Hindi Features

Diwali 2016 Releases: Kodi, Kaashmora Lead Tamil Lineup While A Fight Between Directors Spices Up Bollywood’s Diwali

This Diwali, Kollywood’s senior superstars have no movie to offer. However, the festive spirit would be not any less for there are two mighty releases lined up: Dhanush’s Kodi and Karthi-Nayantara starrer Kaashmora. While one is a political-drama, the other is a fantasy-thriller set in three different time periods. Ma Ka Pa Anand’s Kadalai and director Thulasi Das’ Tamil-Malayalam film, Thiraikku Varatha Kathai, are also releasing in theatres this Friday.

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Meanwhile, Bollywood will remember this Diwali for a lot of ‘nationalism’ debates, controversies and a lost friendship. Karan Johar was criticised and even threatened for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his latest film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Also, his long-time friendship with Ajay Devgan went south after the latter accused him of bribing a self-proclaimed movie critic, Kamaal R Khan, to slam Shivaay.

In spite of the downers, the box-office contest between Karan Johar’s multi-starrer, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Ajay Devgan’s Shivaay will be a spectacle to watch.

Here is our pre-release round-up of the big four Diwali films:

Kodi (Tamil)

Director: RS Durai Senthil Kumar; Cast: Dhanush, Trisha Krishnan, Anupama Parameswaran

In Kodi, Dhanush dons the role of a politician for the first time ever in his career. He will also be seen in the role of a college lecturer in the film. For the actor, whose last two releases, Thangamagan and Thodari, were flops at the box-office, Kodi is a crucial project. He has teamed up with Trisha for the first time. Going by the trailer, the actress’s character is no run-of-the-mill lover girl. The film’s soundtrack, composed by Santhosh Narayanan, has already become popular with the audience.

Watch the trailer here:

Kaashmora

Director: Gokul, Cast: Nayanthara, Karthi Sivakumar

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If a puffed-up Karthi in a warrior’s outfit was what grabbed the eyeballs in the Kaashmora poster, the highlight of the trailer was Nayanthara, gorgeous in a red royal suit. Kaashmora, a fantasy drama, is the duo’s first project together. The actress, who is riding high on the back-to-back success of all her recent projects, plays a queen in Kaashmora, while Karthi is rumoured to be playing three roles in the film. Made at a budget of Rs. 55 crore, Kaashmora is Karthi’s most expensive film. His brother, Surya Sivakumar, had appeared in three roles in his last film, 24, which was also a fantasy drama.

Watch the trailer here:

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (Hindi)

Director: Karan Johar, Cast: Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai, Ranbir Kapoor, Fawad Khan

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For a smooth theatrical release of this romantic drama, Karan Johar had to pay quite a huge price. The film got into trouble in September, soon after the Uri terror attack, for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Maharashtra Navanirman Sena threatened to stop its theatrical release and demanded a government ban on it. To break the pandemonium, Johar met MNS chief Uddhav Thackarey on Friday, and agreed to donate Rs. 5 crore to the Indian army as ‘penance’. The director also promised that he wouldn’t engage with Pakistani talent in the future. ADHM is a love story set overseas. The songs and trailer of the film are a hit, and the sizzling chemistry between Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai is already a talking point. The film is on the lines of Karan Johar’s past hits: opulent setting in a foreign country and beautiful stars. The director, along with the cast, has been promoting the movie extensively on offline and online platforms, and several ‘Making/Blooper’ videos of the film were also released.

Watch the trailer here:

Shivaay (Hindi)

Director: Ajay Devgan , Cast: Ajay Devgan

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

An ageing yet sturdy and spirited Ajay Devgan chasing villains and doing high-octane stunts in locations ranging from crowded cities to stunning and risky mountain roads in Europe and Asia: these are Shivaay’s highlights.  The film also stars  Sayyeshaa, Erika Kaar and Abigail Eames in pivotal roles.  The actor plays Shivaay, a Himalayan mountaineer, who has to fight the bad men to protect his family. Shivaay marks the actor’s return to direction eight years after his 2008 romantic drama U Me Aur Hum.

Watch the trailer here:

Kadalai (Tamil)

Director Sahaya Suresh’s Kadalai is a romantic-comedy starring Ma Ka pa Anandh and Aishwarya Rajesh. The movie, reportedly, drives home a message on the importance of agriculture. It also stars Ponvannan, John Vijay and Yogi Babu in supporting roles.

Watch the trailer here:

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