan is in talks for the female lead. Produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, an official announcement is expected soon. Nivin Pauly is playing antagonist in Benz with Raghava Lawrence in the lead. After charming audiences with Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum (PAV), director–editor Akhil Sathyan is back, this time casting Nivin Pauly as the star of Sarvam Maya. Slated for a December release, Sarvam Maya introduces a spectral twist to the festive season. Preity Mukundan and Riya Shibu join Pauly as the female leads, while veterans like Aju Varghese, Janardanan and Vineeth add gravitas to the ensemble. Screenwriter Raghunath Paleri also steps in front of the camera,

Director Girish AD is returning to the director’s chair with Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, a new Malayalam film starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju in lead roles. Produced by the powerhouse trio Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan, and Syam Pushkaran under their Bhavana Studios banner, this project marks the filmmaker’s second collaboration with the production house after the sensational success of Premalu. The film is expected to go on floors in September.

Sai Abhyankkar, the 20‑year‑old composer whose independent tracks Katchi Sera and Aasa Kooda topped charts with over 200 million YouTube views, is making his Malayalam debut with Balti, starring Shane Nigam and directed by Unni Shivalingam. The collaboration was officially confirmed via an Instagram post, showing Sai in the studio, receiving a package from the Malayalam Film Industry welcoming him, instantly triggering celebrations among fans. Shane Nigam’s 25th project and weaves a tightly wound story of chaos and camaraderie set around a kabaddi-player protagonist . With Sai Abhyankkar taking music reins, audiences can look forward to a score that blends emotional ballads, high-energy rhythms, and indie-pop freshness, capturing both the grit of the sport and the intimacy of its characters.

Produced by Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and Binu George Alexander under STK Frames, and shot by Alex J. Pulickal, For Shane Nigam too, Balti is more than another film, it’s a statement. A sports-drama steeped in youthful energy matched with a progressive, pop‑infused musical score is just the kind of fresh voice Malayalam cinema is currently celebrating. A bilingual in Tamil the film lead actress is Preethi Asrani and Shanthanu plays a pivotal role.

Shah Rukh on Jawan - Shane Nigam RDX for Onam

Shah Rukh Khan loves to interact with his ardent fans and admirers across the globe through his #AskSRK session that he conducts on social media quite often. On the occasion of Shah Rukh Khan celebrating 31 years in film industry , the superstar again took to Twitter and announced an #AskSRK session. Apart from witty and hilarious reverts, the superstar spilled beans on his highly anticipated movie ‘Jawan’ and also spoke about his remarkable journey. One thing that he has been following consistently from the last 31 years SRK reveals , I write a whole backstory and ideology of the character. Sometimes share it with the director or just keep it to myself. It could be a poem or a whole story." On naming twin babies! While a fan who is pregnant with twin babies informed SRK about naming them Pathan and Jawan, the actor replied, “All the best but please name them something better”! On a fan asking for a role for his friend in Jawan! SRK replied, “Pyaar se dost ko samjhana padega ki aisa nahi hoga… Watch Jawan with all the josh! Reverting to a user’s question, SRK wrote, “Nahi beta, jawan ke din jawani ke josh mein theater pe jaana hai!” Jawan teaser – all ready! Revealing the most important information related to the teaser of his highly-anticipated movie Jawan, SRK said, “It’s all ready getting other assets in place. Don’t worry it’s all in a happy place… #Jawan On students completing their graduation this year! SRK said, “All the best in life and remember whatever u have learnt will come handy in life…sometime.

Star studded family action movie RDX’s first look and the motion posters have now upped the expectations of the movie. The film is all set to hit the big screen on August 25th as Onam release. Directed by the debutant Nahas Hidayath, ‘RDX’ is a thorough action entertainer starring Shane Nigam, Neeraj Madhav and Antony Varghese in significant lead roles as the characters Robert, Xavier and Dony respectively. Written by Nahas Hidayath, Shabas Rasheed and Adarsh Sukumaran. Babu Antony, Lal, Aima Rosmy Sebastian, Baiju Santhosh, Mahima Nambiar, and Maala Parvathi are also in significant roles in this action entertainer. Produced by Sophia Paul’s Weekend Blockbusters, RDX will be heavy on action, with martial arts being an integral factor. National award-winning stunt duo Anbariv (KGF, Kaithi, and Vikram) has done the action choreography. Sam CS (Kaithi, Vikram Vedha) is on board as the composer, with lyrics by Manu Manjith. Alex J Pulickal (Action Hero Biju, Driving Licence) is the director of photography, and Chaman Chacko is in charge of editing. Costumes – Dhanya Balakrishnan, Make up – Ronex Xavier, Art Director – Joseph Nellickal, Finance Controller – Sibon C Simon, Production Controller – Javed Chembu, Weekend Blockbusters Production Manager – Roji P Kurian