Picture this- nearing the climax of the film 'Marco', there is a scene where one of the primary so-called antagonist is consuming meat aggressively. Sounds like a pretty common scene to show the aggressive nature of an antagonist. But with all the gore, brutal, yet innovative blood bath that you have witnessed in the past two hours makes one wonder- is that really just regular poultry meat or human meat. The film so far has been something that one can imagine to take place inside a mutton/chicken shop, where human body, dogs and even kids are slaughtered left, right and center. Can you stomach this kind of brutal violence. If yes, then this a must watch in the theatres. And it is not like the film does not have a plot. It does. Sometimes faltering logic nevertheless has one to support the non-stop violence. The film revolves around Marco (played effortlessly by Unni Mukundan). He was an orphan who was adopted into the Adattu family. He is shown to be extremely loyal to the family and would go to any extent in serving and protecting them. The kids in the family know him as the devil but not the ones that they would be scared of. They call him devil for his physical prowess that he has displayed time and again in a bid to protect his near and dear ones. But when tragedy strikes in the film, Marco loses all cool and goes on a killing spree only to discover he has been played. The film revolves around two powerful families at loggerhead each trying their best to keep their near and dear ones alive. The film is definitely not one for the soft hearted. There is a lot of blood on screen and as the film approaches the climax it only gets harsher with the innovative ways in which people on the screen get murdered. On the other hand, if you can stomach some gore and convince yourself that it is all prosthetics, then you might enjoy the stylised stunts and execution of the same. Marco's box office performance Running strong on word of mouth, the film made its way to audiences outside of Kerala. The film's Hindi version has grossed over Rs 9 crore so far and is expected to do better. It has beat the Hindi dubbed versions of Dulquer Salmaan's Sita Ramam and Prithviraj's Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life). It has become the highest
08 January,2025 04:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Athulya NambiarRocking Star Yash is celebrating his 39th birthday today. The KGF fame actor had hinted a surprise for fans on his birthday and a birthday treat arrived in the form of a ‘Birthday Peek’ video from his upcoming film, Toxic - A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. This video, a bold and unconventional departure from the norm, gives a peek to Yash's fans about his character in this film. Fans react to peek of Yash's upcoming film Toxic- A Fairytale of Grown-Ups In the Birthday Peek, Yash is dressed in a crisp white suit, and fedora holding a cigar. The sultry ambiance of the club and, indulgence sets the stage for this 'Fairy Tale for grown-ups'. The teaser is brimming with bold and provocative moments and invites viewers into an intoxicating world. The video has garnered more than four thousand views in less than an hour on YouTube. Yash's look and the background music have excited fans and they are eagerly waiting for the film. Fans can't keep calm and they have commented, "Toxic giving hollywood vibes Yash's swag is unmatchable Another blockbuster is loading", another commented, "Monsterrr is Back!". Another fan wrote, "This MAN himself is enough to create hype for his own film". Geetu Mohandas reveals her experience of working with Yash “Toxic- a fairy tale for grown-ups is a story that defies convention and is sure to provoke the chaos within us. Today, as we release the first peek of our film we also celebrate Yash - a man the nation reveres for his vision and swagger. I have observed his brilliance and to those who know him or follow his journey, his process is as mysterious as it is meticulous. It is both a privilege and a thrill to have co-written this captivating world alongside a mind that sees the extraordinary where others see the ordinary. When our two worlds of thought collide, the result is neither compromise nor chaos—it’s the transformation that happens when artistic vision meets the precision of commercial storytelling transcending borders, languages, and cultural confines. We hope to bring an experience woven to ignite something primal in all of us- a film not just to be watched, but to be felt. Through his process of quiet reverence for his craft, he taught me that the journey of creation is sacred. To him, nothing is certain except the thrill of the journey ahead. These words are not just spoken by a director about her actor and not just for his ardent admirers, but for anyone seeking to understand his unwavering passion for cinema and boundless spirit of creativity. Happy birthday to our Monster mind," Geetu said. Jointly produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups is directed by Geetu Mohandas, an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. Geetu Mohandas is a recipient of numerous accolades, including a National Award and the Global Filmmaking Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
08 January,2025 11:45 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPopular actress Honey Rose on Tuesday filed a police complaint against jewellery businessman Boby Chemmanur for using derogatory words against her. Rose herself disclosed this and pointed out that she went to the police and submitted her complaint about the way she was insulted. "This really unpleasant incident took four months ago and my family was really disturbed due to this," said Rose after registering her complaint. The actress informed this also through her social media account and has alerted Chemmanur that she will go forward with the complaint against the close friends and associates of the businessman as well. Incidentally two days back, Rose, without naming the person who harassed her, took to her social media account and narrated the incident. Following this a barrage of cyberattacks on her increased and by now around two dozen people have been arrested by the police. Rose made her acting debut with the 2005 Malayalam film 'Boyy Friennd' and her breakthrough role came in 2012 with 'Trivandrum Lodge'. After which Rose has had no reason to look back on her acting career and is now a hugely sought-after actress, especially for events. Chemmanur is the chairman of a huge business conglomerate, the Chemmanur International group, and using his closeness with football icon, the late Diego Maradona, he was able to bring him to Kerala in 2012. At times through his activities, Chemmanur got into the media industry and one such event of his was when he undertook a record-breaking marathon (812 km) in April 2014 from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram to creating the world's largest blood bank, which is an active forum donating blood required for the needy. The marathon had created news as he was able to create awareness across the state and the country and around 1.4 million people donated blood for the noble cause. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 January,2025 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Ajith Kumar, who is training for the Dubai 24H race, met with an unfortunate accident. The Tamil actor’s car crashed on a racing track during a training session. Reports suggest that Ajith luckily escaped the situation unharmed, but the video of the speeding car hitting the track’s safety barrier and spinning before stopping has left fans worried about him. Such situations are not uncommon during motor racing practices. Ajith has been quite passionate about motor racing; in fact, it was back in 2000 when he once took a break from acting to focus on his love for the sport. Ajith Kumar’s massive crash in practise, but he walks away unscathed.Another day in the office … that’s racing!#ajithkumarracing #ajithkumar pic.twitter.com/dH5rQb18z0 — Ajithkumar Racing (@Akracingoffl) January 7, 2025 “Ajith is unhurt, hale, and healthy. He was driving at a speed of 180 km/h when this happened," shared Ajith Kumar’s manager, Suresh Chandra, while giving an update on his health. Ajith Kumar owns the racing team Ajith Kumar Racing. The video shared by his team shows Ajith’s car spinning multiple times after it hit the barrier. He was rescued and taken to an ambulance for first aid. The caption of the post reads, “Ajith Kumar’s massive crash in practice, but he walks away unscathed. Another day in the office … that’s racing!” Ajith Attends PV Sindhu’s Wedding Meanwhile, Ajith was recently seen at the wedding reception of badminton champion PV Sindhu and her husband Venkata Datta Sai. The actor was accompanied by his wife Shalini and their kids. Ajith looked fit in a black tuxedo for the occasion. He was also seen on stage with the newlyweds, interacting with them, posing, and blessing the couple before leaving. About Good Bad Ugly Ajith is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Good Bad Ugly. The movie is set to hit screens on April 10 this year. The director took to the social media platform X to announce the release date. The film, which was originally supposed to have music by Devi Sri Prasad, will now feature music by G. V. Prakash. Cinematography is by Abinandhan Ramanujam, and editing is by Vijay Velukutty. Stunts for the film have been choreographed by Supreme Sundar and Kaloian Vodenicharov. The movie, which will feature Trisha alongside Ajith in the lead, also boasts a cast of powerful performers like Arjun Das, Prasanna, and Sunil in pivotal roles.
08 January,2025 09:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith the 97th Academy Awards just two months away, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the names of 207 feature films that are eligible to contest for this year's Oscars in the Best Picture category. While there are several movies eyeing the award, there are about seven Indian films that have secured a spot on the list, and the Indian movies that have managed to secure a place in the longlist are of different languages. Indian films included in the longlist The Indian films included in the longlist are Kanguva (Tamil), Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) (Hindi), Santosh (Hindi), Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Hindi), All We Imagine as Light (Malayalam-Hindi), Girls Will Be Girls (Hindi-English), and Putul (Bengali). One of the most shocking selections in the category came with the Suriya-starrer Kanguva. More about Kanguva Kanguva, directed by Siruthai Siva, was one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, with a budget of Rs 300–350 crore. However, the release of the movie came with a heartbreaking result as the film was not received well by the audience. The epic fantasy action drama failed to impress the audience and bombed at the box office, earning merely one-third of its budget. Now, the Suriya-starrer getting a spot on the list has come as a shocker for netizens. Netizens reaction to Kanguva’s selection To note, there were 323 feature films selected as eligible for the 97th Academy Awards, out of which 207 movies meet the requirements for the Best Picture category, among which Suriya's Kanguva also gained a spot. While reacting to the news, some sent best wishes to the team, while many questioned the choice. A curious user wrote, "When did they send #Kanguva to the Oscars?" "Oscar for cringe category?" another one wrote. A third netizen commented, "No way." A user, while questioning the choice, wrote, "Is this for real 😂😂?" "I just need this kind of confidence in life," another wrote. A user commented, "Best joke of 2025." One comment reads, "With so many great films this year, Kanguva at the Oscars feels like a plot twist no one asked for." Meanwhile, many couldn't resist dropping laughing emojis.
07 January,2025 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Allu Arjun visited KIMS Hospital in Begumpet, Hyderabad, to meet Sri Teja, the child who was seriously injured during the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre.The incident, which occurred on December 4, 2024, during the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and left her child, Sri Teja, in critical condition. #WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: Actor Allu Arjun leaves from KIMS hospital, Begumpet after visiting Sri Teja who was injured in the Sandhya theatre incident. pic.twitter.com/P83efBBES0 — ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2025 The visit comes amidst Allu Arjun's ongoing legal proceedings related to the chaos that unfolded when the actor waved to the crowd from the sunroof of his car, during the 'Pushpa 2' premiere.Allu Arjun expressed his concern for the injured child, who had been on a ventilator for several weeks following the incident.As of December 24, 2024, there had been positive signs of recovery, with Sri Teja reportedly responding for the first time after being unresponsive for 20 days.His father, Bhaskar, expressed gratitude for Allu Arjun's support, saying, "The child responded after 20 days. He is responding today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government are supporting us."In addition to his visit to Sri Teja, Allu Arjun has been fulfilling his legal obligations.On January 5, 2025, Allu Arjun complied with the conditions set by the Nampally Court by visiting the Chikkadpally Police Station as part of the bail process.The actor had been granted regular bail following the incident, but the court imposed certain conditions, including attendance at the police station.This visit was a necessary part of the ongoing legal process stemming from the tragic events at Sandhya Theatre.Earlier, on January 4, Allu Arjun appeared before the Metropolitan Criminal Court at Nampally, where he submitted the required sureties and executed a bond of Rs 50,000.His arrival was met with heightened security, as police personnel escorted him through a crowd of media representatives.After the court's decision, his lawyer, Ashok Reddy, addressed the press and confirmed that the actor had been granted bail on the grounds that the incident was not deemed "culpable homicide not amounting to murder."Reddy further clarified, "The conditions have been imposed that he (Allu Arjun) has to attend the police station. Bail has been granted... The court was convinced that this was not a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Therefore, the court granted bail."He also mentioned that a quash petition is pending before the Telangana High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for January 21, 2025.The tragic sequence of events began when a large crowd gathered outside Sandhya Theatre to catch a glimpse of the star during the 'Pushpa 2' premiere.As Allu Arjun waved to fans from his car's sunroof, the situation quickly spiralled out of control. During the chaos, Revathi tragically lost her life, and her son, Sri Teja, sustained serious injuries, leading to his hospitalization.To support the victim, Allu Arjun also extended financial assistance to the bereaved family.His father, film producer Allu Aravind, announced a contribution of Rs 2 crore to help the family of Revathi, who tragically passed away in the incident.
07 January,2025 12:15 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIAbout a month after Dhanush sent a legal notice to Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan demanding Rs 10 crore for the use of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan footage in their Netflix documentary, there were reports of Sivaji Productions, the banner behind Chandramukhi, demanding Rs 5 crore as well. However, the production house has quashed the same and issued a clarification on the matter. Chandramukhi producers did not demand Rs 5 cr from Nayanthara Sivaji Productions explained that Nayanthara indeed obtained an NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the use of Chandramukhi footage in her documentary. A picture of the NOC has been shared on X. The certificate states, “This is to certify that Sivaji Productions has no objection to the use of the following footage in the Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale.” “We further declare that we shall hold Rowdy Pictures (along with affiliates, licensees/sub-licensees, and assigns) harmless from any claims and/or disputes arising out of the use of the video footage as authorized under the certificate/letter,” it added. Chandramukhi team claiming ₹5⃣ cr compensation from Nayanthara netflix documentary is UNTRUE✖️ pic.twitter.com/FD7VfdCc4X — Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) January 6, 2025 Nayanthara’s legal dispute with Dhanush Lady Superstar Nayanthara stirred controversy with an open letter to actor Dhanush over his lawsuit against her for using footage from the movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in her wedding documentary. The dispute polarised fans and the public. An excerpt from the open letter read, “It's almost been 10 years since the release of the film and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world. I have not forgotten all the horrible things that you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that is loved by all even today.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Nayanthara said that she tried to reach out to the actor to understand the issue. “The controversy happened because I spoke out and I wanted to speak in public. Because I personally and genuinely tried to reach out to him so that I can have a direct answer (as to) why and what’s the issue.” She asserted that any attempts made to connect with Dhanush failed, hence she had to take the social media route.
07 January,2025 10:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDirector Adhik Ravichandran's eagerly awaited action entertainer, 'Good Bad Ugly', featuring actor Ajith Kumar in the lead, is to hit screens on April 10 this year. The director took to social media platform X to announce the release date. He wrote, "#GoodBadUgly arrives on April 10th @MythriOfficial." The producers of the film, Mythri Movie Makers, for their part, announced, " Maamey...date locked for VERA LEVEL ENTERTAINMENT #GoodBadUgly is coming to the BIG SCREENS on 10th April, 2025 " #GoodBadUgly arrives on April 10th❤️🙏🏻 @MythriOfficial @SureshChandraa pic.twitter.com/K6N1x7uANT — Adhik Ravichandran (@Adhikravi) January 6, 2025 About Good Bad Ugly The film, which originally was supposed to have music by Devi Sri Prasad, will now have music by G V Prakash. Cinematography for the film is by Abinandhan Ramanujam and editing is by Vijay Velukutty. Stunts for the film have been choreographed by Supreme Sundar and Kaloian Vodenicharov. Interestingly, 'Good Bad Ugly' was originally scheduled to release for Pongal when it went on floors in June last year. If rumours doing the rounds in the industry are to be believed, Ajith is playing triple roles in this explosive action entertainer. The film, which will feature Trisha along with Ajith in the lead, will also have a series of powerful performers like Arjun Das, Prasanna and Sunil in pivotal roles. Vidaa Muyarchi gets delayed The news of 'Good Bad Ugly' releasing on April 10 is bound to gladden the hearts of Ajith's fans who were in for a bit of disappointment on new year's eve because of Ajith's other film 'Vidaa Muyarchi' suddenly pulling out of the Pongal race. Just 10 days before its scheduled release on January 10, 2025, the makers announced that the film's release has been postponed. Announcing about the latest update, the production house Lyra took to X and wrote, "Wishing everyone a happy, joyous New Year! Due to unavoidable circumstances, our film Vidaamuyarchi will not be releasing on Pongal day. We wish all our fans and well-wishers a prosperous year ahead." It added, "Kindly stay tuned for further updates! The wait will be worth it!” They are yet to announce a new release date for the film. 'Vidaa Muyarchi', which has been directed by gifted director Magizh Thirumeni, had raised huge expectations and fans were hoping to celebrate the festival of Pongal with its release. However, the producers of Vidaa Muyarchi, Lycaa Productions, on December 31 announced that the film's release had been postponed "due to unavoidable circumstances." (With inputs from IANS)
06 January,2025 10:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUnni Mukundan-starrer Marco is running successfully in theatres across the India. The Malayalam language film directed by Haneef Adeni has become the most successful Hindi-dubbed film from the region at the box office. Even as the film continues to run successfully in theatres, there have been rumours about the OTT release of the film. Usually, films are released on OTT following the completion of a four-week theatrical run. Marco not been sold to any OTT platform While there are rumours of Marco landing on an OTT platform soon, the makers have dismissed the reports. They have cleared the air on the film's OTT release and said that any news of the film's release on streaming will be communicated through their official handles. The official statement reads: "We would like to address recent rumours circulating regarding the OTT release of our film Marco. Let us clarify that as of now, we have not signed any agreements or confirmed any deals with any OTT platforms. Any claims or news stating otherwise are entirely fake and misleading. Marco was created as a cinematic experience and we are thrilled to see audiences enjoying the film in theatres. The movie is still running successfully on the big screen and we strongly encourage you to watch it in theaters to experience the intensity, visuals, and sound design the way it was meant to be experienced. If and when any decisions regarding an OTT release are finalised, we will officially share the news with everyone through our verified platforms. Until then, we kindly request that everyone refrain from spreading or believing in fake news about the film's OTT release. We deeply value the love and support you've shown for Marco so far. Let's continue to celebrate the film by enjoying it at your nearest theatres. Once again, thank you for standing by us, and we promise to keep you updated on all official developments." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cubes Entertainments®️ (@cubesentertainments) Marco enjoys dream run at box office Running strong on word of mouth, the film made its way to audiences outside of Kerala. The film's Hindi version has grossed over Rs 9 crore so far and is expected to do better. It has beat the Hindi dubbed versions of Dulquer Salmaan's Sita Ramam and Prithviraj's Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life).
06 January,2025 09:56 PM IST | MumbaiJr NTR’s Devara Part 1 created buzz but delivered an unimpressive performance at the box office, sparking speculation about the sequel’s cancellation. However, a source close to the production confirms that Devara Part 2 is in the scripting stage, with the cast set to begin shooting by early 2026. “It will be bigger than its prequel, with all the characters having more evolved arcs. Vara (Jr NTR), Thangam (Kapoor), Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan), Singappa (Prakash Raj), Task Force Chief Shivam (Ajay), and Rayappa (Meka Srikanth) will return to the screen in a more dynamic way,” the source reveals. They add that, Vara’s character will have more screen time. “The reason why Vara killed his own father will also be revealed. Devara Part 2 will be set in more contemporary times.” While the makers plan to retain the cast, they also anticipate new additions. The sequel will feature more underwater sequences to amplify its larger-than-life appeal, and “the action will get bloodier.” “The scripting process for Devara Part 2, led by director Koratala Siva and his dedicated team, has begun in earnest. The makers plan to pick up from the cliffhanger in Part 1,” says the source. The filming schedule for Jr NTR remains undecided, as he is committed to Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 and Prashanth Neel’s period drama (tentatively titled Dragon), both expected to conclude by the end of the year.
06 January,2025 09:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRAfter a public controversy following a legal notice from Dhanush, actress Nayanthara has been served yet another notice for her Netflix wedding documentary. The makers of her film 'Chandramukhi' have filed a legal notice alleging unauthorised use of footage from the 2005 blockbuster in the documentary. Dhanush's legal complaint was on similar grounds. Reportedly, the makers of Chandramukhi are unhappy with the use of a clip from the film in the documentary without prior permission. The documentary which largely centers around Nayanthara's journey in the movies and her love story with Vignesh Shivan includes clips from her films also well. Chandramukhi makers have issued a notice to Nayanthara and Netflix demanding compensation of reportedly Rs 5 crore. Nayanthara is yet to respond to the notice. About Nayanthara and Dhanush controversy Tamil stars Nayanthara and Dhanush made headlines after the actress published an open letter criticizing the latter for sending her a Rs 10 cr notice for using a BTS clip from their movie 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' for the Netflix documentary on Nayanthara's life and love story with Vignesh Shivan. In the letter, she also accused Dhanush of harbouring a personal grudge against her and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan. She mentioned that it was a 'low' move to demand Rs 10 crore from them to use a three-second snippet of songs from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Describing Dhanush as a "vile" person, she wrote, "It's almost been 10 years since the release of the film, and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world. I have not forgotten all the horrible things that you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that is loved by all even today. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Nayanthara said that she tried to reach out to the actor to understand the issue. “The controversy happened because I spoke out and I wanted to speak in public. Because I personally and genuinely tried to reach out to him so that I can have a direct answer (as to) why and what’s the issue," Nayanthara said. She revealed that her husband and director of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, Vignesh Shivan, made several calls to Dhanush’s manager and even she connected with the manager to resolve the issue but couldn’t get through to the actor. She also said that she tried to reach out to him through their common friends but failed to connect with him. “When the trailer released, the BTS footage that was captured on our phones before, the thing that people don’t understand that… There are a lot of people saying that ‘It is his footage, it’s his rights.’ We are not at all talking about the clips from the film. BTS is a part of the contract only now. This was 10 years before, there were people randomly taking pictures and videos on phones. And these were random videos on our phones. So this was the thing we used, which is hardly anything. Even after so much issues that were created by him or his people, I would say, when the trailer came out, anybody who is a little bit sorted, would have let it be," she explained.
06 January,2025 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
