Shriya on the roll

ivaji - The Boss has given Shriya a big high as she is now the ‘most wanted’ actor. And why not? She has everything going for her; right from good looks to sex-appeal to faultless acting talent.

It was with the Telugu film Nuvve Nuvve that Shriya gained stardom and her most popular films till date are Santhosham with Nagarjuna, Mazhai, Nenunnanu, Tagore with Chiranjeevi and lately Sivaji with Rajnikanth.

She lost her chance to work with Kamal Hassan in Dasavatharam when she demanded a high remuneration but now she has a superhit in Sivaji with the legendary Rajnikanth to her credit after which she was seen in Mukesh Bhatt’s Emraan Hashmi-starrer Awarapan.

Presently, the accomplished kathak dancer is supposed to have signed a film with Hrithik Roshan and will start working on it after the completion of Ek - The Power opposite Bobby Deol. A remake of the Telugu super hit film Athadu starring Mahesh Babu, Trisha, Krishnan, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Prakash Raj, the Hindi film is directed by Sangeet Sivan and is produced by K Sera Sera. Slated to release soon , the film also stars Nana Patekar and Chunky Pandey.
Her Tamil projects on hand are Azhagiya Tamil Magan with Vijay, Vikram-starrer Kandaswamy and an untitled project with Ajith. So Shriya Saran is on the roll as far as her film career is concerned.

54th Filmfare Awards Pictures, Gallery

The prestigious annual Filmfare Awards function was held on a grand scale this year as well. The function is being held to felicitate the 'Best' of the artistes and technicians in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam language films and to present them these Awards by the leading film magazine of southern India 'Filmfare'. That means, the south Indian film stars and technicians would be presented these awards. The Filmfare Awards function was held at International Convention Centre in Hyderabad this year at 6.30 pm on August 5.

Those who attended the function include the top stars of the Telugu film industry Padma Bhushan, Mega Star, Dr Chiranjeevi, Yuva Samrat Nagarjuna, Amala, Victory Venkatesh, Bollywood Baadshah and All India Super Star Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aiswarya Rai, Raviteja, Malayalam super star Mammootty, Kannada young hero Puneet Rajkumar, Ramcharan Teja, Vijay, versatile directors, Shankar, Puri Jagannath, K Raghavendra Rao, Gautham Menon, Muralimohan, AM Ratnam, Dr D Ramanaidu, Allu Aravind, YVS Choudary, Jesudas, Music Magician AR Rahman, besides Krishnamraju, K Viswanath, Arjun Rampal, Devisri Prasad, Lawrence, Vineet, Jayasudha, Ramyakrishna, Amala, Namrata, Tabu, Ooha, Nayanatara, Roma, Chitra, Bhavana, Sandhya, Trisha, S Gopal Reddy, Veturi Sundararama Murthy, and several other top film personalities from Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam participated in the programme.

Padma Bhushan, Mega Star, Dr Chiranjeevi, and Malayalam Super Star Mammotty received Legendary awards, while Rebel Star Krishnamraju and popular playback singer P Suseela received the Lifetime Achievement Awards for the year 2006 as part of the 54th Annual Filmfare Awards function.

Bommarillu bagged the Best Film category, while Puri Jagannath bagged the Best Directors category, Maheshbabu won the Best Hero, Genelia won the Best Heroine, Devisri Prasad as Best Music Director, SP Balasubrahmanyam as Best Male Singer, Mamata Mohandas as Best Female Singer, while Ram and Ileana bagged the best Debut hero and heroine awards. In technical sectioni, S Gopal Reddy bagged the Best Cinematography award, Lawrence as the best choreographer, Veturi Sundarama Murthy as the best lyricist, Saikumar in the Best Supporting Actor category, while Sandhya received the Best Supporting Actress category, besides others.

Legend Award winner in Telugu Chiranjeevi says, 'While receiving such prestigious awards, we remain dumbstruck. At this moment, I feel that I am still a student and talking in front of a Headmaster. That Headmaster is none other than Big B Amitabh Bachchan. He is an inspiring personality for many artistes. I thank all the producers, directors, technicians and co-stars on this occasion. Especially, it was my fans who refill energy every time. This legendary award is the result of all the power that was given to me by all these people.'

SP Balasubrahmanyam says, 'After the Filmfare started announcing awards to Best Playback Singers, I am the first-ever person who bagged this award. Moreover, I am very happy to receive this award especially in presence of my brother-like Viswanath and Jesudas.'

P Suseela, who bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award says, 'It was Prakasa Rao who gave me the first-ever opportunity to sing a song in 1951. My career continued all these days because of the blessings of all the elders and the producers and directors. I feel proud to bag 'Lifetime Achievement Award.' I will continue to safeguard my honour by rendering songs even with this present generation singers.'

Another Lifetime Achievement Award' winner Krishnamraju says, 'This is my fifth Filmfare Award. My journey in the film industry was started with 'Chilaka Gorinka.' Though I announced earlier that I don't receive any private awards, I am receiving this award in honour to the prestigious Filmfare Awards. In my first film, I had a chance to play with SV Ranga Rao. After 40 years, I bagged an award instituted on his name this year. I am very happy for achieving to great honours in the same year.'

Dil Raju, who bagged three awards for his film 'Bommarillu' in the categories of Best Film, Best Director and Best Heroine, says, 'We can produce many successful films. But great films would not come very often. This award should go to Bhaskar and his team, who had brought out a film like 'Bommarillu'.

Vijay asks his fans not to expect too much on ATM

Ilaya Thalapathy Vijay’s fans are eagerly awaiting their icons’ next release Azhagiya Thamizh Magan where he will be romancing two of the hottest Kollywood heroines viz. Namitha and Shriya. A song was recently shot at Phuket beach where for the first time Vijay has reportedly shown off his torso like Salman Khan of Hindi films. Music for this peppy number shot at Thailand beach has been scored by A R Rahman.
The story of the film is said to revolve around extra sensory perception of the hero and has already evinced a lot of interest among Vijay fans. ATM is being directed by Bharathan who had apprenticed under Dharani. When quizzed about the film’s expectations, Vijay asks his fans not to expect too much but at the same time guarantees for the entertainment segment.

Vijay's ATM team to shoot in Kazakhstan

Director Bharathan will shoot a romantic duet featuring Shriya and Vijay in Kazakhstan.Set to tunes by A R Rahman, the song will feature scores of dancers shaking their legs with Vijay and Shriya.

Recently, a song with Vijay and Namitha for Azhagiya Tamil Magan was canned in Phuket Islands near Bangkok.

ATM, which is based on a story by Jeeva, is about a youth, who possess Extra Sensory Perception (ESP).

A major portion of the movie has been completed.

Vijay's Azhagiya Tamizh Magan Opens Exclusive

The shooting of Vijay’s upcoming film ‘Azhagiya Tamizh Magan’ has been progressing at a very brisk pace in Chennai. Vijay said that the shooting is going on very well and that the movie would be a good entertainer for all his fans. Our VFN team decided to meet up with Vijay at the shooting spot of ‘Azhagiya Tamizh Magan’ for a small interview for which Vijay readily obliged. Here are some excerpts from the interview with Vijay by VFN team

The 175th day function of Pokkiri was a roaring success and was celebrated in a very grand manner. What are your thoughts about the function?

Vijay: I have a lot of memories from the function that I will cherish forever. My fans have given me everything that I have ever wished for, including the title ILAYATHALAPATHY. I felt that I should celebrate the success of Pokkiri along with my fans because they have made the film such a big success. I conveyed this idea to the producer Ramesh Babu who organized this function in a very efficient manner along with my father SA Chandrasekar and with my PRO Mr. PT Selvakumar.

My fans had come from various parts of Tamil Nadu for this function and elevated the function to great heights. I am thankful to them for making the function a big success. The moment that I will always cherish is the applause and the ovation that I received when I came to the venue for the function. The fans applauded the performances of all the artistes who had performed on stage and gave a great welcome to all the artistes who had come to the function. All these applause and appreciation of the fans becomes the biggest energy for any artist. My fans are what I consider as the gift that God has given to me.

The biggest highlight of the silver jubilee function of Pokkiri was the dance performance by the physically challenged children under the guidance of Dance master Lawrence. What are your thoughts on that?

Vijay: I had asked my father to personally invite Lawrence to bring the children and perform with them during this function. When I saw their performance on the stage, a big wave of happiness swept through my heart. I was totally mesmerized seeing that performance. I am sure that their performance was a God sent gift to them. When Lawrence told in his speech that he wanted me to dance on stage, I was initially shocked. But when he asked me to dance specially for those children who had performed on stage, I was really touched. I wanted to make those children happy and so I decided to dance on stage. The happiness on the faces of those children is invaluable.

Please tell us something about Azhagiya Tamizh Magan?

Vijay: The shoot for Azhagiya Tamizh Magan is going on at a very brisk pace. We recently shot for a song at Phuket Islands featuring myself and Namitha. There are a few more songs to be shot for this movie. This movie has certainly been a different journey for me in my film career.

I want to tell one very important thing to my fans. “Do not have big expectations for this movie”. The fans might come to this movie expecting a Pokkiri or Ghilli or Thirupachi. It is better to come to this movie without any pre-conceived hype and expectations. I am sure that all my fans will be fulfilled with this movie if they come without many expectations.

Please tell us something about your next film after ATM?

Vijay: As you all know, Dharani Sir will be the director of my next film after Azhagiya Tamizh Magan. Discussions about my next film are going on right now with the concerned people. I am very eager to work in this film and I am waiting for the shooting to commence soon.

Your costumes in Azhagiya Tamizh Magan have been the talk of the town. How do you manage to get such beautiful costumes in your films?

Vijay: After my marriage, my style of costumes has changed. My wife Sangeetha has been instrumental in suggesting different styles of costumes to my costume designer Mr. Rajendran who has been incorporating her ideas into designing my costumes. Now, Nalini Sriram who has been designing my costumes for Pokkiri and now Azhagiya Tamizh Magan also has been giving a lot of different costumes which have been really good. Costumes have always played a major highlight in my recent films.

We thank Vijay for taking his precious time off to interact with us and patiently answer our questions.

Vijay in Azhagiya Tamizh Magan

Ilaya Thalabathi Vijay's forthcoming movie Azhagiya Thamizh Magan is directed by Bharathan and produced by Swagachitra Appachan. This is Bharathan's directorial debut while he has worked as an Assistant Director and Dialogue writer for many movies including Ghilli. Shriya Saran has paired with Vijay for the first time! Shriya received many offers after she has been cast as Rajini's leading lady in Sivaji and this is one among them!

For an action hero who gives screen villains a solid run for their money, and whose strident and challenging dialogue makes his fans go dizzy with delight, Vijay’s reserved off-screen persona could catch one meeting him for the first time, off- guard. You can talk to him for hours and still not get even remotely close to guessing what’s going on beyond those serious expressions and sedate behaviour.

So this time you are prepared for a quiet reception but he stumps you with a big smile as he welcomes you into the air conditioned comfort of his caravan. “Sorry to have made you travel all the way here!” he says.

Is the friendliness because you are a known face? “That’s unfair,” he laughs. (It’s not often that you can see Vijay actually laugh aloud, off screen.)

“But I’m a very friendly person. Probably it isn’t very perceptible. Even my mom keeps saying I don’t react much to situations around me. I enjoy myself to the hilt when I’m with my group of friends. Yet actually at the end of it I wouldn’t have spoken much,” he smiles.

Being in the limelight he has to constantly sport a friendly visage, and so his reticence is almost a paradox. But that’s probably why he’s able to identify himself very well with the character he plays in ‘Azhagiya Tamizh Magan,’ the film he’s working on at the moment. “Yes,” he begins with a measured smile. “The hero is a man who is least perturbed even if there’s a volcano erupting in front of him. I’m like that. Success or failure doesn’t affect me much. Of course, when an entire team works for six to seven months on a project, only to see it bomb at the box office it is depressing, no doubt. But I move on.”

Scene of action

The place is the old thermal power station at Ennore, near Chennai, where shooting for, ‘Azhagiya …’ is going on. It’s filled with grime and dust, the sweltering heat outside further increased by the asbestos roofing and strobes strewn around.

A fight sequence is being canned with ‘Fefsi’ Vijayan choreographing the action. “He’s astounding! I walk into the set thinking he would have conceived the sequence in a particular way, but he would come up with something entirely different. Vijayan is a big plus to ‘Azhagiya Tamizh Magan.’” Vijay is all praise for the unit’s stunt head. The two are teaming up again after ‘Pokkiri.’ It must be really tough to shoot fights on a warm afternoon. “Yeah! But I’m used to it. Most of my stunts have been shot here.”

How does it feel to have a film title that describes the hero as handsome? “I know I don’t fully qualify for the epithet,” he laughs self consciously. He should tell his fans that — they’d be wild with him for saying so. “No. I mean it. But the crew is doing its best to make me suitable for the title. Nalini Sriram and Rajendran are working on my costume, and cameraman Balu [Balasubramaniam who did ‘Pithamagan’ and ‘M. Kumaran …] is trying out various angles to make me look my best,” he chuckles with a glint in his eyes.

When many of the heroes are toeing Kamal’s line, trying to effect changes in their looks for every film, Vijay doesn’t give much thought to it. “It’s not so. The roles I choose do not warrant such changes. After ‘Pokkiri’ I began looking for something novel when first time director Bharathan came to me with ‘Azhagiya Tamizh Magan.’ I’ve known Bharathan from my ‘Gilli’ days. He was Dharani’s assistant and also the dialogue writer of ‘Gilli.’ So I thought, ‘Why not?’ And when I say novel don’t think it’s something nobody’s done before. This will be different from the 45 films I’ve done so far. That’s all,” he cautions.

The unit has quite a few who are working with Vijay for the first time. The director, the cinematographer … “Shriya,” he volunteers with a smile. “What I like about her is her commitment. As she doesn’t know the language, she asks for her dialogue the previous day, learns the meaning and pronunciation and comes prepared for the scenes the next morning,” he compliments. And A.R.Rahman is also fairly new to a Vijay film. “He’d done music for my ‘Udaya’ earlier. [The film with Simran had faced problems and the delay cost dearly.] He’s already given us three songs, out of which we’ve canned one at Karaikkudi — a family song that has a group dance, with Shriya and me.” For the duets, the unit will travel to Russia and Mauritius.

What makes him decide on a film? “My character and the scope it offers. Also the director has to narrate the entire story in screenplay format so that I can visualise it completely. Only then can I make a decision. There was a time when I took others’ opinions before I accepted or rejected an assignment. Now, good or bad, the decision is mine. And the choice is more by instinct. ‘Thirupaachi,’ for example. Many dissuaded me from taking it up. But it became the biggest grosser of my career. There’s the other side too. I’ve rejected films which have eventually gone on to become major hits. ‘Dhool,’ ‘Kaakha Kaakha,’ to name some,” he ruminates. After ‘Azhagiya …’ Vijay will be doing a Dharani directed project again.

Among the recent releases he likes ‘Paruththi Veeran.’ “Ameer has done a great job. Karthi too, and you can’t forget Priya Mani either,” he says.

The last time you had met Vijay, was just after the release of ‘Pokkiri.’ He had said it was his most favourite film. With 70 per cent of the shoot of ‘Azhagiya Tamizh …’ over (It will be an August release.) is he still singing the same tune? “I’ll be able to tell you only after I’ve watched ‘Azhagiya …’ in totality. So as of now, it’s still ‘Pokkiri,’” he smiles.