September 11, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

Nostalgic Hooks and Self-Aware Screams: The 2025 Reboot of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” Delivers Campy Slasher Fun

It’s been nearly thirty years since the original I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) turned Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Ryan Phillippe into teen-horror icons. Now director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge) revives the tale with bigger scares, glossier kills, and a knowing wink at its own absurdity. In this soft sequel-cum-reboot, a new group of Gen-Z friends—Madelyn Clyne, Tyriq Withers, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, and Sarah Pidgeon—cover up a near-fatal car accident on a windswept cliffside. Predictably, they find themselves stalked by the infamous hook-wielding fisherman. The set-up echoes the original: a youthful mistake, a pact of silence, and a lurking killer hungry for revenge. Logic is happily tossed aside in favor of stylized suspense. The young ensemble leans into broad caricature: Clyne’s Danica flits through scenes as a bewildered heiress; Withers’ Teddy unhelpfully drops into a sauna amid the crisis; Wonders’ Ava strives for pragmatism but can’t resist the pull of Hauer-King’s brooding ex, Milo. Pidgeon’s Stevie—once the grounded friend, now grappling with selling out—provides the story’s lone emotional arc. Their uneven chemistry matches the script’s deliberate silliness, daring viewers not to take it seriously. Nostalgia resurfaces in well-timed cameos: Jennifer Love Hewitt’s original final girl Julie James returns, flanked by Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Ray, reminding audiences of the franchise’s roots. These moments, along with moody coastal cinematography and sleek kill sequences—complete with gleaming hooks under dramatic lighting—represent the film’s strongest assets. Yet the reboot stops short of reinventing the slasher wheel. Its half-mocking, half-celebratory embrace of genre tropes yields fleeting tension and occasional commentary on class and identity, but rarely a truly haunting experience. For horror aficionados and 1990s nostalgists alike, it offers an entertaining, self-aware scream—campy and fun, if not groundbreaking.

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Editor03 mins

Akshay Kumar Steps Up for Stuntmen: Provides Insurance Coverage to 650+ Action Crew Members

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has once again proven why he’s more than just an action hero on screen. Following the tragic death of stuntman SM Raju during a film shoot, Kumar has taken a meaningful step toward protecting the unsung heroes of Indian cinema — the stunt professionals who risk their lives to create thrilling cinematic moments. Insurance for 650+ Stuntmen Across India According to a recent report , Akshay Kumar has insured approximately 650–700 stuntmen and action crew members across the country. The initiative includes both health and accident insurance. Stunt artists can now avail of cashless medical treatment up to ₹5–5.5 lakh in case of injury, whether it occurs on or off the film set. Veteran action director Vikram Singh Dahiya praised the actor’s proactive involvement. “Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650–700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance,” he stated, adding that Kumar not only pushed for the creation of this policy but also personally helped fund it. “This insurance wasn’t there before. Akshay Kumar knows first-hand what stuntmen go through and wanted to make a real difference.” A Personal Mission Since 2017 This isn’t a new move by the Kesari and OMG 2 actor. Aejaz Khan, General Secretary of the Movie Stunt Artists Association, confirmed that Akshay has been funding this initiative from his own pocket since 2017. Over the years, the insurance has proven to be a vital safety net for stunt professionals, supporting them during injuries or even untimely deaths. “This entire policy has been funded by Akshay Kumar himself for the last eight years. It has truly benefited our community,” Khan said. A True Champion Behind the Scenes Known for performing his own stunts and advocating for fitness and discipline, Akshay Kumar’s empathy for stuntmen stems from his own experiences in the action genre. By ensuring safety and financial support for those working behind the scenes, he has set a commendable example for the film industry at large. In a profession as high-risk as stunt performance, Kumar’s initiative is not just generous — it’s life-saving.

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Editor03 mins

‘Tanvi: The Great’ – A Tender, Unforgettable Tale of Love, Legacy, and Quiet Heroism

Anupam Kher returns to the director’s chair after more than two decades with Tanvi: The Great, releasing in theatres on July 18. The film stars Shubhangi Dutt in a stunning debut alongside Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, Arvind Swamy, Nassar, and a special cameo by Iain Glen. Far from being a loud, emotionally manipulative film, Tanvi: The Great gently and thoughtfully explores themes of autism, familial bonds, and military life—without ever resorting to melodrama or nationalism. A Story That Whispers, But Resonates At its core, Tanvi: The Great isn’t just a film—it’s an experience that lingers long after the credits roll. With quiet grace, it navigates sensitive themes, choosing subtlety over spectacle. Set against the serene military backdrop of Lansdowne, the story follows young Tanvi, a girl on the autism spectrum, and her evolving relationship with her grandfather, Colonel Raina, played by Anupam Kher. The film never tries to shout to be heard. Instead, it uses silences, glances, and heartfelt moments to connect. It speaks of the Indian Army without fanfare, and of autism without condescension—its strength lies in its simplicity. Performances that Breathe Life into the Film The soul of the film is Shubhangi Dutt, whose portrayal of Tanvi is both raw and radiant. She doesn’t merely act—she is Tanvi. Anupam Kher’s performance as the initially stern but slowly softening Colonel Raina is filled with nuance and warmth. Jackie Shroff leaves an impression in a short but powerful role as Brigadier Joshi, while Arvind Swamy’s portrayal of Major Srinivasan—haunted by his past—adds emotional depth. Boman Irani’s Raza Saab brings a lyrical warmth to the narrative, and Nassar’s brief appearance in the climax adds quiet intensity. A surprise cameo by Game of Thrones star Iain Glen brings a touch of global flair, without distracting from the story’s heart. Emotional Intelligence at Its Core What truly sets Tanvi: The Great apart is its emotional intelligence. It doesn’t spoon-feed its audience or engineer tears—it trusts viewers to feel. Moments like Tanvi calling her grandfather “Dadu” for the first time, or the understated revelation that she is the daughter of a man who once saved Major Srinivasan’s life, are deeply moving because they’re so honestly portrayed. More than a story of war or sacrifice, Tanvi: The Great is a story of connection—between generations, between friends, and between those who unexpectedly become family. It’s a film that speaks softly, but its voice echoes powerfully.

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Editor04 mins

Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Velu Prabhakaran Passes Away at 67

Legendary Tamil filmmaker and actor Velu Prabhakaran passed away on Friday, July 18, at a hospital in Chennai. He was 67. The acclaimed director, known for pushing boundaries with bold themes of atheism, caste, and sexuality in Tamil cinema, had been battling a prolonged illness and was admitted to the ICU a day prior to his death. He was on ventilator support. Prabhakaran’s mortal remains will be kept for public homage at his residence in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon. A private cremation ceremony with close family and friends will take place on Sunday evening. A Pioneering Voice in Tamil Cinema Born on May 6, 1957, Velu Prabhakaran began his journey in the film industry as a cinematographer. He made his directorial debut with the 1989 horror film Nalaya Manithan. Known for his fearless and unconventional storytelling, he went on to helm several thought-provoking films such as Puratchikkaaran, Asuran (1995), Rajali, Kadavul, Sivan, and Puthiya Aatchi. Among his notable and controversial works are Oru Iyakkunarin Kadhal Diary, Kadhal Kadhai, and Adhisa Manithan. His storytelling often stirred debate for its socio-political undertones and treatment of taboo topics. Personal Life and Later Years Velu Prabhakaran’s life, both personal and professional, was marked by controversies. He was first married to actor and filmmaker P. Jayadevi. Later, at the age of 60, he married Shirley Das, the lead actress of his film Kadhal Kadhai. Following a series of commercial failures, Prabhakaran shifted his focus from direction to acting. In recent years, he appeared in supporting roles in films like Gangs of Madras, Jango, Cadaver, Weapon, and Gajaana. One of his memorable contributions to Tamil cinema, the song Chakku Chakku Vathikuchi from Asuran (1995), found a new wave of popularity after it was reused in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s 2022 hit Vikram, starring Kamal Haasan. His final directorial venture, Yaar Antha Sir? featuring Mansoor Ali Khan, has yet to secure a theatrical release. Velu Prabhakaran leaves behind a legacy of fearless cinema that challenged norms and provoked conversations, making him a unique voice in Tamil filmmaking.

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Editor03 mins

Ahaan Panday’s Debut Film Saiyaara Opens to Positive Response, Draws Comparisons to Aashiqui 2

Ahaan Panday’s much-awaited debut film Saiyaara released theatrically on July 18 and has been met with a wave of positive early reactions from fans on social media. The film, which marks the launch of both Ahaan Panday and actress Aneet Padda, is directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Akshaye Widhani under Yash Raj Films. Described as a musical love story, Saiyaara features Ahaan as an aspiring singer and Aneet as a budding songwriter. The film’s emotional intensity, music, and visual storytelling have drawn several comparisons to Suri’s earlier hit, Aashiqui 2. Many X (formerly Twitter) users have praised the film’s soundtrack, chemistry between the leads, and overall cinematic quality. One user commented, “Emotionally charged love stories, memorable music, and strong chemistry between newcomers — Saiyaara is very much worth watching. But if you’re seeking a novel plot or a completely fresh cinematic experience, parts of its storyline may feel too familiar.” Another viewer shared a glimpse of the interval scene from the theatre and wrote, “Saiyaara review… Just watched & wow. A simple story told beautifully. 1st half starts slow, builds the bond, and 2nd half breaks you (in a good way). Ahaan Panday stuns with his debut apart from the accent. Aneet Padda is impressive. Music on the big screen elevates it to another level.” Audiences were also quick to appreciate the film’s technical finesse. One post read, “Saiyaara Review: First half good. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda are too good. Beautiful music, cinematography, production value, screenplay. Hope 2nd half maintains the same pace.” Aneet Padda recently penned an emotional note on Instagram, expressing her gratitude to director Mohit Suri for believing in her. With its soulful music and emotionally gripping narrative, Saiyaara appears to be making a strong impact, especially among fans of classic romantic dramas.

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Editor03 mins

Rajkummar Rao’s Maalik Nears Top 10 in His Career with ₹21.14 Cr First Week, Faces Heat from Saiyaara

Rajkummar Rao’s latest action drama Maalik has wrapped up its first week at the box office with a commendable ₹21.14 crore (India net), riding on solid word of mouth and Rao’s loyal fan base. Directed by Pulkit and co-starring Manushi Chhillar and Prosenjit, the film has shown a steady hold through the weekdays after a modest opening. Week 1 Breakdown: This performance positions Maalik just shy of overtaking Rajkummar Rao’s 2021 horror-comedy Roohi (₹21.93 crore) in his list of top 10 highest-grossing films. Given its strong weekday retention, the film is poised to enter that list as it heads into the second weekend. But Trouble Looms: Saiyaara Off to a Flying Start Despite Maalik’s steady showing, it faces stiff competition from Mohit Suri’s romantic musical Saiyaara, starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The film has reportedly crossed the ₹4 crore mark by noon on its opening day—a strong start that could affect Maalik’s box office momentum. While Maalik may still crack the top 10 in Rajkummar Rao’s career earnings, how far it climbs will depend on how well it weathers the Saiyaara storm in Week 2. The coming weekend will be crucial in determining whether Rao’s action outing maintains traction or is eclipsed by the rising wave of youthful romance and music-driven nostalgia.

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Editor02 mins

Tomorrowland Main Stage Destroyed in Fire, Festival to Go Ahead as Planned

A massive fire engulfed and completely destroyed the iconic main stage of the Tomorrowland music festival near Antwerp, Belgium, on Wednesday—just one day before thousands of festivalgoers were set to arrive. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Dramatic visuals showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the main stage, with the fire also spreading briefly to nearby woodland. Despite the damage, organisers confirmed that the festival will proceed over the next two weekends as scheduled. The DreamVille campsite will open on Thursday, and performances by top DJs including David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, and others will begin Friday. Events originally scheduled for the main stage will now be redistributed, mainly to the Freedom Stage. Several hundred firefighters battled the blaze. Antwerp prosecutors have launched an investigation, though preliminary findings suggest the fire was accidental. Founded two decades ago, Tomorrowland is one of the world’s biggest and most celebrated electronic music festivals, drawing over 100,000 attendees annually to the town of Boom.

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Editor02 mins

Yash Raj Films’ ‘Saiyaara’ Registers Over Rs 4 Crore in Advance Bookings Ahead of July 18 Release

Yash Raj Films’ upcoming romantic drama Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, has already garnered strong pre-release buzz with advance bookings crossing Rs 4.37 crore gross (Rs 6.76 crore including block seats) for over 5,000 shows, according to trade reports and data from industry tracker Sacnilk. The film is set to release on July 18. Marking the acting debut of Ananya Panday’s cousin Ahaan Panday, Saiyaara also stars Aneet Padda, who earned acclaim for her performance in Prime Video’s Big Girls Don’t Cry. Ahaan plays Krissh Kapoor, a gifted but temperamental musician, while Aneet essays Vaani, a songwriter. Their professional collaboration soon evolves into a complicated love story. Among Indian states, Delhi leads with Rs 1.22 crore gross, followed by Maharashtra (Rs 1.13 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 86.28 lakh), West Bengal (Rs 49.62 lakh), and Karnataka (Rs 40.6 lakh). The advance booking figure is reportedly the highest ever for a Bollywood debutant-led film, as noted by American entertainment magazine Variety. Breaking from conventional marketing strategies, YRF has deliberately kept its lead actors away from press events and interviews, instead creating intrigue through the film’s music and visuals. Director Mohit Suri told Variety, “We set out to make a very pure film and I’m happy that it is connecting with the audience… We haven’t tried to oversell the film. Our campaign has been all heart and we are very happy with the response so far.” The film’s soundtrack has been a major driver of early excitement. The album features soulful and romantic tracks by celebrated artists like Faheem-Arslan, Jubin Nautiyal, Vishal Mishra, Sachet-Parampara, Arijit Singh, Mithoon, Shreya Ghoshal, and Shilpa Rao. Popular songs include the title track Saiyaara, the heartbreak anthem Barbaad, and the romantic duet Dhun. Saiyaara marks the first collaboration between Yash Raj Films and Mohit Suri, known for hits like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain.

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Editor03 mins

Kamal Haasan Meets Rajinikanth Ahead of Rajya Sabha Oath, Shares Heartfelt Moments

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, Kamal Haasan paid a special visit to his long-time friend and fellow superstar Rajinikanth ahead of his upcoming oath-taking ceremony as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. The meeting, which took place in Chennai, saw the two Tamil cinema legends share warm moments that have since gone viral on social media. Haasan took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a series of pictures from the visit. The photos showed him presenting his official Rajya Sabha nomination order to Rajinikanth, along with a bouquet. In another touching frame, the two were seen embracing warmly, symbolizing decades of mutual respect and friendship. “I shared the beginning of this new journey with my friend @rajinikanth. I feel elated,” Haasan captioned the post, drawing thousands of reactions from fans. Rajinikanth, too, expressed his admiration and congratulated Haasan. “My dear friend @ikamalhaasan who will be taking office as a member of the Rajya Sabha, heartfelt congratulations to him,” the Jailer actor posted on his handle. Kamal Haasan, apart from being a veteran actor, is the founder of the political party Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM). He was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, as part of a seat-sharing agreement with the DMK, which had nominated him as one of its three candidates. Haasan is scheduled to take his oath on July 25. Professional Front: Kamal Haasan was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s gangster drama Thug Life, which released in theatres on June 5. His upcoming projects include S. Shankar’s Indian 3, the highly awaited sequel in the Indian franchise, and a yet-untitled film with stunt choreographer duo Anbariv. Rajinikanth, meanwhile, is set to headline Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, which will hit screens on August 14. Speculation is also rife about his next film, potentially being directed by Maharaja fame Nithilan Swaminathan. The warm reunion between these two icons, who have dominated Tamil cinema for over four decades, continues to inspire fans both on and off the screen.

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Editor03 mins

SS Rajamouli Parts Ways with Cinematographer Senthil Kumar for SSMB29, Calls It a “Creative Break”

In a surprising move, ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli has chosen to part ways with long-time collaborator and cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar for his much-anticipated next film, SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra. Senthil Kumar, who has worked with Rajamouli on iconic blockbusters like Baahubali and RRR, confirmed the development in a recent interaction, calling it a “good break.” “It was Rajamouli’s call. He wanted to try someone else,” Senthil said, adding, “People want to do different films with different people, right? So it is a good break.” He clarified that the decision hasn’t affected their long-standing professional and personal bond. “We’ve been working together since 2003, but there were breaks before too. I didn’t work on Maryada Ramanna or Vikramarkudu because of other commitments. Gaps have happened before, but the relationship continues.” SSMB29, currently shrouded in secrecy, is expected to be an action-adventure drama in the spirit of Indiana Jones. Rajamouli’s father and veteran screenwriter KV Vijayendra Prasad has previously revealed that the film will be a globetrotting adventure, with Mahesh Babu playing a rugged, action-driven hero in exotic landscapes. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Rajamouli had cancelled a major Kenya shoot schedule due to political unrest in South Africa. The director is now said to be exploring alternative international locations. Rajamouli also offered a charming update during a special screening of RRR in Japan. Introducing Mahesh Babu to an international audience, he said, “His name is Mahesh Babu, he is a Telugu actor (people hoot)… He is very handsome. Hopefully, we finish the film a little bit fast and during the release, I will bring him here and introduce him to you. I’m sure you will love him as well.” With Senthil Kumar stepping aside and a new cinematographer yet to be revealed, all eyes remain on Rajamouli’s vision for SSMB29, which is shaping up to be one of India’s most ambitious cinematic offerings.

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Editor03 mins
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