Stunt performer of films like X-Men, Fast & Furious and Pearl Harbour roped in for Mohanlal’s The Mahabharata aka Randamoozham

Pre-production works are progressing for Indian cinema’s biggest project The Mahabharata, which is based on MT Vasudevan Nair’s Randamoozham. This magnum opus is being helmed by ad filmmaker VA Shrikuamr Menon, who is making his debut as a feature film director with Mohanlal’s Odiyan.

The Mahabharata, as announced earlier is a mammoth project that will have artists and technicians from across the world associated with it. It is a story that involves a huge war sequence (Kurukshetra war) and hence the makers have roped in one of the best in the business to choreograph the action sequences.

Director VA Shrikuamr Menon recently met Lee Whittaker, the stuntman who has worked in films like Pearl Harbour, Jurassic Park, Fast and Furious 5 etc. for primary discussabout regarding The Mahabharata. VA Shrikumar Menon in his Facebook page has written,

It was incredible to meet Hollywood’s one of the top Action Directors; Lee Whittaker for the initial discussions of Mahabharata – Randaamoozham, the Movie!

An action packed Mahabharata – Randaamoozham is likely to see the mastery of Lee Whittaker, one of the top stunt performers in the industry with two decades of elite work on some of Hollywoods biggest blockbuster films. Some of his renowned works include X-Men Apocalypse, Into the Storm, Fast Five, Live Free or Die Hard, Jurassic Park 3, Pearl Harbor etc. Extremely positive about the big dream! Thank you for your time and your valuable inputs !

Lee Whittaker has also worked in some Indian films like the Baahuabli series, Vishwaroopam series, 10 Endrathukulla etc. He is also working on Aamir Khan-Amitabh Bachchan duo’s upcoming movie Thugs Of Hindosth inputs from such a renowned choreographer like Lee Whittaker, it is certain that The Mahabharata will have some spectacular action sequences.

The makers had earlier informed that the actors will be undergoing training in various stunt forms like sword fights, gadha yudham, chariot racing and horse riding. In the cast side, only Mohanlal has been confirmed as of now. He is playing the central character of Bheeman in this film. Even though names like Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna and Aishwarya Rai are doing the rounds, nothing has been confirmed yet.

The Mahabharata is being made as the most expensive Indian movie ever with an astronomical budget of Rs 1000 crores. UAE based Indian businessman Dr BR Shetty is producing this magnum opus. They are planning to commence the shoot by August, next year.

This epic movie will be filmed in two parts and will be made as a multilingual in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and English. It would have a worldwide release in 2020. The second part of the movie would be released from 90 days of the first part.

Basheerinte Premalekhanam credits video shared by the director prior to movie’s release

Director Aneesh Anwar’s Basheerinte Premalekhanam is slated to hit screens on July 21. The movie features Njan Steve Lopez fame Farhaan Faasil and Mariyamukku fame Sana Althaf in the lead roles. Veteran actors Madhu and Sheela are also playing prominent parts in the movie.

Basheerinte Premalekhanam is a romantic comedy revolving around the incidents that occurs after the arrival of an Onida TV in a fictional village in the 80s. In a first of it’s kind, the makers have shared the movie’s credits vidoe prior to release. The video features a television set screening 80s programmes like cricket, cartoon and yesteryear films of Mohanlal and Mammootty.

The songs and promo videos of Basheerinte Premalekhana has already created a buzz in social medias. Songs composed by Vishnu Mohan Sithara have already struck a chord with the audience. Basheerinte Premalekhanam is director’s Aneesh Anwar next after some impressive films like Zachariyayude Garbhinikal and Kumbasaram.

https://www.facebook.com/iamaneeshanwar/videos/1428173230605342/

The movie has a huge supporting cast which includes Joy Mathew, Harish Kanaran, Aju Varghese, Shanavas, Manikandan Achari, Sreejith Ravi, Sohan Seenulal, Sunil Sugatha and Sivaji Guruvayoor.

Basheerinte Premalekhanam is written jointly by newbies Shinod Sivam, Bipin K Paulose and Shamseer Ahamed. Cinematography is handled by 20-year-old Sanjay Harris. Notably, he is the youngest cameraman in the history of Malayalam cinema. The movie is produced by P M Harris and Mohammed Althaf under the banner Fort Entertainment.

With some exciting projects in his kitty, Nivin Pauly eyeing a box office hunt!

Nivin Pauly has had a quite year so far. His first release this year was Sakhavu, a political drama directed by National award winner Sidhartha Siva. Eventhough the movie won critical acclaim, it could not reap the desired commercial success. But the second half of 2017 seems to be an exciting year for the actor as he has some highly anticipated movies lined up for release.

His next release will be Richie, his first straight Tamil film, directed by debutant Gautham Ramachandran. It is the official remake of Kananda star Rakshit Shetty’s superhit film Ulidavaru Kandanthe. Tamil and Malayali audience are looking forward to the release of Richie after the impressive teaser that raised the expectations.

Nivin Pauly’s Onam release this year will be Njandukalude Naattil Oridevala, an upcoming family entertainer directed by debutant Althaf of Premam fame. Nivin himself is producing this movie under his banner of Pauly Jr Pictures.

Nivin Pauly starrer is currently shooting in Goa for ace filmmaker Shyamaprasad’s upcoming movie Hey Jude. Touted to be a musical romance drama, the movie marks the Malayalam debut of leading South Indian actress Trisha. It is expected to hit screens by the end of this year.

After wrapping up Hey Jude, Nivin will be joining the second schedule of Geetu Mohandas’ Moothon. The movie is highly anticipated as it involves some very big names. Geetu Mohandas’ husband Rajeev Ravi is cranking the camera. Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is making his entry to Mollywood by collaborating with Geetu Mohandas in writing the Hindi dialogues. Eros International and Bollywood filmmaker Anand L Rai’s new production house Colour Yellow Productions will present the movie under the banner of Jar Pictures.

Another mammoth project lined up for Nivin is a period drama based on the life of Kayamkulam Kochunni. The movie is written by the National winning duo of Bobby-Sanjay and is to be directed by Rosshan Andrews. Nivin Pauly will be undergoing a complete makeover for playing the role of Kochunni. He would also be training in Kalaripayattu for the movie. Shoot for the movie will commence early next year.

Last day, it was announced that Nivin Pauly and Nayantara will be playing the leads in the debut directorial of Dhyan Sreenivasan. The movie, titled as Love Action Drama is being produced by Aju Varghese and Vishak Subramanian. It is scheduled to go on floors in October and is eyeing a summer release next year.

Nivin has also comitted for two Tamil movies this year. He has signed for Atlee’s first production venture which is to be directed by debutant Surya Balakumaran and a movie with Prabhu Radhakrishnan to be produced by RD Raja.

There are also unconfirmed reports about Nivin teaming with Pulimurugan director Vysakh. Reportedly, Udhayakrishna is scripting this movie in which Nivin will be seen as a police officer. We still await an official confirmation regarding this project.

Altogether, the next two years promises to be a spectacular period for Nivin as most of the aforementioned films have the potential to set the box office on fire.

B Unnikrishnan to produce Angamaly Diaries fame Antony Varghese’s next

Earlier this year, maverick filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery and his young team delivered the sensational Angamaly Diaries. The movie became a huge rage as the critics and common audience unanimously praised the work.
Performance of all the newcomers, especially the lead actor Antony Varghese’s performance was widely appreciated.

Riding on the spectacular success of Angamaly Diaries, Antony Varghese has now bagged a biggie. He has been roped in for debutant Tinu Pappachan’s upcoming movie, reportedly titled as Swathanthryam Ardha Rathriyil. Tinu Pappachan is an associate of Lijo Jose Pellissery.

Recently, Chemban Vinod Jose had posted a photo in his Facebook page which had Antony and Lijo Jose Pellissery in it. The photo seemed to have been taken during a discussion session. He had captioned the photo as ‘Same team, different roles.. coming soon’. So, we presume this was the big news that was awaiting us.

Director B Unnikrishnan is venturing into production by funding with this film. Chemban Vinod Jose and Lijo Jose Pellissery are co-producing this movie. Chemban, who was the scriptwriter of Angamaly Diaries, is also playing a prominent character in Swathanthryam Ardha Rathriyil. More details regarding this project is expected to be announced soon.