Four must-watch Diwali releases

Going to the movies has become something of a modern Diwali tradition, with stars such as Shah Rukh Khan inextricably linked with the festival in viewers’ minds. Last year, for example, his Happy New Year struck box office gold, becoming one of the fastest films to enter the Rs1-billion club, as did Chennai Express the previous year.

This year, however, with production running late on Dilwale, Khan’s much-anticipated film with Kajol, being set for Christmas, it is up to his frenemy Salman Khan to carry the mantle forward.

Here’s a look at this year’s crop from all over India.

VEDHALAM

Tamil actor Ajith Kumar joins forces with an ensemble cast that includes Shruti Haasan, Aniket Chouhan, Lakshmi Menon, Kabir Singh and many others for this action thriller that reportedly has a supernatural plot. The word Vedhalam translates to phantom or poltergeist, but sources connected with the film have said that the word could refer to someone who is unique and invincible. Director Siva, who worked with Ajith in Veeram, is frustratingly tight-lipped about the Diwali release.

THOONGAAVANAM

Tamil cinema legend Kamal Haasan will release his latest effort, the bilingual Telugu-Tamil film Thoongaavanam on November 10, just ahead of Diwali. Directed by Rajesh M. Selva, a long-time Haasan associate, the film sees the veteran actor don the uniform of a policeman once again. The crime thriller, a remake of French film Sleepless Night, is set in a bar and most of the action takes place within the course of a single night. It also features Trisha Krishnan and Prakash Raj.

AKHIL: THE POWER OF JUA

Telugu icon Nagarjuna is doing his best to make this film, directed by V.V. Vinayak, a certified blockbuster. Already postponed once because of production and graphics delays, the film stars Nagarjuna’s son Akhil Akkineni and is being marketed as a socio-fantasy (whatever that is) about a man who harnesses the power of the sun to help people. The film’s music has been composed by two directors, Anup Rubens and S. Thaman.

PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO

Salman Khan reunites with director Sooraj Barjatya for what could well be this year’s Diwali blockbuster, going by the amount of airplay its music has been receiving and that there are no other major Hindi film releases. Khan and Barjatya delivered hits such as Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Apke Hain Koun...! and they hope to repeat the magic. As in those movies, Khan portrays a character called Prem. This time, the pair have reportedly been inspired by Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper. Khan plays a king who wants to lead a normal life and switches identities with a man who looks like him. It also stars Sonam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh.