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Arjun Menon
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The clever duality at the heart of Nayanthara’s superstardom
November 18, 2025 15:31 IST
As Nayanthara turns 41, we look back at the smart ways in which she continues to subvert the token “female superstar” label.
Tue, Nov 18, 2025
1 year of Siva-Suriya’s Kanguva: A lesson in misguided spectacle
November 14, 2025 00:02 IST
One year later, Suriya-starrer Kanguva stands as a sobering reminder that ambition without clarity can only end in squandered potential.
Fri, Nov 14, 2025
Five years of Soorarai Pottru: The Sudha Kongara-Suriya film shows what a mainstream biopic can be
November 13, 2025 18:38 IST
Sudha Kongara’s Soorarai Pottru, which turns five this year, still feels like a jolt of adrenaline to a genre worn down by fatigue and overwrought formula.
Thu, Nov 13, 2025
Kamal Haasan: A director driven by conviction, not convenience
November 07, 2025 14:11 IST
As Kamal Haasan turns 70, we revisit his directorial journey through two of his finest works, Hey Ram and Virumaandi. These films reveal a filmmaker deeply committed to artistic risk, moral inquiry, and uncompromising storytelling.
Fri, Nov 07, 2025
35 years of Gunaa: Kamal Haasan is hypnotic in this eternal romantic classic
November 05, 2025 19:37 IST
Kamal Haasan's eternal romantic celebrates its 35 years anniversary this year. Let's look at what makes Gunaa and Kamal Haasan's gloriously demented performance timeless.
Wed, Nov 05, 2025
Aaryan movie review: Vishnu Vishal is wasted in a forgettable crime proceduralSubscriber Only
October 31, 2025 22:32 IST
Aaryan movie review: Vishnu Vishal approaches the role with the necessary detachment it demands. He understands the assignment and wisely stays out of the script’s way, allowing its simplified thrills to unfold as intended.
Fri, Oct 31, 2025
One year of Bloody Beggar: Revisiting Sivabalan Muthukumar-Kavin’s unconventional deadpan comedy bangerSubscriber Only
October 31, 2025 10:51 IST
Kavin is outstanding as the anchor holding this ambitious genre experiment together. His meticulous attention to the physicality, gait, and posture of a man who has spent half his life begging on the streets is strangely moving.
Fri, Oct 31, 2025
22 years of Pithamagan: Revisiting Vikram’s haunting brilliance in Bala’s seminal classicSubscriber Only
October 24, 2025 08:03 IST
On the 22nd anniversary of Bala’s Pithamagan, we revisit Vikram’s astonishing transformation into Chithan, an unrecognizable figure of stillness in Bala’s seminal classic.
Fri, Oct 24, 2025
How Prabhas transformed into an agent of quiet power in Prashanth Neel’s SalaarSubscriber Only
October 23, 2025 08:59 IST
As actor Prabhas celebrates his birthday, we look back at one of his quietest yet most powerful performances as the contemplative Deva in Prashant Neel's Salaar
Thu, Oct 23, 2025
Bison movie review: Dhruv Vikram is exceptional in Mari Selvaraj’s most accessible film to dateSubscriber Only
October 17, 2025 19:14 IST
Bison movie review: Dhruv Vikram delivers a stellar performance as a prodigious kabaddi player fighting oppression in Mari Selvaraj’s hard-hitting sports drama.
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
Dude movie review: Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju save this uneven entertainerSubscriber Only
October 17, 2025 14:26 IST
Dude Movie Review: Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju-starrer Dude is ultimately a one-time watch, a film that starts off with breezy fun but loses its charm in a meandering, uneven second half.
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
Vada Chennai turns 7: Vetrimaaran’s sprawling Shakespearean epic is still the gold standard for cinematic universe-coded storytellingSubscriber Only
October 17, 2025 08:01 IST
As Vada Chennai marks its seventh anniversary, we look back at what makes the Dhanush–Vetrimaaran collaboration special, and how it foresaw Tamil cinema’s growing fascination with cinematic universes.
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
Mozhi: When Prithviraj transcended stardom to become a sensitive everymanSubscriber Only
October 16, 2025 15:53 IST
On the occasion of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s 43rd birthday, we look back at the Tamil film that redefined how audiences saw him as an actor eighteen years ago.
Thu, Oct 16, 2025
Pradeep Ranganathan’s Dude eyes Rs 8 crore opening; Mari Selvaraj’s Bison hot on its heelsSubscriber Only
October 16, 2025 14:25 IST
Industry analysts shared that the absence of major star-led films will impact box office collections, but expressed confidence that younger actors will step up and shine.
Thu, Oct 16, 2025
One year of Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan: A bold critique of Tamil cinema’s vigilante obsessionSubscriber Only
October 09, 2025 22:39 IST
TJ Gnanavel’s use of Rajinikanth’s stardom as a narrative device to provoke a much-needed discussion on the ethics of vigilantism is what sets Vettaiyan apart from the countless violent noise machines masquerading as mainstream cinema today.
Fri, Oct 10, 2025
Doctor turns 4: Nelson Dilipkumar’s deadpan classic starring Sivakarthikeyan marked the emergence of a new comedic voice in Tamil cinemaSubscriber Only
October 08, 2025 19:27 IST
On the occasion of the 4th anniversary of Doctor, let's look at what makes Nelson Dilipkumar's deadpan comedy work and how it marked the arrival of a fresh comedic voice in mainstream Tamil cinema:
Wed, Oct 08, 2025
Idli Kadai movie review: An earnest and hopeful Dhanush steers this conventional melodrama in the right directionSubscriber Only
October 01, 2025 17:28 IST
Idli Kadai movie review: Dhanush starrer is the kind of genuine, low stakes dramas that were regular in the 90's. The film's beauty lies in the small details, little crevices of goodness that emanate from its core despite the heavy handed treatment.
Thu, Oct 02, 2025
From Kakka Muttai to Idli Kadai: Food as nostalgia, resistance and love in Tamil cinemaSubscriber Only
September 30, 2025 17:16 IST
Ahead of the release of Dhanush’s Idli Kadai, let’s look at recent Tamil films that use food as a narrative device to drive home a larger point.
Tue, Sep 30, 2025
Vijay’s Karur rally stampede: The problem of star worship and celebrity obsession is at the heart of the tragedySubscriber Only
September 30, 2025 11:27 IST
'Thalapathy' is a title lovingly bestowed upon Vijay by his fans and regular folk alike. The word that literally translates to 'commander' or 'leader' is a giveaway of the sway and cultural capital Vijay enjoys in Tamil Nadu.
Tue, Sep 30, 2025
Balti movie review: This Shane Nigam starrer is lots of fun as an action movie but not so much as a sports dramaSubscriber Only
September 26, 2025 17:40 IST
Balti movie review: As a sports movie, Balti struggles to earn any credence. But as a generic action film set in a world of gangsters and ruthless loan sharks vying for control, it works more effectively.
Fri, Sep 26, 2025
From Ghilli to Balti: The evolution of the sports genre in Tamil cinemaSubscriber Only
September 25, 2025 21:06 IST
On the eve of Balti’s release, let’s revisit some recent Tamil films that have used the trappings of the sports genre to tell their stories.
Thu, Sep 25, 2025
The unconventional villains in the cinema of AR MurugadossSubscriber Only
September 25, 2025 18:54 IST
On the occasion of AR Murugadoss's 51st birthday, let us look at how the filmmaker navigates the conception and handling of the bad guys in his busy mainstream action films.
Thu, Sep 25, 2025
Shakthi Thirumagan movie review: An engaging update on the Shankar template of political cinema, let down by a lackluster second halfSubscriber Only
September 19, 2025 18:24 IST
Shakti Thirumagan movie review: Arun Prabhu, the director of the now underseen feminist fable Aruvi, is back with yet another story of an outsider, starring Vijay Anthony, who has had enough of a system that stopped caring a long time ago.
Fri, Sep 19, 2025
The weird and out of the box romantic fables of Vignesh ShivanSubscriber Only
September 18, 2025 15:14 IST
As director Vignesh Shivan celebrates his 40th birthday, let us look at what makes him stand out among contemporary Tamil filmmakers working within the romance genre.
Thu, Sep 18, 2025
Rhythm turns 25: Meena and Arjun Sarja’s career-best performances anchor this tender romance classicSubscriber Only
September 15, 2025 09:27 IST
Released just months after Alaipayuthey and Kandukondein Kandukondein, Meena and Arjun Sarja-starrer Rhythm belongs to the kind of films one longs for when reflecting on the state of contemporary adult romances.
Mon, Sep 15, 2025Journalism of Courage
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