[For the Date between 11th Aug'04 - 17th' Sep'04]
Bharathiraja’s new found interest
Bharathiraja the newly appointed president of ‘Thamizhthirai’, a new Tamil TV channel said that he had taken a vow to create history in satellite channels, just as he did it with 16 Vayadhineley several years back. The film was a trend setter and paved way to many producers to produce films in and for the rural masses. The channel to be launched soon will have a variety of entertainment programmes which will reflect the State's culture, music, dramas and street plays.
The new channel is being promoted by the cable TV operators and film distributors with director R.K.Selvamani and many other personalities in the board of directors The launching of the channel was delayed, because the promoters had taken a Herculean task, which took some more time to complete said Bharathiraja.
Vijay’s Cousin Vikranth debuts
R.V.Udayakumar who gave memorable films like Ejaman, Chinna Gounder, Kizhakku Vaasal after a long hibernation is coming back with a Tamil film Karkha Kasadarae. Actor Vijay’s cousin Vikranth aka Santhosh is debuting as hero. Lakshmi Roy and Diya (Kurumbhu fame) are the two heroines. Vikranth is introduced as a romantic action hero. The hero comes to the Southern regions from Mumbai for research work. The people and problems he comes across and how he solves them forms the crux of the story. Jackrase, a media person from US debuts as villain. Manorama, Charuhassan and Vadivel are the supporting cast. Prayog from Kannada composes music. For the first time all the songs are mixed at the Universal Studios, Hollywood by Merlin Michael. Brindha does the choreography. Having completed its first schedule, the unit has shifted to Thenkasi, Kuttralm, Nagarkovil, Allapey, Ottapalam etc. The songs will be picturised in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. R.V.Udayakumar produces the film in his own banner Smartline Pictures apart from doing the story, screenplay, lyrics and direction.
IOB finances two crores to Dhanush film
A leading Tamil film company Roja Combines has secured two crore rupees loan from a Chennai branch of the Indian Overseas Bank for the production Devathaiyai Kanden starring Dhanush and Sridevi.
The interest rate for the loan is set at 13.75 per cent, with a repayment period fixed at six months. It is to be noted, that financing film industry through normal banking system is rare. The rate of interest paid to the bank was much lower than the producers who used to pay for the loans taken from private financiers, says an official of the Roja combines. The private money lenders charge 25 per cent interest.
The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) has so far financed Rs.80 crore to the film industry. The scheme of financing came into operative from the year 2001.
Trisha refuses to expose in Tamil
Trisha has refused to do the remake of her Telugu blockbuster Varsham in Tamil. She apparently wants to retain her goodie goodie image in Tamil cinema. Her two earlier blockbusters Saamy and Ghillli where she appears in non glamorous roles received good response among the Tamil audience and helped her carve a niche for herself in the industry. S P Balasubramanium has bought the remake rights in Tamil from M S Raju and has Jeyam Ravi in the lead.
Varsham gave Trisha a foot hold in the Telugu industry and also catapulted her to the numero uno status there. The glamorous role required her to expose and do a lot of intimate scenes. With the flick proving to be a hit she has five major projects in hand. Turning down the remake offer under the pretext of date problems, Trisha feels that the intimate scenes required by her might tarnish her girl next door image in Tamil. Asin or Shriya are being considered for the role.
Now, where is this two fold policy of Trisha going to take her? One has to wait and see!
Action to romance
After giving two box-office hits Thirumalai and Sullan, director Ramanaa is changing tracks to romantic genre, this time with the remake of Varsham in Tamil. The original Telugu version Varsham had Prabhas and Trisha in lead which was a super-duper hit and took Trisha to super stardom in Telugu. Ramanaa admitted that he has realized his shortcomings through the feed back he received and would definitely correct them in his future films. Although he makes a cameo appearance in the film, Ramanaa feels he is not cut out to be an actor and prefers to be always behind the scenes.
Dreams - Dhanush’s next
Dhanush seems to be happy and relieved with the success of his latest flick Sullan. The film which faced lots of trouble before its release had Dhanush acting as a slum boy who shoots off his mouth and gets in to problems. He met the media persons recently to share his joy and clear the misgivings. While replying to a question on why he has been projected as larger than life image in Sullan Dhanush said, “I am a director’s artiste and I strongly believe that an actor can be successful only merely obeying the director”. He requested his fans not to call him as “Indian Bruce Lee” since it’s an insult to a great man like Bruce Lee. He opined that he looks (puny) perfect for a 22 year old boy. To a query on why he always gets into controversies Dhanush seems to have no clue on that. Talking about his current assignments he said, “Dreams will be complete soon. So far the film has come out well and it has all the masala to attract the youth. I have Roja Combines Devadayai Kandean to finish and Adhu Oru Kana Kalam by Balu Mahendra sir which will follow”.
Rambha moves to Mumbai
Rambha who has entered the Tamil film industry with Uzhavan and became popular through Ullaththai Allitha has sold her Chennai Virugambakkam house recently for a whooping sum to pay off her financiers. Rambha, who, produced the Three Roses with Laila and Jothika burnt her fingers heavily as the film flopped. Faced with severe loss and a lean period in getting chances in Tamil films, she began to act in Tamil and Kannada films. But that was not enough to set right her debts. Thanks to her actor friend Govinda who came to her rescue and got her three Hindi films.. She has bought a decent flat in Mumbai and has decided to settle permanently there. In fact Govinda who made a guest appearance in a song sequence did not take any money from Rambha.
Cheran’s Touring Talkies
With all the dirty dust settling down, Cheran now has the time to concentrate on his next venture Touring Talkies, a title familiar to avid cinema goers. To be produced by Krishnakanth, Cheran will be directing and playing the main character in this flick. An act he seems to be mastering and tasting success as well.
Touring Talkies is no exception to the onslaught of Mumbai girls in Tamil cinema. Yes, the film will have a Mumbai girl make her debut as a heroine. With all the partying for Autograph over, is Cheran getting ready for another round of jubilations? Let’s wait and see.
Vijay shifting gears to production
Not the one to shy away from his earlier debacle as a producer, Vijay is taking to production once again. He has named his production company after his son Jason Sanjay. The first movie under this banner is to be directed by Ramana who had earlier directed Vijay’s Thirumalai. Incidently, Thirumalai put back Vijay’s sagging career back on the tracks. This time its Vijay’s turn to give Ramana a major break after his Sullan, which is not receiving good response at the box office.
Meanwhile, Vijay is busy shooting for Super Good Films’ Thirupaachi at Karaikudi.
Ponnambalam produces love story (!)
Villain Ponnambalam adds one more feather to his cap, by producing a Tamil film Pattaya Kilappu. He is the brain behind for the triangular love story and it is narrated in a comedy way with punching dialogues. Says the villain, his father wanted to become a producer forty years ago, but he could not make it real. “I have been with the industry quite a long time and studied the taste of the present day generations’ interest in love stories and the script of the Pattaya kilappu has it all” Ponnambalam says. One more added to this film is latest sex siren Sushmitha’s dance for a song’s sequence, says the producer and stunt man.
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