Latest news with #Malayalam-speaking
News18
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Fans Call Dhyan Sreenivasan's Detective Ujjwalan ‘A Solid Entertainer'
Last Updated: Detective Ujjwalan hit theatres on the same day as Tovino Thomas' Narivetta. Film lovers had their eyes set on this Friday as Dhyan Sreenivasan's thriller Detective Ujjwalan made its way to the big screens. The film, which was earlier scheduled to release on May 16, got pushed to May 23 without any official reason. The film hit theatres on the same day as Tovino Thomas ' Narivetta. Despite the clash, it seems to have managed to hold its own especially in Kerala and other Malayalam-speaking regions. On social media, many shared their reviews with several praising the film and Dhyan's performance. One user wrote, 'Detective Ujjwalan is a decent one-time watch. Starts strong but slips into the usual serial killer film template with a predictable ending. Keep expectations low & you won't be disappointed. Don't miss the post-credit scene!" #DetectiveUjjwalan is a decent one-time watch. Starts strong but slips into the usual serial killer film template with a predictable ending. Keep expectations low & you won't be disappointed. Don't miss the post-credit scene! #DetectiveUjjwalanreview — Jesty Sunny (@jestysunny) May 23, 2025 Another shared, 'A well written film with a good first half followed by an excellent second half with many wow moments. Finest performance from Dhyan & others did their part very well. Overall a nice watch." #DetectiveUjjwalan: A well written film with Good First Half followed by excellent second half with many wow moments. Finest performance from Dhyan & others did their part very well Overall nice watch ✅ — Anandhu Gireesh (@anandhu__offl) May 23, 2025 'Detective Ujjwalan is an enjoyable mystery film with a good balance of thrills and laughs. It's a great first film by Indraneel and Rahul. The suspense keeps you hooked until the end. Dhyan shines in his role, and the rest of the actors do a great job too," a person appreciated. #DetectiveUjjwalan is an enjoyable mystery film with a good balance of thrills and laughs. It's a great first film by Indraneel and Rahul. The suspense keeps you hooked until the end. Dhyan shines in his role, and the rest of the actors do a great job too. — kiran (@kirancsiva) May 23, 2025 Someone else gave a thumbs up to both the performance and the overall production quality: 'DetectiveUjjwalan is a solid entertainer A well-paced thriller with comedy, suspense, and Dhyan's best performance. Great music and technical work seal the deal. Totally a good one," said another. #DetectiveUjjwalan is a solid entertainer A well-paced thriller with comedy, suspense, and Dhyan's best performance. Great music and technical work seal the deal. Totally a good one But not everyone was fully impressed. One user felt the film followed a familiar storyline, writing, 'Detective Ujjwalan Good to above average movie… Same template serial killer plot with predictable ending. Decent one," someone else mentioned. #DetectiveUjjwalan Good To Above Average Movie… Same Template Serial Killier plot With Predictable Ending ❤️ Decent One…. — ആന മയിൽ ഒട്ടകം (@ZoofalK74962) May 23, 2025 A disappointed movie-goer wrote, 'Disappointed • Promising first half, but the film loses the momentum after. • Tries hard to be a thriller, but fails to connect with the audience. • Poor villain casting drags it down. • Twist & turn • Dhyan & co done neatly." #DetectiveUjjwalan: Disappointed • Promising first half, but the film loses the momentum after.• Tries hard to be a thriller, but fails to connect with audience.• Poor villain casting drags it down.• Twist & turn Set in the fictional village of Plaachikkaavu, the story follows Ujjwalan, a local detective who gets pulled into a dangerous case involving a sharp and unpredictable adversary. The plot unfolds as a mental battle between good and evil with the protagonist relying on his intelligence and instincts to stay ahead. Dhyan Sreenivasan leads the cast as Ujjwalan. The film features Siju Wilson, Kottayam Nazeer, Rony David Raj, Seema G Nair, Kalabhavan Navas, Ameen, Nihaal Nizam, Nirmal Palazhy, Josy Sijo, Nibraz Noushad and Shahubas. Detective Ujjwalan is directed by Rahul G and Indraneel Gopeekrishnan. This marks their first film as directors. First Published:
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Thudarum' Box Office Collection Day 18: Mohanlal starrer crosses Rs 100 crore in India
Mohanlal's 'Thudarum' has achieved blockbuster status, crossing Rs 100 crore in India within 18 days, driven by strong collections, especially in Kerala. Directed by Tharun Moorthy, the film portrays Shanmugham's struggle after his taxi is implicated in drug smuggling, praised for its realistic depiction of rural life and systemic injustice. Mohanlal's 'Thudarum' continued to maintain a strong hold over the box office. The film crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in India on its 18th day, according to early estimates. A report on states that the film earned Rs 3 crore on its 15th day, followed by Rs 4 crore on the 16th, and Rs 4.93 crore on the 17th, before collecting around Rs 2.85 crore on the 18th day. These steady collections have brought the total India net to approximately Rs 101.53 crore. The film's second-week collection stood at Rs 35.35 crore, mostly from Kerala, with a small contribution from Telugu-speaking regions. Despite some fluctuations, 'Thudarum' has maintained a strong hold, especially in Malayalam-speaking areas. Theatre Occupancy The report suggests that on Monday, May 12, 2025, the film recorded an overall Tamil occupancy of 15.45%, with morning shows at 10.89%, afternoon at 17.19%, evening at 11.11%, and night shows peaking at 22.61%. In Malayalam theatres, occupancy was higher at 35.40%, with morning shows at 15.52%, afternoon at 33.89%, evening at 45.80%, and night shows at 46.37%, indicating strong audience interest throughout the day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Plot of the film Directed by Tharun Moorthy, the film stars Mohanlal in the lead role, supported by Shobana, Maniyanpilla Raju, Binu Pappu, and Irshad Ali. The story unfolds in the peaceful hill town of Ranni, where Shanmugham, known as Benz, lives a simple life as a taxi driver devoted to his family and his cherished black Ambassador car. When his car is seized by the police after being used unknowingly for drug smuggling, Benz's life takes a dark turn. The film explores his struggle against corrupt police officers, his desperate search for truth. 'Thudarum' has been praised for its story, strong performances, and realistic portrayal of rural life and systemic injustice. The film is one of Malayalam cinema's biggest hits of 2025.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Thudarum' Box Office Collection Day 8: Mohanlal starrer inches closer to Rs 60 crore in India
Mohanlal's latest thriller 'Thudarum' continues to impress at the box office, maintaining strong momentum as it enters its second week. According to trade analyst Sacnilk, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.50 crore net across all languages on its eighth day, bringing the total India net collection to around Rs 56.90 crore. Over its first week, Thudarum amassed Rs 51.4 crore, with daily collections showing steady performance despite typical weekday drops. The Malayalam version dominates the earnings, contributing over Rs 50 crore, while the Telugu-dubbed version adds a small but consistent share. On Friday, May 2, Thudarum recorded an impressive overall Malayalam occupancy of 61.37%. Morning shows began with a modest 37.23% occupancy, which rose significantly to nearly 60% in the afternoon. Evening shows attracted over 71% of the audience, while night shows peaked at a remarkable 77.21%, reflecting strong viewer interest and positive word-of-mouth in Kerala and among Malayalam-speaking audiences. Directed by Tharun Moorthy, 'Thudarum' is a gripping action-comedy drama that stars Mohanlal in a commanding lead role. The film also features veteran actors Shobana, Maniyanpilla Raju, Binu Pappu, and Irshad Ali in key roles. The story blends intense action sequences with emotional drama. The film's success is notable for its strong hold during weekdays and its ability to attract audiences consistently across major Malayalam-speaking regions such as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur. Even in metros outside Kerala, like Chennai and Bengaluru, 'Thudarum' has garnered respectable occupancy rates. The story is set in the peaceful hill town of Ranni and revolves around Shanmugham, affectionately known as Benz, a humble taxi driver deeply attached to his vintage black Ambassador car. Benz leads a simple, content life with his wife Lalitha and their two children, though his son Pavi is embarrassed by his father's old-fashioned ways. 'Thudarum' has also crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide within six days, combining domestic and overseas collections, making it one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of 2025.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
How a film about women's ‘invisible' labour in marriage sparked a debate in India
A Hindi-language film that explores the complexities of marriage and patriarchal traditions that exploit women's labour has sparked a debate in India. Mrs, starring actor Sanya Malhotra, traces the journey of a newlywed woman in her husband's house, where her life seems to be limited to the domestic drudgery of fulfilling the needs of the men in the family through cooking food in the traditional method, cleaning the household, or being forced to endure bad sex at night. The protagonist is routinely reminded by her gynaecologist husband that he works 12 hours attending patients, while her labour in the house goes unacknowledged and under-appreciated. Mrs, directed by Arati Kadav, is a remake of the 2021 poignant Malayalam-language film The Great Indian Kitchen, which at the time received praise for highlighting the domestic abuse of a section of women in their marital life. While the film received accolades, due to its language barrier, the conversation around the unfair distribution of labour was limited to the mostly Malayalam-speaking audience. The Hindi-language film was released on the OTT platform Zee5, reached a wider audience in northern India, and triggered a debate on the subject. A section of the film's male audience was quick to jump on the conversation, calling the film "too feminist", whereas Mrs resonated with many women in India, where more than 470,000 cases are pending before the court under the Domestic Violence Act. Men's advocacy group, Save Indian Family Foundation, accused it of being a "feminist" propaganda film, adding: "Women's issues are eating 80% of the cake when it comes to policies for protection of millions of vulnerable people." The film's director this past week responded to a barrage of criticism, saying she doesn't believe the film portrays "toxic feminism". "We didn't depict men as evil, rather, we showed them as being blind to her struggles, unaware of her humanity." "We've become so accustomed to treating women as 'functions' rather than full, independent humans that it has been normalised. This isn't toxic feminism," Kadav added. A social media user shared a post that claimed the "cringe film" was made on a "weak woman", who was "crying over cooking for two members". 'Cooking and maintaining a home aren't patriarchal. Stop pushing the same old narrative,' lamented another man on X, adding that the film felt '20 years outdated'. Author Rujuta Diwekar on X said people were triggered by the film because "for the first time they are discovering that most girls who stay silent, smile and serve are seething with anger inside". "And if the opportunity presents itself, will throw a bucket on your face and escape the hell hole they are in." "The movie 'Mrs.' doesn't even come close to explaining all that an average housewife in a joint family goes through. Their entire existence is subject to criticism and emotional abuse. It's so normalised that older generation women won't even find anything wrong with the movie," wrote a social media user on X. Author and journalist Nilanjana Bhowmick said it was not enough to just debate the film and move on. "Educate yourself, look in your homes, examine your families, the things you take for granted, and do better," she added. 'I'm glad that the movie Mrs is revealing the real face of some men on this app,' said author Anjuli Rajprasad. 'A movie comes along and they expose themselves openly.' "I had already seen the (original) film when it came to me. The idea was to make the film more palatable for the north Indian audiences,' Malhotra told news agency PTI. '... the thing is that this story is so relevant... So many women have related to (the trailer),' she added. Jeo Baby, the director of The Great Indian Kitchen, said 'these discussions have always existed'. 'Even when The Great Indian Kitchen was released, my film faced a lot of criticism from people in Kerala who claimed that the film was anti-men. What is important is that such issues are discussed,' Baby said, according to The Week. The film was later adapted in Tamil language under the same name.
The Independent
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
How a film about domestic abuse sparked a debate about women's ‘unseen' labour in India
A Hindi-language film that explores the complexities of marriage and patriarchal traditions that exploit women's labour has sparked a debate in India. Mrs, starring actor Sanya Malhotra, traces the journey of a newlywed woman in her husband's house, where her life seems to be limited to the domestic drudgery of fulfilling the needs of the men in the family through cooking food in the traditional method, cleaning the household, or being forced to endure bad sex at night. The protagonist is routinely reminded by her gynaecologist husband that he works 12 hours attending patients, while her labour in the house goes unacknowledged and under-appreciated. Mrs, directed by Arati Kadav, is a remake of the 2021 poignant Malayalam-language film The Great Indian Kitchen, which at the time received praise for highlighting the domestic abuse of a section of women in their marital life. While the film received accolades, due to its language barrier, the conversation around the unfair distribution of labour was limited to the mostly Malayalam-speaking audience. The Hindi-language film was released on the OTT platform Zee5, reached a wider audience in northern India, and triggered a debate on the subject. A section of the film's male audience was quick to jump on the conversation, calling the film "too feminist", whereas Mrs resonated with many women in India, where more than 470,000 cases are pending before the court under the Domestic Violence Act. Men's advocacy group, Save Indian Family Foundation, accused it of being a "feminist" propaganda film, adding: "Women's issues are eating 80% of the cake when it comes to policies for protection of millions of vulnerable people." The film's director this past week responded to a barrage of criticism, saying she doesn't believe the film portrays "toxic feminism". "We didn't depict men as evil, rather, we showed them as being blind to her struggles, unaware of her humanity." "We've become so accustomed to treating women as 'functions' rather than full, independent humans that it has been normalised. This isn't toxic feminism," Kadav added. A social media user shared a post that claimed the "cringe film" was made on a "weak woman", who was "crying over cooking for two members". 'Cooking and maintaining a home aren't patriarchal. Stop pushing the same old narrative,' lamented another man on X, adding that the film felt '20 years outdated'. Author Rujuta Diwekar on X said people were triggered by the film because "for the first time they are discovering that most girls who stay silent, smile and serve are seething with anger inside". "And if the opportunity presents itself, will throw a bucket on your face and escape the hell hole they are in." "The movie 'Mrs.' doesn't even come close to explaining all that an average housewife in a joint family goes through. Their entire existence is subject to criticism and emotional abuse. It's so normalised that older generation women won't even find anything wrong with the movie," wrote a social media user on X. Author and journalist Nilanjana Bhowmick said it was not enough to just debate the film and move on. "Educate yourself, look in your homes, examine your families, the things you take for granted, and do better," she added. 'I'm glad that the movie Mrs is revealing the real face of some men on this app,' said author Anjuli Rajprasad. 'A movie comes along and they expose themselves openly.' "I had already seen the (original) film when it came to me. The idea was to make the film more palatable for the north Indian audiences,' Malhotra told news agency PTI. '... the thing is that this story is so relevant... So many women have related to (the trailer),' she added. Jeo Baby, the director of The Great Indian Kitchen, said 'these discussions have always existed'. 'Even when The Great Indian Kitchen was released, my film faced a lot of criticism from people in Kerala who claimed that the film was anti-men. What is important is that such issues are discussed,' Baby said, according to The Week. The film was later adapted in Tamil language under the same name.
