Latest news with #Manichitrathazhu
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From cultural adaptations to direct dubs: How Tamil cinema's remake culture has evolved across generations
Now, South Indian films are being released simultaneously in Tamil and other South Indian languages. In the past, it was common for people to buy the remake rights of a film released in one language and then film it in other languages. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But now, every multilingual film is being released in Tamil simultaneously. As a result, the remake culture is clearly declining. When remakes had soul The directors and actors of the previous generation adapted the story in the remake films to suit their culture and presented the screenplay according to the taste of the Tamil fans. For example, the Malayalam film 'Manichitrathazhu' was transformed into 'Chandramukhi' in Tamil. Although the story angle remained the same, the subtle changes in the format impressed the audience. Similarly, many hit Hindi and Telugu films have been successful in Tamil. The main quality of the previous generation was their ability to retell the story from their own perspective. The audience had the feeling that the same story is being changed for them to suit them. Those remakes were well-ingrained in the minds and culture of Tamil audiences. But today, that research, that attention to detail has waned. The style of approaching the remakes only from a commercial perspective is not conducive to positive audience acceptance. Why is Tamil cinema losing the art of cultural storytelling? Producers and directors from today's generation often take the film to Tamil audiences through simultaneous translation or dubbing. This trend has given fans the opportunity to experience films more quickly and has reduced the demand for remakes. But here, there is also a new challenge: not all cultural differences in translated films are understandable to Tamils. One drawback of today's remakes is that most films only do so at the translation level. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The underlying sentiments of the story, the feelings of that community, all of that don't get enough dimension in Tamil. They don't change the story from their perspective like directors did in the past. This also affects the audience's experience. 'I don't understand why we compare a remake to the original. Comparisons limit our enjoyment—in effect, they kill entertainment' said director R Kannan, who made several Tamil remakes, during his speech at 'The Great Indian Kitchen' promotions. 'I was offered to remake 3 Idiots in Tamil—but I refused. Recreating a role exactly? It's impossible for me. Comparison ruins the magic of the first experience,' said R Madhavan on clarifying '3 Idiots' Tamil remake 'Nanban' at 'Laal Singh Chaddha' pre-release event. "A remake is like an adopted child, success lies in making it believe you're its true parent, even if the world never stops reminding you that you're not," said in his exclusive chat with Etimes. Then vs now Overall, the remake culture is experiencing a shift. The older generation carried it with uniqueness, but today's generation does it faster, in less time. While the digital age has allowed stories to spread quickly around the world, the ability to tell a story from a new perspective with inherent impact is lacking in today's remake culture.
Pink Villa
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Mohanlal's Thudarum co-star Shobana roped in for Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana, here's what role she will play
All eyes are on Nitesh Tiwari-directed upcoming grand-scale project Ramayana, which features an ensemble star cast of some of the most prominent actors across the film fraternity. A teaser video was recently unveiled by the makers, giving a glimpse into what audiences can expect. Amidst the excitement, a new addition to the film's cast has been announced, and it is none other than Shobana. The legendary diva is an established icon in Mollywood and has shared the screen with some of the leading stars, including Mohanlal. Shobana joins Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash starrer Ramayana Recently, Shobana re-shared the teaser of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana and expressed her excitement about being a part of the massive-scale project. According to an OTT Play report, the talented classical dancer is reportedly portraying the role of Ravana's mother, Kaikasi, in the film. In fact, Shobana has already shot some of her scenes, which can be expected to be more alongside Yash, who is playing Ravana in the movie. Shobana pens a note as she confirms joining cast of Ramayana In her Instagram post, the diva revealed feeling honoured to be a part of a story that has shaped so many generations together. She wrote, 'Honoured to be part of a story that has shaped generations. Welcome to the world of Namit Malhotra's Ramayana, the immortal story of Rama vs Ravana. Grateful to walk this path, and to share it with all of you.' Shobana marked her reunion with Mohanlal after 20 years In the past, Shobana and Mohanlal were known to be one of the most popular on-screen duos in Mollywood. They have shared the screen in a number of films, one of it being the iconic Manichitrathazhu, which still resonates strongly with fans even today. Finally, it was in 2025 that the two talented actors came together to star in Tharun Murthy's Thudarum. Audiences were elated to see the two of them rekindle old nostalgia with their screen presence together in the movie, where they played the roles of husband and wife.
India.com
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress, single mother, who worked in over 200 films, still unmarried at 55, is now..., her name is..., Hema Malini's mother was her...
Meet actress, single mother, who worked in over 200 films, still unmarried at 55, is now..., her name is..., Hema Malini's mother was her... Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai, popularly known by her screen-name Shobana is one of the most sought-after actresses in South Indian cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, she worked in over 200 films in various languages. Moreover, she also featured opposite superstars like Nandamuri Balakrishna, Venkatesh, Chiranjeevi, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Mohan Babu, Rajendra Prasad, and many more. Shobana was introduced to films by Hema Malini's mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, who saw her while she was with her aunt, renowned actress Padmini. She started working at the mere age of 14. Soon, after making her debut with the film April 18 , she became a lead heroine in the Malayalam industry. Shobana secured two National awards, one for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in AM Fazil's Manichitrathazhu, another came in 2001 for her role in film Mitr, My Friend . She took a break from films in 2020 to focus on Bharatnatyam, and also runs her own dance school, Kalarpana in Chennai. However in 2024, she made a smashing comeback to films with Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD , starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani in prominent roles. Moreover, she is currently grabbing headlines for her reunion with Malayalam superstar, Mohanlal after 15 years, in the film Thudarum . Released on April 25, 2025, the film became a box office success, grossing Rs 236 crore globally. Despite being one of the most successful actresses, Shobana chose to remain unmarried and is still single at the age of 55. In a throwback interview as quoted by BollywoodShaadis, Shobana revealed why she never got married, 'Well, I am not particularly against the institution of marriage in anyways. I haven't found the time for it amidst my busy schedule. Maybe I haven't spotted the right guy. And for that matter, I have seen only a few marriages that work. That can also be one of the reasons.' She said. In 2011, Shobana became a single mom, as she adopted a baby girl Anantha Narayani. She prefers to keep her daughter away from the limelight, and restricted her pictures to be uploaded on any of her social media pages.
India.com
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This film made lead actress an overnight star, earned Rs 82 crore, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukerji rejected film due to..., actress was..., film was...
This film made lead actress an overnight star, earned Rs 82 crore, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukerji rejected film due to..., actress was..., film was... Vidya Balan is indeed one of the finest actresses of Bollywood. With a glorious career spanning decades, she created a nice for herself in the entertainment industry with her impeccable talent and unconventional portrayals. But among all the superhit films Vidya Balan has starred in, one that made her an overnight sensation, is her role as Avni and Manjulika in Priyadarshan's widely acclaimed 2007 release Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Making her much-praise debut in Parineeta , Vidya impressed audiences with her flawless performance in Pradeep Sarkar's directorial. Two years following her debut, she starred in Bhool Bhulaiyaa opposite Akshay Kumar, Ameesha Patel, and Shiney Ahuja. The film is the remake of the 1993 Malayalam-language film Manichitrathazhu , and saw Vidya portraying a complex and challenging character. While today, it is hard to imagine any other actress stepping in to play the role of Manjulika or Avni, however, you will be surprised to know that Vidya Balan wasn't the first choice of director Priyadarshan for Bhool Bhulaiyaa. The role was first offered to Aishwarya Rai, but the actress rejected it as she wasn't sure to play a haunted character. Rani Mukerji, was too offered the role, but she didn't show much interest, and eventually the role went to Vidya Balan, whose effortless performance made her earn widespread recognition. Released on October 12, 2007, Bhool Bhulaiyaa was a critical as well as a commercial success. Made in a reported budget of Rs 32 crore, the film earned over Rs 82 crore worldwide. The horror comedy drama also starred Paresh Rawal, Manoj Joshi, and Rajpal Yadav in key roles.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
10 Malayalam horror movies you can watch on OTT: Bramayugam, Adi Kapyare Kootamani, Ezra and more
Malayalam cinema has always been known for its variety in genre and had begun its tryst with horror ever since the film Bhargavi Nilayam, which was released in the early 1960s. If you're a fan of horror films, be it with any sub-genre like romance or comedy, you should definitely check out these Malayalam ventures on OTT. 10 Malayalam horror movies to watch on OTT 1. Bramayugam (2024) Bramayugam, starring Mammootty in the lead role, is a folklore-based period horror venture. The film features the tale of a Thevan, a travelling singer who escaped from Portuguese slave traders and wound up at an eerie mansion. At the abode, under the care of its landlord Kodumon Potti, the Thevan is welcomed as a guest. However, he soon realizes he is trapped within the walls of the mansion with no escape and understands that Potti is also not who he is. 2. Nine (2019) Nine is a sci-fi horror film that is written and directed by Jenuse Mohamed. The movie focuses on the story of Dr Albert Lewis, a widower scientist who ventures out into the Himalayas for astronomical research with his son and a few colleagues. In a global-level crisis, a comet's impending EM pulse is set to disable all modern devices for nine days. With Albert and his son sharing a distant relationship, things are set to go awry with a mysterious person coming into their lives for 9 days, questioning everything and everyone. 3. Romancham (2023) Romancham follows the story of seven bachelors who stay together in a house in Bengaluru. Each being a character of their own wild personality, Jibin Madhavan, aka Jibi holds a séance using an Ouija board to trick their friends. However, things take a turn when they actually come across a ghost, leading to several humorous moments. The film is based on real-life experiences that occurred to director Jithu Madhavan, on whom the main protagonist is based. 4. Manichitrathazhu (1993) Cast: Mohanlal, Shobana, Suresh Gopi, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Vinaya Prasad Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, YouTube An ever iconic movie in Malayalam horror cinema culture would be Mohanlal starrer Manichitrathazhu. The Fazil directorial film is a psychological horror thriller which is inspired by a true tragedy that occurred in the Alummoottil tharavad, where the inheritor and his domestic worker girl were murdered, giving rise to several local legends. The film focuses on how a newlywed couple travels to the husband's ancestral home, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a dancer, killed by his ancestor. 5. Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015) Adi Kapyare Kootamani is a comedy horror movie, taking place inside a men's hostel. After Bhanu Prasad, a young guy helps a girl to enter the hostel without anyone finding out, the film mostly depends on how he manages to get her out with his friends' help. Using the guise of a ghost, the gang weaves a story with some truth coming their way. 6. Anandabhadram (2005) Anandabhadram is a folklore dark fantasy horror movie based on a novel of the same name. The film, directed by Santosh Sivan, features the tale of Anandan, a young man from America who returns to his mother's ancestral village to light a lamp at a sacred temple draped in dark mystery. However, a powerful wizard from the place stands against the lightning and any sacred activities being conducted in order to get his hands on a Nagamanikyam. 7. Winter (2009) The movie Winter, starring Jayaram in the lead role, is an underrated slasher horror venture from Malayalam cinema that promises eerie and thrilling moments. Escaping from the fast-paced life in a city, a doctor, along with his family, visits an old bungalow where many sinister events unfold. 8. In Ghost House Inn (2010) The 3rd installment in a comedy film franchise called In Harihar Nagar, the movie takes a genre shift to become a horror-comedy focusing on an infamous bungalow. With four friends reuniting to showcase the place is not to be feared, the movie takes us on a spree of laugh-out-loud moments. 9. Bhoothakalam (2022) Bhoothakalam is a psychological horror film that tells the tale of a single mother and her son who experience mysterious events after a family member's death. 10. Ezra (2017) Ezra, inspired by the Hollywood movie The Possession, follows the life of Ranjan, a nuclear waste management specialist who shifts from Mumbai to Kochi with his wife. After seeking their solace in a new home, horrific events unfold which is tied to a mysterious box.
