Tollywood

How mental health is making space in southern cinema?

The idea of the perfect, unbreakable hero is slowly fading. Now, audience are accepting characters who are vulnerable, confused, or even lost—but still strong. Hyderabad: For a long time, South Indian movies mostly showed strong heroes who never cried, never shared emotions, and never talked about mental health. But things are finally changing. In 2025, filmmakers across Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada industries are making movies that openly talk about mental health. These films show emotional struggles in a real and honest way—and audience are truly connecting with them. This change didn’t happen overnight. In Telugu cinema, the shift started with 1: Nenokkadine in 2014. In it, Mahesh Babu played a rockstar living with schizophrenia. Later came Awe (2018), where…

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Actors turn Producers: Backing bold stories and fresh talent

By backing new talent, these stars are helping shape the future of Telugu cinema. Hyderabad: Some of Telugu cinema’s biggest stars are not just shining on screen—they’re also making waves behind the camera. As established producers, actors like Nani, Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Niharika Konidela are backing bold stories and fresh talent. They’re using their success to support newcomers—writers, directors, and actors—who don’t always get a fair chance in the industry. Instead of sticking to safe, star-heavy scripts, these actor-producers are taking risks and championing films that stand out for their unique content and storytelling. Rana Daggubati : The silent strength behind the screen Among them, Rana Daggubati has quietly become a strong force in supporting…

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Farmers who benefitted by Raghava Lawrence’s free tractors bring produce to actor to express gratitude!

On Thursday, actor, director and producer Raghava Lawrence took to his X timeline to share news of the development and express his happiness. Chennai: In a heartwarming gesture, several poor farmers from the state who stood to benefit from the free tractors that actor Raghava Lawrence donated to them last year have now chosen to express their gratitude to him by gifting him a portion of their produce. On Thursday, actor, director and producer Raghava Lawrence took to his X timeline to share news of the development and express his happiness. He wrote, “Hi friends and fans, You are all aware that I handed over 10 tractors to farmers through the Maatram Foundation with my own money. The farmers called…

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Ravi Mohan on ex-wife’s allegations of being an absentee father: My children are my eternal pride

Ravi took to his social media and penned an elongated note claiming that although he has decided to leave his wife, he will never leave his children. Mumbai: Tamil actor Ravi Mohan is in the middle of a divorce with his estranged wife, Aarti Ravi. The ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ actor has responded to his ex-wife’s allegations of him being an absentee father. Ravi took to his social media and penned an elongated note claiming that although he has decided to leave his wife, he will never leave his children. “I have only decided in full knowledge and understanding of my past circumstances to leave my ex wife in marriage and NOT MY KIDS. My children are my eternal pride and happiness…

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Second single Aadu Ponmayile from Tovino Thomas’s ‘Narivetta’ released

Actor Tovino Thomas shared the link of the released single on his social media timelines. Chennai: The makers of director Anuraj Manohar’s eagerly-awaited Malayalam action drama ‘Narivetta‘, featuring actor Tovino Thomas in the lead, have now released the second single from the film, ‘Aadu Ponmayile’, much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Actor Tovino Thomas shared the link of the released single on his social media timelines. Taking to X, he wrote,”Aadu Ponmayile’ Song Out Now! #Narivetta In Cinemas May 23.” The song, a percussion-based folk number that begins on a slow note and then picks up pace, has lyrics by Athul Narukara, Pulaya Traditional, and B K Harinarayanan. It has been sung by Athul Narukara and Bindu…

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RAPO22’s title revealed: Deets inside

Bhagyashree Borse will be seen as the female lead opposite Ram in the film. Hyderabad: In an exciting update for fans, the makers of Ram Pothineni’s upcoming film have officially revealed the title of RAPO22 as Andhra King Taaluka. The announcement was made on the occasion of the actor’s birthday, along with the release of a special glimpse video. The video introduces Ram Pothineni as Sagar, a diehard fan of Kannada superstar Upendra. It shows a lively and passionate young man who dreams big and lives with starry eyes. The glimpse also reveals that the film will be a tribute to fans – calling it “a biopic of a fan.” The post released on social media read: “Starry-eyed, energetic, and…

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Watch: Fun video of RRR stars goes viral on internet

These candid and adorable moments are now winning hearts online, with fans enjoying the playful bond shared between the stars and their families. Hyderabad: A lighthearted video featuring the stars of RRR is now trending across social media. The clip shows actors Jr NTR and Ram Charan along with their wives, Pranathi and Upasana, enjoying a fun moment together during RRR live event in London. In the first frame of the video, the two actors are seen posing with their wives. The next frame brings laughter as Charan and NTR are seen playfully hugging director SS Rajamouli and pinching him from both sides — something they often did on the sets of RRR. The video was shot by Upasana, who…

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P G Vinda re-elected as President of Telugu Cinematographers Association

Along with Mr Vinda, Rahul Shrivastav was chosen as General Secretary and G Bheemudu (also known as G Srikanth) as Treasurer for the 2025–2027 term. Hyderabad: The Telugu Cinematographers Association (TCA) has re-elected well-known cinematographer P G Vinda as its President for a second term. The election took place on May 11, 2025, and saw high participation from members across the industry. Along with Mr Vinda, Rahul Shrivastav was chosen as General Secretary and G Bheemudu (also known as G Srikanth) as Treasurer for the 2025–2027 term. During his previous term, Mr Vinda he introduced easier workflows, clear production steps, and helpful guidelines that benefited both young and experienced cinematographers. His efforts made the association more open and helpful, giving…

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Chiyaan Vikram to star in SS Rajamouli-Mahesh Babu’s SSMB29?

Reports suggest that the Tamil superstar has been in talks with SS Rajamouli for the project Hyderabad: While there were speculations about Chiyaan Vikram being approached for a pivotal role in SS Rajamouli‘s upcoming film with Mahesh Babu – “SSMB29” – neither the actor nor the makers gave a confirmation. When asked about the same during the promotion of his film Thangalaan in Hyderabad, Vikram said, “Yeah, Rajamouli garu and I are good friends. We’ve been talking, not specifically about one film,” he said. Now, the buzz over the same is back, and even stronger this time.  Reports suggest that the Tamil superstar has been in talks with SS Rajamouli for the project. However, much like earlier, there is no confirmation yet. Given the popularity Vikram…

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Lavanya Tripathi and Dev Mohan’s Sathi Leelavathi nears completion, makers kick off dubbing

Lavanya Tripathi and Dev Mohan’s Sathi Leelavathi starts dubbing with a pooja, as post-production accelerates ahead of its much-anticipated theatrical release. Hyderabad: The upcoming romantic drama Sathi Leelavathi, starring Lavanya Tripathi and Malayalam actor Dev Mohan, has entered its final leg of production with dubbing formalities officially underway. The team marked the start of this crucial phase with a traditional pooja ceremony, reflecting the film’s deep-rooted cultural backdrop. Helmed by director Tatineni Satya—best known for Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu and Shiva Manasulo Sruthi—the film is being mounted on an ambitious scale under the banner of Durgadevi Pictures and presented by Anandi Art Creations. Producer Naaga Mohan is said to be sparing no effort in crafting a high-quality cinematic experience. The major shooting…

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