Latest news with #AjuVarghese
Pink Villa
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kerala Crime Files 2 OTT: When and where to watch Malayalam crime drama series online
Kerala Crime Files 2, the Malayalam-language web series, is all geared up to begin streaming soon. If you're someone who loves crime drama, here are the complete details about the show. When and where to watch Kerala Crime Files 2 Kerala Crime Files 2 is slated to begin streaming on the OTT platform JioHotstar from June 20, 2025. The official announcement of the web series' release was made by the platform's social media handle, along with the trailer. Official trailer and plot of Kerala Crime Files 2 Kerala Crime Files 2 - The Search for CPO Ambili Raju follows the story that surrounds the unexplained disappearance of a young policewoman from her station under mysterious circumstances. With the incident creating quite the commotion, a team of officers led by SI Manoj (Aju Varghese) and CI Kurian (Lal) is tasked with the investigation. However, as the case progresses, the officers realize a larger conflict at hand. What follows is the escalation of the missing case into a narrative that explores elements of trust, power struggles, and the ethical boundaries of law enforcement. Cast and crew of Kerala Crime Files 2 Kerala Crime Files 2 features Aju Varghese and Lal in lead roles, reprising their roles from the first season. Apart from them, the show has actors like Indrans, Harisree Asokan, Renjit Shekar, Sanju Sanichen, Suresh Babu, Navas Vallikunnu, Noorin Shereef, Jeo Baby, and more as pivot characters. The show is directed by Ahammed Khabeer with Kishkindha Kaandam fame Bahul Ramesh penning the story, screenplay and dialogues. With Hesham Abdul Wahab handling the music, the DOP and editing were fulfilled by Jithin Stanislaus and Mahesh Bhuvanend, respectively. The series' first season, Kerala Crime Files - Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara, was released on the OTT platform on June 23, 2023. The show initially explored the events of solving a case with the only clue being a fake address. Apart from the lead actors, the first season has Navas Vallikkunnu, Sanju Sanichen, Zhinz Shan, and more in important roles. The first season consisted of 8 episodes, with each one having a runtime of 30 minutes.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kerala Crime Files Season 2 OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Aju Varghese and Lal's Malayalam series
Kerala Crime Files Season 2 OTT Release Date: After the strong buzz around its debut season, Kerala Crime Files is back with a second round, and this time, the mystery cuts deeper. Titled Kerala Crime Files: The Hunt for CPO Ambili, Season 2 is all set to premiere on June 20, 2025, on JioHotstar. It will stream not just in Malayalam but also in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. The first season that set the tone When Kerala Crime Files dropped its first season last year, it didn't come in with a lot of noise. But what worked in its favour was how quietly gripping the narrative turned out to be. Directed by Ahammed Khabeer, the story followed the investigation into the murder of a sex worker found dead in a shady lodge. The only clue? A fake ID left behind with the name Shiju. No melodrama, no heroism, just six grounded episodes that focused on the step-by-step police investigation, handled by SI Manoj (played by Aju Varghese) and his superior, played by Lal. It won praise for its realistic portrayal of crime-solving and the kind of quiet tension that stays with you. What's new in Season 2? This time, the case hits closer to home. The storyline revolves around the sudden disappearance of a police officer, CPO Ambili Raju, and the chain of events that unfold when his team sets out to find him. Veteran actor Indrans plays Ambili, and though he's missing for most of the series, his presence, or rather, absence, becomes the emotional core of the narrative. The returning cast includes Aju Varghese, Lal, Sanju Sanichen, and Navas Vallikunnu, but the big new addition this season is Arjun Radhakrishnan, who takes on the role of SI Noble, the cop leading the hunt. If Arjun's name rings a bell, that's because he was seen in projects like Rocket Boys, Ullozhukku, and Kannur Squad, known for taking up intense roles that require a lot of emotional range. The supporting cast also gets a boost with actors like Harishree Ashokan, Noorin Shereef, Shibla Fara, and Jeo Baby. Who's behind it? Ahammed Khabeer again directs Kerala Crime Files Season 2. The writing this time is handled by Bahul Ramesh, the same writer behind Kishkinda Kaandam, which was appreciated for its quirky tone and sharp dialogues. Before the official release, the team has planned a special screening in Kochi on June 18 for members of the film fraternity and media. The series will follow a weekly drop format and is expected to have 6 to 8 episodes, similar to its first run.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ann Saleem on 'Love Under Construction': Lisy gave me the recognition I've always dreamed of
Ann Saleem is happy about her role as Lisy in Love Under Construction. She plays opposite Aju Varghese. Ann appreciates the positive response to her character. She thanks director Vishnu Raghav for his guidance. Ann also acknowledges Aju Varghese's support during filming. She shares her experience of working with the team. Ann is grateful for the opportunity and recognition. It's been a month since the Malayalam web series Love Under Construction started streaming. While the main plot focuses on protagonist Vinod juggling between the 'Midhunam and Varavelppu' in his life, the real limelight fell on the side love story of Pappettan and Lissy. Playing alongside Malayalam's 'web series star' Aju Varghese is none other than Nayika Nayakan fame Ann Saleem . In a candid chat with ETimes, Ann shares her excitement about portraying her 'dream come true' character. In Love Under Construction , Ann portrays Lisy, a confident government officer whose strong personality and undeniable charm win over Pappan, the 'misogynist', making him fall in love with her. 'After playing the character Hema in Priyappettavan Piyush, I auditioned for the web series. When I first sent in my audition video, they asked me to redo it and resend. Later, I met the team, and I was thrilled to learn that I would be acting alongside Aju Varghese. Playing a lead role has me beyond excited,' she said. With her subtle gestures and captivating performance, Ann has won hearts, and social media continues to shower her with praise. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo 'I am overwhelmed by the responses. When I first read the character, I was determined to give it my best because it's such a layered role, beautifully written by Vishnu. People still message me appreciating the character, and I feel truly blessed. This is the recognition I've always dreamed of. I even got to appear as a guest on Star Singer, the show I grew up watching,' she shared excitedly. Sharing her experience with the team, Ann praised her co-star Aju Varghese for his unwavering support. 'From the director to the driver, I have wonderful memories with each and every one of them. Undoubtedly, the best was Aju. I was so anxious and scared—not only because the role was important, but also because I was sharing the screen with him. But he was incredibly comforting and supportive. Every time we had to do a retake, I would start to panic, but Aju would calmly share a story about how he recently did 40 takes on a scene. For a beginner like me, it was such a soothing feeling to have a co-star who was so understanding and accommodating. He felt more like a friend than just a co-actor. To have someone be both an actor and a friend—that means a lot,' she shared. The actress also expressed her gratitude to the series director, Vishnu Raghav , for his talent and unwavering support. She shared her experience shooting the much-loved proposal scene, highlighting the filmmaker's attention to subtle details. 'While shooting the proposal scene, I gave a certain reaction when Pappan proposed to Lisy. I thought, since a girl is hearing a lovely proposal, she might show excitement or even shock. But Vishnu called 'cut' and asked me to keep my reaction normal. When the series was released, I understood that was exactly how Lisy would respond. His attention to detail and the depth with which he wrote every character is truly amazing. All the applause for Love Under Construction and my character go to Vishnu and his team,' she concluded.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Padakuthira Movie Review: A mediocre satire that can't shake off its outdated roots
While Malayalam cinema has certainly produced its fair share of compelling stories in recent years, it is also no stranger to mediocrity. Padakuthira , directed by debutant Salon Symon, lands firmly in the latter category. A confused film that never decides what it wants to be, it tries dabbling in satire, spoof, and eventually a heavy-duty investigation drama—without succeeding in any of them. It follows Nandakumar (Aju Varghese), a sensationalist journalist running the once-respected magazine Padakkuthira, now mired in yellow journalism. Alongside his team, Nandakumar spins fabricated stories for clicks and attention, leading to a series of absurd consequences. When they cross paths with Ravishankar (Renji Panicker), a mentally unstable person, they take his outlandish speculations as gospel, resulting in increasingly ridiculous events that threaten to expose the magazine for what it truly is. Director: Dr Salon Symon Cast: Aju Varghese, Sija Rose, Renji Panicker, Nandu, Indrans, Joemon Jyothir Written by Deepu S Nair and Sandeep Sadanandan, Padakuthira fixates on yellow journalism but in the most unimaginative way possible. What could have been a biting critique of contemporary media ends up as a clumsy, dated narrative populated by half-baked characters and jokes that struggle to land. The film's humour is perhaps its weakest point. Most of the comic moments feel stale and predictable. A scene where Nandakumar fabricates a crime story and faces the wrath of those implicated feels painfully familiar, especially for those who've seen the 1980s Malayalam film Boeing Boeing . Another attempt involving a female actor upset about being portrayed badly for doing special numbers is equally outdated and lacks any modern perspective. Padakkuthira feels like a film made 30 years ago. It is reminiscent of the mid-budget comedies from the 1990s featuring actors like Mukesh, Siddique, and Jagadish. Those films, however, had two major advantages. The performances were consistently good, and the humour, while sometimes broad, still managed to leave you smiling. This film, on the other hand, falls flat in nearly every instance. The comedy is forced, repetitive, and ultimately unfunny. Aju Varghese plays Nandakumar, a journalist who thrives on sensationalism. His performance works when playing the carefree loafer, but once the story treats him as a serious moral centre, it becomes hard to take him seriously. His portrayal turns into a caricature, and his persistent chain-smoking feels more like product placement than character depth. Sija Rose, who plays Keerthy, is wasted in a role that gives her little to do apart from reacting to Nandakumar's foolishness. Indrans, an actor who typically exudes strong screen presence, ends up in a role that leans into a caricature of his own measured performances, lacking the subtlety that made his characters memorable. The only mildly redeeming performance comes from Nandu, who injects some energy into otherwise dull proceedings. Padakuthira attempts to explore issues of fake news, media responsibility, and public consumption of sensationalist content. These are relevant topics, but the film fails to engage with them in any meaningful way. Instead, it falls into predictable twists and turns, with characters whose exaggerated naivety becomes frustrating. A half-hearted subplot about environmental protests and corrupt politicians barely registers and feels like an afterthought. Even the climax, which should have offered a sense of payoff or surprise, is utterly predictable. The final showdown lacks creativity, wrapping up the story in the most banal way possible. Despite a runtime of just under two hours, the film feels longer due to sluggish pacing, and the occasional attempts at emotional depth only highlight the film's lack of consistency. In one scene, Nischal, who reviews films for Padakuthira 's YouTube channel, begins trashing a film in the loud, crude style familiar from certain Malayalam YouTube "reviewers". The moment Nandakumar mentions the producers have paid them, Nischal instantly flips to a sugary, glowing review without a trace of irony. It's played for laughs but ends up feeling like an unintentional reflection of the film itself—confused and willing to abandon any principle if it helps sell the story, though it fails to deliver on even that.
