Latest news with #PonniyinSelvan2
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Anniyan' completes 20 years! Here's how Chiyaan Vikram nailed the iconic transformation scene in Shankar's directorial
Back in 2005, Chiyaan Vikram shocked the audience with his performance 'Anniyan,' a Tamil psychological action thriller directed by Shankar. The film revolves around a man who struggles with multiple personality disorders caused by disillusionment with rules and a societal lack of concern for justice. Vikram played three distinct personas, but the one transformation that stood out was the chilling switch between the docile Ambi and the fierce vigilante 'Anniyan.' Shankar and Vikram's 'Anniyan' has now completed 20 years of theatrical run, while fans took to social media to remember the classic hit. Vikram reveals the emotional transition In an earlier interview during the promotion of 'Ponniyin Selvan 2' in 2023, Vikram now opened up about the iconic scene in 'Anniyan.' While many believed that it was an emotional drought to replace individuals on the spot, the actor admitted that the infection came to him quite naturally. He revealed that director Shankar initially offered the scene to break into parts to reduce the process. But Vikram confidently suggested shooting in taking it the same. Vikram's confident approach on 'Anniyan' Vikram explained that he had already imagined how the performance should be demonstrated and made Shankar run through his plan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The director was impressed and signalled him green. He rolled the cameras and filmed the entire change in tech. Although he took eight for security, Vikram confessed that none of the latter could catch the rawness of the first one. Highlighting Vikram's mastery and commitment The singles in which Vikram originally moved from meek Ambi to ruthless Anniyan, became one of the most talked about moments in Tamil cinema. This scene not only showed the talent of Vikram's acting skills but also had a deep understanding of the minds of the characters. This remains a testament for Vikram's unique dedication to his craft and his ability to bring complications to the screen with striking authenticity.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Throwback: When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan silenced David Letterman over ‘living with parents' jibe
has long been admired not just for her beauty and talent, but for her grace under pressure, and one memorable moment from her international media appearances continues to prove just that. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Back in 2005, while promoting Bride and Prejudice on The Late Show with David Letterman , the Bollywood icon found herself on the receiving end of a culturally loaded question. The host asked, 'Do you still live with your parents, and is that common in India?' Without skipping a beat, Aishwarya delivered a poised and razor-sharp response that drew thunderous applause from the studio audience. 'It's fine to live with your parents,' she said coolly. 'Because in India, we don't have to make appointments with our parents for dinner.' The clip, which has since become a viral favourite, resurfaced on social media once again, reigniting praise for the Ponniyin Selvan actress's composed confidence and cultural pride. Nearly two decades later, the exchange still resonates as a reminder of how Bachchan's intelligence and dignity often speak louder than any scripted line. Netizens laud the smart reply Aishwarya Rai's answer was as much a cultural primer as it was a comeback. By turning the question on its head with her wit, she highlighted the warmth of multigenerational households while deflating the notion that such arrangements are somehow regressive. One Reddit user wrote, 'Aishwarya Rai has so much class. She has dealt with so much nonsense being hurled at her over the years in the most civil way possible. A great ambassador for my country along with currently, who is also someone that's constantly under scrutiny and a recipient of vitriol.' Another one wrote, 'Living with your parents is also normal in Eastern Europe too.' Work front On the professional front, Aishwarya's previous hit film was 's directorial epic drama movie 'Ponniyin Selvan 2'. The actress played the role of Oomai Rani and Nandini in this epic drama film directed by the veteran. This Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's doppelganger is Aishwarya Rai Ultra Pro Max
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Silambarasan TR interview: On Kamal Haasan's ‘Thug Life' and making a ‘fanboy sambavam' with Ashwath Marimuthu
One could feel the gravity of the moment when Silambarasan TR made his grand entry at the audio launch of Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan 2 in 2022. It was the star's first major public appearance as 'Ātman,' a new version of Simbu who embraced spirituality and returned to the limelight after a lull phase marked by box office duds, controversies, and fitness concerns. But who expected that at an event featuring the likes of Kamal Haasan, AR Rahman and Vikram, Simbu would get the loudest applause, a clip that went viral on the internet. While naysayers hung their heads in disbelief, his ever-loyal fandom took social media by storm. A new Simbu era had dawned after Maanaadu, with the actor far different from the young man we knew from Manmadhan, and the moment spoke volumes about how Tamil audiences honour their heroes and reasserted that they indeed like a good comeback. On one hand, Simbu doesn't seem too sure about all this attention on his comeback. Citing how legends in every field have braced lull phases, he blames the social media frenzy for blowing this out of proportion. That isn't to say he isn't grateful for this love. He knows he has a very loyal fan base — 'There's a saying about rats leaving a sinking ship; so their loyalty doesn't show who I am, it shows who they are,' he says — but the reception he got at the PS2 event wasn't just from his fans. PS2 wasn't even his film. 'Watching someone get back up instils confidence in people, and that's what I saw there. It felt like the general public was telling me, 'Hey, we respect what you have done, and we want to give back that respect to you.'' To be looked at as this inspirational figure must put a lot of pressure on one's shoulders. 'No, but that gave me confidence, and I realised there's no point looking back at the past. I realised I should do what's required without expecting anything back.' Watching Simbu in flesh and blood for the first time at that event also brought me memories of the time when he had an unshakable hold on youth. Boys got into trouble for wearing the star's signature wire wristband to school, while donning headbands became a popular style statement. Even today, a generation of youngsters continues looking up to him, something he says has only made him more responsible. 'When I was much younger, I wasn't aware of the kind of films I was doing or what those films communicated to younger audiences,' he says, before stressing this responsibility shouldn't interfere with his craft. 'See, broadly, I refrain from excessive use of swear words, violence, and glamour, and I haven't smoked much after Idhu Namma Aalu. But then, if a character needs me to smoke or be violent, I have to do it. That's how it would be if I did a negative role, for instance. All that we can do then is take a call on how much we indulge in those things.' Simbu on his love for Michael Jackson 'Michael Jackson had the biggest influence in my life. From the energy I carried or my style, be it in dancing or singing, it's all influenced by Michael Jackson. I touched alcohol for the very first time when he died. That's how much I adored him.' His role in Mani Ratnam's much-anticipated film Thug Life, headlined by Kamal, seems quite violent from the promo material. Doing Thug Life, Simbu says, satisfies a desire most actors harbour. 'While watching films like Thevar Magan, where two generations of stars would have acted together, any actor would have wished for one such film to happen, and these films also stand the test of time.' That it happened for him in a Kamal Haasan-starrer feels surreal, he adds. 'Right from when I was a child, my father showed Kamal sir as my on-screen guru, so I have always looked up to him. See, even if we need references for, say, a dialect, a walk, or a specific look, we took inspiration from his filmography.' The actor is in awe of how the veteran has stuck to his approach to stardom and craft. 'He doesn't care too much about what doing a certain role might do to his image, but rather thinks about what he brings to the table. It's about doing something interesting, something different and better than the previous film.' At a level where most might get trapped inside echo chambers, Kamal has managed to stay anchored in his journey as an artist. That he calls himself a student of cinema feels validating to Simbu. 'See, I can say that I am a student because I have a long way to go, but if Kamal sir still feels like a student, it means I am too on the right path.' Even the opportunity to be part of Thug Life, he adds, is a validation, 'for all the effort I have put in for 40 years since I was a child artist. Because so for Mani Ratnam sir to write such a character, to look at me as a good fit for it, and for Kamal sir to accept his decision…It's all a bit surreal, to say the least.' Simbu's role in Thug Life, he says, balances 'mass' and 'class.' 'I am a peculiar hero with audiences who like both these schools of acting. You can't call me an out-and-out classy actor, nor am I just after mass. I can do both, it's great to do roles that balance these schools. In Thug Life, you will find a classy, performance-oriented Simbu and a raw and stylish Simbu.' STR is also returning to a Mani Ratnam set, almost seven years after Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, a film during which the star realised that he was struggling to perform well due to his then poor physical form. He had previously revealed he broke down after shooting an action scene in that film and that the experience ushered him towards a transformative journey. Thug Life, too, is loaded with action, and Mani Ratnam was happy with how STR now moves and dances, says the star. 'He would enjoy watching me perform and say, 'You are looking good. Superb.' So I realised going through that weight-loss journey is adding more to what we're doing.' You might be surprised to hear Simbu say that, while the way he was body-shamed back then wasn't right, there's some truth to it since 'being an actor and losing your fitness like that is a minus.' But isn't reducing weight and bulking up for roles almost a routine in places like Hollywood? Perhaps this toxicity points to something deeply embedded in how Indian audiences see their stars. Simbu doesn't think so; he says it's just the case of a jealous few pouncing upon finding a reason to troll. 'My weight gain was also initially for a film, and if needed, I could have brought myself back to shape. But by then, I had already given a window of opportunity to those who were also desperately looking for a reason to pull me down. But I realised I couldn't keep complaining about it, and that's where this fitness journey began.' It's not just his fitness; anything and everything about Simbu gets put under the media scanner. After facing immense criticism and battling numerous controversies, Simbu began following the Buddhist principle that goes, 'When you receive something (here, criticism) from someone, then it becomes yours. But if you reject it, it stays with them.' But surely that odd negative review for a film or a comment on his acting must break his defences, right? 'Earlier, the results of my films affected me, but I used to find ways to channel that into what I do next. But I have realised we can't seek validation from successes and failures. Many suffer because they seek validation externally and let others control their happiness. You need to take control of yourself and find validation from within.' Simbu on Artificial Intelligence: 'I am waiting to see how AI changes our lives. Everything's going to change, from the way we use mobile phones to how we interact. Someone's going to be digitally present for us all the time, someone with much higher intelligence. I foresee drastic changes soon, and I am eager to see how we adapt to them, how AI influences filmmaking, and how it would influence our spirituality.' Simbu has, over the years, also been criticised as an actor who doesn't push himself enough, as a star who is sleeping on his talents. The actor believes this is because he has yet to find solid scripts that could bring the best out of him. 'There's no space to give your full potential in a script that any actor can pull off'. Simbu has pinned his hopes on his upcoming film with director Desingh Periyasamy to do that. 'But see, even to get that on the floors, we have been waiting for two years now. Look at Kamal sir; he would have done about ten such films, like Avvai Shanmugi or Dasavatharam, but there's a longer list of films that he couldn't materialise.' The star has no qualms saying that every time he wishes to do a project like that, he finds that his market then cannot sustain the scale of that project. 'So when more people watch my movies, and the more they perform well at the box office, the more it allows me to give my best.' Of late, many A-list Tamil stars have come out with films — like Petta, Vikram and Good Bad Ugly — that are dubbed as fanboy sambavams; these films feature aspects that appease the die-hard fans of those stars, like cameos and callbacks to the stars' previous films. Simbu's upcoming film with Ashwath Marimuthu also hints at being one such film; the first look poster featured the star, wearing wire bands, bracelets and the check mark tattoo from Dum, throwing his iconic 'box' sign. 'Yes, it is a fanboy sambavam, but it wouldn't just be a film for the fans. It will become a film that even those who don't know me would enjoy. Fanboy sambavams should be like Vikram — it shouldn't just appease the star's fans but be celebrated unanimously by all.' Will we also see more of STR as a singer? 'Yes, there's a lot of that coming up in my next few films,' he signs off. Thug Life releases in theatres on June 5
Business Upturn
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
OTT and movie releases of this week that shouldn't be missed
By Banisitti Pratibha Published on April 25, 2023, 22:23 IST The last week of April is going to be amazing for the movie lovers as some of the amazing series are lined up for release. Citadel starring Desi girl Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden which is arriving on April 28 to Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan 2 is all set to release this week. Let's have a look on the much awaited releases of this week 1 . Citadel Created by- David Weil Cast- Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Richard Madden, Stanley Tucci, Lesley Manville Executive Producers- The Russo Brothers Date of Release- 28th April, 2023 2. Ponniyin Selvan 2 Director- Mani Ratnam Cast- Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Date of Release- 28th April, 2023 3. The Song of Scorpions Director- Anup Singh Cast- Golshifteh Farahani, late actor Irfan Khan, Waheeda Rehman and Shashank Arora Date of Release- 28th April, 2023 in theatres 4. Love After Music Directors- Felipe Gomez Aparicio, Gonzalo Tobal Cast- Ivan Hochman, Micaela Riera, Nahuel Monasterio Date of Release- 26th April, 2023 on Netflix 5. The Good Bad Mother Director- Shim Na-yeon Cast- Ra Mi-ran, Lee Do-Hyun, Eun- Jin Ahn, In- soo Yoo, Kim Won- Hae, Cho Jin- woong Date of Release- 26th April on Netflix 6. Beau Is Afraid Director- Ari Aster Cast- Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Parker Posey, Kylie Rogers, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Michael Gandolfini, Zoe Lister Jones, Richard Kind. Date of Release- 28th April, 2023 in theatres 7. U-Turn Director- Arif Khan Cast- Alaya F, Priyanshu Painyuli, Rajesh Sharma, Manu Rishi Chadha, Aashim Gulat Date of Release- 28th April, 2023 on ZEE5 Banisitti Pratibha is currently pursuing master's in English Literature. She is a media enthusiast with strong communication and content writing skills. Banisitti Pratibha is currently working as a journalist at
India.com
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turns heads at Cannes with her ‘sindoor bhari maang' look in white saree, confirms she is with Abhishek Bachchan amid divorce rumours
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan proved why she is hailed as a queen! The diva walked the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival 2025 and oh boy! She made heads turn with her regal look in a white saree. This year, the actress captivated Indian as well as international audiences with her look. Aish was draped in an ivory Banarasi saree designed by Manish Malhotra, which added the perfect touch of royalty and elegance. The cherry on top was Aishwarya flaunting her sindoor, putting a full stop to all the divorce rumours swirling around her and Abhishek Bachchan. Aishwarya's outfit was a tribute to all the Indian handloom craftsmanship. She wore a handwoven Kadwa ivory Banarasi saree, paired with a sheer white tissue dupatta delicately bordered with intricate real gold and silver zardozi embroidery. Take a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) For accessories, Aishwarya added heirloom jewellery from Manish Malhotra. Aishwarya's jwellery had over 500 carats of Mozambique rubies. It also had uncut diamonds set in 18k gold. Aishwarya's ruby statement rings stole the show and added a regal touch. For makeup, Aish went with her signature staright hair look and to add more drama she opted for a red bold lips. She posed gracefully for paps with her signature wave. As soon as Aish's look hit the internet, it sent fans into a frenzy and comment sections were spammed with love and appreciation. On Aishwarya Rai's work front, she was last seen in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan 2 alongside Jayam Ravi, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Aishwarya Lekshmi.
