BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 6 - Ramayana: Part 1 is gearing up for a historic theatrical launch across the globe. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, the Nitesh Tiwari directorial is set to become the widest worldwide release ever for an Indian film. With unprecedented scale and global appeal, the historical epic is expected to redefine the international reach of Indian cinema when it arrives in theatres on November 6, 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The makers have hit the jackpot by bringing Sony Pictures on board for the film's international distribution. According to the latest trade updates, the Hollywood studio is planning a colossal overseas rollout on more than 50,000 screens outside India, making it comfortably the biggest international release ever for an Indian film. Backed by Sony's global distribution network, Ramayana: Part 1 will open across an unprecedented number of territories, giving the film one of the largest global launches ever mounted for a non-Hollywood title. The record-breaking overseas release will be complemented by a massive domestic rollout across India, ensuring that Ramayana: Part 1 secures the biggest worldwide theatrical release in the history of Indian cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The makers have consistently maintained that the film is designed for a global audience, with cutting-edge visual effects, premium format releases, multilingual versions, and AI-powered visual dubbing technology expected to make the epic accessible to audiences across the world. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Ramayana boasts music by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman, while Oscar-winning VFX studio DNEG is handling the visual effects. The recently released trailer has already crossed 1 billion cumulative views across all languages, highlighting the enormous anticipation surrounding the project. With Sony Pictures spearheading its overseas release and a record-breaking worldwide rollout on the cards, Ramayana: Part 1 is shaping up to be one of the biggest cinematic events in the history of Indian cinema. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY CHRISTA LINCY

The official trailer release date for Suriya's upcoming film, Vishwanath and Sons, has been confirmed by the makers. Fans of the actor have been eagerly waiting for a glimpse into this family drama, and the makers have now confirmed that the trailer will arrive on August 7, 2026. This serves as the final promotional push before the film makes its grand debut in cinemas on August 14, 2026, coinciding with the Independence Day weekend. Directed by Venky Atluri, who recently delivered the successful Lucky Baskhar, this project is being positioned as a wholesome family entertainer with a strong emotional core. The production is a collaborative effort between Sithara Entertainments, Fortune Four Cinemas, and Srikara Studios, along with Think Studios and Primark Productions. The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Mamitha Baiju as the female lead, alongside veteran actors like Raveena Tandon and Radikaa Sarathkumar in pivotal roles. The technical crew is equally strong, with Nimish Ravi handling the cinematography, Navin Nooli on editing, and the versatile G.V. Prakash Kumar composing the music. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The buzz for Vishwanath and Sons is particularly high because it follows the massive success of Karuppu, which released earlier this year. Karuppu was a significant milestone for Suriya, marking a triumphant return to big-screen dominance after a long interval. With worldwide collections crossing the 310 crore mark, it proved that the actor's box office pull remains as strong as ever when paired with the right content. While Karuppu was a gritty action-heavy film, Vishwanath and Sons appears to be a shift toward a more grounded and relatable genre, showcasing Suriya’s range as a performer. Adding to the current momentum is the ongoing talk about the lead actor's future lineup, specifically Suriya 47. directed by Jithu Madhavan, this project is one of the most anticipated films in the industry. There is significant speculation that if the post-production for Suriya 47 moves as planned, it might target a late 2026 release. If this happens, it would mean Suriya will have three major theatrical releases in a single calendar year—Karuppu, Vishwanath and Sons, and Suriya 47—a rare feat for a top-tier star in today’s cinema landscape. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The collaboration between Venky Atluri and Suriya is seen as a strategic move to tap into both the Tamil and Telugu markets, given the director’s proven track record with bilingual hits. The posters released so far hint at a story that revolves around family heritage and emotional bonds, a theme that has historically performed well during holiday windows. The expectations are that Vishwanath and Sons will maintain the winning streak started by Karuppu and further solidify Suriya's position as a dominant force at the 2026 box office.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Jana Nayagan continues its impressive theatrical run, officially crossing the significant 300 crore milestone at the global box office in exactly two weeks. The film has managed to sustain a steady interest among the audience, particularly in its home territory. On its fourteenth day, which was a second Wednesday, the movie recorded a gross collection of 2.07 crore rupees in India. This brought the total India gross collections to 213.81 crore rupees, while the total India net currently stands at 183.35 crore rupees. When we look at the day-to-day trend, the net collection of 1.80 crore rupees represents a manageable 14.3 percent drop from the previous days 2.10 crore rupees. The film is seeing a very interesting rivalry with the years other big release, Karuppu. To claim the title of the highest-grossing film of 2026, Jana Nayagan needs to bridge a gap of approximately 15.16 crore rupees in domestic gross collection to overtake Karuppus 228.97 crore rupees. However, on the global stage, the gap is much narrower. With a current worldwide gross of 306.31 crore rupees, it needs only about 3.81 crore rupees more to surpass Karuppus worldwide total of 310.12 crore rupees. Given the current trajectory, it is highly likely that this record will be broken before the third weekend concludes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The 2D Tamil version remains the primary driver of these numbers, recording an overall occupancy of 17.13 percent on Wednesday. Chennai led the regional demand with 368 shows and a solid 28 percent occupancy, while Coimbatore followed with 144 shows at 17.3 percent occupancy. In other southern hubs, Madurai saw 13.8 percent occupancy and Bengaluru recorded 11 percent across 179 shows. The Hindi version also contributed with an overall occupancy of 11.13 percent. Interestingly, the National Capital Region showed the highest engagement for the Hindi screenings, hitting 15.8 percent occupancy across 56 shows, with the night slots performing exceptionally well at 26 percent. A state-wise look at the Day 14 gross collection shows that Tamil Nadu remains the stronghold, contributing 1.60 crore rupees. Other states provided essential support, with the Rest of India markets adding 0.20 crore rupees, Kerala bringing in 0.14 crore rupees, and Karnataka adding 0.10 crore rupees. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions contributed a modest 0.03 crore rupees for the day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Internationally, Jana Nayagan is setting new benchmarks. In Malaysia, it has officially become the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2026, earning 10.75 million Malaysian Ringgit in just 11 days and surpassing the previous record held by Karuppu. The Middle East has also been a massive market, with 134,327 admits across the UAE and GCC over 11 days, resulting in a gross of 1.45 million dollars or roughly 13.8 crore rupees. According to data from Venky Box Office, the film earned 8,000 dollars in North America on Tuesday, taking its total there to 1.56 million dollars. On Day 14, the overseas market added 0.50 crore rupees to the tally, bringing the total international gross to 92.50 crore rupees. Looking at the performance in national cinema chains, Jana Nayagan has established itself as the highest-selling regional film if we set aside massive pan-India releases like The Odyssey and Spider-Man. On Wednesday, the trio of PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis contributed a combined 9.3 lakh rupees to the gross collection. Breaking this down, PVR led with 6.1 lakh rupees from 4,500 tickets across 190 shows. INOX followed with 2.6 lakh rupees from 2,100 tickets across 95 shows, and Cinepolis added 0.6 lakh rupees from 400 tickets across 50 shows. In total, 7,000 tickets were sold across these chains, maintaining an average occupancy of over 9 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Digital interest remains high as the film enters its third week. On the second Tuesday, 32.42k tickets were booked on BookMyShow, followed by 23.96k tickets on Wednesday. This brings the cumulative ticket sales on the platform to a staggering 41.71 lakh tickets. As the second full week concludes, Jana Nayagan has proven its mettle by maintaining double-digit show counts and consistent footfalls.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhamaal 4 is steadily approaching the end of its first month at the box office, continuing to show resilience even as newer releases dominate the screen space. On its twenty-seventh day, which fell on a Wednesday, the film recorded a net collection of 0.55 crore rupees. This reflects a drop of approximately 31.3 percent compared to Tuesday's net of 0.80 crore rupees. While the numbers have naturally tapered off after four weeks, the film managed to sustain these collections across 2,317 shows nationwide. Taking a look at the cumulative performance, the total India net collection now stands at 163 crore rupees, with the domestic gross reaching 194 crore rupees. The international market has also chipped in, with Wednesday adding 5 lakh rupees to the tally. This brings the total overseas gross to 31 crore rupees. When we combine these figures, Dhamaal 4 has achieved a global gross collection of 224 crore rupees. This consistent performance over 188,383 shows globally indicates that the comedy franchise still holds significant appeal for its target audience. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Lets take a look on how much the national chains contributed, Collectively, PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis sold 2,000 tickets, resulting in a total gross of 4.5 lakh rupees and an average occupancy of 3 percent. Breaking this down with rounded figures, PVR contributed 2.2 lakh rupees from 800 tickets across 180 shows. INOX followed with 1.6 lakh rupees from 900 tickets across 180 shows, while Cinepolis added 0.7 lakh rupees from 300 tickets across 100 shows. These numbers match the total national chain gross of 4.5 lakh rupees for the day, showing that footfalls are now concentrated in specific pockets. In terms of audience engagement for the Hindi 2D version, the overall occupancy for the day was 15 percent. Looking at the day's progression, the film started slow with 9 percent occupancy in the morning and nearly 10 percent in the afternoon. However, there was a noticeable uptick as the day progressed, with evening shows hitting 15 percent and night shows peaking at 18 percent. This trend suggests that the film is currently being driven by late-night family outings and casual viewers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Regionally, the National Capital Region remained the most active hub for the film, hosting 220 shows with an overall occupancy of 12 percent. In this region, the afternoon slots were the busiest at 16 percent. Ahmedabad followed with 210 shows at 7 percent occupancy, while Mumbai saw 115 shows with a 9 percent occupancy rate. In Mumbai, the afternoon screenings were the highlight, reaching 11 percent. Surat recorded a lower engagement with 130 shows at 3 percent occupancy, reflecting the general fatigue that sets in for a film in its fourth week. On the fourth Tuesday, BookMyShow recorded 17k tickets, which settled at 8k tickets on Wednesday. So far, the platform has facilitated the sale of over 28 lakh tickets for the film. As Dhamaal 4 enters its final stretch before the fifth week begins, it has successfully secured its position as a profitable venture, having maintained a steady hold on the box office throughout its month-long theatrical run.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 5 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day has added yet another historic milestone to its phenomenal box office run. The Marvel and Sony blockbuster has become the highest-grossing film of 2026 after only seven days in cinemas, surpassing Toy Story 5 to claim the year's top spot (so far). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Powered by unprecedented demand across North America and overseas markets, the Tom Holland-led superhero spectacle continues to deliver one record-breaking day after another. The film has grossed an outstanding $1.155 billion worldwide, with $449 million coming from the domestic (North America) market and $706.3 million from international territories. Those numbers have pushed Spidey ahead of Toy Story 5, which currently stands at $1.067 billion globally, making Brand New Day the biggest worldwide hit released in 2026. Its weekday performance has been just as remarkable as its opening weekend. The film collected $47 million on Monday, the highest Monday gross in North American box office history, before following it up with a record $42 million on Tuesday, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Spider-Man: No Way Home. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) It also became the fastest movie ever to reach $400 million in North America, accomplishing the feat in only four days. The list of achievements keeps growing. Brand New Day raced past the $1 billion worldwide milestone in just six days, making it the second-fastest film in history to do so, behind only Avengers: Endgame. The film had already rewritten the record books with the largest domestic opening weekend ever at $360 million and the second-biggest global opening of all time with $941+ million. Given its extraordinary momentum and overwhelmingly positive audience response, the superhero blockbuster looks well positioned to continue dominating the global box office for weeks and could emerge as one of the highest-grossing films ever released.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 6 - Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is on the verge of creating box office history as it closes in on the coveted $1 billion milestone worldwide. Following a sensational theatrical run across international markets, the epic is expected to become only the third R-rated (similar to A-rating in India) film to enter the billion-dollar club this coming weekend, joining Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine and Warner Bros.' Joker. If it achieves the feat, The Odyssey will also surpass Oppenheimer to become the third-highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, further strengthening Nolan's remarkable box office legacy. R-rated films have traditionally faced an uphill battle at the global box office due to restricted audiences, making blockbuster success far more difficult than PG-13 releases. However, the landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade, with mature-themed films proving they can attract mainstream audiences worldwide. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Joker became the first R-rated movie to cross the $1 billion mark in 2019, while Deadpool & Wolverine shattered every previous record in 2024 by becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film ever with over $1.33 billion worldwide. Oppenheimer also came close to the milestone, finishing its theatrical run with an extraordinary $976.9 million globally. Christopher Nolan will become the only director to have two films among the five highest-grossing R-rated releases in history. It would also mark another major milestone for adult-oriented cinema, proving that compelling storytelling and premium theatrical experiences can overcome the limitations of an R rating. With exceptional word of mouth and sustained box office momentum, The Odyssey is now just one step away from joining one of the most exclusive clubs in cinema history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Highest-Grossing R-Rated Films Worldwide S. No. Movie Worldwide Gross 1 Deadpool & Wolverine $1.338 Billion 2 Joker $1.079 Billion 3 Oppenheimer $976.97 Million 4 The Odyssey $930+ Million 5 Deadpool 2 $785.90 Million 6 Deadpool $782.61 Million 7 Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle $781.37 Million 8 The Matrix Reloaded $741.85 Million 9 It $704.24 Million 10 Detective Chinatown 3 $686.26 Million Data courtesy of Box Office Mojo. (as of August 5, 2026).

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 6 - The trailer of director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1 has scripted history by crossing 1 billion cumulative views across all platforms and languages, becoming the first Indian film trailer to achieve the remarkable milestone. The record underlines the unprecedented anticipation surrounding the historical epic, which is already being hailed as one of the biggest cinematic events in Indian film history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The achievement comes within days of the trailer's launch, making it one of the fastest and most-watched promotional campaigns ever mounted for an Indian film. The biggest contributor to this historic feat has been the Hindi trailer, which alone has amassed an astonishing 588 million views on the World of Ramayana Instagram account, on which overall viewership across languages is around 750 million. In addition, the trailer has generated hundreds of millions of views across YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and other digital platforms in multiple Indian and international languages. Combined, the cumulative viewership has now comfortably crossed the one-billion mark, setting a new benchmark that no Indian film trailer has achieved before. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 features an ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The trailer has received widespread acclaim for its spectacular visuals, cutting-edge VFX, grand scale, and the powerful musical collaboration between Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman. The makers have also expanded the film's global reach by releasing the trailer in multiple languages, including an English version powered by AI-assisted lip-sync technology. Produced by Namit Malhotra in association with Yash's Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release worldwide on November 6, 2026, during the Diwali festive season. With its trailer now setting an unprecedented digital record of over one billion views, the film has further strengthened its position as one of the most anticipated Indian releases of all time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 6 - Bollywood star Ajay Devgn is reportedly reshuffling his release calendar, setting up one of the biggest box office battles of 2026. Devgn's jungle adventure Ranger has reportedly been postponed to 2027, with Golmaal 5 taking over its December 4, 2026 release date, according to Variety India. If the report proves accurate, the Rohit Shetty directorial will lock horns with Prabhas' Fauzi and Akshay Kumar's untitled comedy entertainer directed by Anees Bazmee. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The reshuffle significantly raises the stakes for the December corridor. While Golmaal 5 and Akshay Kumar's yet-to-be-titled film belong to the comedy genre, Fauzi, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, is a large-scale period action drama led by Prabhas. The clash would offer audiences two commercial comedies against a pan-India action spectacle, making it one of the most diverse and highly anticipated box office battles in recent years. However, Golmaal 5's arrival (if official) could also trigger another major release change. Akshay Kumar is playing a major role in Rohit Shetty's comedy alongside Ajay Devgn. Releasing two Akshay Kumar-led commercial entertainers on the same day would split both the actor's fanbase and the comedy audience, making it an unlikely scenario. As a result, Anees Bazmee's untitled film is also a strong candidate to move to another release date, although no official decision has been announced yet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If that happens, Prabhas' Fauzi could be left facing only Golmaal 5, turning the clash into a battle between one of Indian cinema's biggest comedy franchises and one of the country's biggest pan-India stars. Golmaal 5 boasts an ensemble cast featuring Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu and Sharman Joshi, who returns to the franchise after appearing in the original Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006). Meanwhile, Fauzi stars Prabhas alongside Imanvi, Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Bhanu Chander and Jayapradha. The film carries high expectations following director Hanu Raghavapudi's critically acclaimed Sita Ramam and Prabhas' massive pan-India fan base. On the other hand, Akshay Kumar's untitled comedy with Anees Bazmee also stars Vidya Balan and Raashii Khanna. While the release calendar is yet to be officially finalised, the coming weeks are expected to bring clarity on whether Bollywood will witness a three-way blockbuster clash or another round of strategic postponements.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially swung past every other release this year to become the highest-grossing movie of 2026 in just seven days. There has been a massive buzz surrounding this chapter of the franchise, and the box office numbers are reflecting that excitement clearly. Globally, the film has already grossed 1.15 billion dollars, which includes 449 million dollars from the domestic market and 706.3 million dollars internationally. To give you some perspective on how dominant this run is, it has already overtaken the years previous top grosser, Toy Story 5, which earned 1.07 billion dollars over its entire run so far. Looking at the performance in India, the movie is maintaining a very strong grip despite the usual weekday dip. On its seventh day, which was a Wednesday, the film collected a gross of 18 crore rupees. When we compare this to Tuesdays gross of 26 crore rupees, it represents a drop of 31 percent. While a drop is expected mid-week, the absolute numbers remain high because of the sheer volume of shows, with 16,700 screenings held across the country on Wednesday alone. This brings the total India gross collection to 381 crore rupees so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) If we look at the broader picture including overseas markets, the worldwide gross for the film stands at an impressive 11,750 crore rupees. This figure is supported by an overseas gross of 7,100 crore rupees and an India gross of 381 crore rupees. According to Venky Box Office, the film is set to cross the massive 500 million dollar domestic mark in North America very soon, having already reached a 6-day total of approximately 482 million dollars. It is clear that the momentum is not just restricted to one region but is a consistent global trend. The contribution from national cinema chains remains a vital part of this success story. On Wednesday, the three major chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—contributed a combined 2 crore rupees to the gross total. Breaking this down, PVR led the way with 1.2 crore rupees from 27,000 tickets across 3,300 shows at 620 venues, with 4 percent occupancy. INOX followed with 0.6 crore rupees from 15,900 tickets across 2,600 shows at 490 venues with 3 percent occupancy, while Cinepolis added 0.2 crore rupees from 4,600 tickets across 1,700 shows at 290 venues with 1 percent occupancy. In total, 47,500 tickets were sold across 7,600 shows at 1,400 venues in these chains, resulting in a collective occupancy of 3 percent for the day. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The 3D format continues to be the preferred way for fans to experience the web-slinger. The English 3D version saw an overall occupancy of 20.83 percent on Day 7. If we look at the regional breakdown for English 3D, Mumbai led with 650 shows and 15.5 percent occupancy, while the National Capital Region followed closely with 614 shows and 14.3 percent occupancy. Bengaluru showed even stronger demand with 567 shows at 20.8 percent occupancy. However, the highest engagement was seen in the South, where Chennai recorded a staggering 40.3 percent occupancy across 145 shows and Kochi hit 29.8 percent across 134 shows. Across all regions, the night shows were the most popular, peaking at 26.78 percent occupancy. The Hindi 3D version also held its ground with an overall occupancy of 17.33 percent. In the Hindi belt, the National Capital Region was the busiest hub with 460 shows at 18.5 percent occupancy. Mumbai followed with 364 shows and 17.3 percent occupancy. Kolkata stood out particularly for the Hindi version, recording the highest regional occupancy of 24.3 percent across 130 shows. Other notable mentions include Ahmedabad with 195 shows and Pune with 141 shows. Much like the English version, the Hindi 3D screenings saw their best footfalls during the night shows, which averaged 21 percent occupancy. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When we break down the Day 7 collections by language, the English version contributed a net of 8.00 crore rupees, while the Hindi version brought in 5.65 crore rupees. The regional dubbed versions also added to the tally, with Tamil earning 0.90 crore rupees, Telugu earning 0.60 crore rupees, and smaller contributions coming from Malayalam and Kannada at 0.03 crore and 0.02 crore rupees respectively. It is worth noting that for the entire week so far, the English version has netted 173.85 crore rupees, while Hindi has contributed 113.65 crore rupees to the total India net. Digital booking trends through platforms like BookMyShow highlight the steady interest. On Tuesday, the platform saw 323.86k tickets booked, and this stayed consistent on Wednesday with 304.7k tickets. This brings the total ticket sales on the platform to a massive 66,80,740 tickets. With the first extended week coming to a close , Spider-Man: Brand New Day is positioned to set even more records as it enters its second weekend. The film has already proven it has the legs for a long theatrical run by maintaining double-digit net collections deep into its first week.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

While an official announcement from the makers is still awaited, new reports have emerged regarding the specific release date for Namit Malhotra’s highly anticipated adaptation of the Ramayana. Following the significant buzz generated by last week’s trailer, Bollywood Hungama has exclusively shared that the film is expected to arrive in theaters worldwide on Friday, November 6, 2026. This potential window addresses the recent speculation about whether the epic would opt for an early release or wait until the actual Diwali festival day on November 8.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 5 - With just days remaining for its theatrical release, Emraan Hashmi's Awarapan 2 has completed its censor formalities. The much-awaited sequel to the 2007 cult classic has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), clearing the final hurdle before hitting cinemas on August 14. According to the latest certification details, Awarapan 2 has been awarded a U/A 16+ certificate after the CBFC suggested a handful of minor modifications. The board reportedly asked the makers to tone down one violent sequence by 50%, remove three instances of extreme violence, and delete a scene featuring drug consumption. Following these changes, the film received its censor certificate on August 5. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The official runtime of Awarapan 2 has also been locked at 140.20 minutes, which translates to 2 hours, 20 minutes and 20 seconds. The duration suggests that the makers have opted for a fairly expansive narrative, balancing action, romance, and emotional drama. Trade observers believe the runtime is well-suited for the film's musical action-drama format. Directed by Nitin Kakkar, Awarapan 2 stars Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, and Shabana Azmi in key roles. The film serves as the long-awaited sequel to the original Awarapan, which has gained cult status over the years thanks to its music, emotional storytelling, and Hashmi's memorable performance as Shivam. The makers are set to unveil the film's theatrical trailer on August 6, further intensifying anticipation ahead of its worldwide release on August 14.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Dhanush has officially unveiled the teaser for Karthik Subbaraj's highly anticipated tenth directorial venture, titled Dorothy. The announcement comes with a significant achievement, as the film has been selected for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This international recognition before its theatrical release highlights the global appeal of Subbaraj's unique storytelling style and marks a proud moment for Tamil cinema on the world stage. Scheduled for a worldwide release on September 25, 2026, the film is now moving toward its theatrical window Karthik Subbaraj has built a reputation over the last decade as a filmmaker who consistently subverts genre expectations. Since his breakout debut with the low-budget horror hit Pizza, he has delivered a string of cult classics and commercial successes. His filmography includes the acclaimed gangster-satire Jigarthanda, the high-octane Rajinikanth starrer Petta, and the more recent western-inspired period drama Jigarthanda DoubleX. Dorothy serves as a milestone project for the director, representing ten films of creative experimentation and genre-bending narratives. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The teaser and promotional posters suggest a visually striking and atmospheric experience. The monochromatic design featuring a bold red circle and characters on bicycles hints at a period or rural noir setting. A major highlight of this project is the collaboration between Subbaraj and the legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja. The pairing of the modern auteur’s stylized visuals with the timeless musical sensibilities of Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja has created immense curiosity among cinephiles. The cast is led by National Award winner Keerthy Suresh, who is known for her range in performance-heavy roles. She is joined by Sananth and Rishikanth, both of whom have previously collaborated with the director. On the production side, the film is backed by a powerhouse combination of Jio Studios and Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment. Monga, an Academy Award-winning producer, brings a level of international expertise that aligns with the film’s presence at TIFF, ensuring that the project receives significant global visibility. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})