Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Sarath supports Rajinikanth

Superstar Rajinikanth came under a lot of flak from Kannadigas for supporting the Tamil film fraternity. The people of Karnataka have threatened to boycott his films. Sarathkumar, talking on this issue, has expresses disappointment over this treatment meted out to one of the biggest stars of Indian Cinema.

As President of the Nadigar Sangam, he has asked all those not present at the hunger strike on April 4th to show cause for thier absence.

Trisha going strong

It seems Trisha is having a whale of time in both Tamil and Telugu filmdom. She is awaiting the release of 'Kuruvi' opposite Vijay.

Meanwhile, 'Abhiyum Nanum', directed by Radha Mohan is nearing completion. Also she is tipped to act in director Vishnuvardhan's next opposite Arya. Also she has been assigned to act in a Goutham Menon's film soon.

Buzz is that she has bagged the plum role to play Nagarjuna's heroine in Telugu film King besides a couple of big projects.

She is flying soon to New Zealand to shoot a song sequence for 'Kuruvi'.

Jalsa images






Piya in 'Ekan'

Filming for 'Ekan' is happening at a rapid pace. Raju Sundaram directed the action scenes with the bearded Ajith. But now, Ajith has removed his beard.

Director has given more importance to romantic and sentiment scenes.

Going by the story, Ajith's father has two wives. Ajith is the son of the first wife. Suhasini is the second wife whose son is Navdeep.There is a pair for Navdeep in the film. Not having found any one suitable in Tamilnadu, they have imported her from the North. Her name is Piya, a popular Mumbai model.

For the first time Piya is acting in a Tamil film.

Trisha to participate in a Film festival

Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) is jointly promoting a film festival with the European Union and South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.European Union leader Anton Kokala is inaugurating the festival which starts today and continues up to 17th. Kannan, the president of Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation is presiding over the function.

Films from Europe will be screed at this 13th European Union Film Festival.

In this inauguration, Film Chamber President K.R.G., Producers' Council President Ramanarayanan, actor Trisha, Sai Mira company Executive Director P.S.Swaminathan will participate.20 films will be screed during the festival. Films from Finland, Germany Poland, Nederland Sweden and Austria are also included in it.

Robot producer dreams bigger

No entertainment company has created as wide a global platform for Indian cinema as Eros International. They operate in over 50 countries, releasing more than 35 new films globally every year in English, Hindi and Tamil. But more significantly, it has a library (which is growing rapidly by the day) of films that total
more than 1900 titles. And now Eros has just signed a 3-year content licensing deal with Aksh Optifibre Ltd (a large-scale manufacturer of cable and optical fibre) on an upfront fee plus revenue share basis. Through this agreement Eros’ Bollywood content will be distributed on A-Tel, Aksh’s IPTV platform.

This will be a video on demand service, allowing A-Tel subscribers access to Bollywood movies in the comfort of their homes. In addition to movies, they will air music videos, new film promos, celebrity interviews, and award nights. “The collaboration with Eros International, said A-Tel’s MD, Dr. Choudhari, “is to provide world class entertainment to our A-Tel subscribers."

In turn, Ms. Jyoti Deshpande, Commercial director of Eros International, spoke of the agreement, saying, "Eros is a leading pioneer in new media initiatives within the Indian Entertainment sector and is pleased to be providing Aksh with a movie service for their IPTV platform, leveraging our blockbuster film content."

Action against Shankar, Manirathnam, A.R.Rahman & others?


The hunger strike called by the Film Producers’ Council to protest against Karnataka’s stance in the Hokkenakal project was a massive success. Many top film artistes, producers, technicians, TV artistes and directors participated in the daylong strike to show their solidarity in the issue. However, some notable personalities were conspicuous with their absence. Among them were Shankar, Manirathnam, Thangar Bachan, Illayaraja, A.R. Rahman, Karthik, Napoleon, Asin, Revathi, Suhasini etc. According to our sources, most of them are sending in their apologies and reasons for their absence to pacify the respective affiliations they are associated with. With the hunger strike turning out to be a great success, it looks like there might not be any strong action against them if they provide a valid reason.

Surya replaces Vishal


It was reported earlier that Vishal had bagged the superhero role for Mysskin’s next venture and Vikram Krishna would produce the same. With the actor pulling out suddenly, uncertainty looms large as to who would be the superhero. The latest buzz, however, is that Surya has been offered the role and Radaan and Sun TV together intends to produce the venture. However, we will get a clear picture of this project only when director Mysskin comes out with a clear-cut statement. Meanwhile, the director’s full concentration seems to be focused towards his forthcoming venture Nandalala.

Hunger Strike


Rajini says Kannadas also watch his films

The hue and cry over some remarks made by Rajinikanth reached its pinnacle with some Kannada outfits torching the star’s effigy. It has also been declared that his films would be banned from the state until he renders an unconditional apology. Reacting to these sentiments, the actor said that not only Tamilians but Kannadigas also see and enjoy his films. The superstar also came up with a counter clarifying the statement he made in the strike. According to the actor, his statement that those instigating violence should be beaten has been misconstrued as all Kannadigas should be beaten. Condemning it strongly, he said that some sections of the society are falsely spreading such statements.

The speech made by him is being represented out of context in order to instigate violence, he felt. He also challenged that if people like Parvathamma Raj Kumar, Girish Karnad, Ambarish, Vishnu Vardhan and Aswath feel that what he has spoken has hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas then he is ready to render an unconditional apology.

Linguistic chauvenist!

'Sathyaraj's speech during the event of hogenakkal fast is intolerable. Speaking in Thalaivar's word Sathyaraj the so called puratchi tamizhan is an example (of how a person should not live!) for us. How jealous, crooked and greedy he is! God are you still there or not!

Sathyaraj cannot call himself a human any more. If he calls himself a "tamilian" henceforth then its a shame for all cultured tamilians.

He not only criticized Rajini but also yelled at the tamilians describing them as "Maram etc., (also 'Maram'-dead body)". Since Sathyaraj is a tamilian (MGR and him are malayalees aren't they) can he say anything!

By his speech he also has created a fear in the minds of all communities. If tamilians alone can come up in tamilnadu and if they alone can live in the state then sure the tamilians from all other states and countries will be kicked out as the same rule will apply to everyone.

In India everyone can go anywhere and work anywhere. We all have the freedom to speak, learn and earn anywhere. Who the hell is he to say like this. Is he the godfather of tamilnadu?

I would like to request all the people belonging to different communities (Hindi, telugu, Malayalam etc.,) to be united in this time of crisis. Or else you will be a prey of guys like Sathyaraj (Linguistic chauvenist) who dislikes other community groups progressing in their state.

There are some politicians who are resisting such a speech (i know they would have loved his criticism on rajini. But do they also agree that they are 'Marams'. I hope guys like Sathyaraj should be nipped in the budding stage itself at any cost). He also said, 'he would die rather then uttering Rajini's name'. Will anyone care if he dies?

Vairamuthu in his speech said that Sathyaraj is another 'Periyaar'. Is Periyaar a fellow who is that cheap! Who knows may be he is right. Atleast now God gave an opportunity for our Thailavar to understand whom his real friends are.

Innocence is also a crime. Our Thalaivar is so innocent as he was easily caught into the trap as a result of this event. I hope atleast now he realises the truth and will act accordingly. As a result of his speech he now has his own state (Karnataka) against him. This is what everyone (whole tamil film industry and politicians) were waiting for. They want to destroy our Thalaivar's image by all means. But this is only temporary.

Superstar denies insulting Kannadigas

Bangalore: Under fire from pro-Kannada outfits and political party leaders for his reported remarks about the protests in Karnataka against the Hogenakkal water project, actor Rajnikant on Sunday rejected the allegation that he insulted Kannadigas.

“It is a malicious propaganda unleashed against me by some people. I am not an unwise person to pass remarks that offend the sentiments of the people of Karnataka,” he said in a recorded statement released to some regional television channels here.

He clarified that during the fast by members of the Tamil film industry in Chennai on Friday, he only decried those who were creating trouble, asking that such people be “kicked.” He was not referring to all.

Upset by the storm of criticism his remarks evoked in Karnataka, including a demand for his apology and threats to block screening of his films, the actor said: “Do these people who are demanding my apology represent 5.5 crore Kannadigas?

“I haven’t done any wrong. But I am not averse to tendering an apology if I had committed any wrong,” he said. “If stalwarts like Parvathamma Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Girish Karnad demand my apology, I will certainly tender

80 scenes, 70 locations, 5 heroines, one love


Director Jagannath, director of Raman Thediya Seethai, disclosed that it was not so difficult to direct five heroines at a time. Speaking about his project RTS, he said that Kajala, Navya Nair, Vimala Raman, Ramya Nambisan and Karthika were all very cooperative. Though the theme is about searching a bride, the entire movie does not revolve around that. The story also has three love stories weaved into it. RTS comprises only about 80 scenes and it was shot in 70 locations in Chennai, Nagercoil and Pondicherry. With just two songs remaining to be shot, the film is expected to hit the theatres during the second week of June.