Latest news with #KamalHaasan
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan's ‘KH 237' set to begin in August: Kalyani Priyadarshan joins the stylish actioner
Mani Ratnam 's 'Thug Life' starring Kamal Haaan did not meet the expectations. The film, which was released on June 5, received mixed reviews from the audience. However, it is currently receiving a good response on OTT. In this situation, it was announced that Kamal will next act in a film titled 'KH 237', directed by the famous stunt master Anbariv duo. This announcement has created great expectations among fans. Kalyani Priyadarshan roped in 'KH 237' The latest update about 'KH 237' is that Kalyani Priyadarshan will be playing a pivotal role as per News 18. Kalyani Priyadarshan, who captivated Tamil audiences with the film 'Maanaadu', is now garnering significant attention for her upcoming collaboration with Kamal Haasan in an important film. The addition of this Malayalam actress, who has acted in Tamil films like 'Hero' and 'Maanaadu', is expected to bring a new twist to the style of 'KH 237'. Anbariv duo directs Kamal Haasan in high-octane action film Anbariv, the twin duo, carved a special place in Indian cinema for their action sequences. Having worked on high-budget films like ' Vikram ' and 'Thug Life', the film's action and fight scenes are the talk of the town as they are now directing a film entirely for Kamal Haasan. Kamal Haasan will be seen sporting a new stylish look with long hair, adding to the appeal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Confirm: 60-Year-Old Sheds Fat With 4 Ingredients The Healthy Way Learn More Undo The story and production of the film have been completely started by the production house. 'KH 237' to begin shooting in August The shooting of 'KH 237' is said to begin in August. This super action film is expected to give fans an emotional and thrilling experience in the theater. Meanwhile, Shankar's 'Indian 3' is set to be another major release for Kamal Haasan. Recently, photos of Kamal Haasan, who has been elected as a member of the Tamil Nadu Rajya Sabha in his political journey, sharing his happiness with actor Rajinikanth, went viral on the internet.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Three Indian Films Rank Among Netflix Global Top 10
Three Indian films rank among most-watched films on Netflix this week globally. It is the third week ... More on the list for 'Raid 2', the second one for 'Thug Life' and 'Aap Jaisa Koi' made its debut online this week. A total of three Indian films - two Hindi and one Tamil - have made it to the latest weekly list of most-watched non-English films on Netflix. Ajay Devgn's Raid 2 ranked on the list for the third consecutive week and Kamal Haasan's Thug Life made it for the second week in a row. Netflix India original Aap Jaisa Koi made its debut on the list this week. Netflix Global Top 10: Raid 2, Thug Life, Aap Jaisa Koi rank high Netflix India original Aap Jaisa Koi released online on July 11 and made its debut on the weekly list in just a matter of days. On the other hand, Raid 2 and Thug Life continue to charm audiences worldwide weeks after their digital premiere. A poster of Indian film 'Raid 2'. The Hindi film was the third-highest opener of 2025. Raid 2 – Justice Has No Expiry Date registered 1.8 million views and 4 million watch-hours in its third week on Netflix. For the week ending July 13, the film ranked at sixth position among most-watched non-English films worldwide on Netflix. It also ranked among the most-watched films on Netflix for the week in eight countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia, Oman, Mauritius. Raid 2 was the most watched movie on Netflix for the week in Pakistan. For the past two weeks, ever since its digital debut on June 26, Raid 2 was the most-watched non-English film on Netflix. Last week, it was the most-watched film in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In its debut week, the political thriller ranked on top of the list of most-watched movies on Netflix in nine countries including Mauritius, Bangladesh, Bahrain, India, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, Raid 2 hit theatres on May 1 to positive responses. After retaining the position of most-watched film online in India for two weeks, Raid 2 slid to the second position in its third week. Thug Life toppled Raid 2 this week on the list. Indian star Kamal Haasan on a poster of 'Thug Life'. Headlined by Kamal Haasan, Thug Life recorded 2 million views and 5.5 million watch-hours in its second week on Netflix, making it as the fifth most-watched non-English film on the platform for the week ending July 13. Directed by Mani Ratnam, the film was also among the top ten most-watched films in ten countries. In its debut week, Thug Life was the second most-watched non-English film on Netflix worldwide. It had a digital premiere on July 3 and was the third most-watched film online in India that week. In the week ending July 13, the Tamil film is the most-watched movie on any digital platform in India. Co-written by director Ratnam and lead star Haasan, Thug Life tells the story of a mafia don. Haasan features along with Ali Fazal, Nassar, Trisha, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Joju George. The film released on June 5 to an underwhelming box office response and mostly mixed reviews. A still from Netflix India original Hindi film 'Aap Jaisa Koi'. Clocking 3.4 million views and 6.5 million watch hours in just three days, Aap Jaisa Koi is the fourth most-watched non-English film on Netflix worldwide. It is also the top most-watched film in India and Bangladesh. It also ranked among the top 10 most-watched films in ten countries across the world on the platform. Headlined by R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aap Jaisa Koi is a Netflix India original which explores a love story between people who are not-so young. The film has been directed by Vivek Soni (Meenakshi Sundareshwar). It is backed by an interesting cast which includes Namit Das, Ayesha Raza, Manish Chaudhari. The film explores the diverse cultures and backdrops of Jamshedpur and Kolkata - two very different cities in India and how women need to claim their agency even in romantic narratives. Aap Jaisa Koi touches upon several aspects of the patriarchal setup and how it affects the lives of men and women. It also showcases the token progressiveness often seen in rich families. The daughter is 'allowed' to study and work a job but is expected to do so while remembering her core strength lies in holding the family together through sacrifices and daily household chores. It is fine for a grown-up man to seek sexual favors outside of traditional setups, but same is not acceptable for a woman. Aap Jaisa Koi handles the issues that it raises with maturity and sensitivity but does not quite land the warmth and passions of a romantic film. While it is not a film about quintessential college-romance, it still is a love story. Unlike late Indian star Irrfan Khan's Qarib Qarib Singlle, Aap Jaisa Koi does not offer the gravity and warmth of a mature love story.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Reign Of ‘Hurt Sentiments' Will Destroy Democracy
Last Updated: Only grounded, objective criteria - threat to public order, incitement to violence, defamation, obscenity - should govern permissible restrictions. The Supreme Court has rightly slammed the Karnataka government and the state film chamber for siding with the enemies of free speech. The apex court was aghast that no action was taken against those who threatened violence over the release of actor-politician Kamal Haasan's movie, Thug Life. The state government told the court that it had not imposed any restrictions on the film and also pledged to provide full security if the producers chose to release it. It was heartening to see in this case that the SC not just gave relief to the Thug Life makers but also wanted action against those who had issued threats. The apex court Bench, headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, was hearing petitions on June 19 filed by the Thug Life producer and a third party seeking guidelines on hate speech and threats of violence. Thug Life was scheduled for release in Karnataka on June 5, but got embroiled in controversy following Haasan's comment that the Kannada language was 'born out of Tamil." The comment was widely resented by pro-Kannada groups, which demanded an apology from Haasan. Taking a brave stance, he refused to apologise, despite the threat of imminent commercial losses because of the non-release of the movie in the state. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) also took a tough stand, saying that Thug Life would not be released without an apology from Haasan. When Haasan approached the Karnataka High Court, it chided him for his remarks and asked him to apologise. When the matter reached the Supreme Court, it not only criticised the Karnataka government but also reprimanded the state High Court for having urged Haasan to apologise. 'There is something wrong with the system when one person makes a statement and everyone gets involved. Why should the High Court say 'express an apology'? That is not its role," the SC said. On June 17, the Supreme Court pointed out that the rule of law requires a person to be able to release a film that has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The court warned the state that it could not allow 'mobs and vigilante groups to take over," asserting that public sentiment should not override legal rights. It was only after the SC snub that the Karnataka government pledged to maintain law and order and ensure the peaceful release of Thug Life. The government clarified that it had not imposed any restrictions on the film's release and would provide necessary protection and security. This was not the first case in which the adversaries of free speech exploited the notion of 'hurt sentiments" to justify censorship. Public intellectuals assist them by raising the wrong questions, by debating whether protests over a film, book, or song are justified, and by asking whether someone's feelings were really hurt. They should be asking instead: can hurt sentiments be a basis for banning anything? Under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, freedom of expression may be regulated only by 'reasonable restrictions" for state security, friendly relations, public order, decency, morality, contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to offend. But nowhere does the Constitution permit restrictions based solely on hurt sentiments or feelings. The distinction is vital: while reasons can be scrutinized and debated objectively, sentiments are personal and cannot be uniformly measured or validated. Dictionaries define 'sentiment" as emotional attitudes or opinions influenced by feeling, and 'feeling" as unreasoned emotional reactions. By their nature, these are subjective—what deeply offends one group may leave another unmoved. Take, for example, the case of M.F. Husain: some Hindus found his work as hurtful, while others didn't. It must be mentioned here that the anti-blasphemy law, Section 299 of BNS, is used to gag free speech. Section 299 (which was earlier Section 295A of the IPC) says: 'Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic means or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both." Section 299 is logically untenable as it criminalises speech based on feelings, which—as we mentioned earlier—are subjective. Therefore, it is antithetical to India's constitutional spirit as it imposes vague restrictions on freedom of expression. The extant court cases are symptomatic of the systemic toxicity that sentimentalism has generated over the decades. Sentimentalism, along with its sibling sanctimoniousness, has supplanted reason in public discourse and political debate. Ranting, canting demagogues and intellectuals set the agenda, resulting in the silencing of dissent, throttling of creativity, and often atrocities against those who speak out—all in the name of soothing 'hurt sentiments.' This trend must be reversed. As Justice Bhuyan said, 'There is no end to hurt sentiments in India. If a stand-up comedian says something, sentiments are hurt, and there is vandalism… Where are we heading?" The reign of hurt sentiments must be dismantled from law and public life. Only grounded, objective criteria—threat to public order, incitement to violence, defamation, obscenity—should govern permissible restrictions. Otherwise, democracy will degenerate into mobocracy. The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. First Published: June 26, 2025, 16:10 IST News opinion Opinion | Reign Of 'Hurt Sentiments' Will Destroy Democracy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Joju George confirms the title of the 'Pani' sequel—it's called 'Deluxe'; filming is set to begin soon
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Joju George has officially announced the title of the much-awaited sequel to his directorial debut, 'Pani.' And it's nothing short of intriguing: 'Deluxe.' The actor-director confirmed the news during the promotions of his upcoming film 'Aasha,' as reported by On Manorama. 'Deluxe' promises a new chapter with a bigger canvas Speaking at the event, Joju revealed that the scripting for 'Pani 2' is now complete, and preparations for shooting are already underway. He also teased that the sequel will feature some of the best technicians in the industry. The director-actor also aims at bringing together a top-tier crew to elevate the project's scale. Joju George further shared that the film will introduce a fresh cast. Let's hope that the director will bring out new and intriguing characters like Don Sebastian and Siju K.T. ('Pani' movie antagonists) in 'Deluxe.' From 'Pani' to 'Deluxe': A Gritty World Set to Expand 'Pani' marked the directorial debut of Joju George, and it was opened to rave reviews from both critics and audiences. Pani | Song - Marannaadu Pulle Director Anurag Kashyap earlier praised the film by writing a social media note that read, "Malayalam Cinema continues to shock and surprise and blow your mind. Saw this powerful thriller/drama film from @jojugeorgeactorofficial. A super confident directorial debut that goes the distance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo It rises to the level of some of the best Korean New Wave films. Absolutely unmissable." Recently during the promotional function of 'Thug Life,' Kamal Haasan praised the performances of Sagar Surya and Junaiz in 'Pani. ' Meanwhile, the director Karthik Subbaraj had shared his review on 'Pani' in an earlier tweet that read, "I saw this film, and it's superb. An edge-of-the-seat action thriller with super intense performances.... It's going to be a Blast in theaters ... Congratulations, Joju Cheta @C_I_N_E_M_A_A, and team." On the other hand, Joju George was recently seen in Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life.'
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Kamal Haasan Meets Rajinikanth Ahead Of Becoming A Rajya Sabha Member: "I Shared This New Journey With My Friend"
Mumbai: Kamal Haasan paid a visit to superstar Rajinikanth ahead of his oath-taking ceremony as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Haasan took to his official X handle and dropped a string of photos from the meeting. The pictures feature the 'Indian' actor presenting his official Rajya Sabha order to Rajinikanth. Kamal Haasan also presented Rajinikanth with a bouquet as the two Southern stalwarts met. In another image, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth also shared a warm embrace. Kamal Haasan wrote, 'I shared the beginning of this new journey with my friend @rajinikanth. I feel elated.' புதிய பயணத்தை நண்பர் @rajinikanth உடன் பகிர்ந்தேன். மகிழ்ந்தேன். — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 16, 2025 Rajinikanth also treated the Internet with a glimpse of the meet and greet, and congratulated Kamal Haasan on his latest achievement. "My dear friend @ikamalhaasan who will be taking office as a member of the Rajya Sabha, heartfelt congratulations to him," he wrote. மாநிலங்களவை உறுப்பினராகப் பதவியேற்கவிருக்கும் என்னுடைய அருமை நண்பர் @ikamalhaasan அவர்களுக்கு மனமார்ந்த வாழ்த்துகள். — Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) July 16, 2025 These captures of the two icons have gone viral on social media. Kamal Haasan is the founder of the political party, Makkal Needhi Maiyam. He was among the six candidates from Tamil Nadu who were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) had named three candidates, allocating a seat to Haasan, in accordance with a prior agreement between the two parties. Kamal Haasan will be taking oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha on July 25, 2025. Talking about their professional commitments, Kamal Haasan last graced the screen with Mani Ratnam's Thug Life. The gangster drama reached the cinema halls on June 5, 2025. Up next, he will be a part of S Shankar's Indian 3. His lineup also includes a film with action choreographers Anbariv. On the other hand, Rajinikanth will next be seen leading Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie, slated to get a theatrical release on August 14, 2025. Moreover, it is also being speculated that Rajinikanth will be joining forces with Maharaja maker Nithilan Swaminathan for his next.
