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Mumbai, Feb 20 (Ians) Filmmaker Anjali Menon, who is known for ‘Bangalore Days’, ‘Manjadikuru’, ‘Ustad Hotel’, ‘Koode’ and ‘Wonder Women’, is set to direct a Tamil film.

The yet-to-be-titled film belongs to the drama genre.

For the movie, the filmmaker is collaborating with Krg Studios.

The core philosophy of collaboration revolves around crafting content-rich stories across genres.

Talking about the collaboration, director Anjali said: “I am looking forward to the collaboration with Krg Studios as we share the commitment to create engaging movies built from our cultures with world class production values. Audiences are connecting beyond language boundaries to the diverse story landscapes of India, and we are keen to take them on cinematic journeys that are memorable, entertaining and thought provoking – all at the same time.”

Karthik Gowda, producer and co-founder of Krg, said: “Our collaboration with Anjali Menon signifies a new chapter for Krg, where the essence of storytelling takes precedence.

Film production and distribution company Krg Studios is teaming with acclaimed filmmaker Anjali Menon on a Tamil-language feature film.

Menon’s London Film School graduation short “Black Nor White” (2002), starring Archie Panjabi (“The Good Wife”) and Rez Kempton (“The Mummy”), won the BFI award at the Palm Springs film festival. Her directing credits include “Manjadikuru” (2008), “Bangalore Days” (2014), “Koode” (2018) and most recently “Wonder Women” (2022).

Hitherto a Kannada-language specialist, Krg is now expanding across the four southern Indian languages that also include Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil. The company established its studio distribution business in 2017 and has distributed more than 100 films in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. They ventured into production in 2020 and found early acclaim with “Rathnan Prapancha,” directed by Rohit Padaki and starring Dhananjay, which released directly on Prime Video India. “Gurudev Hoysala” released in 2023.

Former Prime Video India content chief Vijay Subramaniam is on board as a mentor and co-producer.

EntertainmentPopular actors Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim got married on August 21, 2014.Nazriya and Fahadh with their pet dog OreoActor Fahadh Faasil is known to be a bit of a social media recluse, so it was a rather special moment for his ardent fans when he took to Facebook on Monday, August 21 to pen a warm note for his wife and actor Nazriya Nazim on the occasion of their ninth wedding anniversary. “Thank you for the love. Thank you for the life. 9 years of US,” Fahadh wrote alongside a heartening picture of them together, looking away from the camera in what appears to be a foreign country. He credited the photograph to filmmaker Amal Neerad, who has directed Fahadh in films such as Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014) and Varathan (2018). On the occasion, Nazriya too took to social media to share a wholesome picture of the couple holding on to their eight-year-old dog, a Shih Tzu named Oreo.

Nazriya Nazim is one of the most popular and talented actresses in the South Indian film industry. She has won the hearts of millions of fans with her charming and versatile performances in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. However, after her marriage to actor Fahadh Faasil in 2014, she took a break from acting and focused on her personal life. But now, she is ready to make a grand comeback in Tamil cinema with a huge female-centric web series project, which will be produced by director Vijay under his banner Think Big Studios. Here is everything you need to know about this exciting news.

Today’s #KuttiUpdate :#Nazriya is back to Tamizh

She’ll be working on a huge female centric web series project,

First copy by director Vijay.

Directed by Surya Prathap (Associate who worked in Kochadaiiyaan).

Shanthanu plays an important role

Shoot starts in Aug !! pic.twitter.com...

BlogIn this personal blog, the author recalls how the Prithviraj-Nazriya starrer ‘Koode’ has been like a personal memoir on celluloid for her, helping her find the strength to mourn the loss of her elder brother.Prithviraj and Nazriya on the sets of Koode / IMDBAs writer-director Anjali Menon’s Malayalam feature Koode celebrates its fifth anniversary, I can’t help but thank the crew for making me feel seen, for giving me a piece of cinema that mirrors my life. Koode’s Joshua (played by Prithviraj) is so close to my heart that I knew I must pen this down despite the many thoughts before deciding to. Joshua’s grief – the mourning of a brother who lost his sibling – his breakdowns, and his realisations reminded me of myself – a 20-something-year-old girl who suddenly was robbed of her brother, her biggest support system, cheerleader, and whatnot. I too was angry because he left me.

If numbers are an indication, then God’s Own Country is becoming a haven for players in the Ott space. But not all are betting on the Ott staples of movies and web series. Koode, which means “with you” in Malayalam, is a tech-driven Ott platform using data insights to drive viewership. Koode’s Founder Radhakrishnan Ramachandran […]...

Mollywood Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra is the new Chairperson while director Sivakumar Sing Dunkapar has also been inducted as a member.Tnm StaffPC/FBMalayalam director Anjali Menon has been invited to become a member of the Board Trustees of Mami, the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image that curates the annual international film festival in Mumbai. Mami is a public trust. Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra is the new Chairperson of Mami. Anjali Menon has directed hit Malayalam movies like Bangalore Days and Koode. Her directorial debut was with the movie Manjadikuru. She was a Jury member of Mami for the Oxfam award for Gender Equality in 2018. “Through their programming and Dial M for films, Mami has been putting the much-deserved spotlight on regional films. Further, socially conscious interventions like the Gender Equality Award make me excited to be part of the Mami journey. I look forward to working with this wonderful team towards...

ReviewThe film is a tense exploration of religion, politics and human relationships within the framework of a home invasion film. Sowmya RajendranThe faultlines in our personal relationships have perhaps never been tested more than in the present political climate where hate and bigotry have been normalised to unprecedented levels. Several people have severed ties with friends and family over poisonous WhatsApp forwards and the arguments that break out over them. Kuruthi, directed by Manu Warrier and written by Anish Pallyal, is a tense exploration of religion, politics, and human relationships within the framework of a home invasion film. Set in Erattupetta, the story revolves around two families that are united by tragedy. Ibru (Roshan Mathew), who lost his wife and daughter to a landslide, and lives with his brother Rasool (Naslen) and father Moosakka (a superb Mammukoya); and Sumathi (Srindaa) and her brother Preman (Manikandarajan) who lost their respective spouses to the same disaster.

EntertainmentNazriya and Fahadh, Dulquer and Amal, Prithviraj and Surpriya are all in the photo, that’s being shared a lot.Tnm StaffOn the face of it, it is just a photo of three couples all dressed up, perhaps for a party or an impromptu get-together. Only, these are very familiar faces, some of the most popular actors in new gen Malayalam cinema. Nazriya is in front of them all with Fahadh Faasil on the right, both well-known and well-adored actors, and a married couple. Prithviraj and Dulquer Salmaan are behind, all smiles, both top stars in Mollywood. Their spouses Supriya -- also a producer of many Prithviraj movies -- and Amal Sufiya are alongside Nazriya. All are dressed in matching dark clothes, the women with their hair let loose and the men bearing beards. Expectedly, with an ensemble of popular stars in one frame, the photo has gone viral, fans...

Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest co-production market, has joined hands with the Cannes Film Market to present seven projects looking for co-producers and financiers on July 9.

Film Bazaar, an annual event that takes place in Goa, India, is organized by the country’s National Film Development Corporation (Nfdc). The selected projects are the ones that attracted the most meetings at the Bazaar’s January online edition.

The projects include “Dengue” by Prantik Basu, produced by Basu and Jan van der Zanden, where a feverish romance plays out between two men as a tropical virus develops. Basu’s “Bela” played at Rotterdam and Visions du Réel, Nyon International Documentary Film Festival.

“Rasa” (Immerse) by Anjali Menon (India), produced by Menon and N.P. Prakash is a dance-based film. Menon is one of India’s most commercially successful filmmakers whose credits include “Bangalore Days” and “Koode.”

“Kuhiro Pariko Sahar” (A Hidden Tale...

Mollywood'There was a lot Nazriya had to give up choosing me', Fahadh said.Tnm StaffImage credit: Instagram / nazriyafahadhIn a long note posted on social media, actor and producer Fahadh Faasil has discussed his reasons for taking his upcoming film Malik to an Ott (Over-the-Top) platform. In doing so, he has also traced his journey in the film industry, particularly acknowledging the role played by his wife and actor Nazriya. “I wonder what my life would have been if nazriya didn't feel strong about us!! (sic),” Fahadh wrote, recounting their life together for the past seven years. In the letter posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Fahadh announced that Malik, which was meant to be a theatrical release, will be released on Ott instead. But fans of the couple have responded to his comments on Nazriya more, considering Fahadh rarely shares about his personal life. Recalling how he proposed to Nazriya, Fahadh wrote,...

Aakash Prabhakar’s maiden venture in cinema 'Freddie’s Piano' makes it to the official lineup of Nyiff 2021. Nyiff Celebrates Unmatched Breadth of Indian Cinema with films in 15 languages this year. The New York Indian Film Festival (Nyiff) is North America's oldest and most prestigious film festival which features cinema from India. 'Freddie's Piano' was screened virtually at the Scottsdale International Film Festival last year.

'Freddie’s Piano' is a young adult film about two half-brothers Aden and Freddie. Aden wants to give Freddie a piano to fulfill their father’s dream; Freddie wants to give Aden the freedom he dreamed about when their father was alive. In the end, both brothers learn that what they really need is each other. Freddie’s Piano is a simple film about what Aden does to get his younger brother Freddie a grand piano for Christmas.

Aakash comes from a theatre background and has done several plays,...

MollywoodKoode was launched in September last year.Tnm StaffPicxy.com-aniketgaikwad293 The independent Malayalam Ott platform Koode was launched in September last year by the house of Studio Mojo, which also introduced one of India’s first Ott platforms iStream.com. Following the launch of the Ott platform, Studio Mojo announced recently that software firm Brightcove Inc. has been chosen to provide an online video platform for Koode. Koode which translates to ‘with you’, aims to provide a platform for Malayalis across the globe to discover content in the form of music, food, travel, news, movies, short films, web series and podcasts that are close to their heart. Studio Mojo has chosen the Brightcove video platform to power Koode hoping that the video platform would simplify management and delivery of premium video content by allowing audiences to access the content using different devices in a secure and reliable manner. Speaking about Brightcove,...

MollywoodHelmed by filmmaker Manu Warrier, ‘Kuruthi’ is bankrolled by Supriya Menon under the banner of Prithviraj Productions. Tnm StaffPutting an end to the long wait, Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed the release date of Kuruthi on Friday. The actor took to Twitter to announce that Kuruthi is slated for theatrical release on May 13, and shared an intriguing poster from the movie. Earlier, on April 14, the makers of Kuruthi had unveiled a new poster from the movie wishing fans on the festival of Vishu. Helmed by Manu Warrier, thriller-drama Kuruthi stars actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, Murali Gopy, Roshan Mathew, Shine Tom Chacko and Srindaa in prominent roles. It also features actors Manikandan R Achari, Mamukkoya, Navas Vallikunnu, Naslen K Gafoor and Sagar Surya in supporting roles. The plot is likely to explore socio-political themes. Kuruthi is bankrolled by Supriya Menon under the banner of Prithviraj Productions. Akhilesh Mohan is on board as the editor...

MollywoodThe film is directed by Manu Warrier and produced by Supriya Menon under the banner of Prithviraj Productions.Tnm StaffWith dark scenes, throbbing music and catchy narration, voiced by the most effective Mamukkoya, comes the teaser of the Malayalam movie Kuruthi. The teaser for the new Prithviraj film skims through all the main actors, one after the other you see- Prithviraj Sukumaran, Roshan Mathew, Srindaa, Shine Tom Chacko, Murali Gopy, Mamukkoya, Manikanda Rajan, Naslen, Sagar Surya and Navas Vallikkunnu. “A spark of hate is all you need to ignite a raging fire,” Mamukkoya’s voice begins, as he sits in a dark room with two others. The narration is followed by a lot of action, people running, angry faces passing by, as the fire continues to rage. A line gets written in the middle of all this: “A vow to kill, an oath to protect”. Finally, the voice of Prithviraj says,...

MollywoodActor Nazirya often posts photos and videos with Aleena, wife of director Alphonse Puthren.Tnm StaffSalman Khan's ‘Oh oh jaane jaana’ plays in the background as Nazriya and Aleena, clad in blue jeans and t shirts, begin dancing synchronously. Actor Nazriya, who often posts photos with Aleena, wife of director Alphonse Puthren on her Instagram page, gets nostalgic with the new video. She writes, "Forever the 90s kids," tagging Aleena with the hashtag "my dancing queen". ‘Oh Oh Jaane Jaana’ is a song from the 1998 film Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kya, starring Salman and Kajol. Earlier posts of Nazriya with Aleena Alphonse show them in similar clothes, playing the 'twinning game', and celebrating several occasions together. For Deepavali they wore similar looking Salwar Kameez with embroidery. Another time they put on floral tops and blue pants and Nazriya captioned the picture, 'second self', indicating how close the two were. Read:...

Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest co-production market, has revealed 21 eclectic projects from several countries and in a welter of languages, for its 2021 online edition.

The selected filmmakers will pitch their projects virtually to a curated audience of Indian and international producers, distributors, festival programmers, financiers and sales agents at an open pitch session. This year, Film Bazaar has also collaborated with the French Embassy in India which will be sponsoring the French Institute Award for one market project.

As is the usual case, the projects are a mix of festival favorites and debutants.

From India, Berlinale title “Eeb Allay Ooo!” editor Tanushree Das and Rotterdam title “Nasir” cinematographer Saumyananda Sahi make their directorial debuts with Bengali-language “Baksho Bondi” (aka “How Long Is Tomorrow?”), produced by Naren Chandavarkar (Rotterdam Fipresci winner “The Bangle Seller”); Tamil-language “Bommainayagi” (aka “Queen Doll”) by debutant Shanawaz Nizamudeen, produced by Pa. Ranjith, director of Rajinikanth...

EntertainmentThe actors played siblings in the 2018 film, directed by Anjali Menon, which also featured Parvathy.Tnm StaffParvathy and Nazriya in their beanies have hands on their chins, appearing like they are posing for a photo or else looking at something interesting. It is a picture from the sets of Koode, the film they were both part of two years ago. The photo, now on Nazriya's Instagram page, carries the caption, "#throwback", giving picture credit to actor Prithviraj, whom she calls brother. Prithviraj played Nazriya's brother in the film, directed by Anjali Menon. In cue, Prithviraj posted the same picture and added one in which you can see him clicking the photo of Parvathy and Nazriya. "Since the sister posted the photo!" he wrote next to the picture. Parvathy, who played Prithviraj's lover and childhood friend, commented on Nazriya's post with cheery emoticons.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared...

MollywoodTouted to be a mythical epic, the film's motion poster was released by Prithviraj on Wednesday. Digital NativeAishwarya Lekshmi, who won hearts with her remarkable performance in Mayanadhi, is all set to play the lead in Ranam director Nirmal Sahadev's second film, Kumari. Touted to be a mythical epic, the film's motion poster was released by Prithviraj on Wednesday which is being presented by Prithviraj's wife Supriya Menon under their banner Prithviraj Productions. Sharing the motion poster, Prithviraj wrote, "Their promise. Her nightmare. It’s a privilege for @prithvirajproductions to be presenting this fascinating film set against the backdrop of native folklore and myths of our land. All the best to @nsahadev, @aishu__ , @jakes_bejoy , @gijujohn , @sreejithsarang and the entire team!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prithviraj Sukumaran (@therealprithvi) Many celebrities down south took to Instagram to wish the team. Sai Pallavi took to her...

Tollywood The official title of the film directed by Vivek Athreya will be announced on November 21. Tnm StaffActor Nazriya took to her social media on Friday with a big announcement – her debut in the Telugu film industry. The actor, who has done 13 films in Malayalam and five in Tamil, will act opposite Tollywood star Nani. Taking to Instagram with a Diwali wish for her fans, Nazriya shared that she was excited for this new project. “Next. So this one will be my first Telugu film guys. Super excited for this one. With this amazing team,” she wrote on her social media. The new film will be directed by Vivek Athreya, who has previously made Brochevarevarura and Mental Madhilo.The title reveal for the new project is set to take place on November 21. “Circle this date and tune in. Happy Diwali,” the actor added. There has been much speculation around Vivek...

MollywoodThe film which will mark the directorial debut of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will begin shooting early next year. Digital NativeMohanlal’s ambitious project Barroz, which will also mark his directorial debut, is all set to go on floors early next year. The film was supposed to start rolling early this year but had to be put off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the change in schedule, there are some changes in the cast and crew, we hear. While it was reported that Ku Mohanan was roped in to crank the camera for Barroz, it will now be Santosh Sivan doing the job. Sources in the know say that Ku Mohanan had to opt-out due to date issues. The film is based on Barroz, a Portuguese mythical figure, the guardian of Vasco da Gama’s valuable treasures for 400 years. Jijo Punnoose, who introduced 3D to the Indian film audiences with...

MollywoodThe actor turned 38 on Friday.Tnm StaffFrom left: Poornima, Indrajith, Supriya, PrithvirajActor Prithviraj turns 38 and had a fun celebration with his family and friends. The actor and filmmaker who has many challenging projects at hand ushered in his birthday with wife and producer Supriya, brother and actor Indrajith, sister-in-law and fashion designer Poornima Indrajith. Close friends Dulquer Salman and his wife Amal Sufiya also were at the party. Prithviraj's cake this year had a goat's face on it. For anyone who finds that a little strange, that's because the actor is starring in the adaptation of Benyamin's acclaimed book 'Aadu Jeevitham' or a goat's life. The project directed by Blessy is in the final stages of its making. The crew of the movie were in fact stranded in Jordan for many days when the pandemic struck and were repartiated in May. View this post on Instagram Happy Birthday P! It...

EntertainmentKoode will feature original programmes as well as those taken from other social media platforms like YouTube.Tnm StaffAn independent Ott platform exclusively for Malayalam content called 'Koode' was launched recently. The app has been launched with a vision to help Malayalis across the world discover content that is close to their heart. Incidentally, Koode - which translates to With You - was launched by the house of Studio Mojo, the same team which introduced one of India's first Ott platforms iStream.com. "We are bringing together‘share-compelling’ and ‘like-attracting’ content by building a network of leading content creators and influencers in Malayalam,” said Radhakrishnan Ramachandran, Founder and CEO of Studio Mojo. The platform will offer an alternative space to talented young creators in digital media. “We have a team of experts – a team of senior writers and script writers, who are helping us in identifying new talent.

EntertainmentThe web series is directed by Mridul Nair and produced by Dr Leena S.Tnm StaffThe trailer starts slowly with the revolving earth and the narrator's funny voice-over. "Since it doesn't have any other job, it keeps rotating from morning to evening," he says and adds, "but our story does not happen on the earth, it happens in Andippara." A Kerala village where the story happens, the one that the title Instagraamam (Insta-village) refers to. But then as the trailer proceeds, the slowness disappears and it is mayhem all over. The new Malayalam web series is directed by Mridul Nair and produced by Dr Leena S. Mridul has written the series with J Ramakrishna Kulur. The trailer shows a man (Sabumon) announcing a grand festival at the local temple and the villagers suggesting ideas for cultural programmes, including a dance by actor Shobana. The one-liners and music that follow suggest a comic series.

MollywoodThe thing about Roshan is that he dons every character skillfully — from a rapist to a reckless college student to a gay man with speech disability.Neetha JohnRoshan Mathew's progress in the Malayalam film industry has been very evident — slowly, slowly and then bam! It wouldn’t be wrong to say that during this lockdown, with movies being exclusively released on Ott platforms, his face has been the most prominent from the Malayalam film industry. The first time that Roshan Mathew wriggled into our constantly updated favourite-actors list with his curly hair and his disarming smile was with Aanandam (2016). His position in our ever changing list was consolidated by his role in Anjali Menon’s Koode (2018). Roshan, not much later, strengthened his presence in the smaller but mightier kingdom of talent-dom with his roles in Geetu Mohandas’s Moothon (2019) and Anurag Kashyap’s Choked (2020). How about a stroll down the...

Flix FlashbackThere are two ways to watch 'Koode' — believe that Jenny (Nazriya) is really back as a ghost or not. Sowmya RajendranIt's been two years since Anjali Menon's Koode, based on the Marathi film Happy Journey, released. Unlike the director's previous outing Bangalore Days, Koode is a much more sober film. Set in a quiet hill town, the film explores the relationships in a family of four torn apart by circumstances. When we meet Joshua (Prithviraj) for the first time, he's covered in oil and grease, the shadows under his listless eyes clearly visible. He lives and works in an arid Gulf country, his life as barren as the landscape that surrounds him. A phone call from his father (Ranjith) summons him home — and en route, he dreams that he's picking up a fallen nest and protectively placing it back on the tree. That has been Joshua's...

MollywoodParvathy says that Vidhu had first messaged her at a time when she was away from work following months of abuse.Tnm StaffA week after Malayalam director Vidhu Vincent made her resignation letter submitted to the Women in Cinema Collective (Wcc) public, actor Parvathy has responded to the allegations made against her. In her letter, Vidhu had said that she had sent Parvathy the script of Stand Up but that the actor did not respond to her despite the intervention of director Anjali Menon and others. This was one of the examples for the 'double standards' of the Wcc that Vidhu had cited. However, in her statement published on her Facebook page, Parvathy has refuted Vidhu's allegations. Stating that she was "disturbed" that she had to do this, Parvathy said that she was required to provide a public clarification to Vidhu since the latter had made her allegations publicly. "In...

CinemaIn the video, Parvathy speaks about the various characters she has done in her career of over 14 years. Tnm StaffGiving Parvathy Thiruvothu the script of the film Charlie, director Martin Prakkat told her not to ask him any questions. Parvathy, a self-confessed ‘unapologetic method actor’, is known for her intensive research of characters. She asked Martin helplessly, but why does Tessa go after Charlie (the two main characters in the film). Martin, a man of not many words, moved around two Bisleri water bottles in the room. He called the smaller 500 ml bottle Tessa and the bigger 1 litre bottle Charlie and explained in a single line, “500 ml wants to become 1 litre.” That was enough for Parvathy, she says, sharing the anecdote in a two hour video conference, curated by artistic director Smriti Kiran of Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (Mami). Parvathy was taking a session on her methods of building...

MollywoodThe stellar cast has raised the anticipation among fans very high. Tnm StaffThe trailer for Anwar Rasheed's highly anticipated film Trance dropped on Tuesday, two days before the film's release in Kerala. Starring Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya in lead roles, the promos for Trance so far have stepped up the intrigue quite a bit. Taking off from the teaser, which gave us a glimpse of Fahadh as a motivational speaker, the trailer shows him as some kind of a guru who leads a lavish lifestyle. Inspired by Osho perhaps? The visuals are stunning and we see more characters from the film, including Soubin, who's interviewing him, and Dileesh Pothan. Nazriya also makes an appearance in the trailer, looking full of swag and in perfect sync with her role. Gautham Menon, Vinayakan, Sreenath Bhasi and Chemban Vinod are also part of the cast. The stellar cast has raised the anticipation among fans very high.

MollywoodNazriya stars alongside her husband Fahadh Faasil in the much-anticipated ‘Trance’.Tnm StaffNazriya's Trance along with husband Fahadh Faasil is due for release on February 20. This is the actor's second film after her comeback, the first being Anjali Menon's Koode. Nazriya broke many hearts when she took a break from cinema following her marriage with Fahadh. The actor was extremely popular in the Malayalam and Tamil industries, known for her ability to emote while also being able to pull off high spirited roles without going overboard. In Trance, Nazriya plays Esther Lopez, and from the trailer, she appears to be from the corporate world, sporting a stylish suit with aplomb. The film is highly anticipated because Fahadh and Nazriya have only done two films together so far - Pramani, in which Nazriya was just 16 and wasn't in a lead role, and Bangalore Days, where they played a couple in a troubled marriage.

Film awardsOther awardees include Prithviraj for 'Koode', Dhanush for 'Vada Chennai', Keerthy Suresh for 'Mahanati', Yash for 'Kgf', and Aishwarya Rajesh for 'Kanaa'.Tnm StaffTwitter/siimaThe eighth edition of the South Indian International Movie Awards (Siima), held in Doha, Qatar, saw several actors bag accolades for their work in the four south film industries in the last year. Among the notable awardees were Malayalam film Sudani from Nigeria which won Best Film, Keerthy Suresh, who won the Best Actress Telugu for her role as Savitri in Mahanati, and Kgf: Chapter 1 star Yash, who won Best Actor in Leading Role in Kannada. Attended by the who’s who of south cinema, Telugu and Kannada film awards were announced on the first day, while Tamil and Malayalam industries’ awards were reserved for day two of the event. Always super and rocking performances at Siima.

MollywoodThe film's teaser, which released last week, was terrifying and the trailer offers more clues about the storyline.Tnm StaffThe trailer of Fahadh Faasil-Sai Pallavi’s upcoming film Athiran was released on Monday. The teaser, which came out last week, was terrifying and the trailer gives us more clues about the storyline of the film. As the teaser suggested, Fahadh plays a mental health professional in the film while there seem to be supernatural overtones to Sai Pallavi’s character. The trailer shows Sai Pallavi training in kalari, a martial art form, hinting that this will be the flashback portion that reveals what happens to her character. Fahadh seems to be the rebellious doctor who challenges the senior doctor character played by Atul Kulkarni, who was last seen in Malayalam cinema in Anjali Menon’s Koode. From the trailer, we understand that the hospital is located in a remote area...

The Indian film industry has historically been a male-dominated one, but the winds of change are blowing across the country, albeit slowly.

Better-served than the rest of the country is the Mumbai-based Hindi-language industry, where there are several active female filmmakers including Zoya Akhtar (“Gully Boy”), Reema Kagti (“Gold”), Leena Yadav (“Rajma Chawal”), Gauri Shinde (“Dear Zindagi”), Meghna Gulzar (“Raazi”), Shonali Bose (“Margarita With a Straw”), Farah Khan (“Om Shanti Om”) and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (“Bareilly ki Barfi”), to name just a few.

“The new generation of young women directors is now making ad films, web series, corporate films, short fiction, documentaries and feature films, so it’s getting to be quite a level playing field,” says Priya Krishnaswamy, who works in Mumbai. Her Tamil Nadu set Tamil-language film “Baaram” is making the rounds at festivals.

Mumbai-based Yadav recalls being amused when a potential second assistant director thought working for...

Mollywood The film marks the directorial debut of Prithviraj and stars Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas and Vivek Oberoi among others. Digital NativeThe much-awaited film, Lucifer, which will mark the directorial debut of ace actor Prithviraj, started rolling with the official pooja last month. The shooting also commenced immediately thereafter but now Prithviraj has revealed that it has been put on hold due to heavy rains. He posted this on Instagram, “When you have multiple cameras set up on a complex rig and a superstar waiting..but the rain gods decide Wait is all you will do through the day!” indicating that the team can do nothing about it but wait. When you have multiple cameras set up on a complex rig and a superstar waiting..but the rain gods decide Wait is all you will do through the day! #Lucifer #inprogress A post shared by Prithviraj Sukumaran (@therealprithvi) on...

Film Commentary In 'Bangalore Days', Anjali Menon's characters were infused with the spirit to take on the world; in 'Koode', the characters move with the world.Sowmya Rajendran*Some spoilers ahead When an exhausted Joshua (Prithviraj) rides a bus back home, he falls asleep on the way. You'd expect Joshua to have a nightmare, wake up sweating, considering why he's making that journey. That would be the path that most films take. But in Anjali Menon's Koode, Joshua dreams of a fallen nest with three chicks, their mouths wide open and cheeping incessantly. He takes them in his hand tenderly and places the nest back on the tree, risking his own safety. That dream defines the life that Joshua has led, caring for his parents and sister (Nazriya) to the point that he has given up on his own. And it isn't because he made that choice by himself,...

MollywoodThe film with Mohanlal in the lead will also include Manju Warrier, Saniya Iyappan, Tovino Thomas and Indrajith Sukumaran, among others.Digital NativeThe official pooja of the Malayalam film Lucifer happened on July 16th as announced earlier. The event was attended by its actor-turned-director Prithviraj Sukumaran, his mother and actor Mallika Sukumaran, his wife and journalist Supriya Menon, producer Antony Perumbavoor, writer Murali Gopy among others. The film’s lead star Mohanlal could not make it to the pooja as he was busy with his prior acting commitments and will be joining the sets very soon, say sources. Lucifer is one of the most anticipated and hyped films in Mollywood right now because it will mark Prithviraj’s debut as director and he will be directing Mohanlal. The film has been written by actor-writer Murali Gopy and will be bankrolled by Anthony Perumbavoor under his banner Aashirvad Films. The shooting of this film begins on July 18th, confirm sources. The cast also includes Manju Warrier, Queen-fame Saniya Iyappan, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran among others. Recently, it was confirmed that Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has been signed up to play an important role in the film and reports are that Vivek may be seen as Mohanlal's brother. Lucifer will be shot extensively in Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai and Kuttikkanam. The technical crew of the film includes Sujith Vasudevan for cinematography and Samjith for editing. Besides directing Lucifer, Prithviraj also has a string of acting assignments needing his attention including Nine, a sci-fi thriller, Aadujeevitham, and Champ. Two of his films opposite actor Parvathy have just been released – My Story and Koode. More releases are scheduled for later this year. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: From 5 am shows to box-office gold: How has 'Tamizh Padam 2' fared?...

SandalwoodThe actor is reportedly going to make his debut in Mollywood too with the Mohanlal starrer 'Lucifer', marking the directorial of Prithviraj.Digital NativeBollywood actor Vivek Oberoi is reportedly going to star in the Kannada film Rustum that will have Shiva Rajkumar in the lead role. A romantic action entertainer, Rustum will mark the directorial debut of ace stunt master Ravi Varma. The film is produced under the banner Jayanna Combines. Shraddha Srinath has been roped in to play the female lead and Mayuri will be seen as Shiva Rajkumar’s sister in Rustum. Anoop Seelin is scoring the music for this movie and Mahendra Simha is wielding the camera. According to reports, Shiva Rajkumar plays a cop in this flick and he will be sporting a new look in it. Vivek Oberoi was seen last year in Tamil playing the villain in the Ajith starrer Vivegam. It may be mentioned here that there are reports that he will be sharing screen space with Mohanlal in his upcoming Malayalam film Lucifer. The film will be marking the debut of actor Prithviraj as a director. The shooting of Lucifer, which will also have Manju Warrier, Sania Iyapan, and Indrajith Sukumaran in significant roles, is reportedly scheduled to begin soon. Vivek Oberoi made his acting debut in Bollywood with the Ram Gopal Varma directorial Company in 2002, which too, incidentally had Mohanlal play a significant role as a police officer. Vivek went on to win the Filmfare Best Debut Award and Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for the character. He made his debut in Tamil and Telugu film industries with Rakta Charitram and Rakta Charitra respectively. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: 'Koode' review: Anjali Menon proves that she's the master of depicting relationships...

MollywoodFrom assistant director to dance master, Anjali Menon's 'Koode' has several women behind the camera. Because they're good.CrisAnjali Menon is not fond of labels. She's not a "woman" director, she'd like to be known as a filmmaker doing good work. Keeping to her style, therefore, the fact that Koode, her upcoming film, has several women behind the camera and in front of it, has not been tom-tommed by the team. Rather, Anjali Menon has made a statement by not doing so. They're in her film because they're talented. Period. This makes the choice of these women even more tasteful. And all of them have the same words to say about their director. Anjali Menon is just "too good". ‘Nothing short of a visionary’ “Our director Anjali Menon is nothing short of a visionary,” says assistant director Chandrika Chandran, who started her film career assisting Mani Ratnam. Koode is the first Malayalam film she has worked on. “Despite having some initial worry that the language barrier may be too wide, I soon found out that much like music, film has no language. It is about moments, emotions, and choices - something we are all familiar with.” Chandrika Chandran And then Anjali made it easier. “She has a beautiful way of living her scenes rather than just visualising them. She walks into the rooms the characters will inhabit in the scenes, and fills them with real life experiences and tangible memories. She is an instinctive storyteller, and has a great way of personalising each and every character’s story, so that regardless of where in the world you grew up, you will always find a connection,” Chandrika tells us about her director. None of them could take their place for granted. “Though she made it a point to put together a crew that had quite a few women, she made it clear that no concessions were to be made specifically for us. We were each expected to earn our place.” ‘She wanted simple songs, not poetry’ Shruthi Namboodiri, who wrote the lyrics of Koode’s title song, was a last minute entry. “It is in April that Anjali happened to see my work – 'Baale' and 'Charulatha'. She liked Baale better and put a post on Facebook which was a huge recognition for me. I adore her a lot, and respect her,” Shruthi says. So, when she got a call from Anjali to write a song, she didn’t think for a moment before saying yes and that she will do it. However, she warned Anjali that she was not a professional lyricist. That’s all right, said the director, let’s see if it works. And it did. “Anjali was clear that she wanted a very simple song, not poetry. But words that even kids could sing along to," says Shruthi. This was a bit of a challenge for Shruthi who was known for her out-of-the-box vocabulary in songwriting: “But then it helped break the stereotype that I have been saddled with. People used to ask me why I can’t use simple words.” Shruthi wrote about 13 versions of the song. There were corrections made up to the point when the song was recorded. After the quick making of the song, during which she had not even seen Anjali in person, Shruthi says her respect and adoration for the filmmaker has only gone up. 'Casting wasn't easy' Perhaps half the magic is in that name. Anjali was already loved for Bangalore Days. And for Manjadikkuru, her first, though that didn’t enjoy the reach Bangalore Days did. For Pooja Pradeep, working with Anjali had been a dream. It is her first work for a film, partly doing the casting, and a little bit of branding too. It was not easy hunting for new faces, especially the younger versions of the leading trio – Prithviraj, Nazriya and Parvathy. But they managed to pull it off. Subin – Prithvi’s younger version – especially looks a lot like the star. “She had told us how the characters should be, their personality,” Pooja says. 'It was like being at home' Then there is Mitta Antony, the make-up artist who had gone through a lot of struggle in the film industry. Her opportunities were denied by people she considered to be mentors. The recognition for a woman make-up artist did not come easy. She could not get a membership with Fefka because women make-up artistes were not recognised, even after the 2014 Supreme Court order lifting this ‘ban’. Mitta Antony With a lot of trouble, Mitta had secured a membership from the Ccmaa (Cine Costume And Make Up Artist Association), that would make her eligible to work anywhere in India. But even that didn’t help. Until slowly, the industry itself began to see changes, and support came from all corners. Sajitha Madathil spoke of Mitta to Anjali. And one day Anjali called her. “She has been so supportive. Not just her, the producer Renjith, actors Nazriya, Parvathy, everyone. It is like a dream project for me. It was like being at home,” Mitta says. Among all the departments that Anjali pulled women in for, this must have been the rarest. Choreography, costumes and more But it doesn’t stop there. For costumes and choreography, Anjali remembered the women she worked with in Bangalore Days. Brinda Master, who has been in the industry for 30 years and who choreographed the famous ‘Mangalyam’ song in Bangalore Days, was happy to be on Anjali’s sets again. Brinda Master “It was all misty in Ooty and I could not see anything,” she laughs. “But I have to work as soon as I reach. That’s my way. It was a college where the dance song (Paranne) was shot. I love the way Anjali presents everything and I loved Littil’s camera work,” Brinda says. She’s talking about Littil Swayamp who did the cinematography. Nazriya would fill the whole place with energy as soon as she came. And the singers including Siddharth Menon who appeared for the song were just ‘fantastic’, says Brinda. She has also worked on another song, a slower one, which begins slow and ends in a fight. “There was no fight, Anjali and I were the fight masters.” The two make a great team. She remembers at the end of the Mangalyam song shooting, the whole unit had danced together, including Anjali and Brinda. Anjali also remembered to bring on board Pampa Biswas from Bengal, who had worked with her for Bangalore Days. For costume design. “Working with Anjali is a collaborative process. She partners you in every way. You can throw around ideas. It is a democratic process,” Pampa says. Pampa Biswas and Akhila Menon Koode costumes were not easy. They were shooting in Ooty and Anjali wanted her actors to be very comfortable. “She did not want the clothes to stand out. I believe in that too, that the story is always important. Clothes and everything else is secondary.” So Pampa went for feathers and winter wear. Limiting, but working with layers always adds a kind of touch, she says. Assisting her was Akhila Menon from Mumbai. Akhila Menon Set designers were again two women – Shrimathy Karthikeyan and Anjali Mandapaka. Shrimathy, an architect, turned to set design two years ago. Koode is her second film. “Both the director and the production designer made it comfortable to work. Anjali gives out this positive vibe and we were all like a family living in this big house,” Shrimathy says. Shrimathy Karthikeyan And finally, Smitha Nambiar did the corporate communications and Shital Dedhia the accounts for Anjali. Mini Sarma from Dubai was the line producer. It would be a whole different story to write about the women in front of the camera, Anjali’s actors, beginning from three-year-old Meera who plays Nazriya’s younger version to Nilambur Aysha, one of the senior-most artistes in the industry. But they would be seen and appreciated this week when Koode comes to the theatres. Those behind the camera, whose faces we do not see but whose work makes the movie what it is, should just not be forgotten. Read: The women of 'Kaala': How Pa Ranjith's film breaks gender moulds in Tamil cinema...

Bollywood The actor is undergoing treatment in New York. Ians By www.filmitadka.in via Wikimedia CommonsActor Sonali Bendre says she has been diagnosed with a "high-grade cancer" and is undergoing treatment in New York. The actor on Wednesday took to Twitter and Instagram to share the news about her health. She has thanked her family and friends for supporting her. In a long post, Sonali said: "Sometimes, when you least expect it, life throws you a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with a high grade cancer that has metastised, which we frankly did not see coming. A 'high grade cancer' refers to one in which the cells grow at a rapid rate and is one which requires immediate intervention. pic.twitter.com/KK2blEEz6L — Sonali Bendre Behl (@iamsonalibendre) July 4, 2018 "Sometimes, when you least expect it, life throws you a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with a high grade cancer that has metastised, which we frankly did not see coming. A niggling pain led to some tests, which led to this unexpected diagnosis. My family and close friends have rallied around me, providing the best support system that anyone can ask for. I am very blessed and thankful for each of them. There is no better way to tackle this, than to take swift and immediate action. And so, as advised by my doctors, I am currently undergoing a course of treatment in New York. We remain optimistic and I am determined to fight every step of the way. What has helped has been the immense outpouring of love and support I’ve received over the past few days, for which I am very grateful. I’m taking this battle head on, knowing I have the strength of my family and friends behind me," she stated. On the work front, she stepped down from judging a reality TV show "India's Best Dramebaaz."Actress Huma Qureshi stepped into her shoes. Sonali is married to producer Goldie Behl. They have one son Ranveer together. Also read: ‘A dream come true’: Actor Roshan Mathew on working with Anjali Menon in ‘Koode’...

MollywoodThe actor who is busy juggling films across languages, has a bunch of releases this year.Digital NativeLooks like Dulquer Salmaan is juggling with acting assignments across languages. The actor has quite a few movies coming in Tamil and Hindi, and he has also signed a few back home in Kerala. He has inked the deal to star in the movie titled Sukumara Kurup to be directed by Srinath Rajendran, and BC Noufal’s Oru Yamandan Prema Kadha. With these two films in the pre-production stage, he has also signed a new film with director Mahesh Narayanan of Take Off fame. Dulquer will in the meantime complete his Bollywood film, The Zoya Factor, a sports drama that has Sonam Kapoor playing the female lead. His Hindi debut, Karwaan, is expected to release on August 3. The film directed by Akarsh Khurana will see him with Irrfan Khan, Kriti Kharbanda and Mithila Palkar. He will also be seen in the Tamil movie Vaan that is being directed by Ra Karthik. Dulquer will be seen playing multiple roles in the travelogue film. Yet another upcoming Tamil film Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal with Dq in the lead is in the post production stages and will be released next month. The film is directed by Desingh Periyasamy. Dulquer had also recently made his acting debut in the Telugu film industry with the Savitri biopic Mahanati, which was released in Tamil under the title Nadigayar Thilagam. He won accolades for his role as Gemini Ganesan in it. In Malayalam, he was last seen in the Bejoy Nambiar anthology film Solo that had mixed reviews. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: ‘A dream come true’: Actor Roshan Mathew on working with Anjali Menon in ‘Koode’...

MollywoodAnjali had last directed the Malayalam movie ‘Bangalore Days’, which released in 2014 and went on to become a big hit.Digital NativeDigital NativeAnjali Menon is back after a long hiatus. She had last directed the Malayalam movie Bangalore Days, which was a big hit. Released in 2014, the film had an ensemble star cast that included Nazriya Nazim, Nivin Pauly, Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil, Isha Talwar, Parvathy and Nithya Menen. The film was not only a commercial success but also went on to win several awards, including three Kerala State Film Awards – Best Actor and Best Actress awards for Nivin Pauly and Nazriya Nazim respectively, and Best Screenplay for Anjali Menon. On her long break and upcoming film Koode, she recently told Manoramaonline in an interview, “My son had just turned two when I did Bangalore Days. So after the movie got over, I had to spend some time with him. Meanwhile, I had begun to write the screenplay for the movie which was to be directed by actor Prathap Pothen. But I stopped midway when I lost the interest in collaborating with him. Producer M Renjith who was supposed to finance that movie, however, offered to do a movie with me. That is how I began writing Koode one and a half years ago.” Apart from Anjali being back in the director’s robes for Koode, what has shot up the expectation levels for the film is that it will mark actor Nazriya’s comeback to movies after four years. The star cast of Koode also includes Prithviraj and Parvathy. With Anjali Menon coming up with an impressive script that deals with the emotional bond between a brother and sister, Nazriya reportedly decided to don the greasepaint again. Before going ahead with the shooting, Anjali Menon ensured that the entire cast and crew attended a 10-day camp in Ooty to understand the film and the roles each one had to play. She revealed that the camp was successfully spearheaded by theatre artist Vinu Francis. Also read: Kerala woman wants grandkids back, after daughter Rini died due to dowry harassment (Content provided by Digital Native)...

MollywoodThe film is presented by Nazriya, who is also making her comeback as an actor, through Anjali Menon's 'Koode'.Tnm Staff"The Outsider!" Amal Neerad posted on his Facebook on Wednesday noon, announcing his new movie, Varathan, in Malayalam - The Outsider in English. The film has Fahadh Faasil in the lead. Amal, who is directing the film, has put out its first look poster, a visual of Fahadh wearing goggles, and four or five little figures in the background holding their lit torches. Aishwarya Lekshmi, coming straight out of her much-appreciated performance in Mayaanadhi, plays the female lead in the film. Best of all, the poster says, Nazriya Nazim presents Varathan. Nazriya too has been in the news for coming back to act in the Anjali Menon film Koode after a gap of four years, following her marriage to Fahadh. Amal will be producing the film with Nazriya. It'd be a joy to the fans that both Fahadh and Nazriya movies are coming out one after the other. Expected to be a thriller, the Fahadh film will release this Onam. He was last seen in Venu's Carbon, in which he played a man out to make some quick money and going through some out of the world experiences in a trip through the woods. Known for his ease in handling versatile characters, Fahadh is trusted with all sorts of roles, sometimes with negative shades. In Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, a critically acclaimed film that came out last year, Fahadh had played a low level thief, with a strangely strong disposition. Little Swayamp, who is slowly making a name for himself after his exceptional work for Parava, is doing the cinematography. Sushin Syam is composing the music. Amal's previously announced Mammootty movie Bilal is also expected to release this year, which he is again directing and producing. It's more than 10 years since he last worked with Mammootty in Big B, Amal's first directorial, which had at the time created waves for its peculiar style of cinematography.  Also read: Meet Anjali Patil: The fiery Puyal from 'Kaala' who has taken everyone by storm...