After 48 days of complete shut-down, the Tamil film industry is back to business.
Following a tripartite meeting last week, called by the Tamil Nadu state government between producers, theatre owners and Digital Service Providers, an agreement was made which will be ratified in the coming months.
The shooting of films resumed from April 20. Here are the ones to keep an eye out for:
‘Mercury’, a silent thriller not to be missed
Mercury may be a silent thriller but there is so much going on that it’s hard to sit still.
What happens one night when five friends meet for their alumnus celebrations-and, while on a night drive they accidentally kill someone.
Karthik Subbaraj has written and directed the film. He takes viewers on a ride punctuated with thrills and soon turns into a nightmare with a paranormal element.
Subbaraj’s protagonists are hearing and speech challenged, making the film a silent one. Yet, it is not a silent tale with Santosh Narayanan’s goosebumps-inducing music — which sometimes gets a bit loud and irrelevant, though.
Thiru’s camera pans over an old shut down factory that becomes the centre of action post interval. With its leaking faucets, mesh of pipes and monstrous equipments gleaming hideously in the faint light of the night, an eerie ambience creeps in. Cinematography is splendid and original.
Subbaraj’s screenplay teases-making you shudder now, then keeps you waiting with a knot in the heart for a scare next and with a beautiful revelation in the end, he wins hands down.
Prabhudeva has left his dancing shoes behind and this is a role he definitely has not played before. Newcomers Sananth, Indujha, Deepak Paramesh, Shashank Purushottam and Anish Padmanabhan show immense potential.
Tamil remake of Malayalam film ‘Bhaskar the Rascal’
Malayalam director Siddique of Bodyguard-fame (the Malayalam film remade in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada) is ready with his Tamil film — Bhaskar Oru Rascal.
This is a remake of the family entertainer Bhaskar the Rascal that featured Mammootty and Nayanthara. In the Tamil version, Arvind Swami reprises Mammootty’s role and Amala Paul plays Nayanthara’s character.
The supporting cast includes Nassar, Soori, Robo Shankar, Ramesh Kanna, Siddique and child actors Master Raghavan and Baby Nainika. Bollywood’s Aftabh Shivdasaani plays the villain.
Bhaskar Oru Rascal is produced by Harshini Movies.
‘Diya’, a Tamil-Telugu bilingual
Sai Pallavi makes her Tamil debut opposite Naga Shourya with this Vijay-directed film
Titled Karu earlier, director Vijay’s new film triggered curiosity with its poster — an image of a mother and child lying curled together.
The trailer indicates a family drama with a social message.
The title has now been changed to Diya.
The film marks Sai Pallavi’s (the Premam beauty, who with her pimples and long locks won applause on her debut) Tamil debut. Telugu actor Naga Shourya is paired opposite her.
The supporting cast is an interesting ensemble of actors including Nizhalgal Ravi, Rekha, Santhana Bharathi, RJ Balaji and J.M. Karthik. Child actor Veronica Arora makes her debut. Sam CS has composed music. Nirav Shah is the cinematographer.
Diya is produced by Lyca Productions.
Bhaskar Oru Rascal and Diya release in India on April 27.
