TRENDS
‘Iratta’, ‘Kuttavum Shikshayum’ and more: How the cop film has evolved in Malayalam cinema
While old-fashioned ‘saviour’ cop films continue to be made occasionally, the Malayalam film industry seems to be moving away from narratives that are typical of the genre.
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'Kabzaa' review: Upendra’s period drama is a loud, imitative mess
What’s most disappointing about 'Kabzaa' is the sheer unoriginality, its copy-paste template that takes the viewer for granted.
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'Sita Ramam', 'Vikram Vedha' and more: The magic of PS Vinod’s camera
From swoony romances to gritty gangster dramas, the cinematography of PS Vinod, who received the Best Cinematographer award for 'Vikram Vedha' at the recent Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2023, shows that there's more to this job than just capturing pretty scenery.
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DDLJ to Spadikam: The business of film re-releases
Though not new, re-releases have become more numerous in the post pandemic period, perhaps in a bid to bring people back to theatres.
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Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn: Bhavana’s comeback film is on second chances in love
Director Adhil Maimoonath Asharaf's Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn rides on the chemistry between Sharaf U Dheen's Jimmy and Bhavana's Nithya.
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Vaathi review: Dhanush is the all-knowing teacher in a 100 percent predictable film
Dhanush is his usual dynamic self. And while his screen presence makes the hyperbolic sequences watchable, even he can’t save Vaathi from devolving into dated melodrama in the second half.
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Farzi review: A mostly engrossing crime drama from ‘The Family Man’ makers
KayKay Menon is wonderful as the kingpin, Raashi Khanna plays the part of an RBI employee with spunk; hearing Vijay Sethupathi speak in Hindi is weird at first, but it grows on you; Shahid Kapoor is likeable as the anti-hero.
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Of Bollywood, boycotts and box office: Laal Singh Chaddha Vs Pathaan
Has the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ campaign been steamrolled under an enormous national crush on Shah Rukh Khan?
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Thankam film review: A compelling police procedural with unexpected moments of comedy
Despite the grim theme, the film is frequently laugh-out-loud funny. Biju Menon, especially, is a riot.
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‘Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam’ review: This Mammootty-Lijo film is gently funny, mesmerising
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Golden Globes 2023: How ‘Naatu Naatu’ was shot in a palace in Ukraine during the pandemic
The making of ‘Naatu Naatu’: How the RRR song was shot at the Mariinsky Palace, and how Indian students in Ukraine became extras in the energetic song that was shot before the Russia-Ukraine war.
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Varisu film review: Vijay’s goofy charm makes this old-fashioned entertainer work
In this IPL version of the 1,000-episode Indian mega serial, the question isn’t RASODE MEIN KAUN THA? but BOARDROOM MEIN KAUN THA? Same difference.
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‘Anbe Sivam’ to ‘777 Charlie’: 10 times travel changed the life of south movie characters
10 travel movies from the south and where to watch them online
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Golden Globe Awards 2023: Infectious energy of 'Naatu Naatu' is central to the RRR universe
How S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR lures us into its world. Plus, the power of M.M. Keeravani’s background score and music to guide how we feel as we watch the film.
ENTERTAINMENT
'Om Shanti Om' to FIFA: The making of brand Deepika Padukone
Some people were made for the headlines. There’s a month to go for the release of 'Pathaan', her forthcoming film with Shah Rukh Khan, and until then, there'll be more and more of Deepika Padukone in the news.
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Vadhandhi review: An earnest series on misogyny that offers no respite for its Lolita
The series is earnest in wanting to destroy the male gaze that relentlessly follows women, but the camera never sees Velonie as anything but Lolita.
ENTERTAINMENT
'DSP' Review | The cop comedy is yet another film that doesn’t deserve Vijay Sethupathi
Formulaic masala films can be great fun to watch if they’re done right, but 'DSP' doesn’t even try. The Tamil film is a series of clichés.
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Gold review: Alphonse Puthren’s comedy has the glitter but isn’t gold
The Prithviraj, Nayanthara comedy is disappointing.
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Monica, O My Darling is a faithful neo-noir entertainer that sticks to the rules
Monica, O My Darling plays up the retro effect wonderfully, but it isn’t nearly as inventive as it could have been.
ENTERTAINMENT
'RRR' to 'Ponniyin Selvan-1', 2022 belonged to south cinema
Even as Bollywood struggled, south cinema saw several big hits in 2022.
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‘Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey’ review: Darshana, Basil Joseph’s black comedy is laugh-out-loud
Darshana Rajendran is superb as Jaya, a young woman who is slowly realising that her family does not really put her interests first.
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Wonder woman Parvathy, Malayalam cinema’s outspoken star
At a time when celebrities employ PR firms and are exceedingly careful about the construction of their public image, Parvathy’s ‘no nonsense’ attitude is refreshing.
ENTERTAINMENT
Dulquer Salmaan: The crossover hero, the multilingual star
South superstar Mammootty's 'star son' tag didn’t become an albatross around Dulquer Salmaan’s neck, he was able to find scripts, across film industries, that offered him the scope to perform and leave the audience rooting for him
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From Paruthiveeran to Sardar, via Ponniyin Selvan 1 - Karthi’s journey in Tamil cinema
Actor Karthi is a star who revels in elevating ordinary moments to a special brand of heroism that can only be called tongue-in-cheek.
