Karthik Subbaraj Signs Netflix Costliest South Indian Original Starring Atharvaa Upendra and Prabhu Deva

BY SACNILK

The South Indian digital space is seeing a significant development as acclaimed filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj has reportedly signed a major deal with Netflix. This project is expected to be the most expensive South Indian original production for the streaming giant to date. While the director has worked with Netflix previously on projects like Jagame Thandhiram and the anthology Navarasa this upcoming venture is being planned on a much larger scale for a 2027 release. The casting for this original has already become a talking point among fans. The project will feature Atharvaa in a lead role. Joining him is Kannada superstar Upendra who is reportedly playing a pivotal character possibly as the primary antagonist. This marks another significant move for Upendra in the pan-Indian space following his presence in other high profile films. Adding more weight to the ensemble is the legendary Prabhu Deva who is expected to play a character closely linked to the lead bringing a unique dynamic to the screen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) This news comes at a time when Karthik Subbaraj is maintaining strong momentum with his production house Stone Bench Films. Projects like Dorothy starring Keerthy Suresh have been gaining international attention at film festivals including a world premiere at Toronto. The transition from producing grounded independent films to directing a high budget digital original for Netflix shows the versatility of the director and his ability to handle diverse scales of production. His signature filmmaking style which often blends grit with stylized visuals is expected to be a major highlight of this new project. Industry reports suggest that Netflix is positioning this project as a flagship South Indian original for 2027. By bringing together prominent talent from the Tamil and Kannada film industries the platform aims to capture a wide audience across various regions. This project also marks a reunion for the director and Prabhu Deva who previously collaborated on the silent thriller Mercury. As production planning follows high standards this collaboration is expected to set new benchmarks for digital content in the Indian market.

BY SACNILK

Director Anurag Kashyap recently shared his thoughts on Karthik Subbaraj’s upcoming film Dorothy, describing it as the director's boldest work to date. His review, which mentioned that the narrative is both surprising and pleasantly shocking, has generated significant curiosity among audiences who are now eager to see the unpredictable turns Subbaraj has crafted for this project. Beyond the local interest, the film has secured international recognition by being selected for a world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. It will be showcased in the prestigious Centrepiece section, following in the footsteps of notable Tamil films like Azhagarsamyin Kuthirai and Kannathil Muthamittal that have previously screened at TIFF. Categorized as a psychological drama set in rural India during the early 1990s, the story explores themes of social prejudice and violence, providing a grounded yet intense backdrop for the narrative. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While specific plot details remain under wraps in typical Karthik Subbaraj fashion, the recently released teaser has offered a glimpse into the film's atmosphere. The footage sets an eerie and suspenseful tone, focusing on three distinct individuals whose lives seem fated to collide. The narrative appears to center around a mysterious figure, and the period setting of the 1990s adds a distinct visual and cultural layer to the tension shown in the teaser. The project features a strong lineup of talent, with National Award winner Keerthy Suresh taking on the titular role. This performance-driven character is expected to be one of her most complex roles yet, and she is supported by prominent young actors Sananth and Rishikanth. Another major highlight of the film is its music, composed by the legendary Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. This project marks a massive milestone in his career as his 1,540th film as a music composer, bringing a unique weight to the overall background score and soundtrack. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The technical team behind Dorothy includes veteran cinematographer S. Thirunavukkarasu, known for his work on films like Petta, and editor Ganesh Siva. The film is a collaborative production involving major studios like Jio Studios, Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment, and Karthik Subbaraj's own Dhammam Films. This partnership between high-profile studios and independent creators suggests a balance between polished production values and a distinct artistic vision.

BY SACNILK

Dhanush has officially unveiled the teaser for Karthik Subbaraj's highly anticipated tenth directorial venture, titled Dorothy. The announcement comes with a significant achievement, as the film has been selected for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This international recognition before its theatrical release highlights the global appeal of Subbaraj's unique storytelling style and marks a proud moment for Tamil cinema on the world stage. Scheduled for a worldwide release on September 25, 2026, the film is now moving toward its theatrical window Karthik Subbaraj has built a reputation over the last decade as a filmmaker who consistently subverts genre expectations. Since his breakout debut with the low-budget horror hit Pizza, he has delivered a string of cult classics and commercial successes. His filmography includes the acclaimed gangster-satire Jigarthanda, the high-octane Rajinikanth starrer Petta, and the more recent western-inspired period drama Jigarthanda DoubleX. Dorothy serves as a milestone project for the director, representing ten films of creative experimentation and genre-bending narratives. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The teaser and promotional posters suggest a visually striking and atmospheric experience. The monochromatic design featuring a bold red circle and characters on bicycles hints at a period or rural noir setting. A major highlight of this project is the collaboration between Subbaraj and the legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja. The pairing of the modern auteur’s stylized visuals with the timeless musical sensibilities of Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja has created immense curiosity among cinephiles. The cast is led by National Award winner Keerthy Suresh, who is known for her range in performance-heavy roles. She is joined by Sananth and Rishikanth, both of whom have previously collaborated with the director. On the production side, the film is backed by a powerhouse combination of Jio Studios and Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment. Monga, an Academy Award-winning producer, brings a level of international expertise that aligns with the film’s presence at TIFF, ensuring that the project receives significant global visibility. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})

BY SACNILK

Chennai, December 25 - Tamil star Suriya has teamed up with director Karthik Subbaraj for an action drama film centred around a love story. It is the 44th film of Suriya and on Wednesday, the makers announced its official title as Retro with the teaser.## The teaser reveals Suriya as a Southern Tamil Nadu native with a gang mafia as a family business while Pooja Hegde plays his love interest. It shows Suriya's character attempting to reform himself for the sake of love as he promises to his lover to give up anger, and violence. ## The film is produced by Suriya's 2D Entertainment in association with Stone Bench Films and Shakti Film Factory. Retro, which also stars Jayaram, Nasser, Joju George, Prakash Raj, Sujith Shankar, and Karunakaran, among others is confirmed for the Summer of 2025 big screen debut in multiple languages.## The music of the film is done by Santhosh Narayanan while Shreyaas Krishna is the cinematographer. The shoot has already been completed.## ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, July 23 - Director Karthik Subbaraj teamed up with Tamil star Suriya for an action drama film and on the occasion of the actor's 49th birthday, the filmmaker treated the fans with the first look glimpse into the character of Suriya from the film, tentatively called Suriya 44. ## The glimpse video shared on social media platforms, opens with a beautiful view with the words, "Somewhere in the sea..." before the video takes us to 'Royal Estate', presumably Suriya's den in the film where his gang members stand at the entrance... "A love, a laughter, a war, awaits for you" as Suriya enters the scene.## The video shows Suriya sporting a rugged look, with a cigarette in his hand and a gun pointed at the camera. The 1 minute and 37 seconds of the promo, with BGM by Santhosh Narayan, promises a mass entertainer. Suriya 44 is produced by 2D Entertainment and the title of the movie will be announced soon.## An unveiling maverick, ready to conquer 🔥 Join the frenzy for #LoveLaughterWar and beyond!Happy Birthday THE ONE ❤️‍🔥#HappyBirthdaySuriya #HBDTheOneSuriyaWishes from team #Suriya44@Suriya_Offl @karthiksubbaraj @hegdepooja @Music_Santhosh @rajsekarpandian @kaarthekeyens… pic.twitter.com/JlxJnJB77E— 2D Entertainment (@2D_ENTPVTLTD) July 22, 2024 ## The shoot of Suriya 44 commenced earlier this year. The film also stars Pooja Hegde as the female lead, alongside Jayaram, Karuna Karan and Joju George in the prominent roles. It will be released in 2025 and the official date will be announced soon.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, July 9, 2021: Netflix has unveiled the much-awaited teaser of the Tamil anthology web series, "Navarasa", created by the ace filmmaker, Mani Ratnam. The 9-episodes series stars some of the biggest names of the South Indian cinema such as Suriya, Vijay Sethupathi, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Fahadh Faasil, Arvind Swami, Prakash Raj, Anjali, among others. ## Unlike the other shows and films, Navarasa has been made for a noble cause. As we all know, the covid-19 pandemic had left the film industries in a bad shape as workers who form the bulk of it were struggling to make their ends meet. It was then that Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan along with the rest of the team thought of raising funds by making a series and generate funds to support those in the film industry who have been affected by the COVID19 crisis. ## It is to be noted that the artists, technicians, and directors working on the series are contributing towards the film without remuneration, with only the costs of production being associated. The profits earned from the project will be donated to the members of the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. ## Mani Ratnam, in a conversation with Sreedhar Pillai for sify.com, said that they are close to reaching their target between Rs 12 to 15 Crores, which will go directly to the worker and his family. They are working with Bhumika Trust which was set up for disaster relief management, and have issued individual credit cards to all workers. ## In the process, the team started distributing prepaid cards to the workers from the end of March 2021 onwards, with each beneficiary receiving ₹ 1,500 per month on the prepaid card for a period of five months, which can be utilized at grocery outlets. Nearly 12,000 workers in the film industry will benefit from it. ## Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan, who are producing the series under their respective banners Madras Talkies and Qube Cinema Technologies, had initially thought of releasing the anthology in theaters. However, due to the closer of cinemas because of the covid-19 pandemic and each part of the anthology being 30-40 minutes long, a theatrical release was not possible. It will now premiere on Netflix on August 6. ## Navarasas is based on the Indian concept of the 9 human emotions or 'rasas' - anger, compassion, courage, disgust, fear, laughter, love, peace, and wonder. Each episode has been directed by 9 different directors - Bejoy Nambiar, Priyadarshan, Gautham Menon, Karthick Subbaraj, Karthik Narain, Vasanth, Arvind Swamy, Rathindran Prasad, and Sarjun. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Chennai, June 8, 2021: Tamil superstar currently in the US where he has been shooting for the Russo Brothers' Netflix movie, The Gray Man. The actor will return to Chennai in the next couple of weeks as he has shot his portion of the Netflix original, co-starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Julia Butters, among others. ## Meanwhile, Dhanush is gearing up for the release of his Tamil film, Jagame Thandhiram. The gangster drama was supposed to be released in theaters, however, due to the covid-19 pandemic, producer S. Sashikanth sold the streaming rights to Netflix for a direct-to-digital release, which is scheduled for June 18 in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada languages. ## The audio of Jagame Thandhiram was launched on June 7. On this special occasion, Dhanush, director Karthik Subbaraj, composer Santhosh Narayanan along with the singers and lyricists took part in a Space session on Twitter. Dhanush joined the conversation from the US. ## The actor, who has been waiting for the release of Jagame Thandhiram for a long time, said in a Space session that he is disappointed as the film could have released in better circumstances in theaters but feeling okay that the film is releasing on Netflix to reach a wider audience. ## Dhanush will be playing the role of a gangster named Suruli who takes on a London-based gangster named Peter Sprott, played by James Cosmo. Speaking about his character, Dhanush said, "I love the character so much that I always ask Karthik Subbaraj to make a sequel. I am confident that everyone will like the film". ## Jagame Thandhiram is directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by S. Sashikanth and Chakravarthy Ramachandra under the banner of Y NOT Studios along with Reliance Entertainment. It also stars Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Kalaiyarasan, and several others, in important roles. ## Stay tuned...