Latest news with #DawnPictures
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Enforcement Directorate summons film producer Aakash Baskaran
The Enforcement Directorate has summoned film producer and director Aakash Baskaran about the findings related to the recent raids to probe alleged irregularities in TASMAC. Raids by the central agency sleuths have been taking place at sites related to TASMAC and Aakash Baskaran's production company Dawn Pictures and his residence for the past few days. The ED suspects that unaccounted cash amounting to approximately Rs 1,000 crore may have been laundered through TASMAC operations, allegedly using Dawn Pictures as a conduit. Aakash, who has been missing since the raids, will likely be grilled about the source for his back-to-back production projects featuring stars such as Dhanush (Idly Kadai), Sivakarthikeyan (Parasakthi) and Silambarasan (STR 49). Apart from Aakash, ED conducted raids at the sites related to TASMAC managing director S Visakan; AP Keshav Selvi of KS Smart Solutions, which obtained several state government departments' contracts; an executive of a bottling firm, Ratheesh Velu; a resident of Chennai with close ties to top government officials; and former AIADMK minister Sevoor S Ramachandran and AIADMK MLA Neethipathi. In addition to producing films, Aakash is helming Idhayam Murali, starring Atharvaa Murali in the lead.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘STR 49': Silambarasan TR's next, co-starring Santhanam, launched
Tamil star Silambarasan TR's next, tentatively called STR 49, was launched with a grand pooja ceremony on Saturday, May 3. The film is written and directed by Ramkumar Balakrishnan of Parking fame. Dawn Pictures, the banner backing the film, released stills from the ceremony to announce the news. The new film, also starring VTV Ganesh, marks a reunion between Simbu and actor-comedian Santhanam after 2015's Vaalu (the comedian had appeared in a cameo in 2016's Idhu Namma Aalu). STR 49, announced in February, has music composed by Sai Abhyankkar and features Kayadu Lohar of Dragon fame as the female lead. Manoj Paramahamsa is set to crank the camera while Philomin Raj serves as the editor. Aakash Baskaran produces the film under his Dawn Pictures banner. Meanwhile, Silambarasan's 51st movie is with Dragon-maker Ashwath. Simbu, who is awaiting the release of Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, has teamed up with Desingh Periyasamy for his 50th film, tentatively called STR 50.
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Work on Simbu's film with director Ramkumar Balakrishnan begins with traditional pooja
Chennai: Work on director Ramkumar Balakrishnan's eagerly-awaited film featuring actors Silambarasan and Kayadu Lohar in the lead began with a traditional pooja in the city on Saturday. Produced by Akash Baskaran of Dawn Pictures, the film, which is being tentatively referred to as #STR49, will have music by Sai Abhyankar. Sources close to the unit have now disclosed that Simbu plays the role of a college student in the film. Fans are excited about the film as it will feature Santhanam in the company of Simbu, a favourite combination of college students. Remarkably, Santhanam, who had stopped doing roles as a comedian after turning hero, has made an exception for this film and will be seen playing a comedian in this one. Santhanam has made this exception for actor Simbu, with whom he shares a close bond. Both actors are known to be really close friends, with Santhanam often crediting Simbu for his growth in the film industry. Interestingly, the film will also feature another popular comedian, actor VTV Ganesh, in a pivotal role. Ramkumar Balakrishnan, best known for his superhit film, 'Parking', is to make this film into a proper commercial entertainer. The makers have so far released a poster of the project in which Simbu is seen folding his hands behind his back. In it, he is seen holding a textbook that has the title Engineering Materials and Metallurgy and inside it is a knife with blood on it. The poster also had a caption that read 'The Most Wanted Student'. On the technical front, the film will have cinematography by Manoj Paramahamsa, music by Sai Abhyankar and art direction by Subendhar PL. Costumes for the film will be by Praveen Raja.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Makers confirm that Santhanam is a part of STR 49
Days after the actor, in a recent promotional interview for his upcoming film DD Next Level, said he will team up with STR, it is now official that Santhanam is indeed a part of actor Silambarasan TR's next, tentatively titled STR 49. Dawn Pictures, the production company behind STR 49, made an official announcement of the actor's onboarding on Wednesday. In his recent Vikatan interview, Santhanam said that he could never say no to Simbu when he gave him a call and said he should be a part of STR 49. Santhanam and STR's friendship dates back years, when the latter discovered the comedy talent in the former during his Lollu Sabha days. Santhanam collaborated with STR in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), Manmadhan (2004), Vallavan (2006), Kaalai (2008), Silambattam (2008), Vaanam (2011), Osthe (2011), Podaa Podi (2012), Vaalu (2015) and their last collaboration Idhu Namma Aalu, released in 2016. STR had worked as a music director in Santhanam's Sakka Podu Podu Raja in 2017. STR 49 is backed by Aakash Bhaskaran of Dawn Pictures, who is currently behind films like Dhanush's Idly Kadai and Sivakarthikeyan's Parasakthi. Ramkumar Balakrishnan made his directorial debut with Harish Kalyan-MS Bhaskar's Parking. Sai Abhayankkar has been roped in as the music composer for the film. More details about the film's extended cast, crew and plot are yet to be disclosed.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Santhanam comes onboard Simbu's film with director Ramkumar
It's official! The makers of director Ramkumar Balakrishnan 's eagerly-awaited film featuring actor Silambarasan in the lead on Wednesday welcomed actor Santhanam on board the project. It may be recalled that IANS had, a fortnight ago, reported that Santhanam was to be a part of Simbu 's film with Ramkumar and that the actor had given his nod to the request. Dawn Pictures, the production house producing the film, took to its X handle to make the official announcement. It wrote, " #STR49 is going to the next most awaited reunion is here. Welcoming @iamsanthanam on board." Santhanam first made an impression as a comedian in Tamil cinema before going on to make an impression as a hero. However, after turning a full-fledged hero, the actor stopped appearing as a comedian in the films of other heroes. Santhanam is a north Madras gangster in his next by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Now, it looks like Santhanam will be making an exception for actor Simbu, with whom he shares a close bond. Both actors are known to be really close friends, with Santhanam often crediting Simbu for his growth in the film industry. Ramkumar Balakrishnan, best known for his superhit film, 'Parking', will be directing STR49, which is being produced by Dawn Pictures. The film, which is being tentatively referred to as #STR49, was recently in the news as the makers of the film announced Sai Abhyankar as its music director and actress Kayadu Lohar as the film's heroine opposite Simbu. The makers have so far released a poster of the project in which Simbu is seen folding his hands behind his back. In it, he is seen holding a text book that has the title Engineering Materials and Metalurgy and inside it is a knife with blood on it. The poster also had a caption that read 'The Most Wanted Student'.
