The weekend is here and so is Pinkvilla with its special South Newsmakers of the Week on Saturday. From Tamil star Jayam Ravi’s divorce with wife Aarti, Thalapathy Vijay’s next film announcement to the release of Tovino Thomas’ ARM – the South entertainment industry saw some of the biggest news this week. If you missed any of these or more, you have landed on the right page!
The South’s Top Newsmakers
1. Thalapathy 69 announced
Thalapathy Vijay, who is currently enjoying the success of his last release The Goat, has announced his next film Thalapathy 69 (working title). The superstar’s alleged last film will be directed by director H Vinoth.
The makers unveiled a special poster on September 14 that features a man holding a fire-lit torch. Along with the poster, they expressed their gratitude to the actor, writing, “The torchbearer of democracy is coming in October 2025.”
Earlier on September 13, the makers of Thalapathy 69 released an emotional video filled with fan messages that celebrated the legacy of the actor.
The over five-minute long video featuring Thalapathy Vijay’s fans depicts his entire legacy and journey in the film industry. His alleged last film will surely become a celebration no less than a festival, considering how many fans have expressed their love for the actor and his importance in their lives.
2. Devraa Trailer Out!
After much wait, the trailer of Jr NTR and Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor’s much-awaited film Devraa: Part 1 was released on September 10. Directed by Shiva Koratala, the film’s trailer depicts the story of friendship and betrayal that takes place on the seas. Jr NTR plays dual roles of both father and son, while Saif Ali Khan plays a ruthless antagonist.
Apart from this, the Devraa: Part 1 trailer also gives a glimpse of Janhvi Kapoor, who plays the girlfriend of the timid Jr NTR in her Telugu debut. The trailer of Koratala Siva gives a glimpse of an epic story across the seven seas, packed with high-octane action on a large scale. It is pertinent to mention that Devraa: Part 1 is scheduled to release in theatres on September 27.
3. Divorce of Jayam Ravi and Aarti
Tamil star Jayam Ravi shocked everyone by announcing his separation from his wife Aarti through a social media post on September 9. In his long post on Instagram, Jayam called the decision ‘painful’ and said that the two took the decision after a lot of thought. Although the actor did not reveal the reason for his separation, he said that it was only based on the best interests of everyone associated with them.
The matter got even more complicated when Jayam Ravi’s estranged wife Aarti shared her story and said that the divorce announcement was made without her consent or knowledge. She wrote, “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the recent public announcement about our marriage, which was made without my knowledge or consent. After 18 years of shared history, I believe such an important matter should be handled with the decorum, respect, and confidentiality it deserves.”
4. Vettaiyan’s first song Mansilayo released
Directed by TJ Gnanavel, Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Vettaiyaan is one of the most anticipated projects of the year. Ahead of its release on October 10, the makers released its first single Manasilayo, which is a mix of Tamil and Malayalam lines with festive aesthetics. The song also features amazing dance moves by the lead lady Manju Warrier and a special appearance by Anirudh Ravichander.
Manasilayo is also special as it features the voice of late legendary singer Malaysia Vasudevan with the help of AI. Along with the recreated voice, the song also uses the voice of his son, singer-actor Yugendran Vasudevan.
Don’t forget to let us know in the comments how you liked this rocking track of Rajinikanth and Manju Warrier.
5. Tovino Thomas’ ARM release
Popular actor Tovino Thomas is back on the silver screen with his much-awaited film Ajayante Randam Motionam (ARM). Directed by debutant Jithin Lal, the action-adventure released on September 12.
Ajayante Randum Motionum or ARM focuses on the story of three men named Maniyan, Kunjikelu and Ajayan, who belong to the same lineage from different generations. Set in the embrace of northern Kerala, these men are destined to protect a treasure that has been brought to their village from the skies. Further, the film explores the adventurous paths they face to protect the treasure, no matter what it takes.
Apart from Tovino, ARM stars Krithi Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh and Surabhi Lakshmi in the lead roles. Apart from this, the film also stars Basil Joseph, Rohini, Harish Uthaman, Nisthara Sait, Jagadish, Pramod Shetty, Aju Varghese and many other actors in pivotal roles.
Also read: Will Vijay starrer Thalapathy 69 be a revival of H Vinoth’s shelved project with Kamal Haasan?
