Latest news with #Empuraan
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pranav Mohanlal's look in 'Empuraan' was modeled on Mohanlal's 1980 debut; 'L3' to feature more antagonists
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actor - director Prithviraj Sukumaran recently opened up about an interesting creative choice behind 'Empuraan'. Speaking with Nayandeep Rakshit on YouTube, the actor-director revealed that the reference for the younger version of Mohanlal 's character, Stephen Nedumbally, was drawn from the 1980 classic 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal'. According to Prithviraj, the resemblance between Pranav Mohanlal and his father's early film days was uncanny. 'Anyone who has seen films like Manjil Virinja Pookkal would notice how similar Pranav looks to Mohanlal from that era,' he said. Instead of relying on AI or digital face replacement, the team decided to keep the look as authentic as possible, using images from Mohanlal's debut film as the visual guide. L2: Empuraan - Official Teaser Younger stephen to reappear in 'L3', More villains on the way As for the future of the 'Lucifer' franchise, Prithviraj confirmed that 'L3', the third installment, will also feature a glimpse of Stephen Nedumbally's past—though again, not in an extended flashback. He hinted that as the story moves forward, audiences can expect the introduction of more antagonists. While he didn't reveal names, he suggested that the world of Lucifer is expanding, and with it, the stakes will rise. Hollywood strike impacted casting of foreign actors Prithviraj shared that the ongoing Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike during Empuraan's casting process affected their original plans of casting foreign actors in the Mohanlal starrer. Several actors the team had been in discussions with were SAG members, and the strike halted all further negotiations. With agencies and offices shut, they had to pivot quickly. 'Many actors were close to signing on, but we had to go with those not bound by SAG contracts,' Prithviraj explained. That's how 'Game of Thrones' star Jerome Flynn and 'The Fast and the Furious' actor Rick Yune came aboard. Meanwhile, with heavy expectations, 'L2: Empuraan' received mixed reviews from the audiences.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Prithviraj praises Rajamouli's grand vision; calls him a master storyteller - 'He excels in it'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) After the success of 'L2: Empuraan', Prithviraj Sukumaran is all set for another biggie, the much-anticipated Mahesh Babu-SS Rajamouli film. Recently, in an interview, Prithviraj opened up about his experience of working with the 'RRR' director. 'He excels at telling a story' In a recent chat with Mid-Day, actor Prithviraj Sukumaran offered insight into what sets director SS Rajamouli apart, especially when it comes to his signature grand-scale filmmaking. While speaking about the much-anticipated film 'SSMB29', Prithviraj remarked, 'Rajamouli sir chooses large backdrops because he excels at telling a story through big, visual strokes.' Sarzameen Trailer: Prithviraj, Kajol & Ibrahim Ali Khan Starrer Sarzameen Official Trailer The Malayalam star, who is also part of the film's ensemble cast, seems genuinely impressed by the director's storytelling canvas, which he described as both ambitious and deeply engaging. Silence from the team, buzz from the fans The film, which stars Mahesh Babu , Priyanka Chopra , and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is surely one of the most awaited films this year, and the reasons are plenty. While the filmmakers have been tight-lipped about the plot and finer details, the sheer scale of SSMB29 has fueled excitement. The fact that Rajamouli is helming the project only adds to the growing curiosity. Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra are ready for the August shoot According to India Today, the cast and crew of 'SSMB29' are currently on a break. Mahesh Babu, who recently took time off to celebrate his daughter's birthday in Sri Lanka, will be returning to the sets soon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The team is expected to kick off an extensive shooting schedule starting in August. Priyanka Chopra, too, has locked in major dates for the film. Meanwhile, Prithviraj Sukumaran's third directorial venture 'L2: Empuraan's beginning flashback sequences were praised by the audiences, and some even compared it to SS Rajamouli's movies, due to its grand scale and the execution style. 'Empuraan' may have had its flaws, but Prithviraj Sukumaran surely has set a benchmark in terms of the technical side, with the Mohanlal starrer.
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Prithviraj Sukumaran comments on SS Rajamouli's large-scale arrangement for SSMB29: ‘He excels at telling a story…'
The mounting anticipation over SSMB29 has already made it one of the most awaited pan-India projects lately. While the makers continue to maintain silence on divulging details about the film, fans remain psyched over what the movie will have in store. Speaking with Mid-Day in a recent interview, Prithviraj Sukumaran discussed why SS Rajamouli has continued with his popular trend of creating massive backdrops and other arrangements for each of his projects so far, including the upcoming SSMB29. The Empuraan actor said, 'Rajamouli sir chooses large backdrops because he excels at telling a story through big, visual strokes.' SSMB29 team to gear up for a major shooting schedule in August As per a latest report by India Today, the cast and crew of SSMB29 including Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra are on a break at the moment. Speaking about the former, he's currently on vacation in Sri Lanka to celebrate his daughter's birthday. After Mahesh Babu's return, the actor will be returning to the sets as the team will proceed towards a high-octane shooting schedule in August. Moreover, Priyanka Chopra has also allotted considerable dates from her calendar to the shooting schedule. SSMB29's plot to be on the lines of Indiana Jones? Well, the buzz around the possible storyline of SSMB29 continues to fuel gossip among the fans. As per the Tanzanian portal The Citizen, the film might be along the lines of the iconic Hollywood character Indiana Jones. The report claimed, 'Inspired by Indiana Jones and African adventure classics, the film follows a rugged explorer who sets out on a high-stakes mission through uncharted terrain, battling nature, mystery, and a powerful enemy to uncover a long-lost secret that could change the world.'
Pink Villa
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Janaki V vs State of Kerala: Suresh Gopi's film changes title after legal soup, finally locks new release date in July
Janaki V vs State of Kerala hit a legal roadblock at the time of its theatrical release owing to the use of the word 'Janaki' in the title. The character's name caused trouble, and the film was refused certification by the CBFC, resulting in the delay of its release from June 27, 2025. And now, after much controversy, the makers have finally been able to lock a release date. Janaki V vs State of Kerala new release date Taking to Instagram, the official page of the movie dropped an intriguing poster and confirmed the new release date and a slight change of the title of the Malayalam legal drama. The film, now titled Janaki V vs State of Kerala, is set to release on July 17, 2025, and has been certified with UA 16+. They captioned it as 'Behind every delay… have a truth worth fighting for." and in the end that truth shall always prevail !!! JANAKI V v/s STATE OF KERALA U/A 16+ CERTIFICATION WORLD WIDE RELEASE ON JULY 17TH.' More about Janaki V vs State of Kerala controversy The controversy surrounding the film primarily centered on the use of the word "Janaki" in the title, a reference to the character of Sita from the Ramayana. The CBFC informed the Kerala High Court that they would only certify the movie if the title were either changed to Janaki V vs State of Kerala or 'V Janaki vs State of Kerala. Additionally, the film chamber also wants the utterance of the word Janaki to be muted during one of the courtroom scenes. The makers had allegedly agreed to these conditions back then. When JSK's producer blamed Mohanlal's film Empuraan for former's certification delay A few days back, the producer of Janaki V vs State of Kerala, Suresh Kumar, commented on the film's delay in release owing to censorship formalities. He argued that the CBFC had become more cautious after Mohanlal 's film Empuraan was released. In his words, 'Empuraan had to be recensored due to the controversy. That's when the censor board became more cautious. That's why this problem has arisen; everything began from there.'
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Murali Gopy breaks silence on film censorship, calling it a ‘Lynching of Art'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Amid the growing debate around censorship in Indian cinema, screenwriter and actor Murali Gopy has finally broken his silence, and he hasn't minced words. Without directly naming any film, Murali took to social media to express his frustration, sharing a pointed quote: 'Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice,' a line by renowned American literary critic Henry Louis Gates Jr. Netizens react: Censoring is to art as fear is to truth…!!! Murali Gopy's post was soon flooded with comments. One comment read, "Censoring is to art as fear is to truth…!!!" Another one wrote, "Lynching is usually carried out against individuals perceived as criminals or those suspected of engaging in anti-social activities. It often stems from a community's impulse to take justice into their own hands before the designated legal authorities can intervene." 'JSK' controversy Though the post does not mention the Suresh Gopi-starrer 'Janaki vs State' of Kerala, the timing and context left little room for ambiguity. L2: Empuraan - Official Teaser For the unversed, the Suresh Gopi starrer has recently stirred controversy after the Censor Board objected to the name of the lead character, Janaki, citing religious sensitivities. The Board argued that naming a sexual assault survivor "Janaki," another name for the Hindu goddess Sita, was inappropriate and potentially provocative, especially as the courtroom drama involved characters from different faiths. A film under fire, a name under scrutiny The censorship row began when the Censor Board raised concerns that the film's portrayal could stoke communal tension. To resolve the issue, the filmmakers agreed to change the character's name to V. Janaki and mute all spoken references to the original name. The matter has triggered intense discussion online, with some supporting the Board's caution, while others decry it as stifling creative freedom. Not the first time: 'Empuraan' faced cuts too This isn't Murali's first brush with censorship. 'Empuraan,' the Prithviraj Sukumaran-directed sequel to 'Lucifer,' which Murali scripted, also ran into trouble with the Censor Board. Certain scenes were reportedly linked to the Gujarat riots and were ordered to be cut. On the positive side, the controversy gave much traction for the film, and the Mohanlal starrer turned out to be a blockbuster.
