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‘Mathu Vadalara 2’ The crime-comedy Mathu Vadalara 2, directed by Ritesh Rana, has taken the box office by storm, turning into one of the most unexpected hits this year. Released on September 13, the film has not only enjoyed a successful theatrical run but is now ready to make its Ott debut. Streaming giant Netflix has acquired the movie for a substantial sum, and it will be available for viewers starting October 11.

Box-Office Success

The movie opened to strong numbers. According to early estimates from trade analyst Sacnilk, Mathu Vadalara 2 raked in approximately Rs 2.15 crore on its first day in India. Its international reception has also been impressive, with over $125,000 earned from premiere screenings in the USA alone.

About ‘Mathu Vadalara 2’

A sequel to the 2019 hit Mathu Vadalara, this film continues the story of two special agents who accidentally get involved in a murder investigation. Their journey takes a...

Vijay Deverakonda has created a buzz with the announcement of his upcoming film, tentatively titled Vd 12. Set to be released on March 28, 2025, the film is described as an action-packed drama, with Vijay taking on the role of a cop for the first time. The announcement was accompanied by intense posters featuring Vijay in a rugged, bearded look, drenched in the rain, and exuding an air of mystery and intensity. His Instagram post teasing the film was captioned:“His Destiny awaits him. Mistakes. Bloodshed. Questions. Rebirth. 28 March, 2025. #VD12”

Fans have been quick to react, calling it a “massive comeback” and anticipating it as his “next blockbuster.”

The film is expected to be a spy thriller, promising high-octane action sequences. This role marks Vijay’s debut as a police officer, adding to the excitement surrounding the project.

In recent news, Vijay Deverakonda’s cameo in Kalki 2898 Ad surprised many and earned him considerable praise.

Actress Mrunal Thakur is seen in a special cameo in the highly anticipated mega-starrer film ‘Kalki.’ The film boasts a stellar cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, and other prominent figures from the film industry.

Mrunal Thakur, known for her versatile acting skills, was quick to accept the offer to be part of ‘Kalki.’ She expressed her excitement and confidence in the project, which is produced by the esteemed trio Aswani Dutt, Swapna Dutt, and Priyanka Dutt. The actress previously collaborated with them on the successful film ‘Sita Ramam.’

“When I was approached for ‘Kalki,’ I didn’t even take a moment to say yes. I have immense faith in producers Aswani Dutt, Swapna Dutt, and Priyanka. Our successful collaboration in ‘Sita Ramam’ made this an easy decision. And being part of this mammoth of a project and this absolute visionary filmmaking was something I knew I...

Kalki 2898 Ad Cameos(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Kalki 2898 Ad, starring Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwatthama, Prabhas as Bhairava, Deepika Padukone as SUM80 aka Sumathi, and Kamal Haasan as Supreme Yaskin, is now out in theatres. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film received positive reviews from the critics. The story is a blend of Hindu mythology and science fiction set in a dystopian future.

Nag Ashwin’s film is inspired by the Hindu mythology saga of Lord Vishnu’s last avatar, Kalki. Along with showing the post-apocalyptic world in Kashi, the film also has scenes from the Mahabharata. Along with a brilliant cast featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan, there are also several cameos that surprise us. From Dulquer Salmaan to Mrunal Thakur to Vijay Deverakonda, the list is quite interesting.

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(Spoilers Ahead)

List of...

The inaugural edition of the South India Film Festival (Siff) kicked off with a magnificent lamp lighting ceremony graced by esteemed personalities, setting the stage for a historic event celebrating regional storytelling and cinematic brilliance.

Among the distinguished guests were Minister of Cinematography and R &B, Mr. Komatreddy Venkatreddy, Co-Founder of aha Mr. Allu Arvind, Mrs. Megahana Jupally, Director of Myhome Constructions and Meru Schools, Mr. Tg Vishwa Prasrad of People Media Factory, Mr. Ajit Thakur, Mr. Ravikant Sabnavis, CEO of aha, Director Vamsi Paidipally, and others. This ceremonious beginning marked the start of an event that promised to showcase the rich tapestry of South Indian cinema.

The day unfolded with engaging conversations and insightful panel discussions. Renowned film critic Mayank Shekhar and the legendary Allu Aravind delved into the heart of Telugu cinema, while moderator Vani Rane led a discussion on the GenZ perspective featuring Santosh Shoban, Anand Devarakonda,...

Actress Shruti Haasan, who stole the spotlight as the showstopper for the ‘Teach for Change’ fundraiser fashion show, has commended Lakshmi Manchu for her relentless efforts behind this noble initiative, aiming for the expansion of this endeavour to encompass all of southern India, and eventually, the entire nation.

The ninth edition of the ‘Teach for Change’s annual fundraiser which was held in Hyderabad on Sunday saw participation from fashion maestros Amit Gt for women’s wear, and Shashank Chelmilla for men’s wear.

This extravagant event, known for its blend of glamour and social impact saw a host of actors walking the ramp. Shruti glided down the ramp for the fashion show in a black hooded Indo western lehenga by Amit Gt.

Speaking about the event, Shruti said: “Lakshmi has been actively involved in Teach for Change’s distinctive efforts within Government schools, and I’m excited to join in this year.

Hyderabad, Feb 12 (Ians) In a stunning display of style and altruism, actors Lakshmi Manchu, Shruti Haasan, Shriya Saran and Harshvardhan Rane took centre stage, sashaying down the ramp with grace and purpose at the ‘Teach for Change’ fundraiser fashion show.

The ninth edition of the ‘Teach for Change’s annual fundraiser which was held in Hyderabad on Sunday saw participation from fashion maestros Amit Gt for women’s wear, and Shashank Chelmilla for men’s wear. This extravagant event, known for its blend of glamour and social impact saw a host of actors walking the ramp.

Sudheer Babu and Harshvardhan Rane headlined the men’s segment, while Lakshmi Manchu opened the show for the women’s segment.

Harshvardhan looked dapper in a red coat and black trousers. He rounded off the look with black sunglasses.

Shruti led the finale as the showstopper in a black outfit, and Shriya Saran made...

Actress Lakshmi Manchu has roped in actors Shruti Haasan, Shriya Saran and Harshvardhan Rane to grace the runway for the ninth edition of Teach for Change’s annual fundraiser fashion show, saying, it will create meaningful change in the lives of children.

The actors will headline this event and strut the ramp for a noble cause that will enable children across government schools to access quality education.

Talking about the same, the ‘Gundello Godari’ actress stated: “The ‘Teach for Change’ fashion show is not just about style and glamour; it’s about leveraging our influence to create meaningful change in the lives of children who need this push.”

“Through this event, we aim to raise awareness and funds for Teach for Change’s invaluable initiatives, empowering them to continue their impactful work in education. I am deeply appreciative of my friends and colleagues from the industry who have generously dedicated...

Telugu superstar Ravi Teja graces the stage of ‘India’s Got Talent’ season 10 and is left highly impressed by the performance of Nagaland’s ‘Mahila Band’, as he called them “superb”. The upcoming episode of the talent reality show which is titled as ‘Mass Mania’, will welcome Tollywood’s superstar Ravi Teja, along with Gayatri Bhardwaj and Nupur Sanon.

Renowned for their remarkable musical performances, Nagaland’s ‘Mahila Band’ will once again win hearts with their power-packed performance of ‘FiFi’ and ‘Babuji Dheere Chalna’, while donning the classic look from the golden era.

Highly impressed with their performance, Ravi said: “You were really amazing. This is one of my favourite songs, and you were superb.”

Enthralled by their singing style, judge Badshah praises them, saying, “You are my Golden Buzzer and I always wanted to see you perform more Indian songs, apart from rock-based songs that you do. It was beautiful and you nailed it.

Telugu superstar Ravi Teja graces the stage of ‘India’s Got Talent’ season 10 and is left highly impressed by the performance of Nagaland’s ‘Mahila Band’, as he called them “superb”. The upcoming episode of the talent reality show which is titled as ‘Mass Mania’, will welcome Tollywood’s superstar Ravi Teja, along with Gayatri Bhardwaj and Nupur Sanon.

Renowned for their remarkable musical performances, Nagaland’s ‘Mahila Band’ will once again win hearts with their power-packed performance of ‘FiFi’ and ‘Babuji Dheere Chalna’, while donning the classic look from the golden era.

Highly impressed with their performance, Ravi said: “You were really amazing. This is one of my favourite songs, and you were superb.”

Enthralled by their singing style, judge Badshah praises them, saying, “You are my Golden Buzzer and I always wanted to see you perform more Indian songs, apart from rock-based songs that you do. It was beautiful and you nailed it.

Actress Faria Abdullah, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming streaming series ‘The Jengaburu Curse’, has shared that the team went 500 feet deep inside the mines to shoot some scenes of the series. For the same, they had to wear helmets and boots.

The shoot also also led to the dropping of oxygen levels. While talking about her shooting experience, Faria Abdullah, who portrays the character of Priyambada Das said that they had shot at real locations, be it the airport or the market.

She said: “The team has really put in efforts to hold on to the authenticity of the locations. I remember shooting in a buzzing market and the team constantly instructing people to not look in the camera and look elsewhere. The most exciting yet thrilling part of the shoot was to shoot in the real mines.”

“We went 500 ft deeper inside the mines to shoot some scenes.

Mumbai, Aug 5 (Ians) Veteran actor M. Nassar, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming streaming show, ‘The Jengaburu Curse’, he shared that he would like to spend some quality time with his family in the state of Odisha where the show has been shot.

With a focus on showcasing the actual people, culture, and locations of the state, ‘The Jengaburu Curse’, which is touted to be a Cli-fi thriller series, has been extensively shot in Odisha. And the lead stars of the series, M. Nassar and Faria Abdullah, who spent months away from the comforts of a familiar city and their homes, cannot seem to get over the spell bounding experience they had while filming in the deep forests of Odisha.

Talking about the experience of shooting in Odisha, Nassar who plays the character of Ravichandran Rao in the series, said: “My visit to Odisha for the shoot took...

Mumbai, Aug 3 (Ians) Actress Faria Abdullah, who portrays the lead role of Priyambada Das in the series ‘The Jengaburu Curse’, has shared that she got the part of the lead in the series because of her tattoo. The incident happened as a stroke of serendipity.

Faria has predominantly worked in the South Indian film and is set to make her Hindi Ott debut with the series.

The series is touted to be India’s first Cli-Fi thriller.

Walking down the memory lane, Faria said: “During the show narration, when Nila sir described the character of Priyambada, he mentioned a specific tattoo design on the character’s leg. To everyone’s surprise, I had the same tattoo, creating an incredible coincidence and connection between me and the character. Nila sir’s reaction to seeing my tattoo, stating that he had finally found Priyambada, added to the feeling that this role was destined for me.

New Delhi, Aug 3 (Ians) It’s an entertainment-filled August on the Ott, which is a gateway to a trove of cinematic wonders, that captures the essence of grand storytelling and awe-inspiring visuals.

With the action, drama, and romance stories, there are numerous possibilities for binge-watching series on the Ott platforms, but only a few are worthy of our time.

From biographical true-crime docu-series to international Emmy nominated series thriller to climate fiction (cli-fi), Ians has brought an enthralling slate, which will captivate audiences of varied choices with titles spanning across genres and languages.

Here’s a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians:

1) ‘The Hunt for Veerappan’:

The biographical true-crime docu-series explores the untold story of India’s infamous outlaw.

A husband, father, leader and wanted criminal. While the image of the man with a handlebar moustache and gaunt cheekbones is well-known,...

Mumbai, July 13 (Ians) Director-producer Nila Madhab Panda, who is known for his film ‘Kadvi Hawa’, is set to bring India’s first cli-fi (climate fiction) thriller series, titled ‘The Jengaburu Curse’.

The first look video asset of the series, which was unveiled on Thursday, features dreary images of a struggling tribe against the corporate greed of mining for radioactive substances to tip the scales of geopolitical power dynamics.

The streaming series, set in a small town in Odisha, follows the story of London-based financial analyst, Priya Das.

Priya’s world tumbles when her father, ‘Professor Das’, goes suspiciously missing, and she is forced to come back to Odisha.

As she starts to search for him, a series of strange events ensue that unravel an unlikely connection between the indigenous Bondia tribe and the mining state of Odisha.

Commenting on the show, Nila Madhab Panda said: “The Jengaburu Curse is the first Indian cli-fi thriller series.

SonyLIV has launched a new original show titled ‘The Jengaburu Curse’ that is claimed to be India’s first climate fiction (cli-fi) web series. Helmed by Nila Madhab Panda, ‘The Jengaburu Curse’ will start streaming on SonyLIV from 9th August, 2023.

The series is set in Odisha’s Jengaburu, a small mining town that is being ravaged by climate change. The mining expedition in the area has led to the discovery of a strange radical that is causing a mysterious disease to spread. The disease has already killed many people, and it is feared that it could wipe out the entire town.

The Jengaburu Curse Trailer

In the midst of this chaos, Priya (Faria Abdullah), a financial analyst, returns to Jengaburu to find her missing father. Priya soon realizes that there is a dark international conspiracy at play, and that the fate of the town, and even the world, hangs in the balance.

ReviewThe initial portions of the film are quite fun and remind you of the actor’s previous performances in films like ‘Venky', where he neither minded making self-deprecating jokes nor took himself too seriously.In Ravanasura, Ravi Teja’s character is the embodiment of the evil king Ravana. While the mythical Ravana never laid a finger on Sita despite keeping her in captivity, this Ravindra (played by Ravi Teja) proudly claims that he does not have such “ethics.” This Ravana has rape fantasies, but of course since he is the hero, filmmaker Sudheer Varma underplays this part and later makes a shoddy attempt to redeem his character with a moral justification. Ravanasura is not a bold film where Ravi Teja is experimenting with a negative character, but a regular commercial film that justifies his actions, albeit with some delay. Along with Ravi Teja, Ravanasura also stars actor Sushanth (playing Ram...

TollywoodWith actors like Samantha, Keerthy Suresh, Nani, Naga Chaitanya, Ravi Teja and several others slated to have big releases in the coming months, Tollywood is all set for a star-studded summer.The race to capture audiences in the summer season has already begun in Tollywood. Several films, both big and small in terms of budget, have blocked release dates in the summer months. Like the festive seasons of Sankranthi and Dasara that create a lot of excitement and buzz around new films, the summer season too is witnessing competition in Tollywood. Taking advantage of the summer holidays, filmmakers release their films so that they reach a wider audience. Actors like Nani, Samantha, Naga Chaitanya, and others are ready with their summer releases. Here is a list of films slated for release this summer, in chronological order as per the announced date of the release. Das ki Dhamki: Starring Vishwaksen and Nivetha Pethuraj,...

Director Sudheer Varma’s upcoming action thriller ‘Ravanasura’, featuring actor Ravi Teja in the lead, will hit screens worldwide on April 7 next year.

Made on a grand scale by Abhishek Nama’s Abhishek Pictures and Rt Teamworks, the film will feature five actresses — Anu Emmanuel, Megha Akash, Faria Abdullah, Daksha Nagarkar and Poojitha Ponnada.

Actor Sushanth too plays a pivotal role in the film, the makers of which released a new poster of the film.

Varma is presenting Teja in a never seen before role in the film. Teja plays the role of a lawyer in the movie, believed to to be high on action.

Harshavardhan Rameswar and Bheems together provide music for the film, while Vijay Kartik Kannan handles the cinematography and Srikanth is the editor.

The unit of Merlapaka Gandhi’s upcoming film, ‘Like Share & Subscribe’, featuring actress Faria Abdullah of ‘Jathi Rathnalu’ fame and Santhosh Sobhan in the lead, has now released the first look of the film.

The first look poster of the film was released along with its title. The whacky title – ‘Like Share & Subscribe’ has caught the attention of filmbuffs and critics as it is a phrase that is usually used to promote video content on YouTube.

The title logo looks very interesting with symbols denoting each word.

The film has raised expectations as this is the second time that Merlapaka Gandhi, known for making comedies, is collaborating with Santosh. Interestingly, Gandhi had penned the story and screenplay for Santosh’s superhit, ‘Ek Mini Katha’, as well.

Aamuktha Creations is producing this film, in association with Venkat Boyanapalli’s Niharika Entertainment that delivered the blockbuster ‘Shyam Singha Roy’.

Sources close to...

Director Bharathiraja, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai, is expected to join the unit of director Susienthiran’s upcoming film, ‘Valli Mayil’, featuring actor Vijay Antony in the lead, by the end of the month. In a statement, National Award-winning director Susienthiran said: “I am very happy to announce that we have started the second schedule of shooting of ‘Valli Mayil’. The second schedule is to be for a period of 32 days.

“During this period, we will be shooting at Dindigul, Madurai and Tenkasi. I happened to meet director Bharathiraja at the hospital. He told me that he would be joining our unit by the end of the month. I am eager to again work with director Bharathiraja.”

Faria Abdullah, who impressed audiences with her performance in the Telugu film ‘Jathi Rathnalu’, plays an artiste in a drama troupe in ‘Valli Mayil’. Vijay Antony plays a...

Faria Abdullah, who impressed audiences with her performance in the Telugu film ‘Jathi Rathnalu’, plays an artiste in a drama troupe in director Suseenthiran’s upcoming action thriller ‘Valli Mayil’, featuring actor Vijay Antony in the lead. Talking to the media, director Suseenthiran on Tuesday disclosed, “I was impressed by Faria’s dancing abilities and chose to […]...

The makers of ‘Bangarraju’ starring Akkineni Nagarjuna along with his son Akkineni Naga Chaitanya released a musical poster, teasing the fans. Titled as ‘The party song of the year’, the makers of ‘Bangarraju’ released a glimpse of the upcoming lyrical song, which stars Faria Abdullah of ‘Jathi Rathnalu’ fame. In the musical poster, Faria is […]...

TollywoodA fan reached out on Twitter to Naveen Polishetty and said he had lost his father to Covid-19 recently and watching ‘Jathi Ratnalu’ had given his mother some respite from her grief.Tnm StaffScreengrabTollywood actor Naveen Polishetty has been in the limelight following the success of his recently released Telugu movie Jathi Ratnalu. The film garnered positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Recently, a Twitter user named Sai wrote to Naveen, appreciating his performance in the film. He explained that the comedy movie helped his mother get some respite from her grief after his father passed away due to Covid-19. Sai wrote, “@NaveenPolishety My father passed away recently because of covid19 and my mother has been in depression since then....Only thing that gave her and us some relief during this grief was your movie @Jathiratnalu....it got my mother to smile & laugh again. thanks a lot sir (sic...

Tollywood‘Jathi Ratnalu’ had a theatrical release on March 11 and was a box office hit.Tnm StaffJathi Ratnalu, the recent Tollywood blockbuster, is all set to be released on the Ott platform Amazon Prime Video on April 11. The film, which was released in theatres on March 11, was a hit at the box office despite the fear of the coronavirus in the air. Jathi Ratnalu has Naveen Polishetty, Faria Abdullah, Priyadarshi and Rahul Ramakrishna in the lead roles. This movie marks Mahanati director Nag Ashwin’s first venture as a producer, and the film was bankrolled by Swapna Cinemas. As a surprise for fans, Jathi Ratnalu also has Keerthy Suresh and Vijay Devarakonda in cameo roles. The makers of the film also released some deleted scenes from the movie, which have been widely shared on social media. These scenes come almost as missing pieces in the film, as viewers had noticed...

Tollywood Tnm spoke to the team behind the extensive promotions for the film, which is having a successful run in theatres across India and overseas.Jahnavi ReddyTwitter/Vyjayanthi MoviesTelugu comedy film Jathi Ratnalu, which released in theatres on March 12, has turned out to be a massive hit, showing in packed theatres through the weekend. Reports suggest that the film’s immense success is a significant milestone in the return of Telugu films and audiences to theatres, since the onset of the pandemic. The film, directed by Anudeep K V, has pulled Telugu audiences to theatres not just in the metros and districts of the Telugu states, but across the country and even overseas. While reviews and audience reactions have almost unanimously declared the film a non-stop laugh riot, the team of Jathi Ratnalu had managed to create and sustain anticipation among audiences for weeks before the film’s release, and...

Entertainment‘Jathi Ratnalu’ is produced by ‘Mahanati’ fame Nag Ashwin and his wife Swapna.Tnm StaffImage: Twitter/NaveenPolishettyThe much-awaited Tollywood film Jathi Ratnalu is all set to hit the screens on Thursday. The movie has Agent Sai Srinivas Athreya fame Naveen Polishety along with Faria Abdullah, Rahul Ramakrishna and Priya Darshe playing the lead roles. Jathi Ratnalu has set high expectations among fans with the impressive cast and crew, and is being bankrolled by Mahanati director Nag Ashwin and his wife Swapna. Naveen’s stints in Tollywood film Agent Sai Sreenivas Athreya and Bollywood film Chhichhore have brought him recognition in both industries. “As both of my previous movies were a hit, I had a lot of pressure in choosing the third one and wanted it to be a different one, thankfully I could do this 'Jathi Ratnalu', which is an out-and-out comedy entertainer,” said Naveen, speaking to the media on Wednesday.

TollywoodFans were thrilled by Prabhas’s new look in the trailer launch video of the Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi and Rahul Ramakrishna starrer.Tnm StaffScreengrab from trailer launch videoTollywood actor Prabhas launched the trailer of upcoming Telugu movie, Jathi Ratnalu. The video of the actor unveiling the trailer was uploaded on Thursday. Director Anudeep along with Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi and Faria Abdullah met Prabhas at Mumbai and recorded the trailer launch. After watching the video, Prabhas said that the trailer was a laugh riot and added that it would be suitable for a family audience. Watch the trailer here: The teaser of Jathi Ratnalu tracks the lives of three men who end up in jail and attempt to carve a new path for themselves. The comical and edgy dialogues in the teaser coupled with peppy background score, indicates that the film will be jam-packed with entertaining scenes. Apart from featuring Naveen Polishetty,...