Nine Puzzles: The Unstoppable Korean Thriller Taking Disney+ by Storm!

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PUZZLE PHENOMENON

It was announced that “Nine Puzzles,” a gripping Korean crime thriller, is now Disney+’s most-watched Korean series worldwide in 2025, having achieved this milestone only nine days after its premiere on May 21st.

In this show, Kim Dami, known for her role in “Itaewon Class”, portrays Yoon Ena, a high school student who stumbles upon her uncle’s corpse together with an enigmatic puzzle piece. Unfortunately, she finds herself under suspicion as the prime suspect. A decade passes, and now Ena is a criminal profiler. Her expertise is needed when a fresh series of murders emerge, all connected by the same type of puzzle pieces. Son Sukku, star of “Big Bet”, joins as Detective Kim Hansaem, while Kim Sungkyun from “Moving” and Hyun Bongsik complete the ensemble cast. The series is helmed by director Yoon Jongbin, famous for “Narco Saints”, and scripted by writer Lee Eunmi, who brought us “Tunnel”.

The new show “Nine Puzzles” is now available on Disney+, joining other Korean productions such as “Unmasked” and “Hyper Knife”. Future releases include the treasure-hunting series “Low Life”, starring Ryu Seungryong, and the international conspiracy thriller “Tempest”, featuring Gang Dongwon and John Cho.

Disney+ now has a new Korean show called “Nine Puzzles”. It’s joined by other Korean shows like “Unmasked” and “Hyper Knife”. Other upcoming shows include a treasure-hunting series called “Low Life”, starring Ryu Seungryong, and an international conspiracy thriller named “Tempest”, with Gang Dongwon and John Cho in the cast.

ROMANTIC REVEAL

In the cinematic landscape of India, Yash Raj Films has unveiled the trailer for “Saiyaara,” an upcoming romantic drama from the creative mind of director Mohit Suri. This exciting new venture will see Ahaan Panday stepping into the limelight as a Bollywood leading man alongside breakout sensation Aneet Padda, who captured hearts in the film “Big Girls Don’t Cry.

The romantic tale, created by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, is a joint effort between the esteemed film production company and Suri, both renowned for creating heartfelt love stories. The trailer unveils the title’s symbolic interpretation: “Saiyaara” translates to a wandering celestial body, but poetically signifies something that is stunning, otherworldly, or elusive – like a wandering star, which is always radiant, guiding, yet perpetually out of reach.

This project combines YRF’s 50-year lineage of romantic films from Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra, as well as Mohit Suri’s own collection of romantic movies like “Aashiqui 2,” “Malang,” and “Ek Villain.” Now in his 20th year as a director, Suri is infusing the YRF universe with his unique creative touch.

“Saiyaara” releases worldwide in theaters July 18.

CELLULOID CENTENARY

The Film Heritage Foundation plans to celebrate the centenary of renowned Indian filmmaker Raj Khosla with a full-day tribute titled “Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu,” which will be held at Mumbai’s Regal Cinema on May 31.

This celebration showcases the screenings of three restored classics: “C.I.D.” (1956), “Bambai Ka Babu” (1960), and “Mera Gaon Mera Desh” (1971). Notably, “C.I.D.” and “Bambai Ka Babu” have been digitally restored in 4K by the NFDC-National Film Archive of India. Additionally, a panel discussion will take place with veteran actor Asha Parekh, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, and biographer Amborish Roychoudhury participating.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the director of FHF, likened Raj Khosla to Howard Hawks within the context of Indian cinema, commending his ability to work across various film genres. Meanwhile, Prakash Magdum pointed out that this event is a part of an extensive restoration project, which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

Parekh, well-known for appearing in various Khosla movies, acknowledged that the film “Do Badan” broadened people’s understanding of her acting capabilities beyond just glamorous parts. Every screening is complimentary, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Over the course of three decades, Khosla’s career encompassed 27 films.

DECEPTION DARLINGS

Amazon Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for “The Traitors India,” their local version of the worldwide reality sensation, which is set to debut on June 12 with consecutive Thursday episodes culminating in a thrilling finale. Bollywood producer Karan Johar serves as the host for this intricate game involving twenty popular celebrities such as Anshula Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi, Jasmine Bhasin, Karan Kundrra, Maheep Kapoor, Raftaar, and Uorfi Javed.

At the grand Suryagarh Palace in Rajasthan, participants labeled as “innocents” aim to unmask secret “traitors” amidst a series of competitions that blend both physical and mental tasks. This unique format offers a thrilling battle between deceit and discernment, creating an ultimate mental challenge.

Nikhil Madhok, head of originals at Prime Video, stated that we’re delving deeply into a unique format that India hasn’t encountered before. Karan Johar assures viewers will encounter ‘deception, treachery, betrayal, and an abundance of drama.’ The series is being developed in collaboration with All3Media International and BBC Studios India Productions.

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2025-05-30 14:48