KOLLYWOOD (Tamil)

[breakingviews]

[breakingviews]

I will be busy till 2018: Tamannaah


2011-12-14 14:11:53


​Tamannaah is cool and unperturbed by the fact that she has big competition from Kajal Aggarwal and Shruti Haasan.


She believes that the glamour world desperately demands new angles each passing film, with threats posed by ruthless competition.


"Not only films, wherever we go, competition is the buzzword. Until and unless we surge ahead, success is impossible," she said.

On whether actresses have a shorter shelf life she quips: "Sadly, it`s a fact that an actress`s professional lifespan is shorter than the male stars`. But I do think it`s getting better".


She adds: "If not for the success of Happy Days, I would have settled somewhere as an air-hostess. Call it divine intervention or luck, I find myself on success trail."


Tamannaah is also judicious to observe that neither beauty nor success is permanent. "But, I am sure of continuing till 2018 without any obstacle. At present, I am busy with five big films. And twenty more ventures are after me. If I say `Ok` to all, there will be none who can challenge me till 2018," she quipped.

[breakingviews]

Chennai Box-Office (Dec 9 to 11)
Wednesday, 14 December , 2011, 12:02
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 December , 2011, 12:10


STR`s Osthi has taken a thundering opening. The film released on Thursday (Dec , which gave it a four day opening. It grossed around Rs 1.34 Crore from 20 Chennai screens, which is fantastic by any yardstick and is in the number one position.

At number two is Selvaraghavan`s Myakkam Enna which is doing 85 to 90 % during weekends especially in multiplexes, where it is rock steady. In the third place is Sasikumar`s Porali which dropped in its second week.

Pawan Kalyan`s Telugu Panjaa has taken a decent opening in a dozen Chennai screens and is at number four. Vidya Balan`s The Dirty Picture continues its hold during its second week and is at number five.

[breakingviews]

Vijayalakshmi - Look who's changing


2011-12-14 10:29:15
Last Updated: 2011-12-14 10:46:51


Vijayalakshmi Ahathian had made her debut in Kollywood as a plain Jane in Venkat Prabhu’s Chennai 60028 followed by Myskkin’s Anjaathey, both super hits.

But instead of playing to her strengths of a traditional face and acting capabilities, Viji as she is known among friends decided to take the glam route.

Her dressing sense became a point of discussion for the media and film critics, especially whenever she was portrayed in western wear.

Her films in which she did glam roles like Adhe Neram Adhe Idam and Katrathu Kalavu turned out to be big flops but the pretty girl is back with a vengeance and is going to turn into a sexy siren in her new film Rendavathu Padam.

It is directed by the spoof specialist CS Amudham of Tamizh Padam fame. She is paired opposite Vimal in the film which also has Aravind Akash and Richard in the cast.

The actress tweeted: “Had super fun at CS Amudham’s Rendavathu Padam test shoot. Finally shedding my nice girl image.”

Guess Viji has forgotten that she had already shed her 'Nice girl' image in Adhe Neram Adhe Idam and Katrathu Kalavu?

[breakingviews]

Hansika gets mobbed by fans in Chennai


2011-12-14 11:22:35
Last Updated: 2011-12-14 11:32:10


Nothing succeeds like success.

Hansika is on cloud nine after the success of Velayudham. Her Engeyum Kadhal may have garnered a mixed response but her sparking performance was not overlooked.

And last Sunday, Hansika who got a break while shooting for Vettai Mannan hoped that she could get away with some shopping at the EA Mall in Chennai.

But the actress had to retreat in a hurry when the crowd including fans went berserk. They gathered around an accessory store where she was shopping and tried to break the glass panes.

Soon security was called in and Hansika had to be escorted to her car.

This is star power for you!

Hansika is excited about Vettai Mannan in which she plays a gangster. Quiz her about the character and she laughs: “My look is different in the film and I love it. Back home, my mom calls me a little gangster, so I guess I play myself in the film. I am so happy that instead of being typecast, I am getting all sorts of roles. After all I love preparing for a role and doing something different”.

[breakingviews]

7aum Arivu to have a festival cut


2011-12-14 10:20:47


One of the most talked about films of the year Suriya’s AR Murgadoss directed 7aum Arivu, produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin will have a festival cut.
The film will have a special edition exclusively for the festival circuit in Europe and other parts of the globe.

It means scenes catering to mass Indian audiences mainly songs will be trimmed to suit the taste of international audiences.
Suriya as Bodhidharman, a Budhist monk has struck an awareness among a section of international historians.

The Murgadoss directed film has made Bodhidharman one of the most searched characters on the internet.
7aum Arivu has now been invited for various prestigious festivals abroad in Europe andin some Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia to just mention a few.

The film is all set for the festival rounds.

[breakingviews]

CIFF starts amidst controversies


2011-12-15 10:03:51


The 9th edition of Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) started on Wednesday (Dec 14) evening amidst glitz, glamour and controversy.

The event organised by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation will showcase 154 films from 45 countries till Dec 22.

Renowned director Shekhar Kapoor inaugurated the festival saying : “ The ‘Natyashastra’ says the greatest charity is the sharing of art, and that is what we are doing.”

The function was marred by independent filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and her placard carrying supporters who protested against the non-inclusion of her docu-fiction Sengadhal: The Dead Sea.

Remember the film was chosen for the Indian Panorama. Finally Sarath Kumar one of the organisers of CIFF had to step in and promise that it will be included in the ongoing festival.

Meanwhile a peeved director Ameer has also hit out at the organisers of CIFF. He also requested the state government to cancel the Rs 25 lakhs grant given to the festival.

Ameer in his letter to chief minister Jayalalithaa said: “CIFF has omitted quality films like Thenmerekku Paruvakattru which won three national awards and Sengadhal which has been selected for the Indian panorama. It’s regrettable that the committee has chosen films based on popularity instead of content and script value.”

[breakingviews]

Mounaguru is sure to take me to the next level: Arulnithi


2011-12-14 17:47:27
Last Updated: 2011-12-14 18:14:13


Everyone sat up and noticed Arulnithi in Vamsam. His next film Udhayan failed to create waves, but the young actor in his early 20’s is calm, composed and soft-spoken. He is the grandson of former chief Minister M Karunanidi. His father the soft spoken low profile MK Thamilarasu, keeps away from politics. Arulnithi taking a leaf out of his father’s life has shunned the limelight but is extremely focused and determined to make it as an actor of substance. In this free wheeling interview the actor speaks to Sridevi Sreedhar about his new film Mounaguru and his future plans
Mounaguru trailers are very impressive and it comes across as a hard hitting film
It is not the run-of-the-mill commercial pot-boiler but an edge-of-the-seat crime thriller which is realistic and is sure to take me to the next level (smiles). It is story-driven
What is your role?
I play Karunakaran a normal college student in Madurai who reacts to situations in life in a different manner. His ambitions are also very unique. How he comes to Chennai, gets entangled with the police and what happens next- all this forms the story.
Mounaguru- A Sify special
What attracted you to do such a role so early in your career when doing a mass masala film with a noted director would have been an easy route?
Yes, what you said is true. It was not difficult for my dad MK Thamilarasu who is the producer of the film to rope in a reputed director and do an action film. But let me tell you that I believe that some special people or stars are there to do such larger-than-life roles to perfection. I am too young and it’s too early in my career to thrust myself on the audiences. Right now, I am only taking up good scripts which will suit me.
How did you zero in Santhakumar as director?
I believe that films should be about the story and the script, not about actors. Santhakumar was an assistant to Dharani earlier. He narrated the script and I saw that he had a fire in him.
After hearing the script I told him that it is tailor-made role for a big star but I decided to take it up as a challenge and worked hard to get into the skin of the protagonist.
Are you open to criticisms? What have you learnt in this short-span?
Yes, I do take criticisms as long as its well-founded and correct. After Vamsam I got a lot of feedback from friends, media and audiences that I should work harder on my dialogue delivery. Patience and self-belief are the two lessons that I’ve learnt in my brief stint in films.
How does your family react to your work?
My dad is a veteran producer who is very supportive. I don’t want to sound pompous but I need to say that my family is very proud of me and they are my biggest critics. I am like a tortoise- Slow and steady, I’ll win the race. I like to climb one step at a time rather than jump off the ladder and fall flat on my face. As long as people discuss my films two years down the lane, I will have no complaints (smiles). Now I feel that I belong here.

[breakingviews]

[wayanadan]