Mani Ratnam says Hindi cinema should stop calling itself Bollywood; Vetri Maaran concurs

Mani Ratnam says Hindi cinema should stop calling itself Bollywood; Vetri Maaran concurs

Mani Ratnam on the sets of ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Veteran director Mani Ratnam, who attended the second edition of CII Dakshin Media and Entertainment Summit in Chennai, spoke at a panel which was about the impact of south Indian films. During the interaction, the filmmaker suggested that he was against the […]

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‘Viduthalai Part 1’ cinematographer Velraj: Vetri Maaran expects his technicians to understand the film’s politics

‘Viduthalai Part 1’ cinematographer Velraj: Vetri Maaran expects his technicians to understand the film’s politics

Velraj at the sets of ‘Viduthalai’ and Soori in a still from the film | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement This year, cinematographer R Velraj, who made his debut with the Hindi film Supari in 2003, completes 20 years in the industry. “I owe it to the blessings of the Almighty without which I couldn’t be […]

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Chetan on ‘Viduthalai’: Vetri Maaran said he’ll call me for the right role after ‘Polladhavan’ and it has been worth the wait

Chetan on ‘Viduthalai’: Vetri Maaran said he’ll call me for the right role after ‘Polladhavan’ and it has been worth the wait

Actor Chetan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement You know an actor has loved the character they’ve portrayed recently when a photo of them in that role becomes their WhatsApp display picture. That’s the case with Chetan, whose antagonistic character Ragavendar in director Vetri Maaran’s latest Viduthalai Part 1 has bought him appreciation. “It’s such a […]

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‘Viduthalai Part 1’ movie review: Soori shines in Vetri Maaran’s most politically-charged film yet

‘Viduthalai Part 1’ movie review: Soori shines in Vetri Maaran’s most politically-charged film yet

Soori in a still from ‘Viduthalai Part 1’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A look at director Vetri Maaran’s filmography shows us a common trope in all the films he has directed; they’re stories of ordinary men, underdogs who are trying to make a living for themselves, only to be unwittingly pulled into a world […]

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Soori on ‘Viduthalai’, the story behind its making, and his takeaway from a 25-year journey

Soori on ‘Viduthalai’, the story behind its making, and his takeaway from a 25-year journey

In both of Vetri Maaran’s Viduthalai films (parts 1 and 2), comedian Soori is playing the kadhayin naayagan (the plot’s hero) marking his first as the lead star. For those unversed, it might finally look like Soori’s jump to the top, after his parotta comedy sequence in Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009) made him a household […]

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Ilaiyaraaja: Vetri Maaran’s ‘Viduthalai’ is unlike anything you’ve seen in Tamil cinema

Ilaiyaraaja: Vetri Maaran’s ‘Viduthalai’ is unlike anything you’ve seen in Tamil cinema

The cast of crew of ‘Viduthalai’ at the film’s audio launch | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Director Vetri Maaran’s Viduthalai Part 1 is all set for release and with music by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja, an audio launch was definitely on the cards. Lady Andal school’s Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall was packed with fans […]

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Andrea Jeremiah discusses ‘Anel Meley Pani Thuli’, ‘Vada Chennai’ and why she doesn’t get too many author-backed roles

Andrea Jeremiah discusses ‘Anel Meley Pani Thuli’, ‘Vada Chennai’ and why she doesn’t get too many author-backed roles

“Nobody would cast me as a small-time Tamil ponnu,” proclaims Andrea Jeremiah, dropping several truth bombs about how the industry perceives her as an actor. The context: Andrea feels, as an Anglo-Indian, she has a certain stereotype about her looks that comes in the way when approached for some characters. For instance, her character in […]

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Manoj Bajpayee: I always have an urge to play characters who represent the middle-class

Manoj Bajpayee: I always have an urge to play characters who represent the middle-class

Manoj Bajpayee talks about working on the docu-series ‘India’s Untold Story: Secrets of the Kohinoor,’ what National Awards mean to an actor’s career, and his love for films from the South Manoj Bajpayee talks about working on the docu-series ‘India’s Untold Story: Secrets of the Kohinoor,’ what National Awards mean to an actor’s career, and […]

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