 One of the most critically acclaimed actresses of our times, Nandita Das has completed her debut feature film as a director- ‘Firaaq… In Such Times’. The movie which features seasoned actors like Shahana Goswami, Naseeruddin Shah, Raghuvir Yadav, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval and Tisca Arora, tells a plot about how violence affects people’s lives. The movie cinematographed by one of her colleagues Ravi K Chandran, is edited by Sreekar prasad. The music composer of this move is Rajat Dholakia. ‘Nanditha is more interested to sent her ‘ non-formula film, a collection of five different stories, to festivals since her film is all about violence in lives. The actress who felt much consumed with her debut film feels that she will not be able to direct another in the near future. She claims that the language used in her movie is conversational, meaning free use of Hindi, English and Urdu. Nandhitha herself has scripted the movie with collaboration from Suchi Kothari, one of her friends who live in Auckland. The actress who is more known for her powerful performances in ‘Fire’, ‘Bawander’, ‘Punaradhivaasanm’, ‘Kannaki’, ‘Diveree’, ‘1947 Earth’, ‘Maati Maay’, ‘Azhagi’ and ’Kannathil Muthamittal’ but distanced herself completely from acting in her first directorial venture. |
Archive for May, 2008
Nandita’s debut movie
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008Mamtha as a director in Kuselan
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 Many of our regular readers would have read about Mamtha making an appearance in the new film ‘Kuselan’. We had also reported earlier that she had already shot for a song with Rajinikanth in the film. But the latest reports suggest that Mamtha is also donning the role of a director in the movie. In a sequence of a cinema shoot that is shot for this movie, Mamtha will call the shots to Rajinikanth, who will act according to her suggestions. Many expects that this role will do wonders in the career of the star, who is already flying high doing characters in different languages. Mamtha’s new assignments include the Tamil film with Madhavan, Chinthakalyanam in Telugu and Musafir in Malayalam. Her new films in Telugu like Victory’ and ‘Homam’ will grace the theatres in a short while. |
Trying for George Bush to see himself in…
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 What must be the greatest advantage that an actor possessing a caliber like Kamal Haasan enjoys in going for roles that comes as complete strangers to the list of the kind of characters that film lovers have ever seen on the screens? The answer is that neither hardcore film enthusiasts nor people who have the minimum required knowledge on films and are least interested even in a casual teal shop discussion about actors or about the latest happenings in the film industries will ever doubt whether he will be able to carry off 10 different roles with 10 different voices and physical attributes breathing air into a story that spans hundreds of years. Only a few actors ever come close to go for these kinds of challenges and explaining why Kamal Haasan chooses these kinds of films is of no need and is practically impossible as only the great actor himself can explain how he decides on his next project. And when the veteran actor has formed a team with the best of the cream of the actors and technicians and person like K.S.Ravikumar sitting in the director’s chair and Oscar Ravichandran financing the project, fantastic promos that have already captured the cinema lovers attention, uncountable press reports and the Asian Hollywood star Jackie Chan himself attending the audio release in Chennai, We can ask is there anything else that is to be done now to make sure that this attempt will remain a unique one till the end of time?  So is there anything more than this film should ask for and look into its arsenal to finish up any uncompleted tasks that can push the film even higher? Being the chief guest of the audio launch function and himself admitting about the impact and quality of the movie after watching the promos, Jackie Chan is entitled to get a copy of the whole film. So the makers of Kamal Haasan’s epic movie are also planning to send the copy of the film to Jackie Chan. But, any wild guesses to know who is the next person who the producer of the epic film is trying to get to see their dear baby film conceived extracting the best drops of tremendous self belief and withstanding the onslaught of creative confusion that descends like a smog before the eternal sunlight comes in the form of crystal clear polished refined ideas fully ready to be executed tearing it apart. The makers of ‘Dasavatharam’ is now trying to get the President of United states of America George Bush to get to see the film as they feel that it will add to the status of the film. They are trying to get the print of the film to the American President through the Governor of the state of Louisana Bobby Jindal who other than being a person of Indian origin is also the youngest governor of the state that he represents and also the first non-white Governor in U.S.A. in 130 years.  For this purpose a print of the film along with notes on the movie has been already sent to Bobby Jindal. And if ever Geroge Bush happens to watch the movie, do you think he will fail to include it in his collection of presents that he has got during his tenure in the White House as everyone knows that the America President is one of the 10 roles enacted by Kamal Haasan in ‘Dasavatharam’. So just think of George Bush’s excitement when he sees himself on the screen. The makers of the movie is trying for more ways to make ‘Dasavatharam’ a film which has more number ones in its kitty even before its release. This film will always be considered in the history of Indian Films as one of the few works that have managed to create hype to this extent and got a kind of attention from the members of the audience like never before. But Until the hour before the release of this film there is enough and more time to expect more juicy information regarding the film or just about anything that is related to the film and who knows the makers must have already thought of some novel ways to be used as the ultimate publicity weapon in the final days leading to the countdown. |
Tamanna wants to dub in her own voice
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 ‘Happy Days’ the super hit Tollywood film did the trick for the upcoming actress Tamanna. After her Hindi film ‘Chand Sa Roshan Chehra’ and ‘Sri’ in Tollywood and ‘Kedi’ in Kollywood did not rise up to the expectations, the huge success of ‘Happy Days’ in Telugu gave the upcoming actress Tamanna a much needed hit to start a smooth run. Tamanna says that she followed the instructions of the director Shekar Kammula of ‘Happy Days’ to not to act in the scenes but simply get attached with the scenes. She did the same thing and her acting was appreciated and the super hit status of the movie turned out to be the icing in the cake. Her role in the simple movie ‘Kallori’ gave her an image of an actress who has enough stuff to perform demanding roles. Now she is regarded as one of the fastest growing actresses in Kollywood with a mega project like ‘Ayan’ with Suriya, ‘Padikathavan’ with Dhanush and ‘Aanandha Thandavam’ with a new hero lined up. Just like Bhavana, Asin and Sheha who have started dubbing in their own voice, Tamanna too desires to dub in her own voice in Tamil. In Tollywood too she is becoming a hot property. She will be soon seen in two movies as the heroines of Allu Arjun and Siddharth. Right now Tamanna is learning Telugu to dub in her own voice for her next movie. In the future this extremely beautiful actress is also keen to do the same in Tamil. |
Selvah on the move
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 Selvaraghavan has joined hands with UTV to produce three movies in Tamil. The filmmaker, who has so far concentrated in direction alone, has for the first time ventured into production, that too three films in a row. According to sources, one of the three projects would be directed by Selva himself while his assistants would direct the remaining two. ‘It is my longtime dream to produce films. And it is coming true now,’ he said. It may be recalled that Selva has floated a production company called ‘White Elephant’ along with Yuvan Shankar Raja and cinematographer Arvind Krishna a couple of years ago. However, it failed to materialize due to various reasons. |
Bhoomika is back
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 After Sillunu Oru Kadhal, Bhoomika is back in Kollywood. Her recent Telugu blockbuster Sathyabhama will be dubbed for a release in Tamil. Directed by Sri Hari, the movie features a newcomer Siva playing his hero. According to Sri Hari, ‘It is an emotional tale. It narrates the struggles of an individual in an uncomplicated manner’. Bhoomika has come up with an excellent performance, he adds. |
Prithviraj, strong and stable in Tamil
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 Cashing on the popularity of Prithviraj, several of his Malayalam movies are now being dubbed for a release in Tamil. The actor from the ‘God’s own Country’, is a name to reckon with in Malluwood. In Tamil, he made it big with Kana Kandein playing a negative role and followed it up with stupendous performance in movies including Mozhi and Vellithirai. Today he has emerged the heart-throb in Tamil cinema. To cash in on his popularity, a host of Prithvirajs successful movies are now ready to speak in Tamil. Recently a Prithviraj – Priyamani starrer was released in Tamil. Also three more in the pipeline. |
Women power in Kollywood
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 Gone are those days when women were considered only a glamdoll. Today they have an emerged a strong force who are involved in various crafts of film-making. They have emerged successful producers, directors, music composers and cinematographers. Kanda Naal Muthal V Priya has carved a niche for herself as a successful director and she has recently come out with a documentary Herova? Zerova? starring Suriya, Jyothika, Vijay, and Madhavan. Fowzia Fathima is a respected cinematographer, who has cranked the camera for noteworthy films including Mitr: My Friend. Director Madhumitha, is upbeat about the release of her maiden directorial venture Vallamai Tharayo. The likes of Kushboo and Radhika are busy producers today, while Thamarai is a celebrated lyricist in the industry. |
Soundarya Rajinikanth’s multilingual film with…
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Ocher studio started its production campaign in style with the costly project ‘Sultan The Warrior’ which is the first of its kind of an animation feature film featuring a fully 3D animated version of an Indian film superstar. The film has the potential to start a trend. Then there was the news of Soundarya taking a keen interest in making the second part of the blockbuster film ‘Billa’. Rajinikanth’s daughter seems to follow the corporate way of making movies by planning for more than one film and simultaneously announcing and starting the work on the different projects at the same time. A new big project to be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi will be made with the Tollywood hero Mahesh Babu in the lead role. The super hit director Puri Jagannath will be the director in charge of the new mega project of Soundarya Rajinikanth. However the movie’s work will start only next April with December 2009 being planned as the time for the release. The film’s story, dialogues and Screenplay will be written by the director himself and is a joint venture between Ocher studios and Warner Brothers. Puri Jagannath told that he was overjoyed when Soundarya approached him to direct the big film as it brought back the memories of the day when Rajinikanth himself told that if he ever had a son he would have surely launched him as a hero in a film directed by him. After giving two blockbusters in the form of ‘Athadu’ and ‘Pokiri’, Mahesh Babu teams up with Puri Jagannath again for this new film. The Telugu pin up boy told that he is very happy to work again with Puri Jagannath and will try to reach up to people’s expectations. Although a new addition to the list of players in the production business, Ocher studios has set its sights on transforming itself into one among the top most film business houses in India with carefully deciding on each new project with proven experienced film makers at the helm. |
Lekha Washington Bowled over by King Khan
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
 Not only the regional cricketers but aspiring actors and vee-jays are also getting benefited by the cricket revolution brought about in the country by the shortened form of cricket. Being a field anchor for Sony Max in the Indian Premier League has certainly given the cute and stunning former SS music vee-jay Lekha Washington to get the attention of the media players in Bollywood but also gave her a chance to meet and interact with some of greatest cricket players like Shane Warne, Sanath Jayasuuya, Adam Gilchrist etc. The reason why Lekha will always consider herself lucky to be the field host for SonyMax will be due to the reason that in this first session of the IPL itself, she was presented with a chance to meet up and talk with none other than the badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan. The upcoming actress will soon be seen in the film ‘Jeyam Kondaan’ and is also said to have come in focus of the film makers in Bollywood. She herself has come out with the news that discussions are going on with some film makers but nothing has been finalized. Although the actress has admitted that she was not able to talk much with Shah Rukh, simply due to the fact seeing the King Khan standing in front of her made her totally dumbstruck and she forgot what she was supposed to talk with him, who knows this chance meeting with the king of Bollywood may prove out to be a lucky star that will shine in the future for Lekha. |