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Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Laughs and chills: How Tamil horror comedies keep fans hooked
Tamil cinema has seen a significant rise in the horror-comedy genre over the past decade. Blending spine-chilling moments with laughter, these films have carved out a unique space in Kollywood. Starting with classics like 'Chandramukhi' and reaching new heights with ' Kanchana ,' the genre evolved into a crowd-puller, offering both entertainment and thrill. Even audiences who once shied away from traditional horror films found comfort in this lighter, fun-filled take on ghost stories. It became a formula that catered to fans who love horror but want a dose of humor to dilute the fear. A perfect mix of fear and fun The key to the genre's success lies in its clever formula, delivering scares without overwhelming the viewer. The comic relief softens the intensity of horror, making it accessible even to family audiences. Characters often react humorously to supernatural events, turning what could be terrifying into hilarious situations. This balance ensures that viewers leave the theatre entertained rather than disturbed. The jump scares, ghostly backstories, and witty one-liners all blend seamlessly, making horror comedies a comfort watch for many. Big stars and strong box office numbers by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Horror comedies have proven to be reliable earners at the box office, consistently drawing in audiences from all age groups. Films like 'Kanchana,' ' Aranmanai ,' and 'Dhilluku Dhuddu' turned into blockbuster franchises. With leading stars like Raghava Lawrence , Sundar C , and Santhanam contributing to the space, the genre gained star power and mass appeal. Their relatively lower production budgets combined with high returns have made horror comedies a smart choice for filmmakers, especially during festive seasons when families throng theatres. Fan connection and repeat watchability Fans enjoy horror comedies not just for the laughs but also for their familiarity, slapstick humour, and engaging ghost tropes. These films often include strong ensemble casts, catchy songs, and vibrant rural or semi-urban settings that strike a chord with local audiences. Their accessibility, simplicity, and fun quotient make them rewatchable — be it on television, OTT platforms, or YouTube. Children, in particular, become repeat viewers, contributing to the long-term popularity of these films. "Horror comedies offer a complete family package. There's fear, fun, drama, everything an audience wants on a weekend. That's why I keep coming back to it," Sundar C spoke about continuing 'Aranmanai' series at the film's press meet. "Horror comedy is close to my heart. It gives me a chance to entertain and also explore strong emotions. The success of the Kanchana films proves how much people love this blend," said Raghava Lawrence during 'Kanchana 3' promotions. "I love doing horror comedies. They let you play with extremes — screaming in one scene, laughing in the next. Audiences really connect with that unpredictability," said Tamannaah Bhatia, who played the lead role in horror dramas 'Devi', 'Petromax', and 'Aranmanai 4'. A genre that keeps evolving While the core structure remains intact, filmmakers are continuously exploring new dimensions within the horror-comedy genre. From female-centric horror tales ('Aranmanai 3') to socially relevant messages delivered with humour ('Kanchana 2'), the scope keeps widening. The arrival of new-age directors and screenwriters has also brought freshness to the genre. With upcoming projects from directors like Mysskin and even crossover attempts in pan-Indian cinema, Tamil horror comedies are only getting bigger, bolder, and more entertaining. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
News18
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
DD Next Level X Reviews: Fans Say Comedian Santhanam Back In Form
Santhanam's DD Next Level, also known as Devil's Double Next, directed by Prem Anand, premiered in theatres on May 16. This horror comedy is a sequel to DD Returns and the fourth entry in the Dhilluku Dhuddu franchise. The film, which stars Santhanam as the lead, has received favourable reviews from the audience. X users are particularly impressed with this one-of-a-kind horror comedy film. DD Next Level depicts the life of Krishna, also known as Kissa 47, a prominent YouTube film reviewer portrayed by Santhanam. One day, he and his family are invited to a special film screening. However, Krishna notices something unusual about the setting and decides to leave. To his surprise, he discovers that his family has already entered and is seated in the theatre. Things take a weird turn as Krishna is drawn into the film itself. Inside the film, he realises that his family members are playing the characters. As the story progresses, he realises that they are all stuck in a ghost story, haunted by the spirit of a failed director, Hitchcock Irudhayaraj, played by Selvaraghavan.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Devil's Double Next Level' movie review: Santhanam's barely funny, least scary addition to an uneven franchise
Let naysayers and non-believers say what they want, the Dhilluku Dhuddu films are the kind of guilty pleasure that must keep this world running. There's a bungalow, a ghost or two, a foul-mouthed Santhanam, a Rajendran who leaves you in splits, and a basic storyline with a few twists that somehow keeps you invested. Of course, there are the usual problems, like the fresh-faced heroine used as eye-candy and Santhanam awkwardly still clinging onto his dreams of becoming a commercial cinema hero who can fight and dance. Devil's Double Next Levela.k.a DD Next Level isn't too different from the first three films of this franchise (while legal reasons might prevent them from officially calling it a franchise, every film has a meta line about being a sequel). However, the jokes don't land where intended, and post-interval, the film ends up as a dreadful mess. DD Next Level moves away from how each of its predecessors introduced the lead characters to the haunted bungalow. In Dhilluku Dhuddu, the heroine's father, who is against her relationship, manipulates and takes the hero and his family to a bungalow to kill him off, unaware of the haunting presence there. In the second part, the heroine's father was a black magician who sent a yatchi to protect his daughter from men lusting after her. The third was quirkier, revolving around a bag of money that many parties chase after, including the hero who needs it to save his relationship, only for the bag to end up in a haunted French villa. DD Next Level, surprisingly, doesn't wait to introduce the horror element, taking off from a well-staged sequence featuring popular Tamil reviewer Prashanth. We are introduced to a mysterious ghost named Hitchcock Irudhayaraj (Selvaraghavan) who lures film critics to his mysterious theatre called Cinema Paradise (easter eggs abound, including a black magician named Mama Kurosawa) and kills them off because they are spoiling the sanctity of cinema. 'Unga amma enga amma illa da, cinema!' utters Irudhayaraj at one moment. But before you expect a serious take on film criticism, like R Balki's Chup, I must remind you that this is a Santhanam film. And so director S Prem Anand swaps all that potential for some low-hanging fruits. 'Devil's Double Next Level' (Tamil) Director: S Prem Anand Cast: Santhanam, Rajendran, Nizhalgal Ravi, Kasthuri Shankar Runtime: 133 minutes Storyline: A film critic must save his family after they get stuck in the world of a film made by a ghost that seeks revenge from film reviewers Our protagonist, a rather annoying one, is Kissa 47, an acclaimed film reviewer on YouTube. He behaves like a man-child emulating a Gen Z rapper and calls everyone 'Bro' in an accent that Santhanam struggles to maintain. One night, Kissa's YouTuber girlfriend Aasai Harshini (Geethika Tiwary), mother (Kasthuri), father (Nizhalgal Ravi), and sister (Yashika Anand) are pulled into Irudhayaraj's film, called Hitchcock Irudhayaraj. Kissa and his friend Veenpechu Babu (Rajendran) too enter the film's world to save the former's family, but to their shock, they find them playing quirky characters of Hitchcock Irudhayaraj, on a cruise ship with a masked killer, unaware of who they really are. His mother is a Telugu-speaking thief named Shilpa, his father is Captain McDonald, and his sister is Maya, a scantily-clad woman who is in love with…Gautham Vasudev Menon's Detective Ragavan, the hero of Hitchcock Irudhayaraj. After following these characters hilariously evading the masked killer, the film moves to an island mansion that is haunted by a ghost named Jessica, played by Kissa's girlfriend Harshini. And that's where all the chaos ensues in this slasher-cum-supernatural horror. Much of these initial portions work due to the many meta-references that organically find their way in. When they meet a Thai-speaking man who gives them a clue, Kissa and Babu can decode because subtitles appear on the screen. When Gautham romances Maya, the scene cuts to them dancing to 'Uyirin Uyire' from Kaakha Kaakha (props to Gautham for being a sport). Similarly, Kissa and Babu can hear voiceovers, play with slow-motion shots, and even travel to the past through flashbacks. Being a film reviewer, Kissa even asks a fellow character not to utter misogynistic dialogue. Unfortunately, everything goes haywire for Devil's Double Next Level in the second half, where the writer has clearly exhausted all the tricks in his arsenal, and we are left with a rather tedious one hour that spoils all the fun. At one instance, the makers repeat an idea from DD Returns that somehow just doesn't work here. There's also this testing scene surrounding Nizhalgal Ravi's bowel movements that the film could have done without. What could have been a fun and taut comedy-horror gets stretched. A group of cannibals are introduced, serving no purpose other than letting Santhanam flex his muscles in some fight sequences. The biggest letdown is the horror element at the centre; both Jessica and Irudhayaraj are easily the most boring ghosts in the franchise, and you certainly miss the gory kills and weapons-wielding ghosts of DD Returns. The scares decline, GVM's character becomes as inanimate as a film prop, and the metaness of the film begins to wear thin. At the end, the question that left me puzzled is how Kissa and Babu could see and interact with Irudhayaraj, who is sitting comfortably at his theatre, watching it all unfold on the screen. Is it because the makers couldn't afford the cost of VFX for a portal that links the two worlds? But even a portal to another dimension couldn't have saved the film from such writing or from besting Dhillukku Dhuddu 2 as the least entertaining entry to the franchise. Devil's Double Next Level is currently running in theatres
News18
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
DD Next Level On OTT: When And Where To Watch The Horror Comedy
Last Updated: DD Next Level, the fourth film in the Dhilluku Dhuddu franchise, is already earning positive reviews for its horror-comedy blend. Devil's Double Next Level, popularly known as DD Next Level, made its theatrical debut today, May 16, and has already started receiving positive audience reviews. This horror-comedy is the fourth installment in the beloved Dhilluku Dhuddu franchise and serves as a direct sequel to the hit DD Returns. Once again, Santhanam leads the film, delivering the trademark blend of humour, scares and satire that fans have come to love. For those waiting for its digital release, DD Next Level will be available on ZEE5 after its theatrical run. Previous films in the franchise are also streaming on the platform, making it easy for viewers to catch up on earlier chapters. The film's narrative follows Krishna, also known online as Kissa 47, a famous and witty YouTube film reviewer portrayed by Santhanam. Krishna is invited along with his family to an exclusive screening of a mysterious film. However, he quickly senses that something is off about the location and tries to leave. To his shock, he realises his family has already entered the theatre and taken their seats. The story takes a fantastical and chilling twist when Krishna is literally pulled into the film being screened. Once inside, he discovers that his own family members are no longer just viewers but have become part of the film's plot—playing characters in a bizarre ghost story. As Krishna tries to make sense of this surreal situation, he realises they are all trapped in a horror film haunted by the vengeful spirit of a failed filmmaker named Hitchcock Irudhayaraj, a role essayed by Selvaraghavan. With the clock ticking, Krishna must rely on his sharp mind, instincts, and trademark humour to unravel the mystery and free his family from the cursed cinematic world before the movie reaches its final reel. DD Next Level is backed by a strong ensemble cast that includes Geethika, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Redin Kingsley, Motta Rajendran, Yashika Anand, and Maran, in addition to Santhanam and Selvaraghavan. The film is helmed by S. Prem Anand, a frequent collaborator in the Dhilluku Dhuddu universe, and is presented by actor-producer Arya. It is produced under the banner of Niharika Entertainment, with Dipak Kumar Padhy handling the cinematography. The movie blends horror, comedy, and metafiction in a way that adds a fresh twist to the franchise. First Published:
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
DD Next Level on Zee5: Santhanam's Tamil horror comedy may premiere on OTT around June 15
DD Next Level on Zee5: Santhanam is in the limelight because of his latest film DD Next Level, which hit the screens on May 16. The film has garnered a fair deal of attention because of its trailer and songs. It will premiere on Zee5, a popular streaming platform, after its run in theatres. A trade analyst has now shed light on when to expect it on OTT. DD Next Level may premiere on Zee5 in June DD Next Level, one of the most eagerly awaited films of the month, is out in theatres. The film is the fourth installment of the Dhilluku Dhuddu franchise and its digital rights are with Zee5. According to Ramesh Bala, the film will premiere on the platform four weeks after its release. 'The rule of thumb in the Tamil film industry is that there is a four-month window between the theatrical release and the OTT premiere. This is true for DD Next Level. Only pan-India films have that eight-week gap,' he told Indiatimes. Going by this, one can expect DD Next Level to be available on Zee5 around June 15. About DD Next Level DD Next Level is a horror comedy directed by S Prem Anand. The film serves as a direct sequel to DD Returns and is the fourth installment of the franchise. DD Next Level centres on a film critic who is drawn into the world of the films he ridiculed throughout his career. The cast is headlined by Santhanam and Geethika Tiwary. OfRo is the music director. For all the latest coverage on Southern cinema & OTT shows, click here
