Latest news with #MadrasTalkies
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
‘None in Aesthetic Kunjamma has a design background,' says Arun Ajikumar
It's important to have a team that understands the nuances of your ideas. How did you pick yours? We're an eight-member team at Aesthetic Kunjamma. My co-founder, Deepak, is a design expert. I met him online during the lockdown after I had started Kunjamma. We began exchanging ideas, and as we explored different aspects of design, the team naturally started growing. Interestingly, none of us met in person for over a year—everything happened online. None in my current team has a design background, and I believe that makes us unique. How did you get into movie poster designing? As the page gained popularity, projects started coming our way. We began with short films. In Malayalam, our first official project was Shane Nigam's 'Veyil'. We were also approached by Mani Ratnam sir's Madras Talkies to design a segment called 'Coffee, Anyone?' for a web series. Our entry into the film industry was unplanned. As someone who wanted to get into the industry, I sensed this was my way in. You have an eye for detail, and it shows in your work. What's your creative process like? When I watch a film, I don't just see the surface — I tend to dive into five or six layers of it. I imagine the process behind each scene. Among my works, my favourite is the 'Mayaanadhi-Shape of Water' mix. When I first watched Mayaanadhi, I was blown away by the idea and details in it. Later, when I watched 'Shape of Water', I noticed a connection. In Mayaanadhi's climax, Tovino's character gets shot by the river and just before dying, he sees his lover. I started imagining, 'As he sinks into the river, what if he slips into a lucid dream where he reunites with her and comes back to life?' It felt very Shape of Water-like to me. Thoughts like these are what end up in a poster. I think my eye for detail also comes from my theatre background. Theatre taught me to see how a single line or a costume change can have multiple layers of meaning. My mentor there once told me there are only seven or nine stories in the world and all stories stem from these core ideas. What makes an artwork come alive is how you build on those ideas and bring them to life. Posters have become almost a film's identity now, reflecting its creative depth. How do you view the evolution of film posters? Posters have always been used in branding a film, but over time, especially in the age of the internet, they have evolved into more of a storytelling medium. Earlier, posters were straightforward announcements, often pasted on buses or walls. Their main job was to let people know that a film, starring so-and-so, was coming soon. While working on 'Sarvam Maya', Akhil chettan (Akhil Sathyan) told me how Sathyan Anthikad sir used to say that the most important thing with posters back then was that even someone on a moving bus should be able to read the film's name. The hero's name came second. During the period between '70s and '90s, the focus was on clean, flashy designs that caught your attention quickly. Later, posters began to feature the hero's face more prominently. Even Alfred Hitchcock's posters sometimes included photos of himself and the producer. Putting the star's face helped build trust with the audience and spark interest. With the internet era, posters shifted from being just informative to becoming creative communication. Design elements like color palettes, patterns, and symbolism began to matter more. Posters started to engage people on a deeper level — they made you think, and feel and even gave you that little dopamine hit. But I still believe it's important not to overdo printed posters. You often include Easter eggs in your posters. How do you come up with those? It starts with understanding the film deeply. Whenever we take on a project, I prefer reading the full script instead of just a synopsis—that helps us layer the poster with subtle details. Our audience, especially post-Covid, has become advanced with exposure to international content. So, for them to spend five minutes on a poster, it has to be engaging. I feel a good poster is one that would invoke thoughts in me.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Kamal Haasan's Thug Life Movie to Stream on This OTT Platform
Thug Life starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam came out in theaters on June 5, 2025. After 28 days, it is now available to watch online on Netflix. The film is made by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International and Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies. Thug Life was not shown in Karnataka because of a problem after Kamal Haasan made a comment about the Kannada language during a promotion event. The movie has famous actors like Silambarasan T R, Nasser, Trisha, Joju George, and Ashok Selvan. Even with big stars and well-known producers, the movie did not do well at the box office. Most critics gave it bad reviews. Fans were unhappy because the film did not meet the high hopes from the earlier movies made by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam together.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Thug Life': Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam film drops on OTT after 28-day theatrical run
Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam, has arrived on the OTT space after its 28-day theatrical run. The gangster drama, which hit the screens on June 05, 2025, failed to create magic at the box office. Produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International and Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, Thug Life is currently streaming on Netflix. The Tamil film also stars Silambarasan T R, Nasser, Trisha, Joju George and Ashok Selvan. Thug Life opened to negative reviews from critics. Fans were disappointed that the Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam combinaion couldn't recreate the magic of Nayakan (1987), the first collaboration between the two artists. The movie is about an ageing gangster who has to protect his family when a power struggle tears through his clan, and enemies return seeking vengeance. The Hindu review of the film said, 'It doesn't help that the film fails to add more to its archaic fight-for-the-throne conflict at the centre of the film. Subplots and layers seem added purely for convenience, like a character that returns in the climax to serve a meagre purpose. You also feel bad for Silambarasan since Amar never comes into his own or grows beyond what the plot requires him to do. A lion's share of the screen space is given to Kamal, and the veteran aces his role as an ageing man fighting the God of Death — be it in the more tender moments like the aforementioned scene with Abhirami, or the many face-offs he has on rooftops and cliffs. But is he really feeling the weight of his actions or questioning his morality as the Sakthivel Naicker we once knew? The verdict is still out.' Thug Life missed its release in Karnataka due to a controversy. During a promotional event, Kamal Haasan said that 'Kannada language is born from Tamil', leading to widespread opposition in the State. ALSO READ:'Thug Life' release in Karnataka: Unending 'litany of hurt sentiments' cannot choke free speech in films, says Supreme Court The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) expressed its non-cooperation with the film until an apology from the actor. The makers of Thug Life moved court for a smooth release of the movie. Despite a favourable response from the Supreme Court, Thug Life had no takers in Karnataka as it failed to meet expectations at the box office.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Thug Life OTT release: When & where to watch Kamal Haasan's film online?
Superstar Kamal Haasan and iconic filmmaker Mani Ratnam returned to the big screen together after 36 years with Thug Life. Despite the buzz, the film underperformed in theatres. But it's not the end of the road — Thug Life is now headed to OTT, where it hopes to find a new audience and redemption. There was considerable buzz surrounding Thug Life ahead of its release, but the film soon found itself mired in a Kannada-Telugu language controversy that overshadowed its momentum. Despite the star power of Kamal Haasan and heavy promotions, the film failed to connect with audiences. It opened to largely negative reviews and struggled to make a mark at the box office. Thug Life OTT Release: When & where to watch online? • Release date- July 3, 2025 • Release platform- Netflix • Language availability- Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. 'Thug Life' box office collections Made on a massive budget of ₹200 crore, Thug Life managed to collect only ₹48 crore at the Indian box office. Its global earnings stood at ₹97.25 crore, falling far short of expectations. As a result, the film has turned out to be a commercial disappointment, leaving the producers in significant loss. Thug Life: Plot and Cast "Thug Life" is based on the life of Shakthivel, a deadly underworld don who raises an orphan son named Amaran in a world filled with crime and power battles. A severe rift between Shakthivel and Amara results from the family's growing betrayal over the years. Amaran betrays his mentor by using lies and scheming. The film's plot centers on loyalty and retaliation. The movie is produced by Red Giant Movies, Madras Talkies, and Raj Kamal Films International, while AR Rahman composed its music. The cast includes: • Kamal Haasan, • Abhirami, • Joju George, • TSR, • Trisha and several other actors have played important roles in the film.
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Mani Ratnam doesn't like my films and I don't like his': Ram Gopal Varma isn't a fan of Nayakan, butted heads while working with Thug Life director
Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Varma are two filmmakers who continue to make films in the South, where they started their careers, even after making major breakthroughs in Hindi cinema. They've even collaborated on two films as co-writers and a third one as co-producers. However, they haven't collaborated again in the last 27 years. Varma has now revealed that neither he nor Ratnam likes each other's films. He also called them too 'strong-headed' to collaborate again. 'I'm not really a fan of Nayakan. Actually, Mani doesn't like any of my films. I don't like Mani's films. That's like our relationship,' said the filmmaker. Varma claimed that while there are moments he appreciates in Ratnam's 1987 Tamil cult classic crime thriller Nayakan, including Kamal Haasan's performance, he doesn't like the film as a whole. On the podcast MPower by Maathevan, he reasoned, 'Maybe I also know that character too well, Varadarajan Mudaliar, what it's based on.' In Nayakan, the character of Kamal Haasan is based on Mumbai underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar. It's an area of interest for Varma, who has made memorable crime dramas based in Mumbai, like Satya (1998), Company (2002), and Sarkar (2005) among others. 'Kamal's performance, all that is fine. There are moments too. But Mani didn't influence me,' added Varma. Varma said the figure from the Tamil film industry who influenced him instead was late legendary filmmaker K Balachander, who also produced Ratnam's 1993 romantic thriller Roja. 'In fact, recently, I was watching a Tamil/Telugu film of his, I don't remember. I was surprised to see how similar my cuts are. Obviously, because I learnt from him. He came much before me, so the editing and dialogue are so similar, which means they came from there,' added Varma. Varma and Ratnam co-wrote the story of Varma's 1993 Telugu political crime thriller Gaayam and Ratnam's 1993 Tamil black comedy caper Thiruda Thiruda. Later, they co-produced Ratnam's 1998 Bollywood romantic thriller Dil Se.. along with Shekhar Kapur. However, the two filmmaker haven't collaborated since. 'We like each other as people. I think we both wanted to make our own films. He didn't listen to one idea of mine, and I didn't listen to one idea of his. So we made our own films,' said Varma, adding, 'Both of us are very strong-minded people. He's got a very unique way of making films, and I have my own style. So two strong-minded creative people collaborating, I don't think it can happen.' Also Read: Thug Life to premiere on Netflix India in just 4 weeks? Kamal Haasan backtracks on 8-week window, multiplexes impose Rs 25 lakh fine Ratnam has most recently directed the Tamil crime thriller Thug Life, in which he's reunited with Haasan 38 years after Nayakan. Backed by their respective production houses Madras Talkies and Raaj Kamal Films International, Thug Life has failed to create an impact at the domestic box office.
