Latest news with #LCU
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Karthi's 'Sardar 2' wraps up shoot, eyes December release
The filming of 'Sardar 2,' starring and directed by P.S. Mithran, has officially wrapped up. Following the massive success of the first 'Sardar' film released in 2022, this sequel was eagerly anticipated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Shooting began in July last year and has now been successfully completed. The film features an ensemble cast that includes S.J. Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Ashika Ranganath, Yogi Babu, and Rajisha Vijayan. Music is composed by Sam C.S., further building anticipation for the film. Bigger scale and strong buzz following the teaser release Like its predecessor, 'Sardar 2' is a gripping political thriller but is said to be made on a much larger scale. A teaser released on actor Karthi's birthday recently received an overwhelming response online. The film was initially planned for a Deepavali release this year, but it is now likely to hit theaters in December 2025. Since Suriya's 45th film, helmed by RJ Balaji, is set for a Diwali release, Karthi's film has decided to avoid a box office clash between brothers, leaving the way open for the senior. A tragic accident during the shoot causes a temporary delay Production wasn't without challenges. A tragic accident occurred during the shoot when stuntman Elumalai fell from a height of 20 feet and lost his life. The unfortunate incident caused a brief delay in filming and drew significant attention within the industry. Karthi gears up for 'Kaithi 2' after wrapping up 'Sardar 2' With 'Sardar 2' completed, Karthi is preparing to begin work on 'Kaithi 2,' directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film will go on floors after the release of 'Coolie,' Lokesh's upcoming film with Rajinikanth. As the first Kaithi launched the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), its sequel is among the most awaited projects in Tamil cinema.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nivin Pauly steps into LCU as villain: When we cast actor from other languages, they add a different colour to the film, says director Bakkiyaraj Kannan
Apart from Nivin and Lawrence, another big star will also be playing an important role in the film, he reveals. Nivin Pauly is making his entry into the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) by playing the main antagonist, Walter, in Raghava Lawrence 's Benz. This will be the actor's fourth film in Tamil after Neram , Richie , and Ram's yet-to-be-released Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai . The film's director, Bakkiyaraj Kannan , who previously made Remo and Sulthan , talks to us about what made him pick Nivin for the role, how his film is connected to the LCU, and more. Excerpts: 'FANS CAN EXPECT A RUTHLESS NIVIN PAULY' 'We wanted to cast an actor who would give off a new vibe and doesn't fall under the regular villain template. Fans can expect a ruthless Nivin Pauly. The character will be different from his previous ones and will be the peak of villainy,' begins Bakkiyaraj, who informs that Nivin will join the shoot next month. The actor will also be dubbing for himself in the film. 'When we cast actors from other languages, they add a different colour to the film,' states the director. 'Lawrence will also play a character with a negative shade' Talking about the character of his protagonist, played by Raghava Lawrence, the filmmaker shares, 'He plays a character with a negative shade as well. We wanted someone rough and tough and thought that this character would suit him.' Apart from Nivin and Lawrence, another big star will also be playing an important role in the film, he reveals. ' Benz will have three female leads. We are about to finish the first schedule in Chennai. Shooting will also happen in Mangaluru, and Rajasthan, among other places,' he adds. 'BENZ IS NEITHER A PREQUEL NOR A SEQUEL TO AN LCU FILM' Sharing how he ended up taking over the reins of the film, he says, 'Lokesh and I are friends. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 When I was working on another film, he floated the idea of other directors making films in the LCU. Since the film I was working on had a lot of CGI and its pre-production required more time, I took this up. We have been in discussions since January 2024.' The events in this film take place in parallel to the other LCU films. 'It's neither a prequel nor a sequel, but there will be a lot of connections with the LCU. While the basic story is by Lokesh, I've worked on it and written the screenplay,' he says. 'NOW, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MULTIPLE DIRECTORS TO WORK IN FILMS OF A UNIVERSE IS OPENING UP IN INDIAN CINEMA' Bakkiyaraj says that he is proud to be the first director to join the LCU. 'In Hollywood, multiple directors work on various films of a particular universe. Now, such an opportunity has risen in Indian cinema,' he states, adding, 'Benz will have a totally different world and the making style will be different compared to my other two films. It isn't exactly set in the dark world of Lokesh's universe. There would be my flavour, too, with the screenplay comprising a mix of darkness, fun, and family love. ' 'I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO A TELUGU FILM BEFORE SULTHAN' His first and second films, Remo and Sulthan , came out in 2016 and 2022 respectively. Ask him about the gaps between his films, and he says, 'I take some time between films because I keep writing them until I'm satisfied. I was supposed to do a Telugu film before Sulthan and I worked on it for two years, but I wasn't able to take it forward because I couldn't entirely grasp the language. So, I thought I would do a film in Tamil. ' 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 .
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Nivin Pauly joins Lokesh Cinematic Universe with ‘Benz'
Malayalam star Nivin Pauly has joined the popular Lokesh Cinematic Universe with the upcoming movie Benz. Produced by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the movie stars Raghava Lawrence in the lead. The movie is director Bakkiyaraj Kannan. On June 05, 2025, Bakkiyaraj took to X to announce the development with a video. In the teaser, Pauly appears in a maniacal avatar. He is set to play a character named Walter in the movie. The role is expected to be Pauly's full-fledged antagonist character in Tamil cinema. The actor's other Tamil projects are Gautham Ramachandran's Richie and Ram's Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai. Bakkiyaraj had previously directed Remo and Sulthan. Benz, which has music from Sai Abhayankar, is set for a 2025 release. ALSO READ:Lokesh Kanagaraj welcomes Raghava Lawrence to LCU with 'Benz' Meanwhile, Pauly has wrapped up Baby Girl. He is currently working on Akhil Sathyan's film. Lokesh is awaiting the release of Coolie, starring Rajinikanth. The movie, bankrolled by Sun Pictures, hits the screens on August 14, 2025.
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lokesh Kanagaraj Films Ranked: Worst to Best cinematic ventures directed by Coolie helmer
Lokesh Kanagaraj has been one of the most prominent names in the Tamil cinema industry ever since the success of his films and the cinematic universe he has created, known as the Lokesh Kanagaraj Cinematic Universe, or LCU. With his rise in movies as the helmer of various interesting ventures, it only feels right that a ranked list of films exists, covering from his weakest to the best. Lokesh Kanagaraj Films Ranked 5. Leo (2023) Cast: Thalapathy Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mysskin, Madonna Sebastian IMDb Rating: 7.2/10 Where to watch: Netflix Starting off, the film that I would consider his weakest venture in Tamil cinema to date is the Thalapathy Vijay starrer Leo. A partial adaptation of the 1997 DC graphic novel, A History of Violence, the film tells the tale of Parthiban, a cafe owner who is misidentified by many as a gangster presumed to be dead years ago. While the story portrays the tale of a man fighting for his family against uncertain individuals, it stood firm due to Vijay's performance, but it was a letdown from a writing perspective. Despite already having an American version based on the same novel, the film became redundant to meet commercial elements. The story tropes, the lack of momentum in the second half, and the connection it tried to create with Lokesh's cinematic universe felt forced; the movie suffered from squandering the potential of a superb cast being reduced to stereotypical tropes. However, it was still entertaining, especially with Anirudh Ravichander's musical prowess. 4. Maanagaram (2017) In my opinion, Lokesh Kanagaraj's debut venture, Maanagaram, was a refreshing movie in Tamil cinema when it was released in 2017. The action thriller hyperlink film focuses on several unnamed characters who reside in the metropolis of Chennai. Taking the movie from the perspective of several individuals, the entertaining and engaging thriller showed us various facets of storytelling. An experimental and bold attempt, the film captured every emotion as characters were drawn into each other's fights, unfolding comprehensively. Despite being a peak dream for writers, the film does suffer from a debutant director's limits of expertise, but it is still a worthy watch. The flick was remade in Hindi as Mumbaikar. 3. Master (2021) A film that had every Vijay fan in the town hyped up was the action thriller, Master. The movie tells the tale of JD (John Durairaj), a college professor and alcoholic who prioritizes the welfare of his students despite being considered a menace by the management. After an altercation at the college, the professor is unwillingly assigned to teach at a juvenile home, where he comes to the truth about kids being used as pawns by a goon, Bhavani. How the two come face-to-face in this Hero's Journey film sets up the rest of the flick. A solid venture for the audience, Master was able to balance brilliant storytelling with commercial plot points. With Vijay's character, JD, and Vijay Sethupathi 's character, Bhavani, being fleshed out to the best extent, this movie showcased the stylization of both the actors, with the former being a favorite for many, including me. However, I think the film remains stagnant in the second half, suffering from the same bland and grey-shaded nature of the characters, and eventually becomes an average commercial pot-boiler. 2. Vikram (2022) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Fahadh Faasil, Vijay Sethupathi, Narain, Kalidas Jayaram, Gayathrie, Chemban Vinod Jose, Santhana Bharathi IMDb Rating: 8.3/10 Where to watch: JioHotstar A spiritual sequel to the 1986 movie of the same name, Kamal Haasan starrer Vikram was a massive storm in theaters. The return of the veteran star to the big screens after a short time away, the movie presented him as an aging but fearless man trying to fulfill a mission that his son had started. If you've ever seen any interview featuring Lokesh Kanagaraj, you would know how hardcore of a fan he is of Kamal Haasan. With the fanboy director at the helm, the movie hit it out of the park with its execution, writing, pacing, visuals, and music. The natural progression of the events, with adequate screen time for every single character, the film may not have been subtle, but it was a firecracker when watched and even re-watched. 1. Kaithi (2019) Cast: Karthi, Narain, Arjun Das, Harish Uthaman, George Maryan IMDb Rating: 8.4/10 Where to watch: JioHotstar Hands down, Kaithi starring Karthi in the lead role is like the best movie to come under Lokesh Kanagaraj's directorial to date. The film, featuring the story of an ex-convict being dragged into a night-long mission with a policeman, starts off as the beginning of an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Layered and nuanced, the character of Dilli, played effortlessly by Karthi, balances the emotions of a torn father eager to meet his daughter and carries the grandeur of someone who once was someone not meant to be trifled with. Subtle and engaging, Kaithi was one of those sweet surprises that movie lovers enjoyed from Tamil cinema, proving how big of a filmmaker Lokesh could become and being the first installment of LCU. Rajinikanth in Coolie.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan's 'Vikram' roars in Japan amid 'Thug Life' release
Just days before the release of 'Thug Life,' Kamal Haasan 's eagerly awaited next outing, his 2022 blockbuster 'Vikram' has taken Japan by storm. The action-packed thriller made its Japanese theatrical debut on May 30, marking a grand re-entry for the actor on international screens. Releasing across 54 theaters, the film has quickly become a crowd-puller, setting the stage for record-breaking footfalls and grossing over ₹50 lakh in just its first three days. 'Vikram' released to mark its third anniversary Timed with the film's third anniversary since its original Indian release on June 3, 2022, Vikram's overseas premiere is more than symbolic—it's a powerful reminder of the film's lasting impact. Packed houses and overwhelmingly positive reviews in Japan reflect not only the excitement surrounding Kamal Haasan but also the rising enthusiasm for Indian cinema in global markets. Social media is abuzz with fans in Japan sharing their experiences from the screenings, showcasing packed theaters and loud cheers. 'Vikram' blends intense action with emotion Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj , 'Vikram' belongs to the celebrated Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) and stars Kamal Haasan alongside Vijay Sethupathi , Fahadh Faasil, Narain, and Kalidas Jayaram . With its slick action sequences and emotionally layered storytelling, the film follows a former black-ops commander's gritty return to battle against a menacing drug empire. Its success in Japan speaks to the film's universal themes and high production quality that transcends language barriers. The renewed success of 'Vikram' sets the stage for 'Thug Life' As 'Thug Life' has opened with blockbuster reviews, and Mani Ratnam's directorial continues to mount in India and abroad, Vikram's international wave offers perfect momentum. The dual release moment of one film revisiting its past glory while the other awaits its global curtain raise cements Kamal Haasan's position not just as a cinematic icon in India but also as a compelling force in world cinema. 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 .
