Latest news with #Dhee
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
The South Asian artistes redefining visual identities through heritage and sound
It's been a long time coming, but South Asian musicians are finally having their moment in the sun as they take over airwaves and top playlists. We speak to musicians who are reinventing what it means to have a distinct visual identity that evolves with them, both sonically and sartorially. L-R: Dohnraj, Dhee, Yung Raja Photo: Instagram/dohnraj With structured blazers, metallic makeup and offbeat charm, Delhi-based Dohnraj seems like he's stepped out of an '80s synth-pop dream — but he's quick to clarify, 'I wasn't consciously thinking about the '80s at all, because what do I know about the '80s?' His music, much like his aesthetic, is a touch enigmatic. 'It's emotional music, something cinematic [with a] slightly off-kilter edge,' he explains, adding, 'I like things that feel intimate but a little strange, the kind that sits with you after the lights go out.' The singer-songwriter, who also fronts Dohnraj and The Peculiars, is especially inclined towards exploring the human condition with the sounds (and shapes) of years bygone — something that shines on his last album, Gods & Lowlifes. And while he might not have been consciously aiming for it, the old-time rocker vibe is unmistakable. 'I don't know about being a rockstar; all I know is I'm definitely a star in my world, and that's how I hope people can feel about themselves. I don't think about perception too much; I have so many curiosities to attend to, to wonder about how I am being perceived,' he muses. The flamboyance is just the tip of the iceberg. It might be a lot for some, but for Dohnraj, it's a reflection of his curiosity and creative instinct. While his creative process has been one of 'stumbling, stretching and slowly figuring it out', his current sartorial sense came naturally. 'It wasn't some big aha moment,' he says. 'It just came together over time — what I felt good in, what felt true. I started noticing patterns in what I gravitated towards: stuff that holds a little weight, a little texture, maybe a story. I'm not trying to look like anyone else — just trying to look like myself, more and more. Some days it's clean, some days it's chaotic. But it's always me.' Dhee Photo: Madhavan Dheekshitha Venkadeshan's musical breakthrough has been a long time coming. The Australian-Tamil singer began singing playback around 2013, but it was with Rowdy Baby (2018) and Enjoy Enjaami (2021) that her unique alto broke through to a larger audience. Her move to English pop with the upcoming album Jackfruit might seem like a major pivot, but Dhee says there couldn't have been a more natural progression: 'I grew up listening to South Indian music and English pop so it doesn't feel like much of a departure. I've also been working on these songs since I was 19; I've grown with them.' While she laughingly describes her current sound as 'a colourful bag of jelly beans,' a common thread through the 26-year-old's multicultural musical sojourn has been the search for 'home'. I Wear My Roots Like a Medal, one of the two singles from her album, was shot at her maternal grandmother's house in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Dhee admits that navigating a sense of belonging has been a significant challenge, but she's quick to acknowledge that it's evolved into a talent. This gives her music an emotional, storytelling quality that translates to her wardrobe, too. 'I like feeling like I'm dressed like a character — fashion is such a joyful thing. Currently, my style feels like I'm in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie, but in everyday street style!' she says. A lot of that self-expression comes from the women in her life, particularly her mother: 'When I was younger, mum would wear butte (South Indian style earrings) with normal clothes in Sydney in the early 2000s and she would rock it. So now doing that for me is a no-brainer. Now I want to be way more expressive with my fashion.' Yung Raja Photo: Instagram/yungraja Rapper-songwriter Rajid Ahamed Yousuf Arafat's Tanglish flows aren't the only thing making noise. Since first rising to fame with his 2019 track Mad Blessings, the Singaporean has been synonymous with a vibrant sonic and visual style — and growing up as part of the Tamil diaspora has been foundational to this journey. Now, eight years into his music career, the 29-year-old's fashion is a riot of colour and cultural callbacks. 'My parents and sisters played dress-up with me when I was a kid. It became second nature,' he says. That early exposure, layered with the larger-than-life presence of Rajinikanth on-screen and the audacity of American hip-hop giants such as Ye and Jay Z, built his fashion sense into something vibrant, unpredictable and entirely his own. It now reflects in his style philosophy: 'Rajinikanth would rock anything and make it look super cool. His aura and swagger were extremely foundational. My style principle is to be able to pull anything off, contextualising it in my own way.' Whether he's in co-ord sets drenched in neon or sporting jewellery that nods to his Thanjavur roots, his style walks the same tightrope his music does: part heritage, part hype. His goal, Yung tells us, is to take Tamil culture to the world (case in point, NALLA NERAM, his collab with rapper Prabh Deep). 'I've always believed that you don't know where you're going if you don't know where you came from. It's always front and centre in my mind that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to approach my art the way I do [if it were not for my background],' he adds. BombayMami Photo: Instagram/bombaymami; @ On the face of it, the idea of someone barreling down the Swiss Alps in a lehenga is a visual gag. It's exactly what Indo-Swedish rapper BombayMami did for Fire In Delhi. 'Snowboarding in a lehenga,' she previously explained to us, 'was born out of my desire to merge two integral parts of my identity — Swiss and Indian heritage — in a way that felt bold, unexpected, and deeply personal,' she told us of her now-viral music video. And that duality runs deep. Formerly known as Ta'shan (an anagram of her name, Shanta), her artistry was, in part, born out her desire to see South Asian women in spaces she wanted to be in when she was growing up. 'There was always this unspoken rule about how we should behave, dress, or dream. I wanted to break that and change the narrative,' she noted. Her latest release, Hot Boyz, is a Pride Month anthem — an R&B track set to live instrumentation that includes a sitar, a sarod and a tabla — that turns desire on its head, and towards the female gaze. Her musical influences (pioneering female rappers such as Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, and M.I.A, coupled with years of Hindustani classical training) show up constantly in her fashion, too. This balancing act comes in full force in her style, where dupattas become capes, jhumkas dangle against tracksuits, and bindis hold their own against bucket hats. Whether she's raiding her parents' wardrobes or bending genres, it's all done 'in ways that feel unique to me,' she said. Gayathri Krishnan With a distinctive blend of pop, R&B and neo-soul influences, it's difficult to box Los Angeles-based Gayathri Krishnan into a single genre. With a bright sound offset by her Carnatic training, the singer has been taking the scene by storm since she dropped her 2020 EP, Create To Express. Gayathri has more than once described growing up in her South Indian household as being 'literally surrounded' by music. Take into account the fact that she learnt Bharatanatyam during her formative years in Irvine, California and the sonic big picture comes right into focus. Last year's single F*** S***! was an anthem of rebellion, her April release Made It is experimental through and through — a love letter to her roots and firm assertion of her right to be in the spaces she carves for her self in Western music. Bridging the gap between the East and West was less an intentional choice and more 'subconsciously woven' into her tastes and her fashion shifts as often as she genre-jumps. Her current style has moved away from the earthier, more Bohemian aesthetics of Create To Express and Arunachala (2023) to channel old-school West Coast hip-hop. Think oversized varsity jackets and baggy silhouettes, all softened by distinctly South Indian flourishes. A long braid adorned with a jada and a delicate nose ring accompany her onstage and off, subtly anchoring her in heritage in her experiments. Her fashion, much like her music, feels less curated than instinctive.
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vishnu Manchu On Dhee Sequel Plans: ‘I Would Do That Film Within A Heartbeat'
Last Updated: Dhee is a Telugu action-comedy directed by Srinu Vaitla and produced by Siri Venkateswara Films. It stars Vishnu Manchu and Genelia Deshmukh in lead roles. Vishnu Manchu is immersed in promoting his much-anticipated mythological epic, Kannappa. It is set to release in theatres on June 27. Amid the buzz around the film's release, the actor opened up about his upcoming ventures, including his desire to bring back the 2007 superhit comedy Dhee with a sequel. Speaking to a media outlet, Vishnu shared insights into what lies ahead after Kannappa. 'I haven't thought about any projects after Kannappa. There is a period film that is set in 1947, and we want to pull it off," he revealed. When asked about the sequel to Dhee, Vishnu told Pinkvilla, 'The director and I have been trying to get together. I would do that film within a heartbeat, but I just hope one day they will come up with a script." He further added, 'Ultimately, the script is the winner; everything goes with the script. If I get the script, I will go to shoot the next morning." Dhee is a Telugu action-comedy directed by Srinu Vaitla and produced by Siri Venkateswara Films. It stars Vishnu Manchu and Genelia Deshmukh in lead roles. The story follows a happy-go-lucky guy, Babloo (played by Vishnu), whose carefree attitude often lands him in trouble. To instill discipline, his father arranges a job for him under a local mafia don. However, Babloo ends up falling in love with the don's sister, Puja (played by Genelia Deshmukh), who is under threat from a rival gang. What follows is a chaotic, humorous love story filled with twists and action. Ahead of Kannappa's release, Dhee enjoyed a grand re-release in theatres on June 6, much to the delight of fans. On the work front, Vishnu Manchu is all set for the theatrical release of Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh. The story draws from the legend of Kannappa in Hindu mythology and narrates the journey of a non-believer who transforms into one of Lord Shiva's most devoted followers. The film features an ensemble cast with Vishnu in the titular role, and special appearances by Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar and Kajal Aggarwal. It also stars Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Kaushal Manda and Rahul Madhav in significant roles. First Published:
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Vishnu Manchu Exclusive Interview: 'I think it is Lord Shiva who chose Akshay Kumar to play this character in Kannappa'
Vishnu Manchu is gearing up for the release of his ambitious film Kannappa, that co-stars Preity Mukhundhan, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Kajal Agarwal and a host of other actors. The movie is up for release on 27th June, 2025, and it releases in multiple Indian languages. Vishnu, along with Akshay Kumar, graced Pinkvilla with an interview of theirs, ahead of the release of their fantasy-actioner with a devotional touch. In the interview, Vishnu Manchu was first asked about how he got the idea to cast Akshay Kumar in the role of Lord Shiva. The Dhee star answered, "For me, when I started writing the script, for me, the only vision that I had was of Mr Akshay Kumar; Who would look like Lord Shiva? Mr Akshay Kumar. His face features, or the way he conducts himself, and the way he looks!". Watch Akshay Kumar And Vishnu Manchu's Interview With Pinkvilla, Ahead Of The Release Of Kannappa He continued, "I did have a lot of people ask me if I am sure about Mr Akshay Kumar. I said that he's the only man I can think of. But spiritually speaking, I think it is Lord Shiva who chose him to play this character and not me. I could only propose. I got the approval from Lord Shiva". Talking about playing devotional characters, Vishnu said, "It's not that easy to play roles of gods. In the Hindi Film Industry, it is lesser. But in the south, in lot of languages, we make a lot of movies on Ramayana or Mahabharata or other devotional movies. I feel you have to be destined to play certain characters. As much as I am destined to play Kannappa, it was Lord Shiva's blessings that he (Akshay Kumar) had to play Lord Shiva". In his concluding remarks, Vishnu Manchu said that for the current generation, if anyone has to think of Lord Shiva, it has to be Mr Akshay Kumar. Adding to what Vishnu told, Akshay Kumar said, "To be chosen to play this, I feel very lucky about it. I feel very empowered. It doesn't happen to many people. To play Lord Krishna or Lord Shiva; And the movie is also working. That is the big thing. I say to myself that I am one of the most luckiest person". Kannappa hits theatres on the 27th of June, 2025. It releases alongside Maa and F1. It is to be seen how Kannappa plays amidst the stiff competition that it faces. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates on Akshay Kumar, Vishnu Manchu and their film Kannappa.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vishnu Manchu opens up about doing a sequel to 'Dhee' with Genelia Deshmukh: ‘I would do that film in a heartbeat'
Tollywood actor Vishnu Manchu is gearing up for the much-anticipated release of his mythological epic Kannappa, which is set to hit theatres on June 27. The actor was recently seen promoting the film alongside his co-stars, and he has now opened up about his plans to bring a sequel to the 2007 hit movie ' Dhee '. Vishnu about his future projects In an interview with Pinkvilla, Vishnu revealed that he is not planning any other films at the moment, as he is currently focused on Kannappa. However, he mentioned having an idea for a period film set in 1947, and he is looking forward to making it a reality. Manchu Vishnu loses to veteran hero Sarathkumar in one-hand push ups Vishnu on his plan to do Dhee sequel Vishnu was also asked about the sequel to his 2007 blockbuster Dhee, which starred Genelia Deshmukh . 'The director and I have been trying to get together. I would do that film in a heartbeat, but I just hope one day they come up with a script,' he stated. He added that everything lies in the hands of the writer, and once the script is ready, he would start shooting for it the very next day. Dhee, directed by Srinu Vaitla, remains one of the most celebrated films in Vishnu's career. The film also featured Srihari and Brahmanandam in supporting roles. About Kannappa Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, 'Kannappa' features Prabhas , Mohanlal , Akshay Kumar, and Kajal Aggarwal in prominent cameo roles. Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Kaushal Manda, and Rahul Madhav also play key roles alongside Vishnu. The recently released trailer of the film received appreciation from fans and audiences alike.
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Vishnu Manchu reveals if Dhee sequel is still in works: ‘If I get the script, I will shoot next day' — EXCLUSIVE
Vishnu Manchu starrer Kannappa is slated to hit theaters on June 27, 2025. Ahead of its release, the actor appeared in an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, dropping details about the sequel to his iconic film Dhee. Speaking at the interview, Vishnu reflected on his upcoming ventures and said, 'I haven't thought about any projects after Kannappa. There is a period film that is set in 1947, and we want to pull it off.' Highlighting how he isn't concerned with anything besides Kannappa, the actor continued on the sequel of Dhee. He said, 'The director and I have been trying to get together. I would do that film within a heartbeat, but I just hope one day they will come up with a script.' 'Ultimately, the script is the winner; everything goes with the script. If I get the script, I will go to shoot the next very day morning,' he added. For those unaware, Dhee (also spelt as Dee) is a Telugu-language film which was released in 2007. The action comedy venture directed by Srinu Vaitla had Vishnu Manchu and Genelia Deshmukh in lead roles. The flick features the tale of a happy-go-lucky guy who always gets into trouble. Owing to his personality, his father gets him a job under a local mafia leader as his accountant. However, he falls in love with the don's sister, who herself is under threat from a rival gang. Whether his love story progresses and manages to save the girl forms the rest of the story. Moving forward, the actor's next movie, Kannappa, is a fantasy film, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh. Based on the legend of Kannappa from Hindu mythology, the story narrates the tale of a non-believer man's transition in life to become one of the most ardent devotees of lord Shiva. With Vishnu as the title character, the movie has actors like Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, and Kajal Aggarwal in cameo appearances. Apart from them, the ensemble cast consists of Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Kaushal Manda, Rahul Madhav, and more.
