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Retro audience talk: First half hit, Second half miss

Surya Sai
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Retro audience talk: First half hit, Second half miss

Kollywood film, Retro starring Suriya released today in the theatres worldwide. The film generated great hype in the recent times and was also portrayed as a comeback film for Suriya after his disaster, Kanguva. Likewise, the film also had great advance bookings. But it seems the film has faltered.

Retro achieved amazing reviews after the first half and everyone expected it to become a blockbuster. But, surprisingly, the second half of the film dissatisfied the audiences with a unanimous below-par response. The netizens feel that the second half felt very flat compared to the film’s first half. This has also impacted the overall talk and word of mouth of Retro and the film received a below par review finally.

Usually, the second half happens to be crucial for any film for its success. Director of Retro, Karthik Subbaraj always had a problem with the second half of his films, and this has also continued with Retro. In the end, Retro is not the comeback film that audiences expected from Suriya and his wait for a blockbuster hit continues. We need to see how Retro performs theatrically now.

Thudarum joins 100 crore club

Surya Sai
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Thudarum joins 100 crore club

Mohanlal starrer, Thudarum is rocking the box office. The film attained a unanimous positive word of mouth on the opening day and posted solid numbers since then. The film is all set to join the 100 crore club in just 6 days which is just phenomenal.

Thudarum will be the fourth film for Mohanlal to score a 100 crore club at the box office. His previous 100 crore films were Puli Murugan, Lucifer and L2: Empuraan. L2: Empuraan which released recently became a box office sensation grossing more than 250 crores worldwide. And now, Thudarum also looks to go close to 200 crore gross worldwide in the final run.

Mohanlal also becomes the only senior Actor in recent times to deliver two 100 crore grossers in a short span of time. And if the film achieves 200 crore gross he will also become the only Malayalam Actor to deliver two 200 crore grossers.

Retro Movie Review: A Miserable Outing

Aditya
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Retro Movie Review: A Miserable Outing

Movie Name: Retro
Rating: 2.25/5
Cast: Suriya, Pooja Hegde, Joju George, Jayaram and others
Director: Karthik Subbaraj
Produced By: Suriya and Jyothika
Release Date: 1st May 2025

Suriya’s latest movie is Retro. Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, the film’s songs/teaser/trailer have generated a decent buzz among audiences. The fans expect it to be the comeback film of their favorite hero. Let’s check whether these expectations came to reality in our review of Suriya’s Retro.

Story:

Tilak (Joju George) is a infamous smuggler. Paarivel Kannan (Suriya), his adopted son, loves Rukmini (Pooja Hegde) and abandons his criminal past and family for a peaceful life. Tilak pursues the elusive ‘Gold Fish,’ while only Paarivel holds knowledge of its location. An unexpected leds Paari into jail, and the rest of the story is about whether he wins back Rukku’s love. Also, he has to face Tilak and his partners who are hellbent on pursuing the “Gold Fish”.

Performances:

Despite Suriya’s genuine effort, flawed characterization restricts his performance. Pooja Hegde’s new role differs from her glam image, yet it fails to make an impact beyond her appearance. Joju George gets wasted in hero’s father character, while Jayaram, Karunakaran, Nassar, and Prakash Raj have little to do.

Analysis:

Karthik Subbaraj directs Retro. The director explores three themes: Love, Laughter, and War. The early scenes, including the hero’s childhood, romantic moments, and the continuous shot around the Kannamma song, effectively enhance the film. Following that, the narrative diverges. Karthik blends various genres, combining romance and action, without a clear focus. Beginning as a love story, the film turns into a crime drama and then shifts again in the second half, puzzling viewers.

The second half feels aimless and lacks focus, leading to a disappointing experience. The script appears shallow, and many scenes disappoint without a strong conclusion. Joju George and Suriya’s relationship feels underdeveloped, weakening crucial moments. The climax appears as a foolish attempt instead of being humorous.

Positives:

  • Initial Moments in the First Half
  • Santosh Narayan’s Music

Negatives:

  • Weak screenplay
  • Dragged and Ineffective Scenes
  • Lack of proper emotional impact
  • Silly scenes towards climax

Retro Movie Review and Verdict:

Suriya’s Retro is an ambitious love action drama that fizzles out after a promising start. The film benefits from Suriya’s sincere work, good music, and creative ideas, yet suffers because of a chaotic screenplay and lackluster second half.

HIT 3 Movie Review: A Satisfactory Crime Thriller With Few Flaws

Aditya
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HIT 3 Movie Review: A Satisfactory Crime Thriller With Few Flaws

Movie Name: HIT 3
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Nani, Srinidhi Shetty, Rao Ramesh, and others
Director: Sailesh Kolanu
Produced By: Prashanti Tipirneni
Release Date: 1st May 2025

Directed by Sailesh Kolanu, HIT: The Third Case (HIT 3) stars Nani as Arjun Sarkaar. The film built quite a good buzz among audiences with its promotional content, and it registered massive advance bookings as well. Let’s find out whether the movie lives up to the hype in our review of HIT 3.

Story:

HIT: The Third Case features Arjun Sarkar (Nani), a cop who shows no mercy to dangerous criminals. The plot centers on his quest to take down a brutal gang using the dark web, with his motives driving the story.

Performances:

Nani plays Arjun Sarkaar exceptionally well. He provides sharp intensity and enhances certain scenes/fights. Srinidhi Shetty feels fine, and a twist for her role is acceptable. Prateik Babbar doesn’t leave a strong impression as the villain. Surya Srinivas, Rao Ramesh, Samuthirakani, Adil Pala, Komalee Prasad, and others are fine.

Analysis:

The first two films in the HIT franchise were created by writer and director Sailesh Kolanu, who now directs the third installment. The initial two films focus on crime investigations, while the third shifts to a hero theme. While HIT 3 offers an interesting idea, the director emphasized the lead actor and neglected the narration.

The film’s crucial flaw is the antagonist’s weak characterization. He lacks a powerful and menacing presence, making him no match for the strong protagonist. The love subplot slows down the film and its twist doesn’t have much depth. The initial half is decent with some boring sections, while the latter part showcases relentless violence in a single setting. Both the buildup and payoff are effective here, especially the pre-climax and climax that offer exciting highs with well-placed cameos.

Positives:

  • Nani as Arjun Sarkaar
  • Scenes Towards Interval
  • Second Half

Negatives:

  • Regular Investigative Parts
  • Lack of a Solid Villain
  • Unnecessary Love Scenes

HIT 3 Movie Review and Verdict:

HIT 3 is a satisfactory crime thriller with its share of pros and cons. As Arjun Sarkaar, Nani makes this film work with the help of action-packed moments during the second half, though a lackluster villain and a few flat notes in the screenplay act against it.

Bromance Movie Review: A Chaotic Fun Ride With Some Bumps

Aditya
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Bromance Movie Review: A Chaotic Fun Ride With Some Bumps

Movie: Bromance
Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Mathew Thomas, Arjun Ashokan, Mahima Nambiar, Sangeeth Prathap, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Bharat Bopanna and others
Director: Arun Jose
Producer: Ashiq Usman Productions
Streaming On: Sony LIV

After a successful run in theaters, Arun Jose’s Malayalam film, Bromance, has been released on OTT, Sony LIV, from today, i.e., May 1. The film features Arjun Ashokan, Mahima Nambiar, Mathew Thomas, Sangeeth Prathap, Kalabhavan Shajohn, and Bharat Bopanna. 

Story:

Binto (Mathew Thomas) lives with his parents, while his older brother Shinto (Shyam Mohan) lives in Kochi, where he works at a good job. While Binto is celebrating New Year’s in Coorg, Karnataka, he learns that his brother is missing. To find him, Binto teams up with Shabeer (Arjun Ashokan), Aishwarya (Mahima Nambiar), Hariharasudhan (Sangeeth Prathap), and Courier Babu (Kalabhavan Shajohn). Their journey and its connection to Coorg and the ‘Kodava Gang’ form the story of the film.

Performances:

Mathew Thomas is good in the character of Binto. The frustration and the vulnerable aspects of his character are portrayed well by the actor. Mahima Nambiar is cute and makes a mark with her performance. Arjun Ashokan is too good as Shabeer, an introvert, and he excels in a crucial sequence in the second half where he loses his cool. Premalu fame Sangeeth Prathap is perfect as the ethical hacker and takes many scenes to the next level with his hilarious expressions. Kalabhavan Shajohn is perfect as Babu, the local don. Shyam Mohan is fine, while Binnu Pappu and others are apt.

Analysis:

Director Arun D. Jose took a thin plotline and used a chaotic setup to create a funny series of events in the film. The humor in the first half works well and keeps the audience engaged, even if some parts of the screenplay feel a bit long. However, the second half is somewhat disappointing; while this part also had good laughable moments, the plot becomes less tight, and the ending feels hurried. 

The film hypes the ‘Kodava Gang’ as villains, but the scenes involving them are not that strong, and it appears that the writers have just added to stereotypes without giving proper attention to language representation.

Positives:

  • Hilarious Moments
  • Performances
  • Govind Vasantha’s Music

Negatives:

  • Stretched Feel in the Second Half
  • Climax

Bromance Movie Review and Verdict:

Arun Jose’s Bromance is a chaotic fun ride with some bumps. The performances, comedic moments,along with nice music work well for the film, while the dragged parts in the second half and rushed climax work against it.

Retro Final Advance Bookings: Decent

Aditya
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0
Retro Final Advance Bookings: Decent

Suriya’s Retro is the most anticipated film from recent years. Even the hugely publicized Pan Indian movie Kanguva also did not have much craze as this film. Retro’s final advance bookings are decent.

The film is having around 8 Cr advances in Tamil Nadu, while Karnataka, Kerala, and Telugu states collectively contributed around 1 Cr. Overall in India, the film is having advances around 11.5 Cr.

Retro Day 1: Decent Advance Bookings: Needs Strong WOM

The overseas advances are around 3 Cr, which takes total advances to between 14 and 15 Cr. It is not a massive advance number, but it definitely showed that the main audience of the film, Tamil moviegoers, is interested in watching it on big screens.

Suriya’s Retro’s final advance bookings are decent. Kanguva is the biggest opener for the actor with around 40 Cr gross, and the retro movie needs strong WOM to go near that number. Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, this film is crucial for Suriya, as it has been a long time since he has seen a hit at the box office.

HIT 3 Final Advance Bookings: Massive Day 1 Incoming

Aditya
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0
HIT 3 Final Advance Bookings: Massive Day 1 Incoming

Nani’s HIT 3 will be out in theaters worldwide in a few hours. The film’s promotional content received a good response from the audiences, but no one expected that it would open very big at the box office. HIT 3’s final advance bookings report is out, and a massive day 1 is incoming.

The film is exceeding all trade expectations and setting a record. In the USA, the film registered 500K pre-sales for premieres. In the UK, more than 10K tickets were sold for premieres, and the third film in the HIT franchise is carrying good advances in other territories too.

HIT 3 Day 1: Superb Advances Worldwide

Overall, the film, for opening day, is carrying around 7 Cr advances with overseas alone, and coming to India, in Hyderabad City alone, the film is carrying around 4 Cr advances. Overall in Telugu states, the advances are around 8 Cr, and total India advances are around 10 Cr.

Nani’s HIT 3’s final advance bookings report is out, and a massive day 1 is incoming. The total worldwide advances for the film are around 17 Cr, and it is a very, very huge number. The film is set for a massive opening at the worldwide box office.

Balakrishna Teams Up for Jailer 2

Aditya
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0
Balakrishna Teams Up for Jailer 2

It is widely known that Rajini and Nelson’s Jailer was a big blockbuster at the box office. Apart from the film’s content, the cameos of Mohan Lal, Shiva Raj Kumar worked massively for the film. Both the actors will continue in the sequel and the latest news is Balakrishna also teams up with Rajinikanth for Jailer 2.

During the promotions of the first part, director Nelson Dileep Kumar mentioned that they had planned a cameo of Balayya, but somehow it did not work. Everyone felt that a cameo of Balakrishna would have been a banger, and since the announcement of Jailer’s sequel, audiences started anticipating the presence of the Veera Simha Reddy actor.

Jailer 2: Balakrishna’s Cameo is Confirmed

Recently, the same question was asked to Shiva Raj Kumar during his press interaction for a film event. The latest news is Balakrishna teams up with Rajinikanth for Jailer 2 and his cameo is confirmed in the most awaited sequel.

Certainly, the inclusion of Balayya will give an additional boost to the film. The movie is now in the sets, and the shoot is happening in Kerala, while the makers are planning to release it in summer 2026.

Ajith Kumar Gets Injured at Airport

Aditya
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Ajith Kumar Gets Injured at Airport

Tamil film star Ajith Kumar suffered an injury and is now hospitalized following an incident at Chennai airport. On Tuesday, the incident occurred while the actor was coming back from New Delhi after getting the Padma Bhushan award. Ajith Kumar gets injured at the airport in an unexpected incident.

A huge crowd of excited fans greeted Ak at Chennai airport. The actor got mobbed as excitement among fans grew, injuring his leg and leading to his admission to a Chennai hospital on Wednesday. He got admitted for physical therapy. The actor is expected to be discharged from the hospital tonight.

The fans and dear ones are tense as Ajith Kumar gets injured at the airport, but it is being said that there is no need to worry about his health, and he will be fine. Recently, the Good Bad Ugly actor was injured during a car race.

Ajith Kumar received the Padma Bhushan from India’s president on April 29. Ajith has built a distinct identity and fanbase in the film industry over 30 years of acting. He received the Padma Bhushan from the Indian government for his achievements in cinema. Ajith Kumar runs his own racing team besides acting. Currently, Ajith captains his team in global car racing.

After Years of Wait: Venkatesh-Trivikram Combo Locked

Aditya
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0
After Years of Wait: Venkatesh-Trivikram Combo Locked

There is a heavy demand for the Venkatesh-Trivikram combination. The film in this crazy combination was announced a long time ago, but it did not materialize until now. Finally, after years of waiting, the Venkatesh-Trivikram combo has been locked.

Venkatesh – Trivikram Combo: The Most Excited Combination In Demand

If we go back, the films for which Trivikram worked as a writer, such as Nuvvu Naaku Nacchav and Malliswari, emerged as all-time classics. But the film in the combination has been postponed for years, and the latest report from the industry circles suggests that finally it’s happening.

Venky fans will be excited with this, as their favorite hero recently scored a big blockbuster with Sankranthiki Vasthunam. After SV, the actor did not officially lock any project. He is free now, and the same can be said for Trivikram, as Allu Arjun chose the Atlee project.

The renowned writer-director will have a lot of time, and because of this gap, finally, after years of waiting, the Venkatesh-Trivikram combo has been locked. The film will go on the floors immediately, and the official announcement will be out anytime soon.

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