Category Archives: Trance

As the year 2020 brought unexpected surprises for many of us, the entertainment industry too amazed the audience with its quirky yet entertaining content. Apart from the storyline, many releases this year bagged praises for the performance of the star cast. Here is a list of actors from the best Malayalam movies of 2020, including Fahadh Faasil in Trance, Anna Ben in Kappela, and Roshan Mathews in CU Soon, among many others.

The Fahadh Fassil starrer released in February this year. A few days after its release, Fahadh became the talk of the town for his performance in the film. From the critics to the audience and a handful of celebrities from the Malayalam film industrycame forward to laud his performance. The film has bagged 7.3 ratings on IMDb.

Ever since her debut in 2019,Anna Ben created a niche in the hearts of the audience. Anna Ben's Kappela also marked the directorial debut of filmmakerMuhammad Musthafa. In the film, Anna played the character of a young happy woman hailing from a small town. The film received 7.6 ratings on its IMDb page.

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Interestingly, CU Soon is also considered as one of the finest Malayalam movies in 2020. The film was shot during the nationwide-lockdown in India. The film revolves around Roshan Mathews'relationship with his fiancee. The tables turn when he learns that she is missing. The IMDb score of the film is 7.9, so far.

Tovino Thomas' performance in the film left a lasting impression on the audience. He nailed playing the character of the innocent Malayali youngster. His performance received a special mention in most of the critics'reviews. The film bagged 6.3 ratings as per more than 600 user reviews on IMDb.

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Prithviraj once again won the hearts of the audience with hisaction thrillerfilm,directed bySachy. The film released in February, a few weeks before the nationwide-lockdown was imposed, is now available on Amazon Prime Video. The film was a take oncontemporary socio-political situations. The film, reportedly, earned43 crores.

It is a very known fact for most of the Malayalam-moviegoers that the film bagged a positive response from the audience and the critics alike. With his on-screen character, actor Kunchackobrought his trademark sincerity to the role of an unheroic-like hero. He essayedthe character of apsychologist, who is pursuinga Ph.D. on criminal minds. The IMDb score of the film is 8 out of 10.

While listing out the best performers from Malayalam movies in 2020, it is difficult to miss out on Kani Kusruthi's name. She bagged the Kerala state award for her performance in the film. Themovie, which chronicles the life of Khadeeja, a married Muslim woman confined within the four walls, has been shot at various places in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Another actor who bagged the Kerala state award is Swasika for her performance in the 2020 release Vasanthi. As the actor and the film received accolades at Kerala's 50th state award function, it is quite evident that it had left an impression on the audience. The film was directed by the Rahman brothers.

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TheZakariya Mohammed directorial started streaming on OTT, Amazon Prime Video, from October 15 onwards. The family-comedy was well received by the audience for its storyline. On the other hand, actor Indrajith Sukumaran too stole the show with his impeccable performance. Reportedly, the filmcollected19.5 crores in its opening weekend.

As soon as the film was released on the OTT platform, Aditi Rao Hydari's fans started writing a positive review on various social media platforms. Though in the film, Rao was playing the character of a mute girl, a section of fans went gaga over her performance. Interestingly, Aditi learned sign language for the film.

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Recap 2020: Fahadh in Trance, Anna in Kappela & other top performers of this year - Republic World

Completing 15 years in the industry, his directorial debut was luck by chance. But everything that followed has been the fruit of Rasheeds unabashed dedication to his craft.

There is an old Hindi phrase, Dene wala jab bhi deta, deta chhappar phaad ke, and it is quite apt for Anwar Rasheeds journey. Rasheed has completed 15 years in the industry, and it was sheer luck that got him his first break as a director. Rasheed worked as an assistant director to Thaha for the film Ee Parakkum Thalika. Rasheeds directorial debut was Rajamanikyam, in 2005, when National award-winning director Ranjith had announced Rajamanikyam with Mammootty in the titular character of a buffalo merchant, but had to back out for personal reasons. Rasheed stepped in, instead. The film turned out to be one of the biggest hits of Malayalam cinema, and it enlisted Rasheed on the elite list of directors.

Rasheed carefully scripted his career thereon and managed to carve a special place for himself in the Malayalam film industry. His films, Chhota Mumbai and Annan Thambi, were extremely successful. He also won a National Award Ustad Hotel in 2013. He is not only a successful director, but also a sought-after producer. He has produced films like Bangalore Days, Premam, and Parava. He has worked with the biggest names in Malayalam cinema, the likes of Mohanlal, Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil, Nithya Menen, Nazriya Nazim, and Nivin Pauly. Rasheed had a gap of seven years before coming back to direction with Trance this year. In those seven years, he had concentrated more on producing films. In an interview with The Hindu, Rasheed said, I am more comfortable producing films. Direction involves a lot of tension.

Rasheed teamed up with Fahadh Faasil for the first time in Trance. He used themes of substance dependence, religion, and the commercialisation of spirituality in the film. It was a big-budget film that took almost two years to finish, and is the reason why they had to change the release date multiple times. Trance was also leaked a week before its theatrical release. Trance garnered good reviews upon release, but it did not set the box office on fire. Its theatrical run was cut short due to the pandemic. In an interview with the website onmanorama.com, the director confirmed, Yes, I received many congratulatory calls, mostly from other film industries. Tamil film-maker K.V. Anand said Trance is one of his favourite films, and technically, the best in Malayalam cinema in the last five years. Telugu film-maker Puri Jagannadh and Tamil director Arun Prabhu of Aruvi fame too called to congratulate me on the film.

Before Trance, every film that Rasheed worked on, as a producer or director, was successful. The box office debacle of Trance did impact him, but he believes there is no point talking about it post the release of the film. To onmanorama. com, he said, I am no philosopher to say that nothing affects me because honestly, I moved on rather quickly. Audiences will love some, adore some, dissect some, and thrash or hate some films. Trance is history now. Once a film is out, isnt it futile to talk about it? Like the rest of the world, Rasheed was stuck at home during the lockdown as well. He took the recourse of films to tide over the period. He has planned not one but three films, which will start to roll once the pandemic is over. Speaking about it to the website onmanorama.com, he said, We are all waiting for the pandemic to be over so that we can go back to the good old days. I have decided on three projects. One of them will have Alphonse Puthren as a director. I will be making my Tamil directorial debut with Arjun Das of Kaithi fame. And another will be a big-screen version of Othalanga Thuruthu, which was a YouTube comedy series in Malayalam that gained popularity during the lockdown.

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Men Of The Year 2020: The Midas Touch Of Anwar Rasheed - Man's World India

2020 may have sucked, but the rave didnt stop for W&W. The venerable Dutch duo kept the party going with a steady stream of releases under both their main project and their NWYR alias. They wrap up the year with another main stage ready single in Gold. Gold combines W&Ws penchant for old school rave vibes with a slick psy-trance beat and a catchy vocal line.

Gold immediately starts out with a glorious piano melody, it definitely recalls EDMs nascent era with some Blue vibes. The drop is where past meets present as a hypnotic psy-trance beat accompanies the chopped vocals. After that we get the melodic synths that only W&W can bring you. Theres also an epic synth buildup before the final drop. Theres no doubt Ward & Willem had the true Rave Culture fans in mind with this one. Heres what they had to say about Gold and their recent live show in Thailand, where COVID has been curbed.

It was so good to connect with the Rave family again. Being on stage and seeing all those happy faces in the crowd made us realize that we stand together and that rave is life. Gold is a track that we have been working on for quite some time and we couldnt be any more proud of the result. Great to end 2020 with this one!

Check out the epic video for W&Ws latest single Gold out now on Rave Culture. The video is to be continued, who knows what Ward & Willem have in store for 2021. Relive their DJ Mag Top 100 live stream too if youre missing those rave vibes.

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W&W Wrap Up the Year with Highly Anticipated New Single "Gold" - Your EDM

Meatier acting roles and the producers hat have given Nazriya Nazim a renewed sense of purpose in her career, and the effervescent Malayalam actor is charting a new course for herself.

Grey is not a shade one would associate with the sunny Nazriya Nazim. But the cute, bubbly Malayalam actor makes one sit up and take notice of her Esther Lopez in Trance (2020). As the pot-smoking, hard-liquor drinking troubled prostitute with a sleek, ombre-dyed bob, she is far removed from the worlds of the Poojas, Divyas, and the Jennys she has played so far.

In my career, I always played the roles that are related to my real life. Most of the characters were fun-loving and naughty. I think each of the characters had at least one element that is similar to my personality. But, in Trance, my character is very different, she told Mathrubhumi. The role itself is not never-seen-before, but it certainly is Nazriya like weve never seen her before. She plays the perfect foil to her real-life husband Fahadh Faasils zany godman character in the movie.

Though Esther has no similarity to my character, I never made any preparations to adapt myself into the role. But I observed a lot of things that connect. I was worried that if I get more conscious about the role, I will be in trouble when I start shooting, she said in the same interview. Nazriya has said that the only preparation she did, was to make the characters smoking and drinking habits look as authentic as possible, calling it a pretty easy role to pull off. Its all thanks to director Anwar Rasheed, who envisioned her in a role like Esthers. Frankly, its also the first time that someone has approached me to do a character like this. Its not like I took a decision that I wont play such roles, she said, in an interview to JFW.

By her own admission, Nazriya is trying to be more serious about her career. I think it is high time to stop being childish, she told Mathrubhumi. Armed with more clarity about the kind of roles she wants to play, it sure does seem like she has entered new innings in her career. The actor took a break after marrying Fahadh in 2014. She returned to play sister to Prithviraj Sukumaran in 2018s Koode, reuniting with her Bangalore Days director Anjali Menon. In her new avatar, she has turned a lot pickier, only accepting roles that truly excite her, even if it means being absent from the screen for a few years on end. Trance came after a two-year break after Koode.

2020 has been pretty eventful for Nazriya. Apart from Trance, she also appeared in a cameo role in Maniyarayile Ashokan. The film, a maiden production venture by actor Dulquer Salmaan, was released on Netflix due to the pandemic, and earned rave reviews. As Malayalam films are going through a resurgence of exemplary storytelling, she has also produced Varathan (2018), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), and C U Soon (2020), starring her husband. I realise that there has been a gap between my films only when people tell me that. Thats because we are either producing a film, or listening to scripts. So, I have always thought that I have been a part of cinema, she told JFW.

In an interview to The Hindu, she said the decision to produce films was one that she made jointly with Fahadh, as he wanted to concentrate only on his acting when he is shooting. I decided to join hands with him, listen to stories, and so on. It was an organic process. There has to be someone to look into the nitty-gritty, and that is how I turned producer. I plan to produce more films if I come across interesting stories. But, she finds acting more challenging than production. You have to make a character look real. Trance also paired her with her husband after the successful Bangalore Days, during the filming of which they fell in love with each other. The couple has said Trance was the only movie so far that they were offered together, which excited them both.

Fahadh has always been supportive. There has never been a discussion on whether I should or shouldnt do films. There was a time after our wedding when I had lazy days and he would say, You should listen to scripts. Entha madiyaayo (Have you become lazy)? she told JFW. The actor, who acted in successful films in Tamil as well, is now all set to make her Telugu debut with actor Nani in a film likely to be released next year.

Also Read: Women Of The Year 2020: The Breakout Star Anna Ben

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Women Of The Year 2020: In Her Second Innings Nazriya Nazim - Man's World India

Daniel Avery

Vincent Arbele

We kick off our year end lists with some techno for the last techno chart of the year. In the face of a global pandemic, electronic music's most thriving genre continues to spread like wildfire. Anyone and everyone is sinking their teeth into it and reasonably so. We continue to enjoy its' edginess and explosiveness thereby filling in for those clubs and festivals we so desperately miss.

See techno charts from 2020

With just two albums to Daniel Avery's credit before this year, it sure was a treat getting two more in 2020. The first being an ambient produced collaboration with Alessandro Cortini and the second, a solo effort titled, Love +Light, which was was hands down, the album of the year in one swollen with so many other great ones. Additionally, it featured what some would call the techno track of the year including yours truly. The outstanding recipient of the accolade is listed as track #2 and it absolutely rips the full-length wide open following the ambient opener, "London Island" leading the listener into a virtual room of bleep-y techno characterized by white noise and reverberated, crashing kick-drums. Daniel Avery's signature, electro-influenced, techno is on full display here, and on the album as well.

With over a quarter of a century of techno production under his belt, Robert Hood is showing no signs of slowing down. His tenth studio album, Mirror Man dropped last month and it might just be his best yet. Fourteen tracks in all were including especially the earth-shaking, album closer, "The Cure." A dazzling highlight of not only Robert Hood's personal work in the studio but of 2020's best techno. It doesn't get much better than this.

Electro masters, MSTRKRFT are back at it in 2020 going full-speed ahead. The electro roots are still there but they've gone ahead and adapted the harder edge of techno this time to get their point across. "I'm In Love With You" was a total highlight of theirs this year and one that I'm hoping to lose my mind to in a dirty warehouse sometime in 2021.

Read our review of their album Black Gloves.

23 years after its' release, Maceo Plex puts his own spin this Coldcut classic which was originally intended to address climate change and deforestation. Sadly enough, the message is still relevant and more important than ever. Not to mention, Maceo's remix is devastatingly good.

German producer, Rove Ranger took a chapter from the early days of hard trance on this 147 BPM, rave-worthy tune. It's the fourth and final cut off of his 101010 E.P. via Lobster Theremin and it's utterly amazing!

Taken from her Peace Transition E.P., VONDA7turned in this delightful piece of techno which is a complete, breath of fresh air. Forget the aggressiveness, the over-the-top drops, and the sinister vocal samples. Delicate, gorgeous melodies gliding across sequenced, steady rhythms is simply an unrivaled equation when it comes to dance music.

R&S Records faithful production wizard, LONE hooked up with newcomer, Kettama in the studio after meeting him through the orchestration of a back to back set of theirs at Glastonbury in 2019. Three magnificent tracks came out of it including this dazzling collaboration they titled, "The Way You Feel."

Trance strikes again as yet another classic from the once shunned genre gets a beefy update to match today's sound. "Strange World" is the title of the tune from the year 2000 and the Belgian duo,Joyhauserdid a spectacular job of bringing it up to date 20 years later. One of the best in 2000 and now one of the best in 2020. Bravo!

In case you were wondering what the future of techno sounds like, Peter Van Hoesen has the answer right here. It's a tune like no other with other-worldly sounds that create a lot more questions than answers. Undoubtedly, the most original techno to drop in 2020.

Julian Jeweil's Schema E.P. on Drumcode from back in January featured this absolute banger! It's titled "Axis" and it pulls no punches whatsoever with its' thunderous kick drum and acid synth. This is peak-time techno at its' finest and it hits harder than other Drumcode track in 2020.

Judging by a 2018 online video of him playing at a festival, Berlin-based producer, Hybrasilhad been sitting on this deep and hypnotic beauty for a couple of years before self-releasing it this past March and boy was is it worth the wait.

As a result of the lockdown, many different musical collaborations have been brought to life includingDrumcode heavyweights, Victor Ruiz along with Pig&Dan who collaborated for first time on the Consciousness E.P. last month. The result was an outstanding three-track package that included this next-level, hybrid of techno and trance.

Hard trance is the name of the game on this exceptional tune courtesy of Greek production duo, 11 Void.

For just the 8th release on Charlotte De Witte's KNTXT imprint, she's invited Alignment back for a second outing that was outright stacked with huge tunes. Four in all are were included especially this 140 BPM beauty which is absolutely divine.

After a significant, six-month break from releasing music in 2020, Truesoulreturned in October with this highly-dynamic, techno courtesy of Drumcode favorite, Bart Skils! It was his first release on Drumcode's sister label, Truseoul and it marks a new direction for the Dutch producer who's normally on the big-room side of things.

Stream the chart uninterrupted via the playlist below:

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The 15 Best Techno Tracks of 2020 - Magnetic Magazine

Ferry Corsten started his UNITY project in 2018, with a view of hardening the sense of community praised in the trance world. At the peak of the pandemic, when millions of people were in lockdown, Ferry had an urge to foster a sense of togetherness with his fanbase and find a new way to connect with them through his music.

So, a decision was made to open up his UNITY platform and give fans a chance to collaborate with him on a new single, with all proceeds going to World Health Organisation (WHO).

After Ferry provided the initial melody in May, fans were asked to submit their own ideas and use their musical creativity to contribute towards the release. The resulting influx of submissions saw Ferry selecting over 20 talented and emerging artists from around the globe to work alongside him on his final release of 2020, Free.

To date the UNITY project has paired Ferry with a host of high-profile artists that include Paul Oakenfold, Ilan Bluestone, Gabriel & Dresden and Trance Wax, but 2020 brought an opportunity to explore something different, something not just for the fans but with the fans.

Following extensive listening sessions of the huge number of submissions he received for the project, Ferry finally whittled it down to 22 collaborators. An assortment of hugely gifted producers, singers, songwriters and engineers from countries that include France, UAE, Italy, Sweden, China, USA, Mexico, Singapore and Australia were selected by Ferry to join him on his first ever fan-collaboration musical release.

Free begins in fitting fashion, with different voices repeating the word unity in different languages. The skills of each participant are on show in abundance through the creativity and individuality that can be heard throughout each element, as Ferry utilises his years of studio experience to craft a finished track from its constituent parts that is simultaneously cohesive, poignant and reflective of the UNITY message.

On working on the project and his thoughts on the final result, Ferry notes:

This project is the very core of what I set about to create with UNITY. To bring musical creators together to create something special and use that unison for something good. Whilst I did start UNITY with my fellow DJs in mind, I always wanted to explore the possibility of doing more fan involved projects as the foundations of the platform grew.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisaged a year like what 2020 has been, but Im happy that something so powerful, explorative and mainly fun came out of this crazy year. Working with all of the participants involved in this release has been such a joyful event for me. Id like to thank them, and all those that submitted parts for consideration, for this release. I love you guys!

The accompanying music video incorporates footage of the participants performing a segment of their part on the song and showing the power of fulfilment and unity that music has the ability to offer.

As the year draws to a close and we all look to a more positive New Year ahead, Free reflects the collective hope held by all and is a shining example of the unwavering power of music to connect people from around the world and give them an outlet for expression.

Listen to the track below.

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Ferry Corsten drafts in fans from around the world to work with him on 'Free' - Rave Jungle

by: Rachel NarozniakDec 25, 2020

Though each set thats led Armin van Buuren to step on a Tomorrowland stage has been special, his July 27, 2013 slot at the Boom, Belgium-based festivals main stage was slightly more so. I just want to make a very special announcement, the trance figurehead told the crowd as he stepped up to the decks. I just came straight from the hospital, and I want the world to welcomemy wife just gave birth to a son, so Id like to dedicate my whole set to my new son. As the rain poured down, van Buuren proceeded to fill the once-in-a-lifetime one-hour and 33-second set with a diverse set of selects ranging from the Shura Vlasovmashup of the Armada Music heads Coming Home and OneRepublics If I Lose Myself to This Is What It Feels Like and even a bootleg of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Today, Dancing Astronaut ventures back to this fateful evening to not only wish Armin van Buuren a happy birthday but also kick off a Tomorrowland New Years Eve Good Morning Mix series. In the time leading up to Tomorrowlands virtual NYE event, Dancing Astronautwill revisit Tomorrowland sets from artists slated to perform at the dance-focused finale to 2020. Follow the journey with our Tomorrowland NYE Good Morning Mix series, and learn why Tomorrowlands Around The World festival was named our top digital event of 2020 here.

Featured image: Marc van der Aa

Tags: Armin Van Buuren, Good Morning Mix, tomorrowland, tomorrowland 2013, tomorrowland nye, Tomorrowland NYE Good Morning Mix series

Categories: Videos

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Good Morning Mix: Begin the day in Belgium with Armin van Buuren's Tomorrowland 2013 set - Dancing Astronaut

Other than Trance and Asuran, Kannada film titled Pinki Elli and a Mollywood film Malayalam movie Kappela are the other films to to be part of Indian Panorama 2020.

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on Saturday announced that 20 non-feature and 23 feature films, including Dhanush and Manju Warriers recent superhit film Asuran will be screened as part of the Indian Panaroma section at the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The nine-day film gala was previously scheduled to take place in Goa from November 20-28. However, it got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the gala is scheduled to be held from January 16 to January 24.

"Happy to announce the selection of 23 feature and 20 non-feature films in Indian Panorama of 51st IFFI. @MIB_India," Javadekar wrote on Twitter. Other than Vetrimaarans Asuran, other South movies to get screened in the festival are Nazriya Nazim and Fahad Fazil starrer Trance, a Kannada film titled Pinki Elli and a Mollywood film Malayalam movie Kappela. Sharing the news, Kalaippuli S Thanu, who bankrolled Asuran stated that he was happy about it.

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Also Read:Suriya gets papped in comfy casuals as he steppes out of his home; See PHOTOS

He wrote, Excited and proud to share the happy news that #Asuran has been selected to feature for Indian Panorama in Indian International Film Festival. My thanks and congratulations to @dhanushkraja @VetriMaaran @gvprakash and the entire #Asuran team. Fans of the film have been taking to the micro blogging website to express their excitement on seeing the news and they all wished the makers of the films with congratulatory messages.

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Dhanush & Manju Warriers Asuran, Nazriya Nazim & Fahad Fazils Trance to be part of Indian Panorama 2020 - PINKVILLA

The year 2020 saw the addition of several blockbuster films in Malayalam cinema. Although a few of them didnt get the opportunity to be released in the theatres,they surely did entertain the masses in large numbers. Heres taking a quick glimpse at the 5 best Malayalam movies of 2020, according to the IMDb ratings.

Directed by Sachy, Ayyappanum Koshiyum is an action-thriller that chronicles the life of the cop Ayyappan. He is an upright man who always strives to do the right thing. However, the twist in the story arrives when a retired army havildar namely, Koshy, settles in Ayyappans village resulting in ego-clashes between the two. The movie stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Biju Menon in the lead roles.

Starring Kunchacko Boban, Sharaf U Dheon in the lead roles, Anjaam Pathiraa is a crime thriller helmed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. The story of the film is based on the life of Anwar who is a consulting criminologist in the state of Kerala. After a string of serial killings happens one after the other, Anwar races against time to find the perpetrator.

ALSO READ|Recap 2020: From 'Soorarai Pottru To 'Psycho' Here Are 5 Best Tamil Movies Of 2020

Directed by Anwar Rasheed,Tranceis a Malayalam language psychological drama film. The plot of the film follows the life of Viju, a motivational speaker, who is hired to be the face of a religious scam. In order to do that, Viju undergoes rigorous training. As his popularity grows among people, Viju sinks in the world of delusion and darkness. Although it received polarising reviews from critics and viewers, it struck a chord with a large section of fans who love artsy films.

ALSO READ|Recap 2020: Here Are The Top 10 Bollywood Singers Of 2020 That Made You Groove

Helmed by Anoop Sathyan,Varane Avashyamund stars Dulquer Salman, Suresh Gopi and Shobana in pivotal roles. The premise of the film revolves around the life of Nina, a French teacher and single mother living with her daughter. Nina is on a quest to find a groom for herself and soon her life changes when a retired army major and a young man moves in her building.

ALSO READ|Recap 2020: From 'Colour Photo'to 'HIT', Here Are 5 Best Telugu Movies Of 2020

Released in 2020, Kappela is a romantic-drama movie helmed by Muhammad Musthafa. Featuring Anna Ben, Sreenath Bhasi and Roshan Mathew in the lead roles, the plot of the film narrates the life of a young woman who falls in love with a man after dialling a wrong number from her phone. When she makes an attempt to meet him, a stranger named Roy enters her life.

ALSO READ|Recap 2020: Taylor Swift To Harry Styles, Top 10 Global Artists Who Made 2020 Better

(Promo Image Source: Stills fromAyyappanum Koshiyum & Trance)

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.

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Recap 2020: Ayyappanum Koshiyum to Trance, here are 5 best Malayalam movies of 2020 - Republic World

From Pratik Gandhi in Scam 1992, Tripti Dimri in Bulbbul to Fahadh Faasil in Trance, Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati in Thappad, here's a list of top 10 performers of 2020.

2020 has evidently been a difficult year. The global pandemic led to a tectonic shift in life as we know it. Those privileged like us, with all amenities at our disposal, were locked inside the comfort of our homes. With theatres and cafes shuttered, and public gatherings prohibited, we were forced to seek out entertainment escapism on our smartphones. And boy, did we watch (and discover) a lot of content.

As we stand at the wee end looking back at the year that was, we scourge the depths of movie calendars and streaming sites to bring some of the best performances of 2020.

Roshan Matthew in CU Soon

(left to right) Darshana Rajendram, Roshan Matthew and Fahadh Faasil in CU Soon

CU Soon,shotduring the coronavirus -induced lockdown, is the aptest representation of how our lives contracted and folded itself into our smartphones and laptop screens. Produced by Fahadh Faasils production company, CU Soon uncovers the heinousness of sex trade through a seemingly innocuous plot of virtual dating. Almost the entire film plays out on text messages and video calls from inside homes and office buildings, which means the actors were not at the liberty of dialing up their charm in a song and dance sequence. Roshan Matthew plays Jimmy Kurian, a besotted lover who proposes to a woman a week after they meet on a dating site. Evidently, his happily-ever-after does not pan out as he had hoped, andKurian spirals down as secrets come tumbling out of the closet. The camera remains steadfastly focused on Matthew's face; and the actor emotes with every muscle on his face whether it be the goofiness of a hopeless romantic, the anxiousness of not being able to locate his girlfriend, the confusion over her identity, the fear of getting arrested in a foreign country or the disgust after certain revelations. The riveting narrative and the experimental format aside, it is Roshan Matthews utterly believable performance as a somewhat nave, closet misogynist, yet vulnerable millennial that makes CU Soon thoroughly engaging.

CU Soon is streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Jaideep Ahlawat inPaatal Lok

Jaideep Ahal

Paatal Lokis arguably one of the best series to have come out in 2020 not only because it did not shy away from exposing the grim realities the privileged would best keep stonewalled but also because the makers refused to assume an entitled stance and promise a hypothetic resolution. Amid the deafening cacophony of greed, corruption, and self-aggrandisation, Jaideep Ahlawats Hathiram Chaudhary emerged as the moral centre, questioning and getting sucked into the ebb and flow of systemic corruption in equal measure.Hathiram is thequintessential common man Naseeruddin Shah epitomised in Neeraj PandeysA Wednesday, and he quickly realises that his police uniform is more of an Achilles heel than kryptonite. Ahlawat imbued Hathiram with fallibility and compassion, integrity and irritability and out came a character that was so holistic it was difficult to imagine that he was just a pencilled in description on paper once.

Paatal Lokis streaming onAmazon Prime Video

Arshad Warsi inAsur

Arshad Warsi in a still from Asur

Critics have long argued that Arshad Warsi has much more to offer beyond his Circuit (Munna Bhaifranchise) and Madhav (Golmaalseries) stints sparks of which were seen inIshqiyaandJolly LLB but came front and centre inAsur.Also starring Barun Sobti and Ridhi Dogra,Asurrevolves around a serial killer with a penchant for religious fanaticism. The part could've easily rolled over to the hero territory. Warsi'sDhananjay Rajputhad the smarts, the screen time, and the dialogues usually mouthed by our garden variety heroes. He is intriguing not much is shared about his life before this case. Above all, he operates on the side of the law, the side usually confused with the right side, or alternatively, the side audience sympathies are intended to lie with. However, neither the story, which is more layered than your gourmet tiramisu, neither the character, ever tread the morality line. Warsi's performance is a masterclass on how to artfully underplay a character, sustaining both the intrigue and not taking over the show with his starry aura. He sheds every ounce of filminess to become one with the cobwebbed, half-lit CBI offices and dingy bylanes of Varanasi.

Asuris available to stream onVoot Select

Pratik Gandhi inScam 1992

A still from Scam 1992, featuring Pratik Gandhi. SonyLIV screenshot.

Scam 1992: A Harshad Mehta Story, ever since its release, has been showered with words of adulation, and rightfully so. Hansal Mehta deftly turned the dry as a bone subject of the share market into a nail-biting biographical thriller series. For those who've lived under the rock to not have been familiar with Harshad Mehta's array of handiwork (this writer included),Scam 1992gives an intimate portrayal of the man he was behind his several titles Big Bull, Einstein, cobra killer cheetah and Amitabh Bachchan of Dalal Street. Pratik Gandhiplayed the larger-than-life Mehta with acute attention to his mannerisms, fromthe stockbroker's gait and speech, to how he flaunted his signature sideways smirk after outwitting the best in business. Gandhis ease in front of the camera and his knowledge about the craft of acting fit effortlessly with Mehtas natural charm, keeping the viewers hooked to their devices through the shows whopping 10-episode run. Further, what may also have worked in Gandhis favour was his audiences relative unfamiliarity with his body of work in Gujarati theatre and cinema,enabling absolute suspension of disbelief.

Scam 1992: A Harshad Mehta Storyis streaming onSonyLIV

Taapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati inThappad

Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati in Thappad

Anubhav Sinha's new lease of films his ostensible second innings have all delved into issues frequently sidelined in mainstream cinema for fear of not being palatable enough. While bothMulkandArticle 15dealt with conspicuous antagonistsIslamophobia and casteism Thappad's villain was more insidious. Subtle yet bold, Sinha was the first filmmaker to bolster a worthy conversion on microaggression. But beyond Sinha's featherlight direction and sensitivity in depicting domestic violence, what elevatedThappadwas its performances. Pavail Gulati slipped into the role of an "otherwise loving husband" with ease and aplomb. His comebacks and reactions felt so authentic and organic it shook up our perception of normalcy in a household. His undramatic portrayal of the husband, whether it be expecting his wife to make his tea, or directing his anger about his office colleague at his wife, made him disturbingly real. Similarly, Taapsee Pannuchanneled exceptionalrestraint as a wife living the humdrum life. Even when the character was at her most vulnerable, Taapsee's performance never crossed over to schmaltz or pity bait. Along with Warsi, Pannu and Gulati have taught cinephiles the ropes ofnot actingacting.

Thappad is streaming onAmazon Prime Video

Tripti Dimri, Paoli Dam inBulbbul

Tripti Dimri as the titular character in Anvita Dutt's Bulbbul

Much has been said and written about Anvita Dutt's allegorical horror seriesBulbbul,and how it subverted the narrative of violence. Tripti Dimri, who essayed the titular role, hada formidable task to make her character mysterious and vulnerable at the same time. Bulbbul is both fierce and nave; she has agency, but her well-wishers frequently rob her off of it in the garb of caregiving. She is a woman of few words she has learnt that her opinions, much like her prose and her spiritual existence, do not matter to others. Its her corporeality men are after. Dimri, who had shouldered an equally difficult role inLaila Majnu, cakewalks through Bulbbul like its her second nature. Rather than letting verbosity define Bulbbul, Dimri allows her side glances, her cackles, her smirks and her silences speak for her. The role played by Paoli Dam, Binodini, is even trickier, as Binodinisplightis always insinuated, never spelt out. She is the elder daughter-in-law, but as a widow, shes has had to let go of the position of the woman of the house. She continually seeks validation from the men in the family, and not surprisingly, is routinely cast away in favour of the younger and prettier woman. She occupies the lowest rung in a power structure, as a woman and a widow. Hence, she channelises her frustration by underminingBulbbul.Dam treads the tightrope like the seasoned actor she is, humanising Binodini's even most malicious acts. It is to Dam's credit that Binodini evokes as much empathy as Bulbbul.

Bulbbulis streaming onNetflix

Josh O'Connor inThe Crownseason 4

Josh O'Connor in a still from The Crown season 4

As global sweetheart Olivia Colman took on the reigns of portraying the British monarch from Claire Foy, the world awaited the outcome with bated breath. Fresh out of her Oscar stint as Queen Mary in Yorgos Lanthimos'The Favourite,Colman was unsurprisingly a treat to watch as a reserved, metered Queen Elizabeth II. But, away from thehubbub around Colman or even Tobias Menzies (who plays the prickly Prince Philip), shone a young, undiscovered talent. Josh O'Connor stepped into the shoes of an awkwardly bent, hesitant Prince Charles. O' Connor embodied the British scion with seamless perfection the neatly tucked palms in his sweaters' front pockets, the slight head bob, and the signature unsure smile were merely a stepping stone to O'Connor's brilliance at physical acting. The actor accurately caught the beat of the insecurities, pain, and trauma of a man caught in between the life he yearns to have, and the one saddled with. O'Connor played Prince Charles with a layered maturity he was a spoilt brat who grew up to be a flawed man riddled with a burdened childhood. From the tricky royal accent to Charles' idiosyncrasies, O'Connor successfullycast off every iota of himself to transform into the Prince-in-waiting. As audiences revelled in the physical similarity between the real and reel characters, critics raved about O'Connor's elegant acting.

The Crownseason 4 is streaming onNetflix

Poorna Jagannathan inNever Have I Ever

Poorna Jagannathan in Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever,Mindy Kalings coming-of-age dramedy series about a first-generation Indian American teenager earned brownie points for its sharp asbutcher knife humour. But upon release, the show, intended to spotlight the diasporic Indian experience, evoked polarising responses. Many argued that it ended up pandering to stereotypes more than effectively dismantling them. Poorna Jagannathan, who plays Devis widowed mother Nalini, is one character whos undeniably steeped in lazy stereotypes shes a strict disciplinarian obsessed about her daughter enrolling into an Ivy League college. However, Jagannathans Nalini is not just a caricature planted into the narrative to lay focus on Devi's hardships. Nalini is an immigrant just about straddling two cultures, while raising a mercurial teenager daughter. She is consumed by an overwhelming sense of isolation, having lost her husband recently. Unable to navigate the growing distance with her daughter, Naliniresorts toan abrasive parenting approach, monitoring and controlling every aspect of Devis life. Like Devi, Nalini is also desperate to belong. Jagannathan submits herself to Nalini's character, perpetually on the cusp of breaking down, but holding herself together by a bare thread for the sake of her daughter.While Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's Devimay have had sizeably more screen time and dynamism, it was Jagannathan who ensured that even in her most unlikeable moments, Nalinis reactions did not feel unreasonable.

Never Have I Everis streaming onNetflix

Fahadh Faasil inTrance

Fahadh Faasil in Trance

Trance,directed by Anwar Rasheed, is practically a one-man show. Through his protagonist, essayed by Fahadh Faasil, Rasheedoffers an expos into the business of blind faith. Despite its promising design, complete with a meticulously constructed backstory of the protagonists circumstances,Trancenever really stretches out to reach its dramatic crescendo, and the complexity of the narrative gets increasingly watered down by simplistic resolutions. Notwithstanding the films inconsistency, Faasils performance remained unwaveringly faithful to his character. As the fake godman/guru Pastor Joshua Carlton, Faasil strucklagombalance between an infectious frenzy and a measured intrigue. His extravagant theatricality sits comfortably with the character of a master illusionist selling religion as a drug.

Tranceis streaming onAmazon Prime Video

Michaela Coel inI May Destroy You

Michaela Coel in I May Destroy You

If 2019 was the year of Phoebe Waller-Bridges heartbreakingly sardonicFleabag, 2020 belonged to the trailblazingI May Destroy You, Michaela Coels blisteringly funny and passionately fiery drama series woven around the concept of sexual consent. Created, written, co-directed, and starring Coel,I May Destroy Youpresents the fictionalised account of her sexual assault. She plays Arabella, a Twitter famous writer struggling to finish her second book. One night, during a particularly unsuccessful writing episode, Arabella ventures out for spirits for her spirit. Her drink is spiked, and the next morning, her mind can hardly recollect anything except the image of a man forcing himself on her inside a toilet. Coels story is searing and thought-provoking, butI May Destroy Youtakes as much care touphold friendships, autonomy, and mostly, self-acceptance. As the creator, Coel ensures Arabellas journey is as immersive and it is cathartic. Coel infuses Arabella with the millennial nonchalance and the default propensity for escapism she is casually dismissive of her million problems and her virtual persona often trickles over to her real life. But in the moments she lets her taut, perennially chirpy faade slide off, her sore, festering wounds get exposed. Her serrated humour at the most unexpected junctures rends you apart, but it also quietly heals. Its nearly impossible to differentiate her performance as an actor from her accomplishments as the writer-director inI May Destroy You;perhaps because her person from her fictional character often meld to become one. All art, after all, have in them a few pieces of the artist.

I May Destroy Youis streaming onDisney+ Hotstar Premium

(All images from Twitter)

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Taapsee Pannu in Thappad to Roshan Matthew in CU Soo..atik Gandhi in Scam 1992 The best performers of 2020 - Firstpost