Sukumar is a filmmaker known for his visionary approach to cinema. His filmography reflects a dynamic choice of scripts, which he transforms into cinematic spectacles with his brilliant direction. His unique vision is evident in his films, which not only draw audiences to theaters but also set new benchmarks in filmmaking. Additionally, Sukumar possesses a distinct writing style that establishes him as one of the finest writers of our time. As the director celebrates his birthday, let's explore some of his must-watch films: Pushpa 1 & 2 With Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa 2: The Rule, Sukumar delivered one of the biggest Pan-India films ever made. From the iconic character of Pushparaj to its trendsetting dialogues and stellar casting of Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, the director created a historic milestone. The film not only won hearts but also shattered box office records. Remarkably, Pushpa 2: The Rule earned over โน800 crores in the Hindi market alone, while its worldwide gross crossed โน1,800 crores within just 32 days of release—an incredible feat. Arya 1 & 2 With his debut film Arya, Sukumar introduced a love triangle at its core. Arya, played by Allu Arjun, is a spirited young man who falls for Geetha (Anuradha Mehta) and tries to rescue her from a rowdy college brat, Ajay (Siva Balaji). Sukumar later returned with a sequel, Arya 2. The Arya franchise is considered one of the best works of Allu Arjun and marked a major breakthrough in his acting career, while also earning Sukumar recognition as a talented director in Telugu cinema. Rangasthalam With stunning visuals and powerful performances, Rangasthalam is regarded as one of Sukumar's finest works. Ram Charan plays Chitti Babu, a hearing-impaired villager who takes on a corrupt local politician while rooting for change in his community. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers particularly praising Sukumar's exceptional writing. Nenokkadine Starring Mahesh Babu and Kriti Sanon, 1: Nenokkadine is a one-of-a-kind cinematic spectacle by Sukumar. The psychological thriller follows Gautham, a rock musician haunted by a traumatic childhood. With 25% of his grey matter missing, he is schizophrenic and believes his parents were murdered by three individuals he hallucinates about. Surprisingly, he discovers that these murderers are real and begins to hunt them down. The film is widely regarded as one of the "25 Greatest Telugu Films of the Decade" and reaffirmed Sukumar's brilliance as a filmmaker. Nannaku Prematho Starring N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Jagapathi Babu, Rajendra Prasad, and Rakul Preet Singh, Nannaku Prematho received positive reviews and was a box office success. Sukumar's directorial approach made it a highly unconventional Telugu film by incorporating the concept of the butterfly effect into its storyline. The plot revolves around a revenge story against businessman Krishna Murthy Kautilya (Jagapathi Babu) but is presented through a complex and engaging narrative.
11 January,2025 02:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRam Charan and Kiara Advani's latest film 'Game Changer' hit the screens on January 10, marking the first big release of the year. The film directed by S Shankar was released worldwide and sees Ram playing a dual role. The film had a brilliant opening collection over Rs 50 cr across languages. The film directed by Shankar marks Ram Charan’s first solo release in five years. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared an update on the collection of the Hindi version of the Ram Charan-starrer. The film managed to collect Rs 8.64 cr on day 1. Sharing the update Adarsh wrote on X, "#GameChanger exceeds all *pre-release* industry expectations and predictions, delivers a strong total on Day 1... Biz received a boost from spot bookings / walk-in audiences, turning the tide and surpassing early estimates. #GameChanger must see significant growth in mass pockets to solidify its position for a long run... Sustained support from mass circuits and heartland audiences will be crucial in the days ahead. The Saturday - Sunday numbers will be pivotal in determining the trends after a healthy start." #GameChanger exceeds all *pre-release* industry expectations and predictions, delivers a strong total on Day 1... Biz received a boost from spot bookings / walk-in audiences, turning the tide and surpassing early estimates.#GameChanger must see significant growth in mass… pic.twitter.com/L7zomlOLWp — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 11, 2025 Game Changer box office breakdown The film collected nett Rs 51.25 crore in India on its opening day. This is much higher than the actor's last solo release 'Vinaya Vidheya Rama ' in 2019. The film had collected Rs 34 crore. Game Changer made Rs 42 crore in Telugu, Rs 2.1 crore in Tamil, Additionally, it has collected Rs 10 lakh in Kannada and Rs 3 lakh in Malayalam. Game Changer has achieved an impressive occupancy rate, with 51.32% occupancy for morning shows, 39.33% for afternoon shows, and 50.53% for evening shows of the Telugu version. The afternoon shows of the 4DX version of Hindi had an impressive 82% occupancy. The makers of Game Changer have claimed that the film has grossed Rs 186 crore worldwide on day 1. The king's arrival is setting the box office ablaze ๐ค๐ผ#GameChanger takes a blockbuster opening at the BOX OFFICE ๐ฅ๐ฅ#BlockbusterGameChanger GROSSES 186 CRORES WORLDWIDE on Day 1 โค๐ฅBook your tickets now!๐ https://t.co/mj1jhGZaZ6#BlockBusterGameChanger In Cinemas Now… pic.twitter.com/pzU5vm6reD — Game Changer (@GameChangerOffl) January 11, 2025 More about Game Changer Game Changer is about the intense clash between a principled IAS officer and a corrupt politician. Ram Charan shines with a standout dual performance as the righteous IAS officer Ram Nandan and a dedicated social reformer Appanna. Director Shankar makes a victorious comeback, presenting a visually captivating political drama. His grand vision is backed by producers Dil Raju and Sirish, who have mounted the film on a lavish scale under the banners of Sri Venkateshwara Creations, Dil Raju Productions, and Zee Studios. The stellar cast of Game Changer, including Kiara Advani, Anjali, SJ Suryah, Srikanth, Samuthirakani and Jayaram delivered impressive performances.
11 January,2025 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGame ChangerU/A: Action, thrillerDir: S ShankarCast: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, SJ SuryahRating: 2/5 That’s some love filmmaker S Shankar has for a saviour hero. He doubles up as a government servant and an action star, and preaches about law and order while always taking law in his hands. This is about his latest big-screen outing, Game Changer, but also holds true for several other titles in his filmography. So, what changes with the new film? Just the lead faces, honestly. Ram Charan is the flag bearer of Shankar’s idea of patriotism and governance in the political actioner. For the two-hours and 45-minutes of the film, Charan’s IAS officer, Ram, is a one-man army wiping corruption out of his district, performing death-defying stunts and when he gets a few minutes in between, romancing his girlfriend, Deepika, played by Kiara Advani. That also sums up Advani’s role and screen time in the film. There’s no harm in repeating a trope or a story. But it’s concerning when the treatment gets so predictable that one becomes indifferent to what’s playing in front of them. Game Changer has everything, except an emotional appeal that makes one forget any number of flaws a film might have. It is not unwatchable, but its dated storytelling keeps one detached through the entire duration. Jarring jumps from scene to scene, loud and exaggerated performances, poor Hindi dubbing, and zero nuances in sight don’t help either. Shankar’s films are also known for the spectacularly shot songs on the biggest scale possible. On that front, Game Changer doesn’t disappoint. All the four songs in the film are breathtakingly visualised, exploiting the potential of a big screen experience. The imagination, the colours and the different looks that Charan and Advani sport in the songs are witness to Shankar’s expertise on song picturisation. One just wishes he put the same imagination to use while developing the rest of the film.
11 January,2025 10:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaActor Ajith Kumar has said that he will not be signing any films until the racing season is on and that he would be doing a film between October and March, before the racing season commences. The actor, who is currently in Dubai to race in the 24H Dubai 2025 competition along with his team Ajith Kumar Racing, during an interview to a television channel was asked,"Do you write it into your contract to the films that you are allowed to race or do the production companies say 'You can't race'." In reply, Ajith said,"No, I don't need to be told what to do; what not to do. I, for now, as I plan to pursue motorsports -- not just as a driver but as a team owner as well -- until the racing season is on, I won't be signing films. And probably between October until March, before the racing season commences, I will act in films so that no one is worried and I can be on full throttle when I race." To another question on what about the 24H Dubai 2025 had caught his eye, the actor said, "If you look at all the formats I have been racing and they have been sprint races. There is like a small event where there is one car, multiple drivers. So, it is not about you. It is about the car, the equipment. Saving the equipment for your co-drivers. So...(it is a) team sport." It may be recalled that Ajith has been preparing to participate in the race unfazed by a car crash that had left his car badly damaged during a practice session on Tuesday. The actor, who practised driver change drills on Wednesday, then focussed on fine-tuning strategies and improving overall efficiency during practice at the pitstop. For the uninitiated, Ajith is not only racing but is also the owner of the team Ajith Kumar Racing. His team will be participating in the intensely contested Porsche 992 class along with his teammates Mathieu Detry, Fabian Duffieux and Cameron McLeod. Interestingly, Fabian Duffieux had also taken over as the team manager for Ajith Kumar Racing in December last year. The 24H Dubai 2025 will mean a lot to Ajith Kumar as it will mark his firm’s competitive debut in the world of racing. It will also mark the start of intense endurance campaign for the team and his firm, which has roped in Bas Koeten Racing as its technical and logistical partner. 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
10 January,2025 10:38 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSGame Changer review (Hindi version)Director: ShankarCast: Ram Charan, SJ Suryah, Srikanth, Anjali, Kiara AdvaniRuntime: 2 hours 45 mins Game Changer is the first Telugu film of Tamil filmmaker Shankar, who has delivered several blockbusters like Kadhalan (1994), Indian (1996) and Anniyan (2005). He remade his film Mudhalvan (1999) in Hindi as Nayak, the Anil Kapoor starrer that was a box office flop but garnered a lot of love from the audience due to repeated telecasts. Game Changer will remind you of Nayak (most of us have watched it I’m sure). It follows the same pattern as most of Shankar’s films – a common man trying to fight against a corrupt politician in power. What's Game Changer about? Ram Charan plays an IPS-turned-IAS officer Ram Nandan, who is a district collector in the first half of the film and becomes the chief electoral officer in the second, responsible for elections conducted in the state. Ram Charan’s nemesis is a corrupt wannabe chief minister Bobbili Mopidevi (SJ Suryah). Mopidevi’s adoptive father Bobbili Sathyamurthy (Srikanth) has a history with Ram Nandan’s real parents, which the latter discovers much later in the film. In the first half, Ram is motivated by his own morality and righteousness to fight against corruption, but the game becomes personal in the second half. While the first half establishes Ram’s character and gives us a glimpse into his angry past, which is linked to his love story as well, the second half focuses on his attempts at out-witting the vile Mopidevi who can go to any length to grab the chief minister’s chair. Where is Kiara Advani? Game Changer has lots of dramatic, action, emotional scenes, but the plot is predictable and riddled with loopholes. The director forgets to justify Ram’s anger issues in the first half. The explanation as to how Ram got adopted after the death of his real father is also missing. Another person who goes missing for most of the second half is the film’s heroine, Kiara Advani. When the narrative gets too serious, she is brought in for a song. She is barely seen in the climax, either. Beats me why one of the top Bollywood actresses would sign up for such a role. Should you watch Game Changer? Game Changer is the sum of numerous ‘wow moments’, to borrow from reality TV language. The songs, not relevant to the plot, are well-shot with special effects, grand sets and Thaman S’s music to keep you hooked. Some of the top choreographers of India, including Prabhudeva and Ganesh Acharya have been roped in for the songs, which give Ram Charan ample scope to show off his moves and swag. A move in the song ‘Dhop’ will remind you of Prabhudeva’s own iconic ‘Mukkala Mukkabla’ from Kadhalan. The film, as a whole, is a celebration of Ram Charan’s charisma as a hero, and the ‘global star’ does justice to every scene, however exaggerated and ludicrous it may be. Drones carrying EVM machines, JVCs literally scooping out attackers – many such scenes will attract claps and whistles from Ram Charan fans. The filmmaker has played to the gallery and utilised Ram Charan's star appeal very well. Watch the film for Ram Charan and SJ Suryah’s performances – their face off is worth a watch. Tamil actress Anjali, who plays Parvathy, deserves a special mention for leaving a mark with a small but remarkable role.
10 January,2025 06:15 PM IST | Mumbai | Bohni BandyopadhyayThe iconic Annapurna Studios has scripted history again by launching India’s first Dolby certified postproduction facility for cinema & home, which was unveiled by the globally renowned filmmaker SS Rajamouli in the presence of the celebrated actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, Vice Chairman of Annapurna Studios. Launched in collaboration with Dolby, the state-of-the-art facility aims to redefine the audio-visual standards of Indian filmmaking, ensuring cinematic experiences that meet global benchmarks. Interestingly, Rajamouli’s Academy-award-winning RRR—special footage of which was also played at the grand event—was the first-ever Indian film to release in Dolby Cinema, making this a landmark moment for the Indian film industry. Rajamouli remarked, “During the time of RRR, when we wanted to grade the film in Dolby Vision, we had to travel all the way to Germany. It was a bit disheartening that I couldn’t experience my film in Dolby Vision within my own country. But today, I’m thrilled to see a Dolby Vision grading facility right here at Annapurna Studios. Even more exciting is the fact that, by the time my next film releases, there will be multiple Dolby Cinema across India. Watching a film in Dolby Vision is an entirely different experience—the crystal-clear clarity and the way it enhances the nuances of every frame take storytelling to a whole new level. I can’t wait for audiences to experience it!” Nagarjuna Akkineni, Vice Chairman and the face of Annapurna Studios, noted how the studio continues to be at the forefront of innovation in Indian cinema. "From being a pioneer in virtual production to now housing the country’s first Dolby Certified Postproduction Facility for Cinema & Home, the attempt has always been to put Indian films on the map. As Annapurna Studios celebrates its 50th year, this collaboration with Dolby is a testament to that vision. At Annapurna, our legacy has been to embrace change and innovation, and this is another step forward in that journey." Supriya Yarlagadda, ED of Annapurna Studios, emphasized the significance of this milestone and said, "With Dolby Certified Postproduction Facility for Cinema & Home, we are introducing a game-changing technology that will redefine how films are created and experienced in India. We aim to empower filmmakers to tell their stories with unparalleled precision and impact.” The event featured exclusive screenings of content, including scenes from RRR, in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, showcasing the stunning capabilities of the facility.
10 January,2025 03:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran Assamese filmstar Jnanada Kakati, one of the first Indian actresses to get global recognition, died at a hospital due to age-related ailments. She was 94. Kakati was admitted to a private hospital in Shillong, where she breathed her last on Wednesday night, doctors said. She is survived by daughter Juri Kakati. She was the first Assamese and one of the first Indian actresses to receive international recognition and fame when her film 'Puberun', directed by ace filmmaker Prabhat Mukherjee, was selected to be screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1959. "She was invited as a special guest there. The film 'Puberun' was the only film to represent India at the Berlin International Film Festival in that year alongside films like 'Breathless' of France's Jean Luc Goddard," film and TV personality Bobbeeta Sharma told PTI. Sharma, who had made a documentary on the life and works of Kakati, said the veteran actor acted in 14 Assamese films and four Bengali films. Her first film was 'Parghat' in 1949, which was the seventh Assamese film. Since then, she has been a popular Assamese actress and acted in several movies, five of which won national awards. "Living in a remote corner of India and making a foray into acting in films, that too after marriage in a conservative mindset of the late 1940's, was definitely challenging while performing her duties as a wife, daugher-in-law, daughter and mother of two children," Sharma said. Kakati was also an accredited singer of All India Radio, and was the first announcer of AIR Shillong/Guwahati, which was inaugurated in 1948. 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
10 January,2025 08:39 AM IST | Guwahati | PTIThe game-changing day is here, but it looks like Ram Charan and Kiara Advani will not wake up to very happy news. Game Changer is the first biggie of Tollywood in 2025, the movie directed by Shankar Shanmugham, and it hit the big screen today. Now, reports are coming in stating that Ram Charan's starrer collection in North America on day 1 of its release will be significantly affected. Game Changer shows get cancelled If the report from 123telugu is to be believed, according to trade analysts, the movie was eyeing a collection of about 1.3 million dollars in North America on its premiere day, but now it is said that the Kiara Advani starrer will miss this mark due to last-minute delays leading to show cancellations. The news portal has reported that several theatres have cancelled the shows of the action thriller due to print delays, and this will cause a big dent in the movie's collection. According to estimated data given by the site, the action thriller will lose about $100K for premieres since the content wasn’t delivered on time. The bad weather in some parts of the USA can also lead to a further dent in the collection. Meanwhile, one can always rely on word of mouth. If the content of the film works, it can make up for the loss in the American territory. Fans give reviews of the first half Meanwhile, the early morning shows of the film have commenced, and the interval reviews have started coming in. Moviegoers have taken to social media to share their reactions to the first half of the film. “Interval: #Shankar delivers once again! What a high-voltage mass moment for #RamCharan!” a user wrote. While another one commented, "The movie definitely gets better after the first 45 minutes, and the last 30 minutes before the interval are very good, even though we can guess what’s going to happen next!" One comment reads, "The movie definitely gets better after the first 45 minutes, and the last 30 minutes before the interval are very good, even though we can guess what’s going to happen next!" More about Game Changer Game Changer also stars Anjali, Jayaram, Sunil, Srikanth Meka, Samuthirakani, Nassar, Naveen Chandra, and Rajeev Kanakala. As per reports in Great Andhra, Ram Charan took a salary of Rs 65 crore for the film. This is a reduced amount for an actor who achieved global fame with the release of RRR.
10 January,2025 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRenowned playback singer P Jayachandran, affectionately called 'Bhava Gayakan' for his soulful renditions that beautifully expressed emotions such as love, longing, and devotion, passed away on Thursday evening at a private medical college here. He was 80. The singer died at around 7.55 pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, hospital sources said. He was taken to the hospital after collapsing at his residence on Thursday, they said. He had been unwell for quite some time. The singer who recorded over 16,000 songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, was widely recognised for his contribution to Indian music, having won several awards for best playback singer. He was honoured with the National Film Award and the Kerala government's J C Daniel Award for his outstanding contribution to cinema. Additionally, he won Kerala State Film Awards five times and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards twice. His performance of "Shiva Shankara Sharana Sarva Vibho" from the film Sree Narayana Guru earned him the National Award. After completing his graduation in Zoology from Christ College, Irinjalakuda, he worked at a private firm in Chennai. During this time, producer Sobhana Parameswaran Nair and director A Vincent noticed his performance at a musical show in Chennai and offered him an opportunity to sing in a film. This led to his debut with the song 'Oru Mullappoo Malayumayi', penned by eminent lyricist P Bhaskaran, for the movie 'Kunjali Marakkar' in 1965. However, his first released song was "Manjalayil Mungithorthi" from the film titled 'Kalithozhan'. Born on March 3, 1944, in Ernakulam, Jayachandran was the third son of Ravi Varma Kochaniyan Thampuran of Tripunithura Kovilakam and Subhadra Kunjamma of Chendamangalam Paliam House. His musical journey began in high school, playing the mridangam and singing light classical music. In the 1958 state school kalotsavam, Jayachandran won first place in the mridangam competition. It was also during this festival that he met K J Yesudas, who won first place in classical music that year. He collaborated with numerous renowned composers, including G Devarajan, M S Baburaj, V Dakshinamoorthy, K Raghavan, M K Arjunan, M S Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, A R Rahman, Vidyasagar, and M Jayachandran. The singer worked closely with composer Ilaiyaraaja, contributing to several hit Tamil songs. Jayachandran, who left his job to pursue a full-time career as a singer, crooned a series of iconic Malayalam songs, including 'Neelagiriyude Sakhikale,' 'Swarnagopura Narthaki Shilpam,' 'Anuraga Ganam Pole,' 'Upasana Upasana,' 'Prayam Thammil Moham Nalki,' 'Neeyoru Puzhayayi,' 'Enthe Innum Vanneela,' 'Ararum Kanathe Aromal Thaimulla,' and 'Pookkal Panineer Pookkal.' His rendition of 'Onnini Sruthi Thazhthi Paduka Poonkuyile' remains a timeless classic in light music. Besides music, Jayachandran acted in several movies including 'Trivandrum Lodge', 'Nakhakshathangal' and 'Sreekrishnaparunth'. He is survived by wife, Lalitha, daughter Lakshmi and son Dinanathan, who is also a singer. The funeral will be held later. Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar condoled the demise of Jayachandran. The Governor said, "his endearing voice that charmed audience for six decades will go on to soothe people's hearts." Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the journey of the song that transcended time and space has come to a halt. He said Jayachandran was a singer who captured the hearts of people across India throughout an entire era. "It can be said that there is no Malayali who has not been touched by Jayachandran's songs. Whether through film songs, light music, or devotional songs, every note he sang found its way into the hearts of listeners," he said. Vijayan said what set Jayachandran's vocal expression apart from his contemporaries was the uniqueness of his emotions. "History will remember him as a singer who made extraordinary contributions in bringing the art of vocal music to the common people. Through his voice, the world recognised the beauty of the Malayalam language. The curtain falls here on a melodic wonder that has captured the hearts of generations," the CM said. Jayachandran's passing marks an "irreplaceable loss" for both the music world, in particular, he said. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan described Jayachandran as one of those "rare voices" that a music lover feels like listening to again and again. He said for five decades, Jayachandran's voice has enthralled generations of people. "The unique singing style is something that belongs solely to Jayachandran..." 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
09 January,2025 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIPushpa 2: The Rule starring Allu Arjun continues its historic run at the box office, dominating cinemas even after 30 days of its release. The film has shattered records at the box office, with fans flocking to theaters to witness the brilliance brought to life by director Sukumar and Allu Arjun’s mesmerizing performance. Amid its unprecedented success, the makers have released an exclusive behind-the-scenes video showcasing the making of this cinematic masterpiece. Making of Pushpa 2: The Rule Sharing the video, the T-Series wrote, “Presenting the Indian Cinema's Industry Hit๐ฅ - Pushpa 2 The Rule (Making) !!! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mythri Movie Makers (@mythriofficial) The video highlighted the dedication, creativity, and immense effort behind every frame, showcasing the film's grandeur. The BTS video showed insightful interactions between director Sukumar and lead stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna. The makers also expressed heartfelt gratitude to audiences, thanking them for the overwhelming success and love for the film. The film has amassed an astounding โน1831 crore in worldwide gross, breaking multiple records and solidifying its position as the biggest Indian blockbuster. Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar and featuring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. The film is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings with music on T Series. The film was released on 5th December 2024. Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2's OTT release Netflix has reportedly bought the film's streaming rights for a staggering amount of Rs 275 crore. there has not been any official announcement regarding the film's streaming date on the platform but generally, action drama films are released within six to eight weeks of its release. Fans can expect the movie to stream on the platform from around February 2025. Earlier, the prequel to the film, Pushpa: The Rise which was released in the year 2021 had taken the world by storm. Since then, fans had been anticipating a second part and the buzz around the film was insane. Fans can't stop gushing over the film, even its songs are loved by fans. The songs are composed by Devi Sri Prasad.
09 January,2025 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNandamuri Balakrishna aka Balayya's upcoming film 'Daaku Maharaaj' pre-release event was scheduled to happen on Thursday, January 9. However, in light of the tragic incident at Tirupati on Wednesday night, the makers of the film cancelled the event. The film directed by Bobby Kolli is scheduled for release on January 12. The grand pre-release event of 'Daaku Maharaaj' was scheduled to take place in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The actor's son-in-law minister Nara Lokesh was set to grace the event as chief guest. However, owing to the Tirupati stampede that claimed six lives, the makers decided to not hold the event. On Thursday morning, the film's production house, Sithara Entertainment announced that the pre-release event was cancelled. They wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “In light of the recent events in Tirupati, our team is deeply affected by the tragic incident that has occurred. It is heart-wrenching to see such an incident occur at the Lord Venkateswara temple - a place of devotion, hope for millions and a cherished part of our families' traditions.” They added, “Given the circumstances we feel it is not appropriate to proceed with #DaakuMaharaaj Pre Release Event as planned. With a heavy heart and utmost respect for the devotion and sentiments of the people, we have decided to call off today’s event. We hope for your understanding and support during this difficult time!!” “ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ “In light of the recent events in Tirupati, our team is deeply affected by the tragic incident that has occurred. . It is heart-wrenching to see such an incident occur at the Lord Venkateswara temple -… — Sithara Entertainments (@SitharaEnts) January 9, 2025 About the Tirupati stampede Six devotees died and nearly 40 more were injured in the stampede at Bairagi Patteda near MGM School in Tirupati on Wednesday night as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills. Hundreds of devotees turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10. Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar informed that adequate arrangements are in place ahead of the Vaikunth Ekadasi which gets underway on Friday. Vaikunta Dwara Darshan is scheduled to be held at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple from January 10 to 19. It allows devotees to pass through the sacred gate to receive Lord Venkateswara's blessings. About Daaku Maharaaj Written and Directed by Bobby Kolli, ‘Daaku Maharaaj’ is scheduled to release on January 12 for the festival of Sankranti.. It also stars Bobby Deol in the negative role marking his debut in Tollywood. The first-look video featured Balakrishna in a dacoit avatar. The film also stars Pragya Jaiswal who will be reuniting with NBK. The film, which has music by Thaman S, has cinematography by Vijay Kartik Kannan and editing by Niranjan Devaramane and Ruben. Screenplay for the film is by K Chakravarthy Reddy while dialogues have been penned by Bhanu and Nandu. Stunts have been choreographed by V Venkat.
09 January,2025 05:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
