Pushpa, Too!

Pushpa, Too! 

Police case against Allu Arjun a worrying trend 

14.12.2024   TOI  AHAMEDABAD 

For Telangana police to charge Telugu superstar Allu Arjun with culpable homicide was ridiculous. For a trial court to send him to judicial custody for 14 days was miscarriage of justice. Thankfully better sense prevailed as HC granted the actor interim bail. The case as it stands is that a woman died and a child was critically hurt in a stampede that occurred when Allu Arjun attended the opening of his blockbuster Pushpa 2. The theatre and the actor’s team say they informed police ahead of his visit. Police say they denied him permission but that he even held a ‘roadshow’. The woman’s spouse filed a complaint basis which police shot off the FIR. Whatever the case’s merits, and however it gets decided, police neglected their obligation to manage crowds. The high-profile arrest ensured the case takes a life of its own and police can escape accountability. Film audiences in most of southern India are known to break into a frenzy at starstudded movie openings, even without the presence of their idols. Even if Allu Arjun were not present, the opening of Pushpa 2 was a hugely anticipated event and large crowds were expected at the busy Hyderabad location where Sandhya theatre is. 

Crowd control is police work. Period. Had there been no casualty, this would have been just another ‘stampede-like situation’, tucked away and forgotten in police records. As is seen repeatedly in several such situations countrywide where expert crowd control is required, police fail hopelessly to control the situation – ill-equipped, ill-trained, and in several cases, it’s simply dereliction of duty. Police have dangerously become trigger-happy with FIRs on serious charges in their need to protect their own shortcomings. India-wide, ordinary people, especially women, the poor and marginalised struggle to file cases against harms done to them. But simultaneously, police forces find it all too easy to harass citizens, high-profile and ordinary, via weak cases but stringent provisions, sometimes to please political masters and otherwise to deflect attention and accountability. 

12/14/24, 9:11 AM Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-ahmedabad.cms 1/2 12/14/24, 9:11 AM Times of India ePaper ahmedaba

Proof: How Allu Arjun Making Other Heroes Jealous

Proof: How Allu Arjun Making Other Heroes Jealous

 By M9 Updated 21:40 December 10, 2024

Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 has been breaking records in the Hindi belt and is a massive box office hit. It shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In the South, Allu Arjun’s performance is dominating more than anything. 

His cult acting has made a huge impact, clearly visible everywhere. There’s no doubt that his performance will make other stars jealous. It elevates him to another level as a performer.  Fans of every Telugu star are creating AI images of their heroes in the explosive Jatra episode, imagining them in Pushpa Raj’ role. These images are flooding social media. After seeing Allu Arjun’s performance, it’s clear that none of these stars would fit in that role. 

His delivery and the impact he created in the Jathara episode are unmatched. Allu Arjun and his character, Pushpa Raj, have become the subject of jealousy for fans of every star hero. Everyone feels not just jealousy but a desire for their heroes to deliver powerful mass masala films with performances like his.

Read more at: https://www.m9.news/movienews/proof-how-allu-arjun-making-other-heroes-jealous/

MATCHSTICK TO MOVIE MOGUL

MATCHSTICK TO MOVIE MOGUL 

TIMES OF INDIA  CHENNAI EDITION 11.12.2024

How S M Nayagam from Thanjavur became the ‘father of Sinhala Talkies’

Meenakshi Devaraj Matchstick maker, soap manufacturer, prawn exporter, gemstone trader and finally, the ‘father of Sinhala Talkies’ — though S M Nayagam managed to make a mark in several industries, the story of the man from Thanjavur remains largely untold. It all began in the 19th century, when Sundaram Pillai and Veerama, traders from Thanjavur in what was then the Madras Presidency, decided to move to Kotahena, a suburb of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Veerama returned to Thanjavur and gave birth to a son, Madhura Nayagam (meaning leader), on Sept 24, 1906, then returned to Sri Lanka, where he was raised. 

Madhura, who later changed his name to S M Nayagam, began his career as a clerk at Ford Cargo Corporation, until he noticed that the matchstick industry was taking off. Nayagam then travelled from Sri Lanka to Kumbakonam to learn wooden matchstick-making, returned with the skill and taught his wife, Deivanai, and sisters, Rajalakshmi and Jagathambal, to make them. He would ask them to produce as many sticks as they could in their free time, and after work, Nayagam would take over and handle the chemical dipping, bundling, packaging and sales of his ‘Swasthika Matchsticks’. He was among the pioneers in Sri Lanka’s matchstick industry. Inspired by the Swadeshi movement — Nayagam established a local manufacturing unit, Swadeshi Industrial Works, in 1941, in Kandana, where he lived. He produced soaps, for which he sourced sandalwood from Mysore, and later expanded to include various herbal soaps, such as neem. These products were even exported to places like America in the early 20th century. Nayagam travelled the world to gather ideas from successful business ventures and introduced several new industries to Sri Lanka, including the manufacturing of glasses, aluminium and plastics. Soon, his relatives in Thanjavur established their own businesses under the name Swadeshi. 

As the Indian entertainment industry began to flourish, Nayagam’s attention shifted toward cinema. In 1939, he established the studio Chitra Kala Movietone at Thirunagar in Madurai, where many South Indian films were produced. The studio was equipped with all the modern facilities of its time. Alongside the studio, Nayagam also founded a production company and began making Tamil films. His first Tamil film, ‘Kumaraguru’, was released in 1946. In 1947, he released ‘Thainadu’ (meaning ‘Motherland’), a patriotic film, timed to coincide with India’s independence. Until the early 1940s, only English or Indian language films were screened in Sri Lanka. One day, while casually speaking with his Sinhala friends, Nayagam learned of their desire to watch a movie in their own mother tongue. A shrewd businessman, Nayagam immediately recognised the opportunity behind the demand for a Sinhala talkie. He quickly set to work on producing the first one. Nayagam noticed the success of Tamil dramas and plays being adapted into hit films and believed this concept could work in Sinhala as well. He adapted the popular Sinhala play ‘Kadawunu Poronduwa’ (meaning ‘Broken Promise’) into a movie. The entire shooting of this first Sinhala talkie took place at Nayagam’s studio in Madurai. He brought a team from Sri Lanka to Madras, taking great care of them, even arranging for a medical team to attend to any health needs during production. Nayagam released Kadawunu Poronduwa on Jan 21, 1947. It was a massive hit, earning Nayagam the title of the ‘Father of Sinhala Talkies’. Nayagam continued producing Sinhala films, bringing many technicians and artists from South India, such as A S Nagara jan and A B Raj, to establish the early Sinhala film industry. One of the major successes from Nayagam’s production house was ‘Mathalan’ (1955). A remake of the Tamil blockbuster ‘Mangamma Sabatham’ (produced by AVM), ‘Mathalan’ was made entirely in Madras Vahini Studio due to the need for lavish sets. It ran in theatres for years, breaking all box-office records. 

On May 30, 1950, Nayagam established Sri Murugan Navakala studio in Kandana, at a cost of ₹3 lakh. The inauguration of his studio was celebrated with a festive welcome in Sri Lanka. It also attracted many south Indian technicians. Nayagam’s home in Kandana became a gathering spot for prominent figures from the Tamil film industry, including Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Major Sundarrajan and the Travancore Sisters (Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini). One of Nayagam’s unfulfilled dreams was to create a film based on the Jataka  tales, a Buddhist story set in Madras. He even announced this ambitious project at a press conference at Madras Woodlands. Nayagam, a pioneer in nearly five industries in Sri Lanka, died on Feb 4, 1978, at the age of 72. 

Following his death, many of his family members were forced to relocate to various parts of the world due to the riots in Sri Lanka during the 1980s. The family was deeply moved when they saw the remnants of Nayagam’s Chitra Kala Studio in Madurai. The site where the studio once operated has since been transformed into a housing colony, with the name Chitrakala still attached. A portion of the building, bearing the word Chitrakala, remains to this day as a tribute to the man from Thanjavur who took Sri Lanka by storm. 

(The writer is a researcher on Tamil culture) Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesofindia.com GANDHI, GODS AND GLOBAL EXPANSIONS ➤ Nayagam was a voracious reader with a deep love for his mother tongue Tamil ➤ His grandsons Rajeev and Sanjeev recall how he carefully preserved letters from Mahatma Gandhi ➤ He was a devout follower of Lord Murugan of Thiruparankundram. His office was adorned in red velvet and featured a statue of Lord Murugan at its centre. Nayagam combined business trips to Tamil Nadu with visits to Murugan temples ➤ Nayagam was also involved in prawn export and gemstone trade. His enterprises were so successful that he expanded internationally with units in places such as Hong Kong ➤ Nayagam’s niece, Shaantha Jayaraj, is working to compile information about his life

ALLU ARJUN PLEDGES ₹25 LAKH TO KIN OF WOMAN KILLED IN STAMPEDE

ALLU ARJUN PLEDGES ₹25 LAKH TO KIN OF WOMAN KILLED IN STAMPEDE

GUTTED & HEARTBROKEN: 08.12.2024

 ‘I am personally donating ₹25 lakhs to the family’ Two days after the deadly stampede at the Pushpa 2: The Rule premiere that resulted in a woman’s death and her son’s serious injuries, Allu Arjun offered his condolences and pledged ₹25 lakh for the family. In a video shared on social media Friday night, Allu Arjun vowed to stand by the family of Revathi, the mother of two who lost her life in the stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre on Wednesday. The actor also promised to bear the medical expenditure for the treatment of their 9- year-old son, Sritej who suffered serious injuries in the mishap. 

“We make films so that everyone enjoys them with their families. When tragic incidents like this happen, it feels like our energies have been sapped. The whole team is deeply upset to learn about the death of Revathi garu. No matter what we do, we won’t be able to undo the loss. As a goodwill gesture, I am personally donating ₹25 lakhs to the bereaved family to help them secure the future of her two kids. We are also taking care of the medical expenditure of the injured kid,” he said, speaking in Telugu. 

Allu Arjun booked 

Police have booked Allu Arjun, his team, Sandhya Theatre management post the fatal stampede. Based on the family’s complaint, a case has been registered under sections 105 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 118(1) (Voluntarily causing hurt), and 3(5) BNS. What happened During a Pushpa 2 screening at Sandhya Theatre on Wednesday night, a stampede broke out as fans rushed to see Allu Arjun, who made a surprise appearance. In the chaos, Revathi, 39, was killed, and her 9-year-old son, Sritej, was injured and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.

Remarks against Vadivelu: HC gags actor Singamuthu

Remarks against Vadivelu: HC gags actor Singamuthu 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 07.12.2024

Chennai : Madras high court directed actor Singamuthu to file an affidavit giving an undertaking that he will not make any defamatory or derogatory statements against actor Vadivelu. Justice G Jayachandran passed the interim order on Friday, on a civil suit m oved by Vadivelu seeking ₹5 crore as damages from Singamuthu for making defamatory statements against him on social media. According to Vadivelu, Singamuthu in interviews given on YouTube channels on Jan 16 and Feb 11, made several derogatory and false statements against personal and professional life. On Mar 19, Vadivelu issued legal notices to Singamuthu and the YouTube channels concerned, demanding an apology and withdrawal of his comments. 

Though the channels expressed their apology, Singamuthu sent a reply stating that under the Constitution, free speech is guaranteed to him. Noting that the reply was nothing but adding salt to his wound, Vadivelu said, “for no cause, he is disgraced in the public by defamatory words of Singamuthu.” Vadivelu submitted that he is a well-known artist and that statements of Singamuthu caused mental agony, pain, and m

isery. Unless he is directed to compensate the plaintiff, the defendant will continue making such cheap and unwarranted utterances against the plaintiff.

Pushpa 2 in race to be among top grossers in US

Pushpa 2 in race to be among top grossers in US 

Spiralling Ticket Prices Touch $70 

Amisha.Rajani@timesofindia.com 06.12.2024

Hyderabad : Amid the tragedy back home, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ made a killing with its premier shows across the US. According to some local industry sources, the collections of the Allu Arjun-starrer has already crossed the $3.9 million and secured a spot among the top 3 movies with biggest openings. The tremendous rush has, meanwhile, sent ticket prices spiralling with seats being sold for $40 (₹3,400), almost four times the usual price, in many locations, said movie buffs there. Some claimed that tickets were resold too for anywhere between $50 (₹4,250)and $70 ( ₹5,800) — rates never heard of before. “The excitement for the movie has been tough to contain. We have been waiting for this for too long,” said Rajesh Pothula, a tech professional from New Jersey.

 “Even though $40 felt like a stretch, I didn’t want to miss experiencing it on the big screen.” Others, however, were less enthused by the inflated rates. “It’s amazing how much hype the movie has generated, but $70 for a ticket? That is insane,” said Swapna Reddy, a student from California. “I had to skip the premiere because it was way beyond my budget,” she added. Anil Choudhary, an IT consultant working in Dallas had to do the same. “I understand there’s a demand, but charging $40 feels like exploiting fans,” said Anil who waited months for the movie, but gave it a miss after seeing ticket price. 

High ticket prices due to limited shows: Film distributors The film’s distributors in the US claimed that the high prices were because of limited shows. “Pushpa’s massive fan base overseas guarantees packed theatres,” said a distributor in Dallas, Texas. “Premium pricing during premieres isn’t unusual, especially for Indian blockbusters with high production costs and star power.” Despite the hefty prices, the movie drew packed audiences, with several shows running full house. “It was worth every penny,” said Ravi Kumar, who drove over two hours to watch the film in Chicago. “The energy in the theatre was electric. It felt like a festival

Amaran OTT: First Time Happening for Tamil Film

Amaran OTT: First Time Happening for Tamil Film 

By M9 Updated 21:30          November 11, 2024 

Amaran starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi is performing exceptionally well at the box office. The film was initially scheduled for its OTT release 28 days after its theatrical debut. However, due to its incredible success in theaters, Netflix has decided to delay the streaming by a week. 

The film will now likely release on December 11, instead of the originally planned November 28. This is the first time such a thing is happening with a Tamil film. The movie has already grossed 124.30 crores at the Indian box office in just 9 days. The Telugu version of the film has also crossed 30 crore gross in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and is on track to hit 40 crore. Worldwide, it has made 203.57 crore. 

Given its current trend, the movie could earn over 275 crore gross worldwide and possibly even break into the 300 crore club. It all depends on how Kanguva is received by the audience this week.

Read more at: https://www.m9.news/what-to-watch-on-ott/amaran-ott-first-time-happening-for-tamil-film/

காலம் தந்த கலைக் கொடை!

தினமணி

காலம் தந்த கலைக் கொடை! 11.11.2024 

உதயம் ராம்

'எதற்குமே ஆசைப்படாது, எதையுமே எதிா்ப்பாா்க்காது வாழ்க்கையை அதன் போக்கிலேயே வாழ வேண்டும்' என்று அடிக்கடி சொல்கிற அற்புத மனிதா் டெல்லி கணேஷின் மரணமும் அதன் போக்கிலேயே எவரும் எதிா்பாராத வகையில் அமைந்தது ஆச்சா்யமான ஒன்று.

நெல்லை மாவட்டத்தில் வல்லநாடு என்ற ஊரில் பிறந்து இன்று உலகெங்கும் உள்ள தமிழா்களின் இதயங்களில் மறக்க முடியாத மகத்தான கலைஞனாக சிம்மாசனம் போட்டு டெல்லி கணேஷ் அமா்ந்திருப்பதற்குக் காரணம் அவருடைய திறமை மட்டுமல்ல, உழைப்பு, முழு அா்ப்பணிப்புடன் கூடிய தொழில் பக்தி, எதையும் கற்கத் துடிக்கும் ஆா்வம் எல்லாமும்தான்.

தேசத்தின் விமானப் படை, இந்திய உணவுக் கழகம் என்று பணியாற்றிய இவரை நாடக உலகில் அறிமுகம் செய்து வைத்த நடிகா் காத்தாடி ராமமூா்த்தியையும், திரையுலகில் 'பட்டணப் பிரவேசம்' செய்ய வைத்த இயக்குநா் பாலசந்தா், இயக்குநா் விசு இருவரையும், தனக்கு நல்ல கதாபாத்திரங்களை நம்பிக்கையுடன் தனது எல்லா படங்களிலும் தந்த கமலஹாசனையும் எப்போதும் எங்கும் குறிப்பிடத் தவறாத நன்றியுணா்வு இவரின் தலைசிறந்த பண்புகளில் ஒன்று. குணச்சித்திர நடிகராக அறிமுகமாகி, நகைச்சுவை நடிகராக, வில்லன் நடிகராக, ஏன் எந்த வேடத்திற்கும் பொருந்தக் கூடியவராக மாறியவா் இவா்.

எஸ்.வி.சுப்பையா, டி.எஸ்.பாலையா, எஸ்.வி.ரங்கா ராவ், வி.கே.ராமசாமி, நாகேஷ், மனோரமா போன்றவா்களின் வரிசையில் எல்லா வேடங்களுக்கும் கன கச்சிதமாய் பொருந்துபவா் என்றும், இயக்குநா்கள் விரும்பும் நடிகா் என்றும் இயக்குநா் எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் சொல்வது மிகையல்ல. மேடை நாடகங்கள், வெள்ளித்திரை, சின்னத்திரை, விளம்பரம், குறும்படம் இப்படி எல்லாவற்றிலும் தன் வசன உச்சரிப்பாலும் நடிப்பாலும் குடும்பத்தில் ஓா் அங்கமாகவே வாழும் டெல்லி கணேஷின் மறுபக்கம் சுவாரஸ்யம் நிறைந்தது.

தன் மனைவியை 'பேபி' என்று அவா் அழைப்பதே தனி அழகு. தன் வருமானத்தை மனைவியிடம் கொடுத்து, தனக்கு வேண்டியதை மனைவியிடம் கேட்டுப் பெற்று 'பாக்கெட் மணி' என்று பெருமைப்படுபவா். பல திரைப்படங்களில் சமையல் கலைஞராக சிறப்பாக நடித்ததற்குக் காரணம் இவரே சிறந்த சமையற் கலைஞா். இவரே காய்கறிகளை நறுக்கி சமைத்து அமா்க்களப்படுத்துவாா்.

டெல்லி கணேஷ் மிகச் சிறந்த வாசிப்பாளா், எழுத்தாளா். படிப்பதோடு மட்டுமல்லாமல், எழுதிய படைப்பாளரை உடனே தொடா்பு கொண்டு பாராட்டத் தயங்காதவா். பல ஆண்டுகளாக இதைத் தொடா்ந்து செய்து பல எழுத்தாளா்களைக் கவா்ந்த ரசிகராகிவிட்டவா்.

தான் எழுதுவதற்குக் காரணம் கரிச்சான் குஞ்சு என்பாா். பல்வேறு இலக்கிய அமைப்புகளின் நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் பங்கேற்ன் தாக்கமும், எழுத்தாளா்களோடு இருந்த நட்பும், கூடவே கரோனா கால கட்டத்தில் கிடைத்த ஓய்வும், நேரமும், ஃபேஸ்புக் பதிவுகளும் அவருக்குள் உறங்கிக் கொண்டிருந்த எழுத்து தாகமும் சோ்ந்து இவரை எழுத்தாளராக்கிவிட்டன. மூன்று வருடங்களுக்குள் 'பிள்ளையாா் சுழி', 'டெல்லி தா்பாா்', 'ஆல் இன் ஆல் அனுபவங்கள்' என்ற மூன்று நூல்களை எழுதிவிட்டாா்.

'பிள்ளையாா் சுழி' நூல் ஆா்.கே.நாராயண் எழுதிய 'மால்குடி டேஸ்' நாவலுக்கு ஒப்பானது. 'பிள்ளையாா் சுழி' நூல் வெளியிட்டு விழாவுக்கு ஒவ்வொரு துறையிலிருந்தும் ஒருவரை அழைத்தது வித்தியாசமானதாய் அப்போது பேசப்பட்டது.

இந்திய விமானப் படையில் பணிபுரிந்தபோது அன்றைய பிரதமா் லால் பகதூா் சாஸ்திரியைப் பாா்க்கும் வாய்ப்பு கிட்டியது. ஒரு நாட்டின் பிரதமா் இவ்வளவு எளிமையாக இருப்பாரா என்ற ஆச்சா்யம்தான், எப்போதும் எளியவனாய் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியது என்று கூறுவாா். தான் ஒரு சிறந்த கலைஞன், பல விருதுகள் பெற்றவன் என்ற எண்ணம் எப்போதுமே டெல்லி கணேஷிடம் உருவானதே இல்லை .

பொதிகைத் தொலைக்காட்சிக்காக எனது தயாரிப்பு- இயக்கத்தில் அவருடன் இணைந்து 'மாறுவோம் மாற்றுவோம்' என்ற பேச்சரங்கம் நிகழ்ச்சியை நடத்தியபோது, பள்ளி மாணவ மாணவிகளோடு அமா்ந்து அவா்கள் டிபன் பாக்ஸில் இருப்பதைத் தரச் சொல்லி சாப்பிட்டு, அவா்கள் மன நிலைக்குத் தானும் இறங்கி வந்து, குழந்தையாகவே மாறி அவா்களைப் பேச வைத்து மகிழ்ந்தவா். அவரின் பேச்சுத் திறமை, விவாதத்திறன், ஆங்காங்கே பாரதியின் பாடல்களை மேற்கோள் காட்டிய விதம் எல்லாம் பிரமிக்க வைத்தன. அவை பல பேச்சரங்க நிகழ்ச்சிகளுக்கு முன்னோடியாய் அமைந்தன.

வெளியூா் பயணங்களின்போது எல்லோரும் பயணிக்கும் வகுப்பிலேயே எனக்கும் டிக்கட் எடு என்பாா். நீங்கள் தங்கும் விடுதியிலேயே எனக்கும் அறை போதும் என்பாா். தனியாக வசதியான அறை ஒதுக்கினாலும் எங்கள் அறைக்கு வந்து தரையில் படுத்துக் கொள்கிறேன் என்பாா். எவ்வளவு எளிமை, எத்தனை பண்பு! வியப்பால் விழிகள் இப்போதும் விரிகின்றன.

பாரதியின் பாடல்கள் பலவும், சம்பவங்கள் பலவும் டெல்லி கணேஷுக்கு தலைகீழ் பாடம். கொன்றை வேந்தனும் அத்துப்படி. எல்லா மேடைகளிலும் பாரதியின் பாடல்களைச் சொல்லி, நம் தேசத்தின் பெருமைகளை எடுத்துரைத்து, நம் குடும்பம், நம் கலாசாரம் இவற்றை நாம் மறக்கக் கூடாது என்பதை வலியுறுத்துவதைப் பாா்க்கும்போது இலக்கிய மேடைகள் எப்படி இவரைப் பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளத் தவறின என்று தோன்றும்.

'திரிசூலம்' என்ற தொலைக்காட்சித் தொடரில் நான் பாரதியாராக நடித்த புண்ணியம்தான் என்னை இத்தனை மாணவா்களிடையே பாரதியைப் பற்றி பேச வைக்கிறது' என்பதை கண்களில் நீா் மல்கச் சொல்லும்போது மாணவா்கள் அரங்கமே சில நிமிடங்கள் கலங்கி நிற்கும். 'பாரதியின் ஆத்திசூடிதான் என் வாழ்க்கைப் பாடம்' என்று கூறிவந்த டெல்லி கணேஷ் அதன்படியே வாழ்ந்தவா்.

இவா் தனது மகனை திரையுலகில் நடிகராக்கி வெற்றி பெறச் செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக சொந்தப் படம் எடுத்து சில கோடிகளை இழந்தபோது இவரிடம் எப்படிப் பேசுவது, என்ன பேசுவது என்று அவருக்கு நெருங்கியவா்கள் கலங்கி நின்றனா். ஆனால் இரண்டே நாட்களில் அந்த அதிா்ச்சியிலிருந்து மீண்டு, 'நான் நல்லா சம்பாதிச்சேன். அதை என் பையனோட ஆசைக்காக செலவு பண்ணினேன். மறுபடியும் சம்பாதிச்சா போச்சு' என இயல்பாகப் பேசியபோது 'தோல்வியில் கலங்கேல்' என்கிற பாரதியின் வரி நினைவுக்கு வந்தது.

17 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் இருதய அறுவை சிகிச்சை முடிந்து மருத்துவமனையில் இருந்தாா். இவரைப் பாா்க்க போனவா்களிடம் 'என்னை இனிமே யாரும் இதயம் இல்லாதவன்னு சொல்ல முடியுமா?' என்று நகைச்சுவையோடு சொன்னது, 'அச்சம் தவிா்' என்ற பாரதியின் கூற்றை நினைவூட்டியது.

மற்றவா்களுக்கு உதவி செய்வதை இவா் ஒருபோதும் தள்ளிப் போடுவதில்லை. தேவைகளைக் கேட்டு அது சம்பந்தப்பட்டவா்களிடம் உடனுக்குடன் பேசி அந்த உதவியைப் பெற்றுத் தந்து விடுவாா். 'நமக்கு ஒருவரைத் தெரியும்போது அவா் மூலம் நாம் உதவியை மற்றவா்களுக்குப் பெற்றுத் தருகிறோம். இறைவன் அதற்கு என்னைக் கருவியாக பயன்படுத்துகிறான்' என்று சொல்கிற பெருந்தன்மை, பெரிய மனது, இதற்காக விளம்பரம் தேடாத பண்பு எல்லாம் டெல்லி கணேஷைத் தவிர வேறு யாருக்கும் வரும்.

எளியோரின் உற்ற நண்பன் டெல்லி கணேஷ். அதற்கு உதாரணம் அவருடைய இறுதி மரியாதை. இவருக்கு இறுதி மரியாதை செலுத்த வந்த பிரபலங்கள் இவரின் நட்புக்காக, பிரபலத்துக்காக வந்திருந்தனா். ஆனால் அவரது வீட்டைச் சுற்றியுள்ள பாமர மக்கள், கூட்டம் கூட்டமாக வந்து கண்ணீா் விட்டு அழுதது, இந்த மனிதா் எளியோா் மனதில் எப்படி வாழ்ந்தாா் என்பதை நெகிழ்ச்சியுடன் விளக்கியது. வாகன ஓட்டுநரை தன் மற்றொரு மகனாகவே நடத்திய பண்பாளா் டெல்லி கணேஷ்.

இவரது நினைவாற்றல் அசாத்தியமானது என்பதற்கு இவருடைய ஃபேஸ்புக் பதிவுகளே சான்று. நிகழ்ச்சி நடந்த இடம், வருடம், அங்கு சந்தித்த மனிதா்கள், சம்பவங்கள் இவற்றையெல்லாம் கோா்வையாக நகைச்சுவையுடன் எழுதுகிற ஆற்றலுக்கு அவா் இன்னும் பல நூல்களை எழுதியிருப்பாா். ஆனால் காலம் அவரை அவசரமாய் அழைத்துக் கொண்டுவிட்டது.

'கலைஞன் என்பவன் தனது கடைசி மூச்சு வரை கலைஞனாகவே வாழ வேண்டும். ஓய்வு என்ற வாா்த்தை இல்லாத ஒன்றுதான் கலைஞனின் வாழ்க்கை' என்று எப்போதும் சொல்லும் டெல்லி கணேஷ், தன் கடைசி மூச்சு வரை நடித்திருக்கிறாா். கடந்த வாரம் ஓா் திரைப்படத்துக்கு டப்பிங் பேசியிருக்கிறாா். எத்தனை கலைஞா்களுக்கு இந்தப் பெருமை கிடைக்கும்?

தமிழ், தெலுங்கு, மலையாளம், ஹிந்தி என 650 படங்களுக்கும் மேல் பல்வேறு வேடங்களில் நடித்து தமிழ் மக்களின் மனத்தில் நீங்காத இடம்பெற்றுள்ள இந்த மாபெரும் கலைஞனின் திறமைகள் தேசிய அளவில் பாராட்டப்படாதது ஒரு குைான். பன்முகக் கலைஞராய் வாழ்ந்த இந்தப் பண்பாளரை 'பத்ம விருது' தேடி வரவில்லை என்பது வருத்தமாக இருக்கிறது.

'பசி' ரிக்ஷாக்கரா் முனியாண்டி; 'சிந்துபைரவி' மிருதங்க வித்துவான் குருமூா்த்தி; 'மைக்கேல் மதன காமராஜன்' சமையல்காரா் மணி ஐயா்; 'தெனாலி' மனோத்துவ டாக்டா் பஞ்சபூதம் உள்ளிட்டோா் மக்கள் மனதில் நீங்காத இடம் பெற்றிருக்கும் வரை டெல்லி கணேஷ் என்கிற மாபெரும் கலைஞனின் நினைவும் தமிழ் மக்களின் நெஞ்சத்திலிருந்து அகலாது. தேசப்பற்றுள்ள விமானப் படை அதிகாரி, நாடகக் கலைஞனாக உருமாறி, திரைப்பட நடிகனாக வலம் வந்து, எழுத்தாளராக உயா்ந்த வரலாற்றுக்கு சொந்தக்காரா் டெல்லி கணேஷ்!

Don’t call me Ulaganayagan, says Kamal

Don’t call me Ulaganayagan, says Kamal

Kamal Haasan The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 12.11.2024 

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan on Monday said that he would not like to be addressed with titles or prefixes such as Ulaganayagan, which his fans and the Tamil film industry have bestowed on him over the years. He said he would prefer to be called Kamal Haasan, KH, or Kamal.

In a statement, Mr. Haasan said that while titles such as Ulaganayagan had “been always humbling”, and that he was “moved” by them, “the artist must not be elevated above the art”.

While titles and prefixes for actors are common in Tamil cinema, actor Ajith Kumar had also requested people not to call him Thala.

“The art of cinema transcends beyond any individual, and I am but a student of the craft, forever hoping to evolve, learn and grow. Cinema, like any other form of creative expression, belongs to all,” Mr. Haasan said.

“I prefer to remain grounded, constantly aware of my imperfections and my duty to improve. Hence, after considerable reflection, I feel compelled to respectfully decline all such titles or prefixes,” he said.

Madras celebrates as its very own star has turned 70

Madras celebrates  as its very own star has turned 70

Cult classic: Kamal did Aboorva Sagotharargal (Appu Raja

in Hindi), playing the dwarf character with elan.

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Madras Memories

The cherubic boy in Kalathur Kannamma has turned 70, and yes, time does fly. Kamal Haasan, a five-year-old back then in 1960, has been defying the conventional norms of celluloid, adding a dash of magic, pushing the bars of excellence, and has left his imprint across categories. Acting, directing, choreography (he was an assistant dance master in Malayalam films), production duties, singing, lyric and screenplay writing, are all part of his vast repertoire.

And just as he clocked 70 last Thursday (November 7), wishes poured in and the release-announcement teaser of his Thug Life, helmed by Mani Ratnam, dropped in the digital space. The two, joining hands after the masterly Nayagan (1987), have understandably set expectations on fire. In the duopoly of Tamil movies, the Rajini-Kamal combine has set a high benchmark, for the movies they headline, the profits that accrue, and the dignity that they lend to their enduring friendship.

An interchangeable label

The laziest thing would be to label one as the star and the other as the actor, but both have proved that it is interchangeable. Rajini’s acting chops were evident in the poignant Mullum Malarum (1978), while Kamal’s box-office charisma was obvious in Sagalakala Vallavan (1982). In the Madras of the 1980s and 90s, the two held sway, and they continue to do so even now. It is a tribute to their longevity and the ability to stay relevant within a changing fan-demographic and evolving viewership tastes.

Kamal often did the commercial-Indie split or the action-comedy segregation while offering his bouquet of films over the years. Back in the 1990s, a few movie-halls were associated with specific actors. Albert at Egmore was deemed a Rajini bastion, but Kamal’s laugh-riot Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) ran to packed houses at that theatre. A year earlier, he did Aboorva Sagotharargal (Appu Raja in Hindi), playing the dwarf character with elan. The box-office went into overdrive and an impressed DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi penned a note: Kalaiye un marupeyar thaan Kamalo?(Art, is thy alternate name Kamal?)

Incremental value

It is a tribute to Kamal that even his films that didn’t exactly keep the cash-registers ringing have acquired an incremental value. Guna’s Kanmani anbodu song proved to be the emotional spine that held the recent Malayalam hit Manjummel Boys together. While Meiyazhagan currently draws in appreciation, people immediately recall the Kamal-Madhavan bromance and innate philosophy in Anbe Sivam (2003). Be it the sad Moondram Pirai (1982) climax or the all-guns-blazing denouement in Vikram (2022), Kamal has held his space while the years race by and he does the balancing act between the arts and politics.

Delhi Ganesh, who acted in around 400 films, dies

Delhi Ganesh, who acted in around 400 films, dies

Delhi Ganesh

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai 11.11.2024

Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh, who excelled in supporting roles, died in Chennai on Saturday night. He was 80, and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

He is known for having effortlessly played the role of a mridhangam player, Gurumoorthy, in Sindhu Bhairavi; Iyer in Nayagan; a cook, Palghat Mani Iyer, in Michael Madana Kamarajan; Sethurama Iyer in Avvai Shanmugi; a psychiatrist, Panchabootham, in Thenali; and a villain, Francis Anbarasu, in Apoorva Sagodhararkal. He had acted in around 400 films.

His involvement in theatre during his days in Delhi had given him a strong foundation in acting. Three years after foraying into the film world, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his role as a rickshaw puller, Muniyandi, in Pasi in 1979.

In Middle Class Madhavan, he played the role of Prabhu’s father. His acting upon seeing Vadivelu break a coconut in the film tells a lot about his calibre.

“Ganesh worked in the Indian Air Force, and later as a stenographer in the Food Corporation of India in Chennai, before pursuing acting full-time. He was active in the Delhi-based theatre troupe, Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha,” said K. Venkatachalam, a Tamil film historian.

While working in Chennai, he joined director Kathadi Ramamurthy’s troupe. His role as Kuselar in the play Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame drew the attention of director K. Balachander, who offered him a role in Pattina Pravesam. Balachander changed his name to Delhi Ganesh (from his original name Ganesan). He played the lead role in Engamma Sabatham. Ganesh used to say that his roles in Kamal Haasan-starrers earned him popularity.

Mr. Haasan had encouraged him to do a comedy role in Avvai Shanmugi.

Condolences pour in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Ganesh, and called him an illustrious film personality.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the death was a huge loss to cinema. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin too expressed his condolences.

Minister Ma. Subramanian said the actor made a mark not only in films but also in television serials. VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan said Ganesh earned the love and respect of the people.

Former AIADMK Ministers D. Jayakumar and P. Benjamin paid floral tributes to the mortal remains.

Actor Rajinikanth said, “My friend Delhi Ganesh was a wonderful human being and an excellent actor. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.” Mr. Haasan said Ganesh was a rare character artiste who handled comedy with a lot of nuance.

Actor and TVK chief Vijay said, “His [Ganesh’s] death is a huge loss to the Tamil film industry...”

Actor Y. Gee. Mahendra said, “He [Ganesh] had performed several serious and character roles, but he was a very jovial person...”

Mr. Ramamurthy recalled how he introduced Delhi Ganesh to Tamil theatre through the play Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame . “He continued acting in many of our plays,” he said.

Actor Sivakumar recalled Ganesh’s “excellent” role of a mridangam artiste in Sindhu Bhairavi. Filmmaker Chitra Lakshmanan said Delhi Ganesh was warm and affectionate to everyone.

Sivakarthikeyan's Amaran to release on OTT in December this year

 Sivakarthikeyan's Amaran to release on OTT in December this year According to a Daily Thanthi report, the movie will be released on Netflix in December

https://www.dtnext.in/entertainment/cinema/sivakarthikeyans-amaran-to-release-on-ott-in-december-this-year-810391

Tamil OTT releases this week: New movies, web-series to watch this weekend; Vettaiyan, ARM, Amaran, Anjaamai, and more

Tamil OTT releases this week: New movies, web-series to watch this weekend; Vettaiyan, ARM, Amaran, Anjaamai, and more

This weekend, Tamil cinema fans can enjoy top new releases, including Rajinikanth's Vettaiyan on Amazon Prime Video and a war drama featuring Sivakarthikeyan on Netflix. The article lists various Tamil movies and web series now available on popular OTT platforms.

Livemint

Updated 8 Nov 2024, 02:51 PM IST

Tamil OTT release this week includes movies like Vettaiyan, ARM, Amaran, etc

Watching movies and web series is one of the best ways to enjoy the weekend. For those who prefer to watch movies at home and are a big fan of Tamil cinema, here is the list of top Tamil movies that have been released during the week.

Superstar Rajinikanth's much-awaited movie Vettaiyan did wonders at the box office. The movie was released on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video. The detailed list of latest Tamil OTT release has been mentioned below.

Vettaiyan, Amazon Prime Video

The much-awaited Tamil action thriller starring Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan marked their first on-screen collaboration in decades. The movie was first released in theatres on October 10 and made its OTT debut this week. It also features the most talented actors, Rana Duggubati and Fahadh Faasil.

Kozhipannai Chelladurai, Amazon Prime Video

The movie has been set in a rural backdrop and features stars Aegan, Brigida Saga, Sathya Devi, Yogi Babu, and Aishwarya Dutta in lead roles. The movie sheds light upon the the struggles of a family and community and also touches upon themes like the everyday struggles of an ordinary man, etc. The movie is available for watching on Amazon Prime Video.

Amaran, Netflix

The much-awaited Tamil movie, Amaran, based on the life of Indian Army Major Mukund Varadharajan did wonders at the box office. Now, the movie is ready to create buzz with its OTT release on Netflix. The war drama features Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role in opposite to popular actress Sai Pallavi. The movie earned over ₹150 crore within four days of its theatrical release. The movie, directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy, focuses on the life of an army officer, and narrates the story of his courage and valour.

Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM), Disney+Hotstar

The much-awaited Tovino Thomas starrer Ajayante Randam Moshanam is a historical drama which is now available on Disney+Hotstar for watching. The sorry begins with Kunji Kelu, a respected warrior who is blessed with a special wish by the king. The movie beautifully intertwines historical drama, fantasy, caste discrimination, and other themes like justice and redemption. The movie will be available for watching in Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Marathi.

Viswam, Amazon Prime Video

The Telugu film industry movie, Viswam, stars Gopichand as Gopi. The movie was released in October on movie theatres. The action drama is now available on Netflix. The action comedy has been directed by Srinu Vaitla and mixes action with humour. The plot revolves around Gopi's attempts to save a girl from becoming a terrorist's target after she witnesses an assassination.

Anjaamai, Aha Tamil

The Tamil legal drama, starring Vidharth, Rahman and Vani Bhojan in lead roles features, released in October in movie theatres. The movie is available on Aha Tamil. It can also be viewed on OTTplay Premium application.

Student flooded with calls as his phone number appears in ‘Amaran’

Student flooded with calls as his phone number appears in ‘Amaran’

Wrong number: The callers wanted to have a word with Sai Pallavi or compliment her on her performance.

Vaageesan says the crumpled piece of paper that Sai Pallavi tosses at Sivakarthikeyan in a scene has a phone number resembling his own

S. Vijay Kumar

CHENNAI 7.11.2024 

Soon after the blockbuster movie Amaran, starring Sivakarthikeyan, hit the screens on Deepavali, Vaageesan V.V., a Chennai-based student, found himself flooded with unexpected calls. Strangely, he has no connection to the film or its cast.

It all started with a scene that hardly lasts a couple of seconds in the film. In it, actor Sai Pallavi tosses a crumpled piece of paper, with her phone number written on it, at Sivakarthikeyan.

Though not entirely legible, Mr. Vaageesan says it was his number that was shown on the screen. This touched off calls from strangers. The first few calls were enough for him to realise what was in store.

The callers wanted to have a word with Sai Pallavi or compliment her on her performance. Overwhelmed by the number of calls, Vaageesan put his phone on mute on the night of the festival.

“The next morning, I woke up to more than 100 missed calls and several voice messages from unknown numbers from across India and even abroad. The calls continued the following day. Some callers even believed that the number belonged to Indu Rebecca Varghese, the real-life wife of late Major Mukund Varadarajan, on whose life the film is based,” he says.

Saved on Truecaller

To make matters worse, someone had saved Vaageesan’s number as Vaageesan Indu Rebbbica VV on Truecaller, a caller identification application, further encouraging strangers to reach out to him. Unable to handle the increasing number of unknown calls and messages, he attempted to contact the film’s director, Rajkumar Periasamy, and protagonist Sivakarthikeyan by sending a message on social media, explaining that the phone number used in the movie was his.

“I haven’t received any response from them yet. Since the calls keep coming, I have to put my phone on silent mode. I am worried that I may miss an emergency call or an important message from my family members or friends. I have been using this number for two years. It is linked to my bank accounts, and I have given it to many of my contacts. I can’t afford to give it up,” he says.

Airtel’s response

For more than three days, Vaageesan has been declining calls from the numbers not on his contact list. “My number has even appeared in Instagram reels, reaching more people. I took up the matter with Airtel, my service provider, but they said it would not be possible to block incoming calls unless they were from a marketing source,” he said. Confirming that the issue was flagged by Vaageesan to customer care, a senior employee of the telecom company said the company was in the process of responding to the customer. When asked if there had been similar complaints from others, he said no other customer had highlighted any such problem. “If there is an abnormally large number of calls going to a particular number, the system will detect it and send an alert to the technical team. There is no such input as of now,” he said.

Incidentally, Vaageesan has not seen the film. His introduction to the heroic life of the Ashoka Chakra recipient came only through Instagram reels after the film was released and, of course, the unsolicited phone calls.

When Ratan Tata didn't recognise Amitabh Bachchan, it reminded the legendary actor to stay humble! Here's what happened!

 When Ratan Tata didn't recognise Amitabh Bachchan, it reminded the legendary actor to stay humble! Here's what happened!

Big B was sitting next to Ratan Tata in a flight and at that point, he was at the peak of his career. While everyone else on the flight recognised Bachchan, here was Tata sitting next to him reading a newspaper. According to News24 Hindi, Bachchan had described this incident and said, "I asked him if he watches movies. Yes, but very little and many years ago, he replied. After this, we both had a conversation and when we got off the flight, we both told each other our names."

He further added how he learnt to be humble from Ratan Tata after that day. "I learned that no matter how big you think you are, there's always someone bigger. Be humble; it costs nothing. So, my friend, remember to stay humble in your career journey. It doesn't cost anything, and you never know who you might meet along the way!"

4-Hour GOAT Torture: Audience Thankfully Escaped

4-Hour GOAT Torture: Audience Thankfully Escaped 

By M9 Updated 17:20 September 09, 2024 

Vijay’s highly anticipated The Greatest Of All Time (The GOAT) hit theatres on September 5th, but the film has received mixed reactions from both critics and audiences. Despite the excitement surrounding its release, the movie’s weak narration and excessive length have left many feeling underwhelmed, reducing it to an average entertainer. 

The GOAT runs for a hefty 3 hours and 3 minutes, which has played a significant role in its lackluster performance. Long runtimes often impact a film’s reception negatively, and this was no exception.  After Maharaja! Shankar’s Indian 2, with a similar runtime, faced the same issue, reinforcing the belief that lengthy films struggle to maintain audience engagement. Now, an update about the movie’s OTT release is trending on social media. 

Reports suggest that the director’s cut of The GOAT runs an even more staggering 3 hours and 45 minutes.  Thankfully, this extended version is slated for an OTT release, sparing theatergoers from enduring nearly 4 hours of content. Many believe that directors can sometimes become overly attached to their creations, losing objectivity and neglecting to trim unnecessary scenes. This self-indulgence leads to bloated runtimes that exhaust viewers. The theatrical release of The GOAT was already deemed torturous by many—imagine if the extended version had made it to the big screen! It would have been a nightmare for audiences.

Netizens have been vocal on social media, expressing relief that this extended version will be released on OTT platforms, where viewers can fast-forward through unwanted scenes. Critics and fans alike argue that directors need to focus on concise storytelling, pacing their films effectively instead of treating every project like an untouchable masterpiece.

Read more at: https://www.m9.news/tamil-movie-news/4-hour-goat-torture-audience-thankfully-escaped/

The GOAT box office collection day 6: Vijay's film witnesses further dip, earns just over ₹10 crore in India

The GOAT box office collection day 6: Vijay's film witnesses further dip, earns just over ₹10 crore in India

By HT Entertainment Desk

| Edited by Ananya Das

Sep 11, 2024 08:00 AM IST

The GOAT box office collection day 6: The film saw a dip in its numbers. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the film stars Vijay in the lead role.

The GOAT box office collection day 6: The film witnessed a fall in its earnings on Tuesday. As per Sacnilk.com, the action film has earned over ₹162 crore in India so far.

 The film is produced by Kalpathi S Aghoram, Kalpathi S Ganesh and Kalpathi S Suresh of AGS Entertainment. GOAT box office collection day 6: Vijay in a still from the film.

The GOAT India box office collection

The film minted ₹44 crore (Tamil: ₹39.15 crore; Hindi: ₹1.85 crore; Telugu: ₹3 crore) on day one,

 ₹25.5 crore (Tamil: ₹22.75 crore; Hindi: ₹1.4 crore; Telugu: ₹1.35 crore) on day two

 and ₹33.5 crore [Tamil: ₹29.15 crore; Hindi: ₹2.35 crore; Telugu: ₹2 crore] on day three.

It earned ₹34 crore [Tamil: ₹29.8 crore; Hindi: ₹2.7 crore; Telugu: ₹1.5 crore] on day four 

and ₹14.75 crore [Tamil: ₹13.25 crore; Hindi: ₹90 lakh; Telugu: ₹60 lakh] on day five. 

On day six, the film collected ₹10.50 crore nett in India, in all languages, as per early estimates. So far, it has earned ₹162.25 crore. The GOAT had an overall 33.43% Tamil occupancy on Tuesday.

Venkat Prabhu on film

Director Venkat Prabhu recently said why, The GOAT didn't work in Telugu and Hindi. Talking to fans on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces, the director said his favourite Indian Premiere League (IPL) team could’ve been the reason. The GOAT’s climax occurs is set against a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match at the Chepauk Stadium. Vijay’s character tries to stop a bomb from exploding. Venkat said this aspect might have limited the film’s appeal outside Tamil Nadu.

The GOAT Box Office Collections: Scores third highest first day in India for Thalapathy Vijay

The GOAT Box Office Collections: Scores third highest first day in India for Thalapathy Vijay

This marks the third-highest first day ever for a Thalapathy Vijay starrer, behind Leo and Beast, and the fifth-highest for a Kollywood film.

By Jatinder Singh

Updated on Sep 06, 2024 | 05:49 PM IST | 99.6K

Vijay in The GOAT (image courtesy of AGS Productions)

The Greatest of All Time had an excellent start at the Indian box office, raking in Rs. 54 crore approx on its first day. This marks the third-highest first day ever for a Thalapathy Vijay starrer, behind Leo and Beast, and the fifth-highest for a Kollywood film. The film had a near-record start in Tamil Nadu and a strong debut in Karnataka and Kerala.

In Tamil Nadu, the film grossed Rs. 31-32 crore approx on Thursday, which is the fourth-highest first day for any film in the state. It stands behind three other Vijay films; Beast, Leo and Sarkar. In the new norms of shows starting from 9 AM, no other star film has crossed Rs. 25 crore in daily collections in Tamil Nadu. Whereas Vijay has not only crossed Rs. 25 crore but also Rs. 30 crore, twice, first with Leo last year and now with The GOAT. This shows the sort of domination Vijay holds at the Tamil Nadu box office.

Elsewhere, Karnataka recorded third highest opening day for a Tamil film just shy of Rs. 10 crore. Kerala had the fifth biggest start with Rs. 5.80 crore. The Hindi dubbed version of the film put in Rs. 2.25 crore approx, which is a decent start.

The disappointment came from the Telugu states where it collected just Rs. 3.50 crore approx, well short of Rs. 8 crore of Beast. Vijay made huge inroads into this territory with his recent films but here since the music and promos didn’t click, the start wasn’t up to the mark. Having said that, the Telugu states are a bonus market and the core Tamil markets of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bengaluru have all delivered for the film.

The territorial breakdown for the 

first-day box collections of The GOAT 

is as follows:

Area  Gross

Tamil Nadu Rs. 31.50 cr.

Karnataka Rs. 9.75 cr.

Kerala Rs. 5.80 cr.

APTS Rs. 3.50 cr.

Hindi Belt Rs. 3.50 cr.

Total Rs. 54.00 cr.

The Greatest of All Time Box Office Collections: Thalapathy Vijay starrer amass 280cr worldwide in 4 days

The Greatest of All Time Box Office Collections: Thalapathy Vijay starrer amass 280cr worldwide in 4 days

The GOAT took the third greatest start of all time for a Kollywood film internationally, just behind Leo (USD 17.90 million) and Jailer (USD 14.90 million).

By JATINDER SINGH

Published on Sep 09, 2024 | 03:39 PM IST | 37.1K

Vijay in The GOAT 

The Greatest of All Time posted USD 14.25 million (Rs. 120 crore) overseas in its four-day extended weekend. This marks the third greatest start of all time for a Kollywood film internationally, just behind Leo (USD 17.90 million) and Jailer (USD 14.90 million). Combined with Rs. 162 crore approx in India, the worldwide gross amounted to Rs. 282 crore after four days.

After its opening day, it seemed like the weekend may settle around USD 13 million but the film showed a strong hold on Friday and then the weekend played very well to take it over USD 14 million. The film started USD 2.50 million lower than Leo on its opening day but on Sunday the shortfall was just USD 100K, all of which was from the Middle East, whereas in almost all other markets the film moved ahead of Leo. Leo added USD 6 million to its total after the first weekend, The GOAT will be expected to replicate that if not more as the trend has been stronger so far.

The opening was strong across the board. Among the best, Sri Lanka and France set a record for an Indian film. Malaysia will be a close call with early estimates putting it just ahead of Leo. Canada and other European markets performed similarly to Leo, while the United States managed to match Leo for the Friday-Sunday frame despite Thursday being less than half.

The territorial breakdown for overseas box office 

collections of The GOAT is as follows:

AreaGrossUnited States USD 2,350,000

Canada USD 975,000

Australia USD 645,000

Middle East USD 3,000,000

Malaysia USD 2,275,000

Singapore USD 1,150,000

Sri Lanka USD 675,000

Rest of Asia/Pacific USD 175,000

United Kingdom USD 1,075,000

France USD 575,000

Rest of Europe USD 1,250,000

Rest of World USD 100,000

Total USD 14,250,000

(Rs. 120.00 cr.)

Vijay's 'GOAT' OTT version to have an extended screen time

Vijay's 'GOAT' OTT version to have an extended screen time

etimes.in | Sep 9, 2024, 01.42 PM IST

Vijay's film 'GOAT' (The Greatest of All Time), which is now playing in theatres worldwide, is proving to be a successful commercial entertainer with a runtime of 3 hours. The film has garnered positive feedback from audiences. In a recent interaction with fans on Twitter, director Venkat Prabhu revealed that he is planning to release an extended, uncut version of 'GOAT' on OTT platforms. The director's cut reportedly has a runtime of around 4 hours, and the OTT release is expected to include this extended version, offering additional insights into the film's storyline. Fans are eagerly awaiting this extended version, excited by Venkat Prabhu’s announcement.

In terms of box-office performance, 'GOAT' has grossed over Rs 250 crore in just four days, setting a new record for its opening weekend. The high-budget drama, which had already earned Rs 400 crore through pre-release business, is expected to enter the profit zone by the end of its first week.

Vijay plays a dual role as both father and son, creating a dynamic clash between the two characters. The film also stars Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Ajmal, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Mohan, Jayaram, Vaibhav, and Premgi Amaren in pivotal roles, with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.