logo
'Ravana Kootam' producer Kannan Ravi donates Rs 5 lakh to late director Vikram Sugumaran's family

'Ravana Kootam' producer Kannan Ravi donates Rs 5 lakh to late director Vikram Sugumaran's family

Time of India06-06-2025

Kannan Ravi, the producer of director
Vikram Sugumaran
's last released film 'Ravana Kootam', has now presented a cheque for Rs five lakh to the family members of the late director.
Filmmaker Vikram Sugumaran, best known for his critically acclaimed directorial debut 'Madha Yaanai Kootam', passed away on Monday in Chennai following a cardiac arrest.
He was 47.
Sugumaran was on his way back from Madurai after narrating a new script to a producer when he experienced severe chest pain. Though he was rushed to a nearby hospital, doctors were unable to resuscitate him.
04:25
Kamal Haasan Faces Ban in Karnataka Over Kannada Language Row, Minister Demands Apology | Thug Life
The Tamil film industry was left in deep shock following the sudden and unexpected demise of director Vikram Sugumaran, known for his distinct voice and storytelling.
It is under these circumstances that producer Kannan Ravi, who had produced Vikram Sugumaran's last film 'Raavana Kottam', donated a sum of Rs Five lakhs to the late filmmaker's family as a token of support during this time of irreparable loss.
The cheque was handed over to Vikram Sugumaran's mother. The Ravana Kootam team also offered their condolences and expressed solidarity with the grieving family.
The cheque was presented in the presence of notable industry figures including actor Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, Amma Creations T. Siva, and FEFSI President Director R.K. Selvamani.
Speaking about Vikram Sugumaran's loss, producer Kannan Ravi said, "It's deeply disheartening for us to process the sudden loss of director Vikram Sugumaran. He was a remarkably talented and passionate filmmaker, whose ideas and vision stood out. It's truly unfortunate that the industry has lost him before we could see the full extent of his brilliance. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in peace.
The Raavana Kottam team will always consider his family as our own."
Check out our list of the
latest Hindi
,
English
,
Tamil
,
Telugu
,
Malayalam
, and
Kannada movies
. Don't miss our picks for the
best Hindi movies
,
best Tamil movies,
and
best Telugu films
.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chinnalagu Vijaya Kumar gets James Beard Award for best chef in New York State
Chinnalagu Vijaya Kumar gets James Beard Award for best chef in New York State

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Chinnalagu Vijaya Kumar gets James Beard Award for best chef in New York State

Fresh off his James Beard Award for best chef in New York State a few days ago, Chinnalagu Vijaya Kumar is furiously on the lookout for fresh goat's blood. Rattha poriyal (goat's blood fry), he says, is a dish he's been dying to add to the menu at Semma, his "unapologetically" Tamil restaurant in New York City. "Unfortunately, it's tough to source it in the US. A request for fresh goat's blood is not something people here are used to," says Vijaya Kumar. But it's something he's sure is going to be a 'semma' (Tamil slang for awesome) hit with his customers. "It's a dish straight from the heart of Tamil Nadu. It's what my food is about, showcasing Tamil cuisine in all its spice, richness, texture, and aroma." It's the same Tamil pride Vijaya Kumar brought with him on stage at the awards ceremony on June 16. Dressed in a veshti — he owns dozens as it's the other staple he has specially flown in from Tamil Nadu along with his condiments — Vijaya Kumar said, in a speech that's gone viral: "Never in my life did I think something like this could happen... that a kid from a small town in Tamil Nadu would one day be standing here. We're celebrating the fire and soul of South Indian cooking in a city that has never quite seen it this way, and we're doing it proudly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Market: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) Google Search Search Now Undo " When he opened Semma in 2021 and showcased a nathai pirattal (snail masala fry) in its unabashedly rustic glory, packed with onions, tomatoes, and all the goodness of his grandma's home kitchen in Nathan, Madurai, where he grew up, he never thought it would catch on like wildfire, Vijaya Kumar says. "Every time I spoke of snails in New York, all that people knew of it in terms of a dish was the classic French escargot. Why not give people a taste of my paati's (grandmother's) escargot, I thought. " And there was no looking back, says Vijaya Kumar, as he watched hordes of patrons lap up the nathai pirattal, wiping their plates clean with the kal dosa served alongside. He kept smashing out the muyal pirattals (wild rabbit leg), vazhakkai varuvals (roasted plantain), and Chettinad maan kari (deer curry), and almost as fast, the awards streamed in. First, the Michelin Star; then, the rating as one of New York's top restaurants; and now, the James Beard Award, considered the Oscars of the restaurant world. "The dishes are all inspired by family recipes," says Vijaya Kumar. "Growing up, during the holidays, I would forage for snails and hunt for rabbits with my grandmother in Arukkumpatti, a small village that didn't even have a bus service. I would watch her prepare the dish. Everything I make here is exactly as it should be eaten in a home in Madurai. No fancying it up, no toning it down, it's just Tamil food, no filters."

Made for Rs 41 crore, this film was rejected by Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, became a hit, earned Rs.. won 55 awards, lead actor is..
Made for Rs 41 crore, this film was rejected by Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, became a hit, earned Rs.. won 55 awards, lead actor is..

India.com

time32 minutes ago

  • India.com

Made for Rs 41 crore, this film was rejected by Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, became a hit, earned Rs.. won 55 awards, lead actor is..

In 2013, a film hit theatres with the force of a storm — a story that didn't just touch hearts but rewrote box office history and award lists. It went on to win 55 awards, including two National Awards and a Filmfare Best Actor trophy. But what if we told you that this cinematic triumph was rejected by not one but three of Bollywood's top heroes? We're talking about Bhaag Milkha Bhaag , the sports biopic that immortalised India's 'Flying Sikh' — Milkha Singh — on the big screen. Directed by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, the film eventually starred Farhan Akhtar in the lead, but the road to finding that perfect Milkha was full of U-turns. The rejected bids Rakesh Omprakash Mehra initially approached three leading actors: Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, and Ranveer Singh. Each passed: Hrithik Roshan, praised for intensity, was unavailable—'committed to Krrish,' Mehra recalls in his memoir The Stranger in the Mirror. Aamir Khan, conflicted after Rang De Basanti, bluntly said, 'this is not for me.' Ranveer Singh read the script, impressed with the character, but ultimately declined. Mehra admits, 'I never understood why.' Enter the perfect pick After those three rejections, Farhan Akhtar stepped in. Within just 15 minutes of hearing the concept, he was all in. His portrayal as the legendary runner Milkha Singh, supported by Divya Dutta, Pawan Malhotra, Yograj Singh, Prakash Raj—and a cameo by Sonam Kapoor—transformed the film completely. From Rs 30 cr budget to global hit Despite its modest Rs 30 crore budget, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag surpassed box-office expectations, earning Rs 108 crore net in India and Rs 168 crore globally, quintupling its investment. Awards galore Besides its massive box office success, the film swept awards — 55 in total — and solidified Farhan's place in Bollywood not just as an actor but a performer with serious depth. From rejections to record-breaker, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag wasn't just a movie — it was a race to the finish line that no one saw coming.

Film sets can't replicate the spirit of real locations: Director Rohit
Film sets can't replicate the spirit of real locations: Director Rohit

Time of India

time41 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Film sets can't replicate the spirit of real locations: Director Rohit

For his upcoming film Ekka, starring Yuva Rajkumar and Sanjana Anand, director Rohit Padaki made a clear choice: to ground the movie in the raw reality of Bengaluru's busiest streets rather than the controlled environment of sets. 'Sets can never compete with what real locations can provide. There's an air of reality in every frame that you simply can't get from a set,' says the director. To achieve this level of authenticity, the film's team adopted a focused strategy. 'We shot in some of Bengaluru's busiest areas, like Shivaji Nagar, where we hid our cameras and filmed the scene; we wanted to make it look as real as possible. This method involved rehearsing scenes like theatre artistes, then moving to the actual locations for hidden-camera shoots. Nearly 30-40% of the film has been shot in this manner,' he reveals. Excerpts from a chat: 'KANNADA CINEMA IS DRIVEN BY A METROPOLITAN CULTURE' 'A metropolitan culture of filmmaking is taking over,' laments Rohit. He emphasises that for movies to truly succeed, the focus needs to shift back to strong writing, particularly one that embraces the 'native element which connects us to our roots.' The director points to other regional industries as examples. 'Take a look at Tamil or Malayalam movies; even though some of them are larger than life, they are still rooted in their culture. This connection is largely missing in Kannada cinema today because of the metropolitan culture of filmmaking, in most cases.' Earlier, the Kannada Film Industry used to make and release movies in short periods; it doesn't happen as often now Rohit Padaki 'WE TOOK ON A CHALLENGE TO FINISH THE MOVIE IN NINE MONTHS' Rohit adds that he found a unique advantage in a largely fresh team and an ambitious production timeline. 'Around 80 per cent of the crew and cast were new. It was a good experience working with them because everyone was very hungry for success. We took on a challenge to finish the movie, from start to finish, in nine months. I didn't want to waste too much time working on one movie,' he explains.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store