Aruvadai to deal with a vital social issue

Aruvadai, the mega budget venture starring Mammootty, Arjun, and Sneha is progressing in a jet pace for Pongal 2008 release. Although the stills shed a different light on the movie with military backdrops, director Arvind begs to differ. He declares that the movie deals with a vital social issue that needs attention in our contemporary society.











“Aruvadai will address the agricultural issues of present day India and will try to answer the major concerns,” Arvind asserts. He further reiterates that Aruvadai will be a socially responsible movie. “Every role in the movie has a certain responsibility to fulfill apart from just dancing around the trees,” he states.

Shoots have been scheduled to be held in the sets erected inside the old Chennai Central Jail recently. Aruvadai also boasts of using latest techniques in graphics and 3D effects.

Tholaipesi Movie Review

Tholaipesi

Cast: Vikramadithya, Priyanka, Divya, Arthi, Karunaas

Direction: K. Paneerselvam

Music: S. Shanthakumar

Production: Blue Waters Movie Makers






Tholaipesi is a very interesting name and one would hope to see a neat and interesting movie and that too a thriller. But a heavy dosage of melodrama is what one gets to witness and the intelligence of the title stops just with it.

Vikramaditya of whistle fame is the son of a rich man and he thinks that possessing a cell phone could change the life of a person completely. He uses his phone mainly to flirt around with the fairer sex. His rich dad gets him married off to Priyanka but the son never gets rid of his cell phone. He starts having an affair with a girl called Divya and when his wife Priyanka gets to know about this through the phone (Tholaipesi) she leaves him in a fit of rage.

Meanwhile he comes across another girl Arthi who brings the best out from him and in the process desires to marry him. The rest of the story is about whether Priyanka and Vikramaditya unite or whether he chooses Divya or whether Vikramaditya decides to spend the rest of his life with the girl (Arthi) who reforms him and what happens to the

Though the concept is interesting, the lack of depth in the story and the ambiguous screenplay plays spoilsport. Director K Paneerselvam’s inexperience is revealed when many scenes end abruptly.

In the acting department Vikramaditya needs to work on his emotions, but plays the romantic part pretty well. Priyanka who was last seen in Veyil does a good job and Nizhalgal Ravi suffers from proper characterization. Karunas does not impress this time and none of the other actors register an impact.

The technical department also has nothing special to boast of as the cinematography or the music department is just plain.

On the whole the movie is a non starter due to improper marketing which is very much needed for such a movie. This is a cell phone without a sim card.

Dhanush injured in Polladhavan movie shooting

In a freak accident involving Dhanush and Villain Daniel Balaji, Dhanush was injured in the sets of his upcoming venture Polladhavan. Dhanush’s Polladhavan, directed by Vetri Maran, is progressing in and around Chennai. When the incident occurred, shoots were being carried out in the sets erected to reflect a fish-processing unit in Gaiety theatre on the Annasalai.



























Dhanush’s stunt scenes with Daniel Balaji were shot. The sword that was used by Daniel for the stunt scenes slashed Dhanush’s forehead accidentally. Dhanush was immediately provided with first aid medical attention to prevent the blood loss. The actor was moved to a private hospital where he was scanned to identify the damage.

Later, doctors informed that the wound caused by the accident is minor. Dhanush is advised to rest following this. Shoots of Polladhavan will resume after Dhanush’s return.

A.R.Rahman's Jana Gana Mana given clean chit

The controversy surrounding the Jana Gana Mana album by A.R.Rahman came to an end today, with the Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Jyothimani dismissing the petition to ban the album. According to the petitioner, Mohanraj, General Secretary of Jebamani Janata Party, the music director’s intention to release the album was to cash in on the national anthem.

Moreover, he alleged that the national anthem should be sung within stipulated seconds but Rahman has sung it for over seven minutes.

The judges, while dismissing the petition on both counts, said that it is the right of the citizens to sing the national anthem and it cannot be deemed as an act of disrespect. Also they gave the verdict that there is no such rule as to the stipulated time.

Simran to sue producer for portraying her as an Aids victim in new Malayalam film

Thiruvananthapuram • Tamil star Simran, who had rejected many offers for being unglamorous, plans to sue the producer of her debut Malayalam film, Heartbeats, for casting her as an Aids patient.

Simran should curse the stars because she is no more the rage of Tamil filmdom. But she still has a toehold in the industry though her abortive love affair and subsequent marriage to a “somebody”, from Delhi had dented her prospects.

The film, though released a few days ago, was taken out of all releasing centres after a gap of just three days. The film protagonist is Simran, who plays the role of a woman who happens to land in the middle of a group of house-surgeons in a Medical College.

Indrajit, who plays the role of a house-surgeon, falls in love with her and in the end she dies of Aids.

The news about Simran acting in a Malayalam film was received with great fanfare in the Malluwood as Simran had said “No” to many similar offers from the Malayalam film industry.

However, the actress now says that she has been shocked to find that her character `Thankam George’ in the film, Heartbeats, has been portrayed as an Aids patient who succumbs to the deadly disease in the end.

According to Simran, the producer-director of the film had at no point of time told her about her role as an Aids patient.

“I am going to sue the producer and the director for Rs 200 million. I’ve the full script and other details they had given me before I gave them my call sheet. If they dare to cheat an experienced artiste like me, what wouldn’t they do to newcomers’?” she asks.

According to Simran, the story and her character, as explained by the director and producer of the movie, was different from what they had portrayed in the film.

Simran’s anguish at being painted as an Aids victim is nothing new to the industry. Reigning superstars wouldn’t even essay a role that cast them in an unglamorous light.

But, outside filmdom, the theme evokes pathos: Why should a gifted actor shun a poignant character. Recently, a Tamil actress had died of Aids. Does the disease ring alarm bells for the industry?

A R Rahman is thrilled to score music for the animated movie Sultan The Warrior

A R Rahman is thrilled to score music for the animated movie Sultan The Warrior that would feature Rajnikanth.

Says Rahman, ' composing music for an animated movie is no easy joke. It is very demanding. Everything is artificial in an animated film, but the music plays a prominent film.Music is no doubt a character in such movies. I am excited to work in the project that features Rajnikanth'.

Rahman has been assigned to work for Golden Age, an English film, to be directed by Sheker Kapur. 'I know Shekher for over 10 years. We had worked for a advertisement commercial before. To be part of his movie is a great joy,' says Rahman. Grammy award- winner Craig Armstrong is also working with Rahman for the movie.

Kamal & Meera Jasmine will act together?

Though Logidadas is an established director in the Malayalam film industry, in Kollywood circles he is known as someone who is associated with actress Meera Jasmine. There were many rumors linking up this director-actress duo and he is said to be a reason for Meera’s non-cordial relationship with her family.

Meera always referred Logidadas as her mentor and guide but distanced herself from him for some time and did not feature in his films. Now the scenario is changed and Meera is said to appear in a Malayalam film to be directed by Logidadas.

In a recent press meet the talented director state, “Naivedhyam is a Malayalam film which I directed is being remade in Tamil. I always discuss affection, love and the finer aspects of relationships in my films”. He also reported that everything between him and Meera Jasmine is fine and she will be seen in his next film Chembat, the story of which is based on Tamil epic Silapathigaram. While discussing popular Tamil heroes, Logidadas said that he is planning to direct Kamal very soon. Of course, there are no confirmations on this from Kamal’s side till now. We will keep you informed.

SJ Suryah and Bhavana in Vil

Director turned actor S J Suryah’s next film is Vil which will be directed by Prabhakar where he plays the role of a physically challenged man. Though initially skeptical about featuring in this movie, S J Suryah eventually agreed after watching the way the trailer of Vil was shot by the talented director.

As regards the heroine, many ladies were considered but the director was keen to have Bhavana as the leading actress and approached her. However, she had also declined the offer at the outset but the director had goaded her to see the trailer of the film and then to make her decision later. Heeding to him, Bhavana watched the trailer and as expected by Prabhakar, has instantly accepted the offer to feature as S J Suryah’s heroine in Vil. So, this magical trailer has certainly helped Prabhakar to tilt the balance in his favor.

Vijayakanth stops Bheema

Of late issues relating to settlement of dues has been rearing its ugly head in Kollywood too. With Ameer dragging the Sivakumars to the court, it looks like Vijayakanth will also follow suit quite soon. Meanwhile, he has lodged a formal complaint at the Producers’ Council and the Nadigar Sangam against producer A.M. Rathnam for settlement of dues amounting to Rs. 85 lakhs.

According to Vijayakanth’s sources, the producer had promised the actor to pay the amount after the release of the movie Dharmapuri in which he had acted.

However, the producer moved on to his next project Bheema, starring Vikram, without keeping his promise. Perturbed by this, the actor has sought action against the producer and has requested Rama Narayanan, president of the Producers’ Council to intervene and stop the release of Bheema until his dues are settled. Vikram’s fans, who had been waiting to see their star on screen after a long time are sure to be disappointed by these developments.

Naan Kadavul for Deepavali

Director Bala is a busy bee now. He is working tirelessly to get his long-pending Naan Kadavul starring Arya completed and release it for Deepavali.

Karthiga has replaced Bhavana in Naan Kadavul. She plays the role of a blind beggar.

After much delay, Bala recommenced shooting for the film at interior areas of southern Tamilnadu. The movie is shaping up fast. The second schedule is now shot in Periyakulam and Kumbakarai.

Buzz is that Bala is planning for release this Deepavali. Movies like Kamal Haasan's Dasavatharam and Vijay's Azhagiya Tamil Magan are getting ready for Deepavali.