After the blockbuster success of Kurup, director Sreenath Rajendran is all set to work with actor Tovino Thomas for his next project. The film, which is yet to be titled, will go on floors in 2024 and is expected to be another thrilling entertainer from the duo.
Sreenath Rajendran is one of the most acclaimed directors in Malayalam cinema, who has delivered hits like Second Show, Koothara, and Kurup. His latest film, Kurup, which starred Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, was a biographical crime thriller based on the life of fugitive Sukumara Kurup. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all timeAd1
Kurup Trailer
Tovino Thomas is one of the most versatile and popular actors in Malayalam cinema, who has acted in a variety of genres and roles. He made his debut in 2012 with Prabhuvinte Makkal and rose...
Sreenath Rajendran is one of the most acclaimed directors in Malayalam cinema, who has delivered hits like Second Show, Koothara, and Kurup. His latest film, Kurup, which starred Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, was a biographical crime thriller based on the life of fugitive Sukumara Kurup. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all timeAd1
Kurup Trailer
Tovino Thomas is one of the most versatile and popular actors in Malayalam cinema, who has acted in a variety of genres and roles. He made his debut in 2012 with Prabhuvinte Makkal and rose...
- 8/4/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
MollywoodThe film is helmed by director Vipin Das and bankrolled by production banner Cheers Entertainments, who also produced the film ‘Jan-e-man’.Tnm StaffInstagram/Darshana Rajendran, Basil JosephMalayalam actor Darshana Rajendran took to social media on Wednesday, January 26, to announce that she has signed a new movie titled Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, which will feature Darshana along with actor-director Basil Joseph in the lead. The film is helmed by director Vipin Das. The film is bankrolled by production banner Cheers Entertainments, who also produced the film Jan-e-man. The first look motion poster was unveiled by actor Tovino Thomas, who recently played the lead in the Basil Joseph directorial Minnal Murali, the hit Malayalam superhero flick that was released on Netflix in December 2021. Sharing the poster, Tovino wrote: “After the Superhit movie Jan-e-man, Cheers Entertainments Proudly Presenting Darshana Rajendran & Basil Joseph In Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey A Film by Vipin...
- 1/27/2022
- by AjayR
- The News Minute
KollywoodHosted by Kiki and Rj Vijay, the event saw the attendance of the ‘Jagame Thandhiram’ team, fans from across the globe and celebrities such as Niharika Nm and Ravichandran Ashwin.Tnm StaffActor Dhanush’s upcoming gangster drama Jagame Thandhiram is all set to premiere on over-the-top (Ott) platform Netflix from June 18. The Karthik Subbaraj directorial stars Dhanush, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Kalaiyarasan, Sharath Ravi and James Cosmo. Ahead of the premiere, a fan event titled ‘Kongas Kondatham’ was organized by the makers on Thursday, June 17. The event, which started at 4 pm and went on for over two hours, was hosted by television host Keerthi Shanthanu aka Kiki and Rj Vijay. ‘Kongas Kondatham’ was organized to provide fans an opportunity to meet team Jagame Thandhiram and celebrate the film. The event saw the attendance of fans from across the globe via Zoom. Select fans were given the opportunity to share their...
- 6/18/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Tollywood The actor will be sharing the screen space with Sathyadev in this flick to be directed by Gopi Ganesh Pattabhi. Digital NativeAishwarya Lekshmi is one of the fastest rising heroines in the Malayalam film industry as she is bagging some of the prestigious offers consistently. She is now all set to step into the Telugu film industry with Godse directed by Gopi Ganesh Pattabhi. The actor will be sharing the screen space with Sathyadev in this flick to be directed by Gopi Ganesh Pattabhi. Nasser, Kishore, Bhramaji, and Aditya Menon have been roped in to play supporting roles in this flick. “Welcome on-board @aishu__. I'm sure this will be the start of a successful journey in Telugu film industry,” actor Satyadev said in his social media post, welcoming Aishwarya Lekshmi onboard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Satyadev (@actorsatyadev) Aishwarya Lekshmi at present has a number...
- 1/13/2021
- by Sreedevi
- The News Minute
CinemaAll these films came out in the last six years and we’re sure that they won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Tnm StaffWith so much despair and gloom around us, many have chosen to fall back on films to uplift their mood. And what better than a romance to instantly make you feel better? While Indian cinema routinely produces love stories, not all of them have stayed in our minds. Once in a while, however, magic happens and the actors are able to work up a chemistry that makes fans root for them even years after the film’s release. Here are 10 such on screen couples who’ve been a hit with the audience. All these films came out in the last six years and we’re sure that they won’t be forgotten anytime soon! Nithya Menen and Dulquer in Ok Kanmani: Mani Ratnam’s 2015 film was...
- 7/13/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
EntertainmentFrom Fahadh and Nazriya to Prasanna and Sneha, there are now several couples who work in the film industries and also collaborate with each other professionally. Tnm StaffWhile it's not unusual for people from the film industry to date each other and get married, it's not too common for both of them to continue to have an active career in the film industry. In most cases, it is the woman who takes the backseat while the man continues to work in the industry. However, times are changing and there are now many couples who work in the film industry. Some of the women may have taken a break but have since made a comeback and are continuing to find work. Naga Chaitanya and Samantha: Samantha is probably the first woman A-list star in the south to have married a fellow actor and continue to pursue her career without any break whatsoever.
- 3/5/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodFrom the old to the new, here are seven unusually intense love stories from the Malayalam film industry.Neelima MenonRomance as a genre remains largely underexplored in Malayalam cinema. We’ve had love at first sight narratives like Aniyathipravu, Ohm Shanti Oshana, Ennennum Kannettante and Thattathin Marayathu, tragic romantic dramas like Ennu Ninde Moideen, Annayum Rasoolum and Innale, celestial love like Njan Gandharvan, romcoms like Salt N Pepper, Neelakasham Pacha Kadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, forbidden love like Ore Kadal and a fantasy fringed romance like Nandanam. At other times, there have been incredible moments of romance encrusted in unlikely films like Bhoothakannadi , the multiple romances in Venu Nagavally’s Swagatham and Kalipattam, an affair that spills over with lust but ends movingly in Mathilukal, a man torn between guilt and love in Thoovanathumbikal and the coming-of-age narrative of a lad who experiences love at various stages of his life in Premam.
- 2/15/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe past decade in the Malayalam film industry saw some remarkable storylines, characters and well, their deaths.Neetha JohnIt doesn’t happen too often that a character dies on screen and you are left lamenting for the next couple of weeks. But what’s worse is having to hide your tears, cough your way out of sobs and constantly assure your friends that everything’s all right in response to their “What’s the matter? You look like somebody has died!” Well, if only that weren’t true! The past decade in the Malayalam film industry saw some remarkable storylines, characters and well, their deaths. If Snape bled our hearts with, “Always,” (and still continues to do so), the Malayalam industry isn’t any short of characters who have left similar gashes. Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009): It all began with Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (Mammootty), a long and heart-wrenching tale of valour,...
- 2/1/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Mollywood On International Men's Day, Popcult.tribe, a popular page on Facebook and Instagram, shared 9 takeaways from Malayalam films which have broken away from toxic masculinity. Sreedevi JayarajanImage credits: Popcult.tribe/Facebook For decades, commercial Malayalam cinema has showered us with scores of cookie-cutter male protagonists - the mass ‘hero’ who oozes masculinity, twirls his moustache, beats up a 100 goons and wins over the unsuspecting female lead. This template has been used and reused so much that when a real and well-etched male character finally comes alive in a rare appearance, it becomes a breath of fresh air. On November 19, International Men’s Day, PopCult, a popular Facebook and instagram page which discusses Malayalam cinema, compiled a list of 9 takeaways from films which have broken away from toxic masculinity and have presented us with very real and vulnerable characters. There is nothing shameful in asking to be loved: Dasharatham, the...
- 11/20/2019
- by Sreedevi
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe makers are planning for a 40-day schedule in London where a major portion of the film would be shot along with some action sequences.Digital NativeThe shooting of Vishal's Thupparivaalan sequel has gone on floors on Monday in Bristol. The film marks the return of Vishal as detective Kaniyan Poogundran with his partner Manohar, played by Prasanna. Reliable sources confirmed that the makers are planning for a 40-day schedule in London where a major portion of the film would be shot along with some action sequences. Debutant Ashya plays the female lead and the rest of the cast includes Nassar, Rahman, Gautami and Suresh Chakravarthy, who will join the shoot later this month. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja has already been confirmed to compose music and Nirav Sha is the cinematographer for the project. Thupparivaalan which was released in 2017 was well received by both the audience and critics. In the film, Vishal...
- 11/5/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
ControversySyam had said in a recent interview that he did not approve of the message in Sreenivasan's 'Sandesham', apart from expressing critical views on a few Mohanlal films.Korah AbrahamSyam Pushkaran would have very well known what was coming his way when he voiced his honest opinions about a couple of Malayalam films that have gained cult status in the state over the years in an interview. The Malayalam scriptwriter, who is presently riding a high following the success of his recently released film Kumbalangi Nights, said that he is not in support of the message that was shared in the movie, Sandesham, the popular 1991 Sreenivasan-Jayaram political satire. The film was directed by Sathyan Anthikad. It didn’t end there. In the same interview, the scriptwriter went on on to say that he simply didn’t like yet another film by the Sathyan-Sreenivasan combination, Varavelpu, which also starred actor Mohanlal.
- 2/21/2019
- by Korah
- The News Minute
MollywoodThere have been several such films in the recent past, which mark a slow shift in how masculinity is presented in Malayalam cinema.Sowmya RajendranVishnu Narayan's Maradona is yet another film that marks the slow shift in the depiction of masculinity on screen in Malayalam cinema. Even though the two superstars, Mammootty and Mohanlal, have both always played a wide variety of roles, their larger than life image was partly constructed through a celebration of unapologetic male aggression. While the two veterans continue to do films that depict them as "mass" heroes, the younger generation appears to be moving away from such populist pandering and trying out films that redefine what masculinity should be. The credit for this should also go to contemporary writers and directors in the industry who appear to have recognised that toxic masculinity should be represented as such and not validated through glorification. In Maradona, Tovino Thomas...
- 8/4/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodDirector Vishnu Narayanan avoids the cliches of a first time director and makes many unique choices that work well.CrisNo one really explains why he is called Maradona. Only in a short clip from the past he is seen wearing the number 10 jersey of the Argentinian football legend. But Tovino Thomas plays Maradona without any indication of even having watched a football game. It’s just that the film is titled after him, the protagonist, like films often are. Our Maradona kicks too, but not the football. He kicks men, beats them up to pulp, to make money. With a lifelong friend, Sudhi (Tito Wilson). You don’t exactly see the beginning of this habit, or a wounded past leading to it. The film starts, quite a lot like Tovino’s last film Mayaanadhi, in the middle of a plan gone wrong. And again, like in Mayanaadhi, there is a...
- 7/27/2018
- by Cris
- The News Minute
CinemaWhile one of his Tamil movies released last Friday, the actor is working on two others – ‘Maari 2’ and ‘Ondraga’.Digital NativeTovino Thomas made his debut in the film industry by making cameo appearances and supporting roles. He was seen sharing screen space with top actors such as Mohanlal and Prithviraj in Koothara and Ennu Ninte Moihdeen. It was only later that he made a mark for himself featuring in lead roles. Tovino has had three hits in a row last year – Oru Mexican Apartha, Godha and Mayaanadhi – and is basking in the glory of their success. His Br Vijayalakshmi directorial, the Tamil/Malayalam bilingual Abhiyum Anuvum, released last Friday to mixed response. He has a slew of films on hand right now, including two Tamil movies, Maari 2 and Ondraga. The films are in the post-production mode while his Malayalam films are in various stages of production, including Theevandi, Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, Luca and Maradona. In an interview with Scroll.in, when asked whether he was considering doing more Tamil movies, Tovino said that he would focus on Malayalam movies while taking up interesting offers in Tamil. He said, “For me, Malayalam films remain the most important. I don’t want to do more Tamil films just for the sake of it. My fan base is in Malayalam cinema, and that’s where I want it to be. There are many offers of Tamil films, but nothing that I’ve said yes to as of now.” Tovino said he was quite excited about sharing screen space with National Award winning actor Dhanush in Maari 2. About the film, which will release in October, he said in the interview, “I play the villain. I have a meaty role and you will see me in two get-ups. Whenever we were doing our scenes together, I’d always apologise and ask for a retake. But Dhanush would understand that I was working in a different language and he told me he’d do the same when he did Bollywood films. He taught me that the only thing that matters on screen is the output.” Also read: 'Abhiyude Kadha Anuvinteyum' review: This romantic drama is an exhausting watch (Content provided by Digital Native)...
- 5/27/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
MollywoodMalayalam cinema, more often than not, tends to locate its characters in small towns and narrates stories of ordinary lives.Sowmya RajendranThe Malayalam film industry has produced yet another film that's charmed audiences beyond the state. Lijo Jose Pellissery's Ee.Ma.Yau, a tragicomedy about a son's desire to give his father a grand funeral, has won critical acclaim, and is also doing well at the box-office. Set in Chellanam, a fishing village, the story is about Vavachan and how his death unleashes a series of events. Vavachan is no VIP. He's a drunkard who cheats on his wife and lives in a tiny house. But, to his family, he is important. Especially to his son, Eeshi (Chemban Vinod Jose), who promises his father on that fateful day that he will ensure that the latter is given a memorable send-off – from band to bishop. Vavachan dies a rather unglamorous death – he suffers a cardiac arrest, but not before he slips and falls (thanks to the arrack he's addicted to), hurting his head slightly. What follows is a delightful black comedy about how the entire village responds to the death. The gossip network is so authentically etched that you feel like an eyewitness to the events. Take for example, the way someone enquires who made the duck curry, even as they're all seated as mourners. Or the little 'mala' transaction between Vavachan's daughter-in-law and Karutha Molly. Or the way the priest-detective (inspired by Gk Chesterton's Father Brown?) casually bends to take a look at the head injury of the corpse. The film is entirely set in Chellanam. In fact, most of it is set within the confines of Eeshi's home and front yard. There are no big stars who are part of the cast. Chemban Vinod Jose, Vinayakan, and Dileesh Pothan are the most recognisable names in the film. Unlike other south Indian industries and Bollywood where most films are set in urban areas and revolve around characters who are city-bred, Malayalam cinema continues to set its stories in small towns and villages. Even if the characters may visit cities, they spend a good part of their time in non-metros – as in Eeda or Kammatipaadam. Urban films like Bangalore Days, Mayaanadhi, Njandukalude Naattil Oridavela, Hey Jude or films that are set outside the country like Take Off, do hit the screens once in a while, but a vast majority are about characters who live ordinary lives in small worlds. The conflicts in the plot, too, tend to be small-scale and more involved with human nature than external factors. Take Sudani from Nigeria, for example. The film is about an African soccer player who comes to Malappuram to play in a tournament. But most of the film is set in manager Majeed's (Soubin Shahir) house, because the player, Samuel (Samuel Abiola Robinson), injures his leg and is bedridden. The film explores the complex relationships in Majeed's home – between a hurt son and his caring mother, between a wife and her sensitive second husband, and a resentful stepson and a respectful stepfather. The film could have been set on a much larger canvas but director Zachariah, by keeping it small, gives us an intimate understanding of the characters involved. There is no need to show more when you can achieve what you want with less. Dileesh Pothan's two highly acclaimed films, Maheshinte Prathikaram and Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, are also set in small towns and revolve around small problems. Although both films are very culturally rooted – the first in Idukki and the second in Kasargod – they held appeal for audiences across the country. The characters were written so well that it didn't matter if the enamoured audience had never set foot in Kerala, let alone these towns. While films set in rural areas were popular in other industries, the trend slowly shifted to urban areas with changing times. 'Rural' films, if at all they get made, are more likely to be about caste violence (several Tamil films on the subject, like Paruthiveeran, Uriyadi and so on, are set in rural areas) or political vengeance (like a Rangasthalam for example) than explore ordinary lives where nothing greatly dramatic takes place. Films like Oru Kidayin Karunai Manu, for instance, are pretty rare and their reach is quite limited - they seldom release outside the state or the southern region. Perhaps it's because the rural-urban divide in Kerala is not as stark as it is in other states. Perhaps it's because Malayalam cinema is more story-driven than star-driven. Perhaps it's because the budgets are much smaller than what it is in the bigger industries. Perhaps it's a combination of these factors – but whatever it is, the Malayalam industry continues to look towards its small towns and villages for inspiration. In a rapidly shrinking world, the local flavours of its cinema are winning fans among multiplex audiences in other states. Unlike other industries, which are trying to make big budget, pan-Indian films in a bid to grab more eyeballs, Malayalam cinema is managing to do that by simply sticking to its true self. Also read: 'Rangasthalam' becomes a big hit in the Us...
- 5/24/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
InterviewIn this candid interview, the fast-rising star speaks about his films, handling criticism, misogyny on screen and more. Sowmya RajendranWikipedia/Tovino ThomasAt 29, Tovino Thomas is among Kerala's fast-rising new-generation stars who value the roles they play over building a certain image with the audience. From essaying the antagonist to doing supporting roles and playing a hero with grey shades, Tovino has made a place for himself in the competitive Malayalam industry. A qualified engineer, Tovino was a model who always dreamt of making it big in cinema – a childhood desire he never expressed to anyone till his college days. However, he says that apart from the experience of standing in front of a camera, modelling does not really offer one a stepping stone into the film industry. "I still had to approach people and ask for opportunities," he says. "It wasn't easy to get chances in modelling and it wasn't easy to get good films either. Just as the previous generation of actors have stories to tell about how they had to starve to make it big in cinema, this generation too has its own tales of hardship. Maybe we don't have to drink pipe water like they did, but we have our own struggle." Mathan from Mayaanadhi If the commercial success of Oru Mexican Aparatha and Godha announced his arrival as a star, it was Mayaanadhi which established him as a serious contender to the top rung in the Malayalam film industry. Speaking about the success of this poignant film on love and loss, Tovino says, "It's difficult to predict when you're doing a film whether it will be a hit or a flop. But certain films, you can tell when you're doing it that this one will be good. A good film is not ascertained by whether it was a hit or a flop. There are many factors which contribute to it." The last sequence in Mayaanadhi, in which Mathan (Tovino) refuses to blame the woman he loves (Appu – Aishwarya Lekshmi) for betraying him is in sharp contrast to the usual portrayals of the femme fatale in pop culture. Commenting on this, Tovino says, "Mathan truly loves Appu. In fact, he realises that she's the only one whom he's really loved. Even when he wanted to escape, it was with her that he wanted to do so. Mathan also knows that whatever he's done until then isn't all correct. He's aware of his mistakes. Till a point, we see Appu as a weak character, who is dependent on him. But then, she becomes a strong person who can live without him – that's what happens. And it is Mathan who wants to be with her desperately. If the love between them is true, then it is only fair that Mathan sees what happened from her perspective." Despite earning rave reviews, there were many social media users who said they wouldn't watch Mayaanadhi. This was a fall-out of the Kasaba controversy during which the Women in Cinema Collective came under fire from disgruntled Mammootty fans. Mayaanadhi was directed by Aashiq Abu, who is married to actor and Wcc member Rima Kallingal. "Cinema isn't the most important thing in the world. It is for me, but not for everyone. It is up to people whether they want to watch it or not – you can't tie anyone up in the theatre and make them watch it. But the film has completed over 60 days in theatres. Such campaigns may affect a film in the beginning, but they can't stop a good film from doing well," he says. On Aami and freedom of expression Tovino's next release after Mayaanadhi was Kamal's film Aami, based on the life of the fiery Kamala Das, also known as Madhavikutty. The film was mired in controversy before its release and has received mixed reviews. Tovino, who plays Lord Krishna, Madhavikutty's (Manju Warrier) friend and lover, says he was concerned about playing such a role, but not because of the opposition to the film. "For me Krishna, Jesus Christ, Nabi ... all are the same within me. Each of them is a supernatural source of positive energy. I dislike attempts to divide people on the basis of religion. When I got the role, I thought it wouldn't be easy for the audience to accept it. They're likely to make fun of it. So that was a big challenge for me. How do you bring a supernatural feel to the character without alienating the audience? The Sri Krishna in the film is part of Madhavikutty's imagination; he's her first and last lover. It wasn't to be a Krishna with a flute and peacock feather. It had to be an approachable Krishna who'd still be acceptable to the audience," he says. However, the reception to Aami has been lukewarm, with the producer of the film attempting to remove Facebook posts which were critical of it. Tovino says he was unaware of this when it happened, but believes nevertheless that there has been a deliberate attempt to scuttle the film. "If the film had been an uncensored version of Madhavikutty's life, would the censor board have passed it?" he asks. "If it had received an 'A' certificate, would it be possible to watch the film as a family? When you make a biopic, it's not necessary to represent every single thing on screen. This is an art form and it needs to keep a certain balance." Tovino asserts that people have the right to critique a film and acknowledges that pointing out genuine flaws is useful to the makers and the artists. However, he adds that criticism should be constructive and not insulting – and it should be about the film and not politcised. "Let's say I don't know anything about Kathakali. I watch a Kathakali performance and slam it because I didn't understand it, how will it be?" he counters. "I'm not saying they need a degree ... but they should have some knowledge of the art. When it comes to films, there are so many kinds of films and people's tastes differ." Pointing out that Madhavikutty's sister had watched the film and said she felt that she was watching her sister onscreen, Tovino says there's nobody who'd known the controversial writer more. "There are many who feel the negative criticism against Aami was an orchestrated campaign. There were people who started saying it wouldn't be good even before it released. Within one or two days of the film coming out, there were many reviews that people felt were biased. Maybe that's why the producer took such a step – I don't know. It certainly wasn't me who told him to!" he says. Misogyny in cinema After the Malayalam actor assault case which shook Kerala in February last year, there has been a lot of conversation on misogyny and sexism in the film industry. The Wcc, for its part, has been vocal about its intention to critique such representations on screen – a position that has not gone down well with the rest of the industry. Tovino's take on misogyny on screen is nuanced. "I don't agree with the idea of deliberately showing a woman in poor light just to get applause from the audience. But if the story demands such a scene, the film should have another one that balances this out before it ends," he says. Elaborating on this, Tovino adds, "Take Devasuram, for instance. The hero in the film behaves very insultingly towards Bhanumathi (Revathi), but later in the film, he recognises that what he did was wrong and apologises to her. So what does the film say? It recognises that his behaviour in the beginning was bad. Then there's a transition and he becomes a good person. It is to show this transition that the first scene was there, not to deliberately insult a woman. If the first scene wasn't there, the impact wouldn't be as powerful. So if the story needs it, yes; but there should be a politically correct scene later to balance this." Tovino notes that though he is a man, the women in his life are important to him, "I have a mother, elder sister, wife ... I have a daughter. So how can I act in a film that insults women purely for commercial reasons? As an actor, I will do what the script demands, but I'm conscious that it should be balanced out." Entering Tamil cinema Tovino will soon be seen as the villain in Balaji Mohan's Maari 2, acting with Dhanush, Sai Pallavi, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar. Asked if he doesn't mind playing the villain just as he's establishing himself as the lead, Tovino laughs. "I don't think about all that. I started my career by playing the villain. As an actor, I only look at whether there's scope to perform in any role I do. That's the only criteria I've ever had," he says. And it shows – Tovino looks quite distinct and different in every role he has done so far, paying attention to the styling, body language and make-up in equal measure. Before Maari 2, Tovino's first Tamil film Abhiyum Anuvum will hit the screens on March 9. Asked if he felt the sensibilities in the two industries were different, Tovino says, "I didn't feel that way. I'm a director's actor. I try to do what the director wants and balance it with what I myself can bring to the role." Tovino has dubbed for himself in Abhiyum Anuvum. "I'm not very fluent in Tamil like a native speaker but I do feel that I can manage the language," he says with a smile. Tovino has also starred in ‘Ulaviravu’, a single from Gautham Menon's stables, along with popular TV anchor and actor Divyadarshini. "I know Menon sir quite well and I really like his films. He told me about the theme and I liked it. I had seen ‘Koova’, which came out earlier, and thought it was interesting, so I decided to do it," he says. On family A busy actor, Tovino is also father to a two-year-old. Asked how he balances his work with family, he says, "It's for their sake, too, that I'm doing films. Whenever I get a gap, I spent time with them." Though he travels quite a bit for shoots, Tovino says that even if he gets two days off, he makes it a point to spend it at home. "All my vacations are with my family," he says. Tovino's upcoming projects include Theevandi, a political satire in which he plays a chain smoker. He's currently shooting for Madhupal's Oru Kuprasidha Payyan and Maari 2.
- 2/20/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
Mollywood'Guppy' bombed at the box office but earned good reviews subsequently.Tnm StaffMore than a year and a half after the Malayalam film Guppy starring actor Tovino Thomas hit the theatres, the film is set to be re-released. Actor Tovino, who is currently enjoying the success of his latest film Mayaanadhi, took to Facebook to announce that his 2016 film Guppy will be re-released in a few theatres in Kerala. Tovino shared a poster from the film that said Guppy will be re-released on January 21 at 8 am and will be shown in three theatres across the state - in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Malappuram. Directed by Johnpaul George, the film had failed to make an impact when it was initially released in August, 2016. However, people who had watched the film on DVD had shared commendable reviews about the movie a few weeks later. In October 2016, weeks after theatres across the state had stopped screening the movie, Tovino took to Facebook to ask social media users about their take on the possibility of re-releasing the movie. In his post in Malayalam, Tovino had said: "I am putting up this post as per the instruction of the producer. A lot of people had said that it was indeed a loss for them that they were not able to watch Guppy in the theatres. Did you make such comments sincerely? Shall we re-release the film? Will you all go and watch it?" Tovino had also said that scores of people were watching the movie on their phones and laptops and that this was the reason for asking whether Guppy must be re-released. Tovino's post had garnered widespread attention, with many users wondering why a good film like Guppy did not get noticed when it was released in the theatres. Although box office success eluded the movie when it was released, when the Kerala State Film Awards were announced in March, 2017, Guppy went on to win laurels. Vishnu Vijay bagged the award for the best background score, Chethal Jayalal won the Best Child Artiste Award, Stephy Xavier won the award for the Best Costume Designer and Suraj won the Best Singer (Male) Award, all for Guppy. Over and above this, the film's cinematographer Gireesh Gangadharan also received a Special Jury Award.
- 1/18/2018
- by Megha
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film will be produced by Renji Panicker Entertainments.Digital NativeDigital NativeTovino Thomas is busy with a slew of films being added to his kitty. The star had recently wrapped up the Malayalam movie Theevandi and is looking to move over to his next assignment. Reports are that he has inked a deal to star in a Malayalam movie titled India. Though the titled has been announced, there are no other details about this project. Sources in the know say that the groundwork to get it on to the floors have begun and an official word about its commencement, star cast and crew will be out in a few days. India will be produced by Renji Panicker Entertainments. According to trade reports, the production house will be bankrolling three projects this year. Apart from India, it will also produce the Nivin Pauly starrer which will be directed by Major Ravi and the sequel to Lelam which will have Suresh Gopi as the lead star. Lelam, released in 1997, was a crime thriller that had Suresh Gopi in the lead role. It was written by Renji Panicker and directed by Joshly. Tovino’s last film release was Mayaanadhi, which opened to positive reviews late last year. While he has a number of Malayalam movies lined up for release and are in various stages of production, the actor will be making his debut in Tamil with the movie Abi & Anu and has been signed up to share the screen space with Dhanush in Maari 2. Some of his other movies lined up are Naam, Maradona, Aami, Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, Luka and Tick Tock. Having signed up India, Tovino has just added one more to his long list of upcoming project. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.8px Arial; color: #222222; -webkit-text-stroke: #222222; background-color: #ffffff} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.8px Arial; color: #222222; -webkit-text-stroke: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; min-height: 15.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}...
- 1/18/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
InterviewAishwarya opens up about how her conservative family responded to the love-making scenes in 'Mayaanadhi', the hate campaign against the film and more.Sowmya RajendranAishwarya Lekshmi is the toast of the town following the success of Mayaanadhi. A rare urban romance between a criminal on the run and an aspiring actor, Mayaanadhi opened to rave reviews and excellent word of mouth. For Aishwarya, a qualified doctor who never dreamt of entering the film industry, the Mayaanadhi phenomenon has come as a surprise. "I knew that I was working on a very good project," she says. "The storyline was amazing, and the team was very efficient and talented. It's a team that Malayalis know so well. There's National Award-winner Syam Pushkaran and I've been addicted to Aashiq sir's movies. So I knew I was on a good project, but the outcome was up to the audience and god. The extent of the success was a surprise and I'm really happy. It's been almost 30 days since the film released and people are still talking about it." This, Aishwarya says, is something she has always wanted. "I want to be remembered by the characters I do," she says. On doing 'bold' characters Aishwarya, an only child, grew up in Thiruvananthapuram. Both her parents were government officials and she went to a convent school, Holy Angels, in the city. "I come from a very conservative background," says Aishwarya. "Both my parents wanted me to excel academically, like every other parent. They wanted me to pursue my higher studies. When I told them that I wanted to get into the medical profession, they were very happy. They are the kind of parents who want a safe, secure future and a respectable job for their child." Aishwarya's jump into the cinema industry, therefore, was not something they could digest easily. "They had issues with me modelling itself," the young actor says. "But they didn't stop me from doing it. They had their worries. But they knew I would be able to take care of myself. And that if there are things which I cannot take care of, they will be there for me. They don't tell me this all the time but I know that they will be there for me. Because that trust is there, they will never stop me from doing anything." Aparna, Aishwarya's character in Mayaanadhi, is a vulnerable, insecure woman, but she's also the sort who says lines like "Sex is not a promise". Further, the film includes some beautifully choreographed love-making scenes that we don't often see in Malayalam cinema. "They watched the film and in spite of having bold scenes in the movie or me playing a bold character in the movie, they are okay with it," says Aishwarya. "They are able to see the bigger picture. It's a very nice movie and all these things were essential. To be honest, I was really scared about how my parents would take it. I didn't care about anything else." Aishwarya says the fact that there has been discussion on Aparna's character and her views shows that the audience has progressed. As her co-star Tovino Thomas, with whom she shares a good friendship, had pointed out to her, Aparna's character was given more importance than his own (Mathan) in the film. "They are open to discussion. If they were not, this (Aparna's views) would have just been shunned. We do have women like that around us, I'm a bit like Aparna – if I want something, I will go ahead and get it. There are women who are bold enough to take decisions about their career choice, their family, and we're bringing such women on screen more now," she says. On feminism and parity in the industry Although Mayaanadhi received rave reviews, the film faced a hate campaign online. This was because director Aashiq Abu is married to actor Rima Kallingal who is part of the Women in Cinema Collective (Wcc). The Wcc, at the time, was facing the wrath of disgruntled Mammootty fans who were upset with actor Parvathy's comments about the misogyny in the star's film Kasaba. For Aishwarya, who'd been excited about the film's release, the campaign was heartbreaking. "I was very sad. It wasn't the movie's fault that people were saying bad things about it. As an actor who'd done the movie, I was really affected by it. My Instagram account is a personal one and I don't have anything political there. I posted a picture with Aashiq Sir on the day of the release and below that, there were comments saying 'flop director', 'flop film', 'hate this film' etc. Some 72 comments like this came successively and I wasn't even able to delete them," says Aishwarya, who confesses that she's not very social media savvy. She points out that the comments on Aashiq Abu's page were worse and that she felt helpless. "And this was for a good movie. If it had been a stupid movie, it would have been okay. Thank god, the movie did pick up after a few days. People saw through whatever was happening," she says. Asked if she's a feminist, a term that most celebrities run away from, Aishwarya says it's a word that has been abused a lot, "A feminist is a person who wants equal things for men and women, and I definitely believe in that. This doesn't mean I will degrade anyone. In our house, I want my mother and father to have equal importance and that's the only way to bring up a socially responsible child. That should be the way in every sphere of life." Aishwarya acknowledges that there is pay disparity in the industry for men and women actors, and points out that this is because it is the male stars who bring a good section of the audience to the theatres still. "I've just completed two movies, but I've been to auditions as well. I've been told that there is no budget for me, but I've been adamant about the salary I wanted. I quoted a number and they ended up saying they'll pay me a salary that was many lakhs lesser than what I'd asked for. I was not cast in the movie but the actor they finally cast in it would have been paid a lot more – so the thought that came into my head was, where did the budget come from now?" recounts Aishwarya. At this point, however, she's focused on doing good work and believes the money will come when she gets recognised for her films. On handling criticism Aishwarya made her debut with Althaf Salim's Njandukalude Naattil Oridavela in 2017. "In my second year of college, I started modelling. Even then, I was not serious about it. I was doing it for the fun of it and because it provided some pocket money, to be honest. I saw the casting call on 24 December 2015 in a cafe in Kochi which said they're looking for a heroine and a younger sister's role for a Nivin Pauly movie directed by Althaf Salim," she says. At the time, Aishwarya had already heard through a friend that Althaf was working on a script about a mother who has been diagnosed with cancer. The director had been writing the script from his Premam days. "I met with him on Christmas day. Because I had the physical appearance of the character he was looking for, he read the script to me – just a small bit – and asked me if I liked it. He told me that it wouldn't be a big part but if I'd like to be in the movie, they'd be happy to have me on board. Then they did a screen test one week later and after I passed in that, I was confirmed for the role," Aishwarya recounts. However, even though the film went on to become a hit, Aishwarya, who makes it a point to read reviews and film criticism, was hurt by some who'd said she wasn't a good actor. "I don't take criticism that well. I break down. That's my usual mechanism of reacting to anything! But, at the end of the day, I try to see if there's anything from the criticism that I can take to improve as an actor," begins Aishwarya. "After Njandukalude, there were many reviews of people who knew me who said that I wasn't a good enough actor and that affected me a lot. I felt I didn't have enough space to perform. I felt like asking why they couldn't wait. All this was in my head. But there was something within me that said I need to improve somehow. That's my take home from all reviews – if I can take something from it which will improve me as an actor or person, I will take it," she says. Love for 'Mayaanadhi' Ask her about the theory from a viral blog post that Mayaanadhi is a horror film, Aishwarya laughs. "Yes, I have read it," she says. "I called up Syam sir and asked – whaaat, is it like this?!" The actor goes on to talk about the love the film has received: "I read so many lovely reviews that made my cry. Where people had connected their experiences with the film. That was an experience in itself." Mayaanadhi is also special because of the friendship Aishwarya formed with Leona Lishoy and Darshana Rajendran. "Everyone who saw us on the sets asked if we knew each other from before," says Aishwarya. Speaking about the Bawra Mann scene when the three women bond together over wine and music, Aishwarya says, "We were so comfortable with each other. That scene was shot in a balcony. The main part of the scene is that I tell them about Mathan's past. It has to be done as naturally possible, as naturally as people drinking wine in a balcony, who have so much anxiety in their hearts about other things but are trying to have a good time can be." She goes on to add: "The song happened because Leona was jumping all over the place asking if we'd heard Darshana's song and, by that time, I was listening to the song all the time on my headphones. So Syam sir said we can include the song in the next scene. We had to take four takes for it because in every take I would cry. I was genuinely so happy and I couldn't control my tears. I'm someone who has trouble crying on screen but that's just how happy I was." Aishwarya is open to acting in other industries as well, but she's also determined to practise medicine, "I've completed my house surgency and I want to study more. If that doesn't work out, I will work as a junior doctor in a hospital."...
- 1/17/2018
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.