Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

From flower hawker to film auteur: India's new cinematic sensation

From flower hawker to film auteur: India's new cinematic sensation

At a bustling Indian market, a child labourer carrying bags of flowers was captivated by cameramen riding huge cranes during film shoots. Two decades later the boy has become his country's latest cinematic sensation.

PS Vinothraj's low-budget debut movie Koozhangal -- internationally known by its translated title Pebbles -- has been selected as India's entry to the international feature film category at next year's Oscars.


The 32-year-old drew from his family's battle with poverty and his sister's experience of marital abuse to tell the story of an alcoholic father and his young son walking through a barren, unforgiving landscape in his home state of Tamil Nadu.

"My real-life experience gave me toughness and has helped in this film. That kind of life has become the film," Vinothraj told AFP.

The result is an observational drama Indian critics have described as a "masterpiece" and a "sensational debut... that is evocative, visceral and powerful".

It won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, with the jury saying the "seemingly simple and humble" effort was a "lesson in pure cinema".

Vinothraj joins an emerging movement of Tamil directors -- many from disadvantaged backgrounds like his own -- addressing societal inequities through the voices and lives of everyday people.

Had it not been picked up by the festival circuit his original plan was to show "Pebbles" in the villages where it was shot -- with fewer than 40 actors and crew.

It is the culmination of the young filmmaker's long journey to the big screen.

He started selling flowers in Madurai at the age of nine to support his family after his father died.

"So much has happened in my life and those things have made me ready for this," he said through a translator.

"I don't speak English nor do I have an education. Life's journey has taught me everything. Those are the metaphors in the film -- that is life's journey."

Vinothraj worked throughout his childhood and teenage years, moving to different towns and cities.

At one point, he was a labourer at a textile company in Tiruppur, where he "witnessed many people's lives being ruined in front of my eyes" over personal and financial woes.

"Some got married very young and went through multiple struggles. All of that stayed with me, wanting to express those struggles."

- 'Simple, honest stories' -

Believing that education could help him fulfil his dream of becoming a director, the aspiring auteur tried to go back to school, but was told he was too old.

He eventually moved to the state capital Chennai and broadened his cinematic knowledge by watching movies while working at a DVD store, before getting work as an assistant on short films and in theatre.

GettyImages 1237201787 PS Vinothraj (L) poses with actor Chellappandi (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

As he sought ideas for his first feature film, Vinothraj's sister walked through the door of the family home, crying, her two-year-old child in her arms.

She had been forced out of her marital home by her husband, and made the 13-kilometre (eight-mile) journey back on foot.

"I had pain and I wondered why real life is such a struggle. And I realised, I am in cinema -- that's my tool. I can talk about my pain through cinema."

The father-and-son journey in "Pebbles" is told through the eyes of the child, while Tamil Nadu's harsh rural environment and the toll it takes on his characters is a central theme of the film.

The title comes from a synonym Tamils use for hills -- and the stones country-dwellers put in their mouths to ward off thirst on long journeys.

"To know that this film has won the Tiger Award and is being sent as India's entry to the Oscars, I feel very proud," Vinothraj said.

"Watching this film with an audience that has been so supportive, it feels like a big celebration for me."

His next project is also inspired by a family situation, and he wants to keep making "simple, honest stories about life".

More For You

Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Kendrick Lamar and SZA thrill Birmingham crowd with high-energy Grand National Tour show

Kendrick Lamar and SZA light up Birmingham with a dazzling Grand National Tour stop

Highlights:

  • Kendrick Lamar and SZA brought their record-breaking Grand National Tour to Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday night.
  • The three-hour set featured solo performances, visual spectacles, and crowd-favourite duets like All the Stars and Gloria.
  • Kendrick arrived on stage in his signature GNX, delivering fiery performances from To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and his latest album GNX.
  • SZA stunned with hits from CTRL and SOS, transforming the stage into a fantasy landscape with high-energy vocals and choreography.

Two of the biggest names in rap and R&B, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, brought their much-anticipated Grand National Tour to Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday night, turning the historic stadium into a special musical experience. The pair, who previously wowed the world during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, performed a mix of solo tracks and duets across a three-hour set that left fans exhilarated.

The Grand National Tour, which has already broken records as the highest-grossing co-headline tour in history, continued its momentum in the UK. Following performances in Glasgow, Kendrick and SZA proved once again why they remain at the forefront of global music.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma’s Canada cafe shot at days after opening

Instagram/ginnichatrath

Kapil Sharma’s Canadian café targeted in shooting, Khalistani terrorist cites mockery of Nihang Sikhs as motive

Highlights:

  • Shots were fired at Kap’s Café in Surrey, Canada, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, just days after its opening.
  • Khalistani extremist Harjit Singh Laddi, linked to banned group BKI, claimed responsibility.
  • The motive cited was an old comedy segment from The Kapil Sharma Show that allegedly mocked Nihang Sikhs.
  • No injuries were reported; Canadian authorities are investigating the incident.

Comedian Kapil Sharma’s recently launched Kap’s Café in Surrey, British Columbia, was the target of a shooting in the early hours of 10 July. Though no one was harmed, the property sustained significant damage. A known Khalistani extremist, Harjit Singh Laddi, has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing perceived religious disrespect on The Kapil Sharma Show.

 Kap\u2019s Cafe in Surrey  Kap’s Cafe in Surrey was struck by gunfire late at night with staff still insideInstagram/thekapscafe_

Keep ReadingShow less
Charithra Chandran Wimbledon

Chandran wore lambskin shorts and a green cashmere sweater for her Wimbledon appearance

Instagram/charithra17/Twitter/charithra files

Charithra Chandran brings ‘Bridgerton’ elegance to Wimbledon in timeless Ralph Lauren look

Highlights:

  • Charithra Chandran attended Wimbledon as a Ralph Lauren ambassador, turning heads in a vintage-inspired ensemble.
  • Her look echoed Bridgerton character Edwina Sharma, with soft curls and a classic summer palette.
  • Fans online praised her poise and outfit, with many saying she outshone stars like Andrew Garfield.
  • The actress wore a green cashmere sweater, tailored lambskin shorts and white Nappa pumps.

Charithra Chandran’s Wimbledon appearance might have been behind Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, but her crisp summer ensemble made sure all eyes found her. Dressed head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren, the British-Indian actress brought understated elegance and old-school charm to Centre Court, and social media took notice.

 Charithra Chandran Wimbledon Charithra Chandran styled her hair in soft curls for the Ralph Lauren outfitInstagram/charithra17/

Keep ReadingShow less
Superman immigrant storyline

Poster of the upcoming Superman film releasing on July 11

Instagram/superman

‘Superman’ movie faces backlash over immigrant storyline in James Gunn reboot

Highlights:

 
     
  • James Gunn’s Superman reimagines the hero as a symbol of the immigrant experience.
  •  
  • Former Superman actor Dean Cain and conservative commentators criticise the film as "too woke."
  •  
  • Cain argues that Hollywood is rewriting classic characters to fit modern political agendas.
  •  
  • Gunn defends his interpretation, saying the story champions kindness and inclusion.
  •  
 

James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman has already been caught in a political storm. The director’s depiction of the Man of Steel as a metaphor for the immigrant experience has drawn criticism from right-wing voices, who accuse Hollywood of turning the iconic superhero into a tool for political messaging.

 Superman 2025 New ‘Superman’ movie sparks backlash for portraying hero as immigrant symbol Instagram/superman/reald3d

Keep ReadingShow less
Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber returns with Swag album exploring marriage struggles and mental health

Getty Images

Justin Bieber returns with surprise album Swag inspired by fatherhood and faith

Highlights:

  • Justin Bieber surprise-released his seventh studio album, Swag, on Friday, 11 July.
  • The 21-track album explores themes of family, faith, and mental health.
  • Collaborations include Gunna, Sexyy Red, Cash Cobain, and Eddie Benjamin.
  • Album includes viral quote, “I’m standing on business,” from recent paparazzi incident.

Justin Bieber has stunned fans by releasing a surprise new album titled Swag, marking his return to music after four years. Released on Friday (11 July), the 21-track album signals a clear shift in tone for the pop star, who has drawn inspiration from his roles as a husband and father, as well as his spiritual beliefs.

The album comes shortly after a string of cryptic social media posts and fan speculation about Bieber’s mental health, triggered in part by a viral video of him confronting paparazzi on Father’s Day. The now-infamous line from the clip, “I’m standing on business,” has become a catchphrase among fans and is directly used in the track Butterflies.

Keep ReadingShow less