Cine News Digest – 25 Dec 2024

Tamil Films fare well at 22^nd Chennai International Film Festival

Sivakarthikeyan’s blockbuster movie Amaran received four major awards at the 22^nd Chennai International Film Festival. These included Best Tamil Feature Film, Best Actress for Sai Pallavi, Best Music for GV Prakash Kumar and Best Cinematography for CH Sai.

Vijay Sethupathy was chosen Best Actor for his role in Maharaja. Aravindswamy bagged the People’s Favourite actor award for his role in Meiyyazhagan, while Dinesh won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Lubber Pandhu. Lubber Pandu also won the award for the second best Tamil feature film award.

Thangalaan received for The Special Mention Jury award for Best Film at 22^nd Chennai International Film festival. The film also bagged the award for Best Director for Pa. Ranjith Best Art Director for SS Moorthy. Pari Elavazhagan won the Special Jury Best Director award for his debut film Jamaa. Best Entertainment Film went to Vettaiyan and Nandhan was chosen as the Best social message film.

Sarathkumar in the sequel to Surya Vamsam

Sarathkumar indicated at a Smile Man event that he is in advanced talks with producer RB Choudary (father of actor Jiiva) to do a sequel of the 1997 hit film, Surya Vamsam. The original film was written and directed by Vikraman (Poove Unakaage & Priyamaana Thozhi) and was one of the biggest hits of 1997, bagging 6 Tamil Nadu state awards, including Best Film, Best Director (Vikraman), Best Actor (Sarathkumar) and Best Actress (Devayaani). It also one 1 Filmfare Award, 5 Cinema Express Awards and 3 Dinakaran awards. The film’s success led to it being remade into Telugu and Hindi. Sarathkumar did not give any details about the planned sequel, saying that producer RB Choudary will soon make an official announcement.

Sequel to Ghajini

AR Murugadoss, Suriya and Red Giant Movies are currently in talks for a sequel to the 2005 hit film Ghajini. Suriya had earlier shown little interest in a sequel, but a representative of Red Giant Movies has persuaded him to reconsider the offer. When AR Murugadoss directed a Hindi remake in 2008, it went to become the first Indian film to cross 100-crores.

Dhanush’s next for Por Thozhil director

Vignesh Raja, who directed the critically acclaimed film Por Thozhil, will direct Dhanush’s 56^th film. Produced by Vels Film International and will boast a budget of more than 140 crores. Shooting for this film commences in February 2025.

Pradeep Ranganathan’s next film

Keerthiswaran, a former assistant to director Sudha Kongara, will make his debut as director in the next untitled film of actor-director Pradeep Ranganathan Comali and Love Today). Music in this film .will be scored by Sai Abhyankar.

Sai Abhyankar in the record books

Sai Abhyankar’s independent hit song Katchi Sera has become the only Indian song to feature in the list of the Global Top 10 of the worlds most searched for song on YouTube and Google. Sai Abhyankar,the son of singers Tippu and Harini, has also been signed on to score the music for Loksesh Kanagaraj’s BENZ and he has also replaced AR Rahman to score the music for Suriya’s 45^th film.

Vijay Sethupathy signs on two new films

Vijay Sethupathy is to play the male lead opposite Nayanthara in a forthcoming film to be directed by Hari. Nayanthara will also co-produce the film with her husband, Vignesh Shivan.

Vijay Sethupathy will also be reuniting with director with Balaji Tharaneetharan, the director of one of Vijay Sethupathy’s early hit films – Naduvula Konjum Pakkathu Kaanom. This action thriller will begin shooting in January 2025 and will be produced by Atlee’s production company, A for Apple.