South newsmakers of the week: Last week saw several significant events and updates in the South film industry. From new songs to tragic incidents, here are the top five highlights:
1. Raayan’s New Song Release
“Raayan,” starring Dhanush, is set to hit theaters on July 26. In anticipation, a new song titled “Oh Raaya,” composed by AR Rahman, was released on July 19. The song, with its soulful lyrics, explores themes of longing and connection. “Raayan” is Dhanush’s second directorial venture, following “Pa Paandi” in 2017, and also marks his 50th film as an actor. The film will be available in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
Pre-Release Event of #Raayan on July 21st @ 6 PM at Park Hyatt, Hyd! #Raayan in cinemas from July 26. pic.twitter.com/mvbyISL3Qr
— KLAPBOARD (@klapboardpost) July 20, 2024
2. Thangaalan’s Release Date
“Thangaalan,” starring Chiyan Vikram, is one of the most awaited films of the year. The film, set against the historic backdrop of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), will be released on August 15, coinciding with Independence Day. This date was initially reserved for Allu Arjun’s “Pushpa 2,” which will now be released on December 6. Directed by Pa Ranjith, “Thangaalan” features a stellar cast including Parvathy Thiruvothu, Malavika Mohanan, and Pasupathy, although their specific roles are still under wraps.
3. Legal Trouble for Double iSmart
The Telugu film “Double iSmart” has encountered legal issues following a complaint against director Puri Jagannadh. The controversy centers around using a popular verse by former Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao in the song “Maar Muntha Chod Chinta.” Some Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders found the verse disrespectful. BRS leader Rajitha Reddy filed a complaint against Puri Jagannadh and his team for their inappropriate use of the phrase, which loosely translates to “What do you think we should do?
#DoubleIsmart releases on August 15th. #DoubleIsmartOnAug15 pic.twitter.com/4w9bsfuPzN
— KLAPBOARD (@klapboardpost) July 21, 2024
4. Tragic Incident on Sardar 2 Sets
A tragic incident occurred on the set of “Sardar 2,” featuring Karthi, on July 16. A stuntman named Ezhumalai died while performing an action sequence. He fell from a height of 20 feet, resulting in internal bleeding and his untimely death. Karthi visited the stuntman’s family to offer his condolences. Sun News shared a video of Karthi paying respects to Ezhumalai’s family in Chennai on July 17.
5. Manorathangal Trailer Release
For the past few years, eight directors and several veteran Malayalam actors have been working on a unique anthology series titled “Manorathangal.” This series comprises nine segments, each adapting a popular story from award-winning author and filmmaker MT Vasudevan Nair. With the trailer now released, the series is set to premiere on ZEE5 in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi on August 15.
