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Varun Tej Receives Action Packed Birthday Gift with Motion Poster of Ghani

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Varun Tej received an action-packed birthday gift with the release of his motion poster for the upcoming movie Ghani. The Telugu actor who turned 31 on Tuesday today shared the first look of his movie on social media.

The birthday boy also received congratulatory wishes from Telugu superstar Ram Charan, who shared the motion poster of the Kiran Korrapati directed film on his social media handle. The 46-second video also featured a rousing background score composed by S Thaman.

The film is being presented by Allu Aravind and produced by Sidhu Mudda and Allu Bobby. George C Williams is the cinematographer of the movie, while Marthand K Venkatesh is the editor.

Another Telugu star who wished Varun Tej on his birthday with the Ghani poster was the maker, Allu Arjun. The 37-year-old actor tweeted the poster and wished his “brother” many-many happy returns of the day. He called Ghani punch superb and sent Varun his best wishes for the upcoming “match” that makes for the story of the movie. Allu Arjun also congratulated his brother Allu Bobby and brother-in-law Sidhu, who are producers of Ghani. This is also their first project.

Ghani is Varun Tej’s tenth film. The actor made his debut in 2014 with Mukunda starring opposite Pooja Hegde. He won critical appreciation for his role in 2015 movie Kanche which was based on World War II. The movie was a box office hit and Varun’s portrayal of Dhupati Haribabu was critically acclaimed.

Ghani also features Kannada superstar Upendra and Bollywood actor Suneil Shetty in major roles. The female lead is being played by Saiee Manjrekar. The movie is expected to be released in theaters in July this year.



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Rashmika Mandanna Cheers for Vijay Deverakonda’s Liger First Look: All the Bestest My Sweet Beasts

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The first look of Vijay Deverakonda’s pan-India film Liger released on Monday, creating waves on the internet. The Telugu star is seen in fierce look on the poster. Besides his fans, his Dear Comrade co-star Rashmika Mandanna has also cheered for Vijay’s new film.

Vijay revealed the first look on Twitter, saying, “Humbly announcing our arrival Pan India! Nation wide madness Guaranteed. Produced by @KaranJohar @DharmaMovies @Charmmeofficial@PuriConnects A @purijagan Film! #LIGER #SaalaCrossBreed (sic).”

Rashmika sweetly commented, “So so proud!! Killer poster.. CANNOT wait to watch the masterpiece on screen..I legit will be up on my feet whistling and dancing.. all the bestest my sweet beasts!”

Vijay responded, “I promise most of the theater will be on their feet with you Smiling face with open mouth and smiling eyes hooting and whistling.. you know cuz you’ve seen some stuff.” Rashmika replied, “I know.. and so I call it a true masterpiece.. I’d say I hope it breaks all records but I am not gonna say it cz I am so confident that- that’s happening.. and I’ll silently be witnessing that. Kill it you!”

As the title conveys, the film has something to do with the crossbreed obtained through Lion and Tiger. The movie will be released in five languages– Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. The first look of the film shows a bare-chested Vijay wearing boxing gloves and roaring, with a tiger and lion in the background. Produced by Karan Johar, Liger is being directed by Puri Jagannadh who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. Ananya Panday is playing the female lead.



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Tandav Review: Saif Ali Khan Plays to the Gallery in This Entertaining Political Thriller

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Tandav

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Kumud Mishra, Zeeshan Ayyub

Creator: Ali Abbas Zafar

Blame it on the successful Amazon Prime Video model in India that most of their Hindi thrillers follow a certain template. Be it Mirzapur, Inside Edge, Breathe, Paatal Lok or its latest outing Tandav, the streaming giant relies mostly on set pieces. But it’s not a bad thing as these shows have mostly been entertaining and know a thing or two about their potential audiences.

Tandav, created by Ali Abbas Zafar and headlined by Saif Ali Khan, is the latest noisemaker in the Hindi OTT space and definitely plays to the gallery, and along the way, gives the viewers ample hints about how Bollywood sees a web series as a 9-episode extension of a typical film rather than a separate entity. Zafar (Gunday, Tiger Zinda Hai) also adds his touch to the production, and as a result, the twists-laden narrative keeps shifting goalposts.

Though the makers could have chosen a less stereotyped name than Samar Pratap Singh (Khan) for their anchor, a conniving yet vulnerable scion of India’s most powerful political family, they give the actor a nice arc to work with. Some may find similarities between Tandav and Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti, but to be honest, mainstream Hindi filmmaking has hardly shown any will to make sensible and serious political drama till date.

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Tigmanshu Dhulia plays Khan’s father a la Wasseypur style but the new JP Singh is better carved out. Then there are other players like political rivals—Dimple Kapadia and Kumud Mishra—revolutionary students—Zeeshan Ayyub and Kritika Kamra—and a henchman—Sunil Grover in an image-changing role.

There are some tricks and treats and how Samar battles at many fronts also contribute generously to the dance of fury.

Written by Gaurav Solanki (Article 15) and Zafar, Tandav owes massively from the perception that you have to be dirty and somewhat criminal to be successful in electoral politics, so we keep meeting corrupt leaders, trigger-happy cops and derailed media bosses. It may not look good in principle but it spices up proceedings quite a bit, and thanks to the overdose of blood and gore OTTs are filling us with, Tandav appears familiar and tolerable, meaningless though. But who cares till it is glossy and everyone’s cheeks are trembling with anger and fear. Am I missing Hrithik Roshan here!

To me, Khan seems more genuine whenever he plays negative characters. Maybe he should do more of such roles. Not calling it villainous because it’s not totally black in the first five episodes that were provided for the review purpose. He knows his territory and is continuously evolving as an actor. Isn’t he experimenting more than his contemporaries lately?

In Pics: Bollywood Actors Who Gave OTT Boost to Their Careers

Dimple Kapadia is good despite hamming but the same can’t be said about Kumud Mishra. I wish I hadn’t seen Ram Singh Charlie and Thappad before his forced laughter in Tandav.

The show may pick up in later episodes but first five display all the trappings of a ‘masala’ Bollywood production with absolutely nothing to ponder about once it’s over. Before you tag me pretentious, I would reiterate that Tandav is entertaining, provided you have a high appetite for projected punchlines and audacious behaviour.

Rating: 2/5



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Tribhanga Movie Review: Thought Behind the Film Deserves Attention

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Tribhanga: Tedhi Medhi Crazy

Cast: Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Mithila Palkar

Director: Renuka Shahane

Estranged relationships, humanising women and retrospection are some heavy terms that went around when Netflix announced its latest release — Tribhanga: Tedhi Medhi Crazy. Given the cast of Kajol, Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar, film’s director Renuka Shahane was anticipated to pull off the tricky task of making an impactful and layered film, however, it didn’t turn out as planned.

At 1 hour 30 minutes, Tribhanga oscillates between past and present as Milan (Kunaal Roy Kapur) interviews award-winning author Nayantara Apte (Tanvi Azmi). Kajol plays Nayan’s daughter Anuradha, who is a foul-mouthed, controversial celebrity. She is also a protective single mother to Masha (Mithila Palkar). Nayan suffers a brain stroke and Anu, who doesn’t have a very cordial relationship with her, rushes to be by her mother’s side and so does Masha. It is in the hospital that they get to think about the debatable decisions of their lives.

Nayan is an ambitious author who prioritised her career over her husband. Seeing her predicaments with a failed marriage, Anu reasons being a single mother can be a solution to all the complications. But for Masha, neither works. Her controversial mother has been the reason of her miserable childhood and hence she wants to be a dedicated family woman.

The three generations are antithetical who question and challenge the rigid traditional interpretations of women in our patriarchal society but they appear very much alike. They have seen their preceding generations struggling to adjust themselves between being rebels and ideal mothers and don’t want to be like them. But they end up being the same.

The film shows the complex past of these women and how they are rethinking about it but what do they do about it? The film never answers that. You desperately wait for the closure but you don’t find it. It simply refuses to move ahead. Because the duration of the film is rather short, you don’t realise when an hour and a half passed away, but Tribhanga fails to hold attention.

Tribhanga scores 100 on 100 on the relatability factor. One can certainly make a connection and relay to the thought process of these characters. But it is very short-lived because their actions seem impractical. You want to empathise longer, step into their shoes and reason with them but they lack agency and often appear superficial and confused.

The problem is not with the actors. Azmi as the composed Nayan is phenomenal and it is nostalgic to see Kajol with her Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham energy albeit feminist avatar, it is the execution that limits the film in general. It starts a conversation around humanising relationships and tries to build a narrative asking viewers to stop putting them on a pedestal but it doesn’t lead them there.

The thought behind Tribhanga deserves attention, but the film? Not so much.

Rating: 2/5



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69-year-old Contestant of Bigg Boss Malayalam Receives Social Media Backlash for Glamorous Photoshoot

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Malayalam cinema has it that its A-lister heroes enjoy a sizeable fan following irrespective of their age. Their on-screen chivalry is looked upon as valour. The big Ms, Mammootty and Mohanlal, for instance, make heads turn each time they step out in style.

That being the case, a gender role-reversal did not go down well with the Malayali psyche when Rajini Chandy, a 69-year-old female actor, presented herself in glamorous costumes, beating age and gender stereotypes.

Rajini’s photoshoot grabbed the headlines, only for several Malayalis to howl and hoot at it. Their grouse? “She is too old for it”!

Rajini made her cinema debut in her 60s playing a grandmother in the 2016 movie ‘Oru Muthassi Gadha’. Later on, she entered Bigg Boss Malayalam season 2 as one of its contestants. A real-life go-getter, Rajini has a way with the critics.

“I met Athira Joy (photographer) during our Xmas celebrations. She had helmed an intimate couple photoshoot in the past. My openness to wear what I want, piqued her interest. We agreed for a photoshoot. She kept at it and sent me a reminder after sometime. I was game,” Rajini says.

One day, Athira came over with a set of costumes. There was swimwear in it too. “My husband I had lived abroad for many years and I have worn it in my 30s. Considering the possible outcome of me wearing it in a photoshoot, I accepted every other costume except the swimsuit. I had the backing of my husband and family. We finished the photoshoot in one go,” says Rajini.

Before Rajini sharing it on her social media handles, Athira put it across Facebook and it went viral in no time. Moral policing followed soon.

“Other than my entry into movies, we lived in a social stricture where intrusion into other people’s lives was totally uncalled for. We never dictated terms for others. My stint in Bigg Boss helped me deal with it. Back then, I was beaten black and blue on cyberspace. There was an incident when I threatened to end myself if they continue attack on me. Now I am used to it,” Rajini says.

Majority of the attackers made it a point to hide behind fake ids before unleashing a war of words on a person they have not seen or met before, Rajini observes. “Let them stand in front of me and repeat what they did on the cyberspace. I doubt if they dare saying anything other than ‘hi aunty’ or ‘hi gran’. Will they use profanity?” she asks.

“I am about to turn 70. Let me and others do what they like to do. Haven’t we seen people who spent their youthful days building family and taking care of children with no time left for their well-being? I am happy if I could be an inspiration for such people. If you see good, appreciate or ignore,” she concludes.

(with inputs from Chandrakanth Viswanath)

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One Night in Miami Movie Review: A Riveting Chamber Piece About Kinship and Prejudice

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One Night in Miami

Director: Regina King

Cast: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Leslie Odom Jr, Aldis Hodge

One Night in Miami may be – just like Kemp Powers’ play that it is based on — a chamber piece unfolding on a single night, mostly in a hotel room, although director Regina King (best known for her television credits) in her feature debut for Amazon Prime steers away from monotony by taking us out now and then to give captivating facets about her four black stars. For example, we watch Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) boxing world title holder Sonny Liston out of the ring to clinch the heavy weight trophy. It is 1964. It is Miami.

It is that night of victory when four black friends – Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), musician Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr), champion football player Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and of course Cassius get together to celebrate the historic win.

While we see the four having a friendly banter – sometimes arguing, sometimes ready to get into a little fist-fight – King takes us away to Sam’s concert in which his competitor plays mischief. He mucks up the microphone so that Sam would not be heard in a huge auditorium filled to its brim by a deliriously cheering crowd. Sam begins to tap his feet and clap, asking the people to follow him, while he tries to croon at the top of his voice.

Back inside the hotel room, Malcolm warns Sam that he would last only as long as the white people want him. Sam would always have to play second fiddle. So, you must come on your own, write your own songs, says Malcolm, a Muslim, who has convinced Cassius to switch his religion. On the same night, he announces to the journalists gathered outside the hotel that he would henceforth be called Cassius X. It is only later he changes his name to Muhammad Ali.

Also intricately woven into the narrative is the huge prejudice that whites in America have against blacks. We see this in a very subtle but unmistakable manner when Jim goes visiting an elderly family friend. His daughter offers him lemonade, and the man is all praise for the young man’s talents on the field. He talks about how their two families have had a long relationship. But when the girl asks her father to help move a furniture inside the house, Jim offers a hand. No, says the man, we do not let blacks inside! The father uses a derogatory term, crushing the young man’s self-respect. A troubling instance, of double standards.

Those were days when the Civil Rights Movement was gaining ground in the US, and there was a lot of opposition to giving blacks equal rights – a picture which is not very different today with African-Americans still being made to feel inferior, still at the receiving end of violence and injustice.

King’s work is superbly gripping, much like some of the chamber pieces that our own Satyajit Ray made when he was not in the best of health. There is not a moment when the narrative sags, not a moment when your attention is allowed to waver as the four friends, essayed by fine actors, chat and argue and come out with their deepest of fears. Even while Malcom, a Muslim himself, is getting set to induct Cassius into the fold, the older man is unhappy with the leadership of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm is thinking of quitting this organisation and opening one himself. Regina paints Malcom’s dilemma with feeling, and she also explores how each of the friends is fighting his own battle with racism. Narrated with a strong sense of purpose, One Night in Miami is certainly one of the good movies I have seen in recent months.

(Gautaman Bhaskaran is a movie critic and author of an autobiography of Adoor Gopalakrishnan)

Rating: 4/5



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Bhoomi Movie Review: A Power-packed Punch at Corporatisation of Farms

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Bhoomi

Director: Lakshman

Cast: Jayam Ravi, Nidhhi Agerwal, Ronit Roy, Radha Ravi, Thambi Ramaiah, Saranya Ponvannan

Lakshman’s Bhoomi, now on Disney-Hotstar, could not have picked a more appropriate time to arrive. The film is a powerful indictment of the corporatisation of agriculture and the evil of middlemen (which while giving marginal profits to the farmer, sells the produce to the consumer at far higher prices). The work literally takes the space route to hammer home these points – not that we are in the dark about these. But, as Lakshman underlines, we need a Bhoominathan to unify the farming community, kept in the dark for many years by selfish politicians and bribe-gulping bureaucrats – who have been profiting enormously by a system that has been enslaved by corporate giants.

Bhoominathan (Jayam Ravi) is a scientist working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and he is all set to travel to the Mars to try and explore whether it is fit for life, as we know it. But in the intervening month-long break, he flies down from the US to his beloved Tamil Nadu, where he finds farmers starving because their fields are barren. There is no rainfall, there is virtually no underground water, which has been, as we are told, drawn by giant industries making motorcars, aerated drinks and even jeans.

All this can be reversed, but for a foreign industrial magnate, Richard Child (Ronit Roy), who claims that only 13 families in the world control natural resources and wealth. And he has under his thumb the Minister for Agriculture (played by Radha Ravi) as well as his cronies, police chief included. Child also brags to Bhoominathan or Bhoomi that he would soon turn India into another Somalia, plagued by hunger and diseases. Seems like the very personification of evil, pure and unadulterated. He pumps hybrid seeds onto farmers, who do not realise that these require much more water than natural ones. With land and foodgrain distribution in his pocket, Child believes that he cannot be vanquished. But there is Bhoomi to throw a ring of fire around Child.

In Pics: Bhoomi Star Nidhhi Agerwal’s Pictures Are Rage on The Internet

As much as the subject is of immense value in today’s India – whose farmers are fighting against big business getting into their lives – the movie resorts to heroics (tempered with nationalist fervour, particularly Tamil sentiment) and exaggerated methods in the fight between Bhoomi and Child. The NASA scientist proves in the end that Child is after all, well, a child. But his defeat appears unreal, and Bhoomi’s means to stamp him out may be seen as highly unethical.

Unfortunately, Tamil cinema resorts to this kind of dramatics if only to prove a point, and they are often sugarcoated with dances (unnecessary) and love stories (we have one in Bhoomi as well with Nidhi Agerwal essaying Swathi, his sweetheart).

The script is unwieldy. There is not much to rave about Jayam Ravi, although Radha Ravi and Thambi Ramaiah as farmer Ramaswamy appear more rooted.

Rating: 2.5/5

( Gautaman Bhaskaran is a movie critic and author of a biography of Adoor Gopalakrishnan)



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Lewis Carroll Death Anniversary: Here are Some of the Author’s Greatest Works

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January 14, 2021 marks 123rd death anniversary of English writer Charles Lutwidge Dodgson also known as Lewis Carroll. Lewis was born on January 27, 1832, in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.

Lewis was the eldest son and third child of the Rev. Charles Dodgson and Frances Jane Lutwidge. He grew up in isolated villages in the English countryside with his ten siblings. The writer who gave the world much of muchness through one of his greatest works Alice in Wonderland went to Christ Church, a constituent college of Oxford University. Besides being a captivating writer, Lewis also excelled in the study of classics and mathematics. He received several honours for his work in mathematics and held positions as a senior student and a lecturer in Christ College.

Let us look at some of Lewis’ greatest works:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

This fantasy fiction was written for children. The book was published in 1865 and its illustrations were done by British artist John Tenniel. Alice in Wonderland is a story about a girl named Alice who falls into a rabbit hole that transfers her into a magical world of smiling cats, talking animals and a fancy tea party with the mad hatter.

Through the looking Glass

A sequel to Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There was published in December 1871 after the first book was well-received by the readers. This novel describes some more adventures of protagonist Alice as she transfers to another mystical world through a mirror. This world is ruled by some illogical behaviour, chess boards and chess pieces.

It is also in the end of this novel that we find out who inspired Lewis to write this classic. A boat beneath a sunny sky, the poem that comes at the end of this novel is an acrostic that spells out Alice Pleasance Liddell, who was an acquaintance and photography subject of Lewis.

The Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight Fits

Published in 1876, this poem is quite similar to his previous works in terms of its nonsensical elements. The poem is about a sea voyage of a bellman, boots, barrister, broker, billiard marker, banker, beaver, baker, and butcher and their search for the elusive and abstract snark.

Sylvie and Bruno

This novel along with its sequel Sylvie and Bruno Concluded were Lewis’ last novels. Sylvie and Bruno were published in 1889. The book took its readers to two different worlds, one real and another fantastical.

Sylvie and Bruno Concluded

The last novel of Lewis came out in 1893 and has the typical writing style of the British writer. There are fairies and other fantastical creatures in Elfland described in this novel. The novel traces the journey of two siblings Sylvie and her little brother Bruno.



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Master Movie Review: Vijay’s Film Has All the Trappings of a Mass Entertainer

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Master

Director: Lokesh Kangaraj

Cast: Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, Malavika Mohanan, Arjun Das, Andrea Jeremiah, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj

Catching a mass entertainer on a Pongal morning at the theatre is an experience by itself. The wolf whistles for the hero entry, the fanatic applause which is followed by punch dialogues and collective glee as the hero makes mincemeat of an array of villains make the Pongal movie experience immensely fun. Master is a film tailored for such a community experience.

Vijay’s fans are in for a treat as the actor brings all his signature moves to the yard. Writer-director Lokesh Kangaraj’s fans will, however, be disappointed. After making a mark with Managaram and Kaithi, this is Kangaraj’s weakest film yet. It has all the trappings of a mass entertainer, and as a result, the film as a whole suffers.

Read: Stills from Master

Thematically it’s interesting as it’s about reformation, the state of juvenile homes and prisons. But what could have been a much better film is reduced to a star vehicle.

Vijay plays professor JD and is a strangely revered alcoholic. He’s barely functional but students and teachers cover up for him and worship him at every step. This much-revered alcoholic goes to reform a juvenile home.

The film serves as a vessel for Vijay’s many messages to his fans. From his opinion on entering politics to why college elections prep the first time voters for participating in democracy to the dangers of addiction, the actor has some heavy preaching messages for his devoted fans.

By referencing Ajith’s Aaluma Doluma and Surya’s Varanam Aayiram Vijay also subtly tells his fans to lay off the star wars they indulge in. These are honourable messages and intentions, but that alone does not a good film make.

Read: Master Movie Twitter Review: Fans Shower Love on Vijay’s Entertainer, Declare it ‘Blockbuster’

Also, it’s worth mentioning that the word ‘government’ is censored in the dialogue “the government doesn’t listen to its people”. Whether it’s self-censorship for full occupancy or mandated, it’s a puzzling move.

Vijay Sethupathi sinks his teeth into the role of a formidable adversary and steals the show as long as he is allowed to. It’s a predictable climax and you can guess who comes out on top.

Malvika Mohanan who plays the female lead has hardly any screen time. Some of the kids at the juvenile home have more to do in the film than her. She adequately looks up to the hero which is the role she’s meant to play.

Andrea Jeremiah has a blink and miss role which minimally redeems itself in the climax, but the rest of the cast such as Ramya Subramaniam, Sriman and Nassar are wasted in this star vehicle.

Anirudh Ravichander’s foot-tapping music is the legacy Master will leave behind. It’s possible for a film to entertain without being good, Master is an example.

Rating: 2.5/5

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Master Movie Twitter Review: Fans Shower Love on Vijay’s Entertainer, Declare it ‘Blockbuster’

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Master has released on the occasion of Pongal in Southern India. However, fans in the north will have to wait for one more day to see the movie in cinema halls.

Read: Master Release LIVE Updates: Vijay’s Charisma Brings Audience Back to Theaters Amid Coronavirus

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Master features Vijay, who plays JD, in the role of a college professor. He is pitted against Vijay Sethupahi, who plays Bhavani in the actioner. The music of the film is by Anirudh Ravichader and Malavika Mohanan, Arjun Das, Andrea Jeremiah and Shanthanu Bhagyaraj will be seen in pivotal roles.

The movie has release early morning in Southern states and the early reviews for Master are in. Fans have declared it a blockbuster already. Some viewers have said that the first half is typical and filled up with Vijay’s mass moments with college students but the film gets intense towards the end of the first half.

Read: Powerful Stills of Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi From Master

Some have argued that is a below average film with nothing new to offer.

Master FDFS: Cinema Halls Swell with Vijay-Vijay Sethupathi Fans As They Turn Up in Large Numbers

Here’s what the fans have to say about Master.

Are you excited to watch Master in movie halls?



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