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Banner showcasing 6 must-watch Malayalam web series (Photo Credit – Zee5/Sony Liv)

Malayalam movies are well-known both in India and abroad, but have you ever watched a Malayalam web series? If you’re not a Malayali, the answer is probably no, and you’re missing out. We’ve handpicked six fantastic web series for you to enjoy, four of which come from the House of Mouse. So, let’s dive right in and explore these gems without wasting time.

Manorathangal

Available on: Zee5

Manorathangal is an anthology series based on nine short stories by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, spread across nine episodes. Each episode features significant actors, with stars like Mohanlal, Mammootty, Indrajith Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Biju Menon, Fahadh Faasil, and others taking turns in the spotlight. The quality of each episode varies, making it a mixed bag, like what Forrest Gump’s momma said about a box of chocolates.

Jai Mahendran...

Historical accounts have been perfected by Indian filmmakers since the concept of motion pictures was introduced in the subcontinent. More than just a repository of history, the reimagination of the past and how it stands relevant in the current times is quite interesting to notice. The beauty of a moment captured in history, with eminent actors posing as the heroes, is what we all look forward to. So what makes Mani Ratnam‘s depiction stand out?

Table of Contents

The backstory: Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin SelvanHistory re-presented The backstory: Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan penned by the distinguished Tamil author Kalki Krishnamurthy, stands as a monumental work in Tamil literature. Cherished not only for its literary prowess but also for its cultural resonance, the work captures an intrinsically Indian narrative. Composed and consolidated in the Kalki magazine from the 1950s, this historical novel transports readers to the majestic era of the Chola dynasty.

Nayanthara reacts to rumors of getting a surgery! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Lady Superstar Nayanthara is undoubtedly one of the most adored actresses in the South film industry. She also made her Bollywood debut with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan last year. However, despite all the adoration, she has also time and again faced some unwanted judgements and criticism. One of them being rumors of having gone under the knife to alter her facial features.

However, in a recent conversation with Hauterrfly, Nayanthara denied these speculations and stated that people might have felt the same because of the fluctuations in her brow phases, diet, and weight. The Iraivan actress said that these aspects gave her face a different look, which made people think that she must have undergone surgery. She said, “I take the time to perfect it because it’s the real game changer. I’ve had different brow phases over the years.

All you need to know about the plotline of Kanguva!(Photo Credit – YouTube)

The Suriya starrer Kanguva is one of the most anticipated movies on the block. Helmed by Siva, the Tamil fantasy-action film is all set to be released on November 14, 2024. According to the latest report in Track Tollywood, Suriya divulged some exciting details about the movie’s plotline.

Kanguva’s Plotline

The report stated that Suriya revealed in an interview that Kanguva is not just about battles but mainly about forgiveness. He added that forgiving someone is the highest form of love, which forms the main crux of the movie. For the unversed, the film goes into an intriguing historical backdrop after the first 20 minutes of the movie.

The movie is reportedly set across 5 islands dedicated to different deities, such as water and fire. The movie paves the way for a clash between various tribal clans. Not only this,...

Here’s how financial issues forced Suriya to act.

Did you know that Tamil superstar Suriya got his start in the film industry because of some serious financial struggles in his family? Before becoming a household name, he worked at a garment factory. As a trainee, he made just Inr 750 every 15 days, which was later downgraded to Inr 1,200 a month. He spent about two to three years in the garment industry, earning around Inr 8,000 monthly.

Things took a turn when his mother revealed she had taken out a loan of Inr 25,000 without his father knowing. Surya was caught off guard. Given that his father was an actor, it was surprising to him that they were dealing with such financial issues. His mother explained that their bank balance never really went above one and a half lakh, and his father wasn’t one to chase after his salary; he just waited...

Here’s how Suriya defended his Inr 2000 crore dread for Kanguva (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The controversy began with an interview on Galatta, where Kanguva’s producer, K.E. Gnanavel Raja, responded to a question about the film’s potential to gross Inr 1,000 crore at the box office. He set high expectations, suggesting the film could achieve Inr 2,000 crore. This statement was perceived by many as overly ambitious.

Additionally, Gnanavel Raja mentioned that, regardless of whether the film grosses Inr 500 crore, Inr 700 crore, or even Inr 1,000 crore, he intends to post the Gst challan on social media as a public record. He proposed that if all producers shared their Gst challans, it would give the industry a more transparent, more accurate picture of actual earnings.

At a promotional event in Hyderabad on October 24, 2024, a journalist asked Suriya for his response to the producer’s ambitious expectations for the film’s theatrical performance.

Anjaamai: Ott Release Date and more ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The Tamil legal drama Anjaamai, starring Rahman, Krithik Mohan, Vidharth, and Vani Bhojan, is coming to Ott. This powerful film explores the emotional journey of a son as he fights against a new government policy. Though Anjaamai received a mixed critical and audience response, the film’s social messaging and the performances by the main cast were widely praised. Scroll down for full details.

Cast and Crew of Anjaamai

Written and directed by Sp Subburaman, Anjaamai stars Rahman, Vidharth, Krithik Mohan, Vani Bhojan, and Ramar. Kala Charan and Raghav Prasad composed the music, which was edited by Ramsudharsan. M. Thirunavukarasu produces the film.

Plot of Anjaamai

In Anjaamai, a devoted father, once a passionate theater artist, leaves behind his career to support his son’s education. However, due to a sudden policy change and mounting pressures, the father succumbs to overwhelming stress,...

Aamir Khan’s Feelings of ‘Betrayal’ by Ram Gopal Varma (Photo Credit – Koimoi)

Aamir Khan and Ram Gopal Varma have had a cold relationship for 29 years. Yes, it’s true. While their collaboration in 1995 with Rangeela was a mammoth success, Ramu’s bad-mouthing rubbed Aamir the wrong way, and since then, Aamir has maintained his distance from Ram Gopal Varma.

The Sarkar director takes the blame for it. He accepted that Aamir Khan felt betrayed when the media noted his comments on Khan’s performance in Rangeela out of context. In an interview, the filmmaker spoke about a particular scene of Aamir Khan in Rangeela, which he believed was improved by a co-star’s reaction to Aamir’s line delivery.

He said that the interviewer didn’t understand his comment and ran a story with the headline’ The waiter was better than Aamir’ and quoted him. When the news reached Aamir,...

1000 Babies, the 2024 Disney+ Hotstar show, is a unique investigative drama that tackles the story of a woman who committed a grave crime and confessed to it on her deathbed. Her confession had a drastic effect on people, especially her son. The unofficial investigation into this confession uncovers a possible serial killer scenario, resulting in many characters being introduced. Some of them are victims, while others are potential targets, and it’s around these characters that the investigative drama revolves.

Spoilers Ahead

Aji Kurian

Veteran actor Rahman as Aji Kurian is introduced in the show as an investigating officer who is trying to find the culprit who killed the actress Ancy. This leads him to Sarah’s confession letters, which leave him dumbfounded. Aji wants to get to the bottom of it and catch the serial killer who has secretly killed people across the country, yet his movements have not alarmed the police somehow.

Applause Entertainment’s series on the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi directed by Hansal Mehta, seems to get bigger by the month.

The big announcement on Gandhi Jayanti is that A R Rahman would be scoring the music for this purported epic series.

Rahman is no stranger to historical epics: he has earlier scored music for Ketan Mehta’s Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Raj Kumar Santoshi’s The Legend Of Bhagat Singh and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti.

On Rahman’s coming up n board Applause Entertainment’s Gandhi, director Hansal Mehta comments, “Gandhi is a deeply human retelling of M K Gandhi’s life story, a story that continues to inspire generations. Having A.R. Rahman join us on this journey is truly a dream come true. His music has the unique ability to elevate storytelling and for a project of this scale and significance, we couldn...

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”) has signed on to create the musical score for the upcoming series “Gandhi,” directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by India’s Applause Entertainment.

The announcement was made on Oct. 2 to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, the annual celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday in India.

The series is based on historian Ramchandra Guha’s books “Gandhi Before India” and “Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, 1914-1948.” The first season covers the formative years of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s life as a law student in London and later as lawyer and civil rights activist in South Africa, during which time he conceived the ideas that ultimately led India to independence from British rule. Gandhi became known as Mahatma, or great soul, for his leading part in the independence movement. The second and third seasons will cover the rest of his life.

The series sees the reunion of Applause,...

College football fans who were tailgating at several universities this weekend were in for a surprise when planes carrying Election 2024 messages flew over their respective parking lots and stadiums.

On Saturday, the second week of the 2024 college football season, planes carrying banner messages specific to three universities flew across the sky, courtesy of the Democratic National Committee.

Starting four hours before each kickoff, airborne messages tying Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and running mate J.D. Vance to the controversial set of conservative policy proposals titled Project 2025 flew over the University of Michigan’s Michigan Stadium and Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, with a plane set to fly later in the day over University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium. A fourth plane had been panned to fly over the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium, but was grounded Saturday morning due to weather.

The messages, respectively, read as follows: “Jd Vance...

The award-winning composer launches the soundtrack worldwide on Believe music. Le Musk is the first of its kind immersive sensory experience feature directed by A.R Rahman and was presented at Cannes Xr, following experiences at Los Angeles and Toronto

Renowned composer and Oscar-winning music maestro A.R. Rahman has released the highly anticipated soundtrack of his groundbreaking immersive film, Le Musk. The soundtrack with 12 soulful and varied tracks, launched globally today on Believe Music, promises to captivate listeners with a fusion of ethereal compositions that transcend boundaries, much like Rahman’s iconic body of work.

Le Musk, an innovative sensory cinematic experience directed by A.R. Rahman himself, merges music, fragrance, and visual storytelling to immerse audiences in a new kind of film and narrative. The soundtrack, created to complement the immersive experience, features Rahman’s signature style — a blend of Jazz, Orchestra and eclectic elements combined with soulful melodies.

Speaking about the soundtrack launch,...

Amid reports that Donald Trump’s campaign will hold daily briefings at the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention — a cute lil’ transfer of campaign funds to the candidate’s personal business portfolio — Democratic operatives are having some fun trolling their rival ahead of the convention’s kick-off on Monday.

Party operatives, armed with a high-powered projector, booked themselves a room across the street from Trump Tower to display the message “Trump-Vance: Out For Themselves” — along with other slogans intended to rankle, rile, and...

Award winning composer and music maestro A.R. Rahman was felicitated with the prestigious ‘Excellence in Cinema’ Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (Iffm) 2024.

The accolade was presented by Margaret Elaine Gardner, the Hon’ble Governor of Melbourne and Filmmaker Imtiyaz Ali, marking a significant moment in this year’s festival.

Ar Rahman expressed his gratitude to Ms Margaret Elaine Gardner, the honourable Governor of Melbourne and the festival director, Ms Mitu Bhowmick, for the esteemed honor. Rahman further praised Iffm for its dedication to showcasing diverse cinematic talents and fostering cultural exchanges.

The award ceremony coincided with the world premiere of Rahman’s latest production , a documentary feature, “Headhunting to Beatboxing,” directed by Rohit Gupta and produced by Rahman’s …. . The film has garnered acclaim for its innovative storytelling and unique perspective on the intersection of music and culture.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” Rahman said.

This article is part of IndieWire’s 2000s Week celebration. Click here for a whole lot more.

How does one even begin to define the 2000s in Hindi cinema? The decade that started with “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai!” and ended with “3 Idiots?” The decade that gave us Bipasha Basu and Rakhi Sawant and took away Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai? The decade of “Tere Bina” but also of “No Entry?” Cinema contains multitudes, but the aughts in Bollywood were a multiverse, and nowhere is that clearer than in the best musical numbers of the decade.

Curating this list was not easy — just ask the editors who waited patiently for a draft that I was not able to produce because I was busy swapping out “Kal Ho Naa Ho” songs until the last possible second. Some basic guidelines: This is a list of musical numbers, Not songs — the song obviously matters,...

Multihyphenate G.V. Prakash Kumar is expanding his reach in Indian cinema, with several high-profile projects as both composer and actor on the horizon.

Kumar, who made his debut as a film composer age 19 with Vasanthabalan’s 2006 Tamil-language movie “Veyil,” entered Hindi-language cinema with Anurag Kashyap’s “Gangs of Wasseypur,” for which he composed the background score, in 2012.

His journey in the film industry began even earlier, when he debuted as a singer as a child, in his maternal uncle A.R. Rahman’s “Gentleman” (1993). Kumar’s recent Hindi composing efforts “Sarfira” and upcoming “Emergency” mark his continued expansion in Bollywood. Kumar notes that while core emotions in film music are universal, incorporating regional flavors is crucial when scoring.

“Sarfira,” for example, is Sudha Kongara’s remake of her own Tamil Nadu-set “Soorarai Pottru.” “If the film is placed in a particular region or state, we need to study and translate the folk elements into the film,...

Oscar-, BAFTA-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman, veteran producer Bobby Bedi and the Technicolor Group have unveiled a film project based on Middle Eastern wit Mulla Nasruddin at the Cannes Film Festival.

Also known as Nasreddin Hodja, Nasruddin was a 13th century folklore character from what is now Turkey, known for his pithy wit and humorous wisdom. Stories about him appear in the Islamic folklore of the Middle East, the Balkans and China and the character is enormously popular in India as well. The International Nasreddin Hodja festival is celebrated every year in Turkey.

Bedi’s credits include some of the landmark titles of Indian cinema, including Shekhar Kapur’s international breakthrough film “Bandit Queen” (1994), Deepa Mehta’s controversial “Fire” (1996), Rani Mukerji-starring relationship drama “Saathiya” (2002), Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Macbeth” adaptation “Maqbool” (2003), Stanley Tong’s Jackie Chan starrer “The Myth” (2005) and Gurvinder Singh’s Rotterdam title “Crescent Night” (2002).

Frequent collaborators,...

Oscar-, BAFTA-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman has unveiled music documentary “Headhunting to Beatboxing” at the Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Rohit Gupta, the documentary follows the Naga tribe in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, once engulfed in the depths of violence and bloodshed, that resurrects itself through the healing power of music and emerges through a musical renaissance.

Rahman was always intrigued by the music of India’s northeast and he visited the region for the first time when he was invited to the annual Hornbill Festival, a cultural celebration of all the ethnic groups of Nagaland.

“I was blown away, the whole story, that we’ve been hearing for years, decades, and suddenly the transformation of young people taking to music and they’re all out in the streets,” Rahman told Variety. “It was like a dreamland for me. I said, ‘Oh, my God, this...

Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar, Imtiaz Ali ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Rockstar, starring Ranbir Kapoor, is cited as one of his best Hindi movies. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film also stars Kumud Mishra, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Nargis Fakhri. Released in 2011, it is immensely loved for its performances, story, music (composed by Ar Rahman), and Ali’s director.

It’s a tragic romantic story of a rockstar named Jordan who loses everything as he excels in his career. The song ‘Nadaan Parindey’ brings such an impactful conclusion to the story, leaving us wondering what might be happening with Ranbir Kapoor’s Jordan now. For many, it’s a satisfactory ending, while some believe it leaves a door open to take the story ahead. Now, Imtiaz Ali has addressed the topic of Rockstar 2.

The Rockstar gang—Imtiaz Ali, Ar Rahman, Irshad Kamil, and Mohit Chauhan—reunited this year for Amar Singh Chamkila.

Indian filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s Netflix original film “Amar Singh Chamkila” is a hit for the streamer, bowing at No. 1 across South Asia and No. 5 on its global Top 10 chart.

The film is a biopic of Punjabi musician Amar Singh Chamkila (Diljit Dosanjh), who rose from obscurity working in a socks manufacturing factory to becoming the most sought after performer in the region alongside his wife Amarjot Kaur (Parineeti Chopra). Chamkila’s suggestive lyrics that were rooted in rural Punjabi life were described as vulgar by many, and he came under pressure from religious and political groups to stop and received death threats. His local musical contemporaries were jealous of his success. In 1988, Chamkila, Kaur and two of their band members were shot dead. The assassination remains unsolved.

The Chamkila story has been told twice before, as a mockumentary “Mehsampur” (2018), and as an unofficial biopic “Jodi” (2023), also starring Dosanjh, who...

On February 14, 2024, on the day of love, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer, A.R. Rahman posted a video to his social media accounts entitled ‘Secret Mountain’. While many fans were met with confusion about what this project is or what it will soon be, ‘Secret Mountain’ just might be the future of entertainment. 'Secret Mountain' From The Composer A.R. Rahman is a mutli-award winning music composer and philanthropist, who has won everything from Oscars to Grammys and everything in between. He is most known for his work on different film soundtracks, including ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘127 Hours’, and his most recent film work is ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ on Netflix. His musical themes are easily recognizable, and he has worked on music in different languages, such as Tamil, Hindi, English, Persian, and Mandarin. Rahman is easily considered a versatile maestro genius in music, and each of his projects proves more innovative than the next.

Mumbai, April 25 (Ians) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was feted with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for his remarkable contributions to the field of cinema, has expressed his gratitude for the honour.

Amitabh took to X (formerly called Twitter) and shared a picture of himself receiving the award from Usha Mangeshkar, sister of the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.

“Aabhaar aur mera param saubhagya,” he wrote in the caption.

Actor Randeep Hooda, actress Padmini Kolhapure, and music composer A.R. Rahman were also seen sharing the stage with Amitabh, who received the honour on the memorial day of Deenanath Mangeshkar, the theatre-music veteran and father of the Mangeshkar siblings.

Rahman was also feted with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for his contributions to the field of music, along with Randeep, Ashok Saraf, and playback singer Roopkumar Rathod.

–Ians

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Mumbai, April 24 (Ians) Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer A.R. Rahman has wished American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift success for her recently released studio album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’.

On Wednesday, Rahman, who recently delivered the chartbuster album for the Imtiaz Ali directorial ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, took to X to wish the singer.

Sharing the album cover, he wrote, “All the best @taylorswift13 for your latest album #Thetortuedpoetsdepartment (sic).”

‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is the 11th studio album by Swift for which she has worked with Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessne.

The album was announced by Swift at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024. It became the most streamed album on Spotify in a single day with 300 million streams.

Swift not only claimed the top spot, but also secured her position as the most-streamed artiste in a single day on the platform.

She created the album while working on her Eras Tour.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan shall be conferred the ‘Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar’ at a function scheduled here on April 24, while music maestro A. R. Rahman shall be bestowed the ‘Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award,’ next week, the organisers said.

The award is given by the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratisthan, Pune, nurtured by the eminent Mangeshkar family, and shall be given away to Bachchan on his 82nd death anniversary, along with a musical tribute.

Earlier, the inaugural award was given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2022), followed by veteran singer Asha Bhosale (2023), for their path-breaking, spectacular and exemplary contributions to the country, its people and society.

Besides Bachchan and Rahman, the other prominent awardees in different categories are: ‘Ghalib’ as Best Marathi Play of the Year, Ngo Deepstambh Foundation Manobal of Jalgaon, litterateur Manjiri Phadke, comedian Ashok Saraf, actress Padmini Kolhapure, singer Roopkumar Rathod, journalist S. B. Torsekar, actor Atul Parchure, producer-actor Randeep Hooda.

Amid high anticipation, Ajay Devgn’s sports drama “Maidaan” is set to hit screens this Eid. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh hails it as a fitting tribute to Indian football’s legacy, with standout performances and compelling storytelling.

The Review:

Taran Adarsh lauds “Maidaan” as a powerhouse film, citing its captivating second half and award-worthy performances. The narrative, centered around Coach Syed Abdul Rahim’s tenure, portrays the highs and lows of Indian football with authenticity.

Director’s Brilliance:

Amit Ravindernath Sharma’s directorial finesse shines through, as he crafts intense and emotionally resonant sequences. Adarsh commends Sharma’s handling of the dynamic between Ajay Devgn, Gajraj Rao, and Rudranil Ghosh, highlighting the maturity in storytelling.

#OneWordReview…#Maidaan: Power-packed.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️#Maidaan is, without doubt, one of the finest sports-based films made in #India… Captivating second half, brilliant finale and an award-worthy act by #AjayDevgn are its biggest strengths… Fitting tribute to #TeamIndia…...

Mumbai, April 7 (Ians) Auteur Imtiaz Ali, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming streaming movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, recollected a magical experience which happened during the brainstorming session of the film’s music.

The filmmaker spoke with Ians and shared that the process of creating the song ‘Bida Karo’ was something else.

The song comes in the narrative structure during the final moments of the titular character played by Diljit Dosanjh.

Imtiaz told Ians: “For me the magical moment was when Rahman sir in the middle of the night said, ‘Let’s put the lights off and light the candles’. He then went on the piano. There was Rahman sir, me and Irshad, and we were discussing a situation.”

“That’s how ‘Bida Karo’ came up in ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’. Magically, Irshad, who prefers going home early, wrote the song then and there. The whole experience was something else,...

Starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, the trailer for the most awaited musical of the year, Amar Singh Chamkila, written and directed by Imtiaz Ali has released. The film charts the untold true story of Punjab’s original rockstar of the masses, the highest record-selling artist of his time, who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the 80s due to the sheer power of his music, angering many on the way, which finally led to his assassination at a young age of 27.

With the maestro Ar Rahman helming the music for the film and Irshad Kamil penning the lyrics, the audience will once again get to witness the magic of a Rahman – Imtiaz – Irshad collaboration, after nine years! Adding to the excitement, both Diljit and Parineeti have lent their voices to some of the original Chamkila songs in Punjabi. For the first time,...

Mumbai, April 2 (Ians) Auteur Imtiaz Ali is one of the rare filmmakers who strikes a perfect balance between philosophy and entertainment in his stories.

While his earlier works like ‘Socha Na Tha’ and ‘Jab We Met’ were more on the entertaining side, films like ‘Love Aaj Kal’ (2009), ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Tamasha’ have aged like a fine wine and have cultivated a new fan base which craves for deeper meaning to a story as much as the entertainment.

The filmmaker is now gearing up for his ninth film, the biopic based on the highest selling Punjabi musician of all times, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’.

“There are a lot of ‘9’ happening,” Imtiaz told Ians as he seems in a quirky mood.

“Nine is my favourite number, A.R. Rahman (his music composer) also loves nine, he has made ’99 Songs’ and ‘Chamkila’ is my ninth film”.

‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, which is set to release on April...

Amar Singh Chamkila’s Jukebox Is An Asset To Be Treasured ( Photo Credit – Netflix India / YouTube )

Rating – 10 out of 5 stars! Some Albums outperform!

The release of Amar Singh Chamkila is still a few days away, but the jukebox of the film is out, and this is one film where Bollywood outperformed after a very long time. Recently, I was putting all my hopes for a good Bollywood music album from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi, totally forgetting about the Chamkila biopic. But finally, Ar Rahman, Imtiaz Ali, and Irshad Kamil’s magical trio arrived unannounced, taking my breath away. And this album is the only soul music you need right now.

If you talk about a brilliantly balanced album from a commercial film, you would struggle when you encountered it last. Last year, Animal had a good album, undoubtedly, but it never stayed with you. Similarly, Rocky Aur Rani Ki...

Mumbai, March 31 (Ians) Auteur Imtiaz Ali, who is gearing up for his upcoming streaming movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, revealed that he did his first music sitting with music composer Pritam at a footpath.

Imtiaz, who is known for films like ‘Jab We Met’, ‘Rockstar’, Highway and ‘Tamasha’, frequently collaborates with Pritam and the Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A. R. Rahman.

While ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ has music by Rahman, Imtiaz has often said that for his romantic films, he likes to collaborate with Pritam, and when the narrative is deeper and philosophical, A.R. Rahman becomes his best choice for the genre.

The director collaborated with Pritam on ‘Jab We Met’, the film and its music have over the years gained a cult status.

Imtiaz recently told Mashable India, “Maine aur Pritam apni pehli music sitting footpath pe ki hai.”

“This was when we were working on a television show. A lot...

Actress Parineeti Chopra, who will be soon seen in the upcoming streaming movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, has debunked rumours of her pregnancy. Rumour mills were abuzz with the speculation around the actress’ pregnancy after her recent wedding with Aap Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.

The rumours started doing the rounds after Parineeti was spotted wearing loose-fitting clothes on multiple occasions.

On Thursday, the actress once again wore a loose outfit during the trailer launch of ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, which she attended with director Imtiaz Ali, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, and music composer A R Rahman.

However, the actress put all rumours to rest as she took to the Stories section of her Instagram on Thursday, saying: “Kaftan dress = pregnancy, Oversized shirt = pregnancy, Comfy Indian kurta = pregnancy.”

The actress implied that she is not pregnant, and any rumours are not to be believed now that it...

Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer A.R. Rahman set the house on fire with his special performance with playback singer Kailash Kher in Mumbai.

Rahman attended the trailer launch of the film at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai’s Bandra area on Thursday.

He was accompanied by director Imtiaz Ali, global superstar Diljit Dosanjh and actress Parineeti Chopra.

The film marks Rahman and Imtiaz collaboration after nine years, their last collaboration being the cult-classic ‘Tamasha’.

After the team interacted with the media, Rahman took to the stage along with Kailash and singer Yashika Sikka, and performed the song with the lyrics ‘Bol mohabbat seene la, Rabba Rabba seene la’.

The three singers brought the house down as they performed live with fellow musicians who have played in the film.

While Rahman spoke to the media along with Imtiaz, Parineeti and Diljit, Kailash and Yashika later joined him on stage for the performance.

Imtiaz Ali On Ranbir Kapoor’s Rockstar Song ( Photo Credit – Instagram; Facebook )

Rockstar is considered one of Imtiaz Ali’s best directorials. The musical romantic drama stars Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kumud Mishra, Piyush Mishra, Shammi Kapoor, Sanjana Sanghi and others. Ali’s film was released in 2011 and is loved for its music, performances, emotionally driven story and amazing direction.

Even after a decade, movie buffs can’t get enough of Rockstar. From decoding Ranbir Kapoor’s character Janardan, aka Jordan, to the songs, fans have something intriguing to say about the Imtiaz Ali film. A R Rahman composed one of his best albums for this Hindi film. From Jo Bhi Main to Nadaan Parindey, every song hits deeply, and the love for them keeps growing every year. But did you know Imtiaz had requested Rahman to make a kharab (bad) song for the film?

In an interview with Fever FM,...

Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer A.R. Rahman, who is all set to bring his musical might with the upcoming streaming film ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, said for him filmmaker Imtiaz Ali is in the same league as National Award-winning filmmaker Mani Ratnam.

Rahman attended the trailer launch of the film at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai’s Bandra area on Thursday.

He was accompanied by director Imtiaz Ali, Diljit Dosanjh and actress Parineeti Chopra.

Rahman told the media, “Imtiaz is not a director for me, he is a co-storyteller just like Mani Ratnam is for me. As an artiste, it’s rare to find that deep connection with a fellow artiste.”

He further mentioned, “With Imtiaz the journey is more of an exploration, exploring the characters and the story together. Sometimes I give him something that doesn’t fit but he still keeps it in his kitty.”

The composer added that...

The much-anticipated Ajay Devgn starrer, “Maidaan,” is finally gearing up for its debut this year, sending waves of excitement through its gripping storyline. The adrenaline-pumping trailer, released recently, offers a glimpse into the real-life tale of an unsung hero, Coach Syed Abdul Rahim, and his Indian Football Team’s historic journey.

Focusing on Coach Syed Abdul Rahim, the film sheds light on his remarkable achievements, often forgotten by the world. Adding to the fervor, the makers recently unveiled the latest track, “Team India Hain Hum,” igniting passion among audiences.

This latest song, led by Ajay Devgn, promises to be an anthem for all athletes who dedicate their lives to bringing glory to India. Clocking in at 2 minutes 48 seconds, “Team India Hain Hum” encapsulates the emotions, adrenaline, and excitement experienced by every Indian athlete when they don the tricolor, uniting the nation in a chorus of support.

Composed by the music...

Mumbai, March 23 (Ians) Playback singer Armaan Malik, who recently performed at the concert in Mumbai with Ed Sheeran, has crooned the song ‘Khatti Si Wo Imli’ from the upcoming Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer film ‘Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)’. For the same, he has collaborated with A. R. Rahman.

The singer shared that for him, every note felt like a privilege considering he was working with the Oscar and Grammy-winning composer.

Talking about his experience of working with Rahman, Armaan Malik said, “It’s truly an honour to lend my voice to A.R. Rahman Sir’s compositions. Every note, no matter how small, feels like a privilege.”

He further mentioned: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have sung for his latest track ‘Khatti Si Woh Imli’ featuring Prithviraj Sukumaran for ‘Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)’. Chinmayi and Rakshita, the female singers, have done an exceptional job too and I’m glad I could complement their verses with my lines.

Following its masterful music launch in Kochi last weekend, ‘The Goat Life’ this week released its magnetic music album, in 5 languages, across all streaming platforms. With Rahman’s melodies taking the internet by storm, ‘the Goat Life’ team recently released the mesmerising music video for ‘Meharbaan O Rahmaan’. A soulful melody, a heart-wrenching call to the Almighty seeking his infinite grace, ‘Meharbaan O Rahmaan’ is a track filled with love, hope, grace and divinity, and the same is reflected through its music video. The song is composed, produced and arranged by music maestro A R Rahman, beautifully penned by renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi and sung by the extremely talented Jithin Raj.

With spectacular visuals of the unending desert, the beauty of the characters in the film and A R Rahman passing through it all, visualising every moment; the music video encapsulates the soul of the film, the essence of which...

Music maestro A. R. Rahman has expressed his deep joy working with director Blessy, whose latest venture ‘The Goat Life’ is all set to hit the theatres on March 28. The film is being released in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

Speaking about his journey in the film, Rahman said, it is an honour to work with such a passionate man as Blessy, who believes in cinema, goodwill, stories and humanity.

“Working with him taught me so much because he is a very patient person. I want to thank you for coming and supporting us. This movie is a story of all of us, we are all struggling in some kind of way,” said Rahman, who was in the city here coinciding with the music launch of the film.

“For some people the struggle is internal, in the movie, the struggle of the hero is being trapped in a desert,...

The first song ‘Ishq Mitaye’ from the upcoming Diljit Dosanjh-starrer film ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ has been sung by Mohit Chauhan. The song, composed by Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A R Rahman, brings together the dream team of Rahman, lyricist Irshad Kamil, director Imtiaz Ali and Mohit Chauhan, who had earlier delivered chartbuster music in ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Tamasha’.

The track is a blend of traditional and modern beats, weaving a musical narrative of the dramatic times in which Chamkila became the iconic music star for the masses in Panjab – the highest record selling artiste ever.

It’s strongly reminiscent of the Punjabi music of the 1980s.

The song was released on Thursday at the ‘Next on Netflix’ event in Mumbai in the presence of Parineeti Chopra, Diljit Dosanjh, Rahman, Mohit Chauhan, Imitiaz Ali and Irshad Kamil.

The film is based on legendary Indian singer and musician Amar Singh Chamkila. Chamkila...

This Baisakhi, get ready for a cinematic experience on Netflix like no other with Imtiaz Ali’s latest directorial spectacle, Amar Singh Chamkila, a Window Seat Films production. Premiering April 12, the film charts the untold true story of Panjab’s original rockstar of the masses, the highest record-selling artist of his time, Amar Singh Chamkila, often referred to as the ‘Elvis Presley of Panjab’.

Written and directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film stars Diljit Dosanjh in and as Chamkila and Parineeti Chopra as Amarjot, Chamkila’s wife and singing partner. With the maestro A R Rahman helming the music for the film and Irshad Kamil penning pthe lyrics, the audience will get to witness the magic of a Rahman – Imtiaz – Irshad collaboration once again after 9 years!

There are 6 original Hindi songs in the film sung by Mohit Chauhan, Alka Yagnik, Arijit Singh, Kailash Kher, Richa Sharma, Jonita Gandhi, Yashika Sikka and Ar Rahman.

Get ready for Imtiaz Ali’s latest directorial spectacle, starring Diljit Dosanjh! Said to be a cinematic experience like no other, the film which also stars Parineeti Chopra, premieres on Netflix April 12th. Amar Singh Chamkila charts the untold true story of Punjab’s original rockstar of the masses, the highest record-selling artist of his time, Amar Singh Chamkila, often referred to as the “Elvis Presley of Punjab.”

Shot in real locations, the film promises to transport the audiences to the vibrant and rhythmic world of Punjab’s folk music, right to the rustic Akhadaas (live music performances in villages) where Chamkila’s voice would once soar.

With the maestro Ar Rahman helming the music for the film and Irshad Kamil penning the lyrics, fans will once again get to witness the magic of a Rahman – Imtiaz – Irshad collaboration. Adding to the excitement, both Diljit and Parineeti have lent their...

Music composer Bharat Goel, who is known for creating music in an unusual way, was in for a surprise when Grammy and Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman lauded him for recreating the track ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ from the Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone-starrer ‘Tamasha’ (2015).

Bharat recently took a byte of superstar singer Arijit Singh crooning casually on a media boom mic at a press event, and weaved a completely different track around the raw vocals of Arijit with a new programming.

Rahman, who loved the track, reposted it on his Instagram, giving the badge of approval to his fellow composer.

Reacting to the same, Bharat said, “I am beyond thrilled to have the privilege of collaborating with A.R. Rahman on Instagram. His validation of my work is truly humbling and inspiring.”

Rahman has a legacy that transcends borders and generations. His involvement in this collaboration not only showcases...

Oscar-winning music composer A R Rahman, who used the artificial intelligence for recreating the voices of late playback singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for the song titled ‘Thimiri Yezhuda’ from the Rajinikanth-starrer ‘Lal Salaam’ has issued a clarification with regards to the usage of the AI tool and the compensation to the singer’s families.

The ‘Rang De Basanti’ composer took to his X, erstwhile Twitter and penned a note for his followers who questioned the dependence on AI for recreation of the voices of the departed singers.

He shared Sony Music South’s post highlighting how an AI tool was used to recreate the late singers’ voices. He wrote, “We took permission from their families and sent deserving remuneration for using their voice algorithms…technology is not a threat and a nuisance if we use it right.”

He also added the hashtags respect and nostalgia in the post.

Ram Charan is set to collaborate with the talented director Buchi Babu Sana, celebrated for his national award-winning debut film, ‘Uppena‘, which turned out to be a sensational blockbuster. This exciting collaboration promises to deliver a film of exceptional technical quality. The project, proudly presented by the esteemed production house Mythri Movie Makers, marks Venkata Satish Kilaru’s grand entry into film production, with the movie set to be a large-scale production with a substantial budget, carried by the banners of Vriddhi Cinemas and Sukumar Writings.

Ram Charan shared an endearing birthday wish for the musical maestro stating, “Happy Birthday @arrahman sir, wish you health and happiness always.”

The fact that the global star addresses one of the most talented composers singers of India as sir speaks volumes about his humble nature and respect towards everyone.

Happy Birthday @arrahman sir, wish you health and happiness always. pic.twitter.com/Lj...

Music composer A R Rahman, hailed as the ‘Mozart of Madras’, is celebrating his 57th birthday, even as the world toasts his musical prowess that has transcended cultural boundaries, earning him accolades and admiration worldwide.

The winner of six National Film Awards, two Oscars, two Grammys, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and the third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan, Rahman has been creating music that is a testament to the universality of emotions. His compositions evoke a range of feelings that resonate with audiences from diverse backgrounds.

Born in Chennai on January 6, 1967, Rahman is known for the transformative impact he has had on the film industry, playing a pivotal role in redefining the role of music in Indian cinema, emphasising its importance in storytelling.

In his three-decade-long career, he has composed and produced original scores and songs for more than 145 films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English, Persian and Mandarin.

On Christmas Day, M.I.A. will gift her fans a new mixtape called Bells Collection.

The 16-track collection will be released via M.I.A.’s website, ohmni.com, on December 25th at 3:00 p.m. GMT. A press release describes the project as “a rebel storm, a synoptic edit of music, created and mixed in Angel, London by M.I.A in December 2023. M.I.A embellishes sounds and words sampling a spectrum of artists and producers. Incredi-bell! The mixtape has a signature sound that purposefully spans time, geography, race, age, space. A limitless, genre-less, frequency. A true and fresh audio-bell vibration. A ding-a-linging in your ears.”

The tracklist includes songs titled “Free Pali” and “Bella Hadid,” as well as collaborations with Skrillex, Blaqstarr, and Troy Baker.

In a statement, M.I.A. wrote, “I Present You A Gift From The East, Star Of Wonder Star Of Night. Beauty. Bright. Sacred. Cosmic.

Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman recently hosted a Hare Krishna kirtan at his residence in Dubai. A video capturing the event is gaining momentum on the Internet. The clip shows Rahman, along with a large group of attendees, enjoying the devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna.

The clip also showed the composer smiling and bobbing his head gently to the melodic tune of the Bhajan. The video was possibly captured in the living room of his house and one could see a large gathering of people joining Ar Rahman.

Recently, Rahman came in the eye of the social media storm when he promoted the song ‘Main Parwaana’ from the recently released streaming period film ‘Pippa’ during Cyclone Michaung which severely affected Chennai and Andhra Pradesh.

Cyclone Michaung battered the South Indian coastal cities with intense winds and torrential rains which led to floods and killed at least 13 people. Villages were submerged in water,...

Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman recently hosted a Hare Krishna kirtan at his residence in Dubai. A video capturing the event is gaining momentum on the Internet. The clip shows Rahman, along with a large group of attendees, enjoying the devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna.

The clip also showed the composer smiling and bobbing his head gently to the melodic tune of the Bhajan. The video was possibly captured in the living room of his house and one could see a large gathering of people joining Ar Rahman.

Recently, Rahman came in the eye of the social media storm when he promoted the song ‘Main Parwaana’ from the recently released streaming period film ‘Pippa’ during Cyclone Michaung which severely affected Chennai and Andhra Pradesh.

Cyclone Michaung battered the South Indian coastal cities with intense winds and torrential rains which led to floods and killed at least 13 people. Villages were submerged in water,...

Khatija Rahman is making her international film composing debut with Kajri Babbar’s “Lioness,” the first official Indo-u.K. co-production being made under the 2008 bilateral treaty.

In 2020, Rahman released her first single, “Farishton,” composed and produced by her father, Oscar winner A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”). Khatija Rahman featured on Grammy Award-winning composer and environmentalist Ricky Kej’s song “Iltaja” and collaborated with Arivu on “Sagavaasi” for Coke Studio Tamil 2023 edition. Her debut as a film score composer is with current work-in-progress Tamil-language picture “Minmini.”

“Lioness” will tell the stories of two women who lived a century apart. The first story revolves around the suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the granddaughter of Maharajah Ranjit Singh and the god-daughter of Queen Victoria, to be played by Paige Sandhu (“Emmerdale”). The second story introduces a fictional character, Simranjeet Kaur, living in London’s Southall Asian suburb in the early 1990s, to be played...