There is no one in the country right now who does not know of SS Rajamouli and the films he has made. For those who don’t know, SS Rajamouli is the director of the fantastic Bahubali movies, the genre-bending Eega, and the very popular fantasy fiction flicks Rrr and Magadheera. Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli is the first episode that was released on 2nd August 2024 on Netflix. Produced by Film Companion Studios headed by Anupama Chopra, their maiden venture is great tool for understanding the visionary Indian directors and other technicians who make movie watching a magical experience.
The documentary is a small but significant one, and in the span of one hour and fourteen minutes, it ends up describing a lot of SS Rajamouli as a person on and off the set. There is a lot to uncover and discover about the man who has delivered back-to-back hits with...
The documentary is a small but significant one, and in the span of one hour and fourteen minutes, it ends up describing a lot of SS Rajamouli as a person on and off the set. There is a lot to uncover and discover about the man who has delivered back-to-back hits with...
- 8/5/2024
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
When Dulquer Salmaan Revealed Shocking Truth About Hatred From Malayalam Fans!(Photo Credit –Instagram)
Malayalam film enthusiasts have noticed that Dulquer Salmaan, one of their favorite actors, is appearing less frequently in Malayalam movies. In a past interview with noted film critic Baradwaj Rangan, Dulquer opened up about the reasons behind this decision, which has since become widely discussed online.
Dulquer revealed that there is a persistent group that targets him whenever he works in Tamil and Telugu films. He mentioned that while he values his identity as Mammootty’s son, relying solely on his father’s name isn’t sustainable. He stated the importance of building his own identity in the film industry.
“Even though I am Mammootty’s son, I want to be recognized as Dulquer Salmaan. There are always people who won’t let me escape that label, often for their own reasons. When I succeed in...
Malayalam film enthusiasts have noticed that Dulquer Salmaan, one of their favorite actors, is appearing less frequently in Malayalam movies. In a past interview with noted film critic Baradwaj Rangan, Dulquer opened up about the reasons behind this decision, which has since become widely discussed online.
Dulquer revealed that there is a persistent group that targets him whenever he works in Tamil and Telugu films. He mentioned that while he values his identity as Mammootty’s son, relying solely on his father’s name isn’t sustainable. He stated the importance of building his own identity in the film industry.
“Even though I am Mammootty’s son, I want to be recognized as Dulquer Salmaan. There are always people who won’t let me escape that label, often for their own reasons. When I succeed in...
- 7/29/2024
- by Vishnu Priya
- KoiMoi
Fahadh Faasil Shares His Blunt Advice To The Audience. (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Fahadh Faasil has proven his mettle as an actor and earned his loyal fan following by proving he’s among the most versatile Indian actors in the present era. As of now, he’s enjoying the tremendous response of Aavesham, and while celebrations are in full swing, his latest blunt advice for the audience has triggered mixed reactions. Keep reading to know more!
In the past couple of years, Fahadh has seen a considerable rise in his popularity. It’s not just about his films, but even his characters have made a special place in the hearts of the audience. His latest release, Aavesham, has also turned out to be a huge success, and the actor is receiving immense praise for his portrayal of Ranga. Amid this, the actor has spoken about not taking films too seriously.
In...
Fahadh Faasil has proven his mettle as an actor and earned his loyal fan following by proving he’s among the most versatile Indian actors in the present era. As of now, he’s enjoying the tremendous response of Aavesham, and while celebrations are in full swing, his latest blunt advice for the audience has triggered mixed reactions. Keep reading to know more!
In the past couple of years, Fahadh has seen a considerable rise in his popularity. It’s not just about his films, but even his characters have made a special place in the hearts of the audience. His latest release, Aavesham, has also turned out to be a huge success, and the actor is receiving immense praise for his portrayal of Ranga. Amid this, the actor has spoken about not taking films too seriously.
In...
- 4/24/2024
- by Shalmesh More
- KoiMoi
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal is not everyone’s cup of tea and this tea is Green tea which most people won’t like.
Sandeep’s film again quoting one of the famous Quentin Tarantino Quote.
“Violence is one of the most fun things to watch”
See what others are saying.
#SandeepReddyVanga’s #Animal makes a caveman-psychopath its hero and becomes a (mostly) thrilling ode to our animalistic nature
The film is not consistently gripping, but it packs in so much that it’s hard to look away.#AnimalMovieReview…
— Baradwaj Rangan (@baradwajrangan) December 1, 2023
#Animal – Mass Done Right
“Violence is one of the most fun things to watch” – Quentin Tarantino
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has redefined expectations with his latest creation, fully delivering on the hype and promises with minor hiccups. This god-level violent, gory and… pic.twitter.com/Cad1F81SXW
— The Cinéprism (@TheCineprism) December 1, 2023
#RashmikaMandanna was trolled for this scene...
Sandeep’s film again quoting one of the famous Quentin Tarantino Quote.
“Violence is one of the most fun things to watch”
See what others are saying.
#SandeepReddyVanga’s #Animal makes a caveman-psychopath its hero and becomes a (mostly) thrilling ode to our animalistic nature
The film is not consistently gripping, but it packs in so much that it’s hard to look away.#AnimalMovieReview…
— Baradwaj Rangan (@baradwajrangan) December 1, 2023
#Animal – Mass Done Right
“Violence is one of the most fun things to watch” – Quentin Tarantino
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has redefined expectations with his latest creation, fully delivering on the hype and promises with minor hiccups. This god-level violent, gory and… pic.twitter.com/Cad1F81SXW
— The Cinéprism (@TheCineprism) December 1, 2023
#RashmikaMandanna was trolled for this scene...
- 12/1/2023
- by CineArticles Editorial Team
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
Pebbles (Tamil: Koozhangal) is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by debutant Ps Vinothraj. The film was produced by Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara under the Rowdy Pictures banner. Featuring music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, the film had cinematography handled by Jeya Parthipan and Vignesh Kumulai and was edited by Ganesh Siva1
The film tells the story of a father and son who embark on a journey to bring back the mother who had left them due to domestic violence. The film is set in two arid hamlets separated by a distance of 13 kilometers from the down South of Tamil Nadu, where the land and human emotions lay brazenly palpable in the scorching heat12
Pebbles Trailer
The film is based on a real incident of director Vinothraj’s family which inspired him to direct the film. He spent a lot of time looking for an arid landscape, which was required...
The film tells the story of a father and son who embark on a journey to bring back the mother who had left them due to domestic violence. The film is set in two arid hamlets separated by a distance of 13 kilometers from the down South of Tamil Nadu, where the land and human emotions lay brazenly palpable in the scorching heat12
Pebbles Trailer
The film is based on a real incident of director Vinothraj’s family which inspired him to direct the film. He spent a lot of time looking for an arid landscape, which was required...
- 10/19/2023
- by CineArticles Editorial Team
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
Mollywood fans are eagerly waiting for the birthday of megastar Mammootty, who will turn 71 on September 7. According to multiple reports, the actor’s birthday will be a treat for both him and his fans, as he is collaborating with ace filmmaker Amal Neerad again after the blockbuster Big B and the upcoming Bheeshma Parvam. The duo has a huge fan following for their stylish and massy films, and many were expecting them to reunite for the sequel of Big B, titled Bilal. However, recent rumours suggest that their new project is not Bilal, but something else.
Sita Ram Trailer
Now, another twist has come to the September 7 story. The much-awaited Dulquer Salmaan-Mammootty combo, which never happened before but the whole industry is waiting for, will also happen in this film. Yes, you heard it right. The father-son duo will share screen space for the first time in Amal Neerad’s film.
Sita Ram Trailer
Now, another twist has come to the September 7 story. The much-awaited Dulquer Salmaan-Mammootty combo, which never happened before but the whole industry is waiting for, will also happen in this film. Yes, you heard it right. The father-son duo will share screen space for the first time in Amal Neerad’s film.
- 9/3/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
A focus on “Rrr” director S.S. Rajamouli will kick off “Modern Masters,” a documentary series on contemporary Indian creators.
The series is coproduced by the 60 billion Aditya Birla group’s prolific content production arm, Applause Entertainment, headed by Indian television pioneer Sameer Nair and Film Companion, one of India’s leading English-language entertainment journalism platforms, led by former Variety journalist Anupama Chopra.
Originated by former Film Companion journalist Baradwaj Rangan and Avinash Prakash, who works for the platform, the series developed because Chopra felt the dearth of credible documentaries on contemporary Indian cinema.
“I feel like the Indian film industry is not very good with archiving,” Chopra told Variety. “I couldn’t even think of one or two really solid documentaries, which capture an artist at a place and a time, which then becomes a portrait not just of the artists, but also of that specific zeitgeist and of that specific moment in history.
The series is coproduced by the 60 billion Aditya Birla group’s prolific content production arm, Applause Entertainment, headed by Indian television pioneer Sameer Nair and Film Companion, one of India’s leading English-language entertainment journalism platforms, led by former Variety journalist Anupama Chopra.
Originated by former Film Companion journalist Baradwaj Rangan and Avinash Prakash, who works for the platform, the series developed because Chopra felt the dearth of credible documentaries on contemporary Indian cinema.
“I feel like the Indian film industry is not very good with archiving,” Chopra told Variety. “I couldn’t even think of one or two really solid documentaries, which capture an artist at a place and a time, which then becomes a portrait not just of the artists, but also of that specific zeitgeist and of that specific moment in history.
- 1/17/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Noted composer G. V. Prakash Kumar and music director Sneha Khanwalkar shared the knowledge of ‘Beats and Rhythm’ to participants of International Film Festival of India (Iffi).
G. V. Prakash Kumar and Sneha Khanwalkar addressed the participants in the Masterclass on the topic ‘Beats and Rhythm’ on Saturday.
“There are no hard-core and static rules to compose for a film. Composing for a film is based on the demand of the story and director,” said G. V. Prakash Kumar.
He said that music has no continuity, it’s always situational and dynamic. “Music score should tell the story, portray the character and justify the situation, in a way enriching the whole experience of the story-telling process,” he added.
He said that music is an essential part of our life and culture and it has been with us since our inception.
Sharing his experience of composing for various films, he said...
G. V. Prakash Kumar and Sneha Khanwalkar addressed the participants in the Masterclass on the topic ‘Beats and Rhythm’ on Saturday.
“There are no hard-core and static rules to compose for a film. Composing for a film is based on the demand of the story and director,” said G. V. Prakash Kumar.
He said that music has no continuity, it’s always situational and dynamic. “Music score should tell the story, portray the character and justify the situation, in a way enriching the whole experience of the story-telling process,” he added.
He said that music is an essential part of our life and culture and it has been with us since our inception.
Sharing his experience of composing for various films, he said...
- 11/26/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
OpinionThe argument that you need the validation of a film appreciation course or a film school to write a piece of film criticism can end up de-democratising the space.Neelima MenonDuring an earlier interview to an online portal, actor Mohanlal, while promoting his film Aaraattu, had a rather controversial opinion to share. “People who have no relation to cinema are criticising it. Do you even know anything about editing when you comment on it? You should have some idea about filmmaking. In Hyderabad, they love their cinema and won’t write any negative stuff about it. They respect the industry. I am not sure if that is prevalent here,” the veteran actor said. Not only was this comment condemned and trolled on social media, but a section of the audience also felt that this was a petty remark, especially coming from an actor of Mohanlal’s stature. More so, considering...
- 11/20/2022
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
The first Tamil film to be shot in Super 35 mm instead of the Cinemascope format, as well as the first to be released in digital format, “Pudhupettai” was not a crowning success for Selvaraghavan from the beginning. Instead, it gained its status almost 10 years after its release when Baradwaj Rangan of The Hindu retrospectively praised the film for its innovative and subversive tone, stating “Ten years on, we still haven’t seen another film so unapologetic about the truth that crime does pay. Currently, it is considered one of the best crime movies ever to come out of the Tamil movie industry.
on Amazon
The story is narrated by the main character, “Kokki” Kumar, who, as the movie begins, lies in a jail cell and reminisces about the past. Kumar is a secondary school student who lives in the slums of Pudhupettai in Chennai. After he finds...
on Amazon
The story is narrated by the main character, “Kokki” Kumar, who, as the movie begins, lies in a jail cell and reminisces about the past. Kumar is a secondary school student who lives in the slums of Pudhupettai in Chennai. After he finds...
- 4/17/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
KollywoodActor Shabeer Kallarakkal’s performance as Dancing Rose in director Pa Ranjith’s recently released sports drama ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’ has won praise from audiences as well as critics.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ Amazon Prime VideoActor Shabeer Kallarakkal is winning hearts with his performance as Dancing Rose in director Pa Ranjith’s period sports drama Sarpatta Parambarai, which released on Amazon Prime Video on Thursday, July 22. Shortly after the film's release, a new workout video of the actor surfaced online. The video posted by LetsOTT Global, an aggregator platform that posts updates about Over-the-top (Ott) platforms, features Shabeer’s intensive workout and visuals of the rigorous physical routine he followed in preparation for his role in the movie. The workout video features several exercises that are part of High-intensity Interval Training (Hiit), as well as the ones that fall under agility and balance training. Shabeer’s performance as Dancing Rose in Sarpatta has...
- 7/22/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
ControversyThe 'Nenjam Marappathillai' director's response to Film Companion South landed him in a Twitter storm. Tnm StaffYouTube ScreengrabDirector Selvaraghavan, who is currently promoting his film Nenjam Marappathillai starring Sj Suryah in the lead, has found himself in the middle of an internet storm. The film released in theatres on March 5 after a very long delay. The controversy is centered around a character named Ramasamy aka Ramsay in the film. In the interview by film writer and critic Baradwaj Rangan for Film Companion South, Selvaraghavan is asked if he based the film’s lead character named Ramasamy aka Ramsay on Dravidian leader Ev Ramasamy, also known as Periyar. The question was: “When Ayirathil Oruvan released, everyone said that it was a veiled commentary about Eelam. I’m not asking you about that but is this a veiled commentary on something else, given the fact that you’re pitching god against somebody called Ramasamy.
- 3/10/2021
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
CinemaFrom an emotional role in ‘Soorarai Pottru’ to a comical one in ‘Mookuthi Amman’, Urvashi has stolen the show in several recent Ott releases.Fahir MaithuttyUrvashi in Mookuthi Amman and Soorarai PottruWhen Varane Avashyamundu released earlier this year in theatres, most of the movie’s posters featured the four lead actors – Suresh Gopi, Shobana, Dulquer Salman and Kalyani Priyadarshan. The movie was promoted as the comeback vehicle for Suresh Gopi and Shobana. Urvashi played only an extended cameo in the movie. But perhaps the best scene of the movie was when Urvashi sits opposite Kalyani Priyadarshan in a restaurant, holds her hands and says, “This wedding will not happen. I thought my son was like me. But he’s like his father. It’s better that you don’t come into our family”. While passing a subtle yet important message in Varane Avashyamundu, director Anoop Sathyan perhaps could not have...
- 11/18/2020
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
AwardsPrabhu Deva won Best Choreographer for ‘Rowdy Baby’ from ‘Maari 2’.Tnm StaffThe first edition of the Zee Cine Awards Tamil 2020 saw the best of Tamil cinema between December 2018 and November 2019 being honoured on Saturday night. The award show was a star studded affair with top actors including Kamal Hasan, Dhanush, Nayantara, and Samantha in attendance. The jury comprised directors Gautham Menon, Karu Palaniappan, Bharatbala, actor-director Suhasini Maniratnam, and film critic Baradwaj Rangan. Here is the full list of winners: Dhanush took home the prize for Best Actor - Male for his performance in the Vetrimaaran directorial Asuran. Aishwarya Rajesh won Best Actor - Female for her role in the sports drama Kanaa. Dhruv Vikram bagged Best Debut Actor - Male for his role in Adhithya Varma, the remake of Telugu film Arjun Reddy. Lijomol Jose took home Best Debut Actor - Female for her portrayal in Sivappu Manjal Pachai. This one at #ZeeCineAwardsTamil2020 pic.
- 1/5/2020
- by Manasa
- The News Minute
Controversy Vijay is apparently soon going to "school" people on social media with film critic Baradwaj Rangan as his moderator.Priyanka RichiIt seems like the controversy around Vijay Deverakonda’s 2017 film Arjun Reddy is not going to die down anytime soon. Recently, actor Parvathy received praise on social media for pointing out the misogyny in Arjun Reddy in front of Vijay Deverakonda at a round table discussion hosted by Film Companion. The actor explained how the movie glorified toxic masculinity and compared it to Joker, stating that in her opinion, the latter was an example of a film that didn't glorify violence but showed the trajectory of a mentally disturbed character. The discussion soon led to explosions on social media with many applauding Parvathy for speaking her mind and once again pointing out the normalisation of abuse in relationships. Though Vijay Deverakonda tried defending the film at the round table,...
- 11/28/2019
- by Nimeshika
- The News Minute
CinemaKamal managed to learn Carnatic music for more than a year amidst his tight acting schedule and this manifested itself in the musical output of his films.Anand Kumar RSYouTube screenshot of ‘Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Nyannum’ songThis week, on the 65th birthday of actor Kamal Haasan, we are also celebrating his 60 years in cinema. It is well-documented that Kamal started out as a child actor and has then gone on to become one of the most accomplished actors this country has ever seen. But we all know that Kamal is not just an actor. He is a walking, talking ‘Filmipedia’, with all-round knowledge on various aspects of film making from the rudimentary to the sophisticated. Right from the beginning of his career as an adult actor, Kamal didn’t see himself as just an actor. He always wanted to be a technician and eventually a filmmaker. The initial years of...
- 11/7/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
MollywoodAs the experimental filmmaker’s newest work ‘Jallikattu’ is about to release, we take a look at his subjects and the treatment, and what sets the director apart.CrisLijo Jose Pellissery / Sooraj Pisharody photographyLijo Jose Pellissery has got to be a workaholic. When his film Ee.Ma.Yau. was receiving honours at the Goa film festival last year, all Lijo could think about was the movie he'd stopped shooting to make the trip. That film – Jallikattu – is now receiving admiration and applause internationally, having had a premiere outside of India. Lijo, however, does not want to talk too much about it before the Indian release. He says he has said all that there is to say, when we ask for an interview. In all probability he has begun work for his next work. “It is almost like he has got a machine,” says film critic Baradwaj Rangan, impressed with the...
- 10/3/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
CinemaThe Hindi film 'Gangs of Wasseypur' was the only Indian film to feature on the list and we asked critics for their favourites from south cinema that deserved a mention too.Anjana ShekarScreenshot/NetflixThe Guardian’s List of '100 Best Films of the 21st Century' was announced on Friday and Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur at No.59 was the only Indian film to feature on the list. Such international lists on cinema turn the spotlight towards a country’s filmmaking talent, giving the films their due recognition. Time Magazine's 'All-time 100 Movie List' had Mani Ratnam's Nayagan apart from Satyajit Ray's The Apu Triology and the 1957 Guru Dutt film Pyaasa. However, it is rare for a film from the south Indian industries to get featured on a global list. Despite several critically acclaimed Indian films being made every year in languages other than Hindi, Indian cinema...
- 9/17/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
ObituaryMani Ratnam and Sriram started Aalayam Productions together and later parted ways.Tnm StaffProducer S Sriram of Aalayam Productions passed away in Chennai on Wednesday. He was in his mid-60s. Sriram had a mild heart attack four days ago and was undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai. He passed away on Wednesday morning and is survived by his wife Nalini Sriram, a well-known costume designer, and son Nikhil Sriram. Sriram and Mani Ratnam had together started Aalayam Productions. The two of them were friends. In Baradwaj Rangan's book Conversations with Mani Ratnam, the director says that Aalayam started out with films like K Subash's Chatriyan (1990), starring Vijayakant. The film is still considered to be among the best thrillers to come out of Tamil cinema. Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda was also made under the same banner. The two of them made a few more films together, including the blockbuster Bombay,...
- 9/4/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
KollywoodWhile the ‘I-won’t-invite-you-to-my-birthday-party’ tone of the circular is childish and immature, critics and reviewers say it has no legal standing.Anjana ShekarPic courtesy: Picxy.comIn a contentious move, film producers in Tamil Nadu have decided to ban journalists who write 'unnecessarily harsh' reviews of Tamil films, or criticise actors, directors, producers or other industry professionals. The decision was taken by the Tamil Film Producers’ Council Consulting Union and South Indian Film Media Pro Union on Monday. This comes on the back of several producers and filmmakers making bitter comments against reviewers, and is widely seen as a juvenile move by the organisations involved. In a joint circular, the two unions said they were taking measures to cut down “unmanageable costs” incurred by production houses while organising press meets for their films. The move to sideline reviewers and critics was slipped in however, along with a threat that legal action...
- 7/9/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe duo, who share the same birthday, have given us music that has transcended generations and continues to stay engraved in our hearts.Anand Kumar RSLast they worked together was in the year 1991 and it has been 28 long years since that film, Thalapathy. Yet, even to this day, the work they have done together is highly acclaimed and remembered fondly by fans of south Indian cinema. In the annals of Tamil cinema, there are many composer-director duos who are revered. Their works survive the test of time and continue to stay engraved in our hearts. The duo of Ilaiyaraaja-Mani Ratnam is one such pair whose works have transcended generations and continue to warm our hearts and soul. What made them tick as a pair so well? Both Raaja and Mani were born on this day (June 2), 13 years apart. So, it probably could be the stars! More seriously, for a pair...
- 6/2/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
CinemaThis is the third edition of the festival.Tnm StaffFile image | Facebook/Nitte International film Festival Mangaluru’s third edition of the Nitte International Film Festival, hosted by the Nitte University, will be held for four days from April 8 to 11 this year. The festival has curated a total of 75 films in different languages including Hindi, Tulu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Portuguese and French this year and will see about 40 filmmakers from across the country in attendance. Speaking to Tnm, Professor Raviraj Kini, festival coordinator, says, “Very few films find a release in Mangaluru. The festival was a students' initiative to bring good cinema here, to encourage more people to watch good films. We have done two very successful editions so far.” The line-up this year includes award-winning films like Ee Ma Yau (Malayalam), Kaala (Tamil), Paddayi (Tulu), October (Hindi), Tumbbad (Hindi), Redu (Marathi), Dithee (Marathi), Sarkari Hiriya...
- 4/6/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
KollywoodMarimuthu, who recently acted in ‘Pariyerum Perumal’, said that there was nothing wrong with Vairamuthu calling women to his room, since he was a man and had hormones. Tnm StaffScreenshot/YouTubeActor and director Marimuthu, who has played supporting roles in a number of films and was recently seen in Pariyerum Perumal, has justified sexual harassment as he spoke up in favour of lyricist Vairamuthu against #MeToo allegations. In addition, he used homophobia as a defence of Vairamuthu. Marimuthu has been acquainted with Vairamuthu since his early days in the Tamil film industry. And speaking on the #MeToo movement, Marimuthu did not deny the allegations against Vairamuthu in an interview. Instead, he bizarrely chose to ask what was wrong with such behaviour. “It would have been humiliating if he’d been accused of stealing from a jewellery shop. He’s been accused of calling a woman to his room. So what?...
- 10/30/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
The Jio Mami 20th Mumbai Film Festival will take place from 25th October to 1st November. Baradwaj Rangan recommends ten films that should make it to your watch list – not necessarily because they are the best films, but because they are unique and the kind of films festivals are made for
The post Top 10 World Cinema Titles You Should Not Miss At Mami appeared first on Film Companion.
The post Top 10 World Cinema Titles You Should Not Miss At Mami appeared first on Film Companion.
- 10/19/2018
- by Baradwaj Rangan
- Film Companion
CinemaFrom 'Vishwaroopam 2' to '96', several films have had the morning show cancelled, leaving fans disappointed.Anjana ShekarVijay Sethupathi-Trisha’s most awaited romantic flick of the year, 96, was released on Thursday. But close to 600 people who had reserved tickets for early morning shows at Rohini Silver Screens, hoping to catch the film's first show, were in for a disappointment when they learnt that the special show at 5.30 am had been cancelled in the last minute. Some having travelled several kilometres early in the morning were visibly angry at this unexpected letdown and had to be pacified by the theatre employees. It almost seemed as if the film’s 10.00 am show would be cancelled too. Disaster opening for #96TheMovie Early morning shows cancelled. Rest not much. Better hero of the movie pays It. — Ranga Subramaniya (@RangaSubramanim) October 4, 2018 Another early morning at the theatre. Another cancelled show. So what's new,...
- 10/8/2018
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
Film Commentary'Kaala' is a deliberately crafted anti-thesis to 'Nayakan', rewritten from a Dalit-Bahujan perspective.Rajesh RajamaniLike any other film by Pa Ranjith, the release of Kaala (2018) too witnessed several analytical and 'de-coding' pieces written on it. One thing that was common among all these pieces is that they compared Kaala with Mani Ratnam's Nayakan (1987) on some point or the other. This was understandable for two reasons. One, the story in both movies is located in Dharavi, Mumbai. And secondly, one of them starred Kamal Hassan and the other, Rajinikanth. The careers of these two competing stars have been continuously compared and contrasted since the 1980s. Ashameera Aiyappan (The Indian Express) wrote, “Even the story of a vigilante gangster in the slums of Dharavi isn’t new — we have Nayagan, a classic that will be cherished by generations, from Mani Ratnam again.” S Shivakumar (The Hindu) claimed, “The...
- 8/30/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Film journalismFrom being compelled to give good reviews to facing fan abuse, entertainment reporters don't have it easy.Geetika MantriFrom left: Baradwaj Rangan, Anupama Chopra, Hemanth Kumar, Neelima MenonAbout a fortnight ago, comedian Kapil Sharma made the news for verbally abusing a senior journalist, Vickey Lalwani. The latter, who is the editor of SpotboyE, had apparently written negatively about Kapil, which led him to call Vickey. In the video that has since gone viral, Kapil threatens Vickey saying he would hurt him if they met. He also says that Vickey’s daughter is trying to "sleep with him" and that he should write about that. Not surprisingly, the comedian’s response has caused shock and outrage. For journalists who cover entertainment and films however, being questioned by film celebrities for writing negative reviews is everyday life. Compelled to give good reviews Baradwaj Rangan, a noted film critic and reviewer, tells Tnm that with Tamil films especially, there is a culture of treating stars with kid gloves. “People have had to give good reviews to films because they have been promised interviews,” he says. “Over the years, Tamil press has kind of developed a situation where it's a give and take. Don't soft pedal a certain film, and they will not get access to the big star… and cinema sells in the state, so it’s a loss for them,” he adds. This has happened with Baradwaj, too – he admits that he has found it difficult to get interviews if he has given those stars’ films a negative review. Maneesh Narayanan has worked as a Malayalam film journalist for about a decade. He talks about a time when he hosted a show for Indiavision channel in 2011 and how actors would refuse to cooperate if their work was not reviewed in positive light. “Say if I give a negative review for their film and they are invited for another show, they would plainly refuse. But at the same time, there were also actors and directors who take the criticisms positively,” he says. How the stars take it Hemanth Kumar Cr, a film journalist who reviews Telugu films, says that he has not faced a situation in which he has been denied access because of a negative review. “I think it does not matter to the big stars what review you give. The newer actors, however, are keen to know why their film or performance has not worked. So, they read the reviews and take it sportingly,” he says. However, the topic might come up the next time he runs into the celebrities. “They may ask me to justify why I wrote what I wrote. But if I am able to justify why I disliked a film, or something about it, it makes up for a lot,” he says. Jogi, who has worked as a Kannada film journalist for three decades, has a similar view. For big stars especially, the reviews do not seem to matter. And if a reviewer gives a decent star rating, what is written in the review counts even less. However, it's different for TV. “When a TV channel gives a bad review, some people get flustered," he says. Neelima Menon, who runs a website that reviews Malayalam films – Fullpicture.in – has also heard of directors “calling up and blasting the journalists for giving the film a negative review”, especially in mainstream newspapers. “They demand to know why we have written what we have written," she says. Getting abuse from fans Even if the stars and directors themselves do not pull up film journalists, their fans are another story. For example, Ramnath Goenka awardee Anna Vetticad, faced plenty of name-calling and accusations online after she critiqued Baahubali: The Conclusion. She gave the film a 2.25/5 rating and called it a “cocktail of grand stunts, visuals, terrible acting, closeted conservatism.” Here are some examples of the kind of responses Baahubali fans sent her after her review. I repeat: this kind of response to film reviews is pretty routine these days...#BaahubaliTheConclusion #Bahubali2 #MovieReview pic.twitter.com/DWkqJQnL27 — Anna Mm Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017 Ah, here comes the Pope. Inevitable, of course.#Baahubali #baahubali2 #Bahubali pic.twitter.com/nwLAW3IAPh — Anna Mm Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017 This kind of response to film reviews is pretty routine these days...#BaahubaliTheConclusion #Bahubali2 #MovieReview pic.twitter.com/YCEjfyCMfq — Anna Mm Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017 This is indeed common for entertainment journalists. While Neelima has not had a film celebrity question her on her review, she too has been harassed and criticised on social media. Such abuse is common, especially when a big star's film gets negative reviews. “It happened with me when I did not give a warm review to Villain. Mohanlal fans were not pleased. Mammootty fans also do the same sometimes, but I just ignore and block them," she says. She concedes, however, that had she been writing in Malayalam, the backlash would have been a lot more severe. “I think they are kinder to negative reviews in English,” she notes. It works the other way too – when Hemanth gave Mahesh Babu starrer Khaleja (2010) a glowing review, his fans were happy. But because the film wasn’t popular, he got trolled by others on social media for giving a ‘bad’ film a positive review. “There’s a running joke among fans,” Hemanth chuckles, “they think that if I have given a film a glowing review, it’s going to bomb at the box office.” Cinema over stardom Both Baradwaj and Hemanth say that people in the film industry holding grudges for negative stuff that’s written about them cannot be generalised to an entire industry. “The newer directors are more open to negative reviews and criticism,” observes Baradwaj. “I think it’s because they give precedence to filmmaking and cinema over the box office. The younger stars I talk to may not be happy with a review but are willing to discuss and fight it out, which I think is okay.” He gives the example of director Karthik Subbaraj, whom he recently interviewed. They had a conversation about how some of the individual scenes in a film of his were fantastic, but the film itself did not tie together well. Karthik took it well. “But there are some stars to whom it’s difficult to say these things,” Baradwaj says. Jogi, too, has noticed that the celebrities who care about how their work is portrayed in the media are usually the younger ones. “It's the artistes who are three or four films in -- they get hurt by negative reviews. But in my experience, they don't call to lash out or be angry. They're hurt, and they call to complain. They're not rude or angry,” he says. Hemanth, meanwhile, feels that a star is more likely to cut off access after a nasty gossip column, especially in newspapers. “It does not matter if there is no byline… It is easy to figure out who must have written it. If an actor does not like what’s written about their personal life, they are more likely to cut you off than for criticism of their work,” he says. All about the business Jogi has observed that over the years, people have started to bother less about the film, and more about the business aspect of it. “The number of people who watch films after reading a review has reduced. Now, most people go by what is said on Facebook, or the rating on platforms like BookMyShow,” he says. Even the questions that are asked these days, Jogi notes, are about how much money the movie made, rather than the scenes in the movie, or the story. Hemanth points out that film journalists face flak if they do not take the public sentiment into account. “You either go with the popular opinion, or you go with how you see it," he says. Hemanth relies on the latter, and does not give prominence to the public pulse or the box office. “But it is the box office which matters to most people. At the end of the day, they want to know if they should spend their money to go for the film," he points out. Further, it’s not as though film journalists have not taken favours or gifts from celebrities. “There have been transactions between film journalists to go soft on certain releases,” Jogi concedes. “Now, however, film producers have started tying up with media houses, and are paying them quite legally as part of 'promotions'. We can't call it right or wrong, but that's the way the industry works today. So, there's no need to pay journalists any more.” It’s all about integrity Anupama Chopra, film critic and founder of Film Companion, says that there have been multiple occasions when a Bollywood celebrity has refused to speak with her after a negative review. And while she understands why it must be upsetting for those who have worked on a film, she does not let it affect her work. “I admire people who can take [criticism] on the chin and genuinely don’t get upset in a personal manner. I understand the other reaction as well, but I do not spend time thinking about what’s fair and not fair,” she says. She also points out that film journalists in India have a tougher job. “Most film critics in the West are not interviewers. Ideally, that demarcation should be there, but in India, it’s not like that,” Anupama explains. A lot of times, fans and film stars also try to indirectly influence journalists. “Many have told me subtly not to trouble them, which is in a way asking me to give a good review. But then, once people know that you are not biased, they will not try to influence you,” Maneesh says. That being said, Anupama points out that a film review is a “subjective truth”. “But it is part of my job and it is my truth. And if I cannot bring that to the table at the end of the day, then I should just stop doing it. It’s all about maintaining integrity,” she asserts. (Inputs from Megha Varier and Ragamalika Karthikeyan)...
- 4/19/2018
- by Geetika
- The News Minute
Baradwaj Rangan Answers questions on Aruvi. A Movie starring Aditi Balan directed by Arun Prabhu Purshothaman.
- 1/5/2018
- Film Companion
Baradwaj Rangan answers questions on Velaikkaran. The movie stars Sivakarthikeyan and Nayanthara directed by Mohan Raja...
- 1/5/2018
- Film Companion
Baradwaj Rangan answers your questions on Michael Madana Kamarajan, a 1990 Tamil language comedy film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film also feature a large ensemble cast alongside Kamal Haasan, Urvashi, Rupini, Kushboo played the female leads.
- 1/5/2018
- Film Companion
Baradwaj Rangan declares 2017 as the year of the debut director. He talks about Maanagaram, Dora, 8 Thottakkal, Pa Pandi, Lens, Oru Kidayin Karunai Manu, Uru, Rangoon, Maragatha Nanayam, Pandigai, Neruppu Da, Aval, Meyadha Maan and Aruvi.
- 1/4/2018
- Film Companion
25 years ago, on Deepavali, we saw the release of a film that Kamal Haasan wrote and acted in -- Thevar Magan, which became one of his biggest blockbusters. In this video essay, Baradwaj Rangan takes a look at the things that make the film so special. From the cast (Kamal Haasan, Sivaji Ganesan, Revathy, Gautami, Nasser, Vadivelu) to the music (Ilaiyaraaja), cinematography (PC Sreeram) and direction (Bharathan).
- 10/17/2017
- Film Companion
Actor Ramya Krishnan who played the matriarch and queen Sivagami in the Baahubali films turned 47 on Friday. The actor who made her debut at the age of 13, has acted in over 200 films across languages.
In a recent interview to film critic Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion, Ramya Krishnan spoke about her journey in the industry and life after Baahubali.
In a recent interview to film critic Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion, Ramya Krishnan spoke about her journey in the industry and life after Baahubali.
- 9/16/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
Ahead of his Bollywood directorial debut with Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Rs Prasanna talks to Baradwaj Rangan about directorial stand points and the difference between Bollywood cinema and Tamil cinema.
- 8/31/2017
- Film Companion
Our Fc South Editor Baradwaj Rangan chats with Carnatic Music Vocalist T.M Krishna, about Film Songs and Classical music. Here they discuss the negative and positive connotations film music carries in relation with the good old classical taste.
- 8/7/2017
- Film Companion
Baradwaj Rangan interviews Pushkar and Gayatri, directors of the soon-to-be-released movie, Vikram Vedha.
- 7/3/2017
- Film Companion
Tamil filmmaker Balaji Mohan speaks about his new web series on Hotstar 'As I'm Suffering From Kadhal'. He describes it as a show with 'a mature understanding of relationships and lots of humour'. Here, he tells Baradwaj Rangan about his journey of making films in both the commercial and short genres...
- 6/15/2017
- Film Companion
An easy guide to all the 29 films that Baradwaj Rangan watched at the 70th edition of the French film festival...
- 6/1/2017
- Film Companion
Ahead of the release of Thupparivaalan, here's part 2 of Baradwaj Rangan's visit to the sets of the film to chat with filmmaker Mysskin. The film stars Vishal as a Sherlock Holmes inspired detective.
- 5/27/2017
- Film Companion
On his last day at the Cannes Film Festival, Baradwaj Rangan's thoughts on the Safdie Brothers' Good Time, François Ozon's L'Amant Double and more...
- 5/26/2017
- Film Companion
Ahead of the release of Thupparivaalan starring Vishal, Baradwaj Rangan visits the sets of the film to chat with filmmaker Mysskin. Here the filmmaker shows us his filmmaking notes, talks about why his collaboration with Kamal Hassan fell through & the fundamentals of his filmmaking...
- 5/24/2017
- Film Companion
Post the stupendous success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, actress Ramya Krishnan tells our Fc South editor Baradwaj Rangan how playing Sivagami has changed her life...
- 5/15/2017
- Film Companion
Mumbai, Nov 25: Actor Abhishek Bachchan describes Mani Ratnam as a "cinematic genius" and urges movie lovers to grab a copy of film critic Baradwaj Rangan's book "Conversations With Mani Ratnam" and read it.
"I have just finished reading 'Conversations With Mani Ratnam' by Baradwaj Rangan. If you enjoy cinema, then you must try and get a copy of the book. A great insight into the mind of someone I consider a cinematic genius," tweeted Abhishek.
Abhishek has been part of three of his films − "Yuva" (2004), "Guru" (2007) and 2010 film "Raavan".
Ratnam, 56, is known for his landmark Tamil movies like "Mouna Raagam".
"I have just finished reading 'Conversations With Mani Ratnam' by Baradwaj Rangan. If you enjoy cinema, then you must try and get a copy of the book. A great insight into the mind of someone I consider a cinematic genius," tweeted Abhishek.
Abhishek has been part of three of his films − "Yuva" (2004), "Guru" (2007) and 2010 film "Raavan".
Ratnam, 56, is known for his landmark Tamil movies like "Mouna Raagam".
- 11/25/2012
- by Shiva Prakash
- RealBollywood.com
Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal’s divine comedy Omg Oh My God released this past Friday and it seems that the audience has taken this film to heart becuase early totals say that Omg collected approx Rs 18.5 cr at the box office. Not only that Omg Oh My God has managed to garner some rave reviews from most of the critics. We hear at BollySpice loved the film! Now there is even cooler news because Omg has found fans in the Bollywood industry
Many stars took to a micro-blogging site and rooted for the film.
Salman Khan @BeingSalmanKhan
Any 1 saw Omg ? Ya heard its fantastic. Definitely gonna see it tomm or day after . No thx dude , don’t wanna hear the story , vil see it n hear em thr . Matlab vil hear the dialogues frm akki n paresh , thank u but aap se nahi sunna , bilkul nahi . Obviously theatre close...
Many stars took to a micro-blogging site and rooted for the film.
Salman Khan @BeingSalmanKhan
Any 1 saw Omg ? Ya heard its fantastic. Definitely gonna see it tomm or day after . No thx dude , don’t wanna hear the story , vil see it n hear em thr . Matlab vil hear the dialogues frm akki n paresh , thank u but aap se nahi sunna , bilkul nahi . Obviously theatre close...
- 10/2/2012
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
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