English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Entertainment

Veteran Malayalam actor and filmmaker Sreenivasan passes away at 69

Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan died at 69 in Kochi, drawing tributes from across Kerala’s film and political circles.

Published

on

Srinivasan

Veteran Malayalam cinema actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan died on Saturday morning at the age of 69, marking the end of an era in the state’s film industry. He breathed his last at a government hospital in Tripunithura near Kochi after developing breathing difficulties while travelling for dialysis.

Sreenivasan had been dealing with prolonged health issues and had undergone heart surgery in 2022. According to hospital authorities, he passed away around 8.30 am. His body was later shifted to his residence, and it will be kept at Ernakulam Town Hall for public homage before the last rites are held at his home.

A life rooted in cinema and social satire

Born on April 6, 1956, at Pattiam in Kannur district, Sreenivasan studied economics before moving to Chennai to pursue film studies. He made his acting debut in 1976 and gradually emerged as one of the most influential creative voices in Malayalam cinema.

Over the decades, he became widely known not just for his performances but also for his sharp and socially aware screenplays. His writing career took off in the 1980s and included several collaborations with leading filmmakers of the time. Many of his works, especially political and social satires, continue to be referenced in public discourse.

Sreenivasan made his directorial debut in 1989 with a film that later earned a Kerala State Film Award and came to be regarded as a classic. He also directed a National Film Award-winning film in the late 1990s, in which he played the lead role. His political satire released in the early 1990s received a state award for best story and remains one of the most discussed films in Malayalam cinema.

Tributes pour in from across Kerala

Several political leaders and film personalities expressed deep grief over his passing. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the death as an irreparable loss to Malayalam cinema, calling Sreenivasan a versatile talent who excelled in every sphere of filmmaking. He said the filmmaker had a rare ability to portray the life of the common man through humour and satire, even while challenging long-standing conventions.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan termed Sreenivasan a multifaceted genius who brought powerful social messages to the screen with extraordinary simplicity. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said Sreenivasan would remain an eternal inspiration for his ability to present serious themes in an engaging manner rooted in everyday life.

Filmmaker Sathyan Anthikkad, a long-time collaborator and friend, recalled that despite his declining health, Sreenivasan remained mentally sharp and deeply reflective until the end.

Family and personal life

After settling in Kochi, Sreenivasan was also known for practising organic farming near his residence. He is survived by his wife Vimala and their two sons, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, both of whom are active in the Malayalam film industry.

With his passing, Malayalam cinema loses a voice that consistently blended humour, realism and social commentary, leaving behind characters and dialogues that continue to resonate with audiences.

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

Entertainment

Dhurandhar box office collection crosses Rs 1,000 crore worldwide in 21 days

Dhurandhar has crossed Rs 1,000 crore worldwide within 21 days, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 so far.

Published

on

Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar continues its strong theatrical run, achieving a major milestone at the global box office. The Ranveer Singh-led film has crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide within 21 days of its release, reinforcing its position as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 so far.

Released on December 5, the film has shown sustained momentum both in India and overseas, outperforming other major releases of the year and entering the elite Rs 1,000 crore club.

Strong worldwide and domestic performance

According to figures shared by the makers, Dhurandhar has earned Rs 1006.7 crore globally in just three weeks. With this, it has gone past earlier big releases of the year, including Kantara Chapter 1 and Chhaava, to set a new benchmark in worldwide collections.

In the domestic market, the film has posted equally impressive numbers. Over its first 21 days, Dhurandhar collected more than Rs 650 crore in India. The film earned Rs 28.60 crore on Day 21, which coincided with Christmas, further boosting its overall tally.

A closer look at the India collections shows a strong week-wise performance. The film opened with Rs 218 crore in its first week, followed by Rs 261.50 crore in the second week. Between Days 15 and 20, it added Rs 160.70 crore. With the Day 21 earnings included, the total net domestic collection stands at Rs 668.80 crore, placing it among the biggest box office successes of the year and pushing it closer to the Rs 700 crore mark in India.

Entry into top domestic earners list

With its current numbers, Dhurandhar has also secured a spot among the top ten highest-grossing Indian films based on domestic net collections. The film has overtaken Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal to claim the ninth position on the list, underlining its exceptional run in theatres.

Cast, direction and sequel announcement

Headlined by Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast that includes Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. The film is directed by Aditya Dhar, whose storytelling and the performances of the cast have been key factors behind its box office success.

The makers have already confirmed a sequel, which was hinted at in the post-credit scene. The follow-up film is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026, and will hit theatres in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

With its record-breaking global earnings and continued strong performance in India, Dhurandhar is set to close 2025 as one of the most successful Indian films in recent years.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com