South newsmakers of the week: Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam film gets a title; Kalabhavan Haneef is no more; Prabhas to team up with ‘Dasara’ director

Welcome back to our weekly roundup, where we give you a sneak peek of the most significant events that unfolded in the South Indian film industry over the past week. Commencing with the celebration of Kamal Haasan's 69th birthday and the announcement of the title for his upcoming collaboration with Mani Ratnam, the week brought forth a mix of exhilarating updates and somber news.Unfortunately, we learned of the untimely demise of Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Haneef, casting a shadow over the industry. If you happened to miss the latest headlines from the vibrant world of South cinema, fear not, as we present a quick roundup to bring you up to speed.
Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam film titled ‘Thug Life’
Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan turned 69 this week (Nov 7), and the title of his much-awaited project with Mani Ratnam was unveiled. The duo are collaborating after 36 years, and their upcoming film has been titled ‘Thug Life’! The upcoming film also has actors Jayam Ravi, Trisha, and Dulquer Salman in the lead roles.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take action to curb film piracy
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is gearing up to implement significant measures to combat film piracy, given that the film industry is grappling with annual losses amounting to Rs. 20,000 crore due to this illicit activity. The ministry has appointed nodal officers to curb piracy on digital platforms. The officers from the CBFC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have the mandate to directly disable or remove any website, application, or link that hosts pirated film content.

Prabhas to team up with ‘Dasara’ director
Prabhas is said to be teaming up with ‘Dasara’ director for his next. Recent reports suggest that the actor will be signing a new film with director Srikanth Odela of 'Dasara’ fame, after his current commitments. The actor is reportedly impressed by the storyline of the film, which is based on a tragic incident. The upcoming film is said to be a mass-action drama.

Kalabhavan Haneef passes away
Popular Malayalam actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Haneef passed away here on Thursday, November 9. He was 61. The actor reportedly had breathing issues and was rushed to a hospital in Kochi on Wednesday. Haneef, who has acted in over 150 Malayalam films besides numerous TV serials was a popular face for the movie buffs. His role in the film ‘Ee Parakkum Thalika’ continues to be a fan favourite.