English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Entertainment

Ponman social media review: Basil Joseph’s Malayalam movie wins over audiences once again

Basil Joseph’s performance has also received significant commendation, solidifying his reputation as a talented actor. Beyond the performances, the film’s technical aspects, including cinematography, editing, and sound design, have also garnered positive feedback.

Published

on

The Malayalam film Ponman, a promising adaptation of G.R. Indugopan’s novel Nalanchu Cheruppakar, premiered in theatres on Thursday, January 30, generating significant buzz among moviegoers and critics alike. The film marks the directorial debut of veteran production designer Jothish Shankar, who masterfully brings Indugopan’s compelling narrative to the screen. The screenplay, a collaborative effort between Indugopan and Justin Mathew, seamlessly blends the novel’s essence with a contemporary cinematic flair.

Leading the cast is the versatile Basil Joseph, who takes on a pivotal role, showcasing his acting prowess beyond his acclaimed directorial ventures. His performance is complemented by a strong ensemble cast including Sajin Gopu, Lijomol Jose, Deepak Parambol, Anand Manmadhan, Rajesh Sharma, and Jaya Kurup, each contributing to the film’s rich tapestry of characters and relationships.

Ponman represents a significant return to acting for Basil Joseph, who has previously garnered attention for his directorial work, including the critically acclaimed superhero film Minnal Murali (2021). His recent acting credits include roles in Sookshmadarshini (available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar), alongside Nazriya Nazim, and Pravinkoodu Shappu, featuring Soubin Shahir and Chemban Vinod. This diverse range of roles highlights Joseph’s commitment to exploring varied characters and pushing the boundaries of his craft.

The film’s release has been met with enthusiastic reception on social media. Audiences are particularly praising the faithfulness of the adaptation to the source material, hailing it as one of the best cinematic interpretations of G.R. Indugopan’s work to date. Basil Joseph’s performance has also received significant commendation, solidifying his reputation as a talented actor. Beyond the performances, the film’s technical aspects, including cinematography, editing, and sound design, have also garnered positive feedback.

One of the users said, “Ponman is an amazing movie with a solid script. A sure shot winner. Basil Joseph, what are you up to? What a wonderful performance @basiljoseph25 Sajin Gopu and Lijo Mol also delivered fine performances. The story and treatment of the movie is the key.”

Another said, “The best film adaptation of GR Indugopan novels so far. Last thirty minutes were terrific. Undoubtedly Basil Joseph’s career best performance is in this film. Jyothish shankar’s debut, Loved it terribly.”

Meanwhile one said, “A gripping drama movie with good performance from Basil Joseph…thin storyline with slow-paced screenplay .. partly engaging.. Last 30 mins were good enough.. Cast did their part well.. felt screenplay is flat and slightly underwhelming in most places but last 30 mins were good enough .. ending conversation between lijomol and basil Joseph. Overall a very okayish movie.”

Beyond Ponman, Basil Joseph’s future projects hold considerable anticipation. Rumours of a collaboration with renowned actor Suriya on a new film, potentially backed by Mammootty Kampany, have ignited significant excitement among fans. While this collaboration remains unconfirmed, it speaks to Joseph’s growing influence and potential within the Malayalam and broader Indian film industries. The success of Ponman undoubtedly strengthens his position as both a highly sought-after actor and a promising director.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 12 crosses Rs 286 crore, eyes Rs 300 crore milestone

Border 2 box office collection reaches Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days, putting the Sunny Deol-led film close to the Rs 300 crore milestone.

Published

on

Sunny Deol in Border 2

Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.

On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.

Border 2 box office performance so far

The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.

The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.

Second weekend boosts collections

The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.

Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.

With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.

Border 2 review

In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.

About the film

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Why Dhurandhar on Netflix runs shorter than its original theatrical cut

Dhurandhar’s Netflix release sparked confusion over its shorter runtime. The difference is linked to muted dialogue and an updated theatrical cut.

Published

on

Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.

Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

What caused the runtime difference

The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.

The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.

What viewers noticed on Netflix

Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.

Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.

Is Netflix streaming a censored cut

Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.

Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.

In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.

Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Border 2 box office collection day 1 crosses Rs 30 crore

Border 2 opens to Rs 30 crore on day one, becoming the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh.

Published

on

Sunny Deol in Border 2

Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.

According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.

Strong show count and urban traction

Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.

The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.

Career-best opening for key cast members

Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.

For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.

Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.

Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com