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Top take on south Indian cinema news

Top take on south Indian cinema news
Amaran

Sivakarthikeyan strikes gold

From a small-screen host to a box office phenomenon, Sivakarthikeyan’s meteoric rise has been extraordinary. His latest blockbuster, Amaran, crossed the `3 billion (£28.3 million) mark, establishing him among Tamil cinema’s elite alongside Rajinikanth, Vijay, and Ajith.


The film, based on the late Major Mukund Varadarajan, who died in a counterterrorism operation in Kashmir in 2014, was released this Diwali and became a hit. It also marked a strong comeback for Sivakarthikeyan after the earlier setback of Ayalaan. Whether he can sustain this level of success with his upcoming projects remains to be seen.

Dulquer Salmaan’s dynamic rise

Malayalam superstar Dulquer Salmaan has reached a career milestone with Lucky Baskhar crossing the `1bn (£9.4m) mark. Breaking free from the towering legacy of his father, Mammootty, DQ (as fans call him) has become one of Indian cinema’s most versatile stars.

With hits in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, he has proven his pan-Indian appeal. Now joining Malayalam legends Mohanlal and Mammootty in the one-billion club, Dulquer’s charming screen presence and sharp script choices continue to make him a standout in Indian cinema.

Sad loss of a film legend

Delhi Ganesh

Tamil cinema lost a veteran with the passing of Delhi Ganesh on November 15, 2024. Over a career spanning four decades, he showcased impeccable timing and natural acting that made him a favourite among directors.

His collaborations with Kamal Haasan gave us unforgettable characters in classics like Nayakan, Michael Madana Kama Raja, Avvai Shanmugi, and Thenali.

He also made memorable appearances with Vijay in Thamizhan and with younger stars like Manikandan in Narai Ezhuthum Suyasaritham.

Starting in theatre, Ganesh appeared in more than 400 films, taking roles of all sizes and proving no part was too small when performed with excellence. His passing leaves a void in Tamil cinema that will be deeply felt.

Kanguva crashes at the box office

Kanguva

Despite immense hype, Suriya’s Kanguva failed to deliver at the box office. Billed as Kollywood’s attempt to match the scale of Baahubali, the film struggled due to a weak script, poor direction, and a jarring sound mix.

Fans, who had waited two years for Suriya’s return, were left disappointed. With Kanguva joining the list of big-budget Tamil flops this year, the only major success remains Vijay’s GOAT. For Suriya, this marks a career low and raises serious questions about his project choices and the financial risks taken by the production team.

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Comment: The echoes of Gaza and the fault lines of Britain

US president Donald Trump gestures next to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport as Trump leaves Israel en route to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Lod, Israel, October 13, 2025.

Reuters

Comment: The echoes of Gaza and the fault lines of Britain

‘They make a desert and call it peace’, wrote the Roman historian Tacitus. That was an early exercise, back in AD 96, of trying to walk in somebody else’s shoes. The historian was himself the son-in-law of the Roman Governor of Britain, yet he here imagined the rousing speech of a Caledonian chieftain to give voice to the opposition to that imperial conquest.

Nearly two thousand years later, US president Donald Trump this week headed to Sharm-El-Sheikh in the desert, to join the Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari mediators of the Gaza ceasefire. Twenty more world leaders, including prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and president Emmanuel Macron of France turned up too to witness this ceremonial declaration of peace in Gaza.

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