Movie News

Bhooth Bangla, the recently released Bollywood horror comedy, marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan. The film opened in cinemas with night premieres on April 16, 2026.

The opening weekend has been strong. As expected, collections saw a healthy jump on Sunday, with earnings of approximately Rs. 25.6 crore nett. This pushes the three-day total, including premieres, to around Rs. 65.25 crore in the domestic market.

Achieving these numbers without the support of a holiday release makes the performance particularly noteworthy. The crucial test now lies in the weekday trend, especially Monday collections, which will offer a clearer indication of its box office sustainability. Early trade expectations suggest a steady run through the rest of the month, supported by the absence of major Hindi releases soon.

The film features a strong supporting cast including Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, and Mithila Palkar in key roles. It is produced by Akshay Kumar along with Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, with music composed by Pritam.

The first look of Mahavatar Parshuraam, released by Hombale Films yesterday, has sparked a wave of debate online. For those unaware, the film is an animated feature and the second installment in the planned seven film Mahavatar Cinematic Universe (MCU) by Kleem Productions.

The discussion largely centers on the makers’ use of AI in the announcement video. Many have criticized the team for relying on artificial intelligence in a project that is supposed to be animated. While the concern is understandable, the reaction may be a bit premature.

What many seem to have missed is that the makers have already put out hiring calls for 3D animators for this very project, including the Lord Parshuraam film. This clearly indicates that the film is being developed as a proper animated feature rather than an AI driven experiment.

The backlash, based solely on a brief AI generated glimpse, feels somewhat rushed. It is fair to question creative choices, but forming a fixed opinion at this stage might be jumping the gun.

Another aspect adding to the noise is the comparison with other upcoming animated projects like Baahubali The Eternal War. However, such comparisons ignore a key factor: the difference in scale and budget between these films. Not every animated project operates under the same resources or vision.

For now, it may be wiser to take a step back and wait for more concrete material before drawing conclusions. There is still a long way to go, and it remains to be seen what the Mahavatar Parshuraam team ultimately delivers.

Dhanush’s next film Kara is heading for a worldwide release on April 30, 2026, and for a while now, the conversation around it hasn’t just been about the film itself, but its title. When it was first announced, the name drew mixed reactions, with many unsure if it really worked.

Speaking at the trailer launch on April 19, Dhanush addressed the criticism without dodging it. He pointed out that this kind of reaction isn’t new for him. Both Velaiilla Pattadhari and Thiruchitrambalam had faced similar doubts early on, yet ended up working big time at the box office. For him, the pattern is familiar, initial hesitation doesn’t always reflect the final outcome.

He also shared that the film was originally supposed to be titled Kara Saamy. That didn’t work out due to certain reasons, and the team eventually went ahead with Kara, a title suggested by the producer. Dhanush made it clear he was never unsure about the choice.

What has helped the film in recent days is the trailer. The response has been largely positive, and the conversation has slowly shifted from questioning the title to actually talking about the film.

Directed by Vignesh Raja, Kara features Mamitha Baiju alongside a supporting cast that includes Jayaram, Suraj Venjaramoodu, KS Ravikumar, Karunas, MS Bhaskar, Prithvi Pandiarajan, and Lal. The film is backed by Vels Film International in association with Think Studios, with music composed by GV Prakash Kumar.

The past Friday saw the release of three Telugu films Papam Pratap, Thimmarajupalli TV and Bad Boy Karthik. Unfortunately, these films failed to generate any significant hype ahead of their release. This lack of momentum has put their box office prospects in a weak position as the new week begins.

Naga Shaurya’s Bad Boy Karthik has struggled the most at the box office, with very low audience interest reported across major centres. The critical response has also been poor, further reducing its chances of recovery. Reviewers have pointed out the routine screenplay and outdated treatment as major drawbacks.

The other two films Papam Pratap starring Thiruveer and Thimmarajupalli TV backed by Kiran Abbavaram opened to mixed reviews. While they were not criticised as heavily as Bad Boy Karthik, they failed to gain the strong word of mouth needed to pull audiences to theatres. Both films are currently struggling to gain traction on major ticketing platforms.

None of the three films are trending on BookMyShow and have not appeared on the 24 hour trending list. This lack of digital engagement reflects low public interest, which could impact their theatrical run further. This Monday will be crucial in deciding whether these films can hold on through the week.

The teaser of Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai created a huge stir online, but not entirely for the right reasons. The first look featured two AI-generated toddlers talking about having the same father, which quickly became a talking point and drew heavy trolling across social media.

Now, the makers have finally responded to the controversy. According to sources close to the production, the AI babies were used purely as a promotional gimmick to grab attention and spark curiosity about the film’s premise. They were never intended to be part of the actual movie.

The team clarified that there is no use of AI in the film itself, and the teaser was just a creative trick to establish the love triangle without revealing real footage. While the strategy did succeed in creating buzz, it also sparked debates on the use of AI in promotions.

Bad Boy Karthik has turned out to be a major disappointment at the box office, marking yet another setback for Naga Shaurya. The film opened to poor reviews and negative word of mouth, which quickly impacted its theatrical run.

Within just a few days of release, the film has already been removed from several screens due to low occupancy and lack of audience interest. The weak content and outdated narration failed to connect with viewers, leading to its early downfall.

Naga Shaurya, who has been going through a rough phase, is yet to score a solid hit in recent times. With consecutive failures affecting his market, the actor now faces a crucial phase in his career.

To make a strong comeback, Shaurya needs to carefully pick a script that appeals to a wider audience, a proper crowd-pleaser that can bring him back into the game.

Shouryuv, who impressed audiences with Hi Nanna, has reportedly locked Vijay Deverakonda for his next project. The film is said to be mounted on a large scale, with some notable Hollywood technicians also coming on board, raising expectations significantly.

Interestingly, the director had initially narrated the script to Jr NTR. However, after waiting for a long time without a final confirmation, Shouryuv decided to move ahead and informed Jr NTR and moved ahead. He pitched the story to Vijay Deverakonda, who reportedly gave his nod.

This development has created strong buzz, as the combination of Shouryuv’s emotional storytelling and Vijay’s screen presence looks promising. With international talent involved, the project is expected to be one of the most interesting upcoming ventures.

A few days ago, on the occasion of Shri Rama Navami, a new film based on the epic Ramayana was officially announced. Titled Valmiki Ramayana, the project will be directed by Bhavna Talwar.

In a major update today, it has been confirmed that Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja will compose the music for the film, adding significant weight to its technical and emotional appeal.

The film brings together a highly accomplished technical team. Sabu Cyril will handle production design, promising grand and immersive visual landscapes, while renowned cinematographer Binod Pradhan is on board to capture the epic scale through his lens.

Enhancing the auditory experience, Academy Award-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty has also joined the project. Valmiki Ramayana is slated for a theatrical release on October 2, 2026. Stay tuned for more details on this movie.