On October 16, Amazon Prime brings five stories of love, new beginnings, second chances, and a glimmer of hope with the Tamil anthology film Putham Pudhu Kaalai. The title includes five Tamil short movies that have been filmed in the times of the COVID-19 lockdown by directors in Tamil cinema: Sudha Kongara, Gautham Menon, Suhasini Mani Ratman, Rajiv Menon, and Karthik Subbaraj.
The Malayalam family entertainer Halal Love Story also premieres October 15 . Directed by Zakariya Mohammed, the film is produced by Aashiq Abu, Harshad Ali and Jesna Ashim under the banner Papaya Films. The light-hearted family entertainer stars Malayalam superstar Indrajith Sukumaran, renowned actors Parvathy Thiruvothu, Joju George, Soubin Shahir, Grace Antony, and Sharafudheen in pivotal roles.
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A filmed version of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning play What the Constitution Means to Me , created by and starring Heidi Schreck, will premiere on October 16 on Amazon Prime Video. The special is directed by Marielle Heller and produced by Big Beach and Defiant By Nature, Heller’s newly launched production company. The producers of the Broadway production – Diana DiMenna, Aaron Glick, and Matt Ross – also serve as producers of the filmed version.
Horror fans can now enjoy the premiere of Nocturne and Evil Eye from the international Amazon Original Anthology film Welcome to the Blumhouse, a program of eight unsettling, genre movies produced by Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Television and Amazon Studios. Evil Eye , produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, as well as Zu Quirke’s Nocturne are now available for a spine-schilling viewing experience.
Directed by Garrett Bradley, the documentary Time highlights the lifelong effects that mass incarceration has on not only the imprisoned, but the families they leave behind. In this intimate yet epic love story filmed over two decades, indomitable matriarch Fox Rich strives to raise her six sons and keep her family together as she fights for her husband’s release from the Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola.
This week also sees the digital premiere of Ksshitij Chaudhary and Deepak Thaper directorial Punjabi drama Uda Aida. The film stars Tarsem Jassar, along with Neeru Bajwa and Poppy Jabbal in the pivotal roles and follows the story of a poor family, who has to cope with rich kids and their parents when their son is enrolled into a prestigious school.
Highlights of the week
Uda Aida (Punjabi) - October 12
A poor family has to cope with rich kids and their parents when their son is enrolled into a prestigious school.
Nocturne (Movie) - October 13
It is written and directed by Zu Quirke in her breakout feature debut. Starring Sydney Sweeney ( Euphoria, The Handmaid’s Tale, Player’s Table ), Madison Iseman ( Jumanji: The Next Level, Annabelle Comes Home ), Jacques Colimon ( The Society ) and Ivan Shaw ( Insecure, Casual ).
Inside the halls of an elite arts academy, a timid music student begins to outshine her more accomplished and outgoing twin sister when she discovers a mysterious notebook belonging to a recently deceased classmate. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Lisa Bruce, Marci Wiseman, Jeremy Gold, Matthew Myers and Fodhla Cronin O’Reill.
Evil Eye (Movie) – October 13
Based from the award-winning, best-selling Audible Original production from writer Madhuri Shekar, Evil Eye is directed by Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani, and stars Sarita Choudhury ( Mississippi Masala, Lady in the Water ), Sunita Mani ( GLOW ), Omar Maskati ( Unbelievable ), and Bernard White ( Silicon Valley ).
A seemingly perfect romance turns into a nightmare when a mother becomes convinced her daughter’s new boyfriend has a dark connection to her own past. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lisa Bruce, Marci Wiseman, Jeremy Gold, Guy Stodel, Anjula Acharia, Emilia Lapenta and Kate Navin.
Halal Love Story( Malayalam) – October 15
Thoufeek, an unmarried young man from a very orthodox family, is highly passionate about filmmaking. He is an active member and plays a key role in one of Kerala's popular Islamic Organisations, which has kept his cinema dreams in halt. He's approached by Raheem and Shereef with the idea of making a film as an initiative of the cultural wing of his organisation. They soon approach Siraj, a popular associate director to don the cap of the director.
The biggest challenge for the crew is to keep the movie 'Halal' (Halal - a term as per Quran which means "lawful" or "allowed to do" under Islamic believes). As the crew follows religious guidelines in every phase of the filmmaking, massive confusions happen. An unorthodox Siraj (film director) struggles to go ahead with the project.
Putham Pudhu Kaalai (Tamil) - October 16
Putham Pudhu Kaalai brings together 5 of the most celebrated directors in Tamil cinema - Sudha Kongara, Gautham Menon, Suhasini Mani Ratman, Rajiv Menon, and Karthik Subbaraj to create Amazon Prime Video's first Indian anthology film that includes Ilamai Idho Idho, Avarum Naanum/Avalum Naanum, Coffee, Anyone?, Reunion and Miracle.
What The Constitution Means To Me Season One – October 16
What the Constitution Means to Me is the debut release for Defiant by Nature, the newly launched production company founded by award winning director, writer, actor and producer Marielle Heller and with Havilah Brewster serving as Head of Development and Production.
Time (movie) - October 16
Fox Rich is a fighter. The entrepreneur, abolitionist and mother of six boys has spent the last two decades campaigning for the release of her husband, Rob G. Rich, who is serving a 60-year sentence for a robbery they both committed in the early 90s in a moment of desperation.
Combining the video diaries Fox has recorded for Rob over the years with intimate glimpses of her present-day life, director Garrett Bradley paints a mesmerizing portrait of the resilience and radical love necessary to prevail over the endless separations of the country’s prison-industrial complex.
