VIJAY SETHUPATHY AND ARYA IN PURAMPOKKU

BY T.SAI VIGNESH

Purampokku film is being directed by S.P Jananathan under the production of UTV Motion pictures. Actually Jayam Ravi and Jeeva are the ones who signed up for this film. But now with the exit of both these stars, Vijay Sethupathy and Arya have decided to fill in their role. Ravi had his words of explanation to the media, when asked about his act of doing so.

It seems that Ravi is having a close and heart-to-heart relationship with Director Jananathan and is ready to be part of his film whenever he wants. However because of him being tied up with two other movies like Bhoologam,Nimirndhu Nil which are delayed due to some problems, he could not help quitting Purampokku and also doesn’t want the director to keep waiting for him. Ravi is very much confident about the success this movie would get in the future and also in shaping the carrier of the upcoming stars Arya and Vijay Sethupathy.

Superstar Rajini sings for Kochadaiyan

Superstar Rajinikanth has lent his voice for the film Kochadaiyan produced by his daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth. He has lent his voice first for the Tamil version. The Hindi version of the song, was exactly dhitto of the Tamil songs and Rajini had lent his voice for both the versions.

Lending voice for the film was not anew to the Superstar, as he had already lent his voice for the film Mannan in 90s.

It is not known when the audio of the film will be released. Earlier, it was originally scheduled to be released at the Cannes Film Festival.

The music of the film is scored by A.R.Rahman.

Life of Silk Smitha in Tamil and Malayalam

By N.Thyagarajan

The life of film actress Silk Smitha was produced in Hindi with the title Dirty Pictures, in which Vidya Balan appeared as the late actress. The film was a superhit, then, the Malayalam film industry thought it would be better the same story with the title Climax, following this the producers have decided to produce the film with the title Oru Nadigaiyin Diary.

It is expected the film will be released in both Tamil and Malayalam simultaneously.

Vadivelu in Africavil Vadivelu

Is Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu is really a comedian or a politican? That question has been perplexing many in the Tamil film industry. Surely, one can't deny that he is a comedian, but why then there was a fall in his career? Can't a comedian will not go to election booths to exercise his franchise, in choosing a political leader to become minister of a state? As a citizen of India, is he not having the right to support a political party?

The comedian could not be seen quite a long time after the elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly was over. He has not done any mistake except in supporting the DMK party wherever he went. He vehemently opposed the film actor Captain Vijayakanth who is the founder of a political party. Never, he uttered a single statement against the AIADMK party or its leader. But after the elections, and when the AIADMK party became the ruling party of the Tamil Nadu, the comedian felt bleak chances to come back to his acting. But there was no producer or any film director supported Vadivelu for giving him roles in their films !

Now, Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu is coming with a bang in a Tamil film Africavil Vadivelu. The story of the film is written by Dr Gayathri who wrote the biography of Superstar Rajinikanth. The film is to be directed by K.S.Ravikumar.

Once, I have heard Vadivelu was saying except comedy in him nothing comes out of his mouth and he had no time to think about his family and what they are doing and what sort of help that he could offer to theme. Earlier,  Vadivelu thought that he would produce second part of Imsai Arasan 23-M Pulikesi. Vadivelu worked out the budget of the film with Director Simbhu Thevan. Both felt that it was not feasible to produce the film.

In such a situation Dr Gayathri who wrote the story Africavil Vadivelu for the comedian took it to Director K.S.Ravikumar who okayed the story. Ravi Kumar also informed Vadivelu to start the work of the film. The shooting of the film, will commence and most of the shooting likely to take in South Africa.

The storyline of the film, how Vadivelu who was caught up in the jungles of Africa comes out and join his family. Imagine when Vadivelu come across bears and monkeys and even big elephants or tigers what will be his reaction? People who if watch the film with story like this? Many expect this from Vadivelu.

Will the comedian's reentry in films, make all of us in a happy mood?

Vadivelu in Africavil Vadivelu

Is Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu is really a comedian or a politican? That question has been perplexing many in the Tamil film industry. Surely, one can't deny that he is a comedian, but why then there was a fall in his career? Can't a comedian will not go to election booths to exercise his franchise, in choosing a political leader to become minister of a state? As a citizen of India, is he not having the right to support a political party?

The comedian could not be seen quite a long time after the elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly was over. He has not done any mistake except in supporting the DMK party wherever he went. He vehemently opposed the film actor Captain Vijayakanth who is the founder of a political party. Never, he uttered a single statement against the AIADMK party or its leader. But after the elections, and when the AIADMK party became the ruling party of the Tamil Nadu, the comedian felt bleak chances to come back to his acting. But there was no producer or any film director supported Vadivelu for giving him roles in their films !

Now, Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu is coming with a bang in a Tamil film Africavil Vadivelu. The story of the film is written by Dr Gayathri who wrote the biography of Superstar Rajinikanth. The film is to be directed by K.S.Ravikumar.

Once, I have heard Vadivelu was saying except comedy in him nothing comes out of his mouth and he had no time to think about his family and what they are doing and what sort of help that he could offer to theme. Earlier,  Vadivelu thought that he would produce second part of Imsai Arasan 23-M Pulikesi. Vadivelu worked out the budget of the film with Director Simbhu Thevan. Both felt that it was not feasible to produce the film.

In such a situation Dr Gayathri who wrote the story Africavil Vadivelu for the comedian took it to Director K.S.Ravikumar who okayed the story. Ravi Kumar also informed Vadivelu to start the work of the film. The shooting of the film, will commence and most of the shooting likely to take in South Africa.

The storyline of the film, how Vadivelu who was caught up in the jungles of Africa comes out and join his family. Imagine when Vadivelu come across bears and monkeys and even big elephants or tigers what will be his reaction? People who if watch the film with story like this? Many expect this from Vadivelu.

Will the comedian's reentry in films, make all of us in a happy mood?

Superstar's Kochadaiyan release in July

N.Thyagarajan



Superstar Rajinikanth's Kochadaiyan will be released in July this year, probably, it will be on July 3, according to the film's co-producer Dr J Murali Manohar.

Kochadaiyan is the first flick in India to use motion capturing techniques in 3D, like the films Avtar,  The Adventure of Tintin.

Rajini's daughter Soundarya is the director of the film and the film was shot and edited in a studio in London.
It is an epic film in which Deepika Padukone play opposite Rajinikanth.

Rajasulochana passes away

Veteran Tamil film actress Rajasulochana passed away on the early hours of Tuesday in Chennai. She was 77. The actress who made her debut in acting through a film produced by AVM. She was a heroine of 60s and acted in vampire characters also. She had acted with MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, S.S.Rajendran.

Her role in Padithal Mattum Podhuma with Sivaji Ganesan as an educated wife to Sivaji Ganesan had brought her name. In the film she used to say that her husband was a fool because he never had education. At the same time, she used to claim she was well read and an intelligence and finally would say that her husban (Sivaji Ganesan) was a fool. Then her husband would ask her to repeat the word. In a fit of anger, she would call her husband a fool, always fool. Shivaji who could not tolerate it would beat her indiscriminately. The late actress remembered how the scene was picturised and she would say she had received severe blows from Sivaji Ganesan.

The actress had become a citizen of the USA and used to stay with her sons'. But, her love for the Indian soil  never erased from her memory and she used to frequent India and would stay in her home in Madipakkam in Chennai.

She was not well for some days and got admitted to a private hospital. Her kidneys did not function, and the end came on the early hours of Tuesday.

She had acted in more than 77 Tamil films and some Telugu and Malayalam films.

The body will be taken for funeral cremation on Wednesday.

SUMMA NACHCHUNNU IRUKKU

Director A. Venkatesh's  full-length comedy film Summa Nachchunnu Irukku is being produced in Malaysia. The director himself appears in a main character, according to latest news comes to this blog.

The film is a joint effort of P.Vimal who produces the film on behalf of Esthel Entertainment in which Thaman,
Archana, Vibha, Erode Mahesh, Thambi Ramaiah, Power Star Srinivasan and other actors in meaty roles but all the characters has some desires or aims which seek refuge under Venkatesh's character.

Speaking to news men the director Venkatesh said, " I would always like to produce comedy films and in my films one could have seen the importance to comedy is given. This is my 20th film of direction and most of the locales were shot from Malayasia and nearly 60 percent of the shooting is over".

The cinematography of the film is done by C.J.Rajkumar and music directed by Achu.

The director said that the shooting of the film would take place for another 20 days in Malaysia.

Erode Mahesh has written dialogues for the comedy scenes of the film.

Malaysia lifts ban on Vishwaroopam

The Malaysian government which banned the screening of the mega-budget film Vishwaroopam, has ordered on Tuesday to lift the ban, following there was no protests from any section of the people.

The film which had become controversial was banned in Tamil Nadu under Sec.144 was finally allowed to be screen in theaters in the TN State after an amicable accord was reached between the producer-actor Kamal Hassan and some Muslim outfits.

Mr Kamal Hassan has agreed to edit some of the scenes as sought by the Muslim outfits. Then the TN government lifted the ban for its release in the state.

Similarly, there were a section of Muslim outfits in Malaysia also protested the release of the film in Malaysia and following which the Malaysian government banned the film, but that lasted a few days and on Tuesday the Malaysian government has lifted the ban this morning.

Actor Kamal Hassan has a lot of fans in and around the world, and the banning of the film in Malaysia and elsewhere had given shock to many.

The Hindi version and the Tamil version of the film was released in some theaters in New York in the USA, said to be a large amount of crowd puller to theaters to witness the film.

Meanwhile, Kamal Hassan announced that Vishwaroopam Two will be produced soon and the pre-production work was started.

GOUNDA MANI COMING BACK TO FILMS !

  By N.Thyagarajan

After a long hiatus, comedian Gounda Mani is set to comeback in a Tamil film in which film producer-actor-comedian Bhagyaraj's son Santhanu will be appearing as hero.

Gounda Mani who underwent a minor heart surgery a few years ago was advised to take rest. Within a short time the comedian recovered from the health problem and started moving around and mingling with his friends. Many of his fans and friends are happy over the comedian's recovery from his illness.  Some of his friends started visiting Gounda Mani's office on the Chevalier Shivaji Road, formerly known as South Boag Road in T'Nagar.

His fans became restless and developed a sort of bitterness towards watching films as they could not seen their comedian in several of films released at that time. After Gounda Mani's operation his counter-part actor Senthil also faced a lean season in film acting, but he had has managing it by visiting various places and also participating in AIADMK party meetings, especially when the last election for the TN Assembly was held.

However the news of the comedian coming back to film acting has brought happy-mood among the actor's fans and several film goers who used to enjoy the comedy of both the two - Gounda Mani & Senthil.

Let us wait for some more months for the release of the film in which Gounda Mani and Senthil would be appearing !

VR release this week in UK, France, USA

The people of  France and UK will be enjoying the mega-budget film Vishwa Roopam, from this week on wards. The Tamil version of the film was already released in the USA and there have been tremendous welcome to the film, according to some of the people who arrived Chennai today.

The Hindi version of the movie was already released in New York.

Actor-producer of the film Kamal Hassan who was recently in Bangalore said that his film fraternity, media and the general public stood by his side in getting the film released.

He made a special mention of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa and thanked her for having initiated action to reach an amicable accord with Muslim brothers in connection with editing of some of the scenes of the film.

He wondered the films like Kadal and Aadhi Bhagavan are also facing severe problems like his film, Vishwa Roopam faced. Demanding ban on films had become a 'trend' and said it must be challenged; if not by the government, at least by our people.

VISHWAROOPAM TWO TO BE PRODUCED: Kamal

At a special screening of the film, exclusively for the film artistes in Sathyam Theater the actor-producer of the Kamal Hassan said, that he had been planning to produce Vishwaroopam Two and had been involved much in the script, however, Kamal has not detailed when the shooting of the new film will be commenced and who are all the artistes that he has in his mind.

At the special show screened for film artistes in Sathyam Cinema Theater  actress Radhika Sarathkumar, Kushboo, Gowthami and many other leading artistes enjoyed the movie.

Superstar Rajinikanth watched the movie at his home-theater along with his family members on Thursday, it was learnt.

In some cinema theaters in Chennai and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, the Vishwaroopam first show for the public began before the crack of the dawn and the people who were eagerly waiting to watch the movie started arriving cinema halls since early morning of Thursday.

People whoever enjoyed the film, were in raptures and appreciated the talents of the actor-producer of the Vishwaroopam for having paralleled his production to that of an Hollywood film.

VISHWAROOPAM RELEASED IN 500 THEATERS

Mega-budget Vishwaroopam which was branded a 'controversial' film, and faced a lot of difficulties for its public show at long last was released in 500 theaters of Tamil Nadu State.

The first show was screened in many theaters around 6 AM which had a huge viewers, including some Muslim brothers with their families enjoyed the movie and satisfied that no scene of the film portrayed the Islam religion in poor light. The film runs around two and a half hours.

No untoward incident was reported throughout the State, according to sources.
Fans of the Actor-Producer Kamal Hassan and the general public who were waiting for a longtime and praying for the release of the film thronged nearby theaters stood in long queues and bought their tickets. After the first show was over, many viewers had said that the Tamil film was first of its kind to introduce the foreign sounding system and Kamal had painstakingly done the story and acting. The viewers were sure that the film is going to be a box-office hit bringing a record collection to all theaters.

It is said, many theaters have arranged the facilities of e-ticketing system.

Meanwhile, in Tuticorin, police arrested four persons when they allegedly tried to sell the CD of Vishwaroopam. Police also seized CDs worth about several lakhs of newly released film from them.

TN Government lifts ban on Vishwaroopam release

The Tamil Nadu government today (Sunday) lifted the ban on Vishwaroopam release, following the actor-producer Kamal Hassan and the representatives of several Muslim organisations who met at the Secretariat on Saturday.  The meeting was taken following the decision of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's J.Jayalalithaa's advice that the actor-producer Kamal Hassan to meet all the Muslim outfits to reach an agreement amicably so that the film could be released.

District Collectors of several state who issued the order under Sec.144 of the Cr Procedure Code, lifted the ban, according to reports reaching the blog. This action had paved the way for the release of the mega-budget film Vishwaroopam and it is expected that the film is expected to be released on Febuary 8th throughout the Tamil Nadu and it is not known whether it will be released in all the 524 cinema halls as was originally planned.

During the ban the two films of Mani Ratnam's Kadal and Vikram starer David were released in some cinema halls.

During the tri-tripartite meeting held on Saturday, Kamal has agreed to cut some of the scenes and there was tremendous amount of response for it from several Muslim organisations. Kamal has also agreed to withdraw the case filed against the government challenging the Tamil Nadu government's order of banning the film under sec.144 of Cr Procedure Code.

After the meeting was over, the actor Kamal Hassan looked cheerful and said, " my Muslim brothers are happy about the agreement that he had made with them to change some of the scenes of the film".

It is said, that Kamal Hassan has agreed to change seven scenes in the film, about which the Muslims said that they were shown in poor light.

Kamal has thanked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for her interest and help shown to the actor-producer for the release of the film.

With this action the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has proved that she had no grudge or enmity against the film or the actor or with any other actors or any producers and explained in a press-meet that the film was banned due to giving priority to maintain Law and Order situation in the state.

On announcement that the ban on film was lifted thousands of Kamal Hassan's fans thronged the actor's house and were keen to know the day of its release.

It is said, that the actor-producer Kamal Hassan made several changes in the film, will meet the Censor Board officials and explain to them for having made such changes.

HC postpone judgement to Tuesday

Actor Kamal Hassan in Vishwaroopam

The Madras High Court on Monday deferred its decision on the screening of Kamal Hassan's Vishwaroopam film till Tuesday.

The single Judge bench of Justice K.Venkatraman was to deliver Judgement on Monday (today), but it was postponed to Tuesday.

The Judge observed since the actor-producer is in Chennai he should meet government officials and explore amicable solution.

Meanwhile the actor will challenge section-144 which restricts the assembly of more than four persons imposed by the Collectors in respective districts.

TN Govt. bans release of VRoopam for two weeks

( N Thyagarajan )


At  a high-level meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the TN government has issued orders to ban the release of the mega-budget film Vishwaroopam for two weeks.

The government has issued the orders and faxed it to all the district collectors.

The film is to hit all cinema halls on January 25th and the Direct-to-Home show to take place on February 2.
The film was produced in tri-lingual, namely, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi at a cost of Rs 95 crores.

Actor Kamal Hassan with some artistes and technicians of the Vishwaroopam had gone to Los Angels to premier the film for some of Hollywood artistes, it is understood.

Following protests from 24 Muslim outfits which met the TN Home Secretary R.Rajagopal under the banner of Federation of Muslim Organisations explained the Film is aimed to tarnish the image of the Islam and Muslims and added its release would disturb the communal harmony.

The government had invoked prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Cr PC, citing a possible law and order situation in the run-up to Milad-ul-Nabi.

But the producer-actor Kamal Hassan in an interview to a private news channel, has said that he treats the Muslim as his own brothers and in no way portrayed them in 'poor light'. He also said that his Muslim brothers would appreciate him after they watched the movie.

TN Government bans the release of VR for two weeks

The government on Wednesday instructed all district collectors to prevent the film's screening for two weeks days by invoking prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, citing a possible law and order situation in the run-up to Milad-ul-Nabi. Sources said the government directive was faxed to all the district collectors, who in turn ordered theatre owners not to screen the film. 

While Haasan is in the US for the film's release in theatres there, the ban in Tamil Nadu could prove a major setback for the actor-director. The decision to ban the film was taken on Wednesday evening at a meeting convened by the chief minister at the secretariat soon after she returned from Kodanad. 

An official release said the CM chaired a high-level meeting to review law and order situation in the state. "The chief minister was concerned the film could aggravate the law and order situation in the state and sought views of senior officials. It was then decided that the film would be banned for two weeks," said a senior government official. 

The decision came after representatives of 24 Muslim organizations and political parties, under the banner of 'Federation of Muslim Organisations', met home secretary R Rajagopal at the secretariat on Wednesday. "The film is aimed at tarnishing Islam and Muslims. Its release is bound to disturb communal harmony," Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam leader and MLA M H Jawahirullah said.

Vishwaroopam DTH show price will be less

Actor Kamal Hassan has been meeting all the DTH operators to fix the minimum price for the show of the mega-budget film Vishwaroopam on DTH platforms on February 2.

Earlier, Rs.1000 from each DTH subscriber was fixed, but then the show of the film through the DTH platforms was scheduled to take place a day before the release of the film in cinema Halls. Now the film is getting released throughout India in three vernaculars, namely Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, on January  25th and the show through the DTH for its subscribers was fixed on only February 2.

Following the decision taken at a meeting by Kamal Hassan with a section of cinema theater owners, the DTH show was fixed only after the release of the film in cinema halls. It has also been decided to exhibit the show in more than 500 cinema halls.

The scheduled DTH show would take thrice, instead of one show as was originally planned and Kamal has been finding ways and means to reduce the price of the ticket from Rs.1000, so that many DTH subscribers would be able to subscribe to watch the film from their houses.

VISHWAROOPAM RELEASE ON JAN.25

By N.Thyagarajan

Raj Kamal's mega-budget film Vishwaroopam will hit cine theaters in Tamil Nadu on January 25th, according to a release from the production office. But the idea of screening of the film on DTH platforms a day prior to the release date was given up, as some of the city theater owners after a meeting with Kamal Hassan has reached a settlement.

It is feared if the Vishwaroopam is exhibited through the Direct-To-Home platforms to its subscribers, say there are more than 7.5 million subscribers in India, it would affect the revenue collection of theaters. A section of theater owners opposed the move of Kamal Hassan, though the actor has every right to sell his product to whomsoever he thinks fit enough to run the show, Kamal wanted to introduce the idea of showing the film as a one-time-show on DTH platforms for the first time in the country. But this did not take place.

In a recently concluded meeting, Kamal Hassan has agreed to release the film in theaters on January 25th and the show on DTH platforms would be made on February 2, next month. Originally, it was planned to exhibit the show as one single-show now this has changed as three shows on that day.

Kamal is thinking of reducing the sale priceof ticket per show/ per subscriber from Rs.1000. By doing so, the tickets could be affordable by the families living on the middle-income and lower-income strata. Further, it would boost the number of DTH subscribers to enjoy the movie by sitting in their homes and watching it.

Kamal has invited all private players who provide DTH connections in this matter to reach a settlement, it is learnt.

Kamal is the first actor-producer who has introduced the system of screening the movie through the DTH for the first time and this can't be disputed by anyone and Kamal is walking on the vertex of the Indian film industry.

A Film on Match fixing directed by a transgender ready for release

                                                                                                                                                                                                 A film on match fixing and other irregularities that take place is well scripted and is directed by Rose, a scholar and a transgender is getting readied in English, followed by its dubbing in Tamil and Telugu versions.

The film is titled Cricket Scandal is being produced in English in which Kishan Ramachandran is the hero opposite Rose, the director of the film.

The film brings out many more skeletons from cupboard of the cricket scandals like match-fixing and other fraudulent activities of various persons involved in scandals. It also brings out the troubles faced by thirdgenders in a given society and also comes out with salvation.

The story-line of the film goes like this. A leading cricket player falls in love with a third-gender who is a club-dancer. Their relationship has become more intimate, and each Jack and Jill vows to solve their problems unitedly.

Nearly 90 percent of the production is over and the film would be released throughout India and in particular the film will be dubbed into Tamil and Telugu for its release in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh simultaneously.

50 million DTP customers await for Vishwaroopam Show

A Special Report: By: N.Thyagarajan

Around 50 million DTP Channel customers await eagerly to watch Kamal Hassan's Vishwaroopam produced at a cost of around Rs.95 crores.

Though many cinema hall owners initially opposed the move of Kamal Hassan's to screen the new film through DTH platforms, slowly they began to realize that a one-time screening of show in no way would affect the cinema Halls' collections.

A film like Vishwaroopam with new technical ideas could be felt only in theaters, as some of the DTH customers feel, but some say that the LCD TVs will be able to produce the sound effect that is produced in cinema Halls.

However, the release date for the Kamal's Vishwaroopam is nearing and as usual Kamal's fans and others who wish to see the film through DTH, by remitting a small fraction of amount with their respective private DTH operators, waiting to eagerly watch the show.

According to some of the DTH customers, though they are prepared to shell out any amount to watch the film a day before its release in cine theaters, they are not prepared to include any of their neighbours or dears on the day when the film is show through the DTH platforms.