MEGASTAR, MAESTRO
Veteran Indian actor Kamal Haasan‘s 234th film “Thug Life,” directed by Mani Ratnam, has locked a worldwide theatrical release for June 5, 2025. The announcement came on Haasan’s birthday alongside a first-look teaser featuring the actor as his character Rangaraya Sakthivel Nayakar.
The pair previously teamed on gangster epic “Nayakan” (1987). The film was a watershed in both their careers. It was a box office blockbuster, won Haasan best actor at India’s national film awards and was the country’s entry to the 1988 Oscars.
The “Thug Life” cast includes Silambarasan T.R., Trisha Krishnan, Ali Fazal, Abhirami and Nasser. The film is written by Haasan and Ratnam. It is produced by Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI), Ratnam’s Madras Talkies and Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Movies. The producers are Haasan, Ratnam, R. Mahendran and Siva Ananth. Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Grammy winning composer A.R. Rahman provides the music.
The production houses released a teaser offering audiences glimpses of Haasan’s and Silambarasan’s characters in what appears to be an action-driven narrative.
SCRIPTING SUCCESS
Indian actor Prabhas (“Baahubali”) has thrown his weight behind The Script Craft, a new digital platform for aspiring writers. The site allows writers to submit 250-word story synopses for audience rating and feedback. The launch includes contest “Imagine Your Favorite Hero with Superpowers,” with the winner nabbing an assistant writer or assistant director spot on an upcoming project.
Founded by Thaalla Vaishnav and Pramod Uppalapati, the platform plans audiobook integration. Prabhas, who’s filming “Raja Saab,” “Salaar: Part 2” and “Kalki 2,” promoted the launch via Instagram. The platform is currently accepting submissions at thescriptcraft.com.