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Pan-Indian star Prabhas has signed a three-picture pact with production banner Hombale Films, following their collaboration on “Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire.”

The deal, which includes the upcoming “Salaar Part 2” and two additional features, represents one of the largest talent-studio partnerships in Indian cinema. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The agreement strengthens Hombale’s expanding slate, which already includes the anticipated sequels “Kantara 2” and “K.G.F: Chapter 3.” The production house has established itself with hits like “K.G.F: Chapter 1,” “K.G.F: Chapter 2,” “Kantara,” and “Salaar: Part 1.”

Prabhas, who gained international recognition with the “Baahubali” franchise, currently has multiple projects in the works, including “The Raja Saab,” “Spirit,” “Kalki 2” and “Fauji.” The actor has demonstrated broad market appeal across India’s major film territories, including the Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada-speaking regions. Sci-fi epic “Kalki 2898 Ad,” headlined by Prabhas, remains the biggest Indian box office hit...

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan are two of the most popular actors in India, with their careers in the Telugu film industry spanning around two decades. And then, of course, they exploded on the global stage with Rrr. Both of their performances were universally lauded. The highly popular “Naatu Naatu” won an Oscar for Best Original Song. But as the hype died down, the actors and their fans had to turn towards the horizon and see what was in store, and all they saw was Koratala Siva. Now, credit where credit is due, Siva was on a hot streak, with everything from Mirchi to Bharat Ane Nenu being massive box-office hits. So, it seemed like Ram Charan was in safe hands. However, when Acharya was released, it was lambasted by critics and audiences, and it ended up being Siva’s first flop since 2013. Hence, the heat was on...

Cricket Rights

Warner Bros. Discovery, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Pitch International have signed a package of rights that will see them broadcast live international cricket hosted in India on its linear and digital platforms, TNT Sports and Discovery+, for the next five years. The deal, which is for the U.K. and Ireland territory, kicks off with the England-India men’s test series, which commences Jan. 25 and continues through February.

The deal, a value for which was not disclosed, covers every red ball (test matches) and white ball (One Day Internationals and T20s) series played in India for the next five years. Besides the England series, they include:

September 2024: Bangladesh tour of India – 2 x Tests, 3 x T20s

October 2024: New Zealand tour of India – 3 x Tests

January 2025: England tour of India – 3 x ODIs, 5 x T20s

October 2025: West Indies tour...

Salaar Superstar Prabhas’ Films Ranked: From 1000 Crore Box Office Blockbuster Baahubali To Lowest Rated Adipurush At 3.8 (Picture Credit: Facebook & IMDb)

Prabhas has once again proved that no matter what, he is the official king of box office openings. Salaar has been wreaking havoc, and Prashanth Neel‘s action biggie has opened at 92 crore at the box office in India, shattering all records. The film is surely gonna increase his 241 crore net worth.

The actor gears up for an interesting lot of films next year, starting with Kalki 2898 Ad. However, his fan base will increase this year with his latest release, and while most people have watched all his films of the post-Baahubali era, it might interest you what he did earlier.

Before Baahubali, Prabhas was mostly an action star who turned Darling of the Telugu Cinema over the years. While his highest box office collection lies with Baahubali 2: The Conclusion,...

CinemaPrabhas’s last hit was ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ in 2017. Post that, the actor has suffered consecutive flops with ‘Saaho’, ‘Radhe Shyam’, and the recently released ‘Adipurush’.In an iconic sequence from Baahubali: The Beginning – elevated by stirring music – Prabhas lifts a huge Shiva lingam on his shoulders and proceeds to place it underneath a waterfall. With this scene, it would seem that the actor symbolically lifted the entire Telugu film industry and showed the entire country what it was capable of. Because of the success of the Baahubali franchise, Rrr was possible, with many more attempts to exploit a bigger ‘pan-India’ market. The franchise was pathbreaking not just for Tollywood but also for Prabhas, who left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry. Nevertheless, the huge success of these films appears to have trapped the actor into focusing only on ‘pan-Indian’ films, none of which have clicked. Prabhas’s latest release Adipurush,...

It was a moment of “asli rap” as ‘Baazigar’ Divine added a spicy tadka by bringing “Gully” magic and passed the “vibe” check at the penultimate day of Vh1 Supersonic on Saturday.

Multiple stages went empty when Divine made an appearance at the main stage dressed in black T-shirt and cargo pants paired with sunglasses.

A sea of fans could not control there excitement on seeing their favourite rapper spit fire on the stage with his popular tracks such as “Vibe hai”, “Mirchi”, “Chal Bombay”, “Mere gully main” and Sher aaya sher”.

It was an hour long performance which saw confetti, fireworks, cheers and whistles.

Divine did not forget late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala and played a track to pay respect to him.

After playing Moosewala’s music, Divine said on stage: “Music nahi marne dengay (won’t let the music die).”

It didn’t stop there!

Divines’ spectacular performance...

Tollywood‘Acharya’ is the poorest performing film in both Megastar Chiranjeevi and director Koratala Siva’s careers.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeThe failure of Acharya, the recently released Tollywood actioner starring Megastar Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan together in full length roles for the first time, has come as a shock to exhibitors, distributors and others in the Telugu film industry. Written and directed by Koratala Siva, the story is based on a middle-aged Naxalite-turned-social-reformer who launches a fight against the Endowments Department over misappropriation of temple funds. As per sources, Acharya, which hit the big screens on April 29, has managed to make only about Rs 40 to 50 crore at the box-office. Reportedly made at a budget of Rs 140 crore, the film’s first day collections are believed to be Rs 30 to 35 crore. However, it failed to pick up pace on the second day and collections dropped to Rs 8.5 crore, nosediving further...

The critical and commercial success of Indian blockbuster “Rrr”, which opened to rave reviews and recently debuted at no. 2 at the UK and Ireland box office (after “The Batman”), comes with news of upcoming film projects for award-winning star Ram Charan. The film’s impressive opening further signifies the passion for Indian cinema in the UK.

“Rrr” (meaning “Rise Roar Revolt”) is an epic period action film set in British colonial India in the 1920’s, following two revolutionaries and their fictional journey before they fight for their country. The film stars Indian A-listers Ram Charan, N.T. Rama Rao Jr, and is directed by S.S. Rajamouli. It has been highly praised for its incredible action sequences and stunt-filled set pieces.

Alongside the film’s UK success, it has grossed over 132 million worldwide, making it the ninth highest-grossing film of 2022, and set several other box office records for an Indian film.

Actress Sonali Bendre is in talks for an upcoming biggie in Telugu, and the news has now caught the attention of all It is reported that Sonali will star in Jr Ntr’s untitled movie, which is to be helmed by ‘Srimanthudu’, ‘Mirchi’, and ‘Janatha Garage’ fame Koratala Siva. The makers want to get Sonali on […]...

TollywoodThis will be Chiranjeevi’s 153rd film. Digital NativeTwitter/KonidelaProChiranjeevi will be seen playing the lead role in the Telugu remake of the Malayalam film Lucifer which starred Mohanlal and was directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. The Telugu remake, which will be directed by Mohan Raja, was launched on Wednesday with a customary puja ceremony. The Telugu remake will be bankrolled by Konidela Production Company, Megaa Super Good Films and Nvr films. The film's launch was attended by Tollywood producers and directors like Allu Aravind, Ashwini Dutt, Dvv Danayya, Niranjan Reddy, Nagababu Konidela, Koratala Siva and others. The latest update is that S Thaman has been roped in as the music director of the film. Signifying his association with the megastar, music director SS Thaman wrote, “A biggest dream for Any Composer. It’s My Turn to Show My love towards Our #Boss Shri #Megastar @KChiruTweets gaaru & My dear brother @jayam...

Tollywood The film is being directed by Koratla Siva Digital NativeAfter recovering from Coronavirus Ram Charan has joined the sets of Acharya in which he would be sharing screen space with his father Chiranjeevi and Kajal Aggarwal. Welcoming Ram Charan to the sets Director Kortala Siva shared a sneak-peek of Ram Charan's look on social media, “మా ' సిద్ధ ' సర్వం సిద్ధం. (Our Siddha is always ready) Welcoming our #ramcharan garu onto the sets of #Acharya.@AlwaysRamCharan @KChiruTweets #manisharma @DOP_Tirru @NavinNooli @sureshsrajan @KonidelaPro @MatineeEnt.” (sic) మా ' సిద్ధ ' సర్వం సిద్ధం. Welcoming our #ramcharan garu onto the sets of #Acharya. @AlwaysRamCharan @KChiruTweets #manisharma @DOP_Tirru @NavinNooli @sureshsrajan @KonidelaPro @MatineeEnt pic.twitter.com/hJaaYDqF1K — koratala siva (@sivakoratala) January 17, 2021 In the first look poster, Ram Charan is seen in the grand temple set that Chiranjeevi had recently shared a video of on social media.

TollywoodRam Charan is also set to play a cameo role in the movie along with Chiranjeevi.Tnm StaffTwitterActor Ram Charan visited the sets of Acharya, an upcoming movie by his father and actor Chiranjeevi. The photos of Ram Charan on the sets, where the actor can be seen sharing a cup of tea with the crew members, have gone viral on social media. Ram Charan Teja visited the sets of Acharya as a producer from the Konidela Production Company, which is bankrolling the movie, to observe the ongoing work. Ram Charan also appreciated production designer Suresh Selvarajan for his work on the movie. Taking to Twitter, Suresh Selvarajan said, “Sir, even I get goosebumps whenever I think about what you said about the set. Your kind words of appreciation mean a lot to me. It makes me work even harder.” Sir even I get goose bumbs whenever I think about...

TOLLYWOODThough the filmmakers have not made an official announcement, reports say that Arya will join the ‘Pushpa’ sets in January 2021. Digital NativeTollywood actor Arya, who is currently busy with multiple projects in his kitty, might be seen in a prominent role in a big movie soon. According to the industry grapevine and multiple reports, he has been signed to replace Vijay Sethupathi (who has reportedly opted out due to date clashes) as the antagonist in Allu Arjun’s upcoming thriller Pushpa. If Arya is indeed part of this project, it would mark his return to Telugu cinema after a decade. Interestingly, Arya made his Telugu debut as the antagonist in Allu Arjun’s Varudu, which released in 2009. The makers of Pushpa are yet to make an official announcement; however, reliable sources have confirmed that Arya will join the next schedule of the shoot in January 2021. The shooting of Pushpa was...

TollywoodThe project will be jointly produced by Nv Prasad and Konidela Productions and directed by Mohan Raja.Digital NativeFilmmaker Mohan Raja is all set to return to Telugu filmdom nearly after two decades with an upcoming yet-untitled remake of Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer, starring Chiranjeevi. Mohan Raja made the official announcement on Wednesday via a tweet. He was thrilled to be teaming up with Chiranjeevi. The project will be jointly produced by Nv Prasad and Konidela Productions. If everything goes as planned, the remake will go on floors from February. Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi will complete shooting the remainder portion of Acharya, which happens to be his next release. Acharya marks the first time collaboration of filmmaker Koratala Siva and Chiranjeevi. Acharya, as per reports, will be about a middle-aged Naxalite-turned-social reformer who launches a fight against the Endowments Department over misappropriation and embezzlement of temple funds and donations. Koratala Siva is best...

Tollywood The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, and shooting had recently commenced after a gap of eight months due to the pandemic.Digital NativeThe shoot of Allu Arjun’s upcoming film Pushpa, which is about red sandalwood smuggling, resumed after nearly eight months on November 16 in Visakhapatnam. The makers unveiled a special video to announce the commencement of the shoot. However, two weeks into the shoot, the makers have been forced to stall work on the project after six crew members tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a report by Mid-Day. The report quoted a source from the team saying that despite taking all the necessary precautions, a few unit members tested positive this week. The report further added that the shoot will now only resume next year, near Maredumilli forest of Andhra Pradesh. The makers are yet to reveal the complete cast and crew of the film. However,...

TollywoodThe Malayalam original was directed by actor Prithviraj, making his debut as a filmmaker, with Mohanlal playing the lead.Digital NativeDigital NativeAfter making his debut with the Telugu movie Hanuman Junction (2001), filmmaker Mohan Raja went on to remake several successful Telugu movies into Tamil, beginning with Jayam starring his brother Ravi which also marked his acting debut. Now he is all set to work on another remake after 19 years. After recently opting out of the Tamil remake of Andhadhun, Raja has been signed to helm the Telugu remake of Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer starring Chiranjeevi. It’s worth mentioning that the Lucifer remake was originally planned to be made with Saaho director Sujeeth and later with Meher Ramesh. In a surprising update, Mohan Raja is said to have been officially signed to direct the project which is expected to go on the floor early next year. Lucifer was directed by actor Prithviraj,...

Tollywood ‘Pushpa’ is director Sukumar’s next project after ‘Rangasthalam’.Digital NativeMonths after it was officially announced, the shoot of Allu Arjun’s upcoming Telugu film Pushpa will finally start rolling from November 5 in Visakhapatnam, reliable sources have confirmed. The film, which marks the third time collaboration of Allu Arjun and Sukumar, is tipped to be an action thriller set in a forest, and will be centred on the issue of sandalwood smuggling. Allu Arjun is likely to join the unit from the first day of shoot. Recently, the makers revealed that they’re going to spend a whopping Rs 6 crore for a chase sequence in the film. Several international stuntmen are being roped in to oversee this big action episode which will be one of the highlights of the film. The film’s first look poster was unveiled on the occasion of Allu Arjun’s birthday in May. The...

Today Darling Prabhas turns 41 on October 23. Prabhas made his screen debut with the 2002 Telugu action drama film Eeswar. He has garnered the state Nandi Award for Best Actor, for his role in Mirchi. Prabhas is the first south Indian actor to have his wax sculpture at Madame Tussaud's wax museum.

His works include Varsham (2004), Chatrapathi (2005), Chakram (2005), Billa (2009), Darling (2010), Mr. Perfect (2011), and Mirchi (2013). Prabhas played the title role in S. S. Rajamouli's epic action film Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), which is the fourth-highest-grossing Indian film to date. Prabhas reprised his role in its sequel, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017).

On the occasion of Prabhas’s birthday we have a list of powerful dialogues of the actor. Check out Prabhas’s powerful dialogues below.

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion

Aurat par haath daalne wale ke ungliyaan nahi kaat te kaat tey hai uska galaaaaa.

Saaho

"Gully cricket mein sab Tendulkar hai...Asali Talent vo hota hai.

TollywoodSuccess in the second innings is dependent on a number of factors, including the actor's willingness to come out of their image trap.Rajeswari ParasaFile photoWhen Ramya Krishnan played the role of Rajamatha in Baahubali, many said that nobody could have done the role better than her. When Nadhiya played mother to Prabhas's character in Mirchi, several people in the industry took note of her performance. She then landed the role of Sunanda, aunt to Pawan Kalyan's character in Attarintiki Daredi. In fact, her role was as powerful as the hero's. Once a lead actor in family movies, Jagapathi Babu now plays hardcore villain roles, father and even corporate businessman roles. These reinventions happened in what can be called the 'second innings' of these actors, and many a time, they get to do a variety of performance oriented roles. They are also freed from the pressure of taking...

TollywoodMeher Ramesh has been roped in to direct the remake.Digital NativeDigital NativeMegastar Chiranjeevi, who was last seen on screen in the Telugu period epic Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, has two remake projects in his kitty. While the actor recently confirmed that he will star in the Telugu remake of the Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer to be directed by Saaho fame Sujeeth, the latest update is that Chiranjeevi is deferring the project to shoot the Telugu remake of Ajith’s Vedalam first. Meher Ramesh has been roped in to direct the Vedalam remake. The latest update is that Sai Pallavi is most likely to be signed for a crucial role as Chiranjeevi’s sister. Lakshmi Menon played Ajith’s sister in Vedalam, which was a runaway hit at the box-office. The makers are yet to officially announce the rest of the cast and crew. Talks have been initiated with Sai Pallavi...

TollywoodResponding to director Meher Ramesh’s birthday wishes, Pawan Kalyan confirmed that the remake of the Ajith film is very much happening.Digital NativeDigital NativeMegastar Chiranjeevi, who was last seen on screen in the Telugu period epic Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, has two remake projects in his kitty. The actor recently confirmed that he will star in the Telugu remake of the Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer, which will be directed by Saaho fame Sujeeth. Recently reports emerged that Chiranjeevi is stalling the project for a while to shoot the Telugu remake of Ajith’s Vedalam first. Later it was reported that Billa fame director Meher Ramesh has been roped in to direct the Vedalam remake. It was said that an announcement about the project would be made on Chiranjeevi’s birthday on August 22 but that didn’t happen. Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan turned 49 on Wednesday and wishes flooded in from fans and the film fraternity.

TollywoodRecently, writer Rajesh Mandoori alleged that he had narrated the story to the production house a few years ago.Digital NativeThe first look teaser of the Tollywood megastar Chiranjeevi's Acharya, directed by Koratala Siva, was released on 22nd August, on the eve of the actor's birthday. Recently, writer Rajesh Mandoori alleged that he had narrated the story to the production house Mythri Movie Makers a few years ago. With Koratala Siva being a close associate of the producers, there is a possibility that his story could have been used for Acharya, he reportedly alleged. Reacting to the allegation, the makers have opened up now, stating that the plagiarism levelled against the movie is a ‘gimmick’. The production house has issued an official statement refuting the same. In the statement, they said, "When we have the reputation of introducing three new directors in the last one year, what would have...

TollywoodThe motion poster was released for the actor's 65th birthday.Tnm Staff On the occasion of actor Chiranjeevi’s birthday, the motion poster of his upcoming film Acharya was released. Acharya is being directed by Koratala Siva, who has delivered several hit films like Mirchi, Srimanthudu and Bharat Ane Nenu. The film will be released next summer, the production team announced. In the poster, Chiranjeevi is seen wearing an olive green shirt and draped in a red scarf, which is usually worn by communist revolutionaries. The tweet by Koratala Siva makes it amply clear that Chiranjeevi indeed plays the character of a Left revolutionary. “A Comrade's quest for Dharma," the director wrote while sharing the motion poster. 'A Comrade's quest for Dharma' Here's the Motion Poster of #Acharya - https://t.co/IOJqcEgPzd Join us to Witness the Mega Magical combo of #Megastar & #ManiSharma.@KChiruTweets @AlwaysRamCharan @DOP_Tirru @sureshsrajan @navinnooli...

TollywoodAn official announcement about ‘Vedalam’, which will be helmed by Meher Ramesh, is expected to be made on Chiranjeevi’s birthday – August 22.Digital NativeDigital NativeMegastar Chiranjeevi, who was last seen on screen in the period epic Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, has two remake projects in his kitty. While the star recently confirmed that he will star in the Telugu remake of the Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer, to be directed by Saaho fame Sujeeth, the latest update is that Chiranjeevi is pausing work on the project to shoot the Telugu remake of Ajith’s Vedalam first. As per the latest development, Meher Ramesh has been roped in to direct the Vedalam remake. An official announcement about the project can be expected to be made on Chiranjeevi’s birthday on August 22. Apparently, Chiranjeevi has put the Lucifer remake on the backburner because he wasn’t too happy with the changes that were made...

Indian cinema superstars Prabhas and Deepika Padukone will star together for the first time in an as yet untitled film.

The Telugu, Hindi and Tamil-language project hails from outside the Bollywood mainstream. But it brings together Prabhas, the reigning king of Telugu-language, or Tollywood, regional cinema, and Padukone as a model turned actress who is now regarded as Bollywood’s leading lady.

It is being produced by C. Aswani Dutt’s Vyjayanthi Movies and will be released in time to commemorate the outfit’s 50th anniversary in 2022. Nag Ashwin will direct.

Padukone tweeted: “Beyond Thrilled! Cannot wait for what we believe is going to be an incredible journey ahead…”

Beyond Thrilled!Cannot wait for what we believe is going to be an incredible journey ahead…❤️❤️❤️#DeepikaPrabhas@nagashwin7 @VyjayanthiFilms #Prabhas https://t.co/ckUu3vjadu

— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) July 19, 2020

Ashwin tweeted: “I believe actors and projects find each other… Glad this...

CinemaThese stars have succeeded in expanding their appeal and are getting new audiences for their industry. Sowmya RajendranWith multiplexes playing films with subtitles and online streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar acquiring new films across Indian languages, the boundaries of stardom have been stretched further than ever before. While the southern superstars of the previous generations too enjoyed a fanbase outside their respective industries, the out of state audiences mostly got to know them through dubbed films which did not release with the same fanfare as a new film. Now, however, not only do we have simultaneous releases in multiple languages, the increase in accessibility means that people who like a star’s work are keen to watch films made in a language that’s not their own. This is especially applicable to male stars because they usually focus on increasing their stature in one industry rather than...

InterviewTNM caught up with the actor who was in Chennai promoting this action flick to discuss life after 'Baahubali' and more.Anjana ShekarIn 2013, actor Prabhas won awards - his first Nandi and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Telugu) - for his performance in director Koratala Siva’s debut feature film Mirchi. For the next four years, Prabhas would go on to immerse himself in the ancient kingdom of Mahishmati, becoming the now famous Baahubali of the Baahubali franchise. After the phenomenal success of these two films - Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion - and several awards and success meets later, the actor is now back with Saaho, a multilingual blockbuster in the making. Tnm caught up with the actor who was in Chennai promoting this action flick to discuss life after Baahubali, his experience of having filmed every shot in Saaho multiple times for different languages and...

TollywoodBigamy is often romanticised in popular culture, seldom viewing it from the woman's perspective.Priyanka RichiMahanati, the bilingual biopic on yesteryear actor Savitri, showcases a pivotal scene in which she (Keerthy Suresh) is reprimanded by her uncle after he discovers that she has married Gemini Ganesan (Dulquer Salmaan), and runs away from home. Savitri runs towards Gemini’s home, in the middle of a heavy downpour, and knocks on his door. Surprisingly, she is called inside by Alamelu, Gemini's first wife, who dutifully makes sure Savitri is comfortable at their home. Gemini and Savitri make their relationship public. Alamelu and her kids disappear from the scene. Gemini Ganesan’s involvement with the many women in his life is thus subtly pushed to the background, making him the evergreen ‘Kadhal Mannan’. In the end, we're given to understand that he still cared about Savitri, thus painting him in sympathetic light. While Mahanati is based on real life people, there have been several Telugu films which have romanticised and validated polygamy. A staple theme in the 1980s, the hero’s tryst with multiple women has been a symbol of his ‘machoism’. A hero juggling two wives and the confusion that ensues has often been the content for comical plots in films. But rarely has the trauma and pain a woman undergoes in such situations been addressed. Evolution of polygamy in cinema Telugu film critic Mahesh Kathi says that polygamy in cinema evolved out of the "family drama" genre, in which the hero getting into situations of conflicts in marriage was justified. This was also often made appealing to women audiences by citing instances from mythology. “We are fundamentally a patriarchal society with a male dominated film industry, where a hero is aspirational and heroine is an object of desire. As the majority of the audience is also male, having multiple heroines fighting for a hero appeals to their libido too,” Mahesh says. Polygamy has been made acceptable in cinema by taking refuge in mythology, in which most of the Hindu gods are known to have multiple wives, Mahesh adds. In the 1997 devotional flick Annamayya by K Raghavendra Rao, God is shown as personally conducting the wedding of Annamayya (Nagarjuna) with his cousins – Timakka and Akkalamma. Realising that their husband was born for humanity and the Lord’s service, his wives in the latter part of the movie give up their lives, freeing Annamayya of any earthly attachment. Vamshi Vemireddy, Assistant Professor of English at the Humanities and Social Sciences department, Iit Tirupati, says, “Telugu cinema has increasingly witnessed this trend with the emergence of the third generation stars such as Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and Balakrishna, though it has its roots way back in Shobhan Babu’s time.” From yesteryear’s Shobhan Babu to Nagarjuna, bigamy has been justified in spite of the law. Nari Nari Naduma Murari (1990), Allari Mogudu (1992), Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu (1996), Aavida Maa Aavide (1998), among others, are quite well-known for spreading this trend in Telugu cinema. A look at the posters of these films reveal the explicitly celebratory tone around bigamy. Myths of ‘macho’ or ‘masculine’ men who can handle two women (either through marriage or casual relationships) have been perpetuated in society since ages. “This particular folk myth ingrained in patriarchal mindsets which treats female figures as a trophy to be won or owned, may have propelled this phenomenon to creep into the silver screen,” Vamshi opines. So what has helped this trend survive in Telugu cinema? Continuous reinforcement of the trend in popular media, including TV serials, work towards normalising bigamy. Whatever the law may say, social acceptance is driven through media, says Mahesh. If one is to look at biopics, the genre has often tended to romanticise the multiple affairs of the hero in question. “For example, Tamizhselvan’s character, modeled on Karunanidhi, in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar (1997) is sketched in such a way that his affair with another woman becomes insignificant in the larger political scenario. To avoid controversies, biopics appease audiences so that they only empathise with the characters in the movie,” Mahesh says. The trend was also a ploy to ensure that no heroine gets sufficient screen time, and in turn, reducing her chances of getting anywhere close to the pay scale or stardom of the hero, says Tejaswini Madabhushi, a member of Hyderabad for Feminism. “As in many of Shobhan Babu’s movies, men are often shown as unwitting victims who suffer to keep two or more wives happy, while the women are shrewd and lacking in kindness and understanding. For example in movies like Mirchi (2013), the man’s behaviour is explained through a complicated backstory while a woman’s feelings of heartbreak are not explored because it is so casual for men to date or marry multiple women, especially when it is for the ‘right cause’,” Tejaswini says. The underlying algorithm Raghuramaraju, Assistant Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in Iit Tirupati, says that the legal restrictions on polygamy have led to ‘polygynyless patriarchy’, often depicted in popular films where men have relations with two women, but sequentially rather than simultaneously. “To trace the origins, from the 1980s, Telugu movies have had heroes who maintain a relationship with one woman in the first half of the movie and with another in the second half, following dramatic sequences. Soundarya in the film Super Police (1994) dies in a bomb blast planted by the villain and this is shown in flashback. Nagma is the other heroine. Here the hero has two women one after another without committing polygamy. These depictions subconsciously recall the earlier tradition of polygamy while, strictly speaking, following current customs,” the professor notes. A similar trend can be seen in Yes, Nenantenene (1994) and Criminal (1994) where the second heroine plays the role of a catalyst, facilitating the coming together of the other woman and the hero, yet not involved. Raghuramaraju in his book Modernity in Indian Social Theory explains that though apparently there is no polygamy from the point of view of the hero, from the point of view of the viewers, their voyeurism ultimately gives them the same feeling of polygamy being committed. “While polygamy has been rejected, patriarchy remains problematic and unfortunately, it’s still an enduring feature in our movies that requires further resistance,” Raghuramaraju opines. What about contemporary cinema? According to critics, even in contemporary cinema, we see sporadic instances of this trend especially in ‘mass’ films that supposedly cater to the working class and lower middle classes. “I don’t think bigamy as a subject is discussed seriously since cinema as an industry still revolves around star figures. However, there are plenty of new-age films that are breaking this old formula of ‘masala' films,” notes Vamshi. According to Vamshi, films such as Oohalu Gusagusalade (2014), Pelli Choopulu (2016), Jyo Achyutananda (2016) and Ami Thumi (2017) in recent times have gone beyond this formula of fetishising or romanticising bigamy or commodifying the female figure on the screen. In Tharun Bhascker’s Pelli Choopulu, the female lead (Ritu Verma) fights patriarchal constraints, choosing to become an entrepreneur rather than depend on her father or a husband. She also breaks stereotypes by giving a tight slap to her ex-boyfriend, not for abandoning her but for not having the decency to break up properly. "Jyo Achyutananda is also a clean emotional ride between the characters Jyostna, Achyuth and Anand. Achyuth and Anand are brothers and Jyostna is a tenant at their house. Jyostna's character is well beyond the stereotypical Telugu heroine who only sings and dances. Various facets of love, life and human relationships are portrayed through her character," Vamshi Reddy notes. But Raghuramaraju says, “It may not be an exaggeration to say that from the late '80s, one of the recurrent aspects of Telugu popular films is featuring two heroines. From Aayanaki Iddaru (Ramya Krishna and Sivaranjani: 1995), Shubhalagnam (Roja, Aamani: 1994),Suryavamsam (Meena, Prema: 1998) to Narasimhanayudu (Simran, Preeti Jhangiani: 2001) all feature multiple heroines, making it a recurrent theme. Even contemporary cinema has failed to address this patriarchal metaphor.” “There are no decisive voices so far towards the change as such. However, the number of films with such content has considerably reduced. Hopefully this is an indication of change,” Mahesh Kathi notes.

EntertainmentThe show is being hosted by actor Nani.Digital NativeThe second season of popular show Bigg Boss Telugu has just kickstarted with much excitement among television buffs. The first season of the show was hosted by actor Jr Ntr and was immensely popular with soaring TRPs.. Unfortunately, the actor could not allot time for season 2 of the reality show, following which the offer went to actor Nani. Ever since this news was announced, fans were waiting for information on the contestants who were going to participate in this show! The Bigg Boss house will accommodate 16 participants, of which three will be unknown faces from the public. Here’s the full list of contestants for season two of Bigg Boss Telugu. Geetha Madhuri: A popular singer, she has songs such as Pakka Local (Janatha Garage), Darlingey (Mirchi), Top Lesipoddi (Iddarammayilatho) etc., to her credit. Amit Tiwari: Amit Tiwari, known to play baddie in movies, is the second contestant. Deepti: Deepti, a news reader with TV 9 is the third contestant. Tanish: A child artist turned hero. Babu Gogineni: He is the founder of South Asian Humanist Association and Indian Humanists and is a known face on news panels, for his rational views. Bhanushree Mehra: She was Tamannaah’s body double in the Baahubali films. Roll Rida: He is a rapper. Syamala: An anchor by profession, she was announced as the eighth contestant. Kireeti Damaraju: He is an actor by profession. Deepthi Sunaina: She rose to popularity for recreating the Rangamma Mangamma song from Rangasthalam and is popular ‘Instagram’ star. Kaushal Manda: He is a model turned TV actor. Tejaswi Madivada: She is the 12th contestant and one of the unknown faces. Samrat Reddy: He is the thirteenth celebrity and an actor by profession. Ganesh: He is a radio jockey by profession. Sanjana Anne: A model by profession. Nutan Naidu: Nutan Naidu is a social worker and the third unknown face. With the season 1 turning out to be a massive success, expectations are high onseason 2. Will the host and contestants live up to it? Let’s wait and watch! Read: Babu Gogineni enters 'Bigg Boss' Telugu house, hopes to popularise rationalism Content provided by Digital Native.

TollywoodReports say that the director and actor are in talks.Digital NativeDigital NativeDirector Koratala Siva is one of the most successful filmmakers in the Telugu film industry with several hits to his credit. He has also directed some of the top stars in Tollywood such as Prabhas, Jr Ntr and Mahesh Babu. Having directed four films – Mirchi, Srimanthudu, Janatha Garage and Bharath Ane Nenu – which have all turned out to be good box office grossers, the director is now all set to go ahead with his next project. While movie buffs are waiting eagerly for more info about his next, particularly about the hero he would rope in, news has come in that Nani may be Koratala Siva’s hero. Discussions about this project are currently on and an official announcement would be made soon, we hear. The film will be bankrolled by leading distributor Sudhakar who had distributed films in the Krishna district and he will be debuting as producer with this venture. Sudhakar was initially planning to produce the Jr Ntr film with Koratala Siva but it did not happen. Koratala Siva’s last release was Bharath Ane Nenu, which hit the silver screens on April 20 and is doing well at the box office. This political thriller had Mahesh Babu playing the chief minister for the first time in his career and it received positive reviews. Nani’s last release was Krishnarjuna Yuddham. He played dual roles in this movie but it failed to impress the audiences in a big way. Meanwhile, Nagarjuna and Nani are teaming up on screen for the first time in another project. The film is being directed by Sriram Aditya. The star has currently inked a deal to act in a multi starrer with Naga Chaitanya, and this film has not been titled yet. Reports say that Koratala Siva will be making a formal announcement about the new project soon and in the meantime, Nani will be completing his current assignments. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali? Is that million dollar question that the nation wants to know so eagerly. However, Sathyaraj, who plays the role of Kattappa in the film chose to answer India's most-asked question in his own witty way. So why Kattappa killed Baahubali? When Sathyaraj came upon the stage to address his fans during the Baahubali 2 event, which was recently held in Hyderabad, it was asked to answer why he killed Baahubali. To which he replied, "Producers, Shobu sir and Prasad sir paid me very well. And Rajamouli told me to kill Baahubali, so I killed him. Otherwise how can I kill Prabhas? He has been my darling since Mirchi.” https://twitter.com/DharmaMovies/status/846013766898733056 The frenzy is at its peak as 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' trailer was recently released and it witnessed a never-seen-before mania, crossing 100 million views on YouTube, making it the most viewed Indian trailer ever!

After scoring a mammoth blockbuster with Baahubali, Prabhas is all set to start shooting for his next action entertainer which will go on floors shortly. Directed by Sujeeth Sign, the prestigious #Prabhas19 will be produced by Vamsi and Pramod under Uv Creations banner. In the past, Prabhas' Mirchi, which was also made under Uv Creations banner, went on to become a massive hit and since #Prabhas19 is going to be the actor's next film, following the release of Baahubali, it has already created tremendous buzz among the fans and the industry alike. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are going to score the music and Madhie is onboard this film as the cinematographer. Sabu Cyril, who has worked on films like Robo and Baahubali, is also part of the team as the production designer. The film will be released in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. More details about the film's cast and crew will be announced soon.

Rakul Preet Singh, who made her Bollywood debut with Divya Khosla Kumar’s Yaariyan, has been finalized for Ramesh Sippy’s next, Shimla Mirchi opposite Rajkummar Rao. Hema Malini also plays a major role in the film and is working with Ramesh Sippy after Sholay which released 39 years ago. Rakul will play Hema Malini's daughter in the film and it will go on floors somewhere in August 2014 in Shimla. “Yes I have been signed for Ramesh Sippy’s project. It’s a dream come true to work with people like Ramesh Sippy and Hema ji. Read More...

Director Ramesh Sippy who has given Bollywood some of its biggest hits like Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Saagar and many more will soon be returning back to film direction. Sippy's next directorial venture has been titled Shimla Mirchi and it will star star Hema Malini and Rajkummar Rao. While the actress opposite Rajkummar Rao is yet to be finalized, the film will go on the floor in August and is said to be a sweet, romantic story with its quirky twists. Interestingly, this film will mark Sippy's reunion with Hema Malani after 39 years since Sholay. The film is also said to be the reason behind Rao opting out of Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020.

Film: "Ramayya Vasthavayya"; Cast: Junior Ntr, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Shruti Haasan, Mukesh Rishi, Rohini Hattangadi, Vidyullekha Raman, P. Ravi Shankar, Rao Ramesh and Hamsa Nandini; D4irector: Harish Shankar; Rating: *

It is probably only in India that we pay good money to get our sane minds assaulted by films such as "Gabbar Singh", "Mirchi" and now, "Ramayya Vasthavayya" (Rv). When was the last time that a director made or even attempted a meaningful film featuring a top star without having to worry about pleasing certain sections of the audience? Never!

Our directors seem to be labouring under the assumption that a star film won't work if it doesn't cater to the masses. But the truth is that we haven't even tried.

Chennai, Sep 29: She doesn't like the expression "item number", but actress Hamsa Nandini, who has grooved to four popular dance songs in southern films in just a few months, says the reach that such numbers give to actors is phenomenal.

She is ready for more dance numbers in films as she is not a "mainstream heroine" and she is happy to do it for the audiences, who want to see more of her on screen.

Hamsa has featured in chartbusters such as "Mirchi" and "Bavagarlu" in the recent past.

"Firstly, I don't think they are item numbers because I don't expose in any of my songs. I don't have a problem doing these songs because I'm not a mainstream heroine yet, and moreover if audience wants to see more of me, I would.

With south remakes topping the Rs. 100 crore club list, John Abraham, who recently crossed the Rs. 100 crore mark with Race 2, wants to be a part of yet another South remake. After Force, which was a remake of the Tamil movie Kaakha Kaakha, John will now be seen in the remake of a Telugu movie titled Mirchi.

The original film stars Prabhas, Anushka Shetty and Richa Gangopadhyay in the lead. It was released in February this year and John was apparently so impressed with the film, that he immediately bought the rights to remake it.

However, the film is yet in its initial stages as the title and the cast are yet to be finalized.

Chennai, March 4: Buoyed by the success of Telugu action-drama "Mirchi", producer Bandla Ganesh has confirmed he is doing a film with writer-director Koratala Siva.

"After the super success of "Mirchi", we are proud to announce a prestigious project with writer-director Koratala Siva. Will announce details soon," Ganesh posted on Twitter.

Post the release of Prabhas-starrer "Mirchi", the industry was buzzing with news that Ganesh had expressed interest to work with Siva.

"Mirchi", which also features Anushka Gangopadhyay and Anushka Shetty, reportedly collected over Rs.20 crore in the first week. It released worldwide Feb.

Chennai, Feb 19: The success of Telugu action-drama "Mirchi", which has reaped gold at the box-office, is a team effort and no single person from the unit can claim the success, says actor Prabhas Raju.

"I'm extremely happy with the success of the movie. All of us worked together for one common goal and we have finally achieved it. No single person from the team can claim the success of the film. It was a team effort," Prabhas told Ians.

"I was confident that the movie will do well right from the beginning because I saw the confidence in my director. The passion with which he brought this story, floored me, and I couldn't decline.

Chennai, Feb 12: Prabhas-starrer Telugu action-drama "Mirchi" raked in Rs.7.86 crore on its opening day worldwide.

The film is said to have been made at a budget of Rs.30 crore.

"This is probably the best ever opening for Prabhas. The film collected approximately Rs.7.86 crore on the day of the release. It managed to collect over Rs.6 crore in Andhra Pradesh alone," trade analyst Trinath told Ians.

Directed by debutant Koratala Siva, "Mirchi", which released Feb 8, features Prabhas Raju in the title role alongside Richa Gangopadhyay, Anushka Shetty. Other cast members include Sampath Raj, Subbaraju, Benarji, Sathyaraj, Nadhiya.

Film: "Mirchi"; Actors: Prabhas Raju, Anushka Shetty, Richa Gangopadhyay, Sathyaraj, Nadhiya, Brahmanandam, Sampath Raj, Benarji and Subba Raju; Director: Koratala Siva; Rating: ** - violent commercial entertainer.

After the debacle of his last film "Rebel", Prabhas Raju can now be proud of being part of a successful commercial family entertainer "Mirchi". At the outset, let me clarify that debutant director Koratala Siva presents a story no different from several Telugu films made in the family genre over the years, with some extra dosage of violence to attract audiences from all sections. At different junctures in the film,.

Chennai, Feb 9: Director Koratala Siva, whose debut Telugu film "Mirchi" released Friday, has confirmed his next Telugu film will be produced by Bandla Ganesh Babu.

"My next film will be produced by Bandla Ganesh under Parameswara Arts," tweeted Siva.

He is also extremely happy with response to his film.

"'Mirchi' is getting superb response from everywhere. Thank you Prabhas, Richa, Anushka, Dsp, Pramod, Vamsi and team," he further tweeted.

The cast and crew of the film are yet to be announced.

Producer Ganesh, who is currently busy wrapping up Ntr-starrer Telugu action-drama "Baadshah", also has the romantic-drama.

Chennai, Feb 7: Content comes before anything else for actor Prabhas Raju, says debutant Telugu director Koratala Siva, who is awaiting the release of his action-drama "Mirchi".

"He agreed to work with me because he was extremely satisfied with my story. If he doesn't believe in the content, then why would he agree to work with a debutant of all directors? He even pushed dates for his next film to begin working on my film," Siva told Ians.

"He may be a star actor, but he is very particular about the story he chooses for his films," he added.

"Mirchi" features Prabhas, Anushka Shetty and Richa Gangopadhyay in the lead..