Janani K

Seldom does a movie leave you speechless. Sometimes, the impact is awe-inspiring and words fail you. Sometimes, you are so impressed you can’t stop talking about it. Sometimes, it hits you so hard that you just revel in its magic. But when a film manages to do all of this at once, it isn’t just a masterpiece - it is a cultural phenomenon. That is what Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1’ does to you.

Dhanush, as an actor and director, has a strong track record of producing heartwarming family dramas. From ‘Velaiyilla Pattadhari’ to ‘Thiruchitrambalam’, many films from his filmography have that recall value that makes for a perfect weekend watch. Dhanush is now back with ‘Idli Kadai’, his fourth directorial venture that promises another solid drama packed with emotions.

‘Balti’ opens with a gory murder and the four friends, who meticulously plan and commit the crime. Minutes after the crime, they quickly change their outfits and take part in a temple ritual. With pulsating music from the find of this decade, Sai Abhyankkar, the film grabs your attention from the first frame. But, does it hold your attention throughout? Let’s find out!

All the superstars of Indian cinema share one thing in common: a remarkable screen presence. All it takes is for them to come on screen and blow us away with just one glance. Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan, fondly known as Power Star by his fans, is one such actor whose antics are enough to set the screen ablaze. For his fans, director Sujeeth’s ‘They Call Him OG’ is a film that promises to satisfy all their cravings.

‘Bomb’ begins with a bedtime story about a fictional village, Kallakammaipatti, which splits into Kallapatti and Kammaipatti due to superstition, faith, and perceived superiority. This separation sparks a rivalry that is the film’s primary conflict: the ongoing division between the two communities shaped by these beliefs. The story sets the tone for a quirky social commentary, but raises the question: Does director Vishal Venkat execute this central conflict effectively? Let’s find out! Mani Muthu (Arjun Das) and Kathiravan (Kaali Venkat) belong to different communities. Kathiravan, an atheist, looks beyond local politics and dreams of bringing water, electricity, and education to the village. Fighting a lonely battle, he often takes refuge in alcohol. His sister (Shivathmika Rajasekhar) cares for him and secretly harbours feelings for Mani Muthu.

A thriller titled ‘Blackmail’ is quite self-explanatory. Director Mu Maran’s film stays true to its name. In fact, it takes it a little too seriously. So much so that almost every character in the film blackmails someone to escape their troubles. But, the bigger question is, is ‘Blackmail’ an effective thriller as it claims to beb? Let’s find out! Mani (GV Prakash) works for a pharmaceutical distributor (Vettai Muthukumar), who also runs a secret cocaine business. One day, Mani finds out that his girlfriend, Rekha (Teju Ashwini), who works at a pharmacy, is pregnant. While she wants to abort, Mani convinces her that he will work harder to take care of her and the unborn child. Meanwhile, we are introduced to a happy family of three, headed by Ashok (Srikanth). His daughter Anu gets kidnapped by an unknown gang. There’s also Ashok’s wife Archana (Bindu Madhavi), whose ex-lover (Linga) is now planning to extort money from her. As their lives become entangled in a messy web of secrets and blackmail, chaos ensues. What happened to the kidnapped child? Who is the true villain? Why does Ashok refuse to go to police? These and more unravel over two hours.

For debutant director Varsha Bharath, ‘Bad Girl’ is a product of labour and passion. When the teaser was released earlier this year, it was caught in a web of controversies. So much so that the court ordered the makers to remove it from YouTube over its portrayal of Brahmins and young children getting addicted to cigarettes and alcohol (It was later uploaded with minor cuts). But, five minutes into ‘Bad Girl’, you forget all these controversies and get hooked on the film. That’s what a refreshing filmmaking voice does to you! Ramya (Anjali Sivaraman) belongs to an orthodox Brahmin family, where women have to be the primary caregivers. If you have periods, you become untouchable. But Ramya, right from her young age, defies these practices and rebels. And certainly, she earns the wrath of her grandmother and mother, too. Irksome parents, grandparents, pimples, and disciplinarian rules do not and cannot break Ramya.

Much before Nayanthara, who is now called Lady Superstar, it was Anushka Shetty who first earned the title. She headlined female-led films and created a market for such stories. But, after ‘Baahubali’, Anushka Shetty has been struggling with her film choices. As the end credits suggest, The Queen – Anushka Shetty is back with another offering with ‘Ghaati’. But does the Krish Jagarlamudi directorial gift her the much-needed comeback? Sheelavathi (Anushka Shetty) is a bus conductor in Koraput, while her childhood sweetheart Desi Raju (Vikram Prabhu), works as a lab technician. The couple live a simple life, but their past isn’t as simple as they look. Meanwhile, two cannabis business tycoons, Kundala Naidu (Chaitanya Rao) and Kaastala Naidu (Ravindra Vijay), discovert a new form of liquid-based cannabis being smuggled and are determined to secure it. This leads them to the Ghaatis, a community inhabiting the Ghats, who act as local porters helping smuggle cannabis across the mountains. Sheelavathi and Desi Raju’s past is intertwined with Kundala and Kaastala’s dream. This sets the stage for a face-off, a tale of exploitation, oppression and revenge.