Sharmila Tagore takes centre stage as Aranyer Din Ratri gets standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival. Watch
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal celebrated his 65th birthday on Wednesday, receiving warm wishes from fans and industry peers, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Mohanlal, known for his roles in over 400 films, marked the occasion by announcing charitable initiatives through his ViswaSanthi Foundation, including subsidized liver transplant surgeries for children and an anti-drug campaign titled 'Be a Hero.'
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New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Vyasanasametham Bandhumithradhikal Movie Review: A middling mourning comedy that amuses in parts
There is no dearth of characters or parallel subplots. There is a neighbour who refuses to allow cremation near their boundary, a local politician trying to hijack the rituals for vote-bank optics, clueless funeral attendees mistaking Shakthi for a migrant worker, and relatives more interested in gossip and booze than mourning. The tone remains light, with plenty of Trivandrum slang peppered throughout the conversations. Some gags, like the loud band troupe next door practising Tamil kuthu songs during the wake, creating amusing tonal dissonance, work well. But despite its comic potential, the film never quite finds its rhythm. The many threads do not always come together meaningfully, and what starts as an engaging satire slowly turns into a patchy collection of events. By the time the film tries to inject emotion and give Anjali and Murali their big moment of empowerment, it feels like a completely different film. The tonal shift is clunky, and the payoff underwhelming. The acting is competent to a considerable extent. Azees Nedumangad is solid as Murali, especially towards the end. Anaswara Rajan plays Anjali adequately, though her performance feels indistinguishable from her past roles. Mallika Sukumaran is spot-on in her short but memorable turn. Joemon Jyothir shines as the comic punching bag, and Noby Marcose is consistently reliable as the underappreciated voice of reason. Viji Thampi and Neeraja Rajendran, as Akhil's absurdly superstitious and stubborn parents, offer some genuinely funny moments. Baiju Santhosh's role as Venu is theatrical but flat, a sketch too one-note to feel menacing or meaningful. Siju Sunny, sadly, feels tiringly repetitive. With a runtime of just under two hours, Vyasanasametham Bandhumithradhikal is not a slog. It has the structure of a passable time-pass comedy and occasionally lands the laughs it aims for. But what it sorely lacks is the sharpness of Malayalam satires that have previously dabbled with chaos and comedy of errors. There is nothing particularly new in its observations or execution. Watch it if you are after an undemanding watch with occasional laughs, and not much more.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Drishyam 3: Mohanlal And Jeethu Joseph Likely To Begin Filming In September 2025
Last Updated: Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph are reportedly set to start filming Drishyam 3 in September 2025. Malayalam cinema's iconic duo—Mohanlal and director Jeethu Joseph—are ready to bring back the suspense and intrigue of the Drishyam universe. According to a new report by Cinema For You, the third installment of the celebrated thriller franchise is likely to begin production in September 2025, much to the excitement of fans across the country. While speculation had long surrounded their return, the report suggests that Drishyam 3 might finally move ahead—possibly at the cost of delaying their much-anticipated but long-stalled project Ram yet again. With dates aligning and mounting pressure from eager fans, the team seems to be prioritizing the next chapter in Georgekutty's chilling tale of deception and survival. An official confirmation is still awaited, but the buzz has already reignited anticipation among viewers who have followed Georgekutty's journey since the very beginning. For the uninitiated, Drishyam (2013) was a game-changer in Indian cinema. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the original film followed Georgekutty, a simple cable TV operator, whose life spirals into chaos after a shocking incident involving his family. What followed was a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling, as Georgekutty wove a web of lies to protect his loved ones from law enforcement. The film's gripping narrative, moral ambiguity, and powerful performances struck a chord with audiences, making it a blockbuster and a blueprint for remakes across multiple Indian languages. In 2021, the franchise returned with Drishyam 2: The Resumption, picking up seamlessly from where the first left off. Released directly on Amazon Prime Video due to the pandemic, the sequel was lauded for maintaining the franchise's high standards of storytelling, layered drama, and emotional depth. Mohanlal once again proved why he's considered one of India's finest actors, and Jeethu Joseph's direction was praised for its sophistication and restraint. As the Malayalam original prepares to enter its third and possibly final phase, interestingly, its Bollywood counterpart is also revving up for its next chapter. Actor Ajay Devgn is reportedly set to reprise his role as Vijay Salgaonkar in Drishyam 3, with Abhishek Pathak returning to direct. That film, according to Pinkvilla, will go on floors in August 2025, creating a fascinating parallel between the two cinematic universes. Meanwhile, Mohanlal continues to be one of the busiest stars in the industry. After headlining Thudarum, a hard-hitting crime drama about a father's quest for justice, he is now gearing up for Hridayapoorvam, a feel-good family film helmed by veteran director Sathyan Anthikad and co-starring Malavika Mohanan. His packed slate also includes big-ticket projects like Vrusshabha and MMMN, further cementing his status as a pan-Indian force to reckon with. With Drishyam 3, Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph have the potential to close the chapter on one of Indian cinema's most iconic franchises with the same finesse and unpredictability that made it a cultural phenomenon in the first place. First Published:
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Actor Unni Mukundan recalls growing up near Air India crash site: Spent 24 years
Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan recalled growing up near the Air India flight crash site in Ahmedabad on Thursday. He expressed sorrow over the tragic accident and said he and his school friends are in deep was born in Kerala's Thrissur and raised in Ahmedabad. He stayed in proximity to the crash site until he turned a conversation with Manorama, the 37-year-old actor said, "I came to know the plane crash took place in Meghaninagar, ten kilometres away from Maninagar in Ahmedabad. Maninagar is where I lived for 24 years. Like Kerala, Gujarat is my favourite state. I spent my childhood and adolescence there. This news is causing immense grief in my heart. My school friends and I are in shock."advertisement Earlier, Unni extended condolences to the families of the victims on social media and hoped they would find strength in such a difficult time. He wrote, "Heartbroken by the news of the Air India Ahmedabad-London flight crash. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones. I can only imagine their grief, and I pray they find strength in their darkest of times. May every soul lost find their peace, and may those left behind feel the warmth of support and love around them. (sic)"Several celebrities from the Indian film industry, including Anupam Kher and Priyanka Chopra, expressed sorrow over the tragic accident on Friday. Anupam earlier shared a video in Hindi on his Instagram account, saying the plane crash is not just news but a mountain of sadness that has broken so many Priyanka shared, "So, so sad. Praying for everyone affected and the families facing unimaginable loss in the Air India tragedy (sic)".The Air India flight crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport for London. The aircraft crashed into a government hospital hostel in Meghaninagar. The crash claimed 265 lives, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Mukundan made his acting debut with the Tamil film 'Seedan'. He later played the lead role in 'Mallu Singh'. Some of his popular films include 'Vikramadithyan', 'KL 10 Patthu', 'Style', 'Oru Murai', 'Vanthu Parthaya', 'Achayans', 'Malikappuram' and 'Marco'. He won a National award as a producer for his debut production 'Meppadiyan'.
