All posts tagged: rajiv menon

‘Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan took 20 takes to walk in sync’: Rajiv Menon on shooting the KHxRK promo | Tamil News

‘Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan took 20 takes to walk in sync’: Rajiv Menon on shooting the KHxRK promo | Tamil News

Cinematographer Rajiv Menon has given the most detailed account yet of how the promotional video for KHxRK, the upcoming Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan collaboration directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, was put together in just four days, and revealed that the two legends needed 20 takes before they could walk in sync on camera. In a conversation with I AM with Dhanya Varma show, Rajiv Menon said his entry into the project came through Mani Ratnam. Nelson had met the veteran filmmaker and expressed that he wanted a slightly different visual approach for the film. Mani Ratnam, who had worked with Rajiv Menon on Bombay and held him in high regard, suggested his name for the project. Rajiv Menon said he was uncertain at first about which character he was being attached to, as the film has a commissioner character and a DGB character among its principals. When Nelson sat him down and narrated the script, however, any uncertainty disappeared quickly. “After narrating the script, he asked me, ‘Will you shoot it?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course, I love …

Patriot Plot Revealed: Mammootty, Mohanlal’s spy action drama to explore a man’s fight against corrupt practices?

Patriot Plot Revealed: Mammootty, Mohanlal’s spy action drama to explore a man’s fight against corrupt practices?

Patriot, starring Mammootty and Mohanlal in the lead roles, is slated to release in theaters on May 1, 2026. Ahead of the film’s arrival on the big screen, it has been certified UA above 16, and details about its plot have also been revealed. Patriot Plot Revealed: Mammootty to play a YouTuber fighting against corruption? As per the latest updates, Patriot follows the story of Daniel, a famous YouTuber from Kerala who tries to expose a corrupt regional official, JP Sundaram. As Sundaram’s malpractices are on the verge of being exposed by Daniel, he is soon forced to go on the run and clear his name of the false allegations made against him by Sundaram’s team. How the YouTuber manages to overcome this cat-and-mouse chase, what his background is, and whether he succeeds in his mission are explored in the film. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, this spy action drama features Mohanlal in a pivotal role, marking his reunion with Mammootty after a decade. Fahadh Faasil plays the main antagonist, while Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, Darshana Rajendran, …

Mammootty initially had reservations about Patriot; Rajiv Menon compares film to The Bourne Identity | Malayalam News

Mammootty initially had reservations about Patriot; Rajiv Menon compares film to The Bourne Identity | Malayalam News

If there’s anything Malayalam movie audiences are certain about regarding director Mahesh Narayanan’s Patriot at the moment, it’s that the film won’t follow the obsolete formulas and worn-out templates usually adopted by filmmakers when crafting multi-starrers. Despite marking the on-screen reunion of superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty in central roles after 17 years since Joshiy’s Twenty:20 (2008), audiences are confident that the movie won’t be just another star vehicle. From its promotional materials, it’s also evident that Patriot will be the industry’s biggest spy thriller yet. Opening up about the project, megastar Mammootty noted that the Mahesh Narayanan directorial will prove that Malayalam cinema can produce films on such a grand scale. Only in Screen | No 20 Madras Mail: When Mohanlal and Mammootty made us believe they would take a bullet for each other ‘Patriot will appear that it’s been mounted on a much larger scale than it actually is’ “It will demonstrate that Malayalam cinema can also make a movie on such a massive canvas, like how Hollywood, Bollywood, Telugu and Tamil industries have …

4 Malayalam OTT Releases to Watch This Week: Nivin Pauly’s Prathichaya to Mohanlal, Mammootty’s Patriot Legends Hangout

4 Malayalam OTT Releases to Watch This Week: Nivin Pauly’s Prathichaya to Mohanlal, Mammootty’s Patriot Legends Hangout

Malayalam movies and series are once again hitting streaming platforms this week with a fresh array of titles. If you’re exploring new films and shows online, here’s a list of Malayalam OTT releases to check out. 4 Malayalam Releases to Watch This Week on OTT 1. Prathichaya Cast: Nivin Pauly, Sharaf U Dheen, Balachandra Menon, Harisree Ashokan, Maniyanpilla Raju, Ann Augustine, Sai Kumar, Nishanth Sagar, Neethu Krishna, Sabitha Anand Director: B. Unnikrishnan Genre: Drama Thriller Runtime: 2 hours and 42 minutes Where to watch: JioHotstar Streaming Date: April 24, 2026 Prathichaya follows the story of a tech entrepreneur-turned-strategist who is also the son of the Kerala Chief Minister. After his father dies as a result of a dangerous conspiracy orchestrated by a ruthless media tycoon, his life takes a dramatic turn. As the opposition attempts to exploit the conspiracy to its advantage and destabilize the political landscape, the entrepreneur takes it upon himself to uncover the conspirators’ strategies to tarnish his father’s name. He leads a battle against them, using his wit and skills to …

AR Rahman reveals the emotional breaking point that birthed Minsara Kanavu song ‘Vennelave Vennelave’: ‘I started cryin’ | Tamil News

AR Rahman reveals the emotional breaking point that birthed Minsara Kanavu song ‘Vennelave Vennelave’: ‘I started cryin’ | Tamil News

Written by: Entertainment Desk 3 min readHyderabadFeb 9, 2026 08:53 PM IST Some of the greatest artistic breakthroughs happen in moments of struggle, and for AR Rahman, the creation of “Vennelave Vennelave” for the film Minsara Kanavu stands as a testament to this truth. In a recent interview, the maestro pulled back the curtain on how one of Tamil cinema’s most beloved romantic songs came into existence, during a period of low morale. Rahman recalled the circumstances vividly in an interview with Noise and Grains. “One of my movies had flopped, and everybody was on a low kind of morale,” he shared, describing the atmosphere when director Rajiv Menon was grappling with finding the right musical direction for a crucial sequence in Minsara Kanavu. The pressure was mounting, the creative block was real, and Rahman himself was observing a fast. It was in this state, physically depleted, emotionally raw, that the melody arrived. “This tune came. I played it and started crying,” Rahman admitted with disarming honesty. When asked why the tears, his response was …

Why can’t a film like Mani Ratnam’s Bombay be released in theaters today? Cinematographer Rajiv Menon BREAKS SILENCE

Why can’t a film like Mani Ratnam’s Bombay be released in theaters today? Cinematographer Rajiv Menon BREAKS SILENCE

Mani Ratnam’s cult classic 1995 film Bombay was a huge success when it was released. However, when asked about the film today, its cinematographer Rajiv Menon shared a different point of view. He said that a movie like Bombay couldn’t be released in the current climate as it would be too controversial and could even lead to riots. While speaking on the O2 India YouTube channel, Rajiv Menon said that a film like Mani Ratnam’s Bombay wouldn’t be possible today. He pointed out that India’s current atmosphere is highly sensitive. People hold very strong opinions, and religion plays a dominant role in public discourse.  According to him, releasing Bombay now could lead to violent reactions. He even mentioned that theaters might be set on fire. Rajiv Menon believes that over the last 25 to 30 years, the country has grown “less tolerant.” He said, “A film like Bombay cannot be made today. The situation in India is so volatile, people take up positions that are so strong, and religion has become such a big issue. …

Mani Ratnam’s Bombay cinematographer says the film ‘cannot be made today’ without theatres being ‘burnt down’

Mani Ratnam’s Bombay cinematographer says the film ‘cannot be made today’ without theatres being ‘burnt down’

Apr 19, 2025 05:03 PM IST In a recent interview, Bombay cinematographer Rajiv Menon spoke about the Mani Ratnam film and his reasons for thinking why it couldn’t be made today. Cinematographer Rajiv Menon, who has worked on projects with Mani Ratnam like Guru and Kadal, believes a film like Bombay could not be made today. Talking to O2 India about the Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala-starrer turning 30, he said that theatres would be ‘burnt down’ if the film were made today. (Also Read: Thug Life release date teaser: Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam film to hit screens on this date in 2025. Watch) Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala in a still from Mani Ratnam’s 1995 film Bombay. Rajiv Menon on why Bombay couldn’t be made today Rajiv said in the interview that India has become ‘less tolerant’ than it was three decades ago when Bombay was released. He stated that people might take ‘strong positions’ to the film and that you cannot expect the film to be released without any theatre being ‘burnt down’ …

‘Theatres would be burned down if Bombay were released today; India is less tolerant’, says Mani Ratnam classic’s cinematographer Rajiv Menon | Bollywood News

‘Theatres would be burned down if Bombay were released today; India is less tolerant’, says Mani Ratnam classic’s cinematographer Rajiv Menon | Bollywood News

Cinematographer Rajiv Menon, who shot Mani Ratnam’s Bombay, said that the film would struggle to find a release in theatres today. He said that India has become ‘less tolerant’ in the three decades since Bombay’s release and subsequent emergence as a cult classic. In an interview, he also reflected on some of the supposed visual metaphors in the film, which was set against the backdrop of the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the riots they fuelled. In an appearance on the O2 India YouTube channel, Rajiv said, “A film like Bombay cannot be made today. The situation in India is so volatile, people take up positions that are so strong, and religion has become such a big issue. I don’t think you can make a film like Bombay, release it in the theatre, and not expect the theatre to be burned down. In these 25-30 years, India has become less tolerant.” Also read – Vikram recalls crying for two months after losing Mani Ratnam’s Bombay to Arvind Swamy: ‘I was confirmed, but I goofed up’ Story …