The trailer for the much-anticipated Tamil romantic drama, 

, released this past weekend, generating significant buzz ahead of Valentine's Day.

follows the pair’s journey as they work together to track down their childhood crushes, and confess their love to them. The trailer features flashbacks to their school days, where we see them as teens gushing about them to their friends, daydreaming in the classroom, and getting caught by a teacher. Moments like these have already resonated with viewers, and are sure to evoke feelings of nostalgia among audiences. There is something refreshingly tender and in the soft, unassuming ways in which the film portrays young love in India. 

The trailer then flashes forward to the present, as the lead pair sit at a cafe, making a pact to seek closure to the unrequited love in their lives. What follows are glimpses into a chaotic, heartwarming nostalgia trip, as the two hunt down their respective crushes, with flashbacks to their adolescence. Underscoring their journey together is the emotional journey within, as they reflect on their lives, deepening their bond.

'With Love' Trailer: Abhisan Jeevinth, Anaswara Rajan Star in a Fun Rom-Com

 arrived late last year with the swagger of a maximalist statement: a bruising espionage saga that folded recent South Asian history into a fictionalised counter-terror narrative, all delivered at an almost obstinately operatic scale. 

Anchored by Ranveer Singh’s coiled, undercover intelligence operative—and flanked by a gallery of granite-faced veterans including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R. Madhavan—the film moved restlessly between shadow economies and state power, staging its intrigue as a test of endurance as much as nerve. At well over three hours, it was an exercise in excess that audiences embraced; the film crossed ₹1,000 crore worldwide within weeks, cementing its place among Hindi cinema’s most lucrative spectacles. The music for the first instalment was released by Saregama, complementing music composer Shashwat Sachdev’s muscular score with a soundtrack designed for scale.

 now streaming on Netflix, attention has shifted to the already-completed second chapter, slated for theatrical release on 19 March 2026. Sources in the industry confirm that T-Series will serve as the music label for 

, marking a notable shift in the franchise’s musical stewardship. 

According to industry insiders, the sequel’s album is positioned as a major commercial play. “It’s a massive, chartbuster soundtrack and the response from the film team 

has been fabulous,” says one source familiar with the project. Another adds that, “The album will again have a wide variety of songs,” signalling continuity with the first film’s genre-spanning ambitions, even as the scale widens.

Narratively, the sequel is expected to pick up threads left deliberately frayed—escalating the covert conflict into a more overt reckoning, while retaining Dhar’s fondness for geopolitical bricolage. A teaser for 

 is expected to drop soon, offering the first glimpse of how the saga intends to outdo itself. 

Exclusive | T-Series Boards Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar 2' as Music Label

Grammy Awards 2026: Here is The Full List of Winners

Veteran Telugu filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's next film has been announced, marking the director's return to cinema after more than ten years since his last directorial. The announcement was made by Swapna C Dutt's Swapna Cinema, with a brief promotional video. The upcoming film, which is tentatively titled SSR 61, denoting his 61st film, will be produced by popular Telugu director Nag Ashwin and have music by Devi Sri Prasad. 

"Vyjayanthi Movies has already positioned SSR61 as Singeetam’s most ambitious film ever- a bold claim considering the trailblazing legacy he carries. With the title and additional details to be revealed soon, the announcement has sparked tremendous curiosity, setting the stage for what could be a landmark moment in Indian cinema. Singeetam is not merely returning; he is aiming to outdo himself. And that possibility alone is enough to make SSR61 one of the most awaited projects of the year," reads a press note. 

The film's title will be announced soon. Rao, who is behind several landmark Tamil and Telugu films such as Kamal Haasan's 

 (2024), is currently working on the sequel to the hit Prabhas film. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, the science fiction epic co-starred Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Anna Ben, and Deepika Padukone in important roles. The sequel, however, will not see Padukone's return. It was recently announced that Padukone will no longer be part of the film. 

Vyjayanthi Movies put out a statement that read: "

will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of 

. After careful consideration, We have decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership. And a film like 

deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works."

'SSR 61': Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's Next Film Announced

A burning teddy bear can be many things. A metaphor for lost innocence. A signifier of unprocessed trauma. Evidence that the props department had a lot of time on its hands. But that it can also double up as a lighter is something we recently learned from Shahid Kapoor, who sets one on fire and uses it to light a cigarette in Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming 

Cigarette smoking has always been injurious to health. But lighting your cigarette with such swagger that it emotionally destroys everyone around you might be the more lethal move. There is a difference between nicotine damage and cinematic damage, and our films know this well.

Cinema has never been subtle about cigarettes. Sometimes they are psychological. Sometimes narrative. Sometimes metaphoric. And sometimes they are just there so a man can look “cool” or a woman can look “not like other girls”. We are deeply uninterested in all of that. We do not care what the cigarette 

 it is lit. Because let’s face it, once a cigarette is on, the options are limited. You can hold it delicately. You can grip it like it owes you money. You can smoke cross like Meryl Streep or hollow out your cheeks like Tabu. That’s about it. The real creative freedom lies in the moment before ignition.

So, in the interest of a slow news week and faster-burning objects, here are some of our favourite moments when cinema decided that a lighter was simply too boring.

Across world cinema, cigarettes often mark thresholds. Between life and death. Resolve and hesitation. Intimacy and violence. In 

, they also mark the moment a man decides to light up using a literal bomb. Hamza’s journey truly kicks off in the second part, and his zero-regard bravado is perfectly encapsulated when he uses a bomb to light his cigarette. It is objectively very funny to see the anti-smoking warning crawl across the screen while a man calmly holds an explosive device inches from his face. In that moment, the cigarette is the safest thing in the frame.

Rocky Bhai empties round after round into a police station, because restraint is not part of the aesthetic. Eventually, the barrel of the machine gun turns red-hot, smoking in quiet exhaustion. And that, friends, is when Rocky Bhai decides it is time for a cigarette.

Anyone who has tried lighting a cigarette off a suspiciously warm metal surface in an airport smoking room knows this is usually not glamorous. But Rocky Bhai does it with such confidence that you almost forget he has just put more metal into that building than the props department put into the set.

, Shah Rukh Khan’s older, angrier, deeply zaddy-coded avatar Vikram Rathore is involved in a bike chase. He skids in slow motion. His shoes scrape the road. Sparks fly. Those sparks light his cigar.

Shah Rukh Khan has made us believe far more improbable things, including his double role in 

. Compared to that, believing that friction sparks can light a cigar feels reasonable. If there is even a one-in-20,000 chance of this happening, it will happen to Shah Rukh Khan.

 has given us enough swagger moments to sustain Instagram reels till the end of time. In 

, Allu Arjun adds another entry to the canon. A passerby carrying a lantern accidentally sets Pushpa’s shoulder on fire. Pushpa, seeing an opportunity rather than a medical emergency, uses the flames to light a cigar. Because why waste a perfectly good shoulder fire. Fire safety is temporary. Swag is forever.

 trailer, Shahid Kapoor’s Ustara lights a teddy bear on fire using a lighter, then uses the flaming teddy bear to light his cigarette. He then casually tosses the still-burning toy aside, causing a larger fire behind him, and walks away.

There are easier ways to do this. There always are. One is tempted to recall 

, where Ranveer Singh’s Khilji pours perfume on a woman and rubs against her to scent himself. Politics and cruelty aside, there were simpler options. Similarly here, the teddy did not deserve this. RIP.

Technically, Katrina Kaif uses a matchstick. But she lights that match off her own sizzling body, as the lyrics proudly announce, “husn ki teeli se”. The literal interpretation of that line, combined with the visual commitment, makes this less a lighting technique and more a philosophical position.

Anything But a Lighter: From 'Dhurandhar' to 'O'Romeo,' The Most Unhinged Ways to Light a Cigarette

Four people have been arrested in connection with the 

 firing case, where bullets were fired at the filmmaker's home in Juhu, Mumbai. According to 

, the initial probe has pointed at their links with Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Shubham Lonkar, an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case.

As per the news agency, the four were among the five persons detained earlier in Pune and were subsequently brought to Mumbai, where a court remanded them in police custody till February 5.

According to police officials, at least five rounds were fired at the first floor of the nine-storey building in the Juhu area at around 12:45 AM on Sunday, with one bullet striking the glass of a gym located in the building

"Nobody was injured, and it was not known whether the filmmaker was at his residence in the Juhu area when the incident occurred in the wee hours. Hours after the firing, a threatening social media post surfaced claiming that Mr. Lonkar was behind the crime," the report quoted a police official.

Immediately after the firing, Juhu police and crime branch teams rushed to the spot to investigate the incident and examined CCTV footage from around the building to establish the sequence of events. 

While security outside the filmmaker's building was stepped up following the firing, a 

report claimed that it could also extend to his film sets. According to the report, a security team of about 60 will be put into place when 

As of now, it is unclear if the shoot schedule is unchanged, but if the film does go on floors after necessary clearance, a two-tier security ring will be implemented - the first comprising the local police, and the second consisting of Shetty's personal bodyguards. 

"More importantly, there will be an access-controlled zone in which Rohit will operate, and only a few will have access to it. Every person entering the set, including junior artistes, vendors, and daily-wage crew, will be pre-registered with ID verification; no spot entries will be allowed. Vehicle movement will also be regulated, with all equipment trucks and vanity vans logged in advance and checked at the entry point," the report quoted an insider.

Rohit Shetty Firing Case: Four Arrested; Director Likely To Shoot 'Golmaal 5' Under Tight Security

Telugu star Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Kamineni welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, on February 1, in Hyderabad. The couple already share a daughter, Klin Kaara, born in 2023. 

“Happy to share that we have been blessed with a baby boy and girl. Having two daughters and a son fills us with immense gratitude. The women in our lives have been our greatest strength. I’m very thankful to all our fans, family, and well-wishers who have stood by us through every moment," the actor wrote on Instagram. 

Addressing the press at the hospital, Telugu screen icon Chiranjeevi, the father of Ram Charan, thanked fans for their wishes. "Thank you all for your warm wishes. I am taking this opportunity to share some joyful news from our home with our well-wishers, fans, and everyone who roots for us. We are incredibly happy. Both the Konidela and Kamineni families wish to express our shared joy through the media," he said. 

"Last night, Ram Charan and Upasana were blessed with twins. Both Upasana and the children are doing very well and are in good health. For a long time, many of you have prayed for this auspicious moment in our home. By the grace of God and Lord Hanuman, a baby girl and a baby boy have been born. Sharing this news brings us immense happiness. I would like to extend special thanks to Dr Sumana from Apollo Cradle in Chennai, who travelled here for the delivery. She also performed the delivery of Charan and Upasana’s first baby, Klin Kaara. My gratitude also goes to Rama Sinha, the head here, and Dr Lata, Apollo’s pediatric specialist. Heartfelt thanks to the entire staff and to all our fans, who are celebrating this like a festival.”

Chiranjeevi was last seen in Anil Ravipudi's hit Telugu film 

Ram Charan And Upasana Konidela Welcome Twins

Disney’s 20th Century Studios has released a new trailer for 

, offering the first extended look at the long-awaited sequel to the 2006 fashion drama. The film reunites Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt as Andy Sachs and Emily Charlton, nearly 20 years after the original introduced audiences to the high-pressure world of Runway magazine.

The trailer opens with Andy and Emily encountering each other again, signalling both familiarity and distance. Emily, now firmly established in the luxury business, remarks on Andy’s transformation with a familiar mix of approval and cutting humour. The exchange sets the tone for a sequel interested in how time, ambition and power reshape old dynamics.

Meryl Streep returns as Miranda Priestly, while Stanley Tucci reprises his role as Runway’s creative director Nigel. Brief glimpses place the characters at the Met Gala and inside Runway’s offices, now navigating a fashion industry transformed by digital disruption and declining print influence.

 ahead of the trailer’s release, the returning cast reflected on stepping back into their roles. Streep described the experience as unexpectedly emotional, while Blunt noted that resuming Emily’s sharp-edged persona felt instinctive. Both actors acknowledged the heightened public attention during filming in New York, where crowds gathered daily and footage circulated widely on social media.

The sequel positions its central conflict around the changing media economy. Miranda is forced to defend Runway’s relevance, while Emily, now leading a luxury brand, represents a different axis of power. Andy returns after years working as a journalist abroad, re-entering Runway with a more defined sense of self and a wardrobe shaped by thrift, menswear and experience rather than trends.

Director David Frankel returns to helm the film, with Aline Brosh McKenna once again writing the screenplay, adapted from characters created by Lauren Weisberger. The expanded cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak and Pauline Chalamet.

 is scheduled for theatrical release on May 1, 2026.

'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Trailer Reunites Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt Two Decades Later

The star cast of Dhanush's upcoming Tamil film, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, just got bigger. Telugu actress Sreeleela has joined the team, as announced by production company Wunderbar Films. "

You didn't see this coming Welcoming the dazzling damsel 

," their post on X read. They also posted pictures of the team. 

It was also recently announced that Sai Abhyankkar will compose the film's music. The film will mark the director's first on-screen collaboration with Dhanush. 

 with director Vignesh Raja and actor Mamitha Baiju, awaiting a release date. The upcoming film is headed for a summer 2026 release and is written by Vignesh Raja and Alfred Prakash. Theni Eswar, Sreejith Sarang and Mayapandi will make up the remaining technical crew. Vignesh grew to fame for directing the investigative thriller 

, co-starring Ashok Selvan and Sarathkumar in 2023.

Director Rajkumar Periasamy, meanwhile, last delivered a blockbuster with 

 starring Sivakarthikeyan, Sai Pallavi and Geetha Kailasam in 2024. Dhanush was last seen in his own directorial, the 

Written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav, 

also starred Prakash Raj, Ravi Kishan and Priyanshu Painyulli. With music by AR Rahman and lyrics by Irshad Kamil, the film was produced by T-Series and Colour Yellow Productions. The film became the first ₹100 crore Bollywood grosser for Dhanush, who had earlier appeared in Hindi titles like 

, which was a direct-to-streaming release during the pandemic.

Sreeleela, on the other hand, was last seen in Sudha Kongara's 

. The Tamil film co-starred Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, and Atharvaa, and was released earlier in January. The Telugu actress also had 

 with Kireeti Reddy in Telugu last year. 

'D55': Sreeleela Joins Dhanush's Film With Rajkumar Periasamy

After a globe-trotting festival run and sustained international buzz, 

is finally coming home. The neo-noir film, which premiered at Cannes in 2023 and has since remained one of the filmmaker’s most talked-about titles, is set for an India streaming debut in February, 

While an official announcement around the release date and streaming partner is imminent, industry chatter suggests the film will finally get the wide platform it has long been tipped for, after travelling to over 30 film festivals across more than a dozen countries.

had made history in December last year as the only Indian title selected for the launch lineup of the Letterboxd Video Store. “The response there was phenomenal and underscored the sustained curiosity around the film,” a source tells 

. “The pieces are now falling into place for a big India launch.”

is produced by Ranjan Singh, Good Bad Films and Zee Studios. Shot largely at night across Mumbai over an intense 30-day schedule, the film follows an insomniac ex-cop, presumed dead, who continues to work for a corrupt system while seeking redemption. 

part of the Mumbai noir Kashyap films like 

had its India premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in 2023, where it received a thunderous response leading to a standing ovation.

After its Cannes and MAMI debut, the film was screened at the Sydney International Film Festival (Australia), Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (South Korea), Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Switzerland),  MOTELX - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival and Indie Meme Film Festival (Austin, Texas), among others.

The filmmaker will also have another release this year: 

which debuted at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival

Lights, Camera, Scoop | Anurag Kashyap’s 'Kennedy' to Finally Release in India; February Streaming Debut Locked

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli is set to unveil his latest global epic 

next year. Headlined by Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the globe-spanning adventure has booked an April 7, 2027 release date.

The release date announcement began with a smart campaign, when hoardings surfaced across Varanasi city with a simple statement: In theatres, April 7, 2027. Shortly after, film trade across the world got a tip off of the global outing of 

On Friday evening, Rajamouli took to X and dropped a new poster of the film, confirming its release date. The release date poster showed an asteroid tearing through Earth’s atmosphere, confirming the plot of the film that has been doing the rounds.

A screengrab from Letterboxd had gone viral about the film's plot, which states that a chain of catastrophic events is set in motion when an asteroid strikes the city of Varaṇasi. "Is the world on the brink of doom? Does humanity need a saviour—one who must traverse continents and timelines—to alter the most crucial moment in Earth’s history?"

, which was released on a grand scale in Hyderabad last year, features fantastical glimpses of various places and spaces, such as Antarctica, Varanasi, and Kenya, across time periods, including 512 CE, 2027 CE and the Threthayuga, hinting at a possible time travel drama. 

The teaser ends with Mahesh Babu charging ahead on a ferocious bull, amidst the background of the pilgrimage city of Varanasi.

as Mandakini, while Sukumaran will be seen as the film's antagonist, Kumbha. The film, reportedly mounted on a whopping ₹1,000 crore budget, reunites Rajamouli with 

Rajamouli has been shooting the film since last year and is expected to wrap it up by August, following which the team will begin its extensive post-production work. 

is Rajamouli's first film since his global breakout with 

in 2022, which bagged an Oscar for the Best Original Song for the track 'Naatu Naatu'.

SS Rajamouli, Mahesh Babu’s 'Varanasi' Locks April 2027 Release Date

After much anticipation, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the State Film Awards for the years 2016 to 2022. Along with this announcement, the State Television Awards for the years 2014 to 2022 were also announced.

The likes of Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi, Suriya, Arya, Vikram Prabhu, Karthi, and Parthiban were chosen as Best Actors (Male). Nayanthara, Keerthy Suresh, Jyotika, Aparna Balamurali, Lijomol Jose and Sai Pallavi were Best Actors (Female) for the years 2016 to 2022.

The State Film Awards also honour filmmaking, music direction, editing, and other technical fields. Notable winners included filmmakers such as 

Lokesh Kanagaraj, Mari Selvaraj, Sudha Kongara and 

while composers like A.R. Rahman, Santhosh Narayanan, GV Prakash Kumar and 

The official awards ceremony for the winners of the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards will be held on February 13 at the Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai.

Best Film (Second Prize): Puriyatha Puthir

Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Aruvi

Best Actor: Vijay Sethupathi (Puriyatha Puthir)

Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh (Paambu Sattai)

Best Actor (Special Prize): S Guru Somasundaram (Joker)

Best Actress (Special Prize): Aditi Balan (Aruvi)

Best Comedy Actor: Robo Shankar (posthomous) (Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran)

Best Comedy Actress: Madhumitha (Kaashmora)

Best Supporting Actor: R Parthiban (Maaveeran Kittu)

Best Supporting Actress: Manisha Yadav (Oru Kuppai Kathai)

Best Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj (Maanagaram)

Best Music Director: Sam CS (Puriyatha Puthir)

Best Lyricist: Madhan Karky ('Naan Un' from 24)

Best Playback Singer (Male): Velmurugan (Oru Kuppai Kathai)

Best Playback Singer (Female): Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran)

Best Cinematographer: Balasubramaniem (Kathakali)

Best Editor: Kasi Viswanathan (Maaveeran Kittu)

Best Stunt Coordinator: Anbariv (Kaashmora/24)

Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Dharmadurai

Best Actor: Karthi (Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)

Best Actor (Special Prize): Santhosh Sreeram (To Let)

Best Actress (Special Prize): Andrea Jeremiah (Taramani)

Best Villain: Prasanna (Thiruttu Payale 2)

Best Comedy Actor: Bala Saravanan (En Aaloda Seruppa Kaanom)

Best Comedy Actress: Urvashi (Magalir Mattum)

Best Supporting Actor: Bose Venkat (Kavan/Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)

Best Supporting Actress: Sunu Lakshmi (Aramm)

Best Director: Pushkar-Gayathri (Vikram Vedha)

Best Music Director: Hip Hop Thamizhaa (Kavan)

Best Lyricist: Vivek ('Theeran Da' from Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)

Best Playback Singer (Male): Sathyaprakash (Thiruttu Payale 2)

Best Playback Singer (Female): Shakthisree Gopalan (Vikram Vedha)

Best Cinematographer: P Chelladurai (Thiruttu Payale 2)

Best Editor: A Raja Mohammad (Thiruttu Payale 2/Veeraiyan)

Best Art Director: AK Muthu (Andava Kaanom)

Best Stunt Coordinator: Dhilip Subbarayan (Vikram Vedha/Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)

Best Film (First Prize): Pariyerum Perumal

Best Film (Second Prize): Kadaikutty Singam

Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Kanaa

Best Actress: Jyothika (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam)

Best Actor (Special Prize): Vishnu Vishal (Ratsasan)

Best Actress (Special Prize): Aishwarya Rajesh (Kanaa/Vada Chennai)

Best Villain: Samuthirakani (Vada Chennai)

Best Supporting Actor: Ameer (Vada Chennai)

Best Supporting Actress: Viji Chandrasekhar (Kadaikutty Singam)

Best Director: Mari Selvaraj (Pariyerum Perumal)

Best Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan (Vada Chennai)

Best Lyricist: Thiyagarajan Kumararaja (Seethakaathi)

Best Playback Singer (Male): Sid Sriram (Multiple Films)

Best Playback Singer (Female): Aaradhana Sivakarthikeyan (Kanaa)

Best Cinematographer: R Velraj (Kadaikutty Singam/Vada Chennai)

Best Art Director: Vinoth Rajkumar (Seethakaathi)

Best Stunt Coordinator: Supreme Sundar (Goli Soda 2)

Best Film (Second Prize): Oththa Seruppu Size 7

Best Film (Special Prize): KD Engira Karuppudurai

Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Pon Magal Vandhal

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards (2016 to 2022): Suriya, Dhanush, Lokesh Kanagaraj, Nayanthara Among The Winners

The actor has announced her latest production venture, which is billed as a coming-of-age romantic comedy. The Prime Video original movie will be backed by Alia and her sister, Shaheen Bhatt, under their banner Eternal Sunshine Productions.

follows the story of Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old girl who thinks she has everything figured out until her perfectly planned life takes an unpredictable turn, and things begin to spiral out of her control.

"At Eternal Sunshine, we’ve always wanted to back stories that feel honest and voices that feel their own,” said Alia, co-founder of Eternal Sunshine Productions. "This film immediately spoke to us because of its sincerity and coming-of-age lens and Sreeti’s passion and energy naturally fed into the spirit of the story."

Nikhil Madhok, Director & Head of Originals, Prime Video, India, said the team is thrilled to collaborate with Alia and Shaheen on this "extremely fun yet warm romantic comedy, with a remarkable character like Shy Das at its heart." 

"Alia’s innate instinct for stories that are emotionally rich, deeply relatable, and immensely entertaining shines through in this young adult story about friendship, love, and growing up. With a strong female-forward narrative, writing that’s fresh, relatable and humorous, and earnest characters, complemented by infectious music from Ram Sampath, 

 promises to be a delightful experience for audiences around the world," Madhok added.

is co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani. The team is yet to reveal its principal cast and other details. Alia, meanwhile, has two releases lined up: YRF spy-universe film 

which is expected to release this year and  Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic 

co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, likely to be released next year.

Alia Bhatt Collaborates with Prime Video for New Production 'Don’t Be Shy'

(2019), lead actor Asif Ali deflected all his praise by giving “50 per cent” of it to the work Melwy put in to create his costumes. He played a rubber tapper in the film, the kind who’d probably buy just two to three pairs of clothes in a whole year. 

“When you’re trying to create realism through costumes, you need to really understand your character,” Melwy explains. “There’s a lot of research and depth that goes into each decision. In 

… I wanted you to be able to imagine the man’s cupboard and the timeline of the film to understand how many clothes he’s got and how many years he’d been wearing them. A man like him can’t keep changing his shirts, even if he can afford to.” 

From a film like that to working on a project like 

is the other end of the creativity spectrum, the sort of film in which costumes have no limitations. It’s also an entertainer that does not attempt subtlety or realism, adding to the fun Melwy had as he went through the long making process. For one, he wants to thank the production for the way it took him and all other technicians along, right from day one. “As soon as I joined the film, they began by putting out creatives on social media announcing that I would be working on their film. It made me feel I’m joining a place that values my work and what I have to offer. It became 

It’s what he calls “a crazy film” filled with possibilities. As he goes through the process of working on the wrestling costumes — an opportunity he might never get again in Malayalam — he talks about the debates and conversations that brought it all alive. Here are the six main wrestlers and how their costumes came to be, as told by Melwy himself. 

We drew inspiration for his look from Shawn Michaels, the legendary wrestler. Right from his intro shot, in which he swings into the ring using a zipline, that was the persona we wanted to mirror… along the lines of “Malayalifying” Shawn Michaels in a Kochi backdrop. Anend C Chandran [DOP] had decided on a colour palette for him that was based on white-and-gold, and then we got to work. The entry scene for Arjun deserved to be larger than life, like a major festival, and it was Anend who gave me “Thrissur Pooram” as a cue. We based his shoulder puff on the 

 (the fans used by mahouts atop the elephant), and also used stencils of elephants as a design motif on the costume. To maintain the colour pattern, we also drew ideas from Kerala-specific art forms such as 

. The idea of his cape was again given to me by Anend because it reflects light dreamily. Basically, his entry had to have all the grandeur of witnessing the biggest elephant making its entry during Thrissur Pooram…an image no Malayali can resist.

Similarly, the colours that were planned for Roshan were going to be red. I had already worked on a lot of Theyyam designs and research for my work in 

(2024), so it wasn’t particularly hard to reimagine those colours for a wrestling attire. We then brought motifs from Kalaripayattu, the ancient marital art form. Reds and blacks were both abundant in both, and Adhvaith, the film’s director, had already visualised a sequence during Vetri’s entry in which he could pull away a large part of his costume in one dramatic shot. So, what he was wearing inside needed to be given equal importance, almost like two different looks within one. Prints of a theyyam artist, face paints and a few additions were made as variations. The anklets (chilanka) of a theyyam performer were used in place of wrist bands for him too. It’s these sorts of ideas that one gets where there is absolute freedom and encouragement to go anywhere for a vision.

His look was based on a wrestler like Randy Orton. Even though we told Shyam that we'd be showing him in briefs, he was cool with the idea. Because his name was Bhasmasuran, we could experiment with the idea of him being covered with ashes all around. That gave our costume an additional madness, and it also looked fun on camera. What stands out about his character is that he plays a tailor in the film, too, so the idea is that he’s the one making all these cool costumes for the other wrestlers. Even when he was not in the ring, we gave him things like a patch for his pockets and a lot of funky additions, as part of his everyday wear.

She’s the only prominent woman in the lead cast, but we were sure we wanted her to look strong and capable as a wrestler. She works as a delivery person in the film, but we wanted to give her a muscular appeal, as though she could take on any man inside the ring, even if they were twice her size. The film is set in Fort Kochi and Mattanchery, a place that’s not too far away from the shipyard and the docks, so we felt she could easily source the overalls or the jumpsuit that men wear while working. That’s the reference we had, and she was able to pull it off super well.

Now, for Kadal Komban, we could have used ideas from a character like Big Show from WWE. But we thought of it differently. Ronex Xavier, the make-up artist, had already imagined his hairstyle and a certain appearance, and then I wanted to give it my spin. So, for him, we borrowed elements from the Thrissur Pooram to give his costume that festive, loud look. Inspired by the Puli Kali, we had perceived a look that would play up his belly. We created detailed sketches, several trials, and errors to get the final look. We needed to make sure they were able to stay in costume for long stretches. It's also important to note that they come from humble backgrounds; it’s not like they could afford expensive fabric. We then went ahead and made some of their costumes with rexine, knowing very well how hot it can get. But they never complained about it!

Because of his height, we could go all out with his styling. It could be fancy and flashy, and it would look great on him. We had also used colours on him that would pop, like yellows, oranges and bright blues. We wrote his title and got it printed and attached to his clothes, too. It was magical to see his character come alive in his costume.

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