Ram Pothineni's wins hearts in debut as lyricist
This romantic melody is more than just a song—it's an experience. Described as the 'heartbeat of love,' Nuvvunte Chaley blends modern orchestration with emotional acoustics, creating a tune that stays with you long after it ends. Adding a personal touch, Ram Pothineni has penned the lyrics himself, marking his debut as a lyricist. His heartfelt words trace the hero's inner journey to understand love—not as a definition, but as a lived emotion.
The unique concept of the hero conversing with love itself at the song's beginning lends a refreshing narrative angle. Rockstar Anirudh Ravichander's soulful vocals further elevate the track, with layered choruses adding depth and warmth.
Visually, the song is a treat—filmed in picturesque natural settings that look like works of art. Ram's calm screen presence beautifully contrasts Bhagyashri's glowing elegance, making their on-screen chemistry authentic and endearing.
Touted as the romantic anthem of the year, Nuvvunte Chaley is quickly gaining popularity across platforms.
The film also stars Kannada superstar Upendra in a key role, alongside notable actors like Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Satya, Rahul Ramakrishna, and VTV Ganesh.
With Siddhartha Nuni handling cinematography, Sreekar Prasad on editing, and Avinash Kolla as production designer, Andhra King Taluka is shaping up to be a visually rich and emotionally engaging entertainer.
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NDTV
44 minutes ago
- NDTV
71st National Film Awards: Was This The Most Commercial Bollywood Year Ever? All Signs Say Yes
New Delhi: For years, the National Film Awards have been the holy grail of artistic validation, often accused, rightly or wrongly, of being indifferent to Bollywood's big-budget extravaganzas. But this year, on a seemingly ordinary Friday in August 2025, something unprecedented happened: Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, two of Bollywood's most enduring icons, finally won their first National Awards. And in that moment, the line between 'mass entertainer' and 'award-winner' blurred like never before. The Big Bollywood Comeback The 71st National Film Awards marked a dramatic shift in what had become a familiar pattern during the pandemic years: South Indian cinema sweeping top honours while Bollywood remained largely on the sidelines. Starting around 2020, when COVID-19 disrupted theatrical releases and OTT platforms reshaped viewership, Hindi cinema entered a creative slump, while Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films rose in stature and acclaim. At the 70th National Awards, regional films took home major prizes, including Best Feature Film and Best Actor. Even the year before, regional films dominated categories that Bollywood once called its own. But this year, Bollywood spectacularly reclaimed its lost ground. Hindi films won across all major categories: Shah Rukh Khan bagged Best Actor for Jawan, Rani Mukerji took home Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway, and 12th Fail, an inspiring real-life drama headlined by Vikrant Massey, won Best Feature Film. Bollywood also secured awards for Best Popular Film (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani), Best Choreography, Best Child Artist, Best Lyrics, and even Best Hindi Film (Kathal). A still from Kathal Compare this to last year's 70th edition, where Bollywood found itself sidelined. South Indian cinema, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil had a near-total sweep. Malayalam film Aattam won Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay and Best Editing, while Kannada film Kantara won Best Popular Film and fetched Rishab Shetty the Best Actor award. Hindi cinema, despite big releases, had to settle for just six awards across all categories, and most of which were not top-tier honours. Even the year before that, at the 69th National Film Awards, it was South Indian cinema again - Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films - that earned the critical spotlight and national jury approval. Bollywood had receded into the background, mostly with a few wins in less prominent categories. So, What Changed This Year? The big turning point seems to be a shift in how Bollywood now balances spectacle with story. 12th Fail, for example, is a relatively modest Rs 20 crore film, but its powerful real-life story and emotional heft made it both a critical darling and a sleeper hit. A still from 12th Fail On the other hand, Jawan, which cost nearly Rs 300 crore to make, blended mass appeal with socio-political undertones, something that seemed to strike the right chord with both audiences and juries. Shah Rukh Khan, who's been in the industry for over three decades and had never before won a National Award, called the win "something to cherish for a lifetime," adding, "The National Award is not just about achievement, it's a reminder that what I do matters." His sentiment echoed across the industry, where it was widely seen as a moment of overdue recognition. Rani Mukerji, too, called her win a culmination of her 30-year-long career, saying: "It's a validation of my body of work, my dedication to my craft, and my passion for cinema." Her role in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway was powerful and rooted in maternal emotion, a far cry from traditional "award-bait" drama. A still from Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway The Rise Of The Commercial Films This year's awards raise a compelling question: Are we witnessing the most commercial Bollywood year at the National Awards? Going purely by the budgets and scale of the winning films, the answer appears to be yes. Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, with a budget of around Rs 300 crore. Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which won Best Popular Film and Best Choreography, had a budget of over Rs 160 crore. Even Sam Bahadur, which won for Best Film Promoting National and Social Values, had a budget north of Rs 55 crore. A still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Contrast this with previous winners over the last decade, and the difference is striking. From Village Rockstars (2017, budget: Rs 40 lakh) to Court (2014, under Rs 2 crore), and even Soorarai Pottru (2020, low-budget Tamil film), the National Awards were traditionally a bastion of low to mid-budget regional cinema. Even Best Actor winners reflect that shift: 2017's Riddhi Sen won for the Bengali indie Nagarkirtan (Rs 2-3 crore). 2018 saw Ayushmann Khurrana win for Andhadhun (Rs 32 crore), alongside Vicky Kaushal for Uri (Rs 25 crore). Suriya won for Soorarai Pottru (Rs 45 crore) in 2020. In 2022, Rishab Shetty won for Kantara, a Rs 16 crore film rooted in folklore and performance art. This year's winners, by contrast, are from distinctly big-banner productions with wide releases, international promotion and massive box-office ambition. Why Bollywood Was Losing Until Now In the past decade, Bollywood was often criticised for playing it too safe, chasing box office numbers with formulaic rom-coms or action flicks, while South Indian cinema led with bold experimentation, folk-rooted narratives and social commentary. Films like Kantara, Aattam, and Thiruchitrambalam brought fresh voices and formats that made them jury favourites. South Indian films didn't just dominate the screen; they brought stories that had something to say, often without the frills or pretensions of mainstream cinema. Bollywood, during this time, was also dealing with its internal crisis-calls for nepotism reform, creative stagnation and an identity conflict in the post-pandemic OTT boom. The result was a run of critically underwhelming films with bloated budgets and little innovation. But in 2023-24, Bollywood slowly began recalibrating. A Jury With New Tastes The shift is also indicative of changing jury preferences. For years, National Award juries prioritised thematic depth, regional representation and innovation. Now, as the lines blur between "commercial" and "meaningful", especially with the rise of pan-India storytelling and streaming services, there appears to be greater openness toward recognising films that unite mass and critical appeal. A still from Jawan The fact that films like Jawan and Rocky Aur Rani can now be celebrated alongside indie-style entries like 12th Fail or Kathal points to a more inclusive understanding of cinematic merit. The Final Word Whether this year's National Film Awards signal a permanent shift or simply a new chapter in cinema's cyclical evolution remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: this was the most commercial Bollywood has ever been at the National Awards, and it didn't come at the cost of quality. If anything, the industry finally seems to have found a way to be both dazzling and deserving, crowd-pleasing yet credible. And for stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, who waited over 30 years for this recognition, it's the kind of validation that suggests the heart of Bollywood is still very much in the right place, even when the budgets soar sky-high.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Kargil war veteran turns filmmaker to fight suicide crisis, wins accolades
Gurrapu Jagadishwar Rao, a former Group Captain of the Indian Air Force and Kargil War veteran, has turned to cinema to spread awareness about suicide prevention. The 67-year-old from Kazipet, Telangana, has produced a feature film titled September-10 — named after World Suicide Prevention Day — as part of his ongoing efforts in mental health advocacy. Captain Rao is also credited with influencing the Telangana government to launch a 24x7 toll-free suicide prevention helpline (104) after he authored a book in Telugu on preventive strategies. 'I witnessed the supreme sacrifices of my colleagues during the war. In contrast, I was deeply moved by the preventable deaths by suicide of farmers, students, entrepreneurs and lovers, each case a tragic waste of life. To check this tendency, I visited many villages in Telangana and spoke to the kin of those who died by suicide. I was doing my management course at the ASCI, Hyderabad, during my research on suicides,' Captain Rao says. Following his retirement in 2016, Captain Rao resolved to dedicate his life to suicide prevention. 'Cinema is the most powerful medium to reach the masses. That's why I produced this film in both Kannada and Telugu with English subtitles, to offer hope and educate people through stories drawn from real-life situations,' he explains. The movie recently won three awards — Best Social Film, Best Concept Film and Best Director — at the 17th International Film Festival of Hyderabad Charminar (IFFHC) 2025. Veteran director Om Sai Prakash, who helmed the project, received the Best Director award. 'I am thankful to the director for translating the essence of my book into a compelling narrative,' says Captain Rao, who previously implemented a successful suicide prevention model within the IAF during his service as a Class-I Education Officer. Though September-10 is yet to be released in theatres, it has already attracted critical acclaim. Popular South Indian actor Suman, who attended the festival screening, remarks, 'The film presents the subject of suicide with honesty and emotional depth. It is more than a film; it is a mirror to the silent struggles of people from different walks of life. It urges society to listen, empathise and act with compassion.' Sarah Afreen, a psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda in Hyderabad, also praises the film for its psychological depth and sensitivity. 'The film avoids sensationalism and portrays suicide as the result of prolonged emotional suffering, loneliness or trauma. The characters are portrayed with authenticity, making their pain both palpable and relatable,' she says. She adds that the film effectively captures psychological themes through symbolic cinematography using silence, shadows and visual metaphors to communicate isolation and despair. 'It underscores the role of empathy and timely psychological support. Even a single compassionate conversation can make a difference,' notes. A narrative of 5 stories Possibly the first feature film globally to depict a wide spectrum of suicides in a single narrative, September-10 is structured around five interconnected stories. Each segment highlights a different trigger while advocating preventive measures. Farmer Suicides focuses on economic distress caused by crop failures, mounting debts and societal pressures, including dowry demands. Lovers' Tragedy is a rural love story involving two agricultural graduates who are torn apart by class divide and parental opposition, leading the couple to despair. Businessman's Crisis is centered on a self-made entrepreneur who faces financial ruin after risky investments made to meet his spouse's unrealistic ambitions. Student Struggle explores the tension between parental academic expectations and a teenager's passion for sports, leading to internal collapse. Parental Pressure is about a girl, who, burdened by her mother's demand for near-perfect academic scores to secure an overseas job, spirals into hopelessness. A psychiatrist character connects the five narratives, guiding the families toward recovery and reinforcing the central message that suicide is preventable through understanding, timely intervention and emotional support. The film also features stories of people with physical and intellectual disabilities who defy adversity, sending a message of resilience and hope. 'September-10 is not just a film, it is a movement. It urges society to see the warning signs, have open conversations and ensure no one feels so alone that death seems like the only way out. The film's runtime is 1.52 hours,' Captain Rao said, adding that he spent ₹80 lakh on the film production. Several NGOs and associations in Hyderabad are gearing up to screen the movie in September and October for students and the public at large. (Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State's health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)
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First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2 director Sukumar's daughter Sukriti Veni Bandreddi wins Best Child Artist National Award for Gandhi Tatha Chettu
This is a big win for Sukriti Veni Bandreddi, marking a promising start to her acting career with this film. Gandhi Tatha Chettu is a Telugu social drama directed by Padmavathi Malladi and produced by Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar, and Sesha Sindu Rao under Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings, and Gopi Talkies read more Director Sukumar's 14-year-old daughter, Sukriti Veni Bandreddi, who made her debut in the Telugu film Gandhi Tatha Chettu, has won hearts across the nation with her moving performance. Her portrayal of the lead character deeply touched both audiences and critics alike, marking a promising start to her acting journey. Today, her hard work and natural talent has been recognized at the 71st National Film Awards, where she bagged the prestigious award for Best Child Artist. The film, directed by Padmavathi Malladi, gave Sukriti a platform to shine, and she delivered with grace, depth, and maturity far beyond her years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The film's production company, Mythri Movie Makers congratulated her with a special post, writing, A dream debut that is appreciated at the highest level ⭐ @sukriti_bandreddi wins the prestigious National Award for the best child actor for her splendid performance in #GandhiTathaChettu ✨ This is a big win for the young actress, marking a promising start to her acting career with this film. Gandhi Tatha Chettu is a Telugu social drama directed by Padmavathi Malladi and produced by Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar, and Sesha Sindu Rao under Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings, and Gopi Talkies. Set in a Telangana village, it follows a 13-year-old girl who uses Gandhian principles to protect a beloved tree. The film released theatrically on 24 January 2025.
