Latest news with #MathewThomas
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did ‘Lovely' copy the housefly from 'Eega'? Rajamouli's team sends legal notice to the Malayalam film
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) The Mathew Thomas starrer fantasy film 'Lovely' is facing heat after being accused of copying the iconic housefly character from SS Rajamouli's cult Telugu hit 'Eega' (Makkhi in Hindi). As reported by On Manorama, the controversy erupted when the production house behind 'Eega', sent a legal notice to Lovely's team, alleging that the housefly in their film is strikingly similar to the one painstakingly created for 'Eega'. A fly too familiar? The legal notice, which was sent by Neo Juris LLP on June 17, claims that the 'Lovely' team used the housefly character without permission, violating copyright. According to them, the fly in 'Eega' wasn't just any digital bug — it was carefully crafted using advanced VFX, macro photography, and detailed studies of how real flies look and behave. The filmmakers of 'Eaga' believe that Lovely's fly borrows heavily from that design, right down to its appearance and movements. What are the makers saying? So far, the Lovely team hasn't issued a public response. But if the allegations are proven, the film could face serious consequences. Talking to the media, the 'Lovely' director claimed that the team has enough proof regarding the creation of the fly in the Mathew Thomas starrer. He also expressed his disappointment when 'Eega' production house claimed that the animated character's idea was stolen, while months were spent to create it. Actor Unnimaya Prasad's face was used to motion capture the housefly in 'Lovely', as per the director, who also said that the fly in his film is female, which contradicts the gender of the fly in the Nani starrer. Lovely - Official Teaser Streaming starts, controversy follows Interestingly, 'Lovely' began streaming on OTT on June 20, just days after the legal notice was issued. While the movie has been getting attention on OTT, this legal twist could complicate things. Reportedly, the notice asks the makers to immediately stop using or showing the character, whether it's in the film, posters, trailers, or any platform, including digital, theatrical, satellite, or DVD formats.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Lovely' OTT: When and where to watch Mathew Thomas' fantasy film
Malayalam fantasy drama Lovely, starring Mathew Thomas in the lead, is now available for streaming. The film, which hit theatres on May 16, 2025, had a relatively quiet box office run but is now poised for wider appreciation following its OTT debut on June 20. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A quirky plot with a talking fly Directed and written by Dileesh Karunakaran, Lovely tells the unusual story of Bony, a young man whose dreams of settling in Canada are derailed when he's forced to take up a government job—one held previously by his late father. The movie tells Bony's bond with a talking fly. Although the film had a good concept, it failed to shine at the box office. Supporting cast and performances Alongside Mathew Thomas, the film features notable performances by Sivaangi Krishnakumar, Manoj K Jayan, Aswathy Manoharan, and Prasanth Murali. The actors lend charm and depth to a story that balances whimsy with grounded emotions. The movie is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Lovely - Official Teaser ETimes review for the movie read,"On the technical side, while the CGI is commendable, the 3D feels almost unnecessary—except for the scenes involving the flying eecha. Sivaangi Krishnakuar's voice didn't work well and fails to help connect with Lovely. Lovely might be worth a one-time watch, given that it's experimental at its core, and Aashiq Abu's cinematography makes it aesthetically pleasing. Still, the film lacks the "wow" factor needed to truly hook its audience. " On the other hand, Mathew Thomas's previous outing was the comedy film 'Bromance' which received good reviews from the audiences and turned out to be a superhit. The film is also available on OTT.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pavish Narayan, Mathew Thomas, and Anikha Surendran starrer ‘Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam' set for world television premiere on June 15
The much-loved romantic drama Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam is set to charm television audiences with its world premiere on June 15 at 2:30 PM. Headlined by Pavish Narayan, Mathew Thomas , and Anikha Surendran , the film promises a poignant and refreshing take on love and growing up. Helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Dhanush , known for his emotionally layered storytelling, the film delves deep into the intricacies of youthful relationships, personal identity, and family dynamics. The cast also includes Priya Prakash Varrier, R. Sarathkumar, Venkatesh Menon, Rabiya Khatoon, and Ramya Ranganathan, whose performances add richness and emotional texture to the narrative. Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam has received praise for its poetic storytelling, earnest performances, and its ability to evoke nostalgia and empathy in equal measure. The chemistry among the lead trio has particularly resonated with younger audiences, while the mature themes of reconciliation and self-discovery strike a universal chord. The film's musical landscape is elevated by G.V. Prakash Kumar's soulful compositions, which perfectly capture the emotional undercurrents of the story. Complementing the mood is Leon Britto's evocative cinematography and Prasanna GK's crisp editing, both of which help maintain the film's lyrical rhythm and immersive storytelling.
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lovely Movie Review: A flying fantasy that never quite takes off
Mathew Thomas tries his best to act genuinely moved by an insect with a traumatic past. He brings loose charm in the early scenes and taps into emotional vulnerability later. But the script offers no natural progression. One moment, he is mildly amused by a talking fly; the next, he acts as if his entire life depends on it. That shift never feels organic. Supporting actors like Ganga Meera, Manoj K Jayan, Prashanth Murali, and Aswathy Manoharan show up, deliver functional performances, and vanish just as quickly. They all hover on the periphery without leaving any meaningful impression. Technically, the film has a few strengths. Aashiq Abu's cinematography, soft-focused and warm-toned, adds a lucid, dreamlike visual palette suited to the premise. The visual effects, especially the animated fly, are clean but too sterile to feel truly integrated into the world. Considering the budget, it is a decent effort. The much-touted 3D element is a non-event, offering no real enhancement to the experience. Where Lovely utterly collapses is in its writing. The script reads like a first draft nobody bothered to polish. Scenes drag without rhythm, tonal shifts jar the experience, and the dialogue is painfully on the nose. What could have been a surreal exploration of loneliness, friendship, or even redemption reduces to juvenile banter and clunky exposition. Subplots emerge only to pad the runtime. Even those that seem promising fizzle out with no payoff. By the time the climax arrives, Lovely has thoroughly tested your patience. Attempts at emotional catharsis feel unearned, and the supposedly feel-good ending lands more bizarre than uplifting. Even worse, a disturbing third-act choice by the protagonist is handled so offhandedly that it severs any remaining empathy for him. It is a shame. There is a bit of charm buried in the concept. But what we get is a film that mistakes quirk for substance and sentimentality for depth. In the end, Lovely is less a soaring adventure and more a clumsy crash landing.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Lovely movie review: Stellar visuals can't save Dileesh Karunakaran and Mathew Thomas' thinly written 3D fantasy
Lovely movie review: A movie about a housefly and a human being who establish communication and eventually share an adorable bond. As soon as one hears this logline, it's almost impossible not to assume that we're talking about director SS Rajamouli's blockbuster Telugu fantasy actioner Eega (2012). But no, this actually forms the crux of director Dileesh Karunakaran's (formerly known as Dileesh Nair) 3D fantasy film Lovely, with Mathew Thomas in the lead. Unlike Eega, which blended action and romance too — featuring the male protagonist (Nani) reincarnated as a housefly to avenge his death and protect his lover (Samantha) from the villain (Kiccha Sudeepa) — Lovely is envisioned as a feel-good drama. While the Eega (fly) in the Rajamouli directorial was, in essence, a human being at heart, Lovely is, as Mathew Thomas mentioned during one of his interviews, 'a cute, next-door kind of (actual) housefly'. However, even though the movie is conceived as a feel-good story, does it actually leave the audience feeling good after watching it? Yep, that's the question. Soon after joining the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) as an LD Clerk through compassionate appointment, following the death of his father while in service, Bonny Baby (Mathew) finds himself embroiled in controversy after he mistakenly offers a packet of condoms to a female stranger. He is soon booked under Section 354 and remanded to judicial custody, after which he is lodged in the sub-jail. During his heartbroken days there, Bonny meets a fly, and to the shock of both, he can understand what she's saying. Though sceptical at first, Bonny gradually grows emotionally attached to the fun-loving, bubbly fly, whom he names Lovely — his only solace in the loneliness of prison. While his family works from the outside to secure his bail, Bonny and Lovely become close friends, and she even reveals why she has never attempted to leave the jail and live in the outside world. However, Bonny is eventually released on bail, severing their bond and leaving him devastated. Will they find their way back to each other? That forms the remainder of the story. Lovely is, simply put, one of those films where nearly every member of the technical crew has done an excellent job, but their efforts are ultimately wasted due to subpar writing. While Dileesh is also credited as the writer of Lovely, it's hard not to question why he's listed in that role for a film where the writing feels almost nonexistent. Or was it the makers' way of emphasising that no one but him was responsible for this wafer-thin narrative, where a string of pointless scenes are stitched together in the editing room despite them clearly lacking any cohesive flow? What's unfortunate is that, regardless of the efforts of others, not a single moment in Lovely stands out for its writing, and the contrived dialogues only make matters worse. From the very beginning, we're presented with scenes that not only fail to gel with one another but also make no effort to engage viewers or draw them into the story or its characters. The film even fails to make us care about Bonny, which prevents any emotional investment in him, his dreams of migrating to a 'top-tier' country like Canada or his reality of taking up a government job here out of necessity. Even when he lands in trouble, the lack of emotional depth and the poor character development leave the audience detached, wondering why we should care at all. Even after the arrival of Lovely and with a zillion possibilities to elevate the script, Dileesh delivers only silly, outdated and painfully undercooked scenes, one after the other. In fact, this also makes us question how and why Bonny and Lovely became so close in the first place. Not only are their conversations too plain, but beyond the initial 'wow' factor that he could have felt while meeting a talking fly, the film offers nothing meaningful to justify Bonny finding a best friend in Lovely. From lectures on arapaima fish, Canada, and the characteristics of houseflies to the age-old 'Gandhi also went to prison' joke, random characters appearing out of nowhere, and already established ones being completely neglected, the script only worsens as the movie progresses. As if hammering the final nail into the script's coffin, Dileesh even includes a sickening sequence towards the end in which Bonny contemplates molesting the woman who filed the complaint against him, just so he can return to jail and meet the housefly again. Although Dileesh's vision as a director — a role he returns to after over a decade since Tamaar Padaar (2014) — isn't quite as poor as his writing, he makes a significant misstep right at the beginning that severely detracts from the viewing experience. Instead of leaving the events open to interpretation as fantasy, the film opens with an unnecessary disclaimer, 'you are about to enter someone else's dream,' and this gratuitous explanation nips any sense of intrigue in the bud. As the film unfolds, even though whimsical, fantastical and dreamy sequences like the song 'Bubble Poomottukal' showcase flashes of his imaginative vision, the execution of the more mundane and dramatic moments falls miserably flat, undermining the entire narrative. If there's anything as clueless and misguided as Dileesh's writing, it's Mathew's performance. His portrayal of Bonny's lost-in-thought, dissociative moments makes one wonder whether he was attempting something unconventional that backfired or if he simply chose not to act. Even during his supposedly 'adorable' chats with Lovely, his performance feels stiff and artificial. The rest of the cast fares no better, with none of the performances standing out. Nonetheless, Sivaangi Krishnakumar's voice acting for the fly is commendable, even though the dialogues are weak. Despite the film's innumerable narrative flaws, the technical crew deserves immense credit for their exceptional work. Director Aashiq Abu, as a cinematographer, delivers outstanding and jaw-dropping visuals. Equally impressive is CGI director Aneesh Kutti's work and Kiran Das' editing elevates the visuals significantly. Not just that the fly appears believable, but the way it's integrated into the frames, making us almost sense its presence without any jarring or dizzying camera movements, is no small feat, especially for a 3D film. In fact, the makers could have easily made Lovely a 2D film and it would still have offered the same visual experience, thanks to the strength of the technical craftsmanship. Vishnu Vijay and Bijibal's music is also good, but unfortunately, it isn't enough to compensate for the film's narrative shortcomings. Lovely movie cast: Mathew Thomas, Manoj K Jayan, Aswathy Manoharan Lovely movie director: Dileesh Karunakaran Lovely movie rating: 1.5 star Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
