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The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kamal Haasan pens birthday note to Mani Ratnam ahead of ‘Thug Life': Your presence has been a source of strength
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan penned a birthday note to director Mani Ratnam, ahead of the release of their highly-anticipated movie Thug Life. The gangster drama, which reunites the two after the iconic Nayakan (1987), is set to hit the screens worldwide on June 05, 2025. 'From Nayakan to Thug Life, we have journeyed through time together, as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema,' the actor wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Mani Ratnam, known for cult-classics such as Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), Iruvar (1997), and Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), turned 69 on June 02, 2025 (Monday). Happy Birthday, Mani Ratnam. From Nayakan to Thug Life, we've journeyed through time together — as colleagues, family, co-dreamers, and above all, as lifelong students of cinema. Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of strength — a mind I turn to in moments of… — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 2, 2025 Thug Life also stars Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Ashok Selvan, Nasser and Joju George. A R Rahman is the music composer of the movie while Ravi K Chandran is the cinematographer. Kamal Haasan further wrote, 'Through every chapter, your presence has been a source of strength — a mind I turn to in moments of doubt, and a soul deeply attuned to the language of film like few others. May your stories keep unfolding, for with every frame, your vision brings depth, beauty, and meaning to cinema.' Thug Life is produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Film International and Madras Talkies, helmed by Mani Ratnam. ALSO READ:Thug Life release in limbo in Karnataka, Kamal Haasan must apologise in two days, says film chamber Nayakan, the maiden collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan, is included in the Time's list of the All-Time 100 Best Films. The film, apart from being India official entry to Oscars, won the National Film Awards for Best Cinematography (PC Sreeram), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Kamal Haasan) and Best Art Direction (Thota Tharani).
India.com
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This 2-hour 10-minute thriller will leave you speechless, was banned in two countries, director's home was attacked, film is..., lead actors are…
In 1995, a film hit the theatres that did more than just entertain, which unsettled, provoked, and sparked huge debate. The filmmaker's bold approach to keep the theme raw and dark stirred controversy after its release. Religious groups protested, screenings were halted, and serious attacks were made on the director's life. However, its music became an all-time favourite while its message divided opinions for upcoming generations. Even today, it remains one of the most talked-about releases of that era for its bold choices. Let's know who this filmmaker is and what his creation was that put his life in danger. The Greatest Of All Time… Here we are talking about popular director Mani Ratnam, who is known for creating the finest artistic masterpieces in the history of Indian Cinema. The director made his debut in 1983 with Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi, which did not receive a thumbs up from audiences, but Mani Ratnam's directorial ability earned him earned Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay. When His 1995 Film… Became Most Controversial Films In the year 1995, the director chose to make Bombay, featuring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala in lead roles. The film was based on the 1992-93 riots that took place in Bombay after the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, which created huge tension between Hindus and Muslims. After its initial release, the depiction of inter-religious interactions between a Muslim woman and a Hindu man sparked significant controversy. Later, when makers decided to premiere it globally, the film was banned in Singapore and Malaysia. Mani Ratnam's residence was targeted with two homemade bombs, which injured him badly and later hospitalised him for medical care. Despite landing in various controversies, it was presented at numerous international film festivals, including the Philadelphia Film Festival in 1996. Mani Ratnam, for his bold and fearless approach, bagged the Filmfare Award for director and many other highly acclaimed accolades. What Happens If Bombay Made/Released Today? Renowned cinematographer Rajeev Menon, who worked with Mani Ratnam in Bombay, recently talked about 1995 flick and gave his opinion. During a conversation with O2 when Rajeev was asked about Bombay and ca it be made today, he said 'The point is the entire film like Bombay today cannot be made because situation in India is so volatile and people will take up positions which are so strong and religion has become such a big issue and I don't think you can make a film like Bombay and release in theatre and not expect the theatre to be burnt down today. In 25-30 years, India has become less tolerant.'
India.com
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor who owns Rs 3,300 crore business empire, was left paralysed, lost his stardom, quit films, beats Vijay, Ajith, Dhanush, Suriya, he is…
Whenever it comes to South heroes, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Vijay Sethupathi and Allu Arjun are talked about. But today we will tell you about that South star who started working in films from a young age. But as soon as he became a top hero, he took a break from acting. After this, such an accident happened to him that he was bedridden for years. But then the luck of this star shone so much that he became the owner of a business worth crores. Mani Ratnam saw 21-year-old Arvind Swamy, who belonged to a business family, in an advertisement. After this, he was called for an audition. After which he appeared on screen for the first time in Rajinikanth and Mammootty's film Thalapathi. But the film Roja released in 1992 and Bombay released in 1995 gave such a boost to Arvind's career that he became a star overnight. Arvind's stardom increased further when he appeared with Kajol in the National Award winning film 'Minsara Kanavu'. Apart from this, he entered the Hindi stream with the film 'Saat Rang Ke Sapne'. Due to Arvind's increasing stardom, people started considering him as the successor of two great South actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. But after giving many hit films, Arvind suddenly decided to distance himself from films. He was only 30 years old at that time. There are reports that Arvind is suffering from depression. This is also because the sudden downfall in his career in the 90s had broken Arvind from inside. Therefore, in 2000, he decided to distance himself from acting which shocked everyone. This year he had such a dangerous accident. Due to this accident, Arvind's leg became partially paralysed. He even became dependent on others to get up and sit. But he did not give up. Before the accident, Arvind had founded Talent Maximus India. According to many portals, the revenue of Talent Maximus in 2022 was 3300 crores. The special thing is that even after being paralyzed, Arvind remained active in all these companies. After this, after recovering, he again turned to films in the year 2013. After Mani Ratnam's 'Kadal', he played the role of MG Ramachandran in the Bollywood film 'Thalaivi' released in the year 2021. He was recently seen in the movie Meiyazhagan. This film was highly praised.
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mani Ratnam Thanks AR Rahman Ahead Of Thug Life, Says 'You Make My Film Alive'
'Thank you, Rahman. You make my film alive. Thank you very much," Mani Ratnam said emotionally. Addressing a packed auditorium of fans, media, and industry figures, the esteemed director shared an anecdote highlighting Rahman's sensitivity and creative generosity. 'I was telling him how nowadays it's difficult to keep full songs in cinema due to short attention spans and changing narratives," Ratnam revealed, referring to the evolving dynamics of storytelling and audience engagement in contemporary cinema. But Rahman, ever the artist attuned to deeper meanings, responded characteristically. 'After listening, he changed the number of songs from originally five to nine," Ratnam disclosed, drawing applause from the crowd. 'Thank you, Rahman. Thank you very much. You make my film come alive," he reiterated with immense pride. Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman's collaboration, which began with Roja in 1992, has spanned over three decades, producing some of Indian cinema's most iconic soundtracks – from Bombay and Dil Se to Guru and Ponniyin Selvan. This moment on stage was more than a tribute; it was a reflection of a creative synergy nurtured over time, rooted in mutual respect and trust. At a time when many filmmakers are shortening musical sequences for tighter runtimes, Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman's decision to expand the musical scope of Thug Life is both audacious and beautiful. It serves as a reminder that music, when composed with passion and thoughtfully integrated into the narrative, doesn't merely accompany a film – it elevates it. Produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International, Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, R Mahendran, and Siva Ananth, Thug Life features a stellar cast. Kamal Haasan stars as Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker, alongside Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf, among others. With Mani Ratnam directing and AR Rahman's music, Thug Life will be released in cinemas on June 2025.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Where to eat in Edinburgh according to top Scottish chef
If you find yourself in Edinburgh, there's a good chance of bumping into me at any of the places listed below! Lyla 3 Royal Terrace I went to Lyla with my wife to celebrate her birthday, and everything was perfect from the get-go. I actually used to work in the building when it was 21212 under Paul Kitching which made seeing how Stuart Ralston has put his own stamp on the place even more impressive. On top of that, the food was just incredible, and they're not afraid to try something a bit different, like Sake on the wine pairing menu, to elevate the experience. To me, this place is the pinnacle of fine dining in Edinburgh at the moment. Dishoom 3A St Andrew Square Out of all the spots on this list, I'd say I visit Dishoom the most often. I love a curry, and because of the relaxed atmosphere here, it's a great place for business meetings. You walk past the kitchen and get the smells of food cooking and incense sticks burning, which take me right back to my time spent in India. The vegetarian dishes, like fried okra and Bombay potatoes, are some of my favourite things to order. No matter what time of day you go, it's always packed out, which goes to show how well they've managed to hit the nail on the head with what they offer. Skua 49 St Stephen Street I find it so interesting that Tomás Gormley has a background in fine dining, Michelin-style cooking, but seems to favour a menu of dishes that people really want to eat at Skua. There's his fried chicken and great cocktails, and the restaurant itself has a dark, almost speakeasy style vibe. The food is a lot more refined than some of the other places on the list, but not overly fancy. For the quality of what you're getting, the prices are really reasonable. The Palmerston 1 Palmerston Place On the last list of my favourite places to eat in Fife, I included the Kinneuchar Inn, and I find there are a lot of similarities between it and The Palmerston. They use such great produce, and it's all very rustic. It's the kind of place you can go in and be served a beautiful slice of game terrine on a really vintage-looking plate alongside big chunks of sourdough and a swipe of butter. Their pies are cooked in dishes that look like something you would pull from the cupboard at your great-grandmother's house, but they taste so good. The best one I've tried was a chicken pie a while back. The whole thing felt so traditional and nostalgic. If you want to stop by for breakfast, they make all of their pastries downstairs and line them up on the counter to choose from. It's a brilliant all-day dining spot. Dulse 17 Queensferry Street You might accuse me of being biased here, but our Dulse restaurant really is one of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh. I take my family there a lot because my son loves seafood from octopus to lobster or crab, and some of my happiest memories have been made with him at the restaurant. It's laid back and there's no fuss, you can show up wearing whatever you want and just enjoy yourself. Yes, I own it, but who doesn't love amazing seafood cooked in a simple yet delicious way? Timberyard 10 Lady Lawson Street Dining at Timberyard is this brilliant experience that starts with walking through big, heavy doors. It's such a grand welcome into a space that's lovely and light during the day, then candlelit and moody at night. There are big chunky tables, and the interiors feel like they've been stripped back to the bare bones; it's almost like being in an art gallery or something. But it's not pretentious at all, and the food is all about getting the best out of high-quality seasonal produce. The wine list is also almost the same size as the Yellow Pages, which I love because you always know you're going to finish your meal having discovered something new. Brass Monkey 362 Leith Walk I first discovered Brass Monkey when we were opening Dulse in Leith. I always like to have a restaurant nearby that I can nip into for lunch or a pint when a shift is finished, and found myself ending up here time and time again. It's so bloody cheap, and everything is made fresh. The Korean chicken strips in gouchouchang are my go-to, or the big bowl of bratwurst sausage chopped up and served with Dijon mustard. In the wintertime time they put on an open fire, and it's dog-friendly, which is something I always appreciate. What more could you ask for? Basement Gelato 31 Queensferry Street Basement Gelato opened up across the road from us in Leith just over a year ago. I remember going over to show support during their first week, ordering a pistachio gelato, and just thinking, 'wow, this is unbelievable.' The guy who owns it works his arse off to make this proper Italian gelato as well as milkshakes and crumbles in the colder months. If you asked me what my two favourite ice cream parlours in the world are, the answer would be Janetta's in St Andrews and this place. I'm such a big fan that you'll actually find some of the brown butter flavour on the dessert menu at Dulse.
