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Tag: Laxman Utekar

  • Chhaava conquers TV with 39.2m viewers after Rs 800 crore box office run

    Chhaava conquers TV with 39.2m viewers after Rs 800 crore box office run

    MUMBAI: From storming cinemas to ruling living rooms, Chhaava has proved unstoppable. After notching up a staggering Rs 800 crore at the box office, Vicky Kaushal’s historical epic has broken fresh ground on television, with its World TV Premiere on Star Gold on 17 August pulling in a massive 39.2 million viewers across India the biggest non-franchise TV debut of 2025.

    Timed around Independence Day, the event was more than just a premiere, it was a cultural celebration. For the first time, Chhaava was simulcast in both Hindi and Marathi, bringing the saga of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to audiences in the language of its land. Star Gold doubled down on the spectacle with a special roundtable featuring Vicky Kaushal, Divya Dutta, Vineet Kumar Singh and director Laxman Utekar, along with deleted scenes that gave fans extra reasons to cheer.

    The cast and creators couldn’t hide their excitement at the film’s record-breaking second act. “I’m overwhelmed by the love Chhaava continues to receive,” said Vicky Kaushal, calling it “truly special” that the story reached every home. Director Laxman Utekar hailed the response as proof that “audiences are eager for powerful, rooted stories,” while producer Dinesh Vijan credited the Maddock–Star Gold partnership for helping the epic connect with millions more.

    The emotional high was shared across the board. “This record-breaking premiere proves that hard work and a compelling story will always find its audience,” said Vineet Kumar Singh, while Divya Dutta called the film’s reception “a testament to the power of a good story.” With Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna, and a stellar ensemble rounding out the cast, Chhaava has cemented its status as one of 2025’s defining blockbusters, a spectacle that’s as at home on TV screens as it was in theatres.

  • IMDb drops its 2025 mid-year movie chartbusters

    IMDb drops its 2025 mid-year movie chartbusters

    MUMBAI: IMDb has rolled out its mid-year honour roll of Indian cinema, and the results are a spicy mix of box-office bangers, buzzy reunions, and high-octane sequels. Topping the Most Popular Indian Movies of 2025 So Far is ‘Chhaava’, directed by Laxman Utekar, with Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna winning over audiences and racking up serious page views from IMDb’s 250 million monthly global users.

    On the flip side of the calendar, it’s Rajinikanth who’s still ruling hearts and headlines, as ‘Coolie’, helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and reuniting the superstar with Sathyaraj after nearly four decades, tops IMDb’s Most Anticipated Indian Movies (July–December 2025) list.

    “We’re honored that Chhaava has topped the IMDb Most Popular Indian Movies of 2025 So Far list,” said Chhaava director Laxman Utekar. “What makes this recognition truly special is that it comes directly from the fans. Their overwhelming love and positive reception for this Maddock film and performances, led by Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna, have been incredibly heartening. This inspires our entire cast and crew to continue creating stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.”

    “This recognition from IMDb reflects the incredible excitement our fans have shown worldwide,” said Coolie director Lokesh Kanagaraj. “The reunion of legends Rajinikanth and Sathyaraj after 38 years has created magic on screen, and we hope what we’ve created will resonate with audiences and match their expectations.”

    IMDb’s most popular Indian movies of 2025 (so far):

    1.   Chhaava

    2.   Dragon

    3.   Deva

    4.   Raid 2

    5.   Retro

    6.   The Diplomat

    7.   L2: Empuraan

    8.   Sitaare Zameen Par

    9.   Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh

    10.   VidaaMuyarchi

    Most anticipated Indian movies (July–December 2025):

    1.   Coolie

    2.   War 2

    3.   The Raja Saab

    4.   Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan

    5.   Saiyaara

    6.   Baaghi 4

    7.   Son of Sardaar 2

    8.   Hridayapoorvam

    9.   Mahavatar Narsimha

    10.   Alpha

    A notable crossover emerges as Mohanlal, Ajay Devgn, and Pooja Hegde each feature in films listed in both charts – doubling their screen mileage and their fanbase buzz.

    While Hindi films dominate both rankings, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema flex their star power too with ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ expected to release in five languages, proving that pan-Indian storytelling is no longer just a buzzword, but a blockbuster reality.

    IMDb’s rankings are based on actual page views of movies with at least a 6.0 rating and 10,000 votes, solidifying the platform’s role as a fan-driven pulse-check on global cinema appetite.

    To view the full list, watch trailers, or add these titles to your watchlist, head to IMDb.com — because, clearly, everyone’s watching.

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  • Director Mangesh Hadawale turns creative producer for ‘Tapaal’

    Director Mangesh Hadawale turns creative producer for ‘Tapaal’

    MUMBAI: National Award winning director and script writer Mangesh Hadawale, known for films like Tingya and Dekh Indian Circus adds another feather to his hat. He is now turning into a creative producer for the Marathi movie Tapaal.

     

    To be directed by cinematographer turned director Laxman Utekar, Tapaal stars Nandu Madhav, Veena Jamkar, Milind Gunaji, Urmila Kanetkar and Rohit Utekar.

     

    Talking about his association with Hadawale, Utekar said, “I thought about making a Marathi film long back. When I was shooting as a cinematographer for Dekh Indian Circus, I discussed about it with Mangesh and asked him to write a nice story for me. He wrote a beautiful story and that is how Tapaal started.”

     

    Talking about what instigated him to turn to a creative producer, Hadawale reveals, “When the film was still at the scripting stage, I made Maitreya Mass Media hear the script which they loved and decided that it would be great if Laxman directs it, keeping his cinematography background in mind. They needed a reliable person to know the process of production and that is why I came in as a creative producer. But in true sense, it was Anant Bhuwad, the executive producer of the film, who has contributed. I have just taken care of location, shoot, permissions etc. But the execution in real sense was done smoothly by Anant Bhuwad.”

     
    The newly turned creative producer not only helped in creative aspect for the movie but also guided him in roping a stellar cast for his debut film.

    “Mangesh knew many actors from the Marathi industry. We had various aspects in mind while we were characterizing and he showed me various options for different characters. When I saw Nandu Madhav’s photograph, I could picturise him as the postman. Similarly, for Veena’s character, we had to look for an actress who could look motherly and would have been able to emote nicely. Keeping that in mind we casted her,” added Utekar.

    Produced by Maitreya Mass Media and distributed by Pickle Entertainment, Tapaal is slated to release on 26 September 2014.