The Kerala government on Monday ordered all theatres and malls in the state to close by 7:30 pm and has imposed night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am for the next two weeks to curb the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the state.
Following the announcement, the Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK) held a virtual meeting with theatre owners on Tuesday.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, FEUOK general secretary Sumesh Joseph Manarkattu said, “During the meeting, some of the owners expressed their interest to continue running the shows while some wanted to close the theatres. So we let them decide on the same. However, we have strictly instructed them to rearrange show timings as the government has ordered to close the screens by 7:30 pm and follow the Covid protocols.”
There are 600 theatres in Kerala, including multiplex and single screens. Currently, Nizhal, Nayattu, Chathur Mukham, Anugraheethan Antony and One are running in theatres. According to some theatre owners based in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode, matinee shows had been getting a good collection.
Sumesh said that though the films were faring well, theatres in small towns were getting fewer audiences.
“Footfall in the other theatres will gradually reduce by the weekend and will eventually stop,” he said.
Asked about the releases lined up for May on the occasion of Eid, Sumesh said, ” It would be a great relief if big movies such as Marakkar Arabikkadalinte Simhan and Malik would release as planned. However, considering the Covid situation, everything is uncertain and no official announcement has been made by the producers regarding the release dates so far.”
Theatres in the state, which were shut for nine months in 2020 due to the pandemic-induced lockdown, reopened on January 13 with the Tamil film Master. To help theatre owners recover from the losses incurred during lockdown, the Kerala government had announced a waiver of entertainment tax for cinemas from January to March 2021 and assured to reduce 50% of the fixed charges on electricity.
Meanwhile, a meeting has been scheduled by the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, the apex body of the Malayalam film industry, on April 28 with producers, theatre owners and other stakeholders to discuss the possibility of early OTT release of films running in theatres.
Kerala reported 19,577 positive cases and 28 deaths on Tuesday. While the total active cases rose to 1,18,673, the state’s Covid-19 positivity rate stands at 17.45%.
Emilia Clarke, the actor who who played Daenerys Targaryen in American television series Game of Thrones, is in the final round of talks of making her Marvel Studios debut with Secret Invasion, an original series for Disney+, according to a Variety exclusive report.
While it is unclear what role Clarke will play, she will join actors Samuel L Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn, who have made appearances in other Marvel films and will reprise their roles as Nick Fury and Skrulls Talos, respectively. Actors Kingsley Ben-Adir and Olivia Colman will also join them.
“The series is said to follow a group of shape-shifting aliens who have been infiltrating Earth for years. Ben-Adir has been set as the a main villain,” the Variety report stated.
Marvel Studios had announced the Secret Invasion series in December 2020 as part of Disney’s Investor Day announcements. It will be produced by Kevin Feige’s unit who has produced all the Marvel titles, including Wanda Vision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Kyle Bradstreet will be writing the series apart from executive producing it.
Secret Invasion is among the 20 films and series aimed at expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe around its superheroes and villains, like Hawkeye, Groot, She-Hulk, Ms Marvel, Loki, and others. While films like Fantastic Four, The Guardians of Galaxy, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Thor: Love And Lightning are yet to release, they have been releasing from January, beginning with Wanda Vision. Falcon and the Winter Soldier which began streaming from March and are now available on Disney+. Upcoming ones like Loki and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are yet to release. Scarlett Johansson-starrer Black Widow and Emma Stone’s Cruella are slated for July 9 and May 28 releases, respectively
Aimed at expanding their paid subscriber base, Disney+ has collaborated with Hotstar in India for streaming sports apart from their films and series.
The release of Ishq, the Telugu thriller film starring Teja Sajja and Priya Prakash Varrier, has been postponed due to the “unprecedented situation” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Teja announced in a statement on Tuesday. The film was supposed to release in theatres on Friday.
The new release date has not yet been announced.
“As much as we were all super excited for you to experience the magic we created through our film Ishq- Not a Love Story and bring it to theatres on the 23rd of April, we are devastated to share that we will have to reschedule the release of the film in light of this unprecedented situation. The situation has only been getting worse since the past week and it will be unfair and morally incorrect to proceed with the release on the announced date,” Teja said in a statement.
Explaining that the team understood the “gravity of the situation” and was “committed to helping and protecting”, Teja said that the team was “exploring options to reschedule the release”. He said that an update will follow soon.
Earlier, while speaking to Silverscreen India about Telugu films’ release being postponed, Priya had said that if the film was loved and supported then it would perform well at theatres. “If the content is strong, I don’t think these restrictions should be a problem,” she had said.
Ishq is a remake of the 2019 Malayalam film with the same title. The original story revolves around Sachi (played by Shane Nigam) and Vasudha (played by Ann Sheetal) who are lovers and are harassed by two men posing as police officers. In the remake, Teja will reprise the role of Nigam while Varrier will reprise the role of Sheetal.
Ishq is directed by SS Raju, and the cinematography is by Sam K Naidu, while the music composition is by Mahati Swara Sagar. RB Choudhary is producing the film under his banner Mega Super Good Films and marking his comeback in Telugu cinema after seven years.
Several other Telugu films that have postponed their release dates in view of the pandemic situation in the Telugu-speaking states. Other films that have delayed its April release include Nani-starrer Tuck Jagadish, Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi’sLove Story, and Virata Parvam featuring Rana Daggubati. It is also reported that medium-budget Telugu films like Telangana Devudu and Ek Mini Katha have also postponed their release.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government on Tuesday passed an order announcing night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am until April 30 due to a “rising trend in Covid-19 cases”. As per the government bulletin, the state saw 5,926 positive cases as of Monday. State chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao tested positive for the virus on the same day. On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh, as of Tuesday, reported 8,987 positive cases.
Sushant Singh Rajput‘s father moved the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the release of any film based on the late actor’s life, Live Lawreported.
Based on his plea, a single-judge bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice on Tuesday to restrain the defendants from using or advertising or making references, in any manner, to Rajput’s name, caricature, lifestyle, likeness in their upcoming ventures.
The petition was filed based upon reports about films titled Nyay: The Justice, Suicide, Murder: A Star Was Lost, and Shashank. In February, Mumbai-based businessman and social worker Manish Jamadar Mishra filed a petition seeking to restrain the release, exhibiting, displaying and broadcasting of Nyay: The Justice.
Rajput’s father alleged breach of right to privacy and “passing off” in context to the recent news articles published regarding films and other ventures depicting the actor’s personal life, name, images, caricature, lifestyle, likeness in form of biopic or story as it was a direct infringement of his “personality rights”. The petition also argued that “any such publication, production, or depiction of the private life of the late actor is a blatant and wilful breach of the fundamental right to privacy which includes right to publicity”. The plea stated that the same cannot be commenced without his prior approval as he was Rajput’s legal heir.
Claiming that close confidants of the accused in Rajput’s abetment of suicide have launched the film in an “orchestrated manner”, Rajput’s father argued that the film will interfere in the ongoing investigation.
Rajput died by suicide on June 14, 2020, in Mumbai, sparking several controversies, and a trial by media speculating the cause of his death, mental health issues and nepotism in the Hindi film industry. Rajput’s death initiated a massive ongoing drug probe, which is being investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation. There are cases against Rajput’s sister Priyanka Singh, his girlfriend actor Rhea Chakraborty, and her brother Showik Chakraborty pertaining to the actor’s suicide.
Actor Dulquer Salmaan’s upcoming trilingual film directed by Hanu Raghavapudi began shooting in Kashmir, the film’s publicity manager informed Silverscreen India on Tuesday.
The film will be a romantic drama, in which Dulquer will play the role of an army lieutenant. The film marks Dulquer’s first collaboration with Raghavapudi and will be released in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, the film’s publicity manager Vamsi Sekar said, “The filming has commenced in Kashmir about a week ago and is being shot simultaneously in all three languages. It is a crucial schedule and they are shooting important parts of the film. It is a lengthy schedule that will go for over a month.”
After the Kashmir schedule, the team will be shooting in Hyderabad, Vamsi said.
The female lead and the film’s title have not yet been decided, he added.
In an earlier conversation with Silverscreen India, Raghavapudi had said that it would be period film. “We are trying to figure out how to crack the period structure. Many of them are tough locations to achieve,” he had said.
The film’s music will be composed by Vishal Chandrashekhar. It is produced by Swapna Cinema and presented by Vyjayanthi Movies.
The film was first announced in July 2020. In January, Raghavapudi had posted a few photos of the team from Kashmir as part of the pre-production work.
Meanwhile, Dulquer has some Malayalam films in the pipeline- biographical crime drama Kurup, and action thriller Salute. In Kurup, Dulquer will essay the role of wanted fugitive Sukumara Kurup. In Salute, which will be directed by Rosshan Andrrews, he will play a police officer.
Dulquer is also part of the Tamil romantic drama Hey Sinamika, written by Madhan Karky.
Krishna Talkies, the Kannada film starring Ajay Rao which released on April 16, will be withdrawn from theatres from Thursday owing to surging Covid-19 cases in Karnataka.
“Despite the film getting a positive response from audience and critics, people have no interest in coming to theatres now. Secondly, the decision taken by the government regarding malls, theatres or restaurants, will further restrict people. We can’t expect theatre owners to run the show with empty seats. Moreover, we felt that we should not public under health risk, which is most important. So, we decided to take off our film from theatres,” Vijay said, as per a a report by The New Indian Express.
He said that the decision to release the film was taken a month ago when the situation was still normal. The film will re-release the film once situations are conducive.
The horror-thriller film directed by Vijay Anand has been receiving a positive response from the audience since its release. The film also stars Apurva, Sindhu Loknath, Chikkanna and Pramod Shetty. Krishna Talkies technical crew consist of Sridhar V Sambraham as music director and Abhishek G Kasargod as cinematographer.
Karnataka reported 15,785 cases of Covid-19 cases on April 18, taking the tally of active cases to 1,42,084. In the wake of the the pandemic, theatres were shut down across the country from March 2020 following a nationwide lockdown.
In October 2020, when the Centre permitted theatres to reopen with 50% seating occupancy across the country, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Federation announced that they would not reopen theatres in Karnataka until January 2021.
Later in February, the state government allowed 100% seating capacity in theatres. Following the second wave of Covid-19, a notice was issued by the Karnataka government on April 2 reinstating 50% seating occupancy in cinema halls as part of its revised guidelines.
According to a report by TheTimes of India, nearly 30 single-screen theatres in and around Mysuru will remain shut from April 23. In a press release, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Federation said, “As a small step in fulfilling our social responsibility towards containing the spread of Coronavirus and also to safeguard our workers and audience against covid-19 and to support the government to control and eradicate Covid -19, we have decided to close down theatres from 23rd April in Mysuru city, Nanjangud, KR Nagar and other towns.”
Ramin Bahrani, the director of the Oscar-nominated filmThe White Tiger, said that he faced racist remarks during a virtual interview with Ava DuVernay, and members of the Academy Award and the BAFTA in Atlanta, USA.
Speaking to Peoplemagazine on Monday, the Iranian-American director who is nominated for the Oscars in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, said, “I was in Atlanta on location in a residential neighborhood directing a TV pilot for Apple. We had worked late that day, so I had to do my Zoom interview with Ava on my phone while we were still in the street. During the interview, I noticed a car parked behind me. When the driver saw me and my colleague (who is South Asian) he said, ‘You all think you run the world. You all don’t run s—.’ His friend told him to calm down and leave it alone. As the driver pulled away, he shouted, ‘Go back to your own country!’ ”
While DuVernay said that she did not fully understand what had happened, she said that Bahrani maintained his “calm”, showing the normalcy of racism that people of colour are “used to”. Calling him “the ultimate professional”, she said that Bahrani proceeded with the interview anyway.
In another instance, a few weeks prior to this incident, Bahrani shared an encounter with a person from Los Angeles. Bahrani said the person took a dig at him in relation to former US president Donald Trump’s heavily criticised anti-immigrant move of building ‘The Wall’ with Mexico. The individual had said, “The former president didn’t build a wall tall enough to keep you out.”
The magazine spoke to Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who was not present during the Zoom call but worked with Bahrani in The White Tiger, both as an actor and the executive producer.
Photo Credit: NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: Ava DuVernay from 13th accepting her award during The 76th Annual Peabody Awards Ceremony at Cipriani, Wall Street on May 20, 2017 in New York City. – Photo by Stephanie Moreno/Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications for Peabody Awards/University of Georgia – CC 2.0 AG [cropped and resized]
Both DuVernay and Chopra Jonas extended their support and spoke about the baggage that artists of colour have to carry unlike their “white male counterparts”.
Chopra Jonas has earlier spoken about her experience with racism as a teenager growing up in the US and threw light on America that “was built on the back of the immigrants”.
She said, “Asking me about my thoughts on what happened to Ramin is a sign of where we stand today, and the work we have to continue to do. So my question in response is – who belongs here, and who doesn’t? Isn’t America a melting pot of all people from all backgrounds? This country was built on the back of immigrants in search of the American dream, a life of freedom, opportunity, and a safe place not only for themselves but for their families.”
Chopra Jonas said that “Hollywood and pop culture” have to fight for racial equality and representation in global entertainment.
“Content by Hollywood is embraced by the world, but the world is not always embraced by Hollywood,” she said.
DuVernay said, “We cannot just make and focus on our work like our white male counterparts. We make our work and must also endure and negotiate our way through all the filth of racism, xenophobia, sexism and other bias that permeates our country and our industry.”
The shooting of Kaduva, the Malayalam film whose shooting had to be suspended on the orders of a Kerala court, was resumed on April 17. Dismissing the court’s order, the film’s writer Jinu Abraham told Silverscreen India on Tuesday that the court’s order was “fake news”.
“There is no issue and the shooting is going smooth. We are following all the Covid-19 protocols. I am not aware of any such issue and in fact, we have announced in social media that the shooting has commenced. There is no problem with the shooting,”Jinu told Silverscreen India.
“We have started to shoot about two days back and it will be a single schedule film that will last for 70 days. We are currently shooting in Kottayam [in Kerala],” he added.
The film, starring Prithiviraj Sukumaran in the lead role, is being directed by Shaji Kailas. Kaduva is produced by Prithiviraj’s home banner Prithviraj Productions and Listin Stephen for Magic Frames Company. The film centres around a character called Kaduvakunnel Kuruvachan, a native of Pala in Kerala.
— Prithviraj Productions (@PrithvirajProd) April 17, 2021
On April 8, the makers of Kaduva were ordered by the Irinjalakuda Sub Court in Thrissur to suspend the film’s production and promotions after an NRI filed a complaint against the producer. According to the NRI, Anurag Augustus, in 2018, Jinu gave him the script of Kaduva in exchange of Rs 10 lakh. Jinu, however, gave the script to Kaduva’s producers without Anurag’s permission.
The film’s production, which was supposed to start in December 2020, was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the film’s previous poster, music would be scored by Thaman, while Ravi K Chandran was supposed to be the cinematographer. The new poster, however, mentions Jakes Bejoy as the music composer, with Abinandhan Ramanujam as the cinematographer. While Shameer Muhammed is the editor, Mohandas is the art director.
Actor Vijay Deverakonda and filmmaker Sukumar‘s multilingual film is still on the cards, the film’s producer Falcon Creations announced in a statement on Monday. The statement came amid speculations that the film had been shelved.
Terming these reports as “unverified gossip”, Falcon Creations took to Twitter and revealed that the film was still on track.
“This project shall start as planned, once the pre-existing commitments of Hero and Director are completed. Do not believe misinformation being spread by some sections. We strongly condemn such unverified gossip and false propaganda! There is no change in the plan, no change in the combination. This is only going to be BIGGER,” the statement read.
Falcon Creations clarified that the film will release in 2022. In September 2020, it was announced that Deverakonda would be teaming up with the director for the first time.
Devarakonda is currently busy with his first pan-Indian film, Liger, helmed by Puri Jagannadh. The film will also star Ananya Panday and Ramya Krishnan. The film, which will release in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, had completed a chunk of its shoot before the Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown was implemented. However, the shooting is currently stalled due to the increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai.
The action film is produced by Jagannadh’s banner Puri Connects, Charmee Kaur, Dharma Productions, and Apoorva Mehta.
Sukumar, on the other hand, is completing the production of his upcoming film Pushpa. It stars Allu Arjun in the lead role and will release in theatres on August 13. It was recently announced that Malayalam actor, Fahadh Faasil, will be making his debut in Telugu films with this project. Written and directed by Sukumar, the film is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar under the banner of Mythri Movie Makers. Music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad and Karthika Srinivas is in charge of editing. Miroslaw Kuba Brozek and Jani Master are the cinematographer and choreographer, respectively.
Vetri, the Tamil actor who rose to fame with his performances in 8 Thottakal (2017) and Jiivi (2019), will be collaborating with debutant director Shyam Manoharan for his next film.
“This film will be an edge-of-the-seat thriller as the story happens over the course of a night,” Vetri told Silverscreen India.
The film is produced by Picture Box Company’s Alexander, and will mark the debut production of the company which had earlier distributed films like Iraivi and Karuppan.
“The interesting aspect of this film is the characters. Though there are only a few characters, none of their flashbacks will be established as the story will take place in just one night between 11 pm and 4 am,” Vetri told Silverscreen India.
Shyam, who has worked on advertisement commercials, said that he was looking for a producer who welcomed new ideas. He said when he narrated the script to Alexander, he instantly agreed to back the project. According to the makers, Vetri was their first choice as the actor has been experimenting with different kinds of stories.
“We have planned a single schedule shoot in a dense forest for around 35 days. The location scouting and auditions to cast for other characters are underway. Once everything is finalised, we hope to begin the shoot in July,” Vetri said.
Vetri said that this film deserved to be watched in theatres.
Speaking about his upcoming projects, Vetri said that he had signed an untitled project which will be helmed by debutant director Deva, who has earlier assisted director Myskin.
“I want to do films that have interesting characters and screenplay. I am also open to debutants with good scripts,” he said.
Vetri was last seen in C/O Kaadhal, a Tamil anthology film which released on Netflix in February. He has several projects awaiting release, including Memories, Vanam, Jothi and Theengirai.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, the actor, producer and politician who was last seen in the 2020 Tamil film Psycho, has started shooting the Tamil remake of Hindi film Article 15 in Tamil Nadu’s Pollachi on Monday, the film’s makers announced in a press release.
According to the makers, the shooting had started about 10 days ago.
On Monday, the team paid their respects to late comedian Vivekh, who died last week after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Article 15 is a critically-acclaimed 2019 Hindi crime drama thriller starring Ayushmann Khurrana as an IPS officer who investigates the case of a missing Dalit girl in a remote, backward village after two Dalit girls are found hanging from a tree. While the film makes no direct reference to a specific incident, it is loosely based on the 2014 Badaun gang-rape case and the 2016 Una flogging incident. It emerged to be a box office success and grossed Rs 93.08 crore worldwide.
பொள்ளாச்சியில் நடைபெற்றுவரும் #Article15 பட தமிழ் ரீமேக் படப்பிடிப்பில் கலந்து கொண்டேன். மறைந்த அண்ணன் விவேக் அவர்களின் திருவுருவப்படத்துக்கு படப்பிடிப்பு தொடங்குவதற்கு முன்பு மரியாதை செய்தோம். சமூக மாற்றத்துக்காகவும் சுற்றுச்சூழலை காக்கவும் குரல் கொடுத்த அண்ணனின் வழி நடப்போம். pic.twitter.com/fVKAq0xJPa
The yet-to-be-titled Tamil remake will be the second directorial venture of filmmaker Arunraja Kamaraj. He has previously directed the 2018 Tamil sports drama Kanaa, starring Aishwarya Rajesh and has also been a singer and actor in Tamil films. However, he has predominantly worked as a lyricist in films like Kabali, Kodi (2016), Pizza (2012), and Jigarthanda(2014).
The remake will be produced by Raahul of Romeo Pictures and presented by Bayview Project LLP and Zee Studios, who have previously produced the Tamil remake of Hindi film Pink, Nerkonda Paarvai, and are currently producing the upcoming Ajith-starrer film Valimai.
Meanwhile, Udhayanidhi made his electoral debut in the recently held Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. He has contested as the DMK’s candidate in Chennai’s Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. He is also working on the upcoming action crime Kannai Nambathey (directed by Mu Maran) and horror-thriller Angel (directed by KS Adhiyaman).
Prakashan Parakkatte, the upcoming Malayalam family drama film set in Kerala’s Mukkam, will star local residents, director Shahad K Muhammad told Silverscreen India.
According to Shahad, Prakashan Parakkatte captures a slice of the life of a middle-class family in a small village. “The story will revolve around a young boy’s aspirations, his bonding with his family members and their dreams,” he said.
Prakashan Parakkatte marks the directorial debut of Shahad, who rose to fame with his short film Oppana, which released on YouTube in 2019. He has previously assisted director Dhyan Sreenivasan, who has acted in and written the screenplay of Prakashan Parakkatte.
“We shot the film in a single schedule for 30 days between January and February. Two months before the shoot, my assistants and I visited Mukkam in Calicut and set up multiple auditions to cast local people within a 10 km radius of the locality. We shortlisted around 30 of them who have a few dialogues and acting scope in the film. We took this decision as we shot the film during the pandemic and didn’t want to take the risk of bringing artists from far away places,” Shahad told Silverscreen India.
He said that casting the local residents lent authenticity to the film as their dialect and body language were organic.
Speaking about the film’s first look poster, which was released on April 16, Shahad said, “Since it is a feel-good movie, we wanted a happy picture. The first look poster should depict family bonding. Also, I believe that the old Splendour bike, which is shown in the poster, will connect with most middle-class South Indian families as it is a nostalgic household vehicle.”
In his seven-year-long career, Shahad has assisted Dhyan in the latter’s directorial Love Action Drama andAdi Kapyare Kootamani.
“I have been wanting to become a feature film director and had discussed a few scripts with Dhyan. When a project was just about to take off, the Covid-19 pandemic happened. It was not a film that could be made during such a time. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise when Dhyan reached out to me with the idea of Prakashan Parakatte in early October [2020]. We finished writing the script in a couple of months and finalised the artists in the lead roles,” he said.
Prakashan Parakkatte is one of the several films that were shot during the lockdown. Talking about the obstacles he faced, Shahad said that it was difficult to shoot as the film’s story has no reference to the pandemic.
“The story is set in the pre-Corona period so we had to ensure that even the background artists or by-passers were not wearing masks. But since it is a small film with a small crew, we were able to complete the shooting safely,” he said.
While the film’s makers are yet to fix a release date due to the prevailing pandemic situation, they hope to release the film in theatres in June.
“There is a hint of humour that has worked well in this film and it would be apt for a theatrical release. A few moments in the film are orchestrated, keeping the theatre audience in mind. There were some on-the-spot improvisations that have added a spark to the film,” Shahad said.
The film is produced by Aju Varghese and Visakh Subramaniam under the banner Funtasic Films in association with Tinu Thomas’ Hit Makers Entertainments.
The film’s technical crew consists of Guruprasad as the cinematographer, Shaan Rahman as the music composer, and Rathin Radhakrishnan as the editor.
MGR Magan, the upcoming Tamil film starring Sasikumar which was supposed to release in theatres on April 23, will release at a later date due to the rise in Covid-19 cases, Screen Scene Media Entertainment announced in a social media post on Monday.
The new release date has not been announced yet.
#MGRMAGAN – Postponed to later date. Wear Mask and stay safe.
The production house stated that they took this decision as a precautionary measure for the welfare of the public.
“Many technicians and workers have worked hard for the film and hence we want this film to reach the audience in the right manner. Also, as per the request of the distributors, we have decided to postpone the release of the film,” Screen Scene Media Entertainment stated.
The film’s technical crew consists of Vinoth Rathinasamy as cinematographer, Antony Daasan as the music composer, Vivek Harshan as editor and Durairaj as art director. Ponram will also handle the story, screenplay and dialogues.
Sasikumar, who was last seen in Naadodigal 2, has a slew of projects in the pipeline such as Rajavamsan, Pagaivanuku Arulvai and Kombu Vatcha Singamda.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown, theatres were shut down across the country from March 2020. In January 2021, the Tamil Nadu government had allowed theatres to run at 100% occupancy, ahead of the release of Vijay-starrer Master.
However, on April 8 it was announced that standalone theatres and multiplexes will have to operate at 50% seating occupancy. The revised norms were announced as a part of the state government’s new guidelines in the wake of a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the state.
Tamil Nadu reported 10,723 cases on April 18, taking the total number of active cases to 70,391. The state government announced night curfew between 10 pm and 4 am, starting from Tuesday, and full lockdown on Sundays.
Annette, the upcoming English musical film starring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver, will be the opening film of the 74th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.
The celebrated film fest will be held from July 6 to July 17 and will be broadcast by Canal+ in France, as well as in partnering cinema theatres.
Annette is French filmmaker Leos Carax’s first English feature film. It will premiere internationally at the Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes’ Palais des festivals, and will then enter the competition.
Set in contemporary Los Angeles, Annette tells the story of Henry, a stand-up comedian with a fierce sense of humor and Ann, a singer of international renown. In the spotlight, they are the perfect couple, healthy, happy, and glamourous. The birth of their first child, Annette, a mysterious girl with an exceptional destiny, will change their lives.
“Every Leos Carax film is an event. And this one delivers on its promises! Annette is the gift that lovers of cinema, music and culture were hoping for, one that we have been yearning for during the past year,” Pierre Lescure, president of the Cannes Film Festival, said in a statement.
“We couldn’t have dreamed of a more beautiful reunion with cinema and the silver screen, in the Palais des festivals where films come to assert their splendour,” said Thierry Frémaux, general delegate adding, “Carax’s cinema is an expression of these powerful gestures, these mysterious alchemies that makes the secret of cinema’s modernity and eternity.”
Da 5 Bloods director Spike Lee, who chairs the jury of the competition, will announce the winners at the closing ceremony on July 17, the press release said.
The festival will continue “with confidence and determination the planning of its next edition” and might not take the virtual route. It is “mindful of the evolution of the public health situation in Europe and across the world, and the reopening of cultural venues mid-May”.
Vidyut Jammwal, the Hindi actor who was last seen in the 2020 film Khuda Haafiz, on Monday announced the launch of his production house Action Hero Films, while celebrating his decade-long career in films.
The Commando actor launched his production house with Abbas Sayed as co-producer.
Jammwal, in a statement, said that the banner would foray into diverse genres and encourage new talent. He hoped that the production house would produce films that bring interesting and global stories to the big screen.
“The viewers have loved me in every character. This time around, with their blessings, I am taking on the role of a producer. It’s my turn to give as good as I got. I see this as an opportunity to empower talented people,” he said in a statement.
Talking to Deadline in an exclusive interview, Jammwal said, “I started with very small roles in the film industry. I wasn’t the bad guy, I was the guy next to the bad guy, or the henchman. The only person who could see me on screen was me, or my mother. But we could celebrate that too. What a journey man, I’m glad I can now have this conversation [about moving into producing].”
Talking about the kind of films the banner will produce, Jammwal said, “I have already started working on proposals and sanctioning film scripts. I have some female-oriented scripts which I love. I am also working on something about women’s self-defence.”
Jammwal made his debut in 2011 with Force, opposite John Abraham, where he played the role of the antagonist, Vishnu. In 2013, he was cast as the lead actor in the Hindi film Commando, which catapulted him to fame and made him a household name as an action hero in Hindi films.
Jammwal will next be seen in The Power, which will release on Zeeplex. He is currently shooting for Sanak.
Sumitra Bhave, the National Award-winning Indian filmmaker who predominantly worked in Marathi cinema and theatre, died on Monday at a private hospital in Pune after suffering from lung-related ailments for some time.
She was 78.
Born in Pune in 1943, Bhave taught at the Karve Institute of Social Sciences, Pune, and volunteered at several social welfare organisations, besides being a filmmaker. She has directed numerous Marathi short films, television serials, drama and feature films, along with a couple of Hindi films including Zindagi Zindabad, and Mor Dekhne Jungle Mein.
Bhave won her first National Award in 1985 in the Best Non-Feature Film for Family Welfare category for her short film Bai. She won her second National Award under the Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film category for her short film Paani in 1987. In 1995, she won her third National Award under the Best Film on Other Social Issues category for her feature film Doghi. In 2013, she won another National Award for Best Dialogue for her Marathi feature film Astu. In 2016, her film Kaasav earned her fifth National Award in the Best Feature Film category.
She directed all these films along with Sunil Sukhtankar, who has worked with Bhave in over 17 feature and several short films.
Bhave’s other notable works include Mukti, Chakori, Phir Zindagi, Bhains Barabar, Katha Sarita, Majhi Shala, Dahavi Fa, Vastupurush, Devrai, Ek Chup Chya, Samhita, and several others. She has won multiple awards, including the Maharashtra State Award, V Shantaram Awards, Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards, New York Indian Film Festival Awards.
Bhave also starred in the 2020 Marathi film The Disciple, which was the first Indian film to compete in the main competition section at the 77th Venice International Film Festival. It was also the second Indian film to compete at the film fest, after Monsoon Wedding (2001). The Disciple will release on Netflix on April 30.
Several celebrities and politicians condoled Bhave’s death and paid tributes on social media.
Actor and producer Milind Soman tweeted: “Sumitra Bhave, one of the loveliest people, and one of the most wonderful directors I have ever worked with, has passed away. I will miss her.”
Siddharth Shirole, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, called her a “true legend, a gem” on Twitter.
Deeply saddened by the demise of National Award winner Sumitra Bhave ji .. a gem of #Pune who has inspired generations of storytellers. A true legend. Her work will be remembered for years to come. Condolences to the bereaved family, friends & fans. Om Shaanti ! pic.twitter.com/8rMaavaZaU
Resul Pookutty, the Oscar-winning sound designer, editor and mixer, expressed his shock on Twitter and wrote about how Bhave “changed the landscape” of Marathi cinema.
Shocked to learn about #SumitraBhave ji’s passing. She was not just a director who changed the landscape of Marathi cinema but a serious mind of global cinema. My heart goes out to everyone who are touched by her love&kindness. Prayers to the family and friends, May her soul RIP. pic.twitter.com/XkFmjZJIIg
Anil Deshmukh, former Maharashtra home minister, tweeted: “Pained by the demise of National Award-winning filmmaker Sumitra Bhave Ji. It is a huge loss to the film fraternity. Condolences to her family and friends. May the departed soul rest in peace.”
Dayanand Kamble, New Delhi’s directorate general of information and public relations and deputy director of the Maharashtra Information Centre, also paid tribute to her on Twitter.
#SumitraBhave, National Award-winning director passed away. Sumitra Bhave, notably, was a part of several National Award-winning films that included Vaastupurush, Kaasav, Samhita, Astu & Devrai. She is also said to be one of the people who changed the landscape of #Marathi cinema pic.twitter.com/aECGN8sJvI
Actor Neena Kulkarni wrote how Bhave’s films spread “strong social statements, women empowerment messages, woven into engrossing story-telling, that’s what made her films brilliant. Be it short, feature, series, her statements shone thru her creations. She remained simple in living, high in thinking.”
Celebrating her works on Twitter, author Aseem Chhabra shared a picture of them from the New York Indian Film Festival 2017.
Patrizia Gucci, the great grandchild of Guccio Gucci, slammed the upcoming English film House of Gucci for “stealing the identity of a family to make a profit” and going “beyond the headline-grabbing true-crime star and pries into the private lives of Guccio Gucci heirs”.
House of Gucci, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, Adam Driver and Jared Leto. The film is based on the murder of Maurizio Gucci (played by Driver), the former head of the international luxury brand Gucci, who was shot dead in 1995 by a hitman hired by his former wife, Patrizia Reggiani (played by Lady Gaga). Reggiani was convicted of arranging his murder in 1998. She served 18 years in a prison in Milan before being released in 2016.
“We are truly disappointed. I speak on behalf of the family. They are stealing the identity of a family to make a profit, to increase the income of the Hollywood system… Our family has an identity, privacy. We can talk about everything. But there is a borderline that cannot be crossed,” Patrizia Gucci, one of Maurizio’s second cousins, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The film, produced by MGM, is slated to release in theatres on November 24.
Scott’s film is an adpatation of Sara Gay Forden’s book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour and Greed. The synopsis of the book on Good Reads calls it “one of glitz, glamour, intrigue, the rise, near fall and subsequent resurgence of a fashion dynasty”.
While Pacino plays Aldo Gucci, who expanded Gucci and opened stores in Rome and New York; Leto plays Paolo Gucci, the brain behind the logo of the Italian brand named after the founder Guccio Gucci.
Recent photos from the sets of the film were circulated, in which Gaga, Pacino and Leto were seen in their character looks.
“My grandfather was a very handsome man, like all the Guccis, and very tall, blue eyes and very elegant. He is being played by Al Pacino, who is not very tall already, and this photo shows him as fat, short, with sideburns, really ugly. Shameful, because he doesn’t resemble him at all,” Patrizia Gucci said.
She felt offended at her father Pablo Gucci’s shabby appearance, being played by Leto, calling it “horrible”.
According to The Associated Press, MGM did not approach the family regarding the film. While Patrizia Gucci tried contacting Scott’s wife, Giannina Facio, she has not receive a reply. Facio had earlier approached Pablo and Aldo in the 2000s regarding a project that would have focused on them and the rise of the luxury brand.
The Gucci brand is not managed by the family anymore after Maurizio Gucci sold its remaining stakes to Investcorp in 1993. It was later bought by the French company PPR, now known as Kering.
Alfred Molina, the English actor who was recently seen in Oscar-nominated film Promising Young Woman, confirmed that he would reprise his role as Doctor Octopus in the upcoming superhero film Spiderman: No Way Home.
He first appeared as the evil supervillain in director Sam Raimi’s Spiderman 2 starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco.
According to Variety, Molina was initially told not to disclose details about his return to the Spiderman universe. He said, “When we were shooting it, we were all under orders not to talk about it, because it was supposed to be some great big secret. But, you know, it’s all over the internet. I actually described myself as the worst kept secret in Hollywood!”
Molina will be reprising the role after 17 years and will be playing the role for the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film’s director, Jon Watts, found a way to bring him back.
“Watts told him that the movie will pick up Doc Ock’s story from ‘that moment’ in the river, which in a franchise that include multiverses, time-travel and diverging timelines seems… plausible enough,” Molina told Variety.
He said his only concern was ageing. Citing Irishman actor Robert De Niro’s example of de-aging in the film, he said that he might not have the same physicality that he did 17 years ago.
Marvel will be using CGI to de-age the actor, as they did with Samuel L Jackson for Captain Marvel and Robert Downey Jr for Captain America: Civil War.
Spiderman: No Way Home will also see Jamie Foxx reprise his role as Electro, the villain from The Amazing Spiderman 2. Benedict Cumberbatch will appear as Doctor Strange and will be Peter Parker’s new mentor following the demise of Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame.
The film stars Tom Holland and Zendaya in lead roles and is slated to release on December 17.
For actor Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, her performance as Padmini in Karnan is like no other. She plays the titular character Karnan’s older and headstrong sister who does not think twice before chastising her brother for his decisions and actions.
In the film, she supports her family and is understanding of her brother’s well-placed angst against caste-based discrimination. Critics’ reviews unanimously agreed that her character is a memorable one.
The 37-year-old actor entered the industry almost eight years ago with director Magizh Thirumeni’s film Mundinam Parthiney in 2010. She has worked in films like Maya, Sutta Kadhai, and Odu Raja Odu, adding a variety of performances to her portfolio before featuring in Karnan.
Just like her career in the Tamil film industry, Lakshmi Priyaa’s interests are varied. She is a sportswoman who has played cricket for India’s B-team, a human resources professional, and a theatre artist with Evam Entertainment.
In a conversation with Silverscreen India, the actor talks about the attention she has received after Karnan, her passion for cinema, and her aspirations.
Karnan released a few days ago and people are raving about your performance on social media. How do you feel?
I obviously feel very happy. At the end of the day, as artists, all of us are looking forward to this recognition of our craft and our performance. So, when that is happening, it makes me very content and happy about the whole thing.
How did you celebrate the release of the film?
It was such a blessing for me because it was also my birthday. I hadn’t watched the film before and I had only seen my portions during dubbing. I caught the late morning show and then watched it again for the second time during a special screening. So, watching the film was the biggest celebration. After the screening, I cut a cake and discussed the film with my friends. It was very overwhelming for me.
Karnan is a layered film filled with symbolism. How did you prepare for your character?
The layers of each character were discussed by the director. But the symbolism or the metaphors that were included in the film was a surprise element for the actors too because the director does not have to discuss those things with us. The fun in making a movie is when you are surprised. I know how director Mari Selvaraj works as a creator and I was surprised by the metaphors that he had included.
What work went into your role?
We were in the village. Our director had taken all the women [acting in the film] to the village one week before the shoot, for preparation. We were asked to wear costumes and go around the village to get used to the place, the people, and the kind of life that they lived there. We would go to the village in the morning by nine o’clock and stay till 10 in the night. There were also workshops and rehearsals for the villagers themselves. Much of the preparation came from seeing them act. Their acting was very realistic because it is [portrayal of] their life. So, speaking to them and understanding their way of life helped us prepare for our roles.
How did you get the role?
It was completely Mari sir’s call. I think he had seen my work and after meeting me, he was convinced that I could probably pull this off. Later on, we even asked him why he chose each of us for the role and he said that it was because he had seen my work before.
Credits: Kishore Raghavendra
You mentioned that you were a fan of Mari Selvaraj after Pariyerum Perumal. How was it like to work with him as a director?
It was crazy. I had watched Pariyerum Perumal three or four months back and he called me [around the same time] and said: “I am Mari Selvaraj, director of Pariyerum Perumal and I have a role for you in mind.” It was unbelievable. It was interesting for me to understand his thought process, the kind of things he says, the way he gets acting out of people, and the way he works with them. I was a fan before I started working with him and I am a bigger fan right now.
There were many prominent female characters in Karnan. What was that like to see this in such an important film?
I would say not just female characters. I think this film by itself has very strong supporting roles because it is a story of a community. It was very nice to watch that. Even though you have a very strong protagonist, this film is a great lesson that you can also have very strong supporting characters. It only adds to the betterment of the whole film. Of course, there are movies that have an ensemble cast and supporting characters but there are other films which are very protagonist-centric or hero-centric, and the rest of the characters are there only to help the protagonist achieve something.
It feels great to see and know that every character in the film had a purpose to help the story move forward. Even if I had not acted in the film and I had watched it as an outsider, I would have really enjoyed that part of the film.
The movie deals with an important issue- caste. Do you feel like being associated with this film brought up interesting conversations in your circle?
I think even after Pariyerum Perumal, we have had very many interesting conversations about caste. So, this film has just been a continuation of that. I feel like that movie [Pariyerum Perumal] opened up a lot of talk and discussions. So, I would say that it started way before this film.
What are some of the things about the film industry that no one tells you about you step in?
This is not a simple question at all because nobody tells you anything about the film industry. The industry is really huge and the experiences of each person is different in the industry. I think nobody can possibly prepare you for what the film industry is like. It is an individual journey and a personal experience that you have to go through.
Did you have any misconceptions about the industry that have now been debunked?
Yes, a long time ago. I have been in the film industry for about seven or eight years now, in my own way. Before I joined the film industry, my family was scared because I come from a family where nobody is in the industry. I don’t have anyone to look up to. There are no forefathers. Since this was the case, my family had a lot of misconceptions. They felt that it was not a safe place for women. But, I think that is a misconception because it is like any other place when it comes to safety. Even a corporate office or a public road is not safe for a woman. The industry is a place that everyone watches so closely and even the smallest of things is visible. People don’t talk about a lot of things because it happens in their personal space. It [film industry] is like any other place.
You have a varied portfolio- from being in HR to a sportsperson and doing theatre. What drew you to cinema?
I think what drew me to cinema is just the craft of acting more than the medium. Theatre is also acting but, as a medium, cinema is more permanent. You act in a film that lasts for years. We are still discussing films that came out in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. I find it very attractive that the craft that I am working on will last for a considerable period of time and it may inspire someone.
Credits: Anupama Sindhia
Who are some of the actors whose work inspires you?
I think from my early days, Nandita Das is one of those actors that has inspired me. I keep looking at newer actors and greater performances to learn from. More than the actor, it’s specific performances that really shocks me. I think how do these people even perform in such a good way? Everybody from Meryl Streep to Philip Seymour Hoffman to Kamal Hassan toParvathy Thiruvothu; the list is too long. A lot of people and a lot of performances individually inspire me.
Now that Karnan has released, would you like to take a break or immediately head back to work?
There is no break. I love my job. I would say that I have not worked for a single day in eight years only because it does not feel like work. I really enjoy what I do. But I do mix up my work. I do theatre then I do films, I do both. As long as it excites me, I take whatever comes my way immediately. I am looking forward to doing a lot more work after Karnan.
If we talk about legacy, what would you like to be remembered for?
I would just like to be remembered for my craft. That’s it. I am not talking about something personal like I want to be remembered as a kind person. I am talking about it in terms of an artist. I would just like to be remembered as this person who really respected the craft and did her best with it. That’s it.
Are there any roles that you would like to explore in the future?
Yes, I would love to do a sports film. I am waiting to do a sports film. I am a very greedy actor and I want to do everything. I want to explore every kind of role.
Helen McCrory, the British actor who starred in the Harry Potter series as Narcissa Malfoy, and Polly Gray in the television series Peaky Blinders, died on Friday at the age of 52.
Her husband and actor Damian Lewis announced on social media that she died “peacefully at home” following a “heroic battle with cancer”.
“She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you,” Lewis wrote.
McCrory first appeared as Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s mother in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She reprised her role in the final two films in the series.
In Peaky Blinders, she played Aunt Polly, the matriarch of the Shelby family. She appeared as Thomas Shelby’s (Cillian Murphy) aunt and the crime family’s treasurer.
McCrory appeared in several other films. She starred as Claire Dower in the 2012 film Skyfall. In the 2006 film Queen, she played former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s wife Cherie Blair. The late actor also essayed roles in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and the British TV series Fearless.
The Peaky Blinders actor was also known for her stage performances. According to Variety, she began her acting career in theatre and she appeared in over 25 productions including As You Like It, Macbeth, and Pride and Prejudice.
Tributes and condolences began to pour in after the news about her demise broke.
I’m devastated to learn of the death of Helen McCrory, an extraordinary actress and a wonderful woman who’s left us far too soon. My deepest condolences to her family, especially her husband and children. Simply heartbreaking news.
Helen McCrory will be remembered not just for her remarkable stage and screen performances, but also for her selflessness and generosity. She and Damian were the motor driving FeedNHS, working tirelessly during the pandemic to raise millions for others. What a tremendous loss.
Reacting to her death, co-star Cillian Murphy wrote in a statement, “I am broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend. Helen was a beautiful, caring, funny, compassionate human being. She was also a gifted actor — fearless and magnificent. She elevated and made humane every scene, every character she played. It was a privilege to have worked with this brilliant woman, to have shared so many laughs over the years. I will dearly miss my pal. My love and thoughts are with Damian and her family.”
McCrory is survived by her husband and two children, Manon and Gulliver.
Dharma Productions, the production company owned by filmmaker and producer Karan Johar, announced on Friday that they will be recasting their Hindi film Dostana 2, which originally starred Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Lakshya in the lead.
The announcement comes after several reports claimed that Aaryan was dropped from the film due to alleged “unprofessional behaviour”.
“Due to professional circumstances, on which we have decided to maintain a dignified silence, we will be recasting Dostana 2, directed by Collin D’Cunha. Please wait for the official announcement soon,” the statement read.
The film’s recasting, which is a first for the production house, will set it back by around Rs 20 crore since Aaryan had already shot for around 20 days for the film, according to the Filmfare report. Aaryan, who was last seen in the 2020 Hindi romantic drama Love Aaj Kal, had tweeted in September 2019 that he started working on Dostana 2. Shooting was stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown.
Dostana 2 is a sequel to the successful 2008 romantic comedy-drama film Dostana,directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Karan Johar. The film, starring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, was one of the first mainstream Hindi films to explore homosexuality. The film centres around two straight men (Bachchan and Abraham) who pretend to be a gay couple in order to be roommates with Chopra in her apartment.
Aaryan has been working on Bhool Bulaiyaa 2, which is a sequel to the 2007 psychological horror comedy film Bhool Bhulaiyaa (a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu). On March 25, he announced on Instagram that he had tested positive for Covid-19 while shooting Bhool Bulaiyaa 2. The film is supposed to release on November 19. On April 5, he announced that he had tested negative for the virus.
Aaryan is set to make his digital debut with the streaming giant Netflix with the upcoming Hindi film Dhamaka, directed by Ram Madhvani (Aarya), where he will be seen as a “frustrated ex-news anchor”. The teaser of Dhamaka released in March.
The Madras High Court on Friday quashed the lawsuit filed by Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, seeking a ban on the release of the upcoming multilingual biopic of Jayalalithaa Thalaivi.
In December 2019, Deepa sought a stay on her aunt’s biopics- feature film Thalaivi directed by AL Vijay and web series Queen directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon– alleging that they would misrepresent Jayalalithaa and breach the privacy of her and her aunt.
Justices R Subbiah and Sathi Kumar Sukumara on Friday dismissed her plea and said that a deceased person’s right to privacy cannot be inherited.
Deepa had stated in her plea that she was unaware of the film’s story, script, screenplay and dialogue and feared that they might depict her and Jayalalithaa in their own version; which might affect the privacy of their families, The News Minute reported.
According to the report, Vijay’s counsel said that Thalaivi was based on the book with the same title authored by Vaasanthi. They further added that the details of Jayalalithaa’s public life were available on media and that the makers have shown her in a good light. The director’s counsel told the court that it can’t allow a private screening for her as the Central Board of Film Certification had already certified it.
The court, however, said that since the biopic was yet to be released, Deepa could file a lawsuit for damages after it releases. Since Queen, starring Ramya Krishnan in the lead, had premiered on a streaming platform and has since been viewed by several people, banning its telecast cannot be granted now, the court said as reported by Bar and Bench
Earlier, Thalaivi ran into trouble when a lawyer asked the Election Commission of India to restrain the display of any “publicity material” ahead of the legislative Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.
Thalaivi was due to release in theatres on April 23. However, the makers announced that the release has been postponed due to the alarming rise of Covid-19 cases in the country.
“Since the film has been made in multiple languages, we would like to release it in all languages on the same day. But with an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, subsequent precautions and lockdowns, even though our film is ready for release on 23rd April, we want to extend all the support towards the government rules and regulations and have decided to postpone the release of Thalaivi,” the makers said in the statement.
The makers have not yet announced a new release date.
The film is produced by Vibri Media along with Karma Media and Entertainment and Zee Studios. The film also features Madhoo, Nassar, Bhagyashree, Samuthirakani, among others. Thalaivi was simultaneously shot in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Vivekh, the Tamil actor, comedian died on Saturday at a private hospital at 4:35 am in Chennai. He was 59. Vivekh was admitted at the hospital on Friday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest.
According to a statement issued by SIMS hospital in Vadapalani, where the actor was admitted, he was brought in unconscious by family members at 11 am on Friday. The actor suffered an acute coronary syndrome with cardiogenic shock, said hospital authorities.
After undergoing an Emergency Coronary Angiogram followed by an Angioplasty, Vivekh was later on Friday admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on extracorporeal cardiac support. “He is currently in critical condition on ECMO in the intensive Care Unit,” the statement from hospital authorities said.
Hospital authorities also said “This is a separate cardiac event, it may not be due to Covid vaccination.” On Thursday, the actor had been administered the first dose of the Covaxin Covid-19 vaccination at Omandurar Medical College, a government hospital in Chennai.
Vivekh, in a thriving career that spanned over three decades has acted in over 200 films, mostly in Tamil. He was first introduced to acting by late filmmaker K Balachandran in the latter’s 1987 Tamil drama film Manathil Urudhi Vendum. Since then, he has worked alongside actors like Rajinikanth, Vijay, Vikram,Suriya, Madhavan, and Dhanush, among others. He was set to collaborate with actor-politician Kamal Haasan for the first time in the now stalled film Indian 2. In 2009, he was conferred with the Padma Shri award for his contribution to cinema.
Vellai Pookal Movie Still
Vivekh’s comedy is packed with social messages on a range of topics including cleanliness, importance of education, social equality. In an interview with Silverscreen India in 2015, he spoke about the the type of comedy that he loves, “a right balance between being responsible and not being preachy”. “I had about 12 sections in my track, and I received tremendous feedback. At an event, Rajinikanth said that I could bring modern Bharathi to life,” he said, speaking about his comedy track in action drama Saamy (2003), in which Vivekh played Venkataraman, a Brahmin priest who calls out caste-based discrimination in the society and busts myths and superstitions.
The late comedian had shared that his characters and jokes are inspired by real life. However, Vivekh said, “real life” had no impact on him when he was at work. He could effortlessly switch between the two. “We must remember that comedians like me can be funny on the sets, even if someone died in the family,” Vivekh said.
An ardent fan of Indian scientist and former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the late comedian was also a green crusader. He launched Green Kalam, an initiative to plant trees between 2010 and 2015 and planted about 25 lakh saplings. In 2019, he was appointed by Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami as one of the ambassadors for the state’s ‘Plastic-Free’ campaign.
In the the early 2000s Vivekh was one of the busiest comedians working in the Tamil film industry, working on more than 28 projects every year. When he took a break from cinema and was busy with the Green Kalam initiative and other social activities, he said filmmakers presumed he would not make a comeback. “In truth, I turned down a couple of offers because they were small films. But most directors forgot me. So, I am grateful to Velai Illa Pattadhari and Yennai Arindhaal. Those films helped me make a statement: I am not done yet,” the comedian told Silverscreen India.
While his screen time might have been short in recent films, “their reach was great and fulfilling,” he added. Vivekh was last seen in the 2020 romantic drama Dharala Prabhu, the Tamil remake of the 2012 Hindi film Vicky Donor.
As news of Vivekh’s death came in, tributes and condolence messages poured in. Actor Rajinikanth tweeted, “I am deeply saddened. The moments I spent with Vivekh during Sivaji film shooting will always be cherished. I extend my condolences to his family.”
Shocked and devastated beyond words. I remember he was the first person ever to call and wish me when our first song released. Rest in peace Vivek sir. Your legacy will live on forever 🙏🏻
Actor Madhavan who has collaborated with Vivekh in Run, Minnale, and Dumm Dumm Dumm, wrote, “Heart broken and stunned that you would embark on your heavenly journey so suddenly and early. The world is deprived of a truly good man who genuinely cared for everyone and everything in it. I will so miss your laughter, wisdom, and care. The heavens are lucky.”
Music composer AR Rahmanwrote, “Can’t believe you’ve left us.. May you rest in peace ..you’ve entertained us for decades ..your legacy will stay with us.”
O Panneerselvam, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, wrote that he was “heartbroken and shocked” hearing Vivekh’s demise.
The actor was cremated with police honours on Saturday. Owing to his contribution to social reforms and the arts, the state government ordered that he receive police honours. According to The Hindu, 26 uniformed policemen observed a two-minute silence and fired three rounds in the air to honour the late comedian.
Vivekh is survived by his wife Arulselvi and two daughters Tejaswini and Amirthanandini. Vivekh’s son Prasanna Kumar died due to dengue complications in 2015.
