Sapna Sikarwar aspires for Sridevi’s ‘Sadma’ role as it 'left lasting impact on cinematic landscape'
Actress Sapna Sikarwar, who plays Kashmira in the sitcom ‘May I Come In Madam?’, shared that she has always been inspired by late superstar Sridevi and her role in the movie ‘Sadma’. The 1983 movie ‘Sadma’ is a tragedy-romantic drama film, written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in lead roles, and the music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
The film tells the story of Nehalata Malhotra (played by Sridevi), a young woman who regresses to childhood as result of retrograde amnesia after suffering a head injury in a car crash.
Sapna expressed her deep admiration for the legendary Sridevi and her iconic role in the movie ‘Sadma’.
She said: “I’ve always been inspired by Sridevi ji. Her role in ‘Sadma’ is something that I look up to and have loved her character in that movie.”
“The depth and complexity of Sridevi’s performance in this...
The film tells the story of Nehalata Malhotra (played by Sridevi), a young woman who regresses to childhood as result of retrograde amnesia after suffering a head injury in a car crash.
Sapna expressed her deep admiration for the legendary Sridevi and her iconic role in the movie ‘Sadma’.
She said: “I’ve always been inspired by Sridevi ji. Her role in ‘Sadma’ is something that I look up to and have loved her character in that movie.”
“The depth and complexity of Sridevi’s performance in this...
- 10/13/2023
- by Agency News Desk
Sapna Sikarwar aspires for Sridevi’s ‘Sadma’ role as it 'left lasting impact on cinematic landscape'
Actress Sapna Sikarwar, who plays Kashmira in the sitcom ‘May I Come In Madam?’, shared that she has always been inspired by late superstar Sridevi and her role in the movie ‘Sadma’. The 1983 movie ‘Sadma’ is a tragedy-romantic drama film, written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in lead roles, and the music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
The film tells the story of Nehalata Malhotra (played by Sridevi), a young woman who regresses to childhood as result of retrograde amnesia after suffering a head injury in a car crash.
Sapna expressed her deep admiration for the legendary Sridevi and her iconic role in the movie ‘Sadma’.
She said: “I’ve always been inspired by Sridevi ji. Her role in ‘Sadma’ is something that I look up to and have loved her character in that movie.”
“The depth and complexity of Sridevi’s performance in this...
The film tells the story of Nehalata Malhotra (played by Sridevi), a young woman who regresses to childhood as result of retrograde amnesia after suffering a head injury in a car crash.
Sapna expressed her deep admiration for the legendary Sridevi and her iconic role in the movie ‘Sadma’.
She said: “I’ve always been inspired by Sridevi ji. Her role in ‘Sadma’ is something that I look up to and have loved her character in that movie.”
“The depth and complexity of Sridevi’s performance in this...
- 10/13/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Playback singer Suresh Wadkar took a trip down memory lane, and shared anecdotes from when he recorded the song ‘Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le’ from the romantic drama film ‘Sadma’. The 1983 movie is written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Kamal Haasan and late Sridevi in lead roles, with the music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
The film was a remake of Mahendra’s own 1982 Tamil film ‘Moondram Pirai’, which also stars Kamal Haasan and late Sridevi.
This weekend on singing reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’, the ‘Ganesh Utsav’ special episode will feature Suresh Wadkar and his wife Padma Wadkar as special guests.
Contestants gave their best performances during this episode, aiming to impress both the special guests and the judges.
It was Sneha Bhattacharya’s rendition of ‘Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le’ that captivated everyone.
Suresh was deeply moved by the performance, and complimented Sneha, he said: “You sang this song exceptionally well,...
The film was a remake of Mahendra’s own 1982 Tamil film ‘Moondram Pirai’, which also stars Kamal Haasan and late Sridevi.
This weekend on singing reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’, the ‘Ganesh Utsav’ special episode will feature Suresh Wadkar and his wife Padma Wadkar as special guests.
Contestants gave their best performances during this episode, aiming to impress both the special guests and the judges.
It was Sneha Bhattacharya’s rendition of ‘Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le’ that captivated everyone.
Suresh was deeply moved by the performance, and complimented Sneha, he said: “You sang this song exceptionally well,...
- 9/24/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Playback singer Suresh Wadkar took a trip down memory lane, and shared anecdotes from when he recorded the song ‘Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le’ from the romantic drama film ‘Sadma’. The 1983 movie is written and directed by Balu Mahendra. It stars Kamal Haasan and late Sridevi in lead roles, with the music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
The film was a remake of Mahendra’s own 1982 Tamil film ‘Moondram Pirai’, which also stars Kamal Haasan and late Sridevi.
This weekend on singing reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’, the ‘Ganesh Utsav’ special episode will feature Suresh Wadkar and his wife Padma Wadkar as special guests.
Contestants gave their best performances during this episode, aiming to impress both the special guests and the judges.
It was Sneha Bhattacharya’s rendition of ‘Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le’ that captivated everyone.
Suresh was deeply moved by the performance, and complimented Sneha, he said: “You sang this song exceptionally well,...
The film was a remake of Mahendra’s own 1982 Tamil film ‘Moondram Pirai’, which also stars Kamal Haasan and late Sridevi.
This weekend on singing reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’, the ‘Ganesh Utsav’ special episode will feature Suresh Wadkar and his wife Padma Wadkar as special guests.
Contestants gave their best performances during this episode, aiming to impress both the special guests and the judges.
It was Sneha Bhattacharya’s rendition of ‘Aye Zindagi Gale Laga Le’ that captivated everyone.
Suresh was deeply moved by the performance, and complimented Sneha, he said: “You sang this song exceptionally well,...
- 9/24/2023
- by Agency News Desk
MusicThere are no instruments. The singers take turns to sing, alternately humming and producing instrumental sounds, doing an A cappella in an energetic performance.Courtesy - Instagram / zoeandurgenIt begins with a soft rendition of the Hindi song ‘Gum sum gum’, moves on powerfully to the Tamil version ‘Sangathil’, and then the Malayalam song ‘Thumbi vaa’, all in the span of a minute. Four young singers are on the Instagram reel singing the same song in three different languages, all composed by the maestro of film music, Ilaiyaraaja. Singers Zoe Siddharth and Urgen Yolmo collaborated with Arunaja and Shaur to bring out this reel, which has gone a lot viral in only 10 days. Last checked, it had more than 2.34 million 'likes'. There are no instruments in the video. The singers take turns to sing, alternately humming and producing instrumental sounds, doing an A cappella in an energetic performance. View this post...
- 7/10/2023
- by Cris
- The News Minute
The cream of the southern Indian film industry was present in force at the just concluded Dakshin South India Media and Entertainment Summit in Chennai.
Organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Cii), southern region, the event kicked off with recent south Indian Oscar winners, Kartiki Gonsalves, director of winning documentary short “The Elephant Whisperers” and Prem Rakshit, choreographer of winning original song “Naatu Naatu” from “Rrr” being felicitated.
The stage was then set for a heavyweight filmmakers panel moderated by former Variety correspondent Anupama Chopra, with Mani Ratnam, director of Tamil-language blockbuster “Ponniyin Selvan: 1”; Vetrimaaran, whose acclaimed Tamil-language “Viduthalai Part 1” is currently on release; Rishab Shetty, star and director of Kannada-language smash hit “Kantara”; and Basil Joseph, director of Malayalam-language Netflix superhero film “Minnal Murali” participating.
Films made in the four southern Indian languages – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam – together account for more than 50% of production and revenues in India.
Organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Cii), southern region, the event kicked off with recent south Indian Oscar winners, Kartiki Gonsalves, director of winning documentary short “The Elephant Whisperers” and Prem Rakshit, choreographer of winning original song “Naatu Naatu” from “Rrr” being felicitated.
The stage was then set for a heavyweight filmmakers panel moderated by former Variety correspondent Anupama Chopra, with Mani Ratnam, director of Tamil-language blockbuster “Ponniyin Selvan: 1”; Vetrimaaran, whose acclaimed Tamil-language “Viduthalai Part 1” is currently on release; Rishab Shetty, star and director of Kannada-language smash hit “Kantara”; and Basil Joseph, director of Malayalam-language Netflix superhero film “Minnal Murali” participating.
Films made in the four southern Indian languages – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam – together account for more than 50% of production and revenues in India.
- 4/21/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
In memoriamViswanath’s social commentary and love for classical art are things that can be learned and borrowed, but his deft hand that manoeuvres all these threads into a single tapestry of cohesive beauty belongs to him alone.Courtesy: Wikimedia.Commons/ UttamdabiWhen you are tasked with writing about a man who is a true master at what he did, your hands hover over the keyboard, not knowing where to start. Ever since K Viswanath’s recent demise, social media has been filled with videos of scenes from his 50 films, most of which can be considered masterpieces depending on who you are asking. Viswanath had managed to create a filmography teeming with cinema that tries to teach, without shortchanging the viewer's expectations. You can see his reverence for art in films as early as Kalam Marindi (1972). Films like O Seetha Katha (1974), Siri Siri Muvva (1976), and Seetamahalakshmi (1978) had characters practising some form of art.
- 2/5/2023
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
OpinionMani Ratnam developed a new syntax for filmmaking, where along with powerful storytelling, the depiction of each frame counted. From the way scenes were staged to songs were choreographed, it was all by design and never by chance.Anand Kumar RSTamil cinema, for as long as it has existed, has been ruled by its stars. From Mgr-Sivaji and Kamal-Rajini to Ajith-Vijay now, stars in pairs have consistently held sway over the Tamil audience and the industry’s market dynamics. But even amid this, once in a while, you see the ascent of a director who makes a mark with his indelible style of filmmaking. In the years of 1960s and 70s, it was CV Sridhar who emerged as the first director whose films were sought after by filmgoers — especially the women. K Balachander would be the next, making his presence felt in the 70s and 80s, followed by Bharathiraja in the 80s and 90s.
- 1/20/2023
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
ReviewWhile the initial few scenes seem passable despite being overly dramatic, later the performances become loud and the extreme black-and-white nature of the film’s morality doesn’t help either.ShuklajiCourtesy: Anand AudioIn essence, director Shashank’s latest film Love 360 is all about implausibility. Set in a world where two orphans grow up together to become ardent lovers, the film harks back to the quintessential melodrama that one found in the works of Puttanna Kanagal or Balu Mahendra. The threat of danger and detachment around them is almost palpable, with the entire world contriving to meddle with the idea of pure love. And yet, love must prevail over everything. Ram (Praveen) dotes on Janaki (Rachana Inder) with the passion of a valiant guardian. Although the basis is love, Janaki’s Dissociative Amnesia (the makers refer to it as ‘Selective Memory Loss’ in the film) prevents her from being an equal member of the relationship,...
- 8/19/2022
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
TributeActor, director and ad man Pratap Pothen died of a heart attack at his Chennai apartment on July 15.CrisA day ago, Pratap Pothen was still writing posts on Facebook, taking digs at life and death with his trademark dark humour. "When you treat the symptoms of a problem without treating the root cause of it, then you will start to be dependent on the pharmacy," said one post. Quoting American comedian George Carlin, he wrote another, "Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time." By the morning of July 15, Pratap was found dead in his sleep in his Chennai apartment. A heart attack in the middle of the night took the maverick actor and filmmaker's life. By then he was close to 70 years of age and had contributed much to films, Tamil and Malayalam most of all. Pratap was divided between the two languages,...
- 7/15/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
CinemaVeteran actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen, who worked in over a hundred films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, passed away on July 15 in Chennai. Tnm StaffPratap Pothen/ Facebook Condolences poured in from all quarters following actor Pratap Pothen’s death on Friday, July 15. While fans and members from the film fraternity mourned his loss, many took to social media to revisit his notable movies as an actor, director and writer. Pratap started his acting journey with The Madras Players, the oldest English theatre collective in Chennai. Popular Malayalam director Bharathan, who enjoyed his performance in the play Androcles and the Lion, invited him to act in his film, Aaravam (1978). Pratap acted in over a hundred films, primarily in Malayalam and Tamil. He also appeared in several Telugu and Hindi movies. We bring to you a list of the actor’s memorable performances, ranging from the romantic hero in the...
- 7/15/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
CinemaWith two top women stars — Nayanthara and Samantha — headlining 'Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kadhal', it remains to be seen if the film will overturn cinematic traditions when it comes to adultery.Sowmya RajendranHindi film Gehraiyaan, directed by Shakun Batra and starring Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday and Dhairya Karwa, came out in February this year on Amazon Prime Video, sparking several conversations on extramarital affairs, morality, mental health and so on. While the film received its fair share of brickbats, it was appreciated by a section of the audience for its non-judgmental treatment of the extramarital affair on screen, particularly since it involves the woman lead committing adultery. Malayalam film Kaanekkaane, directed by Manu Ashokan, which streamed directly on SonyLiv in September last year, is about a man who leaves his wife to die in a road accident in order to carry on with his extramarital affair. He is, however, torn...
- 4/27/2022
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
TributeJohn Paul, the scriptwriter of a number of celebrated Malayalam films in the 1980s and 90s breathed his last on April 23.CrisTowards the end of Yathra, a Malayalam film directed by Balu Mahendra and scripted by John Paul, Mammootty, playing a grand old man released from prison, finishes telling his life story to co-passengers in a bus, full of students and their teachers. He ends the story with a letter he wrote to his lover of a long time ago. He had broken all ties with her in the years he spent in jail, asking her to choose a different path. But in the letter he writes days before his release, he asks if she is still free and waiting for him – one corner of his mind selfishly hopes that is so – to light a single lamp by the tree in her village they once used to meet at. As...
- 4/25/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryJohn Paul wrote nearly 100 scripts, working with many directors in the 1980s and 1990s.Tnm StaffPhoto credit - Rajesh ChalodeJohn Paul, a renowned screenwriter in Malayalam cinema, passed away on Saturday, April 23. He had been unwell and under treatment at a hospital in Kochi. He was 71 years old. John Paul is known for writing many popular and critically acclaimed movies in the 1980s and 90s. He has written nearly 100 scripts, beginning with Bharathan's Chamaram in 1980. He worked with Bharathan, late legendary director, in several more movies including Ormakkayi, Palangal, Sandhya Mayangum Neram, Kathodu Kathoram, Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, Keli, Malootty and Chamayam. He was the writer behind many great films of the time, including Yathra (directed by Balu Mahendra), Vida Parayum Munpe (Mohan's), Revathikkoru Pavakkutty (Sathyan Anthikad's), Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam (Kamal's), Ulsavapittennu (Bharath Gopi's), Vrutham (IV Sasi's) and Aksharam (Sibi Malayil's).The last script that released was for Kamal...
- 4/23/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
ObituaryGN Rangarajan’s son, director Gnr Kumaravelan, shared the news on social media.Tnm StaffTwitter/ Gnr KumaravelanVeteran director Gn Rangarajan passed away at around 8:45 am on Thursday, June 3, due to age-related ailments. He was 90. Rangarajan was known for Tamil films such as Meendum Kokila, Kalyanaraman and Maharasan, among others. His son, Gnr Kumaravelan, who is also a director in the Tamil film industry, shared the news about his father’s demise on Twitter. “My Father, my mentor , my love ... passed away today morning around 8.45 am. Need all your prayers to keep my family in strength (sic),” Kumaravelan wrote. Gn Rangarajan had worked closely with actor Kamal Haasan on several films such as Meendum Kokila (1981) and Maharasan (1993). The late filmmaker was also well acquainted with superstar Rajinikanth. Actor Kamal Haasan penned a heartfelt note expressing his condolences to Gn Rangarajan’s family. Calling him a brother, Kamal wrote that the...
- 6/3/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Vinothraj P.S. is an Indian filmmaker. While working in a DVD shop in Chennai, he was introduced to people from the Tamil film industry. This led to him becoming assistant director on two films by A. Sargunam. After working as a assistant theatre director, he began making his own films. Pebbles (2021) is his feature film debut with its world premiere at IFFR.
On the occasion of “Pebbles” winning the Tiger Award at the International Film festival Rotterdam, we speak with him about the landscape of the film, balancing seriousness and humor, the cast, and other topics
The landscape is one of the protagonists of the film. Was that your intention from the beginning? Could you tell us more about the area the story is located in?
I was born and grew up exactly there, in this area in a village around the place where we shot the film. I...
On the occasion of “Pebbles” winning the Tiger Award at the International Film festival Rotterdam, we speak with him about the landscape of the film, balancing seriousness and humor, the cast, and other topics
The landscape is one of the protagonists of the film. Was that your intention from the beginning? Could you tell us more about the area the story is located in?
I was born and grew up exactly there, in this area in a village around the place where we shot the film. I...
- 2/9/2021
- by Teresa Vena
- AsianMoviePulse
Flix FlashbackEarly in her career, Lekha understands that everything in life comes with a price and she finds herself being systematically exploited by the system. Neelima MenonFilms about films are tricky. Often, they end up being self-indulgent and insider-y to the point of exclusion. But Kg George, when he made his first meta film, dodged all the traps and came up with a self-aware, self-reflective, unemotional look at the world of films. It follows the production process from the grimy underbelly of Kodambakkam studios to the marbled lobbies of five-star hotels where films are signed and celebrated. Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback opens with the black-and-white newsreel of a young actor’s death. Fans, film stars and technicians are trickling in, offering floral tributes accompanied by the strains of the shehnai as the dreary drone of a voice-over (which conspicuously sounds like the director’s) details how her body was found...
- 2/2/2021
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
KollywoodOne of Shoba’s strongest assets was her self-confidence and she remained unfazed even while acting along senior and more established actors. CV AravindA few days earlier she had walked up to the dais to receive her National Award for Best Actress for the offbeat film Pasi, clad in all finery. But the world came crashing down for those who loved Shoba, when on May 1, 1980, she was found to have killed herself in her house in Chennai, then Madras. A controversy soon erupted over her death after her mother, Prema, a supporting actor in Malayalam cinema, claimed that it was a homicide. Accusing fingers were pointed at Shoba's husband of over a year and a half, acclaimed cinematographer-director Balu Mahendra. The case, however, fizzled out after the suicide theory gained ground and forensic investigations ruled out murder as the cause of death. Thus ended the career of a child star...
- 5/9/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Flix FlashbackMuch of the film is based on Pudumaipithan’s ‘Chittrannai’, with the author’s favourite themes of feminism and male chauvinism underlined in every other scene.Nandhu SundaramI was in my teens when I saw Uthiripookkal (Scattered Flowers; 1979) on TV. I was impressed by what I later realised was the neo-realism of the film. But at first viewing, the movie remained in its allure most elusive. What did director Mahendran get right that others before and since go so wrong? How was he different from Bharathiraja? Why was Uthirpookal relegated to being 16 Vayathinile’s poorer cousin? The questions came from all sides with every viewing of Mahendran’s classic. Uthiripookkal had an urgency that emanated from the director, who populated the film with characters you can’t easily root for. The engine is its main character’s villainy. Actor Vijayan’s Sundaravadivelu is the embodiment of evil itself. His...
- 3/1/2020
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
ObituaryRamachandra Babu has worked in over 125 films and won four Kerala state awards.Tnm StaffRamachandra Babu / Wikimedia Commons / Cc By-sa 2.0Veteran cinematographer Ramachandra Babu passed away in Kozhikode on Saturday. He was 72 years old. Ramachandra Babu, a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, has been working as a cinematographer of feature films since 1971, the year he finished his course. He has prominently worked in the Malayalam film industry, but has also worked in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu films. He has worked with renowned directors such as Mt Vasudevan Nair, Kg George, John Abraham, Bharathan, Hariharan and IV Sasi among others in Malayalam; Mani Ratnam in Tamil; Ks Rami Reddy in Telugu; and so on. He has worked in over 125 films and received several awards including the Kerala State award for Best Cinematography four times. Some of his most noted works are for the films Nirmalyam, Dweepu,...
- 12/21/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe names A Bhimsingh, K Balachander, Mahendran, Balu Mahendra, Bharathiraja, Mani Ratnam, Shankar remind us of a specific period in cinema. Who are the ones defining this period?Anjana ShekarTamil cinema is over 100 years old and every once in a while, the medium reinvents itself, giving its fans fresh and enjoyable cinema. This is felicitated by the entry of new talents who usher in change with their unique perspectives and nuanced stories. Every period in cinema can be defined by its directors. The names A Bhimsingh, K Balachander, J Mahendran, Balu Mahendra, Bharathiraja, Mani Ratnam, and Shankar defined the transformation of the medium and began trends that others sustained. Let's take a look at some of the contemporary under-45 Tamil film directors who are creating and defining their own brand of cinema. Karthick Naren, 25 The youngest on our list, Karthick Naren made his directorial debut when he was just 22! His...
- 10/27/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
MollywoodSome hurt religious sentiments; some offended political parties; some drew flak for other reasons. Here are a few films that courted controversy before and after their release.Aradhya KurupTwo days ago there was a major uproar when a section of Mohanlal fans went ballistic after they saw the teaser of Ikkayude Shakadam, said to be a light tribute to megastar Mammootty. Mohanlal fans felt that the makers were deliberately belittling their favourite actor in a few scenes. The makers quickly came up with an explanation by releasing the second teaser. Eventually the controversy died down. While at it, we thought of checking a few such controversies that rocked Malayalam films before and after their release. Aami (2018): Director Kamal’s magnum opus on literary icon Kamala Surayya ran into controversy when Vidya Balan backed out at the last minute, resulting in Manju Warrier’s entry. Kamal decided to let his...
- 6/30/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
KollywoodKamal and Crazy Mohan have produced some of the best comedies together.Sowmya RajendranJust a few hours after Girish Karnad passed away, fans of cinema and theatre were in for another rude shock. Mohan Rangachari, best known as Crazy Mohan, too chose this very day to bid his final goodbye. If you were born in the '80s or '90s in Tamil Nadu, Crazy Mohan was an inevitable part of your childhood. Before stand up comedy shows became all the rage in our metros, an evening of humour in a Chennai weekend usually meant a Crazy Mohan stage play. You could go for these plays with the entire family; the humour rarely hurt, though it landed all the right punches. Many a time, the joke was only half-funny, but we laughed because of how it was delivered, how cleverly the words were used to distort the meaning. The crowd...
- 6/10/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Flix FlashbackThe film, which stars Sujatha as Annakili and Sivakumar as Thiagarajan, came as a breath of fresh air for audiences at the time.Nandhu SundaramYoutubeAnnakili came as a shot in the dark for critics and audiences, a rare ray of warm light in the wintry Tamil cinematic universe, when released in 1976. Tamilians everywhere were proud of a movie that was, for once, firmly rooted in reality. The story of Annakili (actress Sujatha) and her immortal (as it turns out) love for Thiagarajan (an up-and-coming Sivakumar), a local school teacher, captured the imagination of both art-house film lovers and entertainment junkies. The biggest asset of the film, apart from Ilaiyaraaja's paradigm-shifting music, was that it was fully shot outdoors, probably the first Tamil feature to do so. The village of Thengumarahada with its rich natural splendour (then in Coimbatore district and now in Nilgiris district) served as the fictional town of Solaiyar,...
- 5/11/2019
- by Nikhita Venugopal
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe project has been titled 'Yazh' and features nonagenarian actor Sn Bhatt in the lead.Digital NativeDirector Arun Prabhu Purushothaman, who made a splash with his critically-acclaimed debut film Aruvi, has been working on his next project for close to a year now. Months after no development on the project’s front, reports have now emerged that the project has been titled Yazh and that it features nonagenarian actor Sn Bhatt in the lead. The film’s shoot has been going on for a few months now and the team is currently on the verge of completion. Apparently, Arun had this film’s script even before he shot Aruvi but had to wait for the right time to make it. It is rumoured that the story revolves around the life of a 90-year-old, who refuses to come out of his bungalow but his life takes unexpected turns after a couple...
- 3/21/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
TollywoodThe shooting of 'Seerum Puli', a biopic on the late Ltte chief, is currently under progress.Digital NativeIt’s the season of biopics in southern cinema. After standalone films on well-known leaders Ysr and Ntr which are gearing up for release soon, a biopic on late Ltte chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, titled Seerum Puli, is in the making. Actor Bobby Simhaa, known for his work in films such as Soodhu Kavvum, Jigarthanda and Saamy Square, plays the role of Prabhakaran in the film and his character’s first look, clad in military uniform, was unveiled on Tuesday on the occasion of the late leader’s birthday. The film was announced almost a year ago and it has taken the team quite some time to finally get things in motion. To be directed by Venkatesh Kumar G, a former student of late filmmaker Balu Mahendra, the project is slated to go on the floors soon.
- 11/28/2018
- by Priyankar
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe two directors have only a handful of films to their credit but they have created a space for themselves in the industry.CV AravindThere is hardly any dearth in numbers as far as the release of Tamil films is concerned, only a handful of films have impacted the box office while the others have returned to the cans in record time. But, the silver lining is that the industry now boasts of a number of young filmmakers who can be counted on to hold the banner of Tamil cinema aloft in the coming days. Themes considered taboo are being tackled with gusto, and audiences which were lulled into a soporific slumber by the monotonous fare now have something to cheer for. Two directors who have already made a name for themselves though they have helmed only a handful of films are Vetri Maaran and Pa Ranjith. To the former,...
- 9/1/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
KollywoodWhile this genre has always been popular among audiences, we’ve listed some of the best films from the past.Anjana ShekarYoutube ScreengrabsWhat would be the ideal scale to rate a good thriller? Is it by the number of screams and gasps it elicits? Is it by the number of dramatic ‘pa-pa-pa-paaaam’ background music? Or is it by the number of times it gets your heart racing for inexplicable reasons? My very first recollection of a thriller is that of a major cult classic from Tamil cinema, a film that’ll garner the same ‘dramatic’ wide-eyed reaction from many when you name it – Athey Kangal! I’ve seen this film so many times that I can perfectly match the loud screams just by listening to the film’s audio. Directed by AC Tirulokchandar, this film that came out in 1967 was a major success upon its release. Starring Ravichandran and Kanchana in lead roles, Athey Kangal is a Raymond Chandleresque, tightly wound thriller, centred around a series of mysterious killings that take place inside a house. The intense plot twists, heightened drama and the final big reveal make this film a gripping watch, irrespective of the number of times you’ve already seen it. While the thriller genre has always been popular among Tamil audiences, here is a list of some of the must-watch films from before the 1990s. Andha Naal (1954) All hell broke loose in Tamil cinema when this film released. In addition to being one of the best thrillers to this day, this film was also the first Tamil film without any song, dance or stunt sequences. While it is popular belief that Sundaram Balachandar’s Andha Naal was adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s classic Rashomon (1950), film historian Randor Guy writes that the film is actually an adaptation of Anthony Asquith’s The Woman in Question (1950). Rajan (played by Sivaji Ganesan), a radio engineer, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The film unfolds in the form of investigations where one character leads them to the other until the killer and their motive is finally revealed. With a short runtime of 130 minutes, the film was also lauded for its camera work and narrative technique. Nenjam Marappathillai (1963) With its unusual storyline, this is another film worthy of being called a cult classic. Director CV Sridhar has admitted to have been inspired from real life incidents that he read in the newspaper. The film has some brilliant sequences, and the cinematography by Aloysius Vincent was lauded by many. The climax is quite literally edge-of-the-seat and the brilliant background score compensates for the absence of dialogues in the climax. Puthiya Paravai (1964) Puthiya Paravai, starring Sivaji Ganesan, Saroja Devi and Sowcar Janaki, was a great success when it released. A popular adaptation of the English film Chase A Crooked Shadow (1958) by noted filmmaker Michael Anderson, Puthiya Paravai is best known for its narrative technique. There’s plenty of glitz, reckless living and endearing romance in the film. The big reveal, however, is one that will not fail to take you by surprise. The film was also popular for its chart-busting songs. Shanthi Nilayam (1969) This film is a loose adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre. The film’s narrative steadily builds up with eerie sounds and clever play with light and shadows. The scene where the woman walks with a lantern at night and the song shot in a hot-air balloon are some of the memorable scenes from this film. Interestingly, Shanthi Nilayam fetched its cinematographer Marcus Bartley a National Award. Sigappu Rojakkal (1978) This film can be called Tamil cinema’s coming-of-age thriller, one of the very earliest successful psychological thriller films. In fact, Bharathiraja’s Sigappu Rojakkal brought in an interesting resurgence of thriller films soon after. Kamal Haasan plays a successful businessman who seduces women and later kills them. Kamal’s hatred towards women is slowly unveiled as the film progresses, leading up to a thrilling chase with the heroine, Sridevi. This film has inspired several other films including Dhanush’s Kadhal Kondein (2003) and Simbu’s Manmadhan (2004). Moodu Pani (1980) The song ‘Yen Iniya Pon Nilave’ from this film might be a breezy number, but there is nothing breezy about the film’s plot-line. In a sense Moodu Pani has strong similarities to Sigappu Rojakkal. This film has often been compared with Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho for its uncanny resemblance to the latter’s climax. Directed by Balu Mahendra, the film has nail-biting sequences and has often been regarded as one among Balu Mahendra’s masterpieces. Needless to say, the film has some of Tamil cinema’s best visuals. Nooravathu Naal (1984) This film is a cult classic in its truest sense. So much so that it was believed to have inspired real-life serial killer Auto Shankar who went on a killing spree between 1988 and 1989. The film’s solid storytelling by its director Manivannan and a riveting performance by Sathyaraj are its highlights. The film’s suspense is sustained till the very end leading to an insanely unexpected climax. Also on our list: Tik Tik Tik (1981) Karayellam Shenbagapoo (1981) Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1984) Also Read: Beyond romance: 9 on-screen couples from Tamil cinema who gave us relationship goals p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 17.0px; font: 14.7px Helvetica; color: #222222; -webkit-text-stroke: #222222; background-color: #ffffff} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 17.0px; font: 14.7px Helvetica; color: #500050; -webkit-text-stroke: #500050; background-color: #ffffff} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.8px Arial; color: #222222; -webkit-text-stroke: #222222; background-color: #ffffff} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}...
- 7/5/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Shanjhey Kumar Perumal worked for many years in television production making documentaries, short features, and thematic programs. His short films were shown at international festivals – “Thaipoosam” was screened in Rotterdam, “Jagat” received a cinematography award in Toronto. The full-length film under the same title is the director’s feature debut and one of the most important Malay pictures in recent years. The film had its European Premiere at Five Flavours Festival.
Here are his top ten Tamil films, in various order
1. Arannya Kaandam
A mob boss must deal with a disgruntled mistress and a vanishing bag of cocaine.
2. Panchatanthiram
Ram (Kamal Haasan) is a playboy pilot. His marriage to Mythili (Simran) disintegrates after a series of misunderstandings. To cheer him up, his buddies arrange for a steamy evening with a prostitute Maggie (Ramya), but things go wrong and the men are stuck with a dead body and a load of diamonds.
Here are his top ten Tamil films, in various order
1. Arannya Kaandam
A mob boss must deal with a disgruntled mistress and a vanishing bag of cocaine.
2. Panchatanthiram
Ram (Kamal Haasan) is a playboy pilot. His marriage to Mythili (Simran) disintegrates after a series of misunderstandings. To cheer him up, his buddies arrange for a steamy evening with a prostitute Maggie (Ramya), but things go wrong and the men are stuck with a dead body and a load of diamonds.
- 6/30/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
KollywoodWhat was Tamil cinema like 25 years ago and how have these films aged?Nandhu SundaramI was in Plus One and my finals had ended that day. We were standing outside Raja Theatre in Nagercoil, my hometown. There were more than 65 government school students -- all of them from my batch -- standing outside, many of us still in uniform. I had never been to the movies with so many people and was very excited. My friends and I were there to watch Gentleman, the newest rage in town. One of my friends was holding on to a sack. I peered inside and found it to be full of lottery tickets. Another friend explained that they were to be used for throwing in the way of the light cast by the projector. Celebrating in this way is still the norm in many theatres across the country. It’s been more than 25 years and times have changed. Raja Theatre, which stood adjacent to the famous Nagaraja Temple, is no longer there. And, no movie will run for the 100 days that Gentleman did any more. In the streaming era of Amazon Prime and the like, films today run for about 35 days in the theatre before being shown elsewhere. Gentleman, arguably the most famous film of 1993, launched the career of director S Shankar. The songs were trendy and became hit, and thus began the famous collaboration between Shankar and composer Ar Rahman. The explosive choreography by Prabhu Deva created quite a buzz, with ‘Chikku Bukku Raile’ becoming a chartbuster. Arjun plays the lead Krishnamoorthy alias Kitcha in Gentleman and he stages multiple heists even as the police are hot on his heels. Kitcha, who has a dark and tragic past, plans to build a medical college for poor students. The film has tedious scenes involving the famous comedy duo - Goundamani and Senthil, who engage in frivolous games with Sugandi, played by Subhashri. Susheela, played by Madhubala, is the main woman lead. None of us knew it then, but the satellite TV revolution in Tamil Nadu proved to be a game-changer for movie-goers. Sun TV had just been launched with much fanfare and we would never treat the cinemas the same way again. Many of the films from 1993 are outdated and campy. Even the blockbusters released that year are not an exception. There are but a few gems that have held up well despite the ravages of time. Here, we take a look at some movies that have completed 25 years since they were first released in theatres. Nostalgia is a potent potion and many movies from 1993 bring a flood of memories with them. Take for instance, the completely inane Chinna Mapillai starring Prabhu, Sukanya, Visu and Radha Ravi. With side-splitting comedy, the movie had dialogues by Crazy Mohan and was helmed by Santhana Bharathi. With a particularly raunchy performance from actor Sivaranjani (who was briefly famous for such roles in Tamil cinema), the movie was later remade as Coolie No 1 with Govinda in the lead. Nuggets like that remind us of a time gone by when cinema was radically different from what it is today. Not all of the films from this era have endured. You may not dare to watch many films from this year on DVD. But the presence of classics like Mahanadhi and Marupadiyum more than redeem the pervading mediocrity that plagued Tamil cinema during this year. This symptom was shared by many films from the 1990s. In the January of 1993, the who’s who of Kollywood released movies. On Pongal (January 14) that year, an array of movies including Captain Magal (Dir. Bharathiraja), Jathi Malli (K Balachander), Kovil Kalai (Gangai Amaran), Marupadiyum (Balu Mahendra) and Walter Vetrivel (P Vasu) hit theatres. None of the films had their legendary directors at their best. In Captain Magal, actor Raja (a Bharathiraja favourite in those days) plays a music composer who is shot and injured when an attack is made on the life of the prime minister. To recover, he and his wife Kavitha (Kushboo in top form) move to a secluded house in the hills where bizzare happenings just don’t end. It’s a thriller that can get your teeth chattering, but none in the audience was too impressed and the film bombed. You may, however, remember the song ‘Entha Pennilum Illatha Ondru’, which became a huge hit. Jathi Malli which brought together the unlikely lead pair of Kushboo and Malayalam actor Mukesh too didn’t do well at the box office. Kushboo plays a Ghazal singer Sivaranjani, who moves to Ooty, after her mother is killed by terrorists. She finds in Kesavan (Mukesh) an unlikely source of solace, but will their hesitant courtship fructify? The late Balachander may have wanted his message of love triumphing terror to reach the masses, but no one was willing to listen. Kovil Kalai must be the most puzzling entry to notch up 25 years since release. Directed by Gangai Amaran, the film must have been regressive even for its times, but is positively bizzare by today’s standards. Made just four years after Amaran’s Karakattakaran, which stuck box office gold, Kovil Kalai, starring Vijayakanth and Kanaka, did reasonably well.at the box office. P Vasu is one of those directors who asks us to digest his films with dollops of sentiment. Best known for movies like Chinna Thambi, Vasu’s take on a cop’s life, Walter Vetrivel, may leave you cold today, but was a massive hit upon release. Sathyaraj's performance as Vetrivel brought audiences in droves to the theatre. The film just appropriated the popularity of former Tamil Nadu director general of police Walter Devaram and had no references to the life of the cop. In the title sequence of the movie, Sathyaraj delivers a line which might be a bit strange today. He says that if rowdies are allowed to roam freely, they would divide and sell the state in 25 years. Thank god, that hasn’t happened! Balu Mahendra’s film, Marupadiyum, starring Revathi, is the only one among the aforementioned movies to have dated gracefully. With his remake of Arth, Mahendra managed to deliver a film that both critics and audiences liked. Rajinikanth was pretty active in 1993. He appeared in three Tamil movies -- Uzhaippali, Yejaman and Valli. The films were box office successes, but may not figure among Rajini’s best. Kamal Haasan had a mixed year. Both Kalaignan and Maharasan were but blips in his career, but Mahanadi was a definite indication of how good a writer the actor was. The National Award winning movie was a tearjerker directed by Santhana Bharathi with whom Kamal would frequently collaborate. The late Malayalam actor, Cochin Haneefa, played the antagonist and his contribution as the sleazy child trafficker cannot be taken lightly. Puthiya Mugam, starring Revathi and her husband Suresh Menon, was an unforgettable movie experience for me. The thriller with its novel and imaginative use of plastic surgery had a couple of moments that were bone-chilling. The soundtrack from Rahman continues to remain among his best. The album also showed lyricist Vairamuthu in superb form. Bharathiraja made another movie that year and it was Kizhakku Cheemayile. I have always thought that Bharathiraja handled sentiment the best in Tamil cinema and that opinion was validated by this movie starring Vijayakumar and Radhika as inseparable siblings. Rahman’s score for this film remains popular even today. Sathyaraj returned to woo audiences with Malayalam director Joshi’s Airport, which rarely for Tamil cinema, had no songs. Though acclaimed by critics, the film didn’t do too well at the box office. Mani Ratnam’s Thiruda Thiruda was one of the better movies released that year. Featuring Prasanth, Anand, Heera and Anu Aggarwal, the movie traces the fate of Rs 1000 crore stolen from the government. With superb camerawork from PC Sreeram, which infused in it a spirit of adventure, the movie was welcomed by audiences and critics. However, I feel that the film is today among the most underrated of Ratnam’s flicks. Prathap was written, directed and produced by actor Arjun. Though Arjun’s film never quite made it into the big league, films like Prathap kept the actor in the market for biggies like Mudhalvan. In 1993, Ks Ravikumar directed three films -- Bandmaster (Sarath Kumar), Suriya Chandran (Anand Babu) and Purusha Lakshanam (Jayaram). We might never guess it, but Ravi Kumar went on to direct both Haasan and Rajini in many movies. It is hard to find common ground among the movies released in 1993. Many films featured songs with rain on the sets. Shots focussing on the leading lady’s navel or the cleavage were mandatory. The loss of the story in Tamil cinema was a complaint that was often heard. My friends often told me that line 'You can watch the movie once'. Naturally, word of mouth made a huge difference in making a movie a success. This was also the year that Ajith Kumar debuted with his movie, Amaravathi. For many of the actor’s fans, this would have been a really special moment. Despite all this, many of the movies from 1993 were so far removed from reality that we can now easily see what frustrated audiences. So when artificiality was replaced by the raw realism of New Cinema, movie-goers made sure they welcomed it whole-heartedly.
- 6/27/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
SrideviWhile Sridevi's father Ayyappan was thrilled to have daughter interviewed by an English magazine, the star herself was uninterested. CV AravindScreenshot/YouTubeBalachander had roped in his proteges Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for the main roles for his film Moondru Mudhichu and had begun the search for a heroine. He stumped his assistants by rooting for a teenager named Sridevi. Balachander had seen the actor essay the role of Lakshmi’s kid sister Irene in Julie, the Hindi version of the Malayalam film Chatakkari. The director, who had a high regard for the Malayalam filmmaker Ks Sethumadhavan, who had helmed both the versions, felt that Sridevi who'd been picked by the latter should fit the bill in Moondru Mudichu. Sridevi, who had faced the arc lights at the age of four, had no hang-ups about doing the role but skeptics wondered how the slip of a girl would be able to play Rajinikanth’s step mother and the second wife of a widower (Calcutta Viswanathan) convincingly. But Balachander’s gamble paid off and Sridevi did full justice to her part. Her film with debutant director Bharathiraaja titled Pathinaru Vayadhinile was entirely a different kettle of fish. Pathinaru Vayadhinile originally titled Mayil after the Sridevi's name in the film was a heroine oriented subject and offered the young star an opportunity to reveal her histrionic talent. Although both the scene stealers Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth were around in this film, too, it was Mayil who stole the thunder with her vivacity and joie de vivre. As a freelancer moonlighting for a number of film magazines, I was able to approach the actor for an exclusive interview with a now defunct journal named Star & Style. Despite her glamorous appearance in Pathinaru Vayadhinile, Sridevi was quite shy and demure and I could easily discern that her impending stardom post the film’s release had not begun to rub off on her. In those days, when visual media had not yet made an impact, interviews in film magazines were highly prized and actors through their PROs would often cajole writers to feature them in their journals. Sridevi’s father, Ayyappan, an advocate by profession who was managing her fledgling career at that point of time, was thrilled that his daughter would be getting some exposure in an English journal, that too from Bombay ( now Mumbai). Sridevi, however, was hardly excited, and answered all my queries in monosyllables. Though her exuberance was evident, a passion for cinema was perhaps still in an embryonic state. Kamal Haasan, in a teary eyed tribute to the star, had recalled his meeting her when she was a teen on the sets of Moondru Mudichu and observing that she had a childlike innocence about her. It was this blithe spirit that cinematographer-director Balu Mahendra captured so vividly in his 1982 film Moondram Pirai where he cast Sridevi as an amnesia struck waif who loses her bearings after an accident and is rescued by a professor ( Kamal Haasan ). He nurses her back to health and in the process falls head over heels in love with her, only to lose her in the climax as she fails to recognise her benefactor. This role, which both the actors reprised in the Hindi version Sadma as well, should rank as one of her finest ever. The film was critically acclaimed and also had a phenomenal run at the box-office. Rumours were rife that Sridevi would win the National Award for Best Actress for her portrayal but she missed out by the proverbial whisker. Kamal Haasan won the Best Actor award that year for the film. Speaking to Balu after the jury had announced the awards, I could see that he too had been piqued at the jury bypassing Sridevi. Until then, Sridevi had been playing glamorous roles and her transformation in Moondram Pirai was a revelation. On interviewing her after the release of the film and the announcement of the awards, I could see that Sridevi , far from being crestfallen or depressed, had taken it in her stride and was all set to move on. The State Government’s Award for Best Actress was a consolation as were the plaudits that came her way. My bond with the actor who was destined to touch much greater heights in the days ahead grew when she injured her leg during the shooting of a song sequence for the film Shankarlal. Explaining the chain of events, she observed that she had to enact a slow motion scene for a duet and had landed heavily on her right leg, fracturing it in the process. Incidentally, Sridevi was an exceptionally gifted dancer who had attained great proficiency in classical dances like Bharathanatyam, so much so that dancing became her forte when she became a superstar in Bollywood. Biweekly visits to her humble rented abode became a habit and she would be propped up in her four poster bed, busy poring over a comic book with a stereo system blaring in one corner of the room. Four teddy bears had been placed strategically in the four corners of her bed and the teenager would often glance in their direction, all the time making small talk with me. But such was her dedication to her craft that she continued to dub for the film albeit with her leg in a plaster cast. Before Bollywood made her its own, Sridevi had a long and fruitful career in Tamil and Telugu cinema and also Malayalam, where the industy saddled her with roles that called for skimpy costumes and risqué scenes. But that innocence that flashed in her eyes always remained and Sridevi unfailingly managed to pull off even such roles, emerging with her dignity intact. My last interview with Sridevi was in 1983 on the sets of the Jeetendra starrer Himmatwala directed by Raghavendra Rao, where she was participating in a dance sequence. Child artiste Baby Shalini (who later acted in Mani Ratnam’s Alaipayuthe among other films and married Tamil actor Ajith Kumar) was perched on her lap, and in between shots she would take questions from me. Her films with Jeetendra would rock the box-office and the piece de resistance in the films would be the dance sequences with Jumping Jack Jeetendra matching steps with the queen of dance, Sridevi. A humble, genial personality, with no airs whatsoever, Sridevi exuded a lot of warmth and always endeared herself to one and all. Considering the fact that she had made a comeback to films, the industry and her legion of fans will certainly miss her.
- 2/26/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
ObituaryWhat is remarkable about her rise to this throne is that she never had any godfathers in any of the industries she worked in.CV AravindFifty years ago, in a studio in Chennai (then Madras), a young girl faced the cameras for her debut as a child artiste. Not many in the audience that watched this wisp of a girl would have wagered that this lass with luminous, bright eyes and a prominent nose would one day become the toast of not just South Indian cinema, but Bollywood as well. Sridevi performed as a child artist in a number of films, but landed her first significant role in a Hindi remake of the Malayalam hit Chattakari. Titled Julie and directed by veteran director Ks Sethumadhavan, the film saw Sridevi cast as the heroine Lakshmi’s nubile younger sister. But, the biggest challenge of her fledgeling career came to her in the Tamil film Moondru Mudichu, directed by star maker and the man with the Midas touch – K Balachander. As a thirteen-year-old, she was saddled with the role of the wife of an aging widower (played by Calcutta Viswanathan) and the stepmother of Rajinikanth. Kamal Haasan had a guest role in the film and the highlight of the film was the sequence of scenes between Sridevi and Rajinikanth. Balachander was later to cast her in another successful film Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu, which had Kamal in the lead, and Sridevi in the role of a young girl with a wayward father who falls for Kamal. Another director who played a stellar role in turning Sridevi into a household name was Bharathiraaja. His debut film Pathinaru Vayadhinile, a pastoral drama, had Sridevi playing the central role of the village beauty, Mayil, with Kamal Haasan as a physically challenged Chappani and Rajinikanth as the scheming villain Parattai. The film turned out to be a blockbuster hit. Sridevi, who had not yet established herself in the industry, threw caution to the winds, exhibiting the voluptuousness of her lithe frame, sending the front benchers into raptures of delight. Bharathiraaja again cast her opposite Kamal in the suspense thriller Sigappu Rojakkal, where Kamal played a homicidal maniac hunting down the heroine only to perish in the climax. The Sridevi-Kamal Haasan pair was a rage in Kollywood for several years, and the duo worked together in over forty films, including comedies like Meendum Kokila and intense dramas like Moondram Pirai. Moondram Pirai, helmed by cinematographer-turned-director Balu Mahendra, was a milestone in Sridevi’s film career. It tells the story of a professor (Kamal) who picks up an amnesia-struck waif, rendered senseless after a near-fatal accident. He takes her home and shelters her in the cocoon of his heart, but eventually loses her in a dramatic denouement when, after recovering her mental faculties, she is unable to recognize him as her saviour. But for the climax, where Kamal goes overboard with his emotions, the entire film belonged to Sridevi. Glamour took a back seat in the film as the actor essayed her role with aplomb, touching a new height in her career, dwarfing even a seasoned performer like Kamal. Ironically, it was Kamal who won the National Award for his performance while Sridevi was overlooked in the Best Actress category. Sridevi also worked with other Tamil heroes like Sivakumar in Kavi Kuyil and turned in a memorable performance in the Mahendran-directed Johnny opposite Rajinikanth, with whom she had also acted in the Sp Muthuraman directed Priya. Sridevi forayed into the Malayalam and Telugu industries too, and while Mollywood only cast her in lacklustre roles, well fleshed-out roles came to her in Telugu opposite veterans like Nageswara Rao (Premabishekam, a smash hit), Ntr, Krishna, Shobhan Babu and so on. Sridevi was the heroines in such Telugu hits as Konda Veeti Singham, Kshana Kshanam, Veeragadu, Sardar Pasparayudu and Bobbili Puli. Sridevi’s first foray into Bollywood as a heroine was with Bharathiraaja’s 1978 remake of Pathinaru Vayadhinile titled Solva Salwan, which however turned out to be a damp squib. It was in Himmatwala released in 1983, where she was paired with Jeetendra, a favourite of producers down South, that she created a significant impact. Suddenly, Sridevi and her ‘thunder thighs’ came into sharp focus across the nation. The Sridevi-Jeetendra pair was much like the Sridevi-Kamal combination down south, and films like Mawali and Tohfa clicked in a big way, while almost all their other films too did brisk business. Jeetendra, dubbed ‘Jumping Jack’ for his dancing prowess, was in awe of Sridevi. In a recent interview, he commented that he found it tough to match steps with her in the dance sequences as she was such a brilliant dancer. Not all her Hindi films did justice to her talent or versatility as they were mere potboilers focusing on entertainment. But there were notable exceptions like Sadma (the remake of Moondram Pirai), Mr India, Chandni, Chaalbaaz (in a dual role with Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth), Khuda Gawah (again, playing dual roles of an Afghani mother and daughter, opposite Amitabh Bachchan), Lamhe, and Gumrah. Shekar Kapur’s Mr India (which critics felt should have been titled Miss India as Sridevi hogged the limelight) was a delightful comedy caper, where she acted opposite Anil Kapoor. The “Hawa Hawaii” song, where she danced with gay abandon, became a craze, as did her Chaplinesque act that brought the roof down. Ace director Yash Chopra was so fascinated with her talent that he cast her in the dual role of a mother and daughter in his film Lamhe. Already, she had won hearts in his earlier film, Chandni, in a role tailor-made for her. Commercial hits like Nagina, Karma, and Janbaaz kept coming, right down to her last project before bidding au revoir to the industry, Judaai. Marriage to Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor's elder brother and a producer in his own right, turned the queen of the box office into a demure housewife. But when even her most die-hard fans thought she had hung up her boots for good, Sridevi sprang a surprise by returning to the silver screen after a fifteen-year hiatus. In 2012, Sridevi made a powerful comeback with the English Vinglish, directed by Gauri Shinde. The film’s theme centred on Sridevi as a housewife, who after being taunted by her husband and daughters on her lack of proficiency in English, strives to match their expectations by opting for a crash course in the language. The film was a runaway hit and the actor proved that she could still carry a film on her shoulders. Sridevi’s film Mom, produced by husband Boney Kapoor and directed by newcomer Ravi Udyavar featured her in the lead as the mother of two children played by Pakistani actors Sajid Ali and Adnan Siddique. The film also saw Nawazuddin Siddique and Akshay Khanna sharing frames with her. There’s no dearth of admirers even within the industry for the woman recently chosen as India’s greatest actress in the last hundred years by a popular news channel. Salman Khan, for instance, had said that Sridevi is greater than all the Khans in the industry, while veteran actor Anupam Kher dubbed her the Queen of Hindi cinema. What is remarkable about her rise to this throne is that she never had any godfathers in any of the industries she worked in. Instead, she made her rise to the top thanks to her versatility, her commitment to cinema and the hard work she put in over several decades. Bollywood has always been a haven for actresses from the South, with the likes of Vyjayantimala, Waheeda Rahman, Padmini, Hema Malini and Rekha all carving niches for themselves. But Sridevi has always been in a different league altogether, which is saying a lot considering that these other stars had massive followings in their heydays.
- 2/24/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
Cinema Revathy has consistently defied the rigidity and prejudices of the film industry, making a place for herself as one of its most versatile actors. Anjana ShekarScreenshot - Power PandiThere are only a handful of actors who have been game changers during their time on screen and just a notable few have been able to sustain and evolve over time. Born Asha Kelunni Nair, actor Revathy is a familiar face in the Indian film industry and has enthralled many with her performances. Not to be tagged as an actor from the eighties, Revathy did more than just run-of-the-mill, girl-next-door characters. From the eighties through the nineties to now she has had a number of substantial roles to her credit. From the demure looking, simple-minded Muthupechi in Mann Vasanai (1983) to the bold and gutsy Sathya in Magalir Mattum (1994), Revathy has had a dynamic career, spanning across Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industries. The beginning of stardom Revathy’s first role, the one that fetched her the Filmfare Special Award - South in 1983, was that of a young girl from a village, Muthupechi. Directed by P Bharatiraja, Revathy was just 17 when she made her first debut. The very same year, her second film in Malayalam, Kattathe Kilikkoodu by director Bharatan, was a great success in Kerala that won several awards. After her third in Telugu, Seethamma Pelli by director Bapu, Revathy went on to play a blind, rape-survivor Seetha in Tamil in J Mahendran’s Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984). Revathy and Pandian in Mann Vasanai (1983) - Screenshot 1984 was an important year in Revathy’s career that helped her gain a reputation for playing undaunted, vivid women characters who were capable of fending for themselves. This was also the time when directors like Balu Mahendra, K Balachander and Mahendran were breaking stereotypes with their women-centric storylines with strong female leads and Revathy seamlessly fit into those roles. Following Kai Kodukkum Kai, Revathy went on to play Seetha in Pudhumai Penn directed by Bharathiraja. Seetha, just like her mythological namesake, is distraught when her husband doubts her chastity and Revathy does a commendable job as someone who defies the expectations of a male hegemonic society. Drawing inspiration from writer Subramania Bharati’s Pudhumai Penn poem, the climax shows her leaving her undeserving husband, an idea that veered away from conventional endings. The same year she also did Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal, directed by R Sundarrajan, playing a young, lonely widow who lives with her alcoholic father. An accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, her performance in the song Azhagu Malar Aada was highly appreciated by many. The film was a great success and was later remade in Telugu and Kannada. As an actor Revathy didn’t just win hearts. She was versatile in her choice of roles and often played strong, relatable women characters. Her big break, the one that put her name high on the charts, was her portrayal of Divya, a very spirited and headstrong girl who transforms into a woman through the course of the movie, in Mani Rathnam’s Mouna Ragam (1986). The film explored several themes like the complexity of arranged marriages, how a woman copes in a new environment, especially after marriage and the topic of divorce that was then a very taboo topic. It remains one of Revathy’s best performances to date. Following Mouna Ragam was Punnagai Mannan, K Balachandar’s 25th film, where she played the chirpy Sinhalese girl, Malini who tries to woo the once-scorned-in-love Kamal Haasan. A brilliant dancer herself, the film gave her ample opportunity to display her talents. Revathy and Mohan in Mouna Ragam (1986) - Screenshot By the late eighties, Revathi was juggling both Tamil and Malayalam films simultaneously. In 1988, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam for her performance in a women-centric film (with no male leads), Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal. As a mischievous, gypsy vagabond she personified free spirit and played the outsider perfectly. In just five years since her debut, Revathi proved her mettle to portray complex and fluid characters, giving herself a distinct edge in the industry. Peak of her career The nineties brought several notable roles her way and she lapped them all up, sometimes even steering the focus away from the male lead. Playing the multi-layered and reticent Thayamma in Kizhaku Vaasal (1990) brought home the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. Portraying a character such a Thayamma, a vulnerable, single woman who had to keep herself safe from the prying hands of an influential village chief, was as complex as roles could get. With very less dialogues, the character was her most expressive one yet. As a pained and helpless mother, Revathy made a mark for herself in Anjali (1990) directed by Mani Rathnam. Now here’s an actress who chose to play the mother at the peak of her career. Winning several awards, the film was pivotal in nurturing Revathy as an actor. In 1991, Revathy forayed into Hindi cinema with Love, a remake of her Telugu film Prema (1989). Her second film Muskurat in 1992 was also a remake of her 1991 Malayalam comedy blockbuster Kilukkam. The early nineties saw Revathy at her peak, straddling roles in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam cinema. This period also saw several notable performances coming from Revathy. In spite of being part of several star cast movies, often male-centric, Revathy managed to carve a niche for herself with her performances. For instance, as Panchavarnam, a naive and doting wife to a village chieftain's son in 1992’s Thevar Magan, she won several accolades including National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. Revathy in Thevar Magan (1992) - Screenshot The following year in 1993, Revathy again won the Filmfare for playing Thulasi in Balu Mahendra’s Marupadiyum. As a woman caught in a failing marriage, Revathy portrays anguish, acceptance and eventually poise as a headstrong, independent woman. The film, a remake of Mahesh Bhatt's 1982 Hindi film Arth, was Tamil cinema’s coming-of-age depiction of a strong woman characters. The cherry on the cake really is her portrayal of Sathya in 1994 Magalir Mattum. The film was lauded during its days for addressing sensitive topics like workplace harassment and the hardships faced by working woman. Her most recent Malayalam film, Molly Aunty Rocks! (2012) gave her a great platform after a long time for which she was nominated in Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam. Directorial venture Revathy’s directorial venture happened in the year 2002. Encouraged greatly by her husband Suresh Chandra Menon who was also its producer, Revathy directed Mitr, my friend, an English film written by V Priya with screenplay by Sudha Kongara Prasad. The film won Best Feature Film in English, Best Actress (Shobhana) and Best Editing (Beena Paul) at the 49th National Film Awards. The film was also special for having an all-women crew. Her second film, Phir Milenge (2004), though not a commercial success explored the topic of AIDS and its actors, Shilpa Shetty and Abhishek Bachchan, received acclaim for their performances. Her last directorial venture was Red Building Where The Sun Sets (2011), a short film on the kind of emotional damage a child undergoes due to his/her parents fighting all the time. The short film won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare. Revathy was also one of the very few actors who forayed into television serials during the peak of her career. Penn (1991), a mini television series, directed by Suhasini Maniratnam had a stellar cast and Revathy was part of the first episode that discussed mother-daughter relationship. She also did a few other serials, including Boom Boom Shakalakka (2000), a TV series for children, where she played a liliput with magical powers. One of the most versatile and transformational actors in the industry, Revathy is a constant presence on screen working on films like 2 states (2014), Margarita With A Straw (2015), Amma Kanakku (2016), to name a few. After Pa Pandi in 2017 (Tamil) she is currently filming Azhiyatha Kolangal and Gulebakavali in Tamil that are slated for release in 2018. Revathy also hosted Malayalee House (Malayalam equivalent of the reality show Big Boss) in 2013 on Surya TV. She is now part of Azhagu, a Tamil television soap that is currently on air.
- 1/8/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodThis is the first time Udhayanidhi Stalin will be seen sharing screen space with Tamannah.Digital Native Udayanidhi_Tamannah.jpgUdhayanidhi Stalin has signed up his next with director Seenu Ramasamy, and the groundwork for this project has been going on for some time now. The National Award-winning director has been busy roping in stars, and the latest we hear is that Tammannah will join the star cast. This is the first time she will be seen sharing the screen space with Udhayanidhi Stalin. Reports are that she is impressed with the storyline, and has given her go ahead. However, the team is yet to work out the dates. Once this is done, the project would start rolling. It may be mentioned here that Tammannah had worked with director Seenu Ramasamy earlier in Dharma Durai, which had Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role. Speaking about the film to Times of India, the director said, “It is a romance-based film that talks about humanism. The story is set in Chozhavanthan near Madurai. Tamannaah plays the role of a bank employee in the village. Several upcoming artistes will be part of the supporting cast. Yuvan Shankar will score the music while Vairamuthu will pen the lyrics.” Titled as Kanne Kalaimaane, the director explained that the title was a tribute to his mentor and guru, the late director Balu Mahendra. It is worth mentioning that the popular number Kanne Kalaimaane from Balu Mahendra’s film Moondram Pirai also happened to be the last lyrics penned by poet Kannadasan. The shooting of this film is expected to commence from January 2018. Udhayanidhi Stalin's next will be Nimir, which is the Tamil remake of the Malayalam blockbuster Maheshinte Prathikaaram, which is being directed by Priyadarshan. The shoot was recently wrapped up after 40 days of continuous filming in Tenkasi and is currently in post-production. The film is slated for release on January 26, 2018. The film stars Udhayanidhi Stalin and Namitha Pramod. Namitha is making her Tamil debut with this movie. She is reprising the female lead role played by Aparna Balamurali in the original. Enanble Notification: NoTNM Marquee: No...
- 12/22/2017
- by Editor
- The News Minute
The 1982 film had music by Ilaiyaraaja and some beautiful songs like Aye Zindagi and Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein. Sadma was directed by Balu Mahendra and starred Kamal Haasan and Sridevi...
- 9/17/2017
- Film Companion
Mumbai, Feb 15: Kamal Haasan has fond memories of his bonding with prolific filmmaker Balu Mahendra, who recently breathed his last in Chennai. The actor says it was tough to question the creative choices of the director, who helmed "Sadma".
"Balu Mahendra and I shared a very close relationship. His debut film as a cameraman was with me. We used to sit and talk about films between shots. He used to listen to my scripts. So we had a bonding. In spite of being my senior, he was a friend," Kamal said.
The legendary filmmaker, who inspired the audience with his visually uplifting films for over three decades, passed away following.
"Balu Mahendra and I shared a very close relationship. His debut film as a cameraman was with me. We used to sit and talk about films between shots. He used to listen to my scripts. So we had a bonding. In spite of being my senior, he was a friend," Kamal said.
The legendary filmmaker, who inspired the audience with his visually uplifting films for over three decades, passed away following.
- 2/15/2014
- by Machan Kumar
- RealBollywood.com
Sridevi, whose repertoire includes the Tamil winner Moondram Pirai and its Hindi version Sadma, both helmed by cinematographer-director Balu Mahendra, mourned his demise on a popular micro-blogging site stating, Deeply saddened on the demise of Balu Mahendra. The legacy of his creations Sadma & Moondram Pirai will live on. My condolences to the family.Balu Mahendra had served up a rather off-beat flick: Moondram Pirai that showcased Sridevi and Kamal Haasan...
- 2/14/2014
- GlamSham
Balu Mahendra, one of South India's most venerated cinematographer-directors, succumbed to a second heart attack at a Chennai hospital and passed away at the age of 75. Balu Mahendra, who was in a critical condition for a while, is survived by his spouse and son. The director, who was always spotted with his trademark cap, bagged recognition as Sadma, the Hindi remake of his Tamil grosser Moondram Pirai, bagged appreciation and expanded the reach of the director,...
- 2/13/2014
- GlamSham
Chennai, Feb 13: Prolific filmmaker Balu Mahendra, known for inspiring the audience with his visually uplifting films for over three decades, passed away following a heart attack here Thursday. He was 74.
Balu breathed his last at the Vijaya Hospital.
Born as Benjamin Mahendran on May 20, 1939, in Sri Lanka, Balu Mahendra had a fascination for photography since he was very young.
With a flair for capturing images, Balu started his career as a cinematographer and landed his big break in 1974 Malayalam film "Nellu".
He went on to work as cinematographer in several award winning films such as "Prayanam",.
Balu breathed his last at the Vijaya Hospital.
Born as Benjamin Mahendran on May 20, 1939, in Sri Lanka, Balu Mahendra had a fascination for photography since he was very young.
With a flair for capturing images, Balu started his career as a cinematographer and landed his big break in 1974 Malayalam film "Nellu".
He went on to work as cinematographer in several award winning films such as "Prayanam",.
- 2/13/2014
- by Ketali Mehta
- RealBollywood.com
Chennai, Feb 13: Renowned Tamil filmmaker Balu Mahendra died at the Vijaya Hospital here Thursday. He was 74.
"Following a heart attack, he was admitted to the hospital this morning. He was later shifted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he passed away an hour later," a hospital source told Ians.
His body has been shifted to his residence for his fans to pay their last respects.
Balu started his career as a cinematographer on the 1974 Malayalam film "Nellu". He worked as a cinematographer in nearly 20 films before wielding the megaphone for 1976 National Award winning Kannada film "Kokila".
One of.
"Following a heart attack, he was admitted to the hospital this morning. He was later shifted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he passed away an hour later," a hospital source told Ians.
His body has been shifted to his residence for his fans to pay their last respects.
Balu started his career as a cinematographer on the 1974 Malayalam film "Nellu". He worked as a cinematographer in nearly 20 films before wielding the megaphone for 1976 National Award winning Kannada film "Kokila".
One of.
- 2/13/2014
- by Smith Cox
- RealBollywood.com
The 12th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival has organised a special section “Hindi Mood for Marrakech” this year to mark the centenary year of Indian cinema. Some of the Hindi films to be screened are Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Barfi!, English Vinglish, Don and Don 2.
An outdoor screening of selected films from Bollywood will be organised at the Jemaa el Fna square, each evening of the festival.
A delegation of Indian actors, directors and producers, lead by Amitabh Bachchan has been invited to attend a tribute ceremony on Saturday, December 1, 2012.
The festival will run from 30th November – 8th December, 2012.
Films to be screened under ‘Hindi Mood for Marrakech’:
Yash Chopra:
Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Amitabh Bachchan | Actor
Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Happiness & Tears) by Karan Johar
Agneepath by Mukul Anand
Silsila by Yash Chopra
Deewar by...
An outdoor screening of selected films from Bollywood will be organised at the Jemaa el Fna square, each evening of the festival.
A delegation of Indian actors, directors and producers, lead by Amitabh Bachchan has been invited to attend a tribute ceremony on Saturday, December 1, 2012.
The festival will run from 30th November – 8th December, 2012.
Films to be screened under ‘Hindi Mood for Marrakech’:
Yash Chopra:
Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Amitabh Bachchan | Actor
Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Happiness & Tears) by Karan Johar
Agneepath by Mukul Anand
Silsila by Yash Chopra
Deewar by...
- 11/29/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Federation President and Abhirami Mega Mall’s owner Abhirami Ramanathan on the occasion of his 63rd birthday did charitable deeds to the tune of Rs 25 Lakhs.
The famous producer Abhirami Ramanathan celebrated his 63rd birthday at Abhirami Megha Mal.
On the occasion of his birthday, he gave Rs 21 Lakhs for installing 150 solar street lights in Poolankuruchi village of Sivagangai District where he was born.
This amount was given to Poolankuruchi panchayath president Singaram Chettiar through K Balachandar
Abhirami Ramanathan has also given Rs 4.60 Lakhs as donation to Chennai Central Rotary Club for the purpose of administering polio drops.
He also gave free dresses and sweets to 75 orphan children who are sheltered at Aruvi orphanage.
Producers Council secretary L M M Muralidharan, Sivasakthi Pandian, Film Chamber treasure K S Srinivasan, Distributors Council president Kalaipuli G Sekaran, producer Panchu Arunachalam, S P Muthuraman, Satyajyothi Thyagarajan, Kalaipuli S Dhanu,...
The famous producer Abhirami Ramanathan celebrated his 63rd birthday at Abhirami Megha Mal.
On the occasion of his birthday, he gave Rs 21 Lakhs for installing 150 solar street lights in Poolankuruchi village of Sivagangai District where he was born.
This amount was given to Poolankuruchi panchayath president Singaram Chettiar through K Balachandar
Abhirami Ramanathan has also given Rs 4.60 Lakhs as donation to Chennai Central Rotary Club for the purpose of administering polio drops.
He also gave free dresses and sweets to 75 orphan children who are sheltered at Aruvi orphanage.
Producers Council secretary L M M Muralidharan, Sivasakthi Pandian, Film Chamber treasure K S Srinivasan, Distributors Council president Kalaipuli G Sekaran, producer Panchu Arunachalam, S P Muthuraman, Satyajyothi Thyagarajan, Kalaipuli S Dhanu,...
- 8/26/2010
- by Editor
- KollywoodToday
Actress Genelia D’Souza was supposed to be banned from Tamil film industry as she was about to take part in Iifa at Colombo 2010. The awards ceremony was held recently in Ceylon and the supporters of Eelam Tamilians in various parts of India requested every film celebrity in India not to take part.
Similarly, Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Kites’ was instantaneously banned in all the theatres of Tamil Nadu. Now as Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi has taken part in this festival, the members of Fefsi and Tfpc have strongly mentioned that their films would no more be screened at any theatres of South India.
Genelia in her statement said, “I was supposed to fly down to Ceylon for the awards and at the last moment, producer Aascar Ravichandran requested me to cancel my appointment for awards ceremony and I heeded to his requests…”
The actress has completed shooting for ‘Utthamaputhiran...
Similarly, Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Kites’ was instantaneously banned in all the theatres of Tamil Nadu. Now as Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi has taken part in this festival, the members of Fefsi and Tfpc have strongly mentioned that their films would no more be screened at any theatres of South India.
Genelia in her statement said, “I was supposed to fly down to Ceylon for the awards and at the last moment, producer Aascar Ravichandran requested me to cancel my appointment for awards ceremony and I heeded to his requests…”
The actress has completed shooting for ‘Utthamaputhiran...
- 6/9/2010
- by Editor
- KollywoodToday
Star-casts: Jai, Nandagi, Theodre Bhaskaran, Ganja Karuppu and many others
Banner: Moser Baer, Blue Ocean Entertainment
Production: Dhananjayan, Lalitha
Direction: Meera Kadhiravan
Music: Vijay Anthony
Right from their maiden production, Moser Baer has been churning out certain flicks that don’t carry any such attribute of self-aggrandizing as a commercially successful flick. They neither make it big in box office nor receive good reviews amongst the audiences.
We would like to post a question on producers – What actually a good quality films means? Is it about presenting an art film with dark themes with all the characterization lamenting throughout the shows.
Sorry to say! If these are his intentions, the film should be directly released in home videos or merely for the sake of award functions.
‘Aval Peyar Thamizharasi’ disappoints us completely as none of its aspects impresses us. On the first day of show, there were hardly 23 audiences and...
Banner: Moser Baer, Blue Ocean Entertainment
Production: Dhananjayan, Lalitha
Direction: Meera Kadhiravan
Music: Vijay Anthony
Right from their maiden production, Moser Baer has been churning out certain flicks that don’t carry any such attribute of self-aggrandizing as a commercially successful flick. They neither make it big in box office nor receive good reviews amongst the audiences.
We would like to post a question on producers – What actually a good quality films means? Is it about presenting an art film with dark themes with all the characterization lamenting throughout the shows.
Sorry to say! If these are his intentions, the film should be directly released in home videos or merely for the sake of award functions.
‘Aval Peyar Thamizharasi’ disappoints us completely as none of its aspects impresses us. On the first day of show, there were hardly 23 audiences and...
- 3/6/2010
- by Editor
- KollywoodToday
The most classical actor Banuchandar has his son introduced in tinsel town with the film ‘Margazhi 16’. The film’s audio launch was held recently herein Sathyam Cinemas with the presence of Actress Radhika, Lizzy Priyadarshan, Suhasini Manirathnam, Kushboo Sundar, filmmakers Lingusamy, Balu Mahendra, Sarath Babu, actor Vicent Ashokan and Sarath Babu….
Bhanuchandar’s son Jayanth is doing the lead role in thus film while Kerala beauty Sreeneedhi is pairing with him. Another hero is Srinivasan who hails from Chennai. Apart from him, other actors who are acting in this film are from Thoothukudi. Stephen while speaking to the journalists said,” Normally Thoothukudi has also been portrayed as a place of violence. But this film shows that there some beautiful romantic stories in these kind of places also. Since I wanted this film to be realistic, I wanted to utilize the local people to act in this film. But since I...
Bhanuchandar’s son Jayanth is doing the lead role in thus film while Kerala beauty Sreeneedhi is pairing with him. Another hero is Srinivasan who hails from Chennai. Apart from him, other actors who are acting in this film are from Thoothukudi. Stephen while speaking to the journalists said,” Normally Thoothukudi has also been portrayed as a place of violence. But this film shows that there some beautiful romantic stories in these kind of places also. Since I wanted this film to be realistic, I wanted to utilize the local people to act in this film. But since I...
- 3/3/2010
- by Editor
- KollywoodToday
Chennai, Jan 24 (Ians) Tamil director Bala, who has been adjudged best director at the 56th National Film Awards for his latest offering ‘Naan Kadavul’, has dedicated it to his mentor - director Balu Mahendra.
‘It was Balu Mahendra who had groomed me and Akila Balu Mahendra had taken care of me like a mother - they are the reason behind such an honour. Without them I would have not achieved this feat,’ Bala, who has so far directed four films, told Ians.
Though this.
‘It was Balu Mahendra who had groomed me and Akila Balu Mahendra had taken care of me like a mother - they are the reason behind such an honour. Without them I would have not achieved this feat,’ Bala, who has so far directed four films, told Ians.
Though this.
- 1/24/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
‘Saaral Awards’ happened to be a unique-fangled award ceremony hosted recently at Film Chamber herein Chennai. This occasion was grandiosely organized by Jd-Jerry, the leading personalities in the field of advertisements. This year’s award was presented to poet Gnyanakuthu by Koothupattarai Na. Muthusamy. The felicitation token consists of Rs.50, 000, medal and a statue.
During this juncture, a book ‘Kanavugal Pesa Vandhavan’ penned by Jd was launched and a documentary film ‘Naathaswaram’ screenplay was released as well.
Addressing the gathered crowd, ace director Balu Mahendra said that he’s been having a great likeliness for literature and poems. Indeed, he tried blending those quotients with his films and expressed his happiness over this felicitation. S. Ramakrishnan totted up that most of the talented literary personalities aren’t honored and recognized these days. ‘Saaral awards have done a great job and I would like to bring this to notice that a...
During this juncture, a book ‘Kanavugal Pesa Vandhavan’ penned by Jd was launched and a documentary film ‘Naathaswaram’ screenplay was released as well.
Addressing the gathered crowd, ace director Balu Mahendra said that he’s been having a great likeliness for literature and poems. Indeed, he tried blending those quotients with his films and expressed his happiness over this felicitation. S. Ramakrishnan totted up that most of the talented literary personalities aren’t honored and recognized these days. ‘Saaral awards have done a great job and I would like to bring this to notice that a...
- 1/17/2010
- by Editor
- KollywoodToday
Mumbai, The last time they worked together was in the 1983 movie "Sadma". Now, after 26 years, Gulzar is once again teaming up with Ilayaraja for "Srk" and says the music maestro's ability to create "perfect harmony" is still intact. "The last time Ilayaraja and I came together was for Balu Mahendra's 'Sadma'. Now we're working together in another film after so many years," Gulzar told Ians. "His aptitude and skills for creating the perfect harmony have not altered at all. Ilayaraja is one of his kind. I wish he was heard more often in Hindi cinema," said the lyricist, who has just won an Oscar for his song "Jai ho" in "Slumdog Millionaire". "Srk" is being directed by Ajay Varma, a descendant of the legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma. The film ...
- 3/1/2009
- Bollywoodworld.com
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