Entertainment

From Suriya's 'Thaanaa Serndha Koottam' to Saif Ali Khan's 'Kaalakaandi', here are the 11 movies releasing this Pongal weekend 

Over ten films are all set to make the cash registers ringing in box offices across the country on January 12. The Pongal (Makar Sanranthi) weekend, which is a much-favoured date for distributors and producers, will witness a battle between Suriya's Thaanaa Serndha Koottam and Vikram's Sketch in Tamil Nadu. With Saif's dark comedy, Salim Kumar's slice of life film, Spielberg's newspaper drama and more, viewers are definitely spoilt for choice.
Over ten films are all set to make the cash registers ringing in box offices across the country on January 12. The Pongal (Makar Sankranthi) weekend, which is a much-favoured date for distributors and producers, will witness a battle between Suriya's Thaa
Over ten films are all set to make the cash registers ringing in box offices across the country on January 12. The Pongal (Makar Sankranthi) weekend, which is a much-favoured date for distributors and producers, will witness a battle between Suriya's Thaa
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THAANAA SERNDHA KOOTTAM: 'Thaanaa Serndha Koottam' (meaning: a gang formed by itself) is based on the 1987 heist at Mumbai's Opera House branch of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri & Sons Jewellers (the inspiration behind the Hindi hit film 'Special 26' as well). Written and directed by Vignesh Shivn and produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja, it stars Suriya and Keerthy Suresh in the lead roles, with a supporting cast including Karthik, Ramya Krishnan, Senthil and Suresh Chandra Menon. Suriya is getting a festival release after seven years. (YouTube screengrab)
THAANAA SERNDHA KOOTTAM: 'Thaanaa Serndha Koottam' (meaning: a gang formed by itself) is based on the 1987 heist at Mumbai's Opera House branch of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri & Sons Jewellers (the inspiration behind the Hindi hit film 'Special 26' as well). Written and directed by Vignesh Shivn and produced by K. E. Gnanavel Raja, it stars Suriya and Keerthy Suresh in the lead roles, with a supporting cast including Karthik, Ramya Krishnan, Senthil and Suresh Chandra Menon. Suriya is getting a festival release after seven years. (YouTube screengrab)
SKETCH: The Tamil action entertainer will see actor Vikram playing a 'massy' role. Primarily, a love story between Vikram's North Chennai character and Tamannaah's college-going character, 'Sketch' (slang for 'plotting' or 'hatching') also features Radha Ravi, Sriman, Ravi Kishan and RK Suresh in the cast. It has been more than a year since Vikram's previous film 'Iru Mugan' released back in September 2016.
SKETCH: The Tamil action entertainer will see actor Vikram playing a 'massy' role. Primarily, a love story between Vikram's North Chennai character and Tamannaah's college-going character, 'Sketch' (slang for 'plotting' or 'hatching') also features Radha Ravi, Sriman, Ravi Kishan and RK Suresh in the cast. It has been more than a year since Vikram's previous film 'Iru Mugan' released back in September 2016.
THE POST: Steven Spielberg's Oscar-tipped newspaper drama stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in the lead. It tells the story of journalists from The Washington Post and The New York Times who fought against the American government in the 1970s to publish classified information (The Pentagon Papers) about the administration's failings in the Vietnam war and the involvement of the government during the war, started by then President John Kennedy.
THE POST: Steven Spielberg's Oscar-tipped newspaper drama stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in the lead. It tells the story of journalists from The Washington Post and The New York Times who fought against the American government in the 1970s to publish classified information (The Pentagon Papers) about the administration's failings in the Vietnam war and the involvement of the government during the war, started by then President John Kennedy.
GULAEBAGHAVALLI: The colourful, action-packed heist thriller about a stolen idol features Prabhu Deva and Hansika Motwani in the lead and has already received appreciation for its many song and dance sequences (no surprises there). Hansika had earlier acted in Prabhu Deva's directorial 'Engeyum Kadhal'. She also worked with him as a child actor in the children’s film, 'Aabra Ka Daabra'. Directed by Kalyaan and bankrolled by KJR Studios, Kulaebaghavalli also stars Revathy, Sathyan, Anandaraj, Yogi Babu, Mansoor Ali Khan and Motta Rajendran.
GULAEBAGHAVALLI: The colourful, action-packed heist thriller about a stolen idol features Prabhu Deva and Hansika Motwani in the lead and has already received appreciation for its many song and dance sequences (no surprises there). Hansika had earlier acted in Prabhu Deva's directorial 'Engeyum Kadhal'. She also worked with him as a child actor in the children’s film, 'Aabra Ka Daabra'. Directed by Kalyaan and bankrolled by KJR Studios, Kulaebaghavalli also stars Revathy, Sathyan, Anandaraj, Yogi Babu, Mansoor Ali Khan and Motta Rajendran.
KAALAKAANDI: Akshat Verma, the writer of the dark, gritty black comedy 'Delhi Belly' is making his directorial debut with 'Kaalakaandi', which is about a man (Saif Ali Khan) who discovers he has little time to live and how he utilises his remaining days. The movie raised eyebrows for its trailer which featured cuss words, rave parties and sex scenes. The ensemble cast also has Akshay Oberoi, Isha Talwar, Sobhita Dhulipala, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Deepak Dobriyal, Shenaz Treasurywala, Amyra Dastur, Neil Bhoopalam and more. (YouTube screengrab)
KAALAKAANDI: Akshat Verma, the writer of the dark, gritty black comedy 'Delhi Belly' is making his directorial debut with 'Kaalakaandi', which is about a man (Saif Ali Khan) who discovers he has little time to live and how he utilises his remaining days. The movie raised eyebrows for its trailer which featured cuss words, rave parties and sex scenes. The ensemble cast also has Akshay Oberoi, Isha Talwar, Sobhita Dhulipala, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Deepak Dobriyal, Shenaz Treasurywala, Amyra Dastur, Neil Bhoopalam and more. (YouTube screengrab)
MUKKABAAZ: The film, which received critical acclaim at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and 2017 Mumbai Film Festival, revolves around an aspiring boxer from a lower caste, played by Vineet Singh, who falls in love with the niece (played by Zoya Hussain) of an upper-caste don (Jimmy Shergill) who also owns the gym where he trains at. Anand L. Rai, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena and Anurag Kashyap are the big names producing 'Mukkabaaz' (meaning: The Brawler). (YouTube screengrab)
MUKKABAAZ: The film, which received critical acclaim at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and 2017 Mumbai Film Festival, revolves around an aspiring boxer from a lower caste, played by Vineet Singh, who falls in love with the niece (played by Zoya Hussain) of an upper-caste don (Jimmy Shergill) who also owns the gym where he trains at. Anand L. Rai, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena and Anurag Kashyap are the big names producing 'Mukkabaaz' (meaning: The Brawler). (YouTube screengrab)
JAI SIMHA: Nandamuri Balakrishna's second Sankranti release (after period drama Gautamiputra Satakarni) is his maiden collaboration with director Ravikumar who helmed blockbusters like 'Padayappa', 'Muthu' and 'Panchathantiram'. Balayya will be seen in a double role in this Telugu action film (with a few scenes set against the political backdrop of Vizag) which has Nayanthara as the female lead. This is the pair's third film together after 'Simhaa' and 'Sri Rama Rajyam'. Natasha Doshi and Hari Priya play supporting roles. (YouTube screengrab)
JAI SIMHA: Nandamuri Balakrishna's second Sankranti release (after period drama Gautamiputra Satakarni) is his maiden collaboration with director Ravikumar who helmed blockbusters like 'Padayappa', 'Muthu' and 'Panchathantiram'. Balayya will be seen in a double role in this Telugu action film (with a few scenes set against the political backdrop of Vizag) which has Nayanthara as the female lead. This is the pair's third film together after 'Simhaa' and 'Sri Rama Rajyam'. Natasha Doshi and Hari Priya play supporting roles. (YouTube screengrab)
1921: '1921' is the fourth film from Vikram Bhatt's '1920' horror franchise.The film stars Zarine Khan and television heartthrob Karan Kundra (who makes his big-screen debut here) in lead roles. Karan plays an aspiring musician who comes to England, in the year 1921, to pursue training where he is disturbed by a shape-shifting spirit. Zareen plays a medium who tries to save him. As with all of Bhatt's films, '1921''s music and steamy scenes have created enough buzz. (YouTube screengrab)
1921: '1921' is the fourth film from Vikram Bhatt's '1920' horror franchise.The film stars Zarine Khan and television heartthrob Karan Kundra (who makes his big-screen debut here) in lead roles. Karan plays an aspiring musician who comes to England, in the year 1921, to pursue training where he is disturbed by a shape-shifting spirit. Zareen plays a medium who tries to save him. As with all of Bhatt's films, '1921''s music and steamy scenes have created enough buzz. (YouTube screengrab)
DAIVAME KAITHOZHAM K KUMARAKANAM: National Award winning Malayalam actor-comedian Salim Kumar is the director of this realistic family drama, which has been mostly shot in Eerattupettah in Kottayam district. Starring Jayaram and Anusree in the lead, it also has veterans Sreenivasan and Nedimudi Venu playing important roles. (YouTube screengrab)
DAIVAME KAITHOZHAM K KUMARAKANAM: National Award winning Malayalam actor-comedian Salim Kumar is the director of this realistic family drama, which has been mostly shot in Eerattupettah in Kottayam district. Starring Jayaram and Anusree in the lead, it also has veterans Sreenivasan and Nedimudi Venu playing important roles. (YouTube screengrab)
HUMBLE POLITICIAN NOGRAJ: Popular Bengaluru-based stand up comic ,writer, emcee, host of Fever 104 FM's prank calls and Royal Challengers Bengaluru 'insider' Danish Sait plays Nograj, a crazy, highly corrupt corporator of a fictitious constituency who wants to become an MLA. He is also the writer of this Kannada satire directed by Saad Khan (host of 'The Improvs'). Stand up comedian Sumukhi Suresh and actress Sruthi Hariharan play supporting roles. (YouTube screengrab)
HUMBLE POLITICIAN NOGRAJ: Popular Bengaluru-based stand up comic ,writer, emcee, host of Fever 104 FM's prank calls and Royal Challengers Bengaluru 'insider' Danish Sait plays Nograj, a crazy, highly corrupt corporator of a fictitious constituency who wants to become an MLA. He is also the writer of this Kannada satire directed by Saad Khan (host of 'The Improvs'). Stand up comedian Sumukhi Suresh and actress Sruthi Hariharan play supporting roles. (YouTube screengrab)
QUEEN: What happens when a girl joins mechanical engineering, considered a boys-only stream? Produced by Dijo Jose Antony and directed by Shibu K Moideen and Rinshad Vellodathil under Arabian Dreams Entertainment, this Malayalam comedy features an array of newbie actors. (YouTube screengrab)
QUEEN: What happens when a girl joins mechanical engineering, considered a boys-only stream? Produced by Dijo Jose Antony and directed by Shibu K Moideen and Rinshad Vellodathil under Arabian Dreams Entertainment, this Malayalam comedy features an array of newbie actors. (YouTube screengrab)
Suriya
Box office
Balakrishna
Sketch
Kaalakaandi
Thaanaa Serndha Koottam
pongal film release
Jai simha

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