The RK Nagar by-polls generated much drama this week. Actor and TFPC president Vishal declared that he would be contesting the by-election as an independent candidate. The TFPC president filed his nominations papers amid much fan-fare, however, it was rejected on the grounds that the names of the proposers were incorrect. He staged a dharna and later tweeted that his nomination has been accepted. There was a twist in the tale and his nomination was officially rejected. The actor said that it was a sad day for democracy. This led to a lot of allegations and counter-allegations involving the actor, AIADMK and election commission.
Meanwhile, veteran actor and producer Shashi Kapoor passed away on Monday. He was 79. He was one of those rare actors who balanced both commercial and parallel cinema and was a true connoisseur of the theatre.
Here are the top stories of the week:
Actor Vishal Krishna seems to hold too many positions in real life: Two top posts in associations related to the film industry, and now, a shot at representing a major Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly constituency. Even as his candidature is rejected by the Election Commission, Vishal’s image as that of an ‘action hero’ all but threatens to spill off screen – this time, with real consequences and very real detractors.
Read full story: Action Hero, TFPC President, Nadigar Sangam GS & An Aspiring Politician: What Would Vishal Need To Give Up?
Moral policing and chastising women come easily in this patriarchal industry. Of course, the guffaws that follow these lewd comments only encourage such behaviour. It represents a toxic chest-thumping masculinity that comes with a misplaced sense of entitlement that they can tell women how to behave.
Read full story: From Sai Dhanshika to Amala Paul, Why Do Women Artistes Make Easy Targets For The Men In Kollywood?
If there’s one thing late actor Shashi Kapoor would be known for, apart from his acting of course, that would be his interesting choice of films, an unusual repertoire for someone belonging to the famous Kapoor khandaan. When the news of his death broke on Monday evening, most likened him to the ‘Adonis of old Bollywood’ films. Popular figures and former co-stars have nothing but fond memories of him.
Read full story: ‘Standing Elegantly Without A Care In The World’: In Memory Of Shashi Kapoor
For a teenager, Esther Anil, who shot to fame as the little girl in Mohanlal-starrer Drishyam, is remarkably lucid in her thoughts. Soon to debut as a female lead in Olu, she admits to not understanding some script nuances, declares that she’s uncomfortable enacting romance, and laughs off all distasteful comments on her Facebook page.
Read full interview: Little, Only A Little While Ago: Interview With Former Child Star & Soon-To-Be Female Lead Esther Anil
By far, some of the best pieces of music that late composer Adithyan had made, were for the 1994 movie Seevalaperi Paandi. A movie that documented the life and times of a Tirunelveli don from the village of Seevalaperi, it catapulted its lead actor Napoleon to instant fame.
Read full story: A Tribute: Throwback To Music Composer Adithyan’s Five Popular Songs
From the age of 10, CV Kumar has been travelling the length and breadth of the country, accompanying customers on package tours conducted by the family-run business. Every evening in a new city, be it Delhi or Mumbai, the first thing he’d look for was a theatre. And, without intending to, movies became a part of his everyday life, as much as travel did.
Read full interview: ‘Kingmaker’ CV Kumar Is Ready For Maayavan’s Release: A Film That He Has Given His ‘100%’
Movie Reviews
Kodi Veeran
If not for the overdrawn, exaggerated sequences with tedious domestic squabbles that almost serialises it, Kodi Veeran could have well been a fun experiment – a kind of satire which draws on scripts that seek to make heroes out of its leads. But as always with movies of its ilk, Kodi Veeran is intense, almost humor-less in its quest to stardom.
Recommended
Yet Another Film That Tries To Make A Hero Out Of M Sasikumar
Richie
Richie, a remake of the Kannada movie Ulidavaru Kandanthe, is presented as a collection of vignettes about an ostensibly fascinating personality.
This Film Makes A Poster Boy Out Of Nivin Pauly For The Tamil Audience
Fukrey Returns
Just before the year-end, movie-goers are fed yet another sequel that involves man-children, toilet humour, and lots and lots of pointless ribaldry in a plot that is so wafer-thin, you could see through it from a mile away.