Director Mari Selvaraj calls film with Dhanush a milestone, filming to begin soon
Mari Selvaraj's X post announcing his project with Dhanush
Dhanush, meanwhile, is riding high on the success of 'Kuberaa', which also starred Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh in pivotal roles. Apart from this, the 'Maari' actor will next be seen in his directorial 'Idly Kadai', in which he also plays the lead. The film also stars Nithya Menen, Arun Vijay, Shalini Pandey, Prakash Raj, and Rajkiran in lead roles.Dhanush recently wrapped shooting for 'Tere Ishk Mein', which is directed by Aanand L Rai and stars Kriti Sanon opposite him. He has also started shooting for the film 'D54', directed by Vignesh Raja and produced by Vels Film International.Mari Selvaraj's 'Bison' is slated to hit theatres on October 17.- Ends
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Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Indian Express
Raanjhanaa's AI-altered re-release: Why director Aanand L Rai is unhappy, what the law says
The 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa, starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, is being re-released in theatres with a new AI-assisted ending. The production house, Eros International, has announced that the film will now include a new climax created with the help of artificial intelligence. The change is being promoted as a way to offer the audience a 'happy ending' to the original story. However, the film's original director and co-producer, Aanand L Rai, has publicly distanced himself from the re-release. In a statement to The Indian Express, he said, 'I've to be very careful while signing the dotted line.' He added, 'AI is the future. Everybody knows that. But then use it for the future or for the present. Don't use it to distort the past!' Eros, on the other hand, has maintained that it holds complete rights to the film and is within its legal bounds to alter it. In its view, using AI is simply a means to connect with evolving technology. This clash between artistic and commercial ownership has sparked broader questions about creative control, technological intervention, and the fine legal line between them. Why is the re-release happening? Raanjhanaa, directed by Aanand L Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma, is widely regarded as one of the most impactful Hindi films of the 2010s. The film, starring Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor, and Abhay Deol, explored themes of unrequited love, caste, and political ambition through the tragic arc of Kundan (Dhanush), a Hindu boy hopelessly in love with a Muslim girl, Zoya (Sonam Kapoor). The film received critical acclaim and went on to win numerous awards. More than a decade later, the production house has decided to re-release the film with a new AI-assisted ending, one they say is a 'respectful creative reinterpretation'. This alteration was done without the knowledge or consent of the director. Rai has been vocal in his criticism, expressing emotional and creative disapproval. Legally, however, Rai's disapproval does not stand much ground because, under Indian Copyright Law, the rights to a cinematograph film typically rest with the producer or production house, in this case, Eros International, not with the director. The controversy is not just about one film. It brings into focus broader concerns in the film industry: Who controls the final cut, what counts as 'authorship' in the age of AI, and whether artistic integrity can survive? While the director's outrage may be creatively valid, the law, as it stands, doesn't offer much recourse. 'Under Indian Copyright Law section 2(d), the author of a cinematograph film is the producer,' explains advocate Ankit Sahni. 'The director, unless they have a specific contract that grants them ownership or economic rights, cannot claim any legal control over the film.' According to Section 14 of the Copyright Act, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to adapt, reproduce, and communicate the work to the public. Section 2(d) clearly defines the 'author' of a cinematograph film as the producer, not the director, writer, or editor. Directors do not enjoy moral rights under Section 57 unless they are also credited as the author in another capacity, such as screenwriter or performer. This means that, unless Aanand L Rai retained specific rights in his contract with Eros, he cannot stop the production house from modifying or re-releasing the film, even using AI. As for AI-generated content, there is no standalone law in India yet. 'As per a Parliamentary statement, India currently protects AI-assisted works, as long as there is a significant human contribution,' explains Sahni. Fully autonomous AI creations or such works with minimal human contribution are not protected by copyright. 'In this case, if they are admitting the use of AI, it could mean three things. AI has contributed to suggesting changes to the plot, writing new dialogues, and/or animation using generative AI,' says Sahni. 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In The Brutalist (2024), AI refined actors' Hungarian accents and generated architectural visuals, and in Roadrunner (2021), the director used AI to recreate Anthony Bourdain's voice for lines he never recorded. Closer home, AI was used to create a credibly younger version of actor Mammootty in the Malayalam movie, Rekhachitram (2025). Legally, the ground is still shifting. While Indian copyright law protects works created by humans, it does not yet fully recognise autonomous AI creations. At the heart of this legal vacuum is a deeper question: should commercial stakeholders be allowed to override original artistic expression using technology, even if the law permits it? The Raanjhanaa case highlights this dilemma, where a film that once carried the emotional signature of its director is now reshaped without his consent. As AI tools grow more powerful, the need to revisit legal frameworks and ethical boundaries in the creative industry becomes important. The writer is a student who is a summer intern at The Indian Express.
Pink Villa
15 hours ago
- Pink Villa
STR49: Not YouTube, first promo of Silambarasan and Vetrimaaran's film to be attached with Coolie in theaters?
Silambarasan TR and director Vetrimaaran recently made headlines as they were reported to have joined hands for the first time. While rumors circulated that the film might be halted, it appears that the actor and director will likely continue their shoot in September 2025. According to a report by DT Next, Silambarasan TR is set to continue the shoot of STR49 from mid-September 2025. While there have been several rumors of the film being dropped due to financial constraints, the makers are expected to release a promo soon. As per the same report, the official announcement will be released by the middle of August 2025. Moreover, the promo is expected to hit the big screens first before making its way to YouTube, likely with Rajinikanth starrer Coolie. However, a confirmation is pending. Is STR49 a sequel to Dhanush starrer Vada Chennai? Earlier, there were speculations that STR49 would be a sequel to Dhanush starrer Vada Chennai. However, director Vetrimaaran dismissed the reports. Highlighting that the copyright for Vada Chennai lies with Dhanush, the director confirmed the Simbu flick would take place within the same universe. The Asuran helmer said, 'STR49 is set in the world of Vadachannai, but it's not Vada Chennai 2. Dhanush is the copyright holder of the Vada Chennai film. I'm making a film with Silambarasan TR in the Vada Chennai world. Dhanush didn't even ask for a single rupee and said that he would give NOC. But many negative speculations are going on with us.' Silambarasan TR's work front Silambarasan TR, aka STR, was last seen in the Kamal Haasan starrer Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam. The gangster actioner featured the story of Rangaraya Sakthivel, an ageing crime lord who is betrayed by his adoptive son, leading him on a vengeful path of destruction and redemption. With Haasan and Simbu in lead roles, the film had Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and many more in key roles. The movie was met with negative reviews upon release and struggled to find success at the box office. Thug Life is currently available for streaming on the OTT platform Netflix.
News18
20 hours ago
- News18
New Still Of Dhanush From The Sets Of Vignesh Raja's Actioner Drops On Instagram
The makers of Vignesh Raja's action film starring Dhanush have released a still from the film, tentatively titled #D54. It features Mamitha Baiju and a strong cast and crew. News18 The makers of director Vignesh Raja's eagerly awaited action entertainer featuring actor Dhanush in the lead have now added to the excitement of fans by releasing a still of Dhanush shooting for the film. Taking to its X timeline to release the still, Vels Film International, the production house producing the film, wrote, 'Straight from the sets of #D54 – Shoot in progress! @dhanushkraja" and posted a picture of Dhanush seen speaking from an STD booth. The film, which is tentatively being referred to as #D54, features Mamitha Baiju as the heroine. Sources close to the unit said that the film will be a gripping action entertainer. Expectations from the film have skyrocketed as the film's tag line — 'Sometimes staying dangerous is the only way to stay alive" — has already caught the attention of fans and film buffs. The film boasts of both a strong cast as well as a brilliant technical crew. Apart from Dhanush and Mamitha Baiju, the film will also feature, director K S Ravikumar, Jayaram, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Karunas and Prithvi Pandiraj in pivotal roles. On the technical front, cinematography will be by one of the best in the business, Theni Eswar and editing will be by Sreejith Sarang. Music will be by National Award winner G V Prakash. More significantly, the story of the film has been jointly penned by writer Alfred Prakash and director Vignesh Raja, the creators of the critically acclaimed superhit investigative thriller 'Por Thozhil'. Writer Alfred Prakash, who has been good friends with director Vignesh Raja, had in an earlier interview disclosed that both Vignesh and he understood each other very well. The writers, who had taken four years to come up with the final version of Por Thozil, believe that it is better when two people write a story together as each writer can use the other as a sounding board to test one's ideas. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
