Cinemamatters.com Indian Movie Magazine May 2011

1 MAY - 2011WWW.CINEMAMATTERS.COM

Vol 1 Issue 5

ONLY ONCINEMAMATTERSPhotos&EventsInterviewsReviews

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Entertainment . Online. Anytime. www.cinemamatters.com MAY - 2011

Rajni’s Rana Movie Launch

K BalachanderDada Saheb Phalke Award

Subhashree Thanikachalam

Hariyudan NaanDirector’s Exclusive Q&A

SINGER SHALINIExclusive Q&A

MOM&DAUGHTERRADHA & KARTHIKA

Royal WeddingWilliam & Kate




MOM&DAUGHTERRADHA & KARTHIKA



SINGER SHALINIExclusive Q&A


VOL 1 ISSUE 5 May 2011

Contents

10 Rajni’s Rana Launch

14 Award - K B

08 Subhashree Thanikachalam EXCLUSIVE Q&A


18 SINGER SHALINI EXCLUSIVE Q&A

92 MOM& DAUGHTER RADHA &KARTHIKA

23 Movie Reviews

51 Old theme New fame

36 Film Festival in Norway

107 Prashanth Ponnar Shankar

49 Deiva Thiirumagan On Location

59 7am Arivu Villan

44 180 On Location

122 Royal Wedding William & Kate



Vol 1 Issue 5


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SHALINIExclusive Q&A

MOM&DAUGHTER

RADHA &KARTHIKA







MOM&DAUGHTER

RADHA &KARTHIKA

Creative Head - Vinodh.P.S

Designer - N.Madhusuthanan

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Cover page : Karthika

Editor note May 2011Dear Reader,

Summer is here!!!! Which means the heat is here and the movie theaters are go-ing to be full. It certainly has started of with some good movies this month. This month of the year usually we see a lot of families coming together and visit-ing each other. The best part is “ School Leave “

I simply wonder if the world has changed or if the kids these days are more inquisitive. I see a lot of kid creators and more raw talent. It is a good sign that Television media is giving a bigger platform to everyone. So I hope that children make use of the time this summer and learn something creative or artistic.

Now coming to Cinema, Steven Spielberg said “ I dream for a Living”A director’s dream is what we watch as a movie.....A music director’s dream is the tune we all sing to.... Let’s all dream and achieve creative excellence.

Stop Piracy Save Cinema. Watch movies in Cinema theaters, a lot of hard work goes into each movie.

Happy Summer, Enjoy Reading.

SainthaviEditor.


Entertainment. Online. Anytime.


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Kadha Solla Poraen Singer(s): Vikram, Shringa. S Music: GV. Prakash Album: Deiva Thirumagan

Rules Kidaiyathu Singer(s): Tippu Music: Shareth Album: 180 - Rules Kidaiyathu

Ennamo Yeadho Singer(s): Aalap Raju, Prashanthini, Rap Sricharan, Emcee Jesz Music: Harris Jayaraj Album: Ko KKodi Kotti Koduthalum Singer(s): Harich-aran, Sathyan Music:Illayaraja Album: Ponnar Shankar

Aaru Padai Singer(s): Vijay Yesudas, Mukesh Music: Mani Sharma Album: Mappillai

Yai Sivakami Singer(s): Rahul Nambiar, Rita Music: Illayaraja Album: Ayyan

Engeyum Kaadhal Singer(s): Aalap Raju, Devan, Ranina Reddy Music: Harris Jayaraj Album: Engeyum Kaadhal

Pooti Kedandha Manasu SSinger(s): Karthik, Priya Music: John Peter Album: Bodinayakanur Ganesan

Jolly Aa Jolly Aa SSinger(s): Ranjith Music: Mani Sharma Album: Om Sakthi Mazhaiyudhir Kaalam SSinger(s): Vijay Yesudas, Saindhavi Music: Taj Noor Album: Ethan

TOP 10 Songs

Tamil songs

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Would you like to be a singer? Why didn’t you try to become a profes-sional singer? No I never wanted to, I always believed that one should not venture into any profession without proper training. That applies to me too. It’s not like these days when you can be a playback singer just because you know to sing. I belong to a golden age when music is really a devotional art.

You would have introduced or should I say identified many singers on your shows, please name a few for us....Yes. I love the terminology “identified” see nobody comes out of the blue. They are just looking for the right platform. That way may be I have helped a few. KARTHIK, RANJITH, CHINMAYEE, HARICHARAN, SAINDHAVI, SRIVARDHANI, ROSHNI, RAHUL NAMBIAR and NOW THE BAND HUN. But these are the few … I know there are many shining in many fields of music like devotional classical and as even composers.

You started out to be a reporter and how did that take turn to a director? NO. I did not start as a reporter. I started as a scriptwriter and director only. I turned a re-porter during the assembly elections in 1996. I am the first on firld reporter for Tamil satel-lite televisions. But being a creative person, I gave it up very shortly becuae that was fact reporting and did not suffice my needs.

Who is your favorite music director? ILAYARAJA, ALL THE WAY.


Aboorva Raagangal.... I should say the pioneer of all these music reality shows. How did you come up with the concept? No Sun TVs sapthaswarangal. That is the parent show for all the music shows reality shows that are happening today. A professional music competition for youngsters was the need for the day in the late 90s when satellite televisions were reeling under the same old film based shows. That was a super hit and became a factory to produce pro musicians to the film industry. Aboorva raagangal was much later after four years of sapthaswarnagal.

Do you sing? Have you been trained pro-fessionally in any type of music? Not really. My father was a severe music fanat-ic and I learnt barathanatyam for 12 years. Music classes somehow did not work out for me. But mu-sic was in the gene and blood. So learning hap-pened only through listening

CMEXCLUSIVE


What is your favorite song?That’s a very difficult question. There are millions. Tell us something about your family.A very small and cute family, Hus-band thanikachalam is a hotelier in japan, daughter shrinika is a third year media student. But you know I have seen all my contestants in my shows as my own children. So I am virtually the mother of a lot of children

How do you find time for family? Do you cook? What is your signature dish? I may not be very good with family timings. But whatever time I spend is quality time. I am a very good cook, according to my daughter. I do all the meals at home. Signature dish

For a layman, how do you think he or she should real-ize that they are talented? Listen to comments from genuine people. Just because two three people are saying u r talented don’t believe it. Pursue what you know and don’t try to do something be-cause you like what others are do-ing

Produced and Directed

How was your expe-rience working with Hariharanji? BLISS. An opportunity to travel with a living legend of his caliber, I think this is the best one-year of my musi-cal life.

Are we going to have another season of Hariyudan Naan? It is too early to say. My aim is make this band HUN a world brand. We will wait .

A few words of wisdom for our readers I am not any big to say

that. Still if u insist. CHASE

YOUR DREAMS. YOU

MAY HAVE A LONG LIST

OF SACRIFICES. DOES

NOT MATTER. THERE

IS A BIG FRUIT WAITING

AT THE TOP OF THE

HILL. FETCH IT.

SAPTHASWARANGAL APOORVA RAAGANGALRAGAMALIKALITTLE MASTERSMARGAZHI MAHA UTSAVAMCLEVELAND THYAGARAJA UTSAVAM

LITTLE SUPER STARSCARNATIC MUSIC IDOLMAGALIR MATTUMTWENTY TWENTYAnd a lot of special shows


RAJINI’s RANA MOVIE LAUNCH

EVEN

TS RAJINI’s RANA MOVIE LAUNCH


RAJINI’s RANA MOVIE LAUNCHRAJINI’s RANA MOVIE LAUNCH




K Balachander has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2010.

The award is conferred by the Govern-ment of India for outstanding contribu-tion to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl.The award is given on the recommendations of a committee of eminent persons, said a press release.

The script writer-producer-director and actor has been associated with the in-dustry for almost five decades and ren-dered many a hit. A thrilled KB dedicat-ed the honour to artistes groomed by him.

A host of film personalities including those who were introduced by him in-cluding Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Vivek among others heaped laurels on Balachander.

He has written, directed and produced more than 100 films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. The films he scripts and directs analyse unusual or complicated inter-personal relationships and social themes. Balachander has the uncanny knack of spotting talent.

Born in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu in July 1930, Balachander came into prominence as a play-wright with his dynamic plays like ‘Major Chandrakanth’, ‘Server Sundaram’, ‘Naanal’ and ‘Neerku-mizhi’. These plays enjoyed huge popular and critical acclaim.

He entered the film industry in 1965 and shot into fame with his very first film ‘Neerkumizhi’ starring Nagesh. Since then he has directed and produced a number of movies which have won many Na-tional Awards, awards from the State Govts. and other organizations.

Some of the prominent films he has directed include ‘Apoorva Raagagal’, ‘Avargal’ ’47 Natkal’, ‘Sindhu Bhairavi, ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ (Hindi), ‘Maro Charithra, and ‘Rudraveena’ in Teluguand ‘Beki-yalli Aralida Hoovu, in Kannada.For the last few years, Balachander has also turned his attention to the small screen and has brought to it the same perfection and intensity that he exhibited on the big screen.

KB gets Dada Saheb PhalkeAWAR

D


kamal greeted K Balachander Dada Saheb PhalkeFollowing is an article by Kamal Haasan greeting his men-tor K Balachander for being selected for Dada Saheb Phalke award.

There is no two feeling.. Only one.. Its long overdue..And if it had not been done at least done it will be a glaring disre-gard.. a glaring omission.. thats what we have been trying to tell even the govern-ment.. and constantly reminding them.. Not because of some hurry.. He’s in good health.. He can probably direct a few more films if he so wishes.. But my thing of course its been often said in many in-terviews.. they know what i am to him and what he is to me.. there is only one thing i would like to say.. its a very personal matter but it doesn’t matter.. now we are beyond all that.. Im groomed by him and everybody knows that and its a father-son relationship.. Once when i went to see one of his plays, i had tears in my eyes.. not so because of just the quality of the play because he is known for that.. its not a surprise.. but the tenacity of purpose and the intent with which he does a play -

the constant endeavor to excel - that is what moved me and i suddenly realised and i wrote say-ing that the roles have been reversed.. I felt like a proud father because i have grown up enough to understand that the value of the true son of the soil.. i need not be a parent.. but thats what he is.. a very important son of the soil.. a wealth - specially Tamil Nadu - we can boast - we can beat our chest and say that he is from here - but that doesnt mean that we are trying to entrap him into a colloquial border.. but im sure there will be someone from Nannilam who’ll say he’s ours but he’s everybody’s.. including Kamal Hasan’s - especially Kamal Hasan’s.. and this is one occasion where i use - to vault over - its a fulcrum which is use to lift my other heavy load of gratitude and other things and the good things i have to say about him.. He’s one package - an inimitable pack-age and i have been telling this to people..And apart from the government, the industry already respects him but they should understand the true value of it,.. if you have have to say in tamil - in-tha thangathai nalla orachu paakanum - santhegame vendam - iruntha nall orachu paarunga yena konjamaavathu ottum.. Thats what i would like to say.. he’s a very important man and im very proud.. i want him to be very healthy.. if at all an award has to be given apart from films he should be given for the way he takes care of his health.. he had a heart attack when he was 40 or 41 and he decided to change his lifestyle and that way also he is a champion.. Thats another award that doctors would have to sit around and discuss...


I think he should start listening to many stories.. at least even if he doesn’t want to make a film he should advise all and sun-dry.. I was a nobody when he picked me up so was Mr Rajini.. He should now pick up boys and impart as much knowledge as he can.. and im very lucky that way.. nobody will get as much from him as ive got.. and i know im arrogant in saying that but i cn say that because i have been humble in learning.. now i’m boasting about the op-portunity only - not about what i have achieved..

- What sets him apart

- one is he is constantly cri-tiquing himself and asking.. ive seen him terribly worried about a release of a film which doesn’t matter at all after all the success.. im talking about maybe after more than midway across 100 films that he had done.. and he’d get worried - al-most drive himself to sickness..

Worrying and worried sick they say.. thats what we would say - why does he have to worry - even if the film is an ut-ter flop it would never change the value of the man but he would worry for everything and the amount of effort that he puts in every bit - we used to make fun - like if theres a postman’s character and he has to say ‘sir post’, he would rehearse and he would look at it from another angle and he”ll work on it.. i have seen it hap-pen,.. thats how i came in.. So also Mr Rajini - started with a bit role.. its a smaller role.. As a matter of fact, the opening of Rajini with Balachander was much bigger than what i got in Arangetram.. I had to work really hard and he notices it.. That’s his strength.. I wish Mr Ananthu had been alive.. He could have easily been alive.. We are all people who wanted him to rise rise rise and rise.. im very happy - his best

i have done about 36 films with him.. truly even the ones that didnt do well are my favourites - even the ones where i did bit roles - it was not about the ego.. the honour of working with him was always there.. i don’t know about many others but im very proud and i think he’s very im-portant and even as an old man with oxygen in my mouth i would still have to remember him - he;s that important a part of my film career.. i have had many gurus in various sections of life and this part is very important.. its as important as shivaji ganesan sir was to me and they didnt hand guide me.. this gentleman did that.. they gave it for everyone.. they were like listening to all india radio.. but he personally led me and that was like a blind man crossing the street - thats how we were when we came and he ledus across the street..

Director Union Members wished K Balachander



CMEXCLUSIVE


Tell us some thing about your childhood and family. Started singing when I was 3 in school and then when I was 5,I recorded my first jingle and performed in my first musical ‘Annie’. .Started training in Carnartic for a few years then switched to Hindustani for 8 years while simultaneously doing my prac-ticals in western classical piano and The-ory grades in Western music through the Trinity College of London.So my childhood was filled with music music and more music

Where do you hang out in chennai with your friends ? Amethyst,CoffeeDay,Barista etc

SHALINI

Name: Shalini Singh BalajeAge: 28Native: Uttar PradeshBorn and brought up in: Chennai

S You started out as a singer when you were 13. How did your career start? I started out when I was 5 professionally, and when I was 13 got the opportunity to cut my first album. I had recorded a song for Mr.Balaji a sound en-gineer then working in Picture Productions and he liked it so much that he played to Mr.Madhav Das of Magnasound who happened to be look-ing for a new face to launch Tamil Pop down South.He liked my voice and the next thing I knew was i was on contract with Magnasound doing an album and after that is history.

What was your first song?The first film song that I recorded was ‘Deewa-na’ from the movie Thulli Thirindha Kaalam by Jayanth...but first released song was ‘Ailasa Ailasa’ from the movie ‘Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar’ by Karthik Raja.

Who is your favorite music director? Tough question :)Every composer has a unique style and tech-nique, so to choose one would just be unfair.

What is your favorite song sung by you ?Every single song I sing is very close to my heart and it would be just plain wrong to choose one favorite.

Who is your favorite singer? Male and female?Im a lover of music in general,so any song that touches my heart and any voice that gives that song a new colour would certainly be my fa-vorite.And in yesteryear singers, there cant be any comparison...they are all legends.

CMEXCLUSIVE


What do you think about these reality shows for singers these days? I think it is an amazing platform, a kind of short cut in some ways,but nevertheless ab-solutely pressurizing and difficult because there is just one winner.But strangely, its more difficult to sustain yourself in this in-dustry than bag a few songs, so it doesn’t end with the reality show,it has to be pur-sued. There is no way that even the win-ner of the contest can sit back and expect to be hoarded with offers. Sometimes,the winners don’t do as well as the others out-side the reality show.So ultimately, its a game of luck,handwork,hits and misses and everyone has to go through the grind and go with the flow.

Is there a healthy competition among the singing fraternity? There is a lot of groupism but having never been in any such group I can safely say that everyone have been really good friends to me and I have sung over 500 songs and travelled the world so its all in how you portray yourself and how you deal with people and situations.

Do you think a voice should go well with the mood of the song or should fit the actor performing for it?Now it is more of suiting the style and mood of the song rather than the actor because music is being globalized and needs to be closer to what is the essence of the music style than any other factor.

Can we expect more albums from you ? Sure why not...If and when the right time comes my way.

How has recording a song changed from when you started? I don’t think anything much has changed.Its just the styles of music that have been diver-sified and globalized.

A few words of wisdom for aspiring singers....... It is no walk in the park and nothing comes easy.If it does come easy then sustenance is going to be difficult considering the number of singers today.My sincere advice would be to pursue your music career alongside a regular job so that you are able to balance yourself for your soul and your pocket.


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Lekha All Rounder

Exclusive Q&AManobala

Aadhi Going Great Guns

Nadunisi NaaygalControversy

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Jiiva Ready For the

Race

Stars Talk World cup

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MOM&DAUGHTER

RADHA &KARTHIKA







MOM&DAUGHTER

RADHA &KARTHIKA

Magazine


Pick Of The MonthM

OVIES

Vaanam

Mappillai

Ponnar Shankar

STARRING : Silambarasan, Bharath, Anushka, Prakash Raj,Saranya

STARRING : Dhanush, Hansika, Manisha Koirala

STARRING : Prashanth, Sneha, Kushboo, Prakash Raj

BANNER : Cloud Nine

BANNER : Sun Pictures

BANNER : Lakshmi Shanthi Movies

DIRECTOR : Krish

DIRECTOR : Suraj

DIRECTOR : Thiagarajan

MUSIC : Yuvan Shankar Raja

MUSIC : Mani Sharma

MUSIC : Ilaiyaraaja

GENRE :Family / Drama

GENRE :Family / Drama

GENRE : Classic

Kullanari KoottamSTARRING : Vishnu Vishal, Remya Nambeesan

BANNER : Darshon Creations

DIRECTOR : Sribalaji MUSIC : V SelvaganeshGENRE :Romance

Ko STARRING : Jeeva,Ajmal Ameer, Karthika, Nair Piaa Bajpai

BANNER : Red Giant Movies

DIRECTOR : K. V. Anand MUSIC : Harris Jayaraj

GENRE :Thriller / Horror

MOVIE


Vikram is flying high with the accolades that he is receiving for Deiva Thirumagan, even before the film hit the screens. For, the trailers of the movie are out and his performance is widely appreciated.

Produced by Mogan Nadarajan, the movie is directed by Vijay of Ki-reedam, Madraspattinam and Poi Solla Porom fame. Amala Paul and Anushka are the heroines while music is by G V Prakash Kumar.

‘Dheiva Thirumagan is a movie to reckon with in my career. It is one of the best’, says Vikram, adding: ‘It has a great storyline, never told before in Tamil cinema. It provides a good scope for every artiste to give their best on screen. The entire shooting is completed in one go’. The movie was shot in Ooty and its adjoining areas. Also a grand set resembling a High Court was erected in Chennai where a major por-tion of the film was shot. The movie has cinematography by Nirav Shah and art by Santhanam.

The highlight of the film would be its songs, adds Vikram. Young G V Prakash has come up with catchy numbers, he adds. Interestingly, the actor himself has crooned two numbers in the movie.On the heroines, he says, ‘Everyone knows Anushka as a glam doll but when you see this film, you realise her character has a lot of substance. In Mynaa, you saw an Amala Paul who is dark and grimy but in this movie, you see her as mature, composed, pretty and stylish. For an actress who is just a few films old, she has done a good job.

7am Arivu, directed by A R Murugadoss and featuring Suriya and Sruthi Haasan in lead roles, is fast shaping up. An action sci-fi thriller, the movie is said to be made in three languages- Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

Grapevine has it is that plans are on to shoot a song in Chen-nai with 1000 dancers with Suriya. Confrming the news, music composer Harris Jeyaraj too has tweeted, ‘ recoring a dance track that would feature 1000 dancers’.

Udhayanidhi Stalin of Red Giant Movies, who is producing the film, is upbeat with the way the movie has shaped up. Sources close to him say, ‘ the way so far the movie has come, it is obvious that it would rock’.

Since Murugadoss and Suriya come together after a huge huit in Ghajini, all eyes are on the project. Suriya plays a circus artiste in the movie. A thrilled Shruthi tweeted, ‘Last few days on the sets of ezham arivu! I’m as excited as the audience to see the final product.’

Says Suriya, ‘7Am Arivu is an intelligent script. It is full of thrills and spills. There is awesome energy all through. I should be thankful to my producer and director, they gave me enough en-couragement to give my best.’

Dheiva Thirumagan – Preview

PREVIEW

MOVIE

7am Arivu – Preview


First, he had a blockbuster song from a Rajinikanth starrer remixed for his film (Ennama Kan-nu….). Next, he used the titles of a couple of popular Superstar movies (Polladhavan and Padikadha-van). Now with Mappillai, he has fully retooled a grand 80s hit of Rajni’s.

But still, we don’t have anything to complaint against Dhanush. For Mappillai is not just a remake, but more than that. The basic knot alone has been inspired and nowhere in the movie Dhanush tried to imitate his Superstar father-in-law.

Director Suraj, who earlier gave us Padikadhavan in the company of the same actor, has played Map-pillai script it to the strength of Dhanush. Though there are some minuses (especially towards the climax), the film on the whole may become a big summer treat to the audience.

Saravanan, a poor and good guy, falls in love with the rich and beautiful Gayathri (Hanshika Motwani), who is the daughter of an all-powerful multi millionaire entrepreneur Rajeshwari (Manisha Koirala).

Unlike other rich parents, Rajeshwari gives consent to her daughter’s affair. For all that she wants is a calm, silent and obedient son-in-law, who would say nothing but yes to all her orders.

As the marriage nears, Rajeshwari comes to know the past of Saravanan. That he is actually a rowdy who is in disguise. However, she is unable to stop her daughter’s marriage with Saravanan. What now starts is a fight between the mother-in-law and ‘mappillai’.

Dhanush is cool and composed. He delivers boundaries scene after scene. He brings the difference between the soft-spoken one and the arrogant ruffian well. The sequences where Dhanush and Vivek meet and the one-liners never fail to tickle our funny bone.

Manisha Koirala brings some freshness to the role, while a bright future awaits Hanshika Motwani if she makes right moves. Watch out for Manisha, the dream girl of 1990s settling down to play a char-acter role with negative shade. As an autocratic woman, she is impressive.

Music by Mani Sharma is adequate. Due credit should be given to him for not tampering too much with the remix of Ennoda Rasi Nalla Rasi .There may be some flaws for a deja vu feel may prevail at many places. However on the whole, Mappillai is a right entertainment for front-benchers and those who love ‘masala’ movies.

Online Movie Review - http://www.cinemamatters.com/details.php?mid=48

Online Movie Gallery - http://www.cinemamatters.com/galleryimage.php?id=714&artist_id=122

MAPPILLAI MOVIE REVIEW

Mappillai STARRING :Dhanush,Hansika Motwani,Manisha Koirala,Vivek

BANNER :Sun Pictures

DIRECTOR : Suraj

MUSIC : Mani Sharma

LANGUAGE : Tamil

RATING :

CinemaMatters | Movie Reviews

REVIEW

MOVIE



MOVIE


A period film with script penned by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi never fails to arouse one’s curiosity. When his most popular novel Ponnar Shankar, a tale about two valorous brothers is made as a movie, the expectation skyrockets.

Does it weave magic on the silver screen? Did that give the same pleasure as reading the novel? Thanks to director Thiyagarajan and Prashanth’s efforts, the magic works to some extent.

Ponnar Shankar has a complicated story. Periyamalai Gounder (Vijaya Kumar) arranges his daugh-ter Thamarai’s (Kushboo) wedding with his friend’s son Manthiappan (Prakashraj).

But Thamarai is in love with her childhood friend Nellaiyaan Gounder (Jayaram). Finally after crossing many hurdles Thamarai marries her lover against her father and brother Chinnamalai Gounder’s (Ponvannan) wishes.

This irks Manthiappan who in turn creates enmity between Periyamalai Gounder and his good friend Thalaiyoor Kaali (Nepolean). After their marriage Thamarai decides to leave the kingdom and starts a new life in a new place.

But before leaving the kingdom Thamarai takes an oath; that is to give birth to two brave sons and get them married to her brother’s daughters. Fast forward; after many years the whole kingdom is in praise for Raaki Annan’s (Raj Kiran) two brave disciples, Ponnar and Shankar (Prashanth in a dual role), who don’t know about their parents.

They are always ready to face their enemies or to fight against injustice.

One day, Ponnar and Shankar save Chinnamalai Gounder’s two daughters Muthaagi (Pooja Cho-pra) and Pavalaagi (Divya). At this point Thalaiyoor Kaali, on the advice of Manthiappan, decides to kidnap Chinnamalai Gounder’s wife, son and daughters; and they succeed too.

Now again Ponnar and Shankar are back in action to save Gounder’s family. After a series of inci-dents, Chinnamalai Gounder decide to give his daughters hands to Ponnar and Shankar. He also decides to meet his long lost sister Thamarai. What will happen when Thamarai’s know that her sons are alive? Did Ponnar and Shankar teach Mandhioappan a lesson?

Prashanth looks good, credible in his warrior outfits and is all pumped up in battle scenes.Kushboo and Jayaram have meaty roles and they have done justice. Napolean, Ponvannan, Prakashraj and Captain Raj have done their part well. Raj Kiran excels as Aasaan. Sneha, as Prashanth’s sister, looks beautiful on screen but unfortunately appears only in a few scenes.

The film has two major battle sequences and they have been captured in a grand manner. Shaji Kumar’s breath taking visuals is a major plus of the film. So is Ilayaraja’s music. The screenplay lags in the second half and there are too many characters too. But for these two pitfalls, Ponnar Shankar is a decent attempt. Online Movie Review - http://www.cinemamatters.com/details.php?mid=54Online Movie Gallery - http://www.cinemamatters.com/galleryimage.php?id=14310&artist_id=686

PONNAR SHANKAR MOVIE REVIEW

STARRING : Prashanth, Chopra, Divya Parameshwaran, Kushboo ,Sneha, Prakash Raj, Jayaram

BANNER :Lakshmi Shanthi Movies

DIRECTOR : Thyagarajan

MUSIC :Ilayaraja

LANGUAGE : Tamil

Ponnar Shankar


RATING :

REVIEW

MOVIE


Ko, cinematographer-filmmaker K V Anand’s follow-up to his blockbuster Ayan, is all about how a photojournalist takes on the system and comes up trumps in the end. Racy from scene one, the film may lack logic, but leaves a magic in many places.

Produced by R S Infotainment and released by Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Movies, the film takes the audience close to the media world, and gives minute details about the work of journalists. A former press photographer, Anand has added value to his maiden job with this film.

There are three major plus points to the movie- performance, technical brilliance and making. While Jiiva, Karthika, Piaa and Prakashraj add value to the first point, Harris Jayaraj, cinema-tographer Richard Nathan and editor Antony stand for the second and the director alone for the third, which is crucial too.

Having said that, there are some minuses too, especially logical lapses in stunt sequences. But, if your search is for a commercial movie which would keep you on the edge of the seat for more than two hours, should you really bother about these things.

Well, coming to the story, Ashwin (Jiiva) works as a photographer in a daily newspaper called Dhina Anjali, where Renu (Karthika) and Saro (Piaa) too work, as journalists.

The three younsters are good at gathering news and everything goes well till a twist arrives. There is an engineer-turned-aspiring politician Vasanthan Perumal (Ajmal), who dreams about healthy political scenario.

Even as the State’s politics revolve around Chief Minister Yogi (Prakashraj), Saro gets killed in a bomb blast. Is the CM the mastermind behind all evil things? Or someone else is operat-ing? Ashwin unravels everything.

To sum it up, Ko could make a couple of hours in your summer weekend more hot, thanks to its racy narration. It’s like reading a crime novel in one go. Kudos to writers Suba and K V Anand.



Ko - MOVIE REVIEW

koSTARRING : Jeeva ,Ajmal AmeerKarthika Nair,Piaa Bajpai, Pra-kash Raj.

BANNER : Red Giant Movies

DIRECTOR : K. V. Anand

MUSIC : Harris Jayaraj

LANGUAGE : Tamil


REVIEW

MOVIE

RATING :


K.V Anand

P.vijay / viveka /Suba

Harris Jayaraj

cjaepjp !;lhypd;

tH';Fk;


MOVIE

Krish

VTV Productions & Magic Box Pictures

presents

Young Superstar

IN

Cloud Nine

Movies


All eyes are on Simbu this Friday. For last week, Ko, in which he was about to act, hit the screens and it has now been declared a blockbuster. So it is now time for STR, as he is now, to prove his mettle. And he simply does it in Vaanam, Tamil cinema’s first new age multistarrer.

A remake of Telugu hit Vedam, Vaanam directed by Krish is different from the word go. Right from the ensemble of characters to the way the story is narrated to a strong message in the climax, the movie is there to give you many a surprise.

The film’s screenplay is a quite an experiment. Five stories cross each other paths now and then and end in one common climax, which is strong, subtle, honest and straight-forward.

Cable Raja (STR) is raised in slums and fakes a rich girl (Jasmin Bhasin) by claiming that he is rich. Saroja (Anushka) plays a sex worker who tries to elope a brothel house, Bharath Chakravarthy (Manchu Manoj Kumar) dreams of becoming a rock star,

A Muslim couple (Prakashraj and Sonia Agarwal) wish to go to Sharjah due to their past sorrow and an old man who is desperate to fund his grandson studies. The plot unveils when all these characters come in touch with each other.

Krish has selected five characters whose lives are beautifully nuanced, structured at many levels and meet at a point. And all of them have proved their acting mettle in a much appreciable way.

Cinematography by Nirav Shah and editing by Antony are credible strengths. But the hidden soul of Vaanam is Yuvanshankar Raja’s music. If you are ready to come out of some confusions in the narration which is due to a comple script, you can see many stars and rainbows in Vaanam.



VANNAM - MOVIE REVIEW

STARRING : Silambarasan, Bharath, Anushka, Prakash Raj, SaranyaBANNER : Cloud Nine Movies

DIRECTOR : Krish

MUSIC : Yuvan Shankar Raja

LANGUAGE : Tamil


RATING :

vaanamREVIEW

MOVIE


Snakes and myths are like two sides of a coin. Wherever you go in this world, easily could you come across stories related to snakes. And it was longtime back Kollywood had a release on this popular theme.

Comes Nanjupuram in an apparent bid to fill this gap. We don’t see any fault in the basic idea. But with the way it has been executed. For the movie has nothing new to offer, except some technically rich scenes, which snake-films in the past were unable to provide.

Directed by newcomer Charles, Nanjupuram which has popular television actor Raghav in the lead role, is distributed by Sri Thenandal Films, a company backed by Rama Narayanan, the president of Tamil Film Producers Council.

The movie has dialogues by Magudeswaran and cinematography by Anthony. Besides playing the lead role, Raghav has scored the music too and has left his stamp in a fairly convincing way.

The film’s backdrop is a village called Nanjupuram where two things are alive very much. One is the caste system and the other is a belief on snakes—that anyone who attacks a snake will get killed in 45 days.

Velu (Raghav), an upper caste youth falls in love Malar (Monica), a lower caste girl. One day, he attacks a snake and was asked by villagers to stay away for 45 days. But his love towards Malar makes him to elope with her. What’s next is the climax.

All actors, including Raghav and Monica have played their parts well. If at all those behind penning the script had brought in some novelty, Nanjupuram could have been a thriller we are looking for.

Movie Review - http://www.cinemamatters.com/details.php?mid=52


NANJUPURAM MOVIE REVIEW

NanjupuramSTARRING : Raaghav, Monica, Naren,Thambi Ramiah.

BANNER :Sri Thenandal Films

DIRECTOR : Charles

MUSIC : Raaghav

LANGUAGE : Tamil


REVIEW

MOVIE

RATING :



EVEN

TSDeiva Thiirumagan Press Meet


Yudham Sei Premiere Show

Deiva Thiirumagan Press Meet


Film Festival in Norway


Film Festival in NorwayAwards galore at Norway Film Fest

The second Norway International Tamil Film Festival held at Oslo, witnessed Tamil film directors including Cheran, Radha Mohan, Prabhu Solomon, Vetrimaran among others taking part,The juries have announced the awards for the films that participated in the festival.

Best Visual Effects: Enthiram (San Vin-stan and Indian Arts)Best make up - Enthiran (Banu)Best Costume design: Deepali Noor (Ma-drasapattanam)Best Art Director: Selvakumar (Madrasa-pattanam)Best Original Score: GV Prakashkumar (Madrasapattanam)Best Original Song - Pookal Pookum Tharunam (Madrasapattanam)Best Choreographer - Dinesh (Adukalam)Best Lyricist - Na MuthukumarBest Stunts - Action Prakash (Yuthamsai)Best Editing - Antony (Vinnath thandi varuvaya)Best Cinematography - Sukumar (Maina)

Best Documentary Film - Ellalan (Suku-mar)Best Original Screenplay - Then Metku paruvakkatru (Seenu Ramasamy)Best Supporting Actress - Saranya (Then Metku Paruvakkatru )Best Supporting Actor - Thamby Ramaia (Maina)Best newcomer - Harish (Tha)Best Actor - Vidharth (maina)Best Actress - Anjali (Angadththeru)Best Director - Radha Mohan - PayanamBest Film - MainaBest Production - Sun Pictures (En-thiran)Midnight Sun Award - PayanamKalachikaram Award - Director Cher-an

Awards list

Ajith disbands his fan clubs Irked with political aspirations of a section of his fans, Ajith Kumar today announced that he would dissolve all his fan clubs from his birthday, May 1.In a statement, the actor said that he was upset by the act of some of his fans, who were not ready to follow his instructions and guidelines.

‘Following this, I have decided to dismantle my fan clubs. People are watching everything. I will never use my fans for my personal inter-ests,’ the Thala said.


EVEN

TS

Jeeva Fans Palkudam


Maaveeran Audio Launch


IPL opening ceremonyEV

ENTS


On the inaugural day of the Indian Premier League Friday, Bollywood actor and Kolkata Knight Riders owner ShahRukh

Khan thrilled Chenaniites dancing to some catchy Hindi and Tamil numbers.

‘It’s great to be in Chennai, said Shahrukh Khan. ‘I’m excited to be here’, he said shaking his legs in front of packed audience

in Chennai. Joining him on stage was our very own Shriya. When Naka Mukka blarred at the speakers, the crowd went berserk

cheering and hopping.

Later speaking about his team, he said, ‘they’re a bunch of smart and good cricketers. The team is looking great and I hope they

perform well. ‘

It’s evident that the actor-team owner is banking heavily on the new captain of the team, Gautham Gambhir, to deliver the goods.

IPL opening ceremony


Even

tsPonnar Shankar Premiere Show


Ponnar Shankar Premiere Show


Loca

tion

On180 Working Stills


180 Working Stills


The young music composer G V Prakash is getting lots of laurels now. For sources say his music in Deiva Thirumagan starring Vikram is sure to rock.He is thrilled for Selvaragha-van has roped him in again for his next venture Irandam Ul-agam that would feature Dha-nush and Andrea in the cast. His songs for Selva in Ayirathil Oruvan are still topping the charts.Also Prakash is making his foray in to Bollywood with a big project. ‘I am ready and raring to go. I am determined and fo-cused and want to ensure that all songs in my movies go on to top the audiocharts’.He adds: ‘I am happy and thankful to music-lovers. They have admired my songs. I now have a responsibility to ensure that my songs satisfies their expectations.’

Three cheers to G V PrakashNews


Yuvan out of Selva’s movieCall it a big U-Turn. Director Selvaraghavan, who after a brief split with Yuvanshankar Raja, was sup-posed to join hands with him again for Ernadam Ul-agam.Expectations were high since it promised to bring to-gether Dhanush, Selvaraghavan and Yuvan together. The trio created magic in Thulluvatho Illamai, Kadhal Kondein and Pudhupettai before.When everyone was waiting eagerly for the trio to come together again, comes the news of the split again that has shocked many music-lovers.Selvaraghavan has chosen to go back to young G V Prakash again for Erandam Ulagam. He had earlier worked with him for Ayirathil Oruvan.Erandam Ulagam is a Dhanush-Andrea musical love story and Selva and Yuvan had to part ways due to some difference of opinion. Interestingly, Selvaragha-van’s another venture Viswaroopam starring Kamal Haasan will have music by Shankar Ehashaan Loy.Sources however add that both Yuvanshankar Raja and Selvaraghavan are still friendly and would come together perhaps in future.

Selva issue: Yuvan speaks outEven as a section of the media going the whole hog saying Yuvanshankar Raja opted out of Selvara-ghavan’s Irandam Ulagam after getting disappointed over Selva not approaching him for Kamals’ Viswaroopam, the music composer has come out with his version of the story.‘Why is it said that I assumed working with Selva in Kamal’s project? When Selva came to my studio and spoke about that project?’ the music composer wrote on his microblogging page.Yuvan added: ‘I didn’t assume, there’s nothing to assume when he himself comes to my studio and talks bout that project to me. This isn’t the last project on earth that everyone wants to work and I’m not the last composer either.’

Srikanth Deva sings for YuvanWho said there is enmity among music composers in Tamil cinema? Despite being competitor, music director Srikanth Deva has sung a song in Yuvanshankar Raja’s recently released album Vaanam.The ‘No Money.... No Honey...’ is already topping the charts. Silambarasan and Andrea Jeremiah, along with Srikanth Deva, have crooned the song set to tune by Yuvanshankar Raja.‘Srikanth Deva is a cool guy and he had no reservations when approached to sing a song for Vaanam. He had a blast working with Yuvan, STR and Andrea,’ sources in the unit say.


Loca

tion

OnDeiva Thiirumagan On Location


Deiva Thiirumagan On Location


Old theme, New fameOn why he opted to do Ponnar Shankar,

he says, ‘we wanted to be different from others. We had a winner in hand thanks to the story penned by Karunanidhi. All we had to do was to give it a proper execu-tion’.

‘We did work on it a lot. Interacted with his-torians, recreated huge palace and used over 300 horses and thousands of junior artistes. Audience love to watch such films provided we make them engrossing’.

Echoing the same, director Thiagarajan, says, ‘it takes huge determination and guts to produce and direct historical themes. Ponnar Shankar is more an Appocalypto meeting Gladiator.’ Meanwhile, a trade critic says, ‘the ad-

vantage of doing a period film is that one need not go abroad for shooting. All can be done in the studios. Though the expense may be high, if marketed well, these mov-ies will attract all attention. The real essence would be lost if they

watch in pirated DVDs. The grandeur can be seen and enjoyed only on big screen. Hence movies like Magadheera, Arund-hathi and Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi went on to become blockbusters’,

Gone are those days when period films ruled the roost in

Kollywood. Slowly contemporary themes became the order of the day.

Fearing that it is a costly affair and in-volves strenuous work, many chose to skip historical themes. However the suc-cess of much-recent flicks like Imsai Ar-asan 23am Pulikesi, Pazhassi Raja and Magadheera has given courage to many to try their hands at period films.

Films like Ponnar Shankar (based on a novel by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi), Ponniyin Selvan ( inspired by a historical novel by eminent writer Kalki) and Ra-jnikanth starrer <I>Raana<P> (which nar-rates about an important event that hap-pened in 17th century) are being made in Tamil cinema.

Recently, Karunanidhi has announced that his next film is based on freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai.

Says Prashanth, the man behind Ponnar Shankar, ‘we know it is near to impossible doing a historical subject. One has to re-search a lot. They have to recreate huge sets. Choice of costumes, use of horse and elephants for shooting is a difficult thing.’

Artic

le



180 Audio LaunchEv

ents


Director Mani Ratnam and cinematographer P C Sreeram among others launched the audio of 180, a film directed by Jayendra.The movie starring Siddharth, Priya Anand and Nithya Menon, is being simultaneously made in Tamil and Telugu. Among those who were present at the audio launch included actors Arya, Jayam Ravi and Shiva.Speaking after releasing the audio, Mani Ratnam, said, ‘Jayendra is one of the finest talents. I have been urging him to direct a movie for a long time. Hopefully the movie has come good’.Jayendra said, ‘I ventured to direct a movie inspired by Mani Ratnam. 180 is a youthful bubbly en-tertainer’. He claimecd that 180 is a musical entertainer and songs by Shareeth are the highlight. ‘Since he came up with 180 tunes for the movie from which we picked six, I chose to title the film 180 itself’.Siddharth said, ‘after a brief interval, I am back to do a film in Tamil. Though I ventured to do lots of films in Hindi and Telugu, I was actually waiting for a break in Tamil. Thankfully Jayendra came up with a catchy story’.Kiran Reddy, Swaroop Reddy, C Srikanth and cinematography by Balasubramaniam produce the movie.Siddharth plays an NRI doctor in the USA and Priya Anand plays his wife. He flies to India where he meets Nitya Menon and falls in love with her. The movie deals with the trials and moral battles within this trio.

Mani Ratnam launches “180” music


Tapsee, who left her mark with mov-ies like Jhummadi Nadam in Telugu and Aadukalam is Tamil, is set to join the league of Asin and Trisha.

The young and ravishing actress is packing her bags off to Bollywood now. Buzz is that she had been approached to do a movie in Hindi to be directed by acclaimed filmmaker David Dhawan.

The movie is a remake of yesteryear com-edy. In her microblogging page, Tapsee had written - ‘Superb ugadi gift! Yes I’m doing David Dhawan’s movie under Viacom18’s production! It’s a remake of Chashme Bad-door. Yay!!!!’

Tapsee won the hearts of Tamils playing an Anglo Indian girl in Aadukalam. Her per-formance in the film was highly acclaimed. It seems no stopping Tapsee now.

Tapasee is spotted with beaming smile these days. Wonder why? The actress who set the Tamil screen on fire is all set to repeat the act in Bollywood.

The Ludhiana girl is playing the lead role in di-rector David Dhawan’s remake of Chashme Buddoor, a comedy caper of 1980s.

Says Tapasee, ‘I’m very excited as I’m doing the role made memorable by Deepti Naval. I think it is a big break for me in Hindi cinema.’ She is also eagerly awaiting the release of her maiden Malayalam film Doubles.

Some of her films in south include a movie with director like Krishna Vamsi in Telugu and Vandhan Vendran alonsgide Jiiva in Tamil.

Tapasee on top

Bollywood is Tapsees Aadukalam nowNe

ws


Ramya Nambeesan confident of success

The pretty young girl from Ma-layalam industry, Ramya Nam-beesan, is happy at the ac-colades she is receiving for Kullanari Kootam. She was not just cute on screen, but had an opportunity to perform.

Thanking director Sribalaji, she says, ‘he helped me a lot and that gave me the confidence to perform better in Kullanari Kootam’.

Talking about her hero Vishnu, Ramya says, ‘Vishnu was quiet on the sets. It was only after 10 days that we began talking. Until then, I hadn’t realised how talkative he was. He is a good friend and also cool-headed to work with,’.

The actress adds: ‘I look for the potential of my rolevs, the pro-duction house and also the di-rector, before signing a movie.’

Ramya is currently doing a Tel-ugu movie with Tanish in the lead, and is also expecting the release of her Tamil film, Muri-yadi.


Even

ts

Film France Press Meet



7am

Ari

vu V

illa

nChennai times talks to Johnny Tri Nguyen, who plays the baddie in Surya’s forthcoming film, in an exclusive....Hollywood actor and stuntman johnny Tri Nguyen, who has worked in films like martial law and spider - man 2, has been making frequent trips to Chennai in the last couple of months. Reason? He’s been busy completing his first Tamil film, 7am Arivu, with Suriya and director AR Murugadoss. The actor gets talking to Chennai Times from the sets of his Vietnamese film, re-demption.

Pres

s

Meet


JOHNNY PACKS APUNCHI was a stuntmen in Hollywood and action choreographer Peter Hein was in the US for some work. We met ac-cidentally, three years ago, not talk-ing about the action industry over lunch and exchanges numbers as well. Seven months ago, I got a call from him, asking me if I was inter-ested in working for a Tamil movie. He said the part suited me well and involved a mot of action sequences. So, I sent the director AR Muruga-doss a few links to my Hollywood and Vietnamese films. Hew too liked my work and within a few days. I was on my way to Chennai to seal the deal. I began shooting for the film last September and I was in Chennai last week as well to shoot for the film.


I play the Villain in the film. There are quite a few scenes

that have elaborate fights betwen Suriya and me. I was a

stuntman and turned an actor recently. I’ve has the oppor-

tunity to work on several big budget films as well. When I

started work on 7am Arivu, I had no expectations. But I was

pleasantly surprised when Murugadoss asked me to shoot a

lengthly action scene on a highway in the middle of a traf-

fic jam on the very first day of the schedule. Car were

flipping and vehicles were crashing all around. I

was quite surprised when I learnt about the

unit’s pre - production work and the

number of days they spent in

choreographing the scene. The

film has everything that would

make it on par with Holly-

wood action films.

Suriya is a great actor and

has a lot of talent. More than

that, he’s a good colleague.

We spent almost 42 days on

just one fight sequence. He

is very patient and has a

greater understanding of

his work.


He didn’t use a body double for any of the ac-tion sequences and did all the dangerous stunts

himself. I now understand why be has such a huge fan following. No wonder, he’s a superstar in the south.

I haven’t seen any of Murugadoss’s films. But our thoughts matched perfectly while we

were working together. He is as-sured on the sets and doesn’t doubt his vision. This gives his actors a lot of confi-dence and in turn, the out-come is excellent.In this film, I play a for-eigner. So, I didn’t have to talk in Tamil at all. And, on the sets, every-one knew English. So, language was never as issue. However, I did learn a few tamil words like Vanakkam and nam-dri.


News

Silambarasan made his mark as a com-

mercial hero throwing his weight behind

action. Now the actor is back to do the

best that he was doing in the past.

He plays a stylish youth in action-

packed entertainer Vettai Mannan. The

star revealed that a major portion of the

movie would be shot in the USA and

Mexico and Hollywood stuntmen will be

used for fight sequences.

Recently, a fight scene was filmed at the

Binny Mills where a huge set had been

erected for the purpose. According to

Silambarasan, the fight was filmed with

seven cameras to bring out the best.

Jai plays a prominent role along with

Silambarasan in the movie. Meanwhile,

a thorough search is on for a heroine.

NIC Arts Chakravarthy is producing the

movie in a grand manner.

Simbu back to basic


It is a day to cherish for Vijay fans. His 2011 release Kavalan, directed by Siddique, completed 100 days at

the box office Thursday.

It is a welcome relief for the actor, who was desperate for a hit after a slew of failures. The movie was a

remake of Malayalam hit Bodyguard.

The Tamil version featured Vijay and Asin in the lead role. An avid Vijay fan, said, ‘ it was no nonsense

masala flick like Vijay’s earlier films. It had a story and romance besides action. Obviously that went down

well with the fans’.

The movie witnessed a lots of problems and witnessed a delayed release. Vijay pointed fingers at the ruling

government of trying to sabotage the release of the film. Interestingly the movie that had music by .Vidyasa-

gar.

Talking about the film’s success, Vijay said, ‘ I chose to do this movie since I felt it everything a film-lover

would love to watch. SIddique and I share a good rapport. We managed to recreate the magic of Friends

again’.

Kavalan completes 100 days


All is well was the tagline of Three Idiots. Nan-

ban, the Tamil version of the movie, directed by

Shankar that is progressing fast, has lived up to

the tagline of the original.

Shankar, in his blog, said, ‘we have finished all

the college exterior scenes in our 2nd schedule in

Dehradun. It’s a visually wonderful campus.’

He added: ‘It is very interesting & new experience

for me to work with Vijay, Sathyaraj, Ileana and

almost every actor for the first time. Vijay-Sath-

yaraj combo is fresh and fantastic. As friends Vi-

jay, Jeeva and Srikanth’s ‘Physics’ & ‘Chemistry’

is working very well, behind the camera too.’

‘To say in a cliché, all of them have started living

in their roles. I’m enjoying working in ‘Nanban’,

which is completely contrast from ‘Endhiran’ in all

aspects. Ellam Nalam.’

Vijay Antony ready to spell success

Big prize for Antony

Editor Antony is a name to reckon with in Kolly-

wood. He has been part of several big projects and

worked with almost all acclaimed directors.

Recently Antony was given a pleasant surprise.

Cinematographer - director K V Anand, who was

highly impressed with Antony’s work in Ko, has

gifted him a costly camera as gift.

Sources close to the director say, ‘he was highly

impressed with Antony’s work. The end product

after editing is nothing but engrossing and impres-

sive, hence he chose to give him a pleasant sur-

prise’.

A beaming Antony expressed his heartfelt thanks to

Anand. Ko stars Jiiva, Ajmal and Karthika in lead

roles, Music is by Harris Jayaraj.

News


Guess what is Rahman’s greatest desire is. The man,

who sizzled Tamil and Hindi film industry with his songs,

has scaled greater heights winning double Oscars and

Grammy awards.

A sneak peek into his biography, A R Rahman The Spir-

it of Music, published by Om Books International, to be

released on 6 April, reveals many things about him.

The biography written by Nasreen Munni Kabir talks about how he approaches work and more importantly

how he understands his own life. The book also talks about how his spiritual leanings have helped him

develop a balance in life

The biography also talks about Rahman’s mentor Mani Ratnam and how he met wife Saira. In the book

the music maestro expresses desire that he wants to release an album with all his family members who

are into music.

Rahman has stated in the biography that he dislikes him being called the Mozart of Madras. He stated that

it belittles the legend of music - Mozart.

Also he had revealed that there were suicidal thoughts in his life and he fought himself those ideas and

overcome to come up this level in life.

The Mozart of Madras, who made his mark wining

double Oscars and Grammy, is keen to venture to

productiuon.

Sources have it that Rahman’s maiden production

venture will be a musical to be produced under his

newly launched production company YM Movies.

‘Rahman wanted to start producing films for a long

time, but his busy schedule has always prevented him

from doing so. He has now finally decided to take the

plunge. His banner is called YM Movies,’ a source

said.

Efforts to contact Rahman went in vain. It may be re-

called that music maestro Ilayaraja had produced a

few successful films in Kollywood before.

Rahman’s passion

Rahman’s new role


Even

ts

Avan Ivan Audio launch



Acclaimed filmmaker Mani Rat-nam’s Ponniyin Selvan is getting grand and glitzy. His venture based on Kalki’s novel Ponniyin Selvan is growing bigger.

The buzz is that Vijay, Mahesh Babu, Arya and Anushka play lead roles. Now the latest buzz is that the director has approached Bollywood girl Priyanka Chopra to play a prom-inent role in the film.

Sources say Ponniyin Selvan would go to floors very soon. Mani Ratnam has completed finding proper lo-cales. Touted to be a big-budgeted venture, Ponniyin Selvan revolves around Vandiyathevan, a charming young man who comes to the Cho-la land to deliver a message from Crown Prince Aditya Karikalan.

Priyanka won the National award for best actress last year for her per-formance in Fashion and she must be all thrilled to work with Mani Rat-nam, the master craftsman.

Priyanka Chopra in Mani’s filmNews


Sonakshi Sinha, who will be playing Kamal Haasan’s ladylove in Viswaroopam. had watched the Ul-aga Nayagan’s Hey Ram more than a dozen times.

She says ‘He is an institution by himself. Acting with him would be a great treat. I can learn a lot’.

Sonakshi shot to fame with Da-banng. She hopes that shooting alongside Kamal Haasan would help her get the more insight about Tamil cinema.

He is spontaneous, natural and ar-ticulate. I have known a lot about Selvaraghavan. So I am eagerly waiting to commence shooting, she says.

Kamal is the best, says Sonakshi


Even

tsDivya Meethu Kadhal Audio Launch



Dhanush is all pumped up for his Mapillai is doing good at the box office. At the same time, the actor has completed shooting for Hari’s Venghai.

The actor has tweeted on his microblogging site, ‘Done with Veng-hai! Its gonna be the next release, a mass masala! Typical Hari film’.

The shooting for the movie that stars Tamannah opposite Dhanush is all

complete. Vadivelu plays comedian in the film. The movie is quite typical of Hari. It has everything the audience would expect from Hari’s film, a source in the unit says.

There is tremendous pressure on Hari for his last movie Singam with Suriya swept the

box office and collected huge revenues. Upon com-

pleting the movie, Hari will join hands with Suriya again

Call him ‘singer’ Dhanush

Joining the list of actors taking a passion for play-back singing is Dhanush. After Vikram chose to sing a couple of songs in Deiva Thirumagan, it’s now the turn of Dhanush to croon two num-bers in his forthcoming film Irandam Ulagam.

Irandam Ulagam, to be released by UTV Motion Pictures, is directed by Selvara-

ghavan, who had presented some of the memorable movies with his

younger brother. Andrea Jer-emiah is the heroine while mu-sic is by G V Prakash Kumar.

‘I’ve sung two songs in Selva’s film. I kin- da like it too,’ Dhanush, who is op-timis- tic about the soon-to-be-released movie, tweeted on his mircroblogging p a g e .

He added: ‘I’m in love with my character in Selva’s film. Enjoying every day of the shoot. It’s a character that will be remembered for a long time like K P K a r u p p u ’ . .

News

Dhanush ready for dhamaka


Udhayanidhi becomes dad again

Producer-turned-actor Udhayanidhi Stalin is in all joy. His wife Kiruthiga delivered a baby girl recently at a pri-vate hospital in Chennai. The couple was blessed with a boy earlier whom they named Inbanidhi.

‘Both Kiruthiga and I wanted a girl and we were delighted when our wish came true. As is customary in our household, it is my grandpa and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi who has named all the children so far. We don’t perform any formal nam-ing ceremony at home. As soon as Kiruthiga is discharged, we will head straight to Gopalapuram,’ he says.

Udhayanidhi, a popular producer in Kollywood, is currently acting in Oru Kal Oru Kannadi, directed by Rajesh. This is Udhay’s first venture as hero. Hanshika Motwani plays his heroine.

Celebrity Tweets

(@geneliad)4/27/11 8:14 AM

Was in hyd at d ssm mall n wat a high 2b greeted by d zillions

of ppl jst standin 4hrs 2get a glimpse, its an unbelievable high, thank u ppl

(@Actorjiiva)4/25/11 8:27 PMKO is a classical Tamil word which

means KING. For ex. Elango, kaviko etc(for friends who dint know

abt it)

(@dirvenkatprabhu)4/21/11 3:36 AM

We planned to release mankatha audio for our Thala b’day!! Due to certain is-

sues couldn’t!!! We r planning to release ASAP!!! Kindly hold

on


I’ve worked as a photojournalist, my personal experiences have helped me weave a plausible line for Ko, says cinematographer - director K V Anand.His Ko starring Jiiiva in the role of a photojour-nalist is releasing next week. Says Anand, ‘writ-ers Suba and myself took nearly 10 months to give final shape to the screenplay. Visiting vari-ous newspaper offices to get information about the day-to-day running of a daily was part of my agenda’.Instead of the gun or the sickle, I’ve given my hero a more forceful weapon, the camera, he says and adds, ‘the whole unit backed me well and the end product was nothing but impres-sive’.Jiiva is thoroughly inspired by Anand. He says that it was the director’s words, his actions that helped him perform and give the desired output.Echoing the same was Ajmal, who has played a key role in the movie. He says, ‘ Ko would be a film to reckon with in his career’.

Ponnar Shankar starring Prashanth in a dual role hit the screens last week. The movie produced and directed by Thiyagarajan is based on a novel tit led the same penned by Chief Minis-ter M Karunanidhi and the dialogues too are writ-ten by him.A special screening was organised by Thiyagara-jan and Prashanth in which Chief Minister M Karu-nanidhi besides the likes of actors Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan, Sathyaraj, director K Bhagiyaraj and lyricist Vairamuthu were present.Speaking after watching the fi lm, Rajnikanth said, ‘ It is one of the grand venture in Tamil cinema and all the artistes have given their best.’He expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Prashanth and Thiyagarajan. All is grand and the story was scintil lating, he added.Kamal Haasan said, ‘I enjoyed reading the novel which Karunanidhi gave me as a gift with his sig-nature. To see it on screen made as a movie in such a stylish manner is interesting’.

I am inspired by myself, says K V Anand

Rajni Kamal watch Ponnar Shankar

News


Genelia is all happy for she was appreciated by maverick filmmaker Mani Ratnam for her perform-ance in the recently-released Urumi.

Directed by Santosh Sivan, Urumi is a historical epic in Malayalam that was released last month to rave reviews. Genelia plays the role of a warrior princess, Princess Aeysha of Arackal.

Talking about her forthcoming Tamil film Velay-udham with Vijay, she says, ‘after Sachin, it’s my second film with actor Vijay. We work really well in front of the camera. He’s a very simple guy — no unnecessary tantrums and fanfare.

There has never a time when you can’t pick up a conversation with him. I’m looking forward to Ve-layudham as it’s a different role from what I do in Tamil and a very strong role at that’.

Genelia wants to experiment with her roles, but she also likes the bubbly image she is known for.

Mani sir praised me, says Genelia

Hanshika Motwani is now the toast of Kollywood. A great start with Mappil-lai and now she has three movies up her sleeve — Engeyum Kaadhal with Jayam Ravi, Velayudham with Vijay and Oru Kal Oru Kannadi with Udhayanidhi Stalin .

Says Hanshika, ‘While Mappillai is a mass entertainer, Engeyum Kaadhal is a more performance-oriented film. It is a love story and I bear a fresh look in it. I call Jeyam Ravi ‘Gem’ Ravi.’

In Velayudham, she plays a village girl op-posite Vijay. ‘I’m lucky to work with Vijay. The film would definitely help me in my career.’Often known for her resemblance to Khushboo, Hansika has won many a heart. She says, ‘ I admire Kushboo a lot. Wish I do more films like her and win the admiration of fans’.

Hanshika happy with her success


Even

ts

Vikram Birthday celebrations


Namitha at Blitzz Cafe Shop Opening


Muran, directed by Rajjan Madhav and produced by actor - director Cheran, will be presented by UTV Pictures.

UTV Pictures recently acquired Selvaragavan’s Irandam Ulag-am which stars Dhanush and Andrea in lead roles. They are also planning to remake Bolly-wood hit Fashion. Now joining the list is Muran.Rajan Madhav is son of ac-claimed Malayalam music com-poser Raveendran. Rajan’s brother Sajjan Madhav will com-pose music for the film.vThe movie features Cheran and Prasanna in contrasting roles. Being made in a lavish budget, Muran also features Jayaprakash, Haripriya, Nikhita

and Prathap Pothan in prominent roles.

Jai is pinning all hopes on his forthcoming movie being produced by ace director A R Muruga-doss. The film has been titled Engeyum Eppodhum. Besides he is sharing the screen with Silambarasan in Vettai Mannan.

Says the actor, ‘I share a very good rapport with di-rector Saravanan and Murugadoss is happy about our bond. He says an actor and a director should always share a healthy relationship.’

On the movie, he says, ‘it is sweet and cute love story which has Anjali opposite me. With Engeyum Eppodhum, I can certainly regain my lost ground.

My role is really cute. I enjoy working in the movie’.Jai is confident that he would choose good scripts in the coming months and ensure that all his movies would become a big hit.

UTV bags Muran

Jai Ho for Jai

News



Obitua

ry

Noted playback singer K S Chithra’s eight-year-old daughter passed away in Dubai, where she had been to perform in a music concert at the famous Sharjah cricket stadium.Chithra’s daughter Nandana died after falling in a swimming pool at a Dubai villa on Thursday morning. Sources said Nandana, who drowned in a pool at a villa in Emirates Hills, was rushed to a hospital in Jebel Ali, but could not be revived.The singer and her troupe are in Dubai to participate in a musical extravaganza to celebrate the compositions of Oscar winner music director A R Rahman on April 15th 2011. Chithra and her hus-band Vijayashankar were blessed with a daughter after nearly 15 years of marriage.

Chithra’s daughter passes away


Veteran actress Sujatha, who made her mark being part of Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan movies, passed away on Wednesday. The 58-year-old actress had been reportedly ailing for sometime.

Sujatha, made her debut in Malayalam with her role in Tapaswini. K Balachander who did some memorable films with her in the lead role brought Sujatha to light. Sujatha went on to act in close to 300 movies in all south Indian languages, including some memorable performances in Tamil movies such as Avargal, Kadal Meengal Vithi. She was also part of many Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi movies too.

A son and a daughter survive Sujatha. She is known for portraying her role with elegance and charm. Be it conventional or non-conventional roles, she did them with aplomb, her fans say

Sujatha passes away


‘I am optimistic that with handful of good movies lined up for this year, I will leave a mark in Tamil film in-

dustry,’ says Monica, whose last release was Nanjupuram, which hit the screens this weekend.

On her recent film Muth-ukku Muthaga, she says, ‘As a lovelorn girl desperate to hold the hands of her lover, I had immense oppor-tunity to prove my act-ing skills. I have been receiving accolades for my performance. It was a challenging role and hopefully I did it to my best’.

In Nanjupuram, she played a tribal wom-an. ‘It was a de-glamourised role. The whole unit was co-operative and gave me the cour-age to pass in fly-ing colours doing the role’.

Though she had done many films, Monicka feels Azhagi is still close to her heart. ‘It was the movie that gave me an identity. I am yearning to do such sweet roles again’.

Monica wants to make it bigNe

wsM

ON

IKA

Celebrity Tweets

(@dhanushkraja)4/23/11 7:51 PMEnjoyin every day of selva s shoot. A

character that will b remembered 4 a long time like k p karuppu

:) god bless

(@Actor_Siddharth)4/27/11 5:28 PMFeeling positive. I

know now what I did not know then - for-

get tomorrow.Be fearless!Live today

like its yesterday!No worries!Long day

ahead!

(@Actor_Siddharth)4/27/11 5:26 PMYou are to people

what you think they are worth. I’d rather

be to people what I think I am worth.

Makes it all more fair and positive.g’morn!


Arya is happy these days for his movies in-cluding Urumi in Malayalam and Boss Engira Baskaran have managed to do well at the box office. What more he has got some big projects up his sleeve including Avan Ivan di-rected by Bala and Lingusamy’s Vettai.Says Arya, ‘It is always nice to be part of a Bala’s film. I had been with him in Nan Kada-vul and know his intensity and hard work. He gets the best from his artistes.’Meanwhile, the actor has put to rest rumours that he is doing a movie with Mysskin. It was said that Mysskin will soon start a film with Arya playing the lead role. ‘I guess the film has been put on hold as Mysskin is yet to re-vert to me with the details of the project,’ Arya says now.He adds: ‘I am happy that Urumi was received well by youngsters in Kerala. I am thrilled to get fans in neighbouring State too’. On Vettai, Arya says, ‘Lingusamy is an excellent crea-tor. He knows what mass elements audience would expect from his movies’.

Arya is upbeat


Ajith ready for Billa 2Ajith is all geared up to commence shooting

for Billa 2, a prequel to his Billa. The movie would be directed by Chakri Toleti of Unnai Pol

Oruvan fame.

Starring Huma Quershi, a Mumbai model in the lead role opposite Ajith, the movie would go on floors early next month. IN Entertainment (India) Limited, part of the Hinduja Group, along with Chennai-based Wide Angle Creations led by Suresh Balajee and George Pius will produce Billa 2.

Ajith has completed shooting for Mankatha, his 50th film. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, it features Trisha, Lakshmi Rai among others in the cast. Music is by Yu-van Shankar Raja.

Mankatha is produced by Dayanidhi Alagiri’s Cloud Nine Movies.

Akshay to replace AjithOne more Tamil movie is ready to be remade in Bol-lywood. Close on the heels Ghajini and Pokirri being remade as successful films in Hindi, the likes of Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaya and Singam are being worked out now. Joining the list is Ajith’s Dhina.

A R Murugadoss, who sizzled the north with Ghajjini with Aamir Khan, has now reportedly chosen to re-make his maiden Tamil directorial venture Dhina.

Murugadoss is now busy giving final touches to his Tamil venture 7am Arivu that stars Suriya and Shruthi Haasan in the lead roles. The movie produced by Ud-hayanidhi Stalin is almost complete.

Now for his next Hindi flick, he has reportedly joined hands with Akshay Kumar. He is working on making minor changes to the original script to suit the Hindi audience. The director is keen to have Harris Jayaraj as his music director for his Hindi venture.

News


Shriya in Kamal’s filmShriya Saran seems to have struck it rich. She was supposed to share the screen with Kamal Haasan in Marmayogi. But that was unfortunately shelved.

However, now her desire might get fulfilled. She is reportedly approached to be part of Kamal Haasan - Selvaraghavan’s much hyped project Viswaroopam.

Already Bollywood star Sonakshi is playing the fe-male lead. Now Shriya joins the bandwagon.

Said to be the Indian version of Hollywood super hit Hannibal, this psychological thriller is being made in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The makers have final-ised the script and shooting will start in mid-April in Hyderabad and Chennai, followed by a schedule in London.

Shriya to do a Kannada movieShriya Saran, who is acting in a cross-over film with Deepa Metha, hit the headlines last weekend by shak-ing legs with Shah Rukh Khan during the inauguration of IPL in Chennai.

Now the buzz is that she has been approached to do a movie in Kannada opposite popular actor Upendra. Sources say that Shriya was even offered a hefty fee for acting in the movie.

P Vasu who came out with movies like Aapthamith-ra and Aaptharakshaka in Kannada will be working with Upendra for the project. Vasu recently complet-ed shooting for Puli Vesham starring RK, Sadha and Karthik in lead roles.

Vasu, it is said, is coming out with a racy entertainer in Kannada starring Upendra and he wants to cast Shriya as heroine. Guru Kiran is scoring music for the movie.

Once Shriya gives her confirmation, the crew is set to commence the shooting. Her last film in Tamil was Chikku Bhukku opposite Arya.


Venkat Prabhu’s Mankatha is shaping up fast. The 50th film of Ajith, the movie has Arjun playing a crucial role.

Sources in the unnit said the movie is about IPL cricket and Ajith plays an anti-hero’s role. Arjun dons the role of a CBI officer who is always behind Ajith. The cat and mouse game between them is what the movie is all about. There are enough elemnts packed with punch by Venkat Prabhu to ensure that Ajith-fans love it very much. There are one-liners that the Thala fans would love to repeat , says Venkat Prabhu .

What more the movie has a huge star cast that includes Vaibhav, Trisha, Sneha, Andrea and Lakshmi Rai. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is the hallmark of the movie, says Venkat Prabhu. He adds, ‘the songs are catchy and trendy. I am sure that Yuvan Shankar is gonna rock with Mankatha album’.

Meanwhile, Trisha has expressed her happiness being part of the project. She says all is well in Mankatha. It has trendy storyline with an en-grossing script. Working with a thorough profes-sional like Ajith gives one a great feel, she says.

After playing a college student in Nan-ban, the remake of Three Idiots, Sri-kanth is all set to play an intense action role in Ethiri En 3.

Srikanth, who played a tough cop in Kutrapirivu, reportedly met cops and took tips from them to do the role in Ethiri En 3.

Srikanth plays a software engineer in the film, which delves deep into the world of crime. ‘The script is a very realistic one. It tells the story of a peace-loving soft-ware engineer who suddenly finds him-self having to deal with the darker side of the city, say sources.The film is being directed by Ramkumar and shooting is bound to start in May.

Srikanth is all smiles

Arjun is CBI officer

News


Madarassapattinam famne girl EMy Jackson, who is playing the female lead in Goutham Menon’s Hindi version of Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaya, says she saw the Tamil version for over 20 times and has become a Trisha fan now.

Asked how she landed up with the role,’Vijay rec-ommended my name to Gautham for this film. We did a couple of screen tests and Gautham found me suitable for the role. I play a Malayali Christian in this yet-to be-titled venture in which I’m paired opposite Prateik. Gautham is a perfectionist and I know he will shape my character according to the needs and tastes of the Bollywood audience.’.

Goutham Menon said that he is not changing the script much for the Hindi version and that there would be only minor changes to suit the audience in North India.

There were rumours that Trisha would venture to Bollywood again af-ter Priyadharshan’s Khatta Meeta and that talks are on with producers.

HHowever the actress is quick to deny them as rumours. She says, ‘ I am very busy in South Indian films and any idea of hopping to Bollywood has been put on backburner’

Trisha is basking the glory now. Her Telugu re-lease Teen Maar opposite Pawan Kalyan, a re-make of Love Aaj kal, is doing good, while she has been cast opposite Venkatesh for the re-make of Bodyguard. Meanwhile in Tamil she is acting in Mankatha with Ajith. Also rumpours are that she would act with Madhavan in the remake of Hindi blocbuster Tanu Weds Manu.

Says Trisha, ‘the going is good so far. Hopefully all go the same. If Madhavan is doing the Tamil version, I think I may go ahead and do the Tamil remake’.

Emy Jackson sees VTV 20 times

I am not going to B-town: Trisha


Kajal Agarwal in MattranNe

ws

Now that Suriya has completed shooting for 7am Arivu, the actor is all set to commence his next venture, Mattran. The movie brings to-gether director K V Anand and Suriya again. The two had earlier rendered a blockbuster in Ayan.

With KV Anand’s Ko releasing today, he and his crew have begun their hunt for heroine for Mattran. It looks likely that Kajal Agarwal, who acted as Karthi’s ladylove in Nan Mahan Alla, might be roped in to romance Suriya.

Ever since the news of Suriya and K V Anand coming together, there was enough buzz and excitement around Kollywood. In an interview Anand had even stated that he is aware of ex-pectations for people will compare it to Ayan.

‘We are working hard to ensure that it comes up well,’ he said. Suriya meanwhile is giving final touches to 7am Arivu. Directed by Muru-gadoss, it features Suriya in the role of a circus artiste


Ace comedian Vivek has completed 25 years in Kollywood. In other words, the ‘Chinna Kalaivanar’ is celebrating his silver jubilee in the tinsel town now.

The comedian, who was introduced by K Balachnder in Manadhil Urudhi Vendum, has carved a niche for himself in Tamil cinema doing comical roles in several hundred films.

He says, ‘ I am happy and thrilled at my eventful journey so far. I want to continue the good run and continue making people laugh. It is a great gift given to me by the Almighty’.

His forthcoming release is Mappil-lai, the Dhanush starrer directed by Suraj and produced by Sun Pictures.

After making his mark doing comical roles and entertaining audience for over two dec-ades, Vivek is ready for the daring act. He would be playing villain in a movie to be directed by a debutant Anbu Chezhiyan.

Mithun, who acted alongside Vivek in Ma-gane En Marumagane, will be the hero in the film. Sources in the unit say Vivek will be there in a totally different get-up. He would not appear as a cliched villain.

The actor had done the role of a hero in Solli Adippen, which unfortunate-ly could not see the light of the day.

Vivek is known for conveying social message through his movies. Wonder how he agreed to do a baddie in one of his forthcoming movies. But we wish all the best for his new attempt

Vivek: 25 and still not out

Vivek is now a villain


Kamal Haasan has urged the Telugu film industry to work hand-in-hand with Tamil cinema to show the world that ‘we too can make quality films using satte-of-the-art technol-ogy’.

Speaking after releasing the audio of Maaveran ( the Tamil version of Tel-ugu blockbuster Magad-heera), in Chennai Sun-day night, Kamal said, ‘ in the Western world, there is a notion that Indian movies are made only in Mumbai. It’s time that Tamil and Telugu cinema join hands and show the world we too are not be-hind.’

Heaping laurels on Ram Charan Teja and director S S Rajamouli of Maaver-an crew, Kamal said, ‘ they have come with a huge army and I wish them all the success in their battle

at the box office’.

Maverick filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who received the first copy of the audio, said, ‘ very few films have lived up to the expectations that it had carried prior to its release, Magadheera is one such movie that catered to all hype’.

Director Rajamouli, speaking on the occasion, said, ‘I learnt the art of filmmaking in Chennai and enjoyed watching movies here. To see my film getting released in Tamil is a delight’.

Ram Charan Teja, directors K S Ravikumar, Dharani, producers Udhayanidhi Stalin, Allu Ar-avind amd Allu Sirish among others spoke.

Kamal’s call to Telugu filmdomNe

ws


Shaam may soon step into Bolly-wood. Buzz is that Salman Khan, who was quite impressed with Telu-gu hit Kick (Thillalangadi in Tamil), is now gearing up to remake the film in Hindi and reportedly urged Shaam to do the same role that he did in both Tamil and Telugu versions.

Says Shaam, ‘I met Salman re-cently and the moment I asked him about the Hindi remake of Kick, he shot back saying that I looked terrific in the original and added that I had done a fantas-tic job in it. I was extremely thrilled that he had recognized my work.’

‘When I expressed my interest to play the role in the Hindi ver-sion too as I felt it would be a great launchpad for me in Bollywood, he immediately said, Insha Allah’.

Karthi seems to be going re-ally strong and steady. His mov-ie Siruthai, released for Pon-gal, has completed 100 days.

A sibling of Suriya, Karthi is all thrilled for all his recent releases have gone on to become huge hits. Siruthai, a remake of Telugu hit Vikramarkudu, featured Karthi and Tamannah in the lead roles.

He says, ‘I am all thrilled with the success. All credits should go to the whole crew. I also take the oportunity to thank my fans’.

Meanwhile, the actor is gearing up to commence shooting for his next venture titled Sakuni, direct-ed by debuntant Shankar Dayal.

Siruthai completes 100 days

Shaam all set to go Bollywood

Celebrity Tweets

(@piaabajpai)4/27/11 5:51 AM

‘KO’ has breaken the records by having the highest collection in U.S and U.K than ‘My name is kHAN’! just

loving it:)

(@dhayaalagiri)4/20/11 1:57 PMKO !!! One of the

best movies I’ve seen in the recent past... Great work JEEVA &

AJMAL !!! all the best to Red Giant Movies

!!!

(@MirzaSania)4/27/11 6:47 PM

Another day,another airport,another early morning flt..way too early actually!off to

Madrid..


At a time when Kollywood heroines express their reservations for bikini, Piaa Bajpai says, ‘ it is no bad thing to appear in those costumes in films’.

An out-spoken actress, Piaa, says, ‘I am ready to do glamourous roles. What’s wrong in it’.

Happy with the response Ko has evoked, Piaa says, ‘Ko is a movie to reckon with in my career. It is one of the best roles that I have played till now’.

Adds the actress, ‘It was sweet role and shoot-ing for Ko was a great experience’. Describ-ing Jiiva as a excellent co-star, she says, ‘he was friendly and helpful on the sets.’

Ajmal, who hogged limelight with his pres-ence in Anjathey and Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru, is flying high thanks to Ko. His role with grey shades in Ko has won him greater laurels.

The actor played an young and aspir-ing politician with negative shades, in the film directed by K V Anand. Now of-fers are coming and pouring in his kitty.

Says Ajmal, ‘it is a pleasant surprise when Anand called me to act. It was a great role and the hard work is aptly rewarded now’. It is said that a couple of Telugu film makers had approached Ajmal to be part of their projects.

‘All that I want is to prove myself as a talented ac-tor. For that I would like to play challenging roles. I am open to act in different roles,’ says the actor.

I am ready for bikini: Piaa

All credits to Ajmal

News


Actor Jiiva is all smiles for his Ko has taken a bumper open-ing and he is now in the league of big actors in Tamil cinema.

A jubilant Jiiva says, ‘I thank all my fans and well-wishers who made the movie a big hit. K V Anand sir de-serves a special mention. He was the one who gave me an opportu-nity and brought the best out of me’.

He says, ‘never before my movies took such big opening, I am over-joyed. But at the same time I have got an responsibility to ensure that all things go well. I take things as it comes and my head is firm in my shoulders’.

Heaping laurels on Harris Jayaraj, he says, ‘ it was his mu-sic that brought audience to the-atres. I am fond of his work. ‘

The actor is eagerly await-ing the release of his next film Rowthiram followed by Nanban, a remake of Hindi hit Three idi-ots, being directed by Shankar.

I take things as it comes: Jiiva


MOM&DAUGHTER


RADHA &KARTHIKA


K a r t h i k a , daughter of

yesteryear actress Radha, is eagerl;y

awaiting the release of Ko. The movie directed by K V Anand stars Jiv-va, Ajmal and Karthika in lead role and is ready for release Friday.

On Wednesday, Karthi-ka chose to meet media persons. Caught in a jubilant mood, Karthika says, ‘ people compare me to my mother and aunt (Ambika), who were popular names in Tamil cinema in 1980s. They have acted with the likes of Sivaji Ganesan, Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan. I request everyone not to comp[are me with them. Please see me as an newcomer in Ko’.

I have started my ca-reer and still have a long way to go, she says Meanwhile, her mother said, ‘ I have told her to respect the professional and en-sure that she should be honest and give her utmost dedication.’

Karthika says, ‘ I am not aversed to glamour. I want to do meaty roles too’.

Ko girl ready to go placesNe

wsCelebrity Tweets

(@ActorMadhavan)4/28/11 12:14 AM

Great lines. “What do you do when you are not strong enough?? -- You act as if you are.”. From “The

Unit”.. Totally addict-ed Man.

(@gvprakash)4/25/11 10:32 AMHappy on winning both the best back-ground score and best song in the

norway film festival .. Just got d gud news from vetrimaaran :)

(@Premgiamaren)4/2/11 2:15 AM

Australia captain call-ing Pakistan captain

today to join 4 drinks.Pakistan captain told wait machi srilankan captain will also join

us today


Karthika’s Press Meet


Loca

tion

OnAvan-Ivan Working stils



Gemini Film Circuit, the producers of Nanban, the Tamil remake of Hindi hit Three Idiots, has started their publicity campaign from Tamil New Year’s day. The first official image of the movie features Vi-jay, Srikanth and Jiiva. It has aroused great curi-osity among Vijay fans.The movie is being shot in Ooty and Dehradun. Shankar is optimistic that the Tamil vrsion would match the original.The star cast is huge comprising big names like Illeana, Sathyaraj, S J Suyah and Anuya. Harris Jeyaraj is scoring the music. Says Shankar, ‘the script of Three Idiots pulled me towards it like a magnet and I was thorough-ly impressed watching the movie. Immediately I thought of acquiring the remake rights. Later I myself decided to direct it in Tamil.’Shankar, who feels that the original script itself was too good, says, ‘so we didn’t make any big changes, but for some minor alterations.’

Venkat Prabhu shot to fame as director with Chennai 28. Sources now say that his Mankatha too speaks a lot about cricket. Call it a sentiment. The movie that happens to be Ajith’s 50th film features Trisha, Lakshmi Rai among others in lead role.Venkat Prabhu has almost completed shooting of Mankatha. Says the director, ‘Mankatha is a traditional card game played in Tamilnadu by betting sums of money. Similarly, here too, it’s about different people trying to do something and how everything changes at a particular point. It is not a gangster film.’Though he was tight lipped about the theme, sources say that it is about cricket betting dur-ing the IPL season. Ajith sports different get-ups and recently a major portion involving him and Trisha was shot in Mumbai.Yuvan Shankar has come up with half-a-dozen catchy tunes for the movie. The audio launch is expected to happen soon.

FIR on Nanban

Is Mankatha about IPL cricket?

News


At a time when movies from Tollywood are being dubbed and released in Tamil, director Venkat Prabhu’s Tamil romantic comedy Goa, starring Jai, Vaibhav, Premji Amaran and Sneha, is being dubbed in Telugu under the banner of Sai Balaji Films.The Telugu version will be released in May. The movie has guest apearance by Simbu, Nay-antara and Prasanna. Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Ocher Picture Productions produced the Tamil version. Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored the music and cinematography is by Sakthi Saravanan.The film is about three youth who leave their vil-lage and goes to Goa, the ultimate holiday des-tination in India, with great ambitions. Did they achieve their mission forms the story.

Trust Vasantha Balan to come up with a differ-ent film. The man who made Veyyil and Angadi Theru, is busy doing a period film titled Aravan.Featuring Aadhi, Dhanshika and Pasupathy in lead roles, the movie is set in the 18th century. Shooting for the movie is on at a village called Arittapatti Hill near Madurai. This place is hois-torically important and has many caves. Art director Vijay Murugan and his huge team erected a grand village including a Karuppan temple and hundreds of huts made of bamboo, straw, palm leaves and rocks in this area. Says Adhi, ‘ It is a movie that I would cherish in my career for long time. All is well with Vas-anthabalan. He is a taskmaster. It is difficult to compromise him. He always strives for perfec-tion.’Echoing the same, Pasupathi says, ‘Vasanthabalan gave me a break in Veyyil. I had no hesitation when he assigned me to act in Arvan’

Goa to speak in Telugu

Aravaan progressing fast


It was my desire to direct Vijay for a long time. I penned the story for Velayudham in 2009. Thankfullly it has now been realised, says director Jayam Raja.

Speaking about the film, he says, ‘ the movie has everything a Vijay fan would love to watch on screen. There are enough twists and turns. The highlight of Velayudham is its songs. Vi-

jay Antony has copmposed some peppy tunes that have

been captured in a grand man-ner’.Queried about punchlines that are common in Vijay films, Raja says, ‘the lyrics Avan Peru Ve-layudham, Avan Adicha Anu Ayudham would be received well by Vijay fans’.The heroines Hanshika Mot-wani and Genelia D’Souza have equal screen space. Han-shika dons the role of a bubbly rural belle, while Genelia plays an investigative journalist, he adds

All is well was the tagline of Three Idiots. Nanban, the Tamil version of the movie, directed by Shankar that is progressing fast, has lived up to the tagline of the original.Shankar, in his blog, said, ‘we have finished all the college exterior scenes in our 2nd schedule in Dehradun. It’s a visually wonderful campus.’He added: ‘It is very interesting & new experience for me to work with Vijay, Sathyaraj, Ileana

and almost every actor for the first time. Vijay-Sathyaraj combo is fresh and fantastic. As friends Vijay, Jeeva and Srikanth’s ‘Physics’ & ‘Chemistry’ is working very well, behind the camera too.’ ‘To say in a cliché, all of them have started living in their roles. I’m enjoy-ing working in ‘Nanban’, which is completely contrast from ‘Endhiran’ in all aspects. Ellam Nalam.’

It’s a typical Vijay film: Raja

Gautham to act in Simbu’s film

News


Arya all praise for Vishal

Sundar C Babu bereaved

It’s rare to see an actor heaping praises on his contemporaries. In today’s competitive film industry, Arya not just shared the screen with Vishal in Avan Ivan, but also appreciated him a lot.Speaking at the audio launch of Avan Ivan in Chennai Monday evening, Arya said, ‘Vishal deserves

all accolades. Playing a youth with a squint eye all through the movie is no easy task. Vishal took it as a challenge and pulled it off.’I used to pity him many times for the hard work he was putting for the char-acter. But he managed to give his best, he adds.Added Arya, ‘working with Bala was a delight. If Nan Kadavul was not enough for me, came Avan Ivan opportunity. It was a great experience’.

On his part, Yuvan Shannkar Raja, said, ‘Bala gave me enough liberty. He gave me valid inputs and brought some engaging music’. Vishal, G M Kumar and lyricist Na Muthukumar among others spoke on the occasion.

Music director Sundar C Babu’s mother Sudhakshi-na Devi (64), wife of late Veena Chittibabu passed away on Tuesday evening in Chennai.

She was the granddaughter of Pattabhi Seethara-maiah, founder of Andhra Bank and ex-Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

A veena artiste herself, she accompanied her hus-band for concerts all over the world. She was also taking up veena classes free for those who were in-terested in learning veena.

She leaves behind her three sons, Rangasayee (USA), Radhakrishna (Hyderabad) and Sundar C Babu.


Karthi Sivakumar’s next venture has been officialy titled Saguni. To be pro-duced on Dream Warriors banner, the film will be directed by Sankar Dayal, a former associate to directors Ezhil and S D Saba.

G V Prakash will score the music and Antony will take care of editing, cin-ematography P G Muthaiah and art director Rajeevan and executive pro-ducer Antony Xavier.

Karthi is thrilledThrowing light on his next movie titled Saguni, Karthi says, ‘I wanted to pick up films from different genres. After I did Sirutthai, I decided to stop acting in remakes, at least for a while. In this film I play a character called Kannan, who outsmarts everyone with his bril-liance. It is difficult to explain further.’A new girl from Mumbai is expected to play Karthi’s heroine. ‘We haven’t signed anyone yet. The female protag-onist is someone from an affluent fam-ily with tons of attitude’, says Karthi.G V Prakash Kumar will be composing the tracks. Karthi has undergone rigor-ous workout and shed few kilos for the role.

Karthi is Saguni now

News

Madhavan’s popularity in Bollywood is all time high thanks to Tanu Weds Manu’s good showing at the box-office.

Now he is shooting happily for Vettai alongside Arya. ‘I play a cop but I didn’t have to undergo any special training to play this role. When you see the film, you’ll understand’, Madhavan says.

About Vettai, he says, ‘ I am acting in Lingusamy’s film after eight years. Run went on to become a rage in Tamilnadu then. I am confident that Vettai will repeat the same magic’.

On reports that Tanu Weds Manu would be remade in Tamil, he says, ‘I am not so sure I am doing the Tamil version yet but I will tell you that it’s an amazing, really realistic story. It’s the kind of film that the whole family would want to come and see together’.

Maddy’s happy hunt


Close on the heels of Mappillai, Sun Pictures is going all guns blazing to promote and release Prabhu Deva’s Engeyum Kadhal. The movie starring Jayam Ravi and Hanshika Motwani, is all set for release this summer.Produced by AGS Entertainments, the film was shot entirely abroad. ‘It is a breezy romantic enter-tainer. Everything is there in it to attract youngsters’, says Prabhu Deva. ‘Harris Jeyaraj is the real hero of the movie. His songs are the real highlight of the movie. They are soothing and scintillating,’ the actor-choreographer-director adds.Sources in the unit say, ‘ it is not a typical Prabhu Deva film.It is a youthful entertainer and ro-mance is the buzz word’.Meanwhile, Jayam Ravi heaps all laurels on Prabhu Deva. ‘He is my real inspiration. I admire him on the sets. I just did what he ordered me. He is my inspiration which I tried to replicate on screen’. Echoing the same, Hanshika Motwani, says, ‘Prabhu Deva is not just an excellent dancer and director, but a great human being. He is amazing to work with’.

Sun Pictures and Engeyum KadhalCel

ebri

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(@Udhaystalin)4/26/11 12:25 PMSum ppl r vvvv upset wit KO suc-cess:( I am vvvv sorry 4 them!! Better luck next time!!

(@prakashraaj)4/26/11 4:45 AMPAYANAM. Bags two awards at NORWAY festival. Best direc-tor and people’s Choice award. Cheers guys!!!!!!


Popular actor Prithviraj entered wedding life after he secretly tied the knot with his girl friend Su-priya Menon, a reporter with a news channel, in Kerala on Monday.

The wedding was held at Palakkad and was at-tended by close family members. The couple, according to sources, had met a couple of years ago, while Supriya was covering southern cin-ema.

Prithviraj is a name to reckon with in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. He has a long list of hit films under his name in Malayalam industry.

In Kollywood too, Prithviraj is popular having worked in films like Saththam Podathae, Vel-lithirai, Mozhi and the recently-released Raa-vanan.

Sources further add that Prithviraj is planning a grand reception on 1 May.

Prithvi ties wedding knot

Karthi, one of the very few most eligible bach-elors of Tamil film indus-try, is all set to tie the knot. In a press release today, the actor’s father and veteran actor Sivakumar said Karthi will marry Ranjani, a MA English literature gold medalist and daughter of Erode Chinnaswamy and Jothi Meenakshi, on 3 July. The wedding is arranged by elders of the family. Ranjani was a student of Stella Maris College in Chennai.

Karthi to enter wedlockWED

DING

BELLS


INDIA vs SRILANKA

Prashanth speaks on Ponnar Shankar

With Ponnar Shankar, actor Prashanth is all geared up for his second innings in Kollywood.The movie is based on Chief Minis-ter M Karunanidhi’s epic novel Ponnar Shankar. Says Prashanth, ‘it took over a year to complete research before we began shooting. We went to as many as 16 villages in the interiors of Tamilnadu. Before this, I did not have any knowl-edge about the history of the twin broth-ers’.Scripting is one of the most important aspects of filmmaking but the actor says that the book was so well written that they didn’t have to spend too much time on a script. ‘We had the complete story ready. We just had to ensure that nothing harmed the soul of the story — be it location or sets or props, there was not even a speck of the contemporary civilization anywhere in the film. But then again, we were making a film, not a documentary.’On the dual role of twin brothers that he is playing in the movie, Prashanth says, ‘the brothers, though twins, had differ-ent mannerisms. One is a lefty while an-other is not. One is subtle and the other is hyper. Switching characters was the toughest challenge, and I remember changing costumes for as many as even 40 times in a single day.’Prashanth has been fencing and horse riding since childhood and this helped him while shooting the action sequenc-es of the film. I have struggled a lot for the movie and the result would be seen on the screen, he winds up.


Superstar Rajinikanth wants his forth-coming venture Raana to look grand and glitzy in all aspects. The shooting for the film, that is being directed by K S Ravikumar, begins next month.

Grand sets have been erected for the purpose on the film that is partially set in 17th century.

Sources close to the unit say, ‘Ra-jinikanth has penned the story to en-sure that all comes out well’. He is try-ing different make-ups and is keen on coming up with a grand gala product. A R Rahman scores the music.

Rajini, being the perfectionist that he is, wanted a more traditional looking her-oine Deepika than her present super-model-like look. It is learnt that the film has a complex plot and spans across three generations.

Rajini & Raana

News


Udhayanidhi Stalin of Red Giant Movies is planning a big bash on 7 May (Saturday) to celebrate the success of his production and distribution house. The famed production house had churned out blockbusters like Vijay Starring Kuruvi, Suriya star-rer Aadhavan, Kamal Haasan’s Manmadhan Ambu besides successfully presenting films like the mu-sical hit Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaya starring Silam-barasan and directed by Gautham Menon, Arya’s period flick Madarassapatinam, Prabhu Solomon’s Mynaa and the laugh riot M Rajesh’s Boss Engira Basakaran.Currently Red giant Movies is producing Suriya - Murugadoss’ 7Am Arivu and Udhayanidhi’s maiden venture as hero in Oru Kal Oru Kannadi and releas-ing K V Anand’s directorial Jeeva, Ajmal, Karthiga, Piaa Starring KO’ In order to celebrate their Success, a grand event has been organised in which all those who were associated with Red Giant Movies will take part. Presiding over the celebrations is Super Star Ra-jnikanth. The event will witness honouring all those craftsmen behind these successful films.

Red Giant celebrates with Rajini

With just a few days left for Rajnikanth’s Raa-na to hit the floors, the expectation and buzz have caught up the Super Star himself.

Raana, directed by K S Ravikumar, features the top actor in triple roles with Deepika Padukone play-ing the female lead. Sources close to the unit say, ‘since there are few portions that is set in 17th cen-tury, Rajnikanth is carefully choosing his get-ups.’

The ‘Thalaivar’ is trying different costumes and get-ups, we learn. He has reportedly grown moustache and even tried french beard, they say. With his fans expecting a lot from every movie of his, Rajnikanth is working hard day and night to get the right look, sources add.

The movie has music by A R Rahman. He has re-portedly come out with a couple of numbers already.

Rajnikanth’s razmatazz


All eyes on the villain in RaanaWIth the negative role played by Rajnikanth in Raana become a rage among masses, director K S Ravikumar is planning to ensure that in Raana too Rajni play a thorough baddie, who will mioghtily impress the audience.Special oneliners and getup’s are being given for that particular role to be played by Rajnikanth, sources in the unit say.Buzz is that the movie is set in two different time periods: 17th century and the current era. Raana, which will have Rajni in a triple role, will be co-pro-duced by Rajni and Eros International. A R Rahman will compose music for this magnum opus and the cinematographer would be Ratnavelu. Rana will be made simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Bollywood diva Deepaika Padukone will play one of the lead roles.

Grand sets are being erected in AVM Studios where period portions are being shot. While contemporary portions are canned in London.

Rajini talks about RanaSuperstar Rajinikanth’s Rana has hit the floors today. Directed by K S Ravikumar, the film is produced by Soundarya Rajnikanth’s Ocher Studios in association with Eros Inter-national.

Talking to a news channel, Rajnikanth, who has penned the story for the movie, said, ‘I am thrilled to be part of Raana, that has a portion that is set in 17th century. It is a chal-lenging task to do a period film. I am sure we will pull it off’.

A huge set resembling palace of 17th cen-tury was erected at AVM Studios in Chen-nai, where Rajnikanth appeared for shoot. No sooner the news of Rajnikanth present at the venue spread, fans and common peo-ple thronged the place in large numbers and tight security was provided. Entry to the sets was restricted.

News


Vadivelu attacks Rajini

Big day for Silambarasan

Top Kollywood comedian Vadivelu, who had emerged as the star campaigner for the ruling DMK-led Front in the April 13 Assembly polls, to-day flayed Superstar Rajnikanth for dropping him from his forthcoming film Rana.

Talking to journalists after calling on Chief Minis-ter and DMK president M Karunanidhi at the lat-ter’s Gopalapuram residence in Chennai, he said he was not bothered about being dropped from Rajni’s latest flick Rana, the shooting for which commenced this morning.

‘Whether it is Rana or Gana...I am not bothered about it’, Vadivelu said, when asked on be-ing dropped from the film, which would be Ra-jnikanth’s first period film.

‘The scenes and seasons will change after May 13, the day when counting of votes polled in the polls will be taken up’, he said, in a veiled threat to the Tamil Superstar.

After almost a year (after Vinnai Thaandi Varu-vaya), Silambarasan’s next venture hits the screen today. Vaanam, a remake of Telugu blockbuster Vedham, opened big all over Tamil-nadu today.

Directed by Krish, the movie features STR in the role of a cable TV operator. The movie is getting a big release with maximum number of prints be-ing put, thanks to distributor Dhayanidhi Alagiri.

Says Silambarasan, ‘the movie is close to my heart, It would make anyone go in tears and emotional. I am lucky to have done the film’

He adds: If Karthik of Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya touched the soul of many, so would be Cable Raja in Vaanam. I waited for a right script after VTV and thankfully Vaanam happened’.

He is all praise for his whole crew including co-artistes. Vaanam would become a big hit, he adds,


Even

tsArya launch GRT’s Platinum Collection


Vambu and Bathra Audio Launch


In her third innings, actress Simran has chosen

to do wield the megaphone. Simran played the

female lead opposite almost all actors includ-

ing Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Vijay, Vijayakanth and

in late 90s and dominated the industry toll she

chose to bid bye to acting after her marriage with

Delhi-based pilot Deepak Bhaga.

She was back after a brief time to do character

roles in few movies and also acted in some tel-

evision serials.

The actress, who recently gave birth to a baby

boy, is back for a third innings. This time around

she has chosen to direct a movie.

Confirming the news, SImran, says, ‘ Yes, it’s my

longtime wish to direct a film and it’s coming true

now. I am busy penning the script these days’.

Buzz is that she will produce a film too.

Amala Paul is on cloud nine. The young actress who started her career with Mynaa has emerged a name to reckon with in Tamil cinema.Post Mynaa, she is flooded with offers. She has now completed shooting for Vikram’s Deiva Thirumagan and is all geared up to shoot for Arya starrer Vettai and a movie titled Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal oppo-site Atharva. Besides a couple of Malayalam directors have sought Amala Paul’s callsheet.‘I am happy where I stand. I want to choose meaty roles. Acting is no easy task’, Amala Paul says. In Dei-va Thirumagan, she plays a teacher to Vikram. ‘It is a challenging role. Acting alongside Vikram is an experi-ence. He is a bundle of talent. He helped get my basics right’.On Vettai, she says, ‘ Lingusamy ios a crafty director. I am sharing the screen with Arya. It is again a bubbly character, which I enjoy working.On Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal, Amala Paul, says, ‘It is a trendy film that’s very stylish and will cater to the younger generation. You can see me as a new avatar. Mine is a strong character, who comes down from the US to work in an IT company in Bangalore.’

Simran’s new role

All for Amala Paul

News


Krish, the young filmmaker from Tollywood, who is busy directing Vaanam, is all praise for Anushka.He says, ‘ She is one of the talented actress who can do justice to any role that she does. She played a commercial sex worker in Vaan-am. A challenging role which she has taken in her stride and delivered with aplomb’.Krish, who helmed the original version of Vaan-am in Telugu titled Vedham, says, ‘the movie has come good. All the cast and crew have giv-en their best. I have made some changes in the script to suit local audience’.Expressing his admiration for Silambarasan, who plays the lead role in the film, he says, ‘he is a bundle of energy. He is more than an actor. It was a great pleasure working with him’.Equally appreciating music composer Yuvan-shankar Raja, Krish says, ‘ he has come up with scintillating songs. It is a great pleasure being part of such a project.’Vaanam is complete and would hit screens this summer.

Though Sneha is making her debut in Bol-

lywod with Mad Daddy opposite Nasseru-

din Shah now, she was tipped to be part of

a movie in Hindi long back. But the project

could not take off.

Sources say Sneha was approached to play

Goddess Seetha in a modern take on Ramay-

ana. Unfortunately, the actress could not do

the project due to prioir commitments. Also

the project too was shelved for reasons un-

known.

Says Sneha, ‘I have no regrets in missing

that oportunity. But thanks to director Revathy

Verma, I am doing a movie in Hindi. Hopefully

all goes well.’

All cheers to Anushka

Sneha as Seetha


Vikram ready with Dheiva ThirumaganNe

ws

Dheiva Thirumagan is a movie to reckon with in my career. It is one of the best, says Vikram.He was speaking after unveiling the title of the movie, produced by Mogan Nadarajan and di-rected by Vijay of Madarass-apptinam fame, in Chennai on Sunday. Anushka, Amala Paul among others forms part of the film.Says Vikram, ‘ it has a great sto-ryline, never told before in Tamil cinema. It provides a good scope for every artiste to give his or her best on screen. The entire shooting is completed in one go’. The grand release of the film will be in May.

The movie was shot in Ooty and its adjoining areas. Also a grand set resembling a High Court was erected in Chennai where a major portion of the film was shot. The movie has cinematog-raphy by Nirav Shah and art by Santhanam.The highlight of the film would be its songs, adds Vikram. Young G V Prakash has come up with catchy numbers, he adds.


In Dheiva Thirumagan, Vikram share the screen with two girls - Anushka and Amala Paul. He is all set to repeat

a similar act fore his next venture to be directed by Venilla Kabbadi Kuzxhu fame Suseenthiran. Yes, Chiyaan

would have two heroines for the movies.

Sources say the popular Tollywood hero-

ine Deeksha Seth (of Vedam and Mira-

pakay fame) and Malayalam actress Mi-

thra Kurian, who was seen playing Asin’s

close friend in Vijay’s Kavalan recently,

will share the screen with Vikram for the

moviue.

Suseenthiran said the movie would have

Vikram in a dual role. He has completed

the script and is all set to start the shoot-

ing once his Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai

gets released.

Meanwhile, Vikram is flying high with the

accolades that he receiving for Deiva

Thirumagan. The trailers of the movie

are out and his performance is widely

appreciated.

UN ropes in VikramJust weeks after an Italian varsity select-

ed him for an honorary doctorate, ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram has got more international recognition.

He has been selected as the Youth Envoy for the ‘UN Habitat’ (United Nations Human Settlement Programme).

Vikram is part of the Asian Contingent wherein only four envoys have been selected from around the world. He

has been invited for the 23rd Governing Council meets in Nairobi, Kenya. The convention begins today and

concludes on 15 April.

Speaking from Nairobi, Vikram said that he is ‘honoured to be part of this prestigious organization which works

towards eradication of poverty, providing sustainable Urban Development and improved livelihoods especially

for the poor.’

He further elaborated that ‘The UN-Habitat’s overall aim is to stimulate a healthy urban development and to

promote a green economy through environment development. The collective challenge is to eradicate slums

and provide adequate housing as well as an improved and sustainable supply of water for domestic, industrial

and emergency use for the people.’

Double delight for Vikram


Vijay fans had always waited with great expectations for the intro song in all his

films. And the mass hero never failed to disappoint them.

In his forthcoming film Velayudham too, Vi-jay will shake his legs for a peppy and a racy opening song with more than 300 dances at a huge set erected at Thirumalagiri village.The movie directed by Jeyam Raja and pro-duced by Aascar Ravichandran, features Hanshika Motwani and Genelia alonsgide Vi-jay. Says the director, ‘ indeed yes. It is the costliest opening song ever to have been shot in Tamil cinema’.Vijay will dance to peppy tune composed by Vijay Antony along with hundreds of dancers. The total cost of the song would surpass Rs 25 lakh. I thank my producer for it, adds the director.

Director Siddique who rendered a hit in Kava-lan starring Vijay is all resolved to repeat the magic in Bollywood too. The ace Malayalam filmmaker is now doing remake of Kavalan in Bollywood. Guess who plays the lead role? None other than Salman Khan.

Says the director, ‘ I had great comfort levels working with Vijay. It was an excellent experi-ence working with him. When there was talks of doing the Hindi remake, it was Vijay who suggested me to do it with Salman Khan’.

Salman ‘s innocence propelled me to cast him in the movie,’ says Siddique,

‘When I looked at Salman, what struck me first was his innocence. And then, it was his personality. I was looking at an actor who had the innocence and humour that was essen-tial to play the bodyguard. And Salman had all that and more. I thank Vijay for it’, he add.

Salman is like Vijay

News

Vijay’s costly intro song


7am Arivu starring Suriya and Sruthi Haas-

an directed by A R Murugadoss, features as

main villain who is a Vietnamese-American

film and TV actor Johnny Tri Nguyen. He is

also a stunt double and martial artist.

Johnny Nguyen comes from a family with

deep roots in the Vietnamese entertainment

industry. His acting roles include the martial

arts films Tom-Yum-Goong and Cradle 2 the

Grave.

His work as a stunt double includes the role

of Spider Man in Spider Man 2 and as the

Green Goblin in Spider Man. He practises

Lien Feng Kwon.

Produced by Red Giant Movies, 7am Arivu is

almost complete but for few talkie portions.

Harris Jayaraj has scored the music. An ac-

tion-packed thriller, the film is all set for re-

lease this summer.

Suriya’s villain is from Vietnam


Rarely movies are made on film indus-

try itself. The last was Vellithirai, which

spoke about the travails of a filmmaker.

Now Raj Krishna, a scribe-tuned-director,

is making a movie titled Oru Nadigayin Vaa-

kumoolam that speaks about the difficul-

ties one has to face to become an actress.

Playing the lead role is Sonia Agarwal. The mov-

ie is based on a series of articles on the lives of

actresses that appeared in a vernacular weekly.

Sonia Agrawal, after her divorce with

Selvaraghavan, is back to acting. She

is eagerly awaiting the release of Vaan-

am, in which she plays a prominent role.

Joining the long list of sons and daughters of film

personalities making their foray in big screen

is stunt master Fefsi Vijayan’s son Sabarish.

He plays the lead role in a movie titled Mar-

kandeya, being directed by Vijayan himself.

A happy dad says, ‘my son has un-

dergone a year’s training in Thai box-

ing in Thailand, and also learnt danc-

ing and acting to prepare for the role.’

Popular Thai model Pinky from Bang-

kok, along with Telugu girl Nivedita is play-

ing heroines in the film. In keeping with the

background of the director, the screen-

play has a lot of action, besides romance.

Sundar C Babu has composed the music.

An actress and her personal life

One more in the list

News


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Spot The 6 Differences1. Girl’s top 2.Watch 3.BoY Shrt 4.Heroine flower 5.Dollar 6 . Grandma Thiruneer


Royal

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The Official Royal Portrait


The Evening Reception Gown

Gown with 8ft Train


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Meeting the crowd out-side the westminster Ab-bey as Mrs. &Mr.whales

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge


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The Ride back to the Buckingham palace in an open Carriage

The Royal Kiss


Happily ever after...

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Cinemamatters.com Indian Movie Magazine May 2011

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