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Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ajith Kumar's twin releases, Suriya's Retro, Kamal Haasan's Thug Life: Analysing Kollywood's box office run in 2025 so far
Kollywood began this year with several releases from new directors, featuring a young cast and crew. Films like Bioscope by Sankagiri Rajkumar, Seesaw by Guna Subramaniam, and Madraskaaran by Vaali Mohan Das kicked off 2025 in a much more relaxed manner. Although these films were noted for their content and talented cast, fans had to wait until February 2025 for the year's first big-star release – Vidaamuyarchi, starring Ajith Kumar and Trisha Krishnan . One of the most anticipated films, Retro featuring Suriya , failed to perform well at the box office and did not leave a strong impression on either fans or critics. As 2025 has now reached its halfway point, some highly awaited releases from Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi, and Dhanush are still in the pipeline. Ajith Kumar's Good Bad Ugly, which released in April, has so far dominated the Kollywood box office in 2025. The film became the highest-grossing Tamil release of the year, with global earnings of Rs 246.8 crore. None of the subsequent releases, including Dhanush's Kuberaa, managed to surpass this record. With a few major star films lined up for release, let's take a closer look at Kollywood's box office performance from January to July 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Affordable Auto Insurance: Discover Quality Coverage At Great Prices Top Answers Learn More Undo Vidaamuyarchi Starring Ajith Kumar and Trisha Krishnan in key roles, Vidaamuyarchi hit cinemas on 6 February and earned Rs 135.65 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk. Directed by Magizh Thirumeni, the film was inspired by the 1997 American movie Breakdown. It also featured Arjun Sarja, Regina Cassandra, and Arav in pivotal roles. Originally slated for a Pongal release in January, the film was postponed to February, ultimately becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film in early 2025. However, it did not receive the typically euphoric response Ajith's films usually garner. Had the storyline resonated more with fans, its box office numbers could have been even higher. Dragon Ashwath Marimuthu's Dragon, starring young actor Pradeep Ranganathan, surpassed Vidaamuyarchi by grossing Rs 151.83 crore worldwide. The film delivered a light-hearted yet emotional cinematic experience. The cast included Anupama Parameswaran, Kayadu Lohar, Mysskin, Gautham Vasudev Menon, K. S. Ravikumar, and George Maryan. Following the film's success, Pradeep expressed gratitude to fans and the Telugu audience for their support. He also revealed that director Ashwath Marimuthu aimed for Dragon to be a widely accepted work of art rather than a typical blockbuster. Retro Suriya's high-budget pan-Indian film Kanguva, alongside Bobby Deol, failed to make an impact in 2024. His next venture, Retro, directed by Karthik Subbaraj , was highly anticipated due to Karthik's unique and realistic storytelling, promising a strong comeback for Suriya. Despite the buzz, the gangster drama failed to meet expectations and managed only Rs 97.35 crore at the worldwide box office. Karthik Subbaraj later admitted that the film became a target of negative campaigns on social media. In an interview with Galatta, he expressed confusion over the hate, especially since those who watched and liked the film were unsure about the backlash. In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, he explained that while Retro reflected his signature style, the pressure of working with a big star and budget affected the film. He has since announced an upcoming indie project without a major star. Meanwhile, Suriya fans eagerly await his collaborations with RJ Balaji and Venky Atluri. Good Bad Ugly Ajith Kumar transformed the Kollywood box office with Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran. As of now, it is the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2025, collecting Rs 246.8 crore globally. The film featured an ensemble cast, including Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Das, Sunil, Prabhu, Prasanna, Karthikeya Dev, Priya Prakash Varrier, Jackie Shroff, Shine Tom Chacko, Tinnu Anand, B. S. Avinash, and Raghu Ram. The film was embraced by fans, partly due to the makers incorporating iconic moments from Ajith's filmography. The story revolved around a retired gangster and gained attention for the recreation of the iconic Sulthana song featuring Priya Prakash Varrier and Arjun Das. Thug Life Mani Ratnam's Thug Life generated significant pre-release buzz, reuniting him with Kamal Haasan after 38 years since Nayakan. However, the film failed to match expectations or outdo Good Bad Ugly, collecting only Rs 97.44 crore worldwide. The cast included Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ali Fazal, Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, and Tanikella Bharani. A major setback came after Kamal Haasan's controversial comments about the Kannada language led to a ban in Karnataka. The actor did not apologise, and the film consequently lost revenue in Kannada-speaking regions. Kuberaa Sekhar Kammula's Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nagarjuna Akkineni, grossed Rs 133 crore worldwide. The multi-starrer received favourable reviews from both fans and critics. However, it earned only Rs 87.22 crore domestically, falling short of the Rs 100 crore mark in India. The film was praised for its realistic yet commercial storytelling. Rashmika received acclaim for taking on a different and nuanced role compared to her previous performances. Tourist Family Tourist Family, the debut directorial venture of Abishan Jeevinth, starred M. Sasikumar, Simran, Mithun Jai Sankar, and Kamalesh Jagan in lead roles, with Yogi Babu, Ramesh Thilak, M. S. Bhaskar, Elango Kumaravel, Sreeja Ravi, and Bagavathi Perumal in supporting roles. The film received rave reviews from fans and social media users. Filmmakers like S. S. Rajamouli publicly praised it, and the movie gained further traction following its OTT release. With its emotionally rich narrative centred on a Sri Lankan Tamil family fleeing the economic crisis and arriving in India in search of a better life, Tourist Family earned Rs 87.23 crore globally. Veera Dheera Sooran : Part 2 Directed by S. U. Arun Kumar, Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 featured Vikram in the titular role, along with S. J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Dushara Vijayan, and Prudhvi Raj. The film received positive reviews and grossed around Rs 65.36 crore at the box office. Madha Gaja Raja Thug Life - Official Hindi Trailer Sundar C's Madha Gaja Raja, starring Vishal in the lead role, along with Santhanam, Anjali, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Sonu Sood, Manivannan, Subbaraju, Nithin Sathya, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Munna Simon, and John Kokken, grossed Rs 63 crore worldwide. Maaman The family drama Maaman, directed by Prasanth Pandiyaraj, featured Soori in the lead, alongside Rajkiran, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Swasika, Bala Saravanan, Baba Bhaskar, Viji Chandrasekhar, Nikhila Sankar, and Geetha Kailasam. The film was lauded for its realistic storytelling and earned approximately Rs 35 crore at the box office.
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Indie cinema's The Bioscope turns 15
Today, The Bioscope hosts everything from indie film nights and student setwork screenings to live comedy shows, burlesque, birthday parties, and documentary screenings. Independent cinema in South Africa has a wonderful history. Many years ago, in Hillbrow, the Mini Cini screened flicks that ranged from the bizarre to the sublime. The 7 Arts in Norwood was an absolute institution, and today, still, the Labia in Cape Town celebrates celluloid art. In Joburg, the Bioscope at 44 Stanley marks 15 years of movies this year. There is something special about Bioscope. Its wooden decked lobby, the memorabilia gift shop and the car-seat rowed theatre. It's artsy, but accessible. And nothing could temper co-founder Russel Grant's passion for the movies. It is thrilling to be in his company, and Grant's love for film is as infectious as the smell of fresh popcorn. It all started at film school, in class. Fellow founder Darryl Els wrote a thesis on the question of whether independent cinema would cut it commercially in Joburg. Grant was not just intrigued, he was sold. Test screenings were held at Wits, and the pair soon found themselves caught up in something that snowballed. The Bioscope opened its doors in 2010 in central Joburg, just as Maboneng was beginning to position itself as the new creative district. 'We'd meet in parking lots' 'We had no money,' said Grant, 'but we had a lot of ideas. We would meet in parking lots to talk budgets and make plans. It moved quickly.' Within two months, they were hosting screenings for the Encounters Documentary Film Festival, attracting sold-out houses and joining the local and international film stream almost overnight. From the start, The Bioscope stood apart. One screen. Handpicked films. There was no need to show whatever was trending just to fill a schedule, said Grant. 'It was always about creating something different,' shared Grant. 'Not just a cinema, but a space.' Also Read: Fashion for tactile people There's a bar, a pizza oven, cocktails, and a proudly local gift shop where Jozi-centric T-shirts and film memorabilia sit side by side with vinyl records and superhero compendiums. 'I always loved those shops in Japan where every T-shirt was different,' said Grant. 'I wanted to do something like that here. Good art, printed well, made by local talent.' In 2019, the Bioscope made its move to 44 Stanley in Milpark. Maboneng had changed, said Grant. The vibe had become too loud for the kind of quieter magic that cinema required. 'We needed calm,' Grant said. 'Cinema is intimate. It does not compete well with noise.' Movies, comedy, burlesque – the lot Today, The Bioscope hosts everything from indie film nights and student setwork screenings to live comedy shows, burlesque, birthday parties, and documentary screenings. 'We can run six or seven different things in a single Saturday,' said Grant. 'We just rotate the room. Kids in the morning, cabaret by night. It works.' It works, in part, because Grant's ambition is not to become a giant chain of cineplexes. There was never a rush to expand or franchise, he noted. 'If you get too big, you lose what made you special,' said Grant. 'This space, this screen, that is the point. It must be the best it can be.' This is also why the old car seats in the theatre are being refurbished, not replaced. The projector was recently upgraded. Grant recently met someone whose job is to professionally clean cinema screens, and they are now working together. 'Every detail matters,' he said. 'We want people to feel that we care. Because we do.' Some nights in the history of The Bioscope were unforgettable, he shared. When George Bizos attended a screening about his own life, flanked by Justice Edwin Cameron and Nadine Gordimer was a standout. When Oscar winner Francis McDormand popped in, or when Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers turned up. But the real win, said Grant, is the audience that comes back again and again. 'That is what matters.' Now Read: It's lekker, messy creativity and art
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steve Rothery reveals details of new Bioscope album with Tangerine Dream's Thorsten Quaeschning
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery has revealed details of his new project Bioscope, a collaboration with Tangerine Dream's Thorsten Quaeschning. The pair will release their first album, Gentō', through earMusic in late July or early August, although the CD version is now available to pre-order from Marillion's Racket label for shipping in early May, the first 500 of which will be signed by the guitarist. "I've just returned from Abbey Road where the half-speed vinyl was being cut for my Bioscope project with Thorsten Quaeschning from Tangerine Dream," Rothery told Marillion fans in the band's regular newsletter. "The project started life in early 2020 and after several five-day trips to Berlin over the years, and a few days in my home studio, it was finally ready to be mixed and mastered! It has taken a little longer than anticipated but it's really sounding fantastic!" The album also features Elbow drummer Alex Reeves whose performance across the album is labelled by Rothery as "fantastic" You can see the new album art and tracklisting below. Rothery has been busy with Marillion in a live front, as the band have been performing their celebrated Weekend live events in the Netherlands, Canada and France, with Italy, the UK, Germany and Norway to folllow. Marillion are also working on a new studio album, although that is unlikely to see the light of day until 2026 at the earliest. Pre-order Bioscope CD. Bioscope: Gentō1. Vanishing Point2. Gentō3. Kinetoscope4. Bioscope5. Kaleidoscope
