Sippai

Synopsis

Sippai is an Tamil movie directed by Saravanan starring Gautham Karthik and Lakshmi Menon. Telugu producer G.V.G Raju produced the film and Yuvan Shankar Raja provides the music.

Valladesam

Synopsis

Valla Desam is a Tamil action movie written and directed by N. T. Nantha. The film features Anu Hasan in the leading role, with Nassar, Amit, David and Andrei Lenart portraying supporting characters.

Karikalan

Karikalan is an action film with Vikram and Zarine Khan playing the lead role. Vikram will be seen in the historical role of Karikalan Chola, one of the popular Tamil kings of early Chola during the Sangam period. Zarine Khan is enacting the character of Velir girl.

Shakuntala Devi: Director Anu Menon On The Film’s Triumphs, Flaws And Its Depiction Of Homosexuality

Shakuntala Devi, a film produced by the Vikram Malhotra-led Abundantia Entertainment and Sony Pictures, was originally scheduled for a theatrical release before the coronavirus pandemic forced the makers to opt for an Amazon Prime Video release.

The Vidya Balan-starrer, directed by Anu Menon (London, Paris, New York, Waiting, Four More Shots S1) with dialogues by Ishita Moitra, carries a tonality that indicates that it was originally written for the theatrical experience.

The tone is loud, the dialogues have a seeti-maar quality and the performance of its leading star falls in the mould of a larger-than-life hero, the kind you’d see a Salman Khan or Ajay Devgn play (of course, Shakuntala Devi exists without the misogyny and sexism, rather as a counter to that).

Dil Bechara Movie Review : An intense, poignant film that makes for an emotional watch

Story: As romance blooms between two youngsters fighting cancer, Kizie and Manny, they live it up to the fullest, despite the inevitable tragedy looming over them.

Review: ‘Dil Bechara’ is the Hindi film adaptation of John Green’s popular 2012 novel, ‘The Fault in Our Stars’. In fact, the book’s Hollywood adaptation with the same name in 2016 met with much critical acclaim.

‘Dil Bechara’ sets itself in Jamshedpur and introduces us to the Basu family. Kizie Basu (Sanjana Sanghi) suffers from thyroid cancer, which has now affected her lungs, requiring her to be on oxygen support almost all the time. With rock solid support from her parents, Kizie takes life as it comes, even taking the bleak, daily multiple hospital visits in her stride. But what she craves for, is a normal life like any girl her age – with regular problems like boyfriends, crushes et al. Instead what she ends up doing is attend funerals of people she doesn’t know, to feel a connection of the inevitable that lies ahead of her. She meets Immanuel Rajkumar Junior or Manny (Sushant Singh Rajput) in college at first and later at a cancer support group. And given her quiet, introvert nature, at first, she is wary of his high energy, exuberance and cockiness. Manny has his own story – he has survived osteosarcoma and his cancer is currently in remission.

The two strike up a beautiful bond as a smitten Manny manages to wriggle his way into her heart, despite Kizie trying hard to avert a heartbreak for him, eventually. Their cutesy chemistry grows on you as they zip through the lanes of Jamshedpur in his scooter. And also as they shoot a Bhojpuri film together for Manny’s close friend, Jagdish Pandey (Sahil Vaid), whose dream is to direct a film before losing his eyesight to cancer. When Manny decides to go all out to fulfill Kizie’s long standing wish of meeting her favourite musician, Abhimanyu Vaid (Saif Ali Khan), she realises she has fallen for him, too. But little does she know that a tragic twist in the tale awaits her.

Given its poignant premise, ‘Dil Bechara’ makes for a very emotional watch. Even as the story’s underlying message, of celebrating life despite knowing the inevitable, injects it with an infectious energy. Especially in the form of Manny’s character who wants to literally grab every moment of the day.

Sushant Singh Rajput, navigating the depth of his character, shines with a stellar performance that is sensitive, intense, lively and vulnerable. It is with a heavy heart that one watches him effortlessly get under the skin of his character and exude a natural charm. With this, the fine actor adds to his legacy of commendable work in a short span of time. And watch out for his brilliant moves in the one-shot title track, choreographed by Farah Khan.

Sanjana Sanghi who makes her debut in a leading role gives an assured, confident performance. The supporting cast, especially Swastika Mukherjee and Saswata Chatterjee as Kizie’s parents are superb and Saif Ali Khan in a cameo is noteworthy. The soundtrack (composed by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya) is peppered with some fantastic, foot-tapping music – particularly Khulke Jeene Ka, Taare Ginn and the title track, Dil Bechara. The chemistry between the lead pair is refreshing to watch, especially in the beautifully shot (cinematography by Satyajit Pande) sequences in Paris.

Director Mukesh Chhabra and writers Suprotim Sengupta and Shashank Khaitan ensure the narrative flows, taking you through some tender, touching moments between Kizie and Manny and Kizie and her parents. And be prepared for some heartbreaking scenes and dialogues that will definitely bring you to tears.

Even though the film’s spirit and breezy pace triumphs, the melancholy that augurs it, will leave you in a puddle of emotions and with a heavy lump in your throat as the end credits roll. ‘Dil Bechara’ will always be remembered as Sushant Singh Rajput’s swan song. Watch this movie simply to witness Sushant Singh Rajput’s last act. A brilliant one at that.

‘Coronavirus’ trailer: Ram Gopal Varma shoots film in lockdown

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma on Wednesday released the trailer of a film, titled Coronavirus, that he has shot during the lockdown while following all the necessary precautions and guidelines.

All the film and television shootings were suspended from mid-March to avoid the spread of the virus.

Varma took to Twitter to unveil the trailer of the film, which he said is based on the pandemic. The film is directed by Agasthya Manju with Varma attached as a producer.

Taking dig at celebrities videos in quarantine, Varma said, “When the rest of film people were sweeping floors, cooking food, washing utensils, drying clothes, etc, I made a film.”

“We shot the coronavirus film in the lockdown period while strictly following guidelines,” he said.

The film’s trailer shows a woman coughing profusely in her room, making her family worried that she might have contracted the coronavirus.

“Coronavirus is not a horror film. It is about the horrors which are inside all of us including our great political leaders and bureaucrats who actually know only as much as us which is just nothing,” Varma said.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, the star of Varma’s many films including the “Sarkar” series, “Nishabd” and ‘Sholay’ remake, cheekily titled “Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag”, also shared the trailer of the film.

“The irrepressible Ram Gopal Varma, ‘Ramu’ to many .. ‘Sarkaaar’ to me .. makes an entire film about a family in Lockdown, shot during Lockdown ..Titled: CORONAVIRUS .. perhaps the first film to be made on the virus ..This be the TRAILER,” Bachchan tweeted.