Drug Addict Srikanth hid marriage after his wife was jailed / Thug Life to PAY PENALTY

 

Srikanth marriage itself was done under a cloud with the actor claiming that he went through it to save his parents from being beaten up by his wife's henchmen. To the police after being nabbed for drug case says that he took drugs as payment for the money owed to him by the producer and slowly he started using them and got hooked. read about Srikanth marriage ;

As per reports, Vandhana and Srikanth's wedding had been fixed after their parents agreed to their relationship. Later Srikanth's parents called it off after finding out that Vandhana and her parents were booked in a few legal cases involving land dispute. However, despite this, Srikanth and Vandhana got married with the permission of the latter's parent - without Srikanth's parents knowing about it.

This took an ugly turn in Srikanth's life after he denied acknowledging the marriage. Srikanth, later addressed the press by saying

"Our marriage never consummated. I went in for a register marriage as I loved her and was hopeful of convincing my parents. Soon after we announced our formal wedding date, I learnt that Vandana was jailed for an offence and that the passports of her parents were impounded for their involvement in criminal cases. She turned up at my house two days ago with tough-looking henchmen. I have been forced to abandon my house with my aged parents as I fear for their life. I have sought police protection."

After counselling, and legal intervention, the couple soon patched up and continue staying married. The couple are parents to two children.

Kizhakku Kadarkarai Salai  starring Srikanth and Bhavana  and directed by Stanly.  RS Anthanan started a new production company called Venthiraikalam and made his debut as producer. with this film. It too was bogged in problems and was not a hit. Anthanan is today known as Valaipechu , the YouTube channel that gives latest authentic news on filmdom.

Mani Ratnam apology that was circulated yesterday is a fake and also the news that Madras Talkies had said that the apology is fake. From what we gather is Writer-lyricist-producer Siva Ananth, who has worked with director Mani Ratnam on many of his films including Kaatru Veliyidai, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Ponniyin Selvan: I and II and the latest Thug Life, has confirmed that the director's reported 'apology' for his latest film with Kamal Haasan as fake. Madras Talkies had not given any official statement through any of the social handles that it operates about the apology being fake. Anytime on or after July 5^th, Thig Life South languages will hit NetFlix and it seems that a renegotiation has led to Madras Talkies reducing the agreed 8 weeks window to four for OTT release. The simultaneous release of Thug Life Hindi through national chains after it agreed toa 8 week window has created a new problem. Those who want to see Thug Life in Kannada can do so on NetFlix.

This move to release before 8 week has sparked friction with national multiplex chains in North India, where the 8-week window is more rigidly enforced. “There’s a standard industry guideline to maintain an 8-week gap before OTT release. By breaching this, the producers are now liable to pay a penalty,” a source revealed. The financial repercussion includes forfeiting the Hindi theatrical share, amounting to approximately Rs 25 lakh.

Interestingly, this marks the second time, after Indian 2, that the producers of a Kamal Haasan film have walked back on their commitment to uphold the longer OTT window. While negotiations are ongoing, Thug Life will likely proceed with the shortened 4-week release plan. Industry insiders say stricter clauses are expected to be implemented in future agreements to prevent such deviations.

 

Coolie as Majdoor in Hindi gets BAD RESPONSE / Kayadu Lohar with Tovino STARTS

 

Apart from single release tomorrow, The latest news is that Coolie will have a different title, and it will be released as ‘Majdoor’ in Hindi. Reportedly, the title change in Hindi might be because of rights issues, as Amitabh Bachchan’s old film is also titled Coolie (1983). Also, there are other films like Govinda’s Coolie No. 1 (1995) and Varun Dhawan’s Coolie No. 1 (2020). So, Rajinikanth’s Coolie will have a different title, and it will be released as ‘Majdoor’ in Hindi. The film is slated to be released on August 14, clashing with Hrithik Roshan and NTR’s War 2.

The title change was revealed in a recent promo for the song “Chikithu,” which drops on June 25. While Coolie is retained in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, the Hindi promo ends with the surprising new title Majadoor. Social media reacted instantly — and brutally. Fans called the new title “poor,” “bland,” and “outdated,” arguing that Coolie had stronger mass appeal, instant connect, and nostalgic value.
The film also stars Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Soubin Bashir, Upendra, and Kaali Venkat, alongside Aamir Khan in a cameo.

After so many speculations, Kayadu Lohar is now at the locales of the Malayalam film starring Tovino Thomas. Directed by Dijo Jose Antony, the film is set in the late 1950s, and it shows the struggles and hopes of migrant farmers living in Kerala’s high-range regions. Dijo Jose took to his Instagram handle to share a snap with the team.

Actress Kayadu Lohar gets very busy in South Indian cinema with continuous offers from Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam after Dragon’s success. Now, Kayadu Lohar teams up with Tovino Thomas for Pallichattambi.

Tovino Thomas, who was recently seen in Narivetta, will work with director Dijo Jose Antony for a big-budget film named Pallichattambi. The film’s shooting began today, June 23.

Kayadu Lohar teams up with Tovino Thomas for Pallichattambi, which is set against the backdrop of 1957–58. It will not be just another period film and tries to depict some intense and unknown battles. 

Director Dijo Jose Antony, known for ‘Queen,’ ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ and ‘Malayalee From India,’ directs this most awaited project of Tovino Thomas. The script is written by Suresh Babu (of ‘Shikkar,’ ‘Oruthee,’ and ‘Dadasaheb’ fame). 

The film will be made on a large scale with a stunning production design, led by renowned art director Dileep Nath. 

Kayadu had acted in Vinayan's notable period film is "Pathonpathaam Noottaandu" (Nineteenth Century), which is a historical drama set in 19th century Kerala. She played a Kalaripayattu exponent in the film.

Kamal with Chiyaan Director / Vels with Ajith / Geetha Kailasam Angammal'and Meenakshi Jayan Victoria Winners

 Two Top Superstars in todays headlines- Ajith and KH. First Ajith news- His next film is not by Mythiri Movie Makers but bu our own Vels Film International. Ashik who did Vidamuyurchi is tipped be repeated and AK takes home 65% of the total budget as his fees. 

Next is Vinveli Nayaga KH and though we were thinking about Anbu Arivu duo to do the next, there is a change of plans- S U Arun Kumar of Veera Dheeran Sooran the Chiyaan film is to do a rustic thriller and a quickie to be bankrolled by RKFI.

Tamil film 'Angammal' has won Best Film at the 2025 edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), Geetha Kailasam, who is renowned filmmaker K Balachander’s daughter-in-law, was the first choice for the role of Angammal. “We chose Geetha Kailasam after watching her performance in Navarasa, Sarpatta Parambarai and Natchathiram Nagargiradhu,” Director Radhakrishnan said. “She was very natural, and the screen presence she commanded was really impressive in all her above performances.”. Radhakrishnan’s second feature after the Malayalam-language Ave Maria (2018) is set in the mid-1990s. Angammal is based on acclaimed Tamil writer Perumal Murugan’s short story Kodithuni.

 Vipin Radhakrishnan's sophomore directorial venture follows a son's attempts at making his free spirited mother wear a blouse. Set against a rural backdrop in Tamil Nadu, the story does a pretty good job at establishing the dynamic between Angammal and Pavalam, the different life that her son wishes to lead and disgusted of the old ways in his village. Driven by the excuse of his girlfriend's family visit for an arranged love marriage proposal, the story mostly follows the rift that occurs between the mother and son as the former sticks on to what she desires to wear.

Meenakshi Jayan has won the Best Actress award in the Asian New Talent category at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) Golden Goblet Awards. She was honoured for her role in the Malayalam film Victoria, which was also the only Indian film selected for competition at this year’s festival, which concluded on Sunday. Directed by debutant Sivaranjini J, Victoria tells the story of a young beautician from Angamaly, a small town in Kerala, who is planning to run away with her Hindu boyfriend, defying her Catholic parents’ wishes. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when a neighbour’s rooster, meant for a church festival, disrupts her day. What follows is a mix of emotional, personal, and spiritual challenges, all playing out over the course of a single day.

Dhanush own voice for Kuberaa Telugu - Tamil average Box office / Only Ranveer as Shathimaan

 Sir/Vaathi was the first bilingual actor of Dhanush, and he once again acted in a bilingual movie, Kuberaa, directed by Sekhar Kammula with Nagarjuna in a crucial role. Though the film received superb collections, Kuberaa’s Tamil version underperformed at the box office.

Rarely do we see day 2 being bigger than the opening day for a film, but Sekhar Kammula’s Kuberaa achieved it. The film sold 328K tickets on the BookMyShow ticketing app on the opening day, and it sold 339K tickets on the second day.

Overall, the day 2 collections of the film are 10% higher than the opening day. But the only concern for the film is the Tamil version’s box office performance. The film has to witness a 30-40% jump from day 1, as it received an average start. 

However, the day 2 and day 3 jump for the Tamil version is minimal, and it is not happening in the expected range. So, despite having a superb weekend in theaters, Kuberaa’s Tamil version underperformed at the box office.

If the film sees good collections in Tamil like Telugu, then the weekend could have been much bigger. The trade expected a 50-50 contribution from Tamil and Telugu at the box office.

But as far as 2-day collections are concerned, 70% of the numbers are coming from Telugu and 30% from Tamil.

 

Talented filmmaker who has been behind Minnal Murali and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, Basil Joseph, is going to make this Indian Superhero film as per reports. And it seems that perhaps his favourite choice for the lead role Shaktimaan is none other than Ranveer Singh.

However, it cannot be forgotten that the OG Shaktimaan, Mukesh Khanna, took the media by a frenzy in his outrage against Ranveer being cast as Shaktimaan. This brought a lot of shame for Ranveer who then decided to part ways with the film for the time being and focus on more promising projects like Don 3. Recently, reports from his team stated that he won’t be producing Shaktimaan as he is busy with Dhurandhar and Don 3. There were reports that Allu Arjun will take over this role and his fans were elated with this prospect.

But Basil has now stated that “No one else is doing Shaktimaan. It is Ranveer Singh and no one else.” Amidst all this confusion, fans and experts are saying Ranveer should stay away from this project as it is too controversial and looks like it lacks potential. Clarifications and updates are awaited from Ranveer’s end, even his well wishers don’t want him to associate with such a film.

But Basil has now stated that “No one else is doing Shaktimaan. It is Ranveer Singh and no one else.” Amidst all this confusion, fans and experts are saying Ranveer should stay away from this project as it is too controversial and looks like it lacks potential. Clarifications and updates are awaited from Ranveer’s end, even his well wishers don’t want him to associate with such a film.

READ our Report; https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2025/01/ajith-kumar-spells-out-future-plans.html

Chiyaan Vikram Producer is Nivin Pauly heroine / HIT 2 Story Copy Case / Lal Drishyam 3 Official

 

Riya Shibu a 20-year-old young producer from Tamil cinema, is now playing the lead opposite Nivin Pauly in the film directed by Akhil  Satyan.  Her brother is Actor Hridu Haroon who has acted in Tamil film Thugs and in the Internationnally acclaimed film All We IagineShe already proved her talent as an actress, producer, and distributor. She recently produced Veera Dheera Sooran, starring Vikram, with actress Dushara Vijayan as the female lead and SJ Surya as the villain. Actor S. J. Suryah also lauded Rhea, calling her the backbone of H.I.R. Pictures and predicting a bright future for her as the successor of her father, renowned Kollywood producer and distributor Shibu Thameens. He humorously remarked that he wasn’t sure whether to call her a heroine or a producer. Her father  distributed blockbuster films like RRR, Don, Vikram, and Jigra while also producing movies like Puli, Inkokkadu, and Saamy 2.

In addition to handling her production responsibilities, she is also pursuing her studies at Loyola College in Chennai.

Actor Nani's film HIT 3 directed by Sailesh Kalanu which hit screens on May 1 has found itself in trouble several weeks after its release.

The film is now hitting headlines for alleged copyright infringement. Writer Sonia Vimal has filed a petition in the Madras High Court, claiming that HIT 3 borrows from her unpublished work Agent 11 and Agent V.

HIT 3 Faces Legal Trouble After Madras High Court Issues Legal Notice

While Soniya describes herself as an admirer of Nani, she states that the film's original story was taken from her scripts. She had submitted drafts of her work as part of the legal evidence.

Madras High Court has issued notice on a the writer's plea alleging that the movie starring Nani is an unauthorised adaptation of her story. The notices read “HIT: The Third Case (HIT 3) was an adaptation of her registered script and to permanently restrain the respondents from assigning any further rights of the movie and from committing any further acts of infringement."

Soniya had also asked for rendition of accounts of the profits made by the movie and for payment of damages and compensation at the rate of 20 percent

Soniya had submitted that he had written the original script and had registered it with the South Indian Film Writers' Association on 4th August, 2021. She said that she had sent the synopsis of the original script to Nani on 8th August, 2022, with an intention to collaborate and work with him. However, there was no response.

We had reported how Drishyam 3 will be Mohanlal’s first Rs 300 crore film . Read : https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2025/06/dhanush-kubera-more-awaited-than-aamir.html .Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is all set to reprise his iconic role as Georgekutty in the much-awaited Drishyam 3. The actor made the official announcement on June 21 via a teaser video shared on Aashirvaad Cinemas’ YouTube channel and his social media platforms. Directed by Jeethu Joseph and produced by Anthony Perumbavoor, the third instalment will begin filming in October 2025.

First look at Georgekutty in Drishyam 3

The 40-second teaser offers a thrilling glimpse of what’s to come. It opens with a close-up of Mohanlal as Georgekutty—calm, intense, and ever-protective of his family. The teaser then cuts to behind-the-scenes footage, showing the actor with the director and producer. As the screen fades to black, text flashes: "Lights, camera, October." The caption of the video reads, "October 2025 — the camera turns back to Georgekutty. The past never stays silent. #Drishyam3."

 

Will Maran Family Dispute Affect Allu Arjun- Atlee Rs 1000 cr Project ?

No, the ongoing dispute within the Maran family, specifically between Kalanithi Maran and his sister-in-law, is unlikely to directly affect the Allu Arjun-Atlee project. While Kalanithi Maran's Sun Pictures is producing the film, the project is primarily driven by the creative vision of Atlee and Allu Arjun, and the financial backing of Sun Pictures. The dispute is more of a family matter and shouldn't impact the film's production or release. 

Here's why: 

• Separate Entities:

  Sun Pictures, as a production house, is a separate entity from the personal lives of the Maran family members.
• Focus on the Project:

  Both Atlee and Allu Arjun are focused on delivering a high-quality film, and the project is in a crucial stage of pre-production with significant investments already.
• Producer's Responsibility:

  Kalanithi Maran, as the producer, is responsible for the financial and logistical aspects of the film, and his involvement is likely to continue regardless of the family situation.
• No Indication of Interference:

  There's no indication that the family dispute will directly interfere with the film's production, casting, or release.

In conclusion, while the Maran family dispute is a sensitive issue, it's not expected to impact the Allu Arjun-Atlee project, which is progressing as planned with the support of Sun Pictures. 

After extensive pre-production work, the team of Allu Arjun and director Atlee's next ,AA22XA6, have commenced shooting for the film in Mumbai, recently. The shoot is presently progressing briskly and in a demanding stretch; the schedule is expected to continue till the end of the month reports FilmFare.com.

LA team to monitor action sequences!
Director Atlee and his team have planned to shoot intense action sequences on Allu Arjun in the schedule. In fact, large-scale stunts, histrionic moments, and emotionally intense scenes are part of the schedule. A special team had flown in from Los Angeles to monitor the action sequences. The team that was also part of the previsualization would later enhance the emotional quotient and visual experience of the action sequences in VFX.

A source informs, “The film deals with catastrophic events, giving film lovers an adrenaline rush they crave for. Most of the action sequences are being shot in a studio to facilitate VFX Scenes include motion-captured animation, surprised encounters, dynamic runs, jumps, climbs and falls thereby turning the content into stunning cinematic reality.” AI-driven VFX, histrionics, real-time rendering and virtual production in Allu Arjun-Atlee’s film are set to unveil a new dimension of filmmaking on Indian silver screens. VFX will be the cornerstone of Atlee's cinematic storytelling.

 Shares of Sun TV Network Ltd declined on Friday following an alleged feud between the Maran brothers over the media company's shareholding. The stock tanked 5.21 per cent to hit a day low of Rs 581.55.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran has reportedly served a legal notice to his elder brother, Kalanithi Maran — Chairman and Managing Director of Sun TV Network — accusing him of fraudulently taking control of the group after the death of their father, Murasoli Maran, in 2003.

WHy Rajamouli spend Rs 50 crores to build Varanasi in Hyderabad / Srinidhi in AK film ?

 

Rajamouli’s Film Surpasses Devdas’s Expenditure!

To date, the reported price of the costliest set of the Indian Cinema was Devdas, spending around 20 crore of its budget on the sets! Interestingly, out of this 20 crore, 12 crore were spent to create Chandramukhi’s Kotha!

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo!

After SSMB29 & Devdas, the third most costly set of Indian Cinema was created for Salman Khan‘s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo! A whopping amount of 15 crore was spent to create sets for the royal family drama!

Kalank!

A fictional city reflecting the pre-Independence era was created for Dharma Productions’ magnum opus Kalank. The film had a beautiful set, though it was too beautiful to be real! The set was created for 15 crore!

Jodha Akbar!

Ashutosh Gowariker spend 12 crore to create the sets of Jodha Akbar! The film was based on the life of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Rajput wife, Jodha Bai!

To know about earlier units that filmed at Varanasi read this link ; https://redscarabtravelandmedia.wordpress.com/tag/films-shot-in-varanasi/

Excerpts from a boatman ;

‘That’s Meer Ghat, associated with Meerabai. That’s where Shabana Azmi’s English film was going to be shot… but they were chased away,’ said Gorakh referring to Deepa Mehta’s Water. ‘Why?’ ‘Arrey, it was on a sensitive subject – Indian widows. There is a widow house right there… below Ganapathi Guest House. You have to keep in mind local sentiments.’

‘It’s only a film and eventually they shot it… in Sri Lanka’, we countered, defending artistic freedom. ‘Hardly surprising, Ravana’s evil lair! Who says not to shoot here – Arjun Pandit, Yamla Pagla Deewana, Laga Chunari Mein Daag were all filmed at Man Mandir ghat. That’s the boat in which Ram Teri Ganga Maili was shot. There’s Pradeep Kumar’s riverside mansion. But anything ulta pulta…’ Gorakh shook his head.

 

Srinidhi Shetty tipped to make Tamil debut opposite Ajith

Amid the rising expectations, the latest discussion about the film's leading lady has come to light. Reports suggest that Srinidhi Shetty, who gained nationwide fame for her role in the 'KGF' series, is in advanced talks to act opposite Ajith. This will mark her Tamil debut, and her role in 'Ak 64' adds a new dynamic to the film's casting.

“It is said that SSMB29 has created the costliest film set of the Indian Cinema, amounting to 50 crore! This is almost 150% higher than the previous costliest set of the Indian Cinema, which is now occupying the second spot after Rajamouli’s film took the top spot!