Keeping up with the Pongal traditions, there is a whole buffet of films that are releasing this week with something for everybody. Festivities aside, Suriya and Vikram’s long awaited films have generated enough excitement. Thaanaa Serndha Koottam, a film that has been in the pipeline since 2016, will show Suriya in a brand new avatar. Sketch, starring Vikram, looks sleek and entertaining. And of course, action, masala and drama are guaranteed. There is also Prabhu Deva’s Gulaebaghavali with Hansika Motwani.
Apart from the Tamil fare, there are two off-beat Hindi releases.
Here’s a quick look at movies that are releasing:
Thaanaa Serndha Koottam (Tamil)
Thaanaa Serndha Koottam Movie Stills Starring Suriya
Thaanaa Serndha Koottam titled Gang in Telugu stars Suriya. The film is directed by Vignesh Shivan, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Apart from Suriya, the film stars Keerthy Suresh, Suresh Menon, Ramya Krishnan, and Senthil. The story is inspired from Akshay Kumar’s Special 26.
Suriya at the audio launch said that though the movie is inspired from Bollywood’s Special 26 but director Vignesh Shivan has given the story his own spin.
It’s based on a real incident that took place in 1987. “Usually, in most of my movies, I would be seen tensed and infuriated while emoting. But in Thaanaa Serndha Koottam, my role is completely devoid of such attitude. Vignesh Shivan would often correct me saying that ‘Sir, the character doesn’t need to get angry. Everything including the dialogue deliveries and body language were completely new to me,” he said at the launch.
Sketch (Tamil)
Sketch Movie Stills Starring Vikram
“Sketch sketch potta miss aavaadhu,” Vikram says in the teaser which indicates more action. Stunts, cars coming to a screeching halt, and catchy one-liners, Sketch‘s teaser shows that Vikram is in his elements in this thriller-action film directed by Vijay Chandar.
The 51-year-old actor was last seen in 2016’s Iru Mugan, a science fiction thriller with Nayanthara which failed to garner appreciation. With Dhruva Natchathiram and Saamy Square in the pipeline, Vikram’s Sketch is his first film of 2018.
The film travels from the rustic fringes of Tamil Nadu to Vada Chennai, and also stars Tamannaah, Soori, Radha Ravi, Sriman, RK Suresh, and others, with music by SS Thaman. The film is bankrolled by Thaanu’s V Creations, and also has Malayalam actor Baburaj playing a crucial role.
Gulaebaghavali (Tamil)
Prabhu Deva and Hansika Motwani in Gulebakavali Movie Stills
Gulaebaghavali, starring Prabhu Deva and Hansika Motwani, is a black comedy with Revathy, Mansoor Ali Khan in pivotal roles. The film takes its name from an MGR film that released in 1955. Kalyaan (of Kadha Solla Porom fame) is at the helm of this film that is produced by KJR Studios.
For a particular set in the film, the art director created a replica of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon at a cost of Rs 2 crores.
This is the third such collaboration between Hansika and Prabhu Deva. The actress was a part of Prabhu Deva’s directorial Engeyum Kaadhal and Bogan (that was produced by Prabhu Deva Studios) previously.
Music is by Vivek-Mervin, best known for their work in last year’s release Dora.
Kaalakaandi (Hindi)
Kaalakaandi
The makers of Delhi Belly, a film that was so unlike Bollywood – the kind that is laden with sex, expletives, and poop – have made a film that will surely ruffle a few feathers.
Starring Saif Ali Khan, the film is a black comedy, about a man who is diagnosed with stomach cancer and learns that he doesn’t have a lot of time in hands.
The trailer gives a peek into the melange of characters flitting in and out of the screen – drug-addled adults, lot of sex, and a gangster with the choicest of words in his dialogue.
The film also stars Kunal Roy Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vijay Raaz, Deepak Dobriyal, Isha Talwar, Shenaz Treasurywala, Nary Singh & Akshay Oberoi. The film is directed by Akshat Verma.
Mukkebaaz (Tamil)
Mukkabaaz
Anurag Kashyap’s film Mukkabaaz, which revolves around the struggles of a boxer from a lower-caste and gives a peek into cow vigilantism, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.
The film is said to be a brutal comment on what is happening in India today. Sharavan is a lower caste boxer honing his skills in a gym controlled by Brahmin boss Bhagwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Shergill). A local don and boxing promoter, Mishra treats boxers like servants and makes them run errands. One day, Shravan meets Mishra’s niece Sunaina (Zoya Hussain) who is mute. It is love at first sight.
Sunaina, who can hear, is pretty good at using social media — a tool she uses effectively to communicate. As the plot unfolds, their love has myriad complications.
The film has Vineet Kumar Singh in the lead, along with Ravi Kishan, and Jimmy Shergill, with some peppy music by Nucleya, Prashant Pillai, and Rachita Arora.
