From a historical drama set in Rome to the tale of an ancient warrior in India, a comedy film featuring a Bengali acting legend and a journalist’s pursuit of the truth, here’s everything you need to know about this week’s theatrical releases.
Kanguva (Tamil, Hindi)
Directed by: Siva
Cast: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley, Natarajan Subramaniam
Kanguva is a Tamil-language fantasy drama directed by Siva featuring Suriya in a double role — as an ancient warrior Kanguva and as a modern-day bounty hunter whose lives are intertwined by fate. Disha Patani plays a member of Kanguva’s team, while Bobby Deol, in his Tamil film debut, plays the leader of Kanguva’s enemy clan.
Gladiator II (English)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, Fred Hechinger
Set 20 years after the events of the Academy Award-winning first movie, Gladiator II follows the story of Lucius (Paul Mescal) — son of Lucilla (Connie Nielson) and Maximus (Russell Crowe). He is now settled in Numidia with his wife. But their peaceful life is shattered when Roman troops, commanded by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), invade Numidia, killing Lucius’s wife and condemning him to slavery. Drawing strength from the memory of Maximus, Lucius decides to embrace the path of a gladiator. Under the mentorship of Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave with ambitions to topple the young emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn), Lucius prepares for rebellion.
Jamalaye Jibonto Bhanu (Bengali)
Directed by: Krishnendu Chatterjee
Cast: Saswata Chatterjee, Ambarish Bhattacharya, Basabdatta Chatterjee, Darshana Banik
Scientist Samyomoy Banerjee (Ambarish Bhattacharya) comes up with a formula to build a time machine but dies mysteriously before finishing the project. In heaven, he meets the late thespian Bhanu Bandyopadhyay (Saswata Chatterjee), who suspects foul play. Bhanu vows to send the scientist back to earth so that he can complete his mission.
Bhairathi Ranagal (Kannada)
Directed by: Narthan
Cast: Shiva Rajkumar, Rahul Bose, Nana Patekar, Rukmini Vasanth
Bhairathi Ranagal delves into the origin of one of Kannada cinema’s iconic characters. A prequel to the 2017 hit Mufti, the film sees Dr Shivarajkumar return as the titular figure, charting his journey from idealistic lawyer to feared gangster. Originally, Ranagal was a principled officer of the court who abandoned his black robe after losing faith in the system he once upheld. The story revolves around the events that drive Ranagal to take justice in his own hands, turning him into a ruthless enforcer who doesn’t spare his enemies.
Matka (Telugu)
Directed by: Karuna Kumar
Cast: Varun Tej, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Nora Fatehi
Inspired by the life of the infamous gambler Ratan Khetri, Matka is a Telugu-language actioner starring Varun Tej as a gangster named Matka Vasu. The story unfolds between 1958 and 1982 in Visakhapatnam, tracing the transformative years in the life of Vasu, a prominent Matka gambler who rises to power as a feared gangster. Nora Fatehi makes her Telugu film debut with Matka.
The Sabarmati Report (Hindi)
Directed by: Dheeraj Sarna
Cast: Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, Ridhi Dogra
The Sabarmati Report offers a glimpse into a journalist’s pursuit of truth around a significant chapter in contemporary Indian history. The film explores the controversial Sabarmati train incident that rocked the nation. Vikrant plays a journalist committed to honest reporting who questions official accounts and seeks to find the real story.
RE-RELEASES
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Directed by: Nikkhil Advani
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Jaya Bachchan
This timeless tale of love, friendship and sacrifice, set in New York, follows the story of Naina (Priety Zinda), a serious young woman whose life changes when she meets the lively Aman (Shah Rukh Khan). Aman, who is suffering from a terminal illness, doesn’t want Naina to go through heartbreak and wants her to settle down with her friend Rohit (Saif Ali Khan) instead.
Pardes (1997)
Directed by: Subhas Ghai
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Mahima Chaudhry, Apurva Agnihotri, Amrish Puri
Pardes, which marked the Hindi film debut of Mahima Chaudhry, revolves around Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan), an NRI tasked with bringing Ganga (Mahima) to the US to marry his Americanised friend. Amid cultural clashes, Arjun and Ganga form a deep bond. The film explores themes of identity, love and the contrast between Indian values and Western lifestyle.
