Latest news with #Viduthalai
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
'Vidhuthalai 2' extended cut now streaming on OTT: Where to watch Tamil period drama
Agencies Viduthalai part 2 is now available on OTT with some extra scenes. Filmmaker Vetrimaaran has once again earned accolades for his hard-hitting cinematic works Viduthalai and Viduthalai 2, which have deeply resonated with Tamil cinema lovers. These films intricately weave a fictional storyline with strong real-world parallels, drawing audiences into a compelling world of struggle, emotion, and resistance. The opening installment introduced viewers to the dramatic capture of a tribal leader named Vaathiyar. Actor Suri delivered a riveting performance in the role, earning widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. The sequel, Viduthalai 2, which premiered in December, expanded the narrative significantly. It boasted a remarkable cast, including Vijay Sethupathi, Manju Warrier, Ken Karunas, and, once again, Sethupathi in a central role. The follow-up delved even further into the intricacies of political oppression and human vulnerability, adding emotional depth and expanding on the characters' backgrounds and motivations—particularly those tied to Vaathiyar's fate. Initially made available on Amazon Prime Video, the theatrical cut of Viduthalai 2 had a runtime of 2 hours and 42 minutes. However, audiences now have access to a longer version featuring scenes that were previously omitted. The extended version, now streaming digitally, runs for a total of 3 hours and 7 minutes. These additions introduce new subplots and deepen the overall narrative, shedding light on key themes such as systemic injustice and the societal aftermath of Vaathiyar's death. Special attention is given to the stories of the women impacted by the events, offering a more comprehensive look at the socio-political updated release has reignited viewers' enthusiasm, encouraging many to revisit the story and experience Vetrimaaran's vision in its entirety. The fresh content provides meaningful context and answers unresolved questions left by the original version, enhancing both the emotional and thematic dimensions of the film. For many fans, this edition has become essential viewing, especially for those invested in stories of defiance, resilience, and social of the film's most compelling aspects is its exploration of Vaathiyar's background. The plot begins with police officer Kumaresan transporting the captured Vaathiyar through a dense forest, during which Vaathiyar shares the narrative of his past. His life story includes a tale of love, relentless dedication to the rights of marginalized workers, and his confrontation with an oppressive system. As the story unfolds, the stakes rise, with authorities orchestrating a campaign to crush his movement, setting off violent clashes between his followers and the state machinery. A lingering question drives the tension: can Vaathiyar overcome the odds and break free from institutional control?This expanded version of Viduthalai 2 offers a more layered and intense experience, solidifying its place as one of Tamil cinema's most thought-provoking and emotionally charged stories.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Vidhuthalai 2' extended cut now streaming on OTT: Where to watch Tamil period drama
Filmmaker Vetrimaaran has once again earned accolades for his hard-hitting cinematic works Viduthalai and Viduthalai 2 , which have deeply resonated with Tamil cinema lovers. These films intricately weave a fictional storyline with strong real-world parallels, drawing audiences into a compelling world of struggle, emotion, and resistance. The opening installment introduced viewers to the dramatic capture of a tribal leader named Vaathiyar. Actor Suri delivered a riveting performance in the role, earning widespread acclaim from both critics and sequel, Viduthalai 2, which premiered in December, expanded the narrative significantly. It boasted a remarkable cast, including Vijay Sethupathi, Manju Warrier, Ken Karunas, and, once again, Sethupathi in a central role. The follow-up delved even further into the intricacies of political oppression and human vulnerability, adding emotional depth and expanding on the characters' backgrounds and motivations—particularly those tied to Vaathiyar's made available on Amazon Prime Video, the theatrical cut of Viduthalai 2 had a runtime of 2 hours and 42 minutes. However, audiences now have access to a longer version featuring scenes that were previously extended version, now streaming digitally, runs for a total of 3 hours and 7 minutes. These additions introduce new subplots and deepen the overall narrative, shedding light on key themes such as systemic injustice and the societal aftermath of Vaathiyar's death. Special attention is given to the stories of the women impacted by the events, offering a more comprehensive look at the socio-political updated release has reignited viewers' enthusiasm, encouraging many to revisit the story and experience Vetrimaaran's vision in its entirety. The fresh content provides meaningful context and answers unresolved questions left by the original version, enhancing both the emotional and thematic dimensions of the film. For many fans, this edition has become essential viewing, especially for those invested in stories of defiance, resilience, and social of the film's most compelling aspects is its exploration of Vaathiyar's background. The plot begins with police officer Kumaresan transporting the captured Vaathiyar through a dense forest, during which Vaathiyar shares the narrative of his past. His life story includes a tale of love, relentless dedication to the rights of marginalized workers, and his confrontation with an oppressive the story unfolds, the stakes rise, with authorities orchestrating a campaign to crush his movement, setting off violent clashes between his followers and the state machinery. A lingering question drives the tension: can Vaathiyar overcome the odds and break free from institutional control?This expanded version of Viduthalai 2 offers a more layered and intense experience, solidifying its place as one of Tamil cinema's most thought-provoking and emotionally charged stories.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Viduthalai 2' OTT release: Vetri Maaran's directorial now streaming with new scenes
Director Vetrimaaran 's critically acclaimed films 'Viduthalai' and 'Viduthalai 2' have received strong appreciation from Tamil audiences for their gripping narrative that blends fiction with real-life events. The first film introduced the arrest of the tribal leader Vaathiyar, played with intensity by Suri, who earned praise from fans and critics alike. The sequel, 'Viduthalai 2,' released last December, featured a powerful ensemble cast including Vijay Sethupathi , Manju Warrier , Ken Karunas, and Sethupathi, further exploring the political drama and emotional depth surrounding Vaathiyar's story. The extended cut on OTT Originally released on Amazon Prime Video, 'Viduthalai 2' ran for 2 hours and 42 minutes. However, fans have now been given a chance to experience an extended version of the film, which includes previously deleted scenes and additional content that adds new layers to the story. This extended cut is now streaming on the digital platform with a runtime of 3 hours and 7 minutes. The newly included scenes provide deeper insight into the aftermath of Vaathiyar's death, especially focusing on the fate of the women in the story and further elaboration on the social issues depicted in the film. Fans are excited to revisit 'Viduthalai 2' The re-release with extra footage has sparked renewed interest among viewers eager to revisit the film and appreciate the fuller version of Vetrimaaran's storytelling. The additional content not only enriches the emotional and political narrative but also answers lingering questions from the original release. This extended edition has made 'Viduthalai 2' a must-watch for fans who want to delve deeper into the gripping tale of resistance and survival. 'Viduthalai 2' delves deeper into the complex tale of Vaathiyar A key highlight of 'Viduthalai 2' is the vivid portrayal of Vaathiyar's origins and the socio-political conflicts that unfold around him. The film begins with Kumaresan, a police officer, escorting Vaathiyar through a forest path after his arrest. Along the way, Vaathiyar recounts his personal struggles, love story, and commitment to the laborers he supports. The narrative intensifies as authorities plot against him, leading to clashes between Vaathiyar's supporters and the police. The suspense revolves around whether Vaathiyar manages to escape the police's grip. 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 .
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Maaman movie review: Soori-starrer is underwhelming and overdependent on family sentiment
In the last few years, comedian Soori has proved that he is a highly competent actor, having showcased his talent in films like Viduthalai and Garudan. Maaman, a family drama helmed by director Prashanth Pandiyaraj and written by Soori himself, tries to show another facet of the Tamil actor to his fans and the audience. Moving from the role of a comedian to a full-fledged hero is not easy as the actor should be able to pull off the protagonist easily in a riveting story. Maaman (Uncle) sees Soori play Uncle Inba to his nephew Nilan aka Laddu (Prateesh Sivan). Inba's married sister Girija (Swasika) has prayed for years for a child and after a decade, she is blessed with Nilan whom the entire family dotes over. Inba and Laddu become inseparable and the uncle becomes the much-loved father figure in Laddu's life despite having a dad. Inba meets gynaecologist Dr Rekha (Aishwarya Lekshmi) and love blossoms. It is when the two get married that problems start cropping up due to Laddu's inability to live without his uncle, especially at night. Rekha and Inba start facing issues and family tension rises thanks to Laddu. How do these family problems get resolved? The main story here revolves around a child, his uncle and the somewhat unhealthy relationship they share that affects numerous families. While it's commendable that Soori has chosen this as the core, the treatment and the story are a lot less desirable. For instance, the scenes involving the practices a married woman, especially in rural areas, goes through when she is childless, could have been shown as regressive rather than reinforce them. Inba, who is there for everyone in his family, neglects his wife and this character reinforces the patriarchal mindset which modern society is fighting against. When Rekha suggests that Laddu needs counselling, the mother jumps in and says her son is not mentally ill. These inappropriate societal stereotypes and attitudes have been embellished in the story in the name of family sentiment and this is a let down. As for child himself, Laddu is overly pampered because he is born late to his parents but the fact that no one bothers to discipline him as he is growing up, shows the lack of parenting skills - despite his mother being a teacher! Rekha - who is a doctor by profession - ends up being ridiculed by people with unscientific beliefs and less educated than her. Thus, more than the child, it is the adults in this family that all have serious issues that needed to be addressed. Maaman flits through a variety of topics surrounding a family but hingeing it on an uncle-nephew relationship and throwing in plenty of sentiment and drama doesn't really work. For instance, the child's non-existent relationship with the father was a good point to explore as was the his need for counselling. The complexity of that relationship should have been explored in depth or the film could have been turned into a light-hearted comedy with the child's antics at play. When it comes to performances, Soori, Aishwarya Lekhmi, Swasika and Prateesh Sivan have done commendable jobs. Raj Kiran is apt as the 'Lion' and the elderly man in the family and Bala Saravanan comes through with comic relief. Music director Hesham Abdul Wahab, who has delivered some fantastic gems in Malayalam and Telugu cinema, makes his Tamil film debut with Maaman. The songs in this film are par for the course and don't stand out sadly. On the whole, this Soori Tamil drama is underwhelming and overly reliant on family sentiment.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Actor Soori on evolution as lead actor: Will do socially responsible films from now
Actor Soori's growth in the Tamil film industry screams hard working behind the scenes and doing odd jobs on film sets to becoming one of the leading comedians and headlining director Vetri Maaran's 'Viduthalai' films, his meteoric rise is one for the books. With his upcoming film, 'Maaman', he has also doubled up as a 'Viduthalai's success, he followed it up with 'Kottukkaali' and 'Garudan'. Soori is now upbeat about 'Maaman', which is intended to leave audiences emotional when watching the family entertainer. With 'Maaman' all set for release, actor Soori exclusively spoke in detail with India Today Digital about his career, the film and the responsibilities that come with the tag 'lead actor'.advertisementQ: When did you realise that you had a writer in you? A: Each one of us has a story in us. Likewise, my life has many stories. 'Viduthalai' gave me a break and I followed it up with 'Kottukaali' and 'Garudan'. The scripts that were offered to me had similar storylines. I felt I needed to branch out and wanted to do a family entertainer. I started listening to stories, and I managed to meet director Prashanth Pandiraj, who made 'Vilangu'. He narrated two stories and I liked them both, but felt it was quite removed from my a few rounds of talks, my friend suggested that I share my story with Prashanth. I was initially hesitant thinking if a director would do a story written by me. Then, when I narrated 'Maaman's' story, he was in as well. He told me that 'Maaman' is a perfect script for How did the story writing process come to you?A: Maaman is a story about a maternal uncle and his nephew. Also, it explores the relationship between a brother and sister and a couple as well. I used to think of stories that I read and come across. I have several stories in my bank that suit my image. I feel I am close to a guy who is one in your family. So, the stories that I have will cater to my image. The stories come to me naturally – while going to the shooting spot or in between shots.I have a biopic about my father and I believe in it the most. I've narrated the film to many directors, and I am hoping that I'll be able to fulfil it. Q: Do you want to do these stories or are you willing to give them to other actors?A: No, no, I don't have the idea of giving my scripts to any other actors. These are the stories that I envisioned for myself. Hence, they are more suited to me, my market and my image.Q: Do you have directorial dreams?A: Right now, there are people who write stories for me. So, I don't have dreams of becoming a director now. Also, I need to take care of myself, physically and mentally, to be able to perform to the best of my 'Maaman' seems to be a heartwarming family entertainer.A: Maaman is a story that appeals to everyone. In fact, I dedicate the film to all the people I know. I did the film thinking of certain milestones. There are people that I know who are separated and if they get back with each other after watching this film, I'd feel achieved. If they get back, I will share the happiness with them.Q: After 'Viduthalai,' has the process of selecting scripts changed?A: When I was a comedian, I did prove myself in the characters that I received. I was an entertainer and actor. Now, after becoming a lead hero, I feel more responsible. I want to do socially responsible films. Irrespective of its performance, I have certain responsibilities. I have also developed certain rules for myself. I am careful about not being questioned for my choices. I don't want to explain or jot down the character traits that I won't display in my roles. If there's something in the script, I request my director to remove it. It all circles down to the responsibility I hold to the Does this mean you will not do comedian roles hereafter?A: I cannot pick stories like before. I will analyse if the role that I am being offered has enough scope and importance. I am open to doing dual hero subjects as well, provided the character does justice to the story. Even if my friends call me, I cannot sign the film considering their friendship. I am at a point in my career where I will have to decide based on my character. If I do that, my account balance might get filled, but it won't add to my filmography and will be an injustice to the producers who put their money on also spoke highly of his upcoming film, 'Mandaadi'. 'I thought I put in my maximum effort for Vetri Maaran's 'Viduthalai'. But, this film will surpass that effort. It is my biggest film, in terms of budget. Like Jallikattu, 'Mandaadi' is about a risky sport, akin to sailing. Not much is known about this sport and my film will shed light on it.'Meanwhile, 'Maaman' will release in theatres on May 16.
