Speaking at the audio launch of his upcoming directorial debut Magudam, Vishal said Dhanush is a “superb actor, director and technician” and that he would support him if he chooses to enter politics. 

“Everybody is contemplating Dhanush's political entry. If his intention is to come to politics, I wish him all the very best. It is an open platform. Anybody can come with the intention of doing good for the people,” Vishal said.

He added that social service is not easy and said he would miss Dhanush as a performer if the actor-director chooses a political career. Dhanush has recently fuelled speculation about his political ambitions through speeches at events organised by his fan club. 

According to a Maalaimalar report, the promo presents the 10th season as a 100-day festival, with colourful settings, celebrations and song sequences setting the tone for the new season.

When and where to watch Big Boss Tamil season 10?

The season, themed “Carnivizha” with the tagline “Paththandu Vazhthukal” ("Greetings for 10 years"), is expected to premiere on September 6, 2026.

The show will premiere on Star Vijay and JioHotstar.

What does the promo of Big Boss Tamil Season 10 show?

The promo commemorates the show's 10-year journey and shows actor Vijay Sethupathi in a new avatar. Returning as the host for the third consecutive year, he is shown wearing shades against a festival backdrop.

The season will also feature a special pre-show format welcoming commoner contestants.

Titled "Crime Patrol 2026 - Crime Ka Current Season", the show will air at 10:30 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV.

Devgn, whose screen image has often been associated with police and action roles in films such as "Singham", "Drishyam" and "Gangajal", will present stories inspired by cases that have shaken the nation.

In a recently released promo, the actor addresses viewers directly, urging them not to be consumed by fear but to exercise greater caution while navigating the realities of crime.

"Main rahunga aapke saath," Devgn says in the promo, assuring viewers that he will accompany them through the stories.

In a statement, the actor said joining a show like 'Crime Patrol' felt like a responsibility to his fans and viewers.

"The show has built a legacy of understanding crime stories while driving awareness among viewers, encouraging them to become more vigilant about the people around them and who they interact with and trust," Devgn said.

"As we bring to the forefront some of the stories inspired by cases that have shaken the nation, I hope and believe that I can help and guide audiences to navigate them with caution rather than fear," he added.

"Crime Patrol" premiered in 2003 and has evolved through several editions, including "Crime Patrol Satark", "Crime Patrol Dastak", "Crime Patrol Dial 100" and "Crime Patrol 2.0".

Actor Anup Soni became closely associated with the franchise after hosting several seasons. Over the years, other presenters have included Sakshi Tanwar, Sonali Kulkarni, Divyanka Tripathi, Ashutosh Rana, Renuka Shahane and Nakuul Mehta.

The franchise typically combines dramatised recreations of real-life crime cases with narration and messages aimed at crime awareness and prevention.

Mahesh Babu was seen relaxing as he posed on a bamboo raft. In another photo, we could also see him standing amidst the wilderness looking at the vast landscape he was surrounded by.

Dropping the captivating first look on social media, Mahesh Babu captioned the post, "Fierce isn’t his only shade… RUDHRA in #Varanasi. @urstrulyMahesh (sic)."

SS Rajamouli also shared a heartfelt note for the birthday star, claiming that Rudra is someone born to fulfill a special purpose.

The 'RRR' maker wrote, "Rudhra was born to fulfil a purpose much larger than himself. He carries a destiny he did not ask for. He is witty, he is vulnerable, and he is fierce. That is what Mahesh brought to him. Anyone can play fierce. Very few can play fierce and fragile in the same breath (sic)."

Sharing his experience of shooting 'Varanasi', he went on to add, "These frames are from our Africa schedule, and the land gave us something no set could. Shooting around Kilimanjaro and in the Masai Mara, I was stunned. There were mornings I felt even the 1.43:1 IMAX frame could not hold what was in front of us “

Mahesh Babu's 'Varanasi' co-stars Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran wished him, saying, "Another trip around the Sun… before we travel across time. Happy Birthday Rudhra (Blue heart emoji)."

It must be noted that 80% of filming for 'Varanasi' has already been completed, including the major action sequences. The remaining portions of the action entertainer are being filmed in Hyderabad.

Written by V Vijayendra Prasad along with SSKanchi and produced by K L Narayana and SS Karthikeya under the banners of Sri Durga Arts and Showing Business, "Varanasi" is believed to share the tale of Rudhra (Played by Mahesh Babu) as the city of Varanasi faces the impending arrival of an asteroid.

Starring Yash in the titular role, the trailer of Toxic presents the film as a grand, action-packed story filled with emotion. It explores themes of love, power, betrayal and redemption.

At the heart of Toxic lies the complex relationship between Raya and his son, Ticket, adding an emotional core to the larger-than-life gangster world.

The trailer also introduces a web of relationships and rivalries, with glimpses into the character arc of Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi. The ensemble makes a strong impression, with each actor bringing distinct shades and intensity to their characters.

Shot simultaneously in English and Kannada, Toxic will also be released in dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam, taking its world of action, thrill and larger-than-life storytelling to audiences across languages.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups stars Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi in pivotal roles.

Produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film is set for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26.

The film follows the journey of a man in his 40s who refuses to give up on his dreams and continues to chase them despite the challenges in his way.

The trailer introduces Suriya as Sanjay Vishwanath, an international pistol shooter who is still working towards his career goals even in his 40s. Along with his sporting journey, the film also focuses on family relationships, personal growth and an age-gap romance.

Mamitha Baiju plays the female lead, while Radhika Sarathkumar and Raveena Tandon are seen in important roles.

The trailer comes just days after Suriya received a grand welcome from fans at the audio launch of Vishwanath and Sons in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Thousands of fans gathered at the venue, cheering for the actor as excitement around the film continued to grow ahead of its release.

Director Venky Atluri, music composer GV Prakash Kumar and the rest of the cast were also present at the event, where the film's music was unveiled.

The strong response from fans also follows the success of Suriya's recent film Karuppu, adding to the excitement for Vishwanath and Sons.

Directed by Venky Atluri, Vishwanath and Sons is scheduled to release in theatres worldwide on August 14.

After Vishwanath and Sons, Suriya is expected to star in director Jithu Madhavan's next film, tentatively titled 547. He also has another project with director TJ Gnanavel, backed by Hombale Films, along with several other films currently in development.

The video introduces Tabu as a ‘fearless woman’ and ‘powerful officer’. She is seen confronting people, slapping and threatening them, and displaying an authoritative side. In one scene, her character tells Vijay Sethupathi, “In our style, we first shoot and then talk.”

The glimpse ends by revealing her designation as Gowri Hegde, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, with a shot of her hitting a man with a lathi. Sharing the video on social media, Puri Jagannadh described Tabu as ‘the gem of Indian cinema’ and introduced her character from the film.

The film has been generating interest since shooting began in July last year. According to sources close to the team, filming has been completed and post-production is currently underway across all five language versions.

The film stars Vijay Sethupathi in the lead, with Samyuktha as the female lead. Kannada actor Duniya Vijay and Tabu play important roles, while Brahmaji and VTV Ganesh are also part of the cast. Samyuktha’s character is said to be an important part of the story, with scope for both performance and emotional depth.

A poster released last year showed Vijay Sethupathi in a stylish look, holding a bloodstained machete and standing beside wooden boxes filled with currency notes.

National Award-winning composer Harshavardhan Rameshwar, known for his work in Arjun Reddy and Animal, is scoring the music. The film is set for a pan-India release in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.

For the unaware, singer Armaan Malik’s Malayalam playback debut with ‘Mazhavillaye’ has been winning love from listeners, with the soulful romantic track striking a chord soon after its release.

The track, which happens to be the first single from Dulquer Salmaan’s upcoming film 'I’m Game', has been praised for the breezy, soothing music of Jakes Bejoy and for Armaan’s vocals, which complement Dulquer and Kayadu Lohar’s romantic pairing on screen.

Reacting to Armaan’s vocals, Dulquer took to X and shared a heartfelt note. “It’s such a privilege to have you bring so much soul and your own spirit to this track brother. Been your fan forever so this is truly special!” he wrote, adding, “Lots of love always” with heart emojis.

The actor’s words came even as Armaan opened up about what went into recording the song. Asked whether he kept Dulquer’s image as a romantic hero in mind while lending his voice to the actor on screen, Armaan explained that his approach was primarily guided by the character and the emotional needs of the story.

“While singing, I think about the character, the situation and what the story needs emotionally from an overall perspective,” Armaan had said.

He, however, acknowledged that Dulquer’s natural charm perfectly complemented the melody. “Dulquer has such a natural charm and such a lovable screen presence that it definitely complements a melody like Mazhavillaye. I’ve admired his work for a long time, so it was really special to finally lend my voice to one of his films,” he added.

For Armaan, 'Mazhavillaye' also presented the challenge of singing in Malayalam, a language he described as particularly nuanced in its pronunciation and expressions. Having previously sung in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada, the singer approached his Malayalam debut with particular attention to the language.

Composed by Jakes Bejoy, 'Mazhavillaye' adds another musical highlight to 'I’m Game', which has been directed by Nahas Hidhayath. The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on August 20, 2026.

The celebration was organised by the Loyola Alumni Association, with its president G Viswanathan delivering the welcome address.

College vice-principal Anthony Robinson, Britto Vincent, Provincial of the Jesuit Chennai Province, Xavier Britto, vice-president of the Loyola Alumni Association, and Karthik Sabanayagam, president of the Chennai Chapter, were among those present.

The awards recognised individuals for their contributions across various fields. Benjamin Cherian and C Rajkumar received the Beacon of Guidance Awards, while Dilip R Vellodi and Vijay Shankar were presented with the Business Leader Awards.

IPS officer S Jayakumar and IAS officer Catherine Saranya received the Awards for Distinguished Service. Sal Baloo and Moin Baloo were honoured with the Global Excellence Awards, while Sundar Manoharan received the Professional Excellence Award.

Actor Suriya was presented with the Award for Creative Excellence for his contributions to the creative field.

Former tennis star Vijay Amritraj received the Sports Achiever Award, while Rafiq Ahmed was honoured with the Loyola Friends Award.

The annual awards recognise individuals who have made notable contributions to their respective fields and continue to reflect the values associated with Loyola College.

If a deal is finalised, the film is expected to begin shooting later this year, as per Deadline.

Aster is directing Scapegoat from his own script, with A24 serving as distributor.

The filmmaker will produce the project alongside Lars Knudsen through their Square Peg banner.

A24 has also released Aster's previous four films.

Plot details for 'Scapegoat' are being kept under wraps. Various descriptions of the project have circulated, including speculation that it could involve a doctor operating on an internet-famous person, a sci-fi romance or a more traditional drama.

However, insiders say there is currently no consensus on the film's details.

The project is set to be Aster's next film following 'Eddington'. Johansson was previously reported as Aster's choice to lead the film, while the director has met with several actors for another prominent role.

Elordi, who received his first Oscar nomination following his performance in 'Frankenstein', had several offers to choose from after taking a break following an intense period of work. His 'Frankenstein' shoot lasted nine months, and negotiations for 'Scapegoat' began last week.

The potential casting comes after a busy run for Elordi. He followed 'Frankenstein' with Warner Bros' 'Wuthering Heights', in which he co-starred with Margot Robbie. He also returned for the final season of 'Euphoria', which premiered in the spring.

Elordi's next project is Ridley Scott's action thriller 'The Dog Stars', which also stars Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin.

If the deal for 'Scapegoat' closes, the film is planned to go into production later this year.

Arka Mediaworks, one of the production houses producing the film, took to its social media timelines to share the link to the just released single. It wrote, "It’s time to Cakeu Walku! The first single #CakeuWalku Music Video from #DontTroubleTheTrouble is out now. #DTTTonSep11 #FahadhFaasil."

For the unaware, acclaimed producers Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni have joined hands with SS Karthikeya to produce this exciting, content-rich film that is being presented by none other than ace director S S Rajamouli. After having released an entertaining and curiosity-raising teaser, the makers have now unveiled the video song 'Cakeu Walku' from the film.

The song, composed by Kaala Bhairava, introduces the character of Suri (played by Fahaadh Faasil) and his madness in a unique setup. The makers have created a special music video featuring Kaala Bhairava, Fahadh Faasil, and Ssara.

The song is a foot-tapping number that has a highly addictive beat as its base. The young music director, who has delivered an electrifying composition in Cakeu Walku, also shows his dancing skills by grooving to the number in the video.

Kaala Bhairava has not only penned the catchy lyrics of the song along with M C Hari but has also sung the song along with him. The song highlights Suri’s daredevil nature and how every task is a cakewalk for him.

Fahadh Faasil’s energy and dance moves in the number reminds one of his 'Ranga Chetta' from 'Aavesham'. His graceful moves, infectious smile, and charm make the single track an absolute eye feast. Even Ssara joins the fun music video and makes it even more special.

Fantasy entertainer 'Don't Trouble the Trouble' is gearing up for a grand release on September 11 this year.

The Marvel film has collected USD 10.6 million over the weekend for a cumulative USD 52.8 million take, overtaking the record previously held by James Cameron's 'Avatar: The Way of Water' after only 11 days of release.

It is worth mentioning that the Tom Holland starrer has not faced much competition in India since its release, with two major films (Sunny Deol's 'Batwara 1947' and Emraan Hashmi's 'Awarapan 2') now set to open in Indian theatres.

On the other hand, Hollywood films have rallied well at the Indian box office, with both Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' and 'Obsession' earning over USD 10 million.

Earlier, 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' made a historic theatrical debut in India, overtaking 'Avengers: Endgame' to earn the biggest opening day bench-mark for a non-Indian film till date.

According to Variety, the film made a gross collection of Rs 72.44 crore on its first day, already surpassing the previous Hollywood launch benchmark set by 'Endgame. An audience of nearly 1 million people flocked to theatres on its opening Thursday alone.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film features Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo.

Holland made his debut as Peter Parker in 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War', officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He went on to headline 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' alongside Robert Downey Jr., before reprising the role in 'Avengers: Infinity War', 'Avengers: Endgame', 'Spider-Man: Far From Home, a cameo in 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage', and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Participating in the trailer launch event of the film which was held recently, Nayanthara, while talking about her bond with director Geethu Mohandas, said, "Geetu and me, we've had a very, very long journey and a beautiful one. We have worked together in a film. Must be 20 years back. That was a different Geetu."

Nayanthara then went on to say that when Geethu Mohandas called her for the film, she wasn't so sure because the film had a lot of actors. "I'm usually a little careful or maybe a little apprehensive about choosing a film where there are a lot of actors. So, when she called me for this film, I wasn't sure," Nayanthara disclosed.

"I said, 'No, I don't think I want to do the film'. So, she asked me some 10 million questions and I said, 'okay, it's fine. You can just come and narrate it to me'," Nayanthara recalled with a smile.

"And from the time, from the moment she narrated it to me, I was like, 'Who is this woman? Who is this director that we have not seen?'. You are going to witness something incredible. You guys (referring to the audiences) are just not ready for it. I'm telling you. You've seen the trailer. I know it's amazing. But you still haven't seen the film. It's going to blow your minds. It's really going to be incredible."

For the unaware, 'Toxic' features Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Huma Qureshi in a powerhouse ensemble cast.

Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas, and directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film has been shot in Kannada and English and has been dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and other languages. Produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, 'Toxic' is scheduled to hit theatres on August 26 this year.

The six-member committee, constituted for two years from July 24, follows the expiry of the previous panel's tenure. It is headed by Thavathiru Sivagnana Balaya Swamigal of Bommapuram Adhinam, Mayilam, with retired District and Sessions Judge K Ramanathan as deputy chairman.

Retired IAS officer PR Sampath, M Sumathi Sree and folk singer T Velmurugan are the other members.

Archana, who is the CEO of AGS Cinemas and a creative producer at AGS Entertainment, becomes the latest film-industry personality to be appointed to a public position since the TVK government assumed office.

Her appointment comes after film producer K Venkata Narayana, associated with Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, was appointed Special Representative of the Tamil Nadu government in New Delhi. The appointment had drawn criticism from political circles over the significance of the post in the national capital.

The government had also appointed cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa as chairman/president of the MGR Government Film and Television Training Institute in Taramani. Paramahamsa has worked on films including Nanban, Beast and Leo, all featuring Vijay.

Archana Kalpathi has also been closely associated with Vijay professionally, having served as producer/creative producer for his Bigil and The Greatest of All Time, both produced by AGS Entertainment.

Earlier, the appointment of Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister (Political) was withdrawn following opposition from political parties. Jagadish Palanisamy, a longtime manager and close aide of Vijay, was subsequently appointed Private Secretary to the Chief Minister (Political).

The 73-year-old accused was traced to his farmhouse in Mahabaleshwar hill station, located more than 200 km from Mumbai, on Saturday after he went into hiding following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him, they said.

Noorani is known for directing films like "Joru Ka Ghulam" (2000), starring Govinda, and "Bade Dilwala" (1999), which featured Suniel Shetty.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Noorani sexually assaulted her over the last four years and also poisoned her, leading to a miscarriage.

She claimed the accused had called her to his residence in the Malvani area here on the pretext of discussing the script of an upcoming film project, where he allegedly spiked her drink and sexually assaulted her.

When she regained consciousness, Noorani showed her an intimate video on his mobile phone and allegedly threatened to circulate it if she approached the police or informed her family.

The accused subsequently used the purported video to allegedly threaten her and sexually assault her on multiple occasions. He also gave her contraceptive pills following the assault and poisoned her, causing a miscarriage, a police official said quoting the woman's complaint lodged 40 days ago.

After the case was registered, the accused went into hiding. The police even searched his son's house at Lokhandwala in Mumbai's Andheri area, but could not trace him.

He was finally apprehended from his farmhouse in Mahabaleshwar based on technical inputs, brought to Mumbai on Saturday and placed under arrest, the official said.

The accused has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 64(2)(m) (rape), 123 (causing hurt by means of poison), 88 (causing miscarriage) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation), he said.

Following the arrest, the accused was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody till August 12, the official added.

A video clip of the actor making his way to the airport in Chennai has now confirmed the development. The actor had a few days ago posted pictures of himself seated alone on a jeep and enjoying the serenity offered by the mist-surrounded mountains in Ooty. Posting the pictures on Instagram, he had said, "A pause. A breeze. A little peace." Sources had then told IANS that the actor was likely to resume shooting for his eagerly awaited film 'Seyon' in Madurai in the first week of August.

Sources have also hinted that the upcoming schedule will be a long and challenging one. For the unaware, the makers of the film had on June 10 this year announced that the unit had wrapped up the first schedule of shooting.

Raaj Kamal Films International, the production house producing the film, had taken to its social media timelines to announce the completion of the first schedule. It wrote, "From passion to progress #Seyon First Schedule Wrapped. #சேயோன் #VetrivelVeeravel #Varendi." The film officially went on floors in Madurai with a grand pooja ceremony that was graced by several celebrities including actor Kamal Haasan on May 18 this year. Produced by Kamal Haasan's RaajKamal Films International and Turmeric Media, the film features actress Baghyashrii Borse as the female lead. Interestingly, this will be Baghyashrii Borse's first direct Tamil film.

A day before the official launch of the film, director Sivakumar Murugesan had taken to his X timeline to share a video clip showing him and the core crew of the film meeting Kamal Haasan at his office and signing the agreement.

The director, sharing the video clip, had said, "Tomorrow, #SEYON Begins Its Journey." Sivakumar Murugesan, in the video clip, was heard saying, "I have longed and wondered if whether I could get an autograph of Kamal sir. But today, Kamal sir has given me an autographed 80-page agreement." The film has triggered huge interest in fans and film buffs ever since the makers released a glimpse video from the film called "The Celebration" earlier this year. The Celebration video showcases an incident that happens on the second day of the Maasi Kalari festival that is held at the Karumaathur Virumaandi Temple. The incident in question is shown taking place two hours after a major scuffle at the festival. A group of people gather at the local police station, even as the constable explains the situation to the inspector.

He informs that a major fight had broken out at the festival even as the inspector begins inspecting those who have gathered at the station. He finds a group of young men with half tonsured heads and asks them what happened. The constable explains that the young men with half tonsured heads behaved in an indecent manner by flashing laser lights at dancers at the festival and making reels out of it. "Therefore, somebody bashed them up and tonsured half their heads," he explains.

The inspector then asks another man from another group as to why he was beaten. He says he was asked what play they were to stage at the festival and he had informed them that he was to stage the devotional "Valli Thirumanam (Valli's wedding to Lord Murugan)" and therefore, he too was bashed up. The reply makes those locked up in prison wonder if the person who bashed up the theatre artiste was an atheist. But then another man clarifies, "He is not an atheist. In fact, he is the one who gets possessed by the divine spirit of Virumaandi."

The cops realise that everybody from the neighbouring villages are there save one and that is the people of Karumathur, who are carrying out the procession. The others try to stop the procession but according to custom, the procession must not be stopped. The procession proceeds and the inspector happens to see Sivakarthikeyan in a possessed state and prays to him... The celebration video gives the impression that the story will be set in Madurai. The makers also disclosed that the film would release in October this year. The film, which will feature Sakarthikeyan in a power-packed and dynamic new role, will be a grand rural commercial entertainer.

The film marks a significant reunion between Sivakarthikeyan and Raaj Kamal Films International. Their collaboration for this film comes on the heels of the blockbuster success of their earlier film 'Amaran', which garnered both critical acclaim and commercial triumph. Produced by Kamal Haasan and R. Mahendran, the film brings together powerful storytelling and a co+mpelling cinematic vision. Adding to the excitement, this project will mark the first-ever collaboration between RaajKamal Films International, Sivakarthikeyan, and acclaimed composer Santhosh Narayanan. The film has cinematography by Vivek Vijayakumar and editing by San Lokesh. Art direction for the film is by R K Nagu while Keerthy Sampath and Joshua Maxwell are its costume designers.

Police said that the incident happened around 3.30 am. Ameen was travelling towards Guindy along the Jawaharlal Nehru road when the cab entered the main road from a side road and collided with the luxury vehicle.

Ameen and his friend sustained minor injuries and were taken to a private Hospital for treatment. They were discharged later and returned home. The passenger travelling in the cab was also injured and was admitted to Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital. After receiving treatment, the occupants returned home. Adyar Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) police are investigating.

Sharing a “Caution” message, Arivu alleged that some “elite musicians” take melodies, compositions and ideas rooted in working-class culture and package them as “collaboration” or “independent music”.

“Too often, the original creators are left without meaningful credit, ownership or economic benefit. This isn't a collaboration. This is extraction,” he wrote.

Arivu did not name any individual in the post. However, his comments have drawn attention in the context of his long-running dispute over Enjoy Enjaami, the 2021 independent hit featuring Arivu and Dhee, with music by Santhosh Narayanan.

The discussion around the song resurfaced in March this year, when Arivu claimed that he had written the lyrics and composed the main vocal melody based on his cultural history and lived experience, and questioned the credit and compensation he received.

Santhosh Narayanan disputed several of these claims, saying the song was a collaborative creation and outlining his own contributions to its composition and production.

Arivu’s latest post, however, does not directly identify anyone, leaving the musicians he refers to unspecified.

Fans gather in large numbers

The event was organised at Phoenix Mall to celebrate Meesaya Murukku 2. Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi had also reached the venue as planned. However, a large number of fans gathered at the mall, making it difficult for him to even reach the stage.

With the crowd continuing to grow, police warned of a possible stampede and other untoward incidents. Following the advice of the police, the event was cancelled and Aadhi left the venue.

Aadhi expresses disappointment

Later that night, Aadhi shared a video message expressing his disappointment over not being able to meet his fans.

He said he had come to the venue with great excitement to meet them, but could not take part in the event keeping their safety in mind and following the police instructions.

While he said the overwhelming response from fans made him happy, he also expressed regret that he could not celebrate Meesaya Murukku 2 with them.

"Given the crowd density and the resulting safety and crowd-management considerations, and following advice from the police and relevant authorities, the decision was taken to cancel the performance as a precautionary measure. The safety and well-being of our visitors, the artist, staff and all stakeholders remains our foremost priority," Phoenix Mall said in a statement on Saturday night.

However, Nayanthara, who will soon be seen essaying the role of Ganga in Yash starrer 'Toxic', made an exception as she was seen at the trailer launch event for 'Toxic' on Saturday, along with the rest of the cast.

During her address at the trailer launch event, Nayanthara revealed why she avoids such promotional events. The actress claimed that she decided to make an exception only for Yash.

She shared, "It's not that I don't want to attend Promotional events. It's just that I'm not good very good at it. So I stay away from it. But this was special because so many reasons. But I think it's just Yash. He just made a call, and it was enough for me to attend the event."

Nayanthara further spoke about what made her experience working with Yash in 'Toxic' different.

"Everyone's big, everyone's cool. They are really good. That's why they are superstars. But with Yash, when I met him the first time, the kind of larger-than-life image that he actually has, that's how he really is in person also," she added.

Meanwhile, the recently released trailer of 'Toxic' provides an insight into the complex relationship between Raya and his son, Ticket, with a web of relationships and rivalries surrounding them.

We also get a better idea of Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Huma Qureshi's characters, the leading ladies of 'Toxic'.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, 'Toxic' has been jointly backed by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations.

Gearing up for a worldwide theatrical release on 26 August 2026, 'Toxic' has been shot simultaneously in English and Kannada with dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.

As part of her preparation for her new journey, Samantha was seen enjoying a maternity book. On Saturday, Samantha treated the netizens with a glimpse into the month of August, and in one of the pics, she was seen going through Ina May's 'Guide to Childbirth' while lying on the couch.

She captioned the post, "August energy (sic),, along with white heart emojis.

In her latest photo dump on Instagram, Samantha also shared a few gym selfies, along with a glimpse of husband Raj Nidimoru's birthday celebration.

The 'Yashoda' actress uploaded a clip in which she had tears in her eyes as she went into a laughing fit.

Meanwhile, Samantha recently confirmed her first pregnancy while addressing the media during the success meet of her latest release 'Maa Inti Bangaaram'.

During her address, Samantha shared that she will be taking a maternity break after wrapping up her present professional commitments.

“After Maa Inti Bangaaram, I will have to take a small break, given my condition. I’ll have to take maternity leave. After that, I’ll be back with another film for my fans,” Samantha said.

The speculations around Samantha's pregnancy started doing the rounds after her appearance at the success celebration of 'Maa Inti Bangaaram'.

Samantha's baby bump was visible as she made an appearance in a fitted white bodycon top, along with blue denim.

Samantha and Raj will reportedly be welcoming their little bundle of joy in December this year.

Samantha got married to Raj, one-half of the popular director duo Raj &DK, in December last year.

It is believed that these two first met during the shoot of 'The Family Man 2'.

For the unaware, Samantha was earlier married to actor Naga Chaitanya. These two got married in October 2017 and announced their separation in October 2021.

On Saturday, Star Vijay and JioHotstar treated the netizens with the exciting launch promo of 'Bigg Boss Tamil Season 10'.

The 10th season of the popular reality show has been marked with "Paththandu Vazhthukal". The creative wordplay has been inspired by the familiar Tamil greeting "Puthandu Vazhthukal." With the latest promo of the drama, the makers extended this special greeting to audiences, thanking them for loving the show for so many years.

The milestone season is marked with Carnivizha, a grand entertainment celebration compiling all the elements which have been loved by the audiences in the past, such as drama, laughter, friendships, rivalries, emotions, and unforgettable moments.

Host Vijay Sethupathi welcomed the viewers to Carnivizha, extending an invitation to all to be a part of the grand celebration of Season 10 of 'Bigg Boss Tamil'.

Towards the end of the promo, Vijay Sethupathi signed off with the powerful line, saying, "Inga Onnu Nenacha... Pathu Nadakkum. (Here, if you think of one thing… ten things will happen."

This line hints at the unpredictable and chaotic nature of the reality show. It points out that a single decision in the show is capable of setting off a chain reaction, altering the course of the game.

'Bigg Boss Tamil Season 10' is touted to be the biggest edition in the history of the franchise.

'Bigg Boss Tamil Season 10' is expected to premiere shortly exclusively on Star Vijay and JioHotstar.

Over the years, 'Bigg Boss Tamil' has become a crucial part of the Tamil entertainment industry. It successfully manages to keep the viewers hooked for almost 100 days every year, turning the show into a phenomenon.

Speaking to ANI, Vishal said such incidents can happen in politics, but stressed that the same standard should apply to others who make remarks against women. He said, "These kinds of incidents do happen in political scenarios. So I wish that whatever happened to Uday, the same kind of punishment happens to everyone who speaks ill about women in our fraternity."

"There are so many other people on YouTube; there are so many other people who have been openly speaking, hitting below the belt about our female fraternity. So I wish it were the same treatment...," he added.Udhayanidhi Stalin, was released after questioning by police for about an hour at Sengipatti Police Station in Thanjavur district earlier this month. His detention came after protests over his alleged remarks against actor Trisha during a Cauvery rights demonstration.

The controversy began when Udhayanidhi was addressing a gathering during a Cauvery protest and some people in the crowd reportedly started chanting "Trisha, Trisha". He allegedly responded with a double-meaning remark before saying that he was referring to Cauvery water. Following the remarks, the women's wing of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur Police, alleging that the DMK leader had made a double-entendre remark targeting actor Trisha. The DMK, however, has maintained that Udhayanidhi's remarks were misrepresented and were directed at the government's functioning, not at any individual.

Prabhu Deva shared pictures from the ceremony on Instagram, expressing his gratitude to the City of Dallas and his fans and well-wishers for their continued support. “I am truly humbled and honored to receive this from the City of Dallas, Texas,” he wrote.

The honour comes during his US visit, where Prabhu Deva is also scheduled to perform in the Dallas area. His career spans more than three decades across Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema, with his work as a choreographer, actor and filmmaker earning him national recognition. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019 for his contribution to the arts and dance.

Prabhu Deva’s Dallas appearance is also listed at the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, part of the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

Mishra visited Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, where government job aspirants have been protesting over the last two weeks, and said he supported their agitation as they had continued it without political involvement.

"Whatever is possible for my event management company and me, I will do to support you," he told the protesters.

He urged the state government to consider the protesters' demands and fulfil them at the earliest.

Mishra also sang his popular song 'Aarambh Hai Prachand'.

Later, speaking to reporters, he said the protests at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi and the one in Ranchi should not be seen from different perspectives.

"Youths from across India participated in the Delhi protest. Jharkhand is also part of the country, and its protest should not be treated differently. I think all should speak about it," he said.

A leader of the movement said Mishra's visit gave them fresh impetus.

"He came from Bollywood to extend his support to our agitation. He also appreciated our way of holding the stir," he said.

The agitation entered its 15th day after talks between the state government and representatives of five student organisations failed to end the deadlock.

The protesting students have warned that they will march towards the state assembly on August 10 if the government fails to address their demands by Sunday.

Mohanlal, in a video message recorded in Singapore, expressed his disappointment over missing the event and said he did not want to blame anyone for the situation.

The event was reportedly cancelled after Mohanlal could not travel to Sydney.

"I am speaking to you from Singapore. I don't know how to express my grief. I am in a very sad situation. It has been almost 50 years since I entered the film industry. Perhaps I am the actor from India who has performed in the largest number of shows," he said.

Mohanlal said he had performed at shows in the US, Germany, the UK and Ireland this year and that the Sydney event had been planned with a good concept.

"Everyone with me, including K S Chithra, is there. But I don't know, somehow it happened. For the first time in my life, I did not get my visa. I don't know how it happened. It could be a technical or clerical mistake, or an AI-generated issue. I am not going into further details of what it is," he said.

Taking responsibility for the situation, he said, "I am taking all the blame on myself. I am telling you that it is my fault. I am very sorry about it."

Mohanlal said the organisers and his team had made every effort to make the event possible.

"Everyone else is there. To make this happen, everyone worked hard in every humanly possible way, especially Vimal from Kayal Events and his office. We all tried our best," he said.

Expressing regret to those who had travelled long distances to attend the show, he said, "To each one of you who drove from far away and came to watch this show, I apologise from the bottom of my heart."

He promised that the team would return to Sydney and organise a show.

"I promise that we will come back with the same team and do a wonderful show in front of you. I am so sorry. To each one of you, I apologise from the bottom of my heart. Really sorry, and I am helpless. Please accept my apologies," he said.

Mohanlal shared the film’s poster featuring his daughter Vismaya kicking on a punching bag.

He wrote: “A father’s heart couldn’t ask for more. Watching Vismaya begin her journey with Thudakkam, and seeing the love you’ve shown her, is a blessing I’ll always cherish.”

He praised the love and warmth showered on her and co-star Aashish Joe Antony.

“It warms my heart with immense joy to see Aashish Joe Antony, whom I have known and loved since he was a little boy, sharing this beautiful journey alongside her. Thank you for embracing them both with such warmth,” he wrote.

Thudakkam is an action thriller film directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, who also wrote the screenplay with Akhil Krishna and Linish Nellikkal.

The film stars Vismaya Mohanlal, Mohanlal, Ashish Joe Antony, Bobby Kurian, Sai Kumar, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Manoj K. Jayan, Miya George, and Jaffar Idukki.

Extremely pleased with the way her daughter Vismaya first film 'Thudakkam' had been made, Suchitra Mohanlal, the wife of Malayalam star Mohanlal, on August 6 gifted a luxurious Swiss watch to the film's director Jude Anthany Joseph.

The well known Malayalam film director Jude Anthany Joseph took to Instagram to pen a note of gratitude to Suchitra Mohanlal for her encouragement.

The director, who called Suchitra Mohanlal his elder sister, wrote, "They may be mother and daughter to the world, but to me, they’ll always be my elder sister and younger sister. "

He also went on to post a picture of the watch that Suchitra Mohanlal had gifted him and wrote, "The second picture is a beautiful gift from Suchi Chechi after watching Thudakkam — a gesture I’ll treasure for a lifetime. Thank you, dear Chechi, for your love, encouragement, and this unforgettable memory."

Centred around three friends and their life, the movie featured Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni and Dimple Kapadia in key roles.

"Dil Chahta Hai" released on August 10, 2001, and became an instant hit. Its songs became chartbusters and brought name and fame to the composer trio, known collectively as Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

Looking back at the journey of composing tracks such as "Dil Chahta Hai", "Tanhayee", "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan" and "Jaane Kyon Log Pyar", Mahadevan said they had no idea that the songs will be remembered 25 years later.

"This film has truly been a milestone in our career as Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy... We still cannot believe that 25 years have passed because it has been such a wonderful beginning for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. It was not our first project, but 'Dil Chahta Hai' gave us immense credibility, a strong identity, and a lot of respect in the music industry. We can never have enough words of gratitude for this film," Mahadevan told PTI in a virtual interview.

Asked whether the film marked a turning point in their journey as composers, the singer-composer said, "Well, I would not call it a turning point. I would call it a starting point." The trio had previously composed songs for "Dus" and "Mission Kashmir" but "Dil Chahta Hai" was the first major success for the trio.

Mahadevan still remembers the day Farhan approached them to compose the music. Farhan would go on to make "Lakshya" and the "Don" series before turning to acting and establishing himself as a star.

"Farhan was just 24 years old when he came to us. He had a vision. He wanted to make a film that had a part of his own life reflected in the script he had written. I remember the script was around 60 pages and it was very interesting.

"Even Farhan was not completely sure about Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and we also told him, 'Let us see how this working relationship develops. We will work together and see what happens. If you feel our chemistry works, we will continue. Otherwise, you are free to explore other composers."

Farhan's father, legendary screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar was already on board to write the songs and the group gathered at Farhan's friend and producing partner Ritesh Sidhwani's bungalow in Khandala for a trial music-setting session for over a week.

"Within about three and a half days, we finished composing all the songs. After that, we had nothing left to do. We were just walking around, eating, and enjoying our time there because the music was already complete. We later recorded songs for over a month but the actual composition was done within days. Those were some of the most memorable moments of our creative journey," the musician recalled.

Mahadevan has many fond memories of discussing and refining songs with Javed Akhtar, especially the track "Jaane Kyon".

"Everyone was sleeping in the morning and only Javed Saab and I were awake. There was a swing outside Ritesh's house. Javed Saab and I were sitting there, and he said that this should not be in a typical song format. It should feel more like a conversation.

"Like someone asking a friend, 'Yaar, kyun? Jaane kyon log pyaar karte hain? Jaane kyon woh kisi pe marte hain?' It should feel like a normal conversation between friends. So I said, 'Why don't we play with the words jaane kyon?' Just repeat the phrase - jaane kyon, jaane kyon, jaane kyon. Then he asked the assistant to bring a piece of paper. Right there, sitting on the swing --without instruments and music -- he wrote the entire song in about five minutes."

Similarly, the opening tune for "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan" was composed while Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were travelling to Khandala.

"It was raining heavily, and I think Ehsaan had a Zen car. We were sitting inside, and this band called Afro Celt was playing. Afro Celt is Celtic music - a very typical Scottish style of music. There was this rhythmic pattern playing: So I thought, why don't we create a song where the hook is not a lyrical hook, but a musical hook?"

And that's how "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan" was composed.

The film will be directed by Abhay Pannu, best known for 'Rocket Boys'. Pannu has also written the screenplay. The project is scheduled to go on floors later this year. An industry source confirmed Varun Dhawan's casting, saying, "Varun has come on board as the lead for YRF's first horror film."

The source added, "Yash Raj Films is entering the horror genre for the first time with a feature film directed by Abhay Pannu, strategically championed by Akshaye Widhani (Chief Executive Officer of Yash Raj Films), and now headlined by Varun Dhawan as the lead. YRF has made films across almost every genre except horror. Come 2027, and the banner will finally step into this genre."

The film marks Pannu's theatrical directorial debut after earning acclaim for 'Rocket Boys'. It also reinforces Yash Raj Films' stated commitment to supporting a new generation of filmmakers. The upcoming project will also mark Varun Dhawan's second collaboration with Yash Raj Films after the success of 'Sui Dhaaga', as he returns to headline the studio's first theatrical horror film.

According to buzz, the makers have decided to push back the film's release due to concerns over theatre availability. The film was initially scheduled to hit screens on August 14, the same day as Vishal's Magudam and Suriya's Viswanathan & Sons. With multiple big releases lined up, securing an adequate number of screens is believed to have become a challenge.

Hi movie's cast & crew

Hi stars Nayanthara alongside Kavin and is directed by Vishnu Edavan, a former associate of director Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film is jointly produced by 7 Screen Studios and Rowdy Pictures, the banner owned by director Vignesh Shivan.

The romantic drama is said to revolve around a younger man falling in love with an older woman. Production has been completed, and the film's three songs, composed by Jen Martin, were released recently and received a positive response. The makers are now expected to announce a revised theatrical release date shortly.

Director Krishnakumar Ramakumar, who spent years researching Naidu's life before writing the film, has spoken about how deliberately that friendship was placed in the story. Naidu's circle in that era included figures such as Ramasamy Naicker and M.R. Radha, men who were genuinely close to him, and it is that bond the film chooses to show. “That friendship is there in the film,” Krishnakumar has said, “but whatever politics existed between them at the time, we have deliberately left out. This isn't a film about that. It's about the human being behind the inventor.”

That distinction, between the public record and the private man, is exactly where Sathyaraj's performance lives. His is the kind of part that carries a film's emotional register without ever asking for the frame's attention, a steady presence beside Naidu through the ordinary and the difficult years alike.

Sathyaraj himself has spoken candidly about what the film meant to him personally, beyond the part he was asked to play. Speaking to reporters at the film's press meet, he admitted that being from Coimbatore himself made his connection to the story sharper than he expected. “Having been born and raised right here in Coimbatore, the fact that I hadn't visited the G.D. Naidu museum in all these years left me with a real sense of guilt,” he said. “Naidu's inventions deserve to be celebrated across the world, on par with Edison's.”

He was equally candid about his reaction to his co-star's transformation. “The makeup work done for his final look, as the older Naidu, genuinely astonished me,” Sathyaraj said of watching Madhavan on set, a rare moment of a veteran actor being caught off guard by a colleague's craft rather than his own.

It is a small remark, but a telling one. Sathyaraj has spent more than four decades in Tamil cinema playing men of authority and gravity, and it takes a great deal to genuinely surprise an actor of his experience. That he was moved, both by Naidu's story and by watching it take shape around him, says something about the film the makers set out to build: one where even the actors playing supporting parts found themselves drawn deeper into Naidu's world than they expected to be.

It is that credibility Sathyaraj lends the film, the presence of an actor whose career has spanned everything from mainstream commercial cinema to some of Tamil film's most respected character work. Placing him beside Madhavan's Naidu, as a friend rather than a rival or an obstacle, gives the film a second register beneath the inventor's public triumphs: a quieter account of the people Naidu trusted, and who trusted him back, away from the workshop floor and the headlines.

GDN, directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar and produced by Varghese Moolan Pictures and Tricolour Films, releases in theatres across Tamil Nadu and worldwide on 7 August 2026.

Director Krishnakumar Ramakumar shared one story from the shoot that captures the scale better than any statistic could. On the very first day of filming, actor Teejay Arunasalam, who plays the young G.D. Naidu, arrived on set and genuinely could not place where he was. “He thought we had emptied out an entire village and were shooting inside it as it stood,” Krishnakumar said. “That's the level of detail we were working with, even in a live location.” It was not a set dressed to look old. It was, in Teejay's own confusion, simply old.

Much of that credit, Krishnakumar was quick to point out, belongs to art director Cyril, whose department did not stop at streets and storefronts. Naidu's own inventions and the vehicles associated with him were recreated with the same obsessive accuracy, down to details few viewers would consciously register but would certainly feel. “Every invention, every vehicle he used, Cyril's team rebuilt it to perfection,” Krishnakumar said.

Cinematographer Arvind spoke about a different, equally demanding side of that authenticity: light itself. Getting exposure right, he explained, was central to making a period film feel lived-in rather than staged, since the wrong lighting can flatten even the most carefully built set into something that reads as artificial. To manage that balance without losing visual polish, Arvind used a hybrid approach, combining traditional VFX with AI-assisted tools, a pairing he said let the team achieve the look they wanted without compromising on quality anywhere in the process.

The commitment to authenticity extended well beyond the art department. The entire film was shot in Coimbatore itself, in the real places where G.D. Naidu ran his businesses day to day, rather than standing in for them elsewhere. Where possible, the production used objects Naidu himself had once used. Some of the cars associated with him have been carefully preserved by his family and remain in running condition to this day; the family made them available for the shoot, and those vehicles, along with a preserved motorcycle and buses from the same era, all appear on screen exactly as they once were.

That same rigour carried into the film's VFX and CG work, which the makers say was built to be felt rather than noticed. One sequence set during a parade in Hitler-era Germany, part of Naidu's own travels abroad, was rendered with enough precision that Madhavan's Naidu appears to be standing within touching distance of the events themselves, a level of digital integration Krishnakumar and Arvind both singled out as representative of the effort behind the film's visual work. As with the lighting, AI tools played a role here too, used carefully enough, both men said, that the final image never announces itself as artificial.

Taken together, real locations, real machines, exhaustive art direction and a visual effects pipeline built to disappear into the story, GDN's scale is not a backdrop to the film. It is, by the account of the people who built it and the audience that first saw it, one of the story's central achievements. GDN releases in theatres across Tamil Nadu and worldwide on 7 August 2026.

More significantly, the makers have announced that the film will now hit screens on September 24 this year.

'The Paradise', which is backed by SLV Cinemas, was originally set for a grand release on March 26, 2026. However, its makers chose to postpone the film's release to August 21. Now, the makers have chosen to further push the release date to September 24.

Taking to its social media timelines to release the teaser, SLV Cinemas, which is backing the film, wrote, "Jadala Zamana Shuru. #TheParadiseTeaser out now! Grand release worldwide on 24.09.26. Natural Star @NameisNani in an @odela_srikanth cinema. An @anirudhofficial musical."

The teaser released begins with a voiceover asking, "Henceforth, to whom does this place belong?" Nani then announces his arrival in quite a dramatic manner, performing an acrobatic stunt. Sporting two plaits and drenched in blood, he walks slowly sipping what appears to be a beverage.

We then see Mohan Babu, who plays the antagonist, referring to the people as "My beloved people of Paradise."

As a series of action sequences follow with blood being spilled quite generously, we hear a woman asking, "Is the government meant for your feudal lords or for the people?"

After this, we hear a man saying, "Our oppressed race must rise in rebellion. The very black they spat on in disgust will be the colour of our flag and the crow will be our emblem. Let's show them what will happen when the crows they spat on draw their swords!"

Soon cries of "Whose land is this? Ours! Whose country is this? Ours!" are heard. The teaser ends with Nani, soaked in blood and carrying a chain made of blades and sitting on a pile of bodies, wards off the evil eye.

In all, the teaser gives the impression that Paradise will be a grim, intense action thriller that will revolve around Nani leading the oppressed in rebellion against tyranny!

The film has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs and the teaser has only added to the excitement. It is expected to release in eight languages namely Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, English, Spanish, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Taking to his Letterboxd profile, Kashyap gave the film a five-star rating and wrote, "Karthik Subbaraj's boldest and best work so far. So surprising and pleasantly shocking that you just can not see it coming."

The endorsement comes just days after Dorothy was officially announced and ahead of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film is scheduled to release in theatres on September 25.

Written, directed and produced by Karthik Subbaraj under his Dhammam Films banner, Dorothy stars Keerthy Suresh in the titular role alongside Sananth and Rishikanth. The film is jointly backed by Jio Studios and Sikhya Entertainment.

The recently released teaser offered a glimpse into the film's emotionally charged narrative, while Karthik Subbaraj has previously said Dorothy explores themes of identity, caste, masculinity and compassion through deeply human characters.

The film also marks a milestone for Ilaiyaraaja, who has composed the music for his 1,540th feature film. The technical crew includes cinematographer S. Thirunavukkarasu, editor Ganesh Siva, production designer Kumar Gangappan and stunt choreographer Dinesh Subbarayan.

Anurag's glowing endorsement has further heightened expectations for Dorothy, which is set to begin its journey on the international festival circuit before arriving in theatres later this year.

Directed by debutant Ramachandran Kannan, the romantic entertainer is set to release in cinemas worldwide on August 21.

Romantic drama with a fresh team

Ram in Leela stars Varthika as the female lead opposite Rio Raj. The film, centred on a love story, is directed by debut filmmaker Ramachandran Kannan, while Ankit Menon has composed the music.

The film recently wrapped up shooting, and post-production work, including dubbing and re-recording, is currently progressing at full pace.

Rio Raj's growing filmography

Rio Raj made his debut as a lead actor with Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu Raja and went on to feature in films such as Plan Panni Pannanum, Joe, Sweetheart and Aanpaavam Pollathathu. With Ram in Leela, the actor is looking to continue his successful run in Tamil cinema.

The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 21.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the romantic rural drama will begin streaming on Prime Video from August 7.

Released in theatres last month

Oh Sukumari hit theatres on July 17 in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Directed by Bharath Darshan and produced by Maheswara Reddy Mooli under the Ganga Entertainments banner, the film features Thiruveer as the male lead alongside Aishwarya Rajesh.

The supporting cast includes Jhansi, Vishnu Oi Laddoo, Aamani, Muralidhar, Anand, Anjimama, Shivanand, Kota Jayaram and Kavireddy Srinivas.

Set against a rural backdrop, Oh Sukumari revolves around a romantic storyline and was well received by audiences, particularly family viewers.

Varghese Moolans Pictures, the production house producing the film, took to its Instagram page on Thursday to share the look of the actor and also disclose the name of the character he played in the biopic. It said, "Introducing #Sathyaraj as Ramaiah Pillai. Some men stand firm, no matter the storm. G.D.N in theatres from 7th August."

The makers had earlier released Jayaram's look as Ambalapara Krishnan, Vinay Rai's look as Bhupendra and Dushara Vijayan's look as Ranganayaki in the film.

Actor Karunakaran plays a character called Perunkili while actress Aditi Balan plays a character called Padmavathi in the film, which is a biopic of iconic Indian inventor, agriculturist and philanthropist G D Naidu. It is slated to hit screens worldwide on August 7 this year.

The makers had also released the looks of actress Sheela as the young Chellamal and actor Teejay Arunasalam as the young G D Naidu in the film.

A trailer that the makers had launched earlier this month has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs.

The trailer released begins with a person saying G D Naidu, in his old age, had gone mad, as he had bombed his own building. The trailer then shows an Englishman asking, "Who the hell is this fakir?"

It is then that GD Naidu's character is introduced with flair. His detractors are jealous he is making millions through his transport system UMS. We also realise that he has started a polytechnic engineering college.

The trailer shows actor Jayaram playing a very vicious character called Krishnan with power. He asks, "GDN charges huge amounts as fees but does he find paying tax a bitter pill to swallow?"

The British realise that GDN is working within the system and that his books are clean. However, his rivals are intent on thwarting his fame and success by hook or crook. Vinay Rai's character is seen telling an English official, "Soil the books."

Those in power try to restrict GDN's growth by levelling trumped up charges against him. Jayaram's character is seen ordering cops to search GDN's premises claiming they had got information that GDN had developed machines for printing counterfeit currency.

Eventually, we get to know from the trailer that GDN was an honest tax payer who was paying all his taxes on time and that he began questioning the government only when they began levying taxes unjustly on him.

The trailer then shows the British government bringing treason charges against GDN, saying that he was doing business with the Nazis and that this was against the interests of the crown.

Krishnan's character threatens saying that GDN will not be allowed even one peaceful night's sleep from that point on. The trailer ends with Aditi Balan's character summing up the courage of GDN.

She says," If the story of a hunt is written by the lion without the hunter in it, then the meaning of courage itself will change."

The film, apart from Madhavan, also features Jayaram, Carl Andrew Harte, Priyamani, Dushara Vijayan, Karunakaran, Sathyaraj, Aditi Balan, Vijay Rai and Teejay Arunasalam in pivotal roles. The film has music by Govind Vasantha and cinematography by Aravind Kamalanathan.

Fernandes, best known for blending world music influences into a distinctive sound, made an emotional speech before the hour-long concert earlier this week to explain why he has to now perform sitting in a chair.

"Now sitting down and performing is not really my cup of tea. So that's why I decided to call it a day and to stop performing," Fernandes told the crowd at Cranford Community College in Hounslow.

"Some years ago, after I took the third COVID vaccine, I suffered a light stroke. And that stroke gave me some problems in the use of my fingers. So that made my guitar playing and my flute playing a bit difficult. And it was not as it used to be before.

And then last year, I suffered from vertigo. I had a nasty fall for which I had to be operated on in my cranium."

Fernandes said his doctor told him that he can't perform while standing and that's when he decided to end his journey as a live performer.

He said there were two reasons why he decided to perform for one final time at the UK-Goan Festival.

"I was supposed to perform here last year but I could not perform because of my operation. And the president of the Goan UK, Mr Ravi Vaz, was kind enough to invite me again this year. And this year, I didn't want to say no, I could not say no. So here I am," he said.

The second reason was that he had long wanted to perform in front of Goans in the UK for a long time.

"Finally, my wish has come true. And I'm going to be performing for you. And I wish to apologize for the fact that my fingers are not what they used to be, what they used to be. My throat is not what it used to be. And I have to sit down and perform," he said.

For the next hour, Fernandes took the audience on a trip down memory lane by performing all the songs that made him a pop sensation -- from "Maria Pitache" to "Humma Humma".

Fernandes is best known for blending Goan, Portuguese, rock, pop, Latin, reggae and world music influences into a distinctive sound.

Born on May 8, 1953, in Goa, Fernandes studied architecture at Sir J J College of Architecture in Mumbai before choosing music as a full-time career.

He rose to prominence in the 1980s, long before India’s independent music scene became mainstream.

His English-language albums such as his debut “Pack That Smack” (1986) and “Bombay City” established him as one of India’s leading rock musicians, while songs like “Bombay City”, “Mr Minister” and “Down with Brown” became cult classics.

Fernandes achieved nationwide fame with playback hits including “Humma Humma” (“Bombay”), “Huiya Ho” (“Khamoshi: The Musical”), “Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha”, “O Meri Munni”, and “Signal”.

Over the years, he has performed alongside or shared stages with internationally renowned musicians, including members of Queen and Led Zeppelin, and has toured extensively across India and abroad.

Apart from music, he has acted in films such as “Ek Villain”, “Bombay Velvet” and “99 Songs”.

The 51-year-old actor, who has returned as a judge on the television dance reality show "India's Best Dancer Season 5", made a mark in the 1990s with her energetic and expressive dance style in hit songs such as "Le Gayi", "Sona Kitna Sona Hai", "Main Toh Raste Se Ja Raha Tha", and "Husn Hai Suhana".

"As a dancer, you have to be very expressive. And only if you are very expressive, will you be considered a good dancer. Dancing is not just a robotic thing, so you have to be very expressive in any sort of dance form.

"So, it helped me in my career, especially for expressions and in songs and in acting," she told PTI in an interview.

While dancing brought her popularity, Karisma credits films such as "Fiza" and "Zubeidaa" for proving her acting range.

"Films like ‘Fiza’, ‘Zubeidaa’, ‘Shakti’ and ‘Biwi No. 1’ also have been an integral part of my journey. It proved I could do both. They're all pieces of my heart,” Kapoor said.

The actor said her passion for dance began in her childhood through formal training in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and later jazz.

"It was a love of dance that I used to go for the classes. I just loved acting, loved dance and anything artistic and creative,” the actor.

Karisma also credited the late legendary choreographer Saroj Khan for shaping her Bollywood dance vocabulary.

“Saroj Khan ji has been my guru. I’ve been to her dance classes and she would train me. In fact, she would train me in Bollywood dance on ‘Tamma Tamma’ of Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt. At that time, she was choreographing that song and she would tell (her team) that, ‘This is my new song, and teach her song’,” the actor recalled.

Talking about her dance face-off with Madhuri Dixit Nene in the 1997 movie “Dil Toh Pagal Hai”, Karisma said it was among the toughest song sequences of her career.

“Any actor can understand the kind of pressure I may have gone through, like I would idolise Madhuri Dixit and then doing a film with her. In the song (‘Dance of Envy’), I had to show it was a competitive dance piece.

"It was a bit difficult. It was a mixture of emotions because I was looking up to Madhuri Dixit and then I had to give her these glaring looks and perform my best,” she said.

As a judge on “India's Best Dancer”, Karisma said she enjoys watching young talent and added that dance has evolved over the years on reality TV.

The dance show, which premiered on Sony LIV and Sony Entertainment Television in early June, is co-judged by Geeta Kapoor, Terrence Lewis, and Jaaved Jaaferi.

The actor said she evaluates contestants on basis of four E's -- entertainment, emotion, expressions and energy.

“The performance has to touch me whether we see a play or a movie or a dance or a singing show, it must touch your heart, you must feel some emotion. I'm the emotional judge and I will judge from my heart, and not only technicality," she added.

.Taking to its social media timelines to release the first look poster, production house Grandel Pictures, which is producing the film, wrote, "The fools (have) gathered again #MoodarKoodam2 #MISSIONPOSSIBLE. Stay tuned till 5:55 PM - We have more to come (Tamil & Telugu Release)."

Sources close to the unit of the upcoming film, which is a sequel to the superhit 'Moodar Koodam' -- a dark comedy action entertainer that went on to emerge a superhit, say that this film's story will begin from where the first part ended.

"It will be a proper sequel," says a source in the know, adding that the movie would take audiences on a thrilling ride across Europe.

The unit has shot the film in a number of stunning locations all across Europe. "The team has shot in Italy's picturesque landscapes. They have shot visuals that will highlight Germany's historic architecture, Switzerland's snow-capped mountains, Austria's grandeur, Croatia's coastal beauty, Slovenia's lush greenery, and Kazakhstan's vast steppes. In fact, the team spent anywhere between 60 to 70 days capturing breathtaking visuals," says a source.

The source adds, "Moodarkoodam 2 will look to masterfully blend dark humor with high-stakes action, reminding one of 'Mission Impossible', and will have a touch of fantasy to keep viewers guessing."

Produced by Kamal Bohra and Samkit Bohra under Grandel Pictures, the film boasts top-notch animation and VFX, which has been handled by a seasoned US team that's worked on Disney blockbusters. The VFX team, sources claim, has delivered visuals that match the film's adrenaline-fueled action.

Apart from Naveen Hidhayath, the sequel will feature a host of actors including actress Oviya, actors Senrayan, Rajaji, Kuberan and Jayaprakash among others.

On the technical front, the film will have cinematography by Sooraj Nallusami. Music for the songs in the film have been scored by Amrish and Natarajan Sankaran while the background score for the film has been scored by Natarajan Sankaran.

Editing is by Athiappan Siva, while stunts have been choreographed by Mahesh Mathew, Nomad Stunts.