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Manoj Kumar R

Manoj Kumar R began writing for The Indian Express in 2016. He writes reviews and opinion pieces about movies and TV shows. His main focus is everything that happens in South India's vibrant pop cultural scene. He speaks Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam and writes in English. Before joining us, he worked with other publications such as The Week and Deccan Herald. Follow Manoj on Twitter: @ImMKR

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More From Manoj Kumar R - Page 10

A loner felt imprisoned during Covid-19 lockdown and Jayasurya-starrer Sunny was born

September 21, 2021 18:36 IST

Sunny starring Jayasurya in the lead role, Sunny is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on September 23.

Tue, Sep 21, 2021

Is Atlee a copycat or postmodernist? Also, does it matter?

September 21, 2021 15:20 IST

Atlee has often been criticised for plagiarising scenes and ideas from various movies.

Tue, Sep 21, 2021

Kaanekkaane movie review: Suraj Venjaramoodu outshines in this family thriller

September 18, 2021 09:02 IST

Kaanekkaane review: The film explores how difficult it is to look someone you love in the eye and tell them you have wronged them. Every character in the film is crumbling under the weight of their own guilt.

Sat, Sep 18, 2021

Annabelle Sethupathi review: Vijay Sethupathi, Taapsee Pannu in a tolerable horror-comedy

September 17, 2021 17:52 IST

Annabelle Sethupathi feels tolerable because of its self-aware nature and the way it subverts horror-comedy tropes.

Thu, Jan 23, 2025

Maestro review: Nithin starrer is an unwitty remake of Andhadhun

September 17, 2021 10:36 IST

Maestro review: Director Merlapaka Gandhi has turned the pulsating white-knuckled ride into a story of a damsel in distress. Nitthin-starrer has none of the moral ambiguity or smarts of Ayushmann Khurrana-Tabu original.

Sat, Sep 18, 2021

Tamil Nadu box office report: Kangana Ranaut’s outsider image affected Thalavii, Vijay Sethupathi’s Laabam too preachy

September 15, 2021 20:30 IST

The exhibitors and trade experts acknowledge that Thalaivii offers more in terms of entertainment than Laabam. However, they feel Kangana Ranaut's image as an outsider may have affected the box office prospects in Tamil Nadu.

Wed, Sep 15, 2021

Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum trailer: Suriya promises a hard-hitting political drama

September 15, 2021 13:17 IST

Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum is the first film of the four-film deal that Suriya's 2D Entertainment has signed with Amazon Prime Video.

Wed, Sep 15, 2021

Tuck Jagadish review: Nani, what’s the point?

September 10, 2021 12:18 IST

Tuck Jagadish review: The narrative of this Nani-starrer works along expected lines. Ten minutes into the movie and you know how it is all going to end.

Sat, Sep 11, 2021

Dikkiloona review: Santhanam needs to go back in time, undo this sexist comedy

September 10, 2021 10:10 IST

Dikkiloona movie review: Karthik Yogi and Santhanam desperately want to make the audience laugh. So much so that they resort to body-shaming, name-calling, demeaning mental patients and even engaging in blatant sexism. So blatantly so.

Sat, Sep 11, 2021

The many faces of ‘Thalaivii’ Jayalalithaa in pop cultureSign In to read

September 09, 2021 19:25 IST

As Kangana Ranaut's biopic on J Jayalalithaa, Thalaivi, is set to release in cinemas on September 10, we look at various portrayals of the late Tamil Nadu chief minister in Tamil pop culture.

Fri, Sep 10, 2021

A new wave revives Golden Age of Malayalam cinemaSign In to read

September 08, 2021 08:42 IST

What helped Malayalam cinema capture the pandemic so efficiently? The fact that it is a small-scale, self-sufficient economy, which has always made rooted and plausible cinema that captures the zeitgeist.

Thu, Feb 17, 2022

The best and worst of south cinema on OTT in August

September 02, 2021 14:59 IST

The best and worst of South Indian films that released on OTT platforms in August.

Thu, Sep 02, 2021

Tuck Jagadish trailer: Nani promises a quintessential family drama, watch video

September 01, 2021 19:20 IST

Tuck Jagadish stars Nani, Ritu Varma, Jagapathi Babu, Aishwarya Rajesh, Thiruveer, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Devadarshini and Daniel Balaji.

Thu, Sep 02, 2021

Kasada Thapara movie review: Chimbudeven film is enjoyable despite flaws

August 28, 2021 09:50 IST

Kasada Thapara movie review: Chimbudeven manages to throw some surprises with certain creative and writing choices.

Sat, Aug 28, 2021

LOL Enga Siri Paappom first impression: A binge-worthy comedy show

August 27, 2021 17:22 IST

Vivek's talent as a comedian would have unquestionably flourished in the age of streaming. And LOL: Enga Siri Paappom is proof of that.

Fri, Aug 27, 2021

Samantha Akkineni says The Family Man was ‘scary, risky’ for her: ‘Thought it would flop badly or…’

August 26, 2021 08:23 IST

Samantha Akkineni expresses her gratitude for The Family Man season 2 after her performance in the series won her 'the best actress' in a series award at the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne (IFFM).

Fri, Aug 27, 2021

Boomika movie review: Aishwarya Rajesh starrer is a watchable thriller

August 23, 2021 16:28 IST

Boomika movie review: Unlike other films, Rathindran R Prasad wants to make this horror film work logically. So the characters in the movie do what ordinary, terrified human beings would do: run for life and to safety.

Tue, Aug 24, 2021

#Home: Director Rojin Thomas reveals how a tech lesson to his dad gave birth to the film

August 20, 2021 08:38 IST

#Home stars Indrans, Sreenath Bhasi, Vijay Babu, Manju Pillai, Naslen, Kainakary Thankaraj, KPAC Lalitha, Srikanth Murali, Johny Antony, Pauly Wilson, Maniyan Pillai Raju, Anoop Menon, Aju Varghese.

Fri, Aug 20, 2021

#Home: The heartfelt family drama that you should watch this Onam

August 19, 2021 13:59 IST

#Home movie review: Amazon Prime Video's latest Malayalam film #Home beautifully captures the ironies of the highly connected world and the dying culture of person-to-person interaction.

Fri, Aug 20, 2021

Ranking all Navarasa films from worst to best

August 14, 2021 08:08 IST

Navarasa is a mixed bag. Some works are outrightly crude, and some are pretentious. While there are a few which display sophistication, nuance, consciousness, and, of course, style.

Sat, Aug 14, 2021

Netrikann review: Nayanthara deserves better

August 13, 2021 19:04 IST

Netrikann movie review: Director Milind Rau's urge to find an easy solution to all the plot problems is what makes this Nayanthara film so predictable and off-putting.

Sat, Aug 14, 2021

Kuruthi movie review: What can men do against such reckless hate?

August 11, 2021 12:49 IST

Kuruthi movie review: Kuruthi is a claustrophobic and nerve-wracking thriller. The home invasion setup is powered by Tarantino-esque suspense building and character reveals.

Thu, Aug 12, 2021

Kuruthi is an absolute action-thriller: Roshan Mathew

August 10, 2021 20:43 IST

Kuruthi, which stars Prithviraj, Roshan Mathew, Murali Gopy and Shine Tom Chacko, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video marking the beginning of the 10-day Onam celebration.

Thu, Aug 12, 2021

Kuruthi trailer: Prithviraj promises a nail-biting thriller, watch

August 04, 2021 14:01 IST

Besides Prithviraj and Roshan Mathew, Kuruthi also stars Mamukkoya, Srindaa, Shine Tom Chacko and Murali Gopi. It will stream on Amazon prime Video from August 11.

Wed, Aug 04, 2021

Mohanlal’s Dasharatham is a way better drama on surrogacy than Kriti Sanon-starrer Mimi

August 03, 2021 12:11 IST

Mohanlal's Dasharatham was made in 1989 when surrogacy had no legal backing in India. Even then, it remains a far more compelling drama than Mimi as it speaks of a woman's dilemma.

Wed, Aug 04, 2021