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Ananya Pandayhas posted a series of captivating pictures from a recent glittering event, showcasing her flair for fashion by embracing the vibrant vibes of 90s Bollywood. The actress turned heads in a dazzling, shimmery blue jumpsuit that transported everyone back to the golden era of disco glamour.
Ananya exudes retro charm
Ananya's fashion prowess was on full display as she paired the dazzling jumpsuit with bold choices in makeup and accessories. The actress included a striking combination of red matte lips, blue eyeshadow and soft curls, perfectly encapsulating the essence of 90s style. Adding a touch of retro charm to the outfit, Ananya adorned her soft curls with a blue headband, while chunky silver earrings and vibrant red nails completed her glamorous look.
Intricate details of the outfit
The disco diva's ensemble featured a halter neckline and intricate cutout detailing, injecting just the right amount of drama into her outfit. The figure-hugging torso accentuated Ananya's impeccable physique, while the flared pants paid homage to the classic allure of old Bollywood fashion.
Vintage charm
Ananya Panday effortlessly stole the spotlight at the party, channeling her inner dramatic diva with poise and confidence. The fusion of old-world charm and contemporary flair in her outfit left fashion enthusiasts in awe. The chunky silver earrings, timeless hairdo and understated makeup added a touch of charm to the ensemble, making it a perfect blend of vintage and modern aesthetics.
The latest edition to the superhero genre from India, Prasanth Varma’sHanuMan, starringTeja Sajja, Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Vinay Rai in the lead roles, hit screens this Friday for Sankranthi. The film has received rave reviews nationwide, with many praising the cast and crew for pulling off the film on a limited budget. Here are our five reasons for watching the film.
Prasanth’s story
Prasanth has a knack for picking wacky stories and entertainingly narrating them. If you see his debut film Awe in 2018, it’s one of the few films in south Indian cinema that dealt with the topics of mental illness, sexuality and gender in a sensitive manner. He followed that up with the 2019 film Kalki which proved that he can also pull off a commercial potboiler with a twist. The 2021 film Zombie Reddy, which incidentally also starred Teja, was a fun film about a zombie outbreak in Kurnool. And now, HanuMan delves into how a man from a small village gains superpowers when he comes across a totem.
The performances
HanuMan boasts of a stellar cast, not just with its four leads but also in supporting roles. Teja Sajja, Amritha, Varalaxmi and Vinay pour life into their characters, making us root for their characters or at least, approach them with empathy. When Teja is granted a superhero status from that of an underdog, you want him to know his worth. The same goes for Varalaxmi’s character. Getup Srinu and Satya have roles in the film that bring in light-heartedness, and so does Ravi Teja voicing a monkey with his trademark charm. The cameos by Sunishith and Rakesh Master also stand out, despite their limited screen time.
The VFX work
HanuMan was made on a limited budget compared to some of the star vehicles released across the country recently. Prasanth Varma once spoke to the press and revealed that he would use Chat GPT and Midjourney to make his vision come to life. The film’s CGI scenes help the fictional village of Anjanadri come to life, apart from a few animals. For the most part, the visual grammar of the film looks like something most filmmakers would require bigger budgets for. Fans who loved the film have also pointed out that the VFX in the film is noteworthy.
The intriguing characters
No matter how well a world is built, everything falls flat if the characters aren’t engaging. But Prasanth ensures that most of his characters are fleshed out so that they evoke empathy, even love. Teja’s Hanumanthu is, of course, the hero of this tale, someone who doesn’t know his own strength, much like the God Hanuman whom he gets his superpowers from. But Varalaxmi’s Anjamma and Amritha’s Meenakshi are anything but damsel-in-distresses, standing up to bullies just fine on their own. Even Vinay’s Michael gets a backstory that helps you understand how the same power could be used for evil if it falls into the wrong hands.
The cinematic universe
Prasanth is setting up his cinematic universe - Prasant Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU) - with two films lined up after HanuMan. A sequel to the film, Jai Hanuman, is touted to be released in 2025. But before that, producer DVV Danayya’s son Kalyan Dasari will debut with Adhira, another superhero film which has already been announced. The first glimpse of the film shows how Hanumanthu wields a totem, the lead character in that film will gain powers akin to thunder and lightning.
Merry Christmasbox office collection day 1: Directed by Sriram Raghavan, the film released in theatres on Friday. As per Sacnilk.com, the film has earned just over₹2 crore. Merry Christmas stars Vijay Sethupathi andKatrina Kaif in lead roles.
Merry Christmas India box office
According to the report, Merry Christmas earned ₹2.55 crore nett on its first day for all languages as per early estimates. The film has been shot in Hindi and Tamil. The Hindi version also features Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, and Tinnu Anand. The Tamil version stars Radhika Sarathkumar, Shanmugaraja, Kevin Jay Babu, and Rajesh Williams in the same roles.
Merry Christmas review
The Mobile Masala review of the film read, "Vijay delivers a standout performance, so flawless that you can't figure if he was actually playing the character or just being himself. After the villain in Jawan, seeing him in this mellowed avatar is quite refreshing. Katrina is class apart. Her expressions, body language and a restrained act never let her overpower the character. Though her emotional scenes looked a bit sketchy, but in rest of the portions, she manages to create the desired mystery around her character. I loved that Raghavan hasn't tried to make his characters look extra flamboyant or sensuous. There's a simplicity which you can sense - both in the character sketches and the narrative."
Atlee on Merry Christmas
Recently, director Atlee praised the performances of Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina. Taking to his X account, Atlee wrote, "#MerryChristmas! I've been waiting to write this one. My favourite narrative of recent times is a beautiful love story with an amazing thriller."
He added, "@VijaySethuOffl, you were pure class to watch, and the climax performance was woowwwwww. You're always an inspiration; keep inspiring us with such lovely films. Love you na @KatrinaKaifFB's work is stunning. #shriramraghavn, sir, what a film! It's a pure classic, written all over it. Add a blockbuster feather to your cap, sir."
The makers on Wednesday night hosted a grand premiere of their film in Mumbai. Several celebrities marked their presence at the star-studded premiere. Vicky Kaushal was also present to support his wife, Katrina. The couple walked hand-in-hand and posed in front of paparazzi stationed at the event.
The first reviews of Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif's thriller,Merry Christmas, are out and it seems filmmaker Sriram Raghavan is all set to deliver another gem after his 2018 movie, Andhadhun. Filmmaker Vignesh Shivan and few others watched the film before it hits theatres on January 12 and shared their praise for the film.
Vignesh Shivan praises Merry Christmas
Taking to his Instagram Stories, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan wrote, “Absolutely awestruck by the outstanding performances from @actorvijaysethupathi & @katrinakaif in this superbly written thrilling screenplay from the genius @sriram.raghavanofficial takes us back to Alfred Hitchcock times @ipritamofficial's music is another major pillar, the last 30 mins is just tooo good! Enjoy it in theatres from Jan12th! Totally proud of you Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi! You just held it all together with effortless ease."
Other views on Merry Christmas
Film trade analyst Sathish Kumar M wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “#MerryChristmas is like a Vintage Thriller film with interesting scenes in the police station in the second half and climax with #SriramRaghavan’s style.”
An X user by the name of Delusional Amphibian wrote about the film, “#Merry Christmas - A Slow burning mystery drama which takes its own time to setup, builds to a crescendo & then pays off in the final act. Last 15 minutes is the film but for it to work, you need to invest in first 1.5 hours. You might think where this is all leading to but only in the final act you get to know Sriram Raghavan was holding all the cards till the end. In the climax, with no dialogues being said (but still so much being said) VJS walks away with all the applause! Anything more would be a spoiler. Watch it without comparing it with Andhadhun.”
Another by the name of Cine Observer wrote on X, “#MerryChristmas is a slow burn thriller that moves at a gentle pace for the most part. @VijaySethuOffl looks absolutely at ease and @KatrinaKaifFB looks ravishing as ever. The story is based on a French novel. #SriramRaghavan takes his time to get to the gripping part @proyuvraaj.”
Another tweet from the handle Films and Stuffs, read: “Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif completely held and shouldered the first half of #MerryChristmas, which led to the riveting second half. Peak chemistry.”
Merry Christmas has been shot in two languages, with different supporting actors. The Hindi version also features Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, and Tinnu Anand. On the other hand, the Tamil version stars Radhika Sarathkumar, Shanmugaraja, Kevin Jay Babu, and Rajesh Williams in the same roles. On Wednesday, a new song Raat Akeli Hai was unveiled from the film.
Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon have teamed up for the first time for an "impossible love story." During the Jio event held in 2023, they offered a sneak peek of the film. After much speculation, they have officially announced the title of the film asTeri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. They made the announcement along with a new poster featuring the lead actors.
Official announcement of film title
Shahid and Kriti Sanon appear in the poster, getting up close and intimate with each other, almost lip-locking. Although the title shows a robot in it, we have to see how it comes into picture. There are reports circulating that Kriti, the robot in the film, develops feelings for the human character portrayed by Shahid. We have to wait for the teaser or a trailer to know more about the story.
While sharing the poster, Kriti captioned her post along with the release date, which is ahead of Valentine's Day 2024, on February 9.
Check it out below:
Speculation on the plot
A clumsy young guy finds his soulmate in a faraway future in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. He must win her heart while overcoming a wicked sidekick and navigating through a series of hilarious mistakes and perilous circumstances.
Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah direct the film, while Dinesh Vijan, Jyoti Deshpande, and Laxman Utekar produce it. Along with Shahid and Kriti, the romantic film also stars Dharmendra and Dimple Kapadia in pivotal roles.
First look poster
In the first-look poster, Kriti and Shahid looked absolutely gorgeous together. In the photo, the actors sit on a bike, facing each other. As the sun sets, the actors get close to each other, which caught the attention of many.
After the clash between Yodha and Merry Christmas, which were earlier set for a release in December 2023, the makers chose the Valentine's Day 2024 weekend for the quirky love story, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya.
The internet has been buzzing over speculations surrounding rumoured coupleVijay Deverakondaand Rashmika Mandanna’s engagement. Now, the latest cheesecake post of Vijay Deverakonda reminds us of a certain someone’s ‘melt-in the cheese’ post. Recently, the Kushi star had posted a video of him devouring a cheesecake with a caption confessing his ‘love for cheesecake’. The post has gotten fans frenzy over the connection withRashmika’s earlier Instagram story where she can be seen enjoying a slice of blueberry cheesecake. She even said ‘the melt-in-mouth’ cheese along with cookie crust makes up for the best combination.
Vijay’s latest post has further fueled the speculations surrounding the actors' engagement rumours. Many users under his post have been wondering if he has referred to Rashmika while captioning the post ‘I looove cheesecake’. Check out his latest post and the comments left by curious netizens!
Interestingly, earlier on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee with Karan Season 7, actresses Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor spilled the tea with a pinch of cheese. For the uninitiated, when Karan Johar asked Sara to ‘name a boy she feels like she wants to date today’, Sara took Vijay Deverakonda’s name. Her response left Janhvi in splits, who in season 6 had confessed that she had a crush on Vijay Deverakonda. Sara then asked Janhvi if she liked Vijay, to which Janhvi jokingly tells to ‘her to have the cheese’.
When Karan Johar asked ‘why were they passing Vijay Deverakonda like a slice of cheese,’ Sara Ali Khan responded - ‘We can't be after the same slice of cheese like you said and let me tell everyone that she is now giving it to me.’
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s engagement to take place in February?
While the Animal actress Rashmika Mandanna has been making headlines with her latest outing with the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer, the actress has also been caught in speculations surrounding her engagement with Vijay Deverakonda. According to various media reports, Vijay and Rashmika are likely to get engaged in February 2024. However, there has been no confirmation yet. Nonetheless, all the Easter eggs, that the couple have been dropping for a while now, surely hint at wedding bells sooner than later!
Hrithik Roshanturns 50 this year. The stunning yet highly talented actor, who is known for his dancing caliber, fitness goals, and performance, is adored by fans all over the world for his ability of being a ‘full package’ actor- good looks, good skills, good acting. Despite his filmy background, Roshan has carved his own path through the industry, from working behind the camera prior to his debut, to leading films on his own.
He had even auditioned for his first film as a hero, that was with his father, and cracked it to earn the role. If a gorgeous yet talented Hrithik’s acting mettle also interests you, then these five films of his are bound to fascinate you.
Super 30 (2019)
The film is similar to an underrated 12th Fail of 2019 that barely received the due credit it deserved, simply because it showcased an actor who does little to promote his projects, despite his tremendous potential. Unlike the popular Khans, Hrithik goes for a struggling, humble teacher who, in real life, has changed the lives of hordes of impoverished students simply by training them for IIT-JEE without asking for anything in return. Roshan wins hearts with his non-glamorous, realistic portrayal of a man whose dreams are realized by his students.
The film is available on Disney+.
Guzaarish (2010)
The film has a wonderful take on euthanasia, before it became popularized by Me Before You, Jojo Moyes’ 2012 novel as well as the 2016 eponymous film. However, though the film did moderately well at box office, with positive reviews from critics, the film marked Roshan’s career best performance. The scene where he is fighting an entire night, sprawled on the ground with his quadriplegic body, while the dripping ceiling continues to torment him while he playfully and exhaustively faces it head on, a drop at a time, is mesmerizing and renders viewers speechless with his yet-untapped acting potential.
The film is available on Google Play Movies for rent.
Koi Mil Gaya (2003)
This 2003 film, after Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, made sure Roshan entered the mainstream Cinema as an actor to be reckoned. It is unheard of new actors going for roles that are mentally underdeveloped or utilizing sci-fi to answer cognitive development disabilities.By essaying a differently abled character with being dreams, who struggles to maneuver high school and later, actually fulfills them in sequels, is incredibly challenging for any fresh blood. But Hrithik does it convincingly and confidently without batting an eye.
The film is available on Zee5
Kaabil (2017)
A stirring romantic thriller that traces the atrocities committed against visually impaired people and the vengeance they might wreak if armed with a will like Roshan’s Rohan Bhatnagar, blind but batshit determined, is alluring and makes a binge-worthy project. Yami Gautam’s performance in the film also draws attention as a blind, sexually abused woman, who eases into the characters of lover and victim like a juggling expert, along with Roshan’s spinechilling performance.
The film is available on Disney+ and YouTube.
Dhoom 2 (2006)
This film not only began the journey of Aishwarya-Hrithik as a pair, that gave us films like Jodhaa Akbar and Guzaarish, but also gave India a project worthy of the Bond fame. Featuring a drop-dead gorgeous and highly sharp and acute heister Mr. A, who is later revealed to be Aryan, Roshan wins hearts and even logic, with his solid portrayal of a big-time, high-tech robber, who doesn’t trust people anymore, and ensures each robbery of his is a puzzle to ponder over for the Indian Police. Hrithik Roshan brings to life the Wattpad dreams of every teenage girl and guy, by essaying the perfect thief (that Berlin couldn’t be), dashing, smart, caring, and challenging!
