The cast of Amazon Prime Video's new Tamil thriller Aishwarya Rajesh, Kathir and Sriya Reddy. Photo: IIFA2022
The cast of Amazon Prime Video's new Tamil thriller Aishwarya Rajesh, Kathir and Sriya Reddy. Photo: IIFA2022
The cast of Amazon Prime Video's new Tamil thriller Aishwarya Rajesh, Kathir and Sriya Reddy. Photo: IIFA2022
The cast of Amazon Prime Video's new Tamil thriller Aishwarya Rajesh, Kathir and Sriya Reddy. Photo: IIFA2022

Tamil thriller 'Suzhal - The Vortex' is made for a global audience, says Amazon


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Amazon Prime Video unveiled its first original series in Tamil called Suzhal - The Vortez at the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Abu Dhabi.

Aparna Purohit, the head of India Originals at Amazon Prime Video, said she was confident the show's language would not hinder its wider appeal.

“We believe that viewers today are willing to explore content beyond geographic and linguistic boundaries. When you have a nuanced, suspenseful thriller with a strong emotional core, imbued with the feverish passion of the creators, you know that you have a winner on hand," she said.

The show's lead cast, including Kathir, Aishwarya Rajesh and Sriya Reddy, attended the event held at the Etihad Arena on Friday.

IIFA Awards 2022 live: Salman Khan joins Bollywood stars for IIFA Rocks in Abu Dhabi

Created by husband and wife directing duo Pushkar and Gayatri, known for their acclaimed 2017 film Vikram Vedha, the show is set in a village in South India, where the once-idyllic life of its residents is torn apart after a girl goes missing.

To boost the show's impact with non-Tamil-speaking audiences, Suzhal - The Vortex will be available in 30 languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish and Portuguese, on its release on June 17.

The eight-part thriller is being directed by Bramma and Anucharan M.

"Streaming has opened up many opportunities for homegrown content and there can’t be a better time for Indian shows and films to break international barriers," said creator Gayatri at the event. “With a dark mystery at core, the story will have the viewers at the edge of their seats."

Director Anucharan spoke about the show's potential universal appeal.

"Yes, it's set in a village in South India, but this could be any village anywhere in the world. The emotions and the heart of the story is universal," he said.

Top 11 new Indian shows and movies coming to Amazon Prime Video - in pictures

  • Amazon has announced 41 new titles spanning several genres and Indian languages to be launched over the next two years. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Amazon has announced 41 new titles spanning several genres and Indian languages to be launched over the next two years. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • The poster for the coming series 'Hush Hush' starring Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Jhulka, Soha Ali Khan, Karishma Tanna and Shahana Goswami in the lead. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    The poster for the coming series 'Hush Hush' starring Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Jhulka, Soha Ali Khan, Karishma Tanna and Shahana Goswami in the lead. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • 'Adhura' is a supernatural horror series starring Rasika Dugal, right. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    'Adhura' is a supernatural horror series starring Rasika Dugal, right. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • Telugu superstar Naga Chaitanya in 'Dhootha'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Telugu superstar Naga Chaitanya in 'Dhootha'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • Set in a small town, 'Dahaad' is an action thriller with Sonakshi Sinha playing a police officer who sets out to hunt down a serial killer. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Set in a small town, 'Dahaad' is an action thriller with Sonakshi Sinha playing a police officer who sets out to hunt down a serial killer. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor makes his streaming platform debut with 'Farzi'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor makes his streaming platform debut with 'Farzi'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • 'The Village' is one of the first Indian series to be based on a graphic novel. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    'The Village' is one of the first Indian series to be based on a graphic novel. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • Madhuri Dixit Nene plays an overbearing mother in the comedy 'Maja Maa'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Madhuri Dixit Nene plays an overbearing mother in the comedy 'Maja Maa'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • 'Jubilee', starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, is set in the 1940s and looks at the birth of Bollywood. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    'Jubilee', starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, is set in the 1940s and looks at the birth of Bollywood. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • Punjabi hip-hop star AP Dhillon will be the focus of the documentary film 'This is AP Dhillon'. Photo: ap.dhillxn / Instagram
    Punjabi hip-hop star AP Dhillon will be the focus of the documentary film 'This is AP Dhillon'. Photo: ap.dhillxn / Instagram
  • Tanya Maniktala in 'PI Meena'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Tanya Maniktala in 'PI Meena'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • The poster for 'Bambai Meri Jaan' starring Kay Kay Menon in the lead. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    The poster for 'Bambai Meri Jaan' starring Kay Kay Menon in the lead. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • Satyadev Kancharana, Akshay Kumar and Jacqueline Fernandez in 'Ram Setu'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    Satyadev Kancharana, Akshay Kumar and Jacqueline Fernandez in 'Ram Setu'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • The poster for 'Gulkanda Tales' starring Kunal Khemu. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    The poster for 'Gulkanda Tales' starring Kunal Khemu. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
  • The poster for 'Jee Karda' starring Tamannaah Bhatia, Suhail Nayyar, Aashim Gulati, Anya Singh, Hussain Dalal, Samvedna Suwalka and Sayan Banerjee. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
    The poster for 'Jee Karda' starring Tamannaah Bhatia, Suhail Nayyar, Aashim Gulati, Anya Singh, Hussain Dalal, Samvedna Suwalka and Sayan Banerjee. Photo: Amazon Prime Video
The biog

Name: James Mullan

Nationality: Irish

Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)

Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”

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Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

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Richard Flanagan
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Crystal Palace 2

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

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India team for Sri Lanka series

Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan

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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Updated: June 04, 2022, 7:34 AM