Latest news with #Sasikumar
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Freedom' movie review: Sasikumar's socio-political thriller is bleak and exploitative
In the long list of Tamil films that substitute nuanced storytelling with noble intentions comes Freedom, a socio-political prison-break thriller starring Sasikumar and Lijomol Jose. Director Sathyasiva ambitiously adapts the real-life story of how some 43 Sri Lankan refugees (allegedly members of the LTTE) made a daring escape from their 'special camp' at the Vellore Fort — after allegedly suffering police torture for over four years in the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. Any story pegged around the Sri Lankan Civil War or the LTTE can still send ripples across Tamil Nadu, making such endeavours a tightrope act. In that regard, both Sathyasiva and Sasikumar (a consecutive role as a Sri Lankan refugee, after the acclaimed Tourist Family) deserve credit for their conviction in the story and the strive to speak out against oppression. But good intentions are never enough to make thought-provoking cinema, and except for the aforementioned intriguing outline, there's very little going for Freedom. We begin in the early '90s, following Maaran (Sasikumar) as he gets pulled into a quagmire just hours after reaching the shores of India. He meets his pregnant wife, Selvi (Lijomol), for the first time in months, but as fate would have it, the Indian Prime Minister is killed shortly by an LTTE suicide bomber at a rally in Chennai. A political turmoil ensues, and in a desperate attempt to nab the criminals, the police begin rounding up men and women from different refugee camps. Maaran is amongst those hauled away from the Mandapam camp in Rameswaram. Selvi laments how she couldn't even offer a meal to her weary husband, who had just come out of a Sri Lankan prison, and you begin to feel a lump in your throat — the disturbing event on-screen is one thing, but there are hints throughout the first act of Freedom that would make even a passive follower of Tamil cinema expect the worst. Freedom (Tamil) Director: Sathyasiva Cast: Sasikumar, Lijomol Jose, Malavika Avinash, Ramesh Kanna Runtime: 130 minutes Storyline: Sri Lankan refugees, unfairly imprisoned and tortured at a makeshift special camp, hatch a daring escape plan The subsequent sequences are blood-curdling to say the least. At a special makeshift camp (read: prison) inside the Vellore Fort, the refugees endure agonising torture and assault in the name of interrogation. The cops at this prison are under the tyrannical thumb of the sadistic, megalomaniac IPS officer Sudev Nair (naming the character after the actor reveals the shallow design), a non-Tamil who is charged to interrogate the prisoners because 'a Tamil cop might show some remorse.' It's evident that the harrowing display of police brutality is meant to manufacture shock — and to evoke an emotional response that justifies the characters' actions later — but the point is repeated ad nauseam. Those who suffer along with Maaran include an elderly man, Singeni (Mu. Ramaswamy); Chandiran (Boys Manikandan), a young man with a speech disability; and a young woman who we had seen — in a disturbingly protracted sequence — be subject to sexual abuse at the hands of a Sri Lankan cop. It's as if sensitivity and restrained portrayal of such disturbing acts find no relevance in Sathyasiva's school of filmmaking. This over-fixation on violence ensures we check out of the film's hyperreality every now and then, hoping for something nuanced to pull us back in. Alternating between the plight of the prisoners and their family members at the camp, Freedom ends up becoming so tunnel-visioned on selling the sentimentality of the story that it removes any scope for pointed political commentary. This is despite the arrival of Malavika Avinash's lawyer character; we hardly know the legal recourse she is claiming to be taking. Even Ramesh Kanna's CBI officer character, whom Sudev reports to, vanishes. In fact, a lay watching the second act of Freedom may not even get the film's political context or the backdrop. With little material to hang on to, the film picks up pace only after the prisoners hatch an escape plan in a last-ditch effort. Even then, we have to endure some tedious stretches before we get to the escape itself. Freedom is a disturbing attempt at exploiting the empathy of the audience. It is neither nuanced, nor does it dig into the larger narrative of the plight of Sri Lankan refugees, nor factors in anything concrete about police brutality — a social evil that has become a major talking point in Tamil Nadu (the film is releasing when the state is reeling from the shock of the custodial death of Ajith Kumar). It's exhausting to watch filmmakers repeatedly train an insensitive lens on an important topic in the guise of being well-intentioned. Perhaps it's time filmmakers who claim to speak for humanity start believing in the audience's capacity for empathy. Freedom is currently running in theatres
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Nagarjuna Akkineni's 100th film is a remake of Sasikumar starrer Ayothi? Here's what we know
Nagarjuna Akkineni is eagerly gearing up for the release of Rajinikanth starrer Coolie, which is slated to hit big screens on August 14, 2025. Now, recent reports indicate that the actor's 100th cinematic venture might be a remake of a hard-hitting Tamil movie. Nagarjuna Akkineni to remake Sasikumar's Ayothi? According to a report by Times Now, Nagarjuna Akkineni is expected to remake the movie Ayothi, which starred Sasikumar in the lead role. The upcoming film is said to be helmed by Nitham Oru Vaanam fame Ra Karthik, marking the veteran star's 100th film. However, as of now, these are just speculations with an official update yet to be made by the makers. About Ayothi Ayothi is a Tamil-language procedural drama flick starring Tourist Family's Sasikumar in the lead. The film narrates the tale of a family who are travelling from Uttar Pradesh to Rameshwaram. On their journey, the family faces an accident and is stranded, unable to speak Tamil. In their predicament, a man decides to help them, leading to an intense drama for the family's return home. With R Manthira Moorthy helming the project, the movie featured an ensemble cast of actors like Yashpal Sharma, Preethi Asrani, Pugazh, Anju Asrani, and many more in key roles. Nagarjuna on Coolie While more details about Nagarjuna Akkineni's 100th film is yet to be made, the actor was seen detailing about Coolie. In a recent interaction, the actor talked about Aamir Khan's character in the film. The King actor said, 'Aamir Khan and I don't have scenes together. We have two different chapters in the film... But I saw his work afterward. His performance is brilliant. You'll see a new Aamir and be shocked.' Moreover, Nagarjuna also confirmed that he will be playing the main antagonist in the Rajinikanth starrer. The upcoming film Coolie is an action entertainer, featuring Rajinikanth in the lead. The movie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, also features Kannada star Upendra Rao in a supporting role, with Aamir Khan playing a cameo appearance. Aside from them, Coolie will have Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Pooja Hegde (dance number), and many more in key roles.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Officials in a fix on how to map uncontacted, secluded tribes in Andaman and Nicobar
The recent notification for the national census has left officials in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar seeking answers to three questions: One, how to count the Sentinelese, given the administration's decision to stay at least 5km away from the North Sentinel island that is their home? People belonging to Great Nicobar's Shompen tribe in an undated photo.(Anthropological Survey of India) Two, how to count the Shompen of Great Nicobar, who live in near-unreachable corners of the island? And three, does it even make sense to insist on counting the number of Sentinelese and the Shompen? This is the first census being conducted after the Andaman and Nicobar administration's decision, in December 2014, to not go near the island or disturb the Sentinelese. The 2011 and 2001 census were based on extrapolated numbers after census officials sailed close to the shores of the island. Since 2014, they have not done that, not even to retrieve the bodies of at least four intruders killed by the islanders and buried on the beaches of the island in the last 11 years, according to A&N police officials. That includes an American missionary who tried to illegally reach the island and preach Christianity to the indigenous tribe. 'In December 2014, the administration decided to strictly follow an 'eyes-on and hands-off' policy. Until then the UT administration would regularly sail around the island, stay at a distance(where the arrows of the Sentinelese people could not reach them),' said a A&N government official who asked not to be named. 'Currently only the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel keep an eye on the island from a distance to ensure that poachers or intruders do not go near it. We have to see how the census can be conducted,' he added. According to the 2011 census, the island is home to 15 people, 12 male and 3 female. The 2001 census put the number at 39, 21 male and 18 female. Unlike the union territory's other tribes such as Jarawas, Shompen, Onges, Nicobarese and Great Andamanese, who have been contacted through the autonomous tribal welfare body, Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS), the Sentinelese prefer their privacy on their 59.67sq km island. They hunt and they fish; little else is known about them. 'We have always respected their privacy. There was an incident of fire reported from the island in 2014, so a government team circumnavigated the island. But since then none have been near the island. There have been talks of using certain technology to map their population but it is not clear if this will give an accurate estimate or whether it is even ethical to conduct such an exercise,' said M Sasikumar, joint director of the Anthropological Society of India, who was part of the team that had circumnavigated the island in 2014. His reference is likely to speculation that drones could be used to count the Sentinelese, but the fallout of this on a tribal society could be significant (and catastrophic). Sasikumar said that till 1997, the government attempted friendly missions to the island. 'Teams landed on the shores and offered gifts such as coconuts to the islanders. But this too was stopped considering the dangers of infections that could be transmitted to the islanders.' But it may not even make sense to count the Sentinelese, said an expert. Protecting the islands 'I think trying to do a census of the Sentinelese is pointless. Even an extrapolation is only an extrapolation. It is much more important to protect the livelihood resources around the island like the reef, the sea resources and the island itself from external interference and incursion. The government has been trying to do that but can do so much better. Local fishermen still exploit marine resources for the export market such as lobsters and commercially important fish,' said Manish Chandi, former member of research advisory board, Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute. The Shompen of Great Nicobar pose another challenge. Some populations of the Shompen in Great Nicobar remain uncontacted. 'The Shompen living very deep inside the forests on the west coast do not come this side (Campbell Bay). Only the Shompen from Laful (name of area) come to Campbell Bay sometimes for ration etc. They speak in their own dialect but they are approachable on some occasions. You have to trek very far through the forests to reach them and they do not like outsiders,' said Barnabas Manju, chairman of the Little and Great Nicobar Tribal Council. The 2011 census counted 229 Shompen people with 141 male against only 88 females. Sasikumar highlighted that it is important to track the risks facing the Shompen but admitted that the administration has not been able to reach all groups. 'It is a very difficult task to reach the Shompen. The East-West road collapsed after the Tsunami. You may reach 10 km inside but most Shompen groups may be beyond the 27th km. The Shompen are not a homogeneous group. The Shompen groups may fight or avoid each other. We do not know very well how they are doing. If you go by the previous Census data the male-female ratio is very worrying. The number of females is very low.' There are fears that the Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project could impact the Shompen and the forests they depend on. The Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project has four major components: an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICCT); an international airport; a power plant; and a township. There is also a Trunk Infrastructure Road that will cut through Great Nicobar Island. The total cost is estimated at ₹81,800 crore. The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot and cover the western half of the Indonesian archipelago. 'Before mapping the population, it may be important to consider why you would do the census? There are policies and welfare schemes for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups but it is important to assess implementation. There is documentation of what the Shompen's views are on loss of forests and development projects, but what has been done with their views? It is also important to review how much money has been spent on the welfare schemes for them and for what?' said an anthropologist who has worked in the islands, asking not to be named.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
My hand broke while shooting for Freedom, says Sasikumar
Actor Sasikumar, who plays the lead in director Sathya Siva's gripping jail break film 'Freedom', has now disclosed that he suffered a broken hand while shooting for the film. Participating in a pre-release event of the film, Sasikumar said, "Freedom is inspired by a real life incident. It is the story of a jail break that happened in the year 1995. It is inspired by an incident in which refugees escaped from a prison in Vellore in Tamil Nadu. We have spoken about the pain and trauma of those refugees, who were incarcerated for no fault of theirs. I need to thank producer Pandi for making a film like this." Actress Jigyasa Singh dances away her lockdown blues The actor then went on to disclose that the entire team underwent a lot of hardships to make the film. In particular, he recalled one instance when he ended up with a broken hand because of a blow that landed in the wrong place. "I suffered several real blows while shooting for the film. They had to hang me upside down for this sequence and one of the fighters struck me in the wrong place. I already have suffered a blow on this hand and the blow landed exactly in the same place, resulting in the hand being broken. As I screamed in pain, initially, the unit thought that I was just acting very realistically. It took them a while to realise that I was really screaming in pain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Тези обувки са висш пилотаж в мъжката мода. ZAROTRAVEL® КУПИ СЕГА Undo They then hurried and provided me aid," he explained. On a lighter note, he said, "Director Sathiya Siva was serious while making the film. He would not even smile and he would also let us not smile." Pointing to a poster in which he had a small smile on his face, Sasikumar said, "I managed to sport this smile when he was not looking." He then pointed to Lijomol Jose, the heroine of the film, and said, "I asked Lijomol if she had also smiled while the director was not looking and she too said yes" even as the audience burst out laughing. The film, which has music by Ghibran, is scheduled to hit screens worldwide on July 10.
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
8 South films to watch in theaters this week: Freedom to Oh Bhama Ayyo Rama
South Indian films are gearing up for release in theaters, offering a variety of movies to choose from. If you're still unsure about what to watch, here's a list of films that you should check out. 8 South Indian movies to watch in theaters this week Title Director Release Date Advertisement Freedom Sathyasiva July 10, 2025 Oh Bhama Ayyo Rama Ram Godhala July 11, 2025 Soothravakyam Eugien Jos Chirammel July 11, 2025 Oho Enthan Baby Krishnakumar Ramakumar July 11, 2025 Desingu Raja 2 Ezhil S July 11, 2025 Paramapadha Sopanam Naga Shiva July 11, 2025 Doora Theera Yaana Mansore July 11, 2025 Maayakoothu AR Raghavendra July 11, 2025 1. Freedom (Tamil) Cast: Sasikumar, Lijomol Jose, Sudev Nair, Malavika Avinash, Bose Venkat Director: Sathyasiva Release Date: July 10, 2025 Freedom is a historical action thriller starring Sasikumar in the lead role. The movie features the story of a group of refugees who are wrongfully accused of a high-profile assassination case. Despite being proven innocent, the people are imprisoned in the Vellore Fort for years. After enduring for years, 43 prisoners decide to escape, with some being recaptured and others escaping to foreign lands. How they manage to acquire freedom is the main narrative of the film. 2. Oh Bhama Ayyo Rama (Telugu) Oh Bhama Ayyo Rama is a romantic drama starring Suhas in the lead role. The movie features the story of Ram, a young man who dreams of settling abroad. However, his life takes a turn when Sathyabhama enters his life. With her unpredictable nature, the girl brings Ram to the world of cinema. Once aspiring to be a storyteller, the rest of the film focuses on how the man rediscovers his passion for films. Why did he leave his dream and how the entire journey heals him is the central focus of the movie. 3. Soothravakyam (Malayalam) Soothravakyam features the story of Christo Xavier, a police officer who transforms the lives of Class 11 students. In the process, the man changes his station into a community center while also investigating a case of a missing man. 4. Oho Enthan Baby (Tamil) Oho Enthan Baby is an upcoming Tamil-language movie featuring Vishnu Vishal 's brother Rudra in his debut. The movie narrates the tale of Ashwin, an aspiring filmmaker who believes he has found his perfect love. However, his emotional blindness drives his partner away, with Ashwin using it to craft a story as he feels heartbroken. With his story left incomplete, the man must choose whether to find his lost love or deal with it on his own. 5. Desingu Raja 2 (Tamil) Cast: Vemal, Jana Nathan, Pujita Ponnada, Harshitha Bandlamuri, Pugazh, Sneha Gupta Director: Ezhil S Release Date: July 11, 2025 Desingu Raja 2 features the story of 3 friends who graduated from an agricultural college together but led to different jobs over the years. However, when one of them becomes a top police officer, another transforms into an inspector, and the third one a notorious goon. How all three of their lives cross with each other and the hilarious moments that emerge from it narrate the rest of the story. The movie is expected to be a standalone sequel to Vemal 's Desingu Raja (2013). 6. Paramapadha Sopanam (Telugu) Paramapadha Sopanam features the story set in the village of Palakadali, where the Sarpanch, VRO, and medical officer succumbed to their deaths in mysterious manners. In a perplexing moment, the first two victims had 30 different fingerprints while the last case had only one. In this twisted situation, the police intensify their search, which leads them to uncover hidden details. 7. Doora Theera Yaana (Kannada) Cast: Vijay Krishna, Priyanka Kumar, Sruthi Hariharan, Sharath Lohitashwa, Arun Sagar, Sudha Belawadi Director: Mansore Release Date: July 11, 2025 Doora Theera Yaana is a Kannada language musical romantic drama featuring the story of Akash and Bhoomi. Both being musicians and techies, they have been in a relationship for 5 years. However, as they inch closer to marriage, they question their union, only to find clarity with a soul-searching journey. 8. Maayakoothu (Tamil) Cast: Nagarajan Kannan, Delhi Ganesh, Mu Ramaswamy, Sai Deena, SK Gaayathri, Rekha Kumanan Director: AR Raghavendra Release Date: July 11, 2025 Maayakoothu is an upcoming Tamil-language fantasy adventure drama. The film features the story of a writer whose creation takes us through a mystical journey of an unknown world.
