The "Kaadal Kottai" girl Indhu who
is the common factor of both these movies is also thrilled with the fruitful outcome.
Subsequent to her performance in "Guru Parvai", Indhu for the first time is
offered the role of primary heroine in a movie. Indhu unlike other northern imports, who
do pantomime for someone else’s voices, this Tamil girl delivers her own lines on the
screen. Notably, Indhu a TV-star-turned movie-heroine does not have problems with her long
dialogues.
Besides, Easwari Roa is also happy that her controversial bathing
scene in "Guruparvai" showing her transparent bosom in a wet saree did not turn
out to be vulgar after all.
Speaking of "Kannaathal", the movie has become a
devotional sensation among the rural masses. Particularly some ladies who watched this
movie in the villages are said to have danced in the middle of the movie, as if they were
possessed by "Kannaathal" a form of the powerful Hindu Goddess Shakthi.
Nina who is the heroine of "Kannaathal" now has second
thoughts about her school and studies. Though she is yet to sign up for a new role in
Tamil, Neena apparently works in a Malayalam venture.
I
Marudhanaayagam Stalled
The dream project of Kamal, "Marudanaaygam" for now is
put in the back burner. The reason quoted for this decision is its astronomical cost.
"Marudanaayagam" which is expected to eat up six times the budget of "Devar
Magan" is temporarily out of gas now.
Kamal who has completed the
scenes with his long hair and drooping beard has shortned both of them. As per him the
episodes involving him with long hair is already complete. Some 23 days of shooting alone
is done so far, with Kamal’s own money. But nearly 170 days of work is still pending.
Money is the grave concern here and so Kamal is approaching certain foreign financiers to
resume his work.
Contrary to earlier rumors
"Marudanaaygam" does not have either Rajini or Sathyaraj in its cast. Popular
character actor of Hindi movies Om Puri, who was present for the movie’s preview
before the queen Elizabeth, is still there. Vishnuvardan, Naasar and the inimitable
Nashurudin Shaw (from Boolywood) are also expected to play major roles in
"Marudanaayagm". As to its heroines Kamal is still in the process of screening
the girls from France and England. Besides he is also on the look out for a bold Indian
actress who accepts a role with scope for brief nudity. One interesting aspect of the
movie is Isai Gyani Ilayraja, who scores music for a Kamal's movie after a very long
hiatus.
Before he could resume his venture, to make his fans happy Kamal
would act in a quick low budget movie, presumably directed by the popular Malayalam
director Priyadarshan.
I
Another Kaamasuthra
Popular cinematographer Ashok Kumar’s
"Kaama" is progressing at full tilt. In line with its title, Ashok Kumar who is
obsessed with pretty girls has chosen sex as the central theme of "Kaama".
Ironically he has made his own son Vishal as the
hero of the movie with many luscious scenes.
Asha Mehra an import from Mumbai is the main heroine of
"Kaama". Being an extrovert herself, initially Asha did not have any quarrel
with the story of Kaama. But when she was asked act in scenes that almost amounted to
soft-porno, Asha felt humiliated and returned back to Mumai. She claimed that it was too
much for her to take. So the director found another lass Uravashi, who was equally sexy
but extremely co-operative in all aspects, and continued the movie with her.
Meanwhile Asha who felt that she was missing a rare opportunity
is back in "Kaama". Now it is said that both these femme fatales vie with each other in many seductively demanding
scenes of the movie. According to the grapevine for one such scene Ashok Kumar has
employed his skills to the maximum to show one of his heroines nude in an episode.
This is normally a big no-no for movies made in India, but the lighting for the scene was
handled so dexterously that it would hardly look vulgar on the big screen. However will
such scenes ever escape the eyes of our conservative sensor-board is the big question.
I
Splendid Performance
The forthcoming movie "Pooveli" is
almost ready for release now. It is from the renowned Kavithalaya banner of K.
Balachander, produced by his wife Rajam Balachander and his daughter Pushpa Kandaswamy.
Karthik, Kaushalya and Abbas form the central characters of Pooveli, directed by Selva.
As to its story it deals with a couple living in a joint family
played by Karthik and Kaushalya. Kausaliya is the daughter of a rich man Radha Ravi. Once
Radharavi presents his daughter with a very expensive silk saree on her birthday. She is
very moved by the gift. But when Karthik learns about it, he was totally outraged. He
insists that nobody should give any gift to his wife other than him. In his ire he ends up
burning the saree too.
Looks like "Pooveli" is a sentimental melodrama with
ample scope for acting. It is reported that Karthik particularly has done his role very
convincingly. Balachander when he first saw the preview of the movie he was so much moved
by Karthik’s performance and called Karthik immediately over phone to congratulate
him for his wonderful work in "Pooveli".
Bharadwaj who created waves with his earlier work in "Kaadal
Mannan" is the music director for "Pooveli" too. He has scored music for
six songs for the movie and people who heard those songs swear that it would be yet
another hit for Bharathwaj.
I
Superstar's Birthday
Talented character actor Nassar plays an
important role in Rajni’s next movie "Paddiyappa", slated to hit the
theaters for the coming Tamil New Year in April. Interestingly both Rajini and Nassar are
from Balachander’s camp, but for quite sometime both of them have never acted
together.
In "Padaiyappa"
Soundarya does the role of Rajni’s wife and Preeta his daughter. Popular
director-turned comedian Mannivanan is Rajini’s uncle. Naasar is a powerful
politician who appears as a State Minister in the movie. Ramya comes as his daughter and
Abbas his son. Besides Prakashraj plays the part of a senior official in police.
The schedule for "Padaiyappa" in Mysore is complete and
the crew has moved back to Chennai, in time for Rajini’s 49th birthday
celebrations. Actually Rajni missed few of his past birthdays because during those days he
was out of Chennai. That way this year it is really a grand occasion for his fans.
Thousands of them gathered before his residence right from early morning to have a glimpse
of their Thalivar and wish him on his birthday. At his residence Rajni celebrated his
birthday with his wife Latha and his two daughters.
Several political figures like Kaliangar Karunanidhi, Muppanar
and others personally called Rajni to wish him on his birthday. Besides Rajini celebrated
his birthday also with the entire "Padaiyappa" unit in A.V.M studio. During this
occasion Rajni had a heavy garland made up of rose flowers weighing around 125 Kilos.
Interestingly Rajni did not have problems in wearing such a heavy garland which demanded
five people to carry and present it to Rajini.
I
Testing time for Prabhu Deva
Professionally speaking, this
year has not been kind enough to Prabhu Deva. Early this year both his Tamil movies
"Naam Iruvar Namaku Irruver" and "Kaadala Kaadala" turned out to be
box-office debacles. Bedsides his more recent Telugu film "Love Story 1999" with
Ramya Krishna and Ramba too is a flop.
However presently he has promising projects like
"Time" and "Nee Enaku Uyirama" up his sleeves to jumpstart his stalled
career.
Of his forthcoming movies "Time" particularly
is more important for him, as it is touted to be a big budget film. "Time" is
directed by Geetakrishna a popular director in Telugu hailing from
"Sangarabranam" fame K.Viswanath’s camp. For him "Time" would be
his maiden venture in Tamil. The movie has Prabhu Deva in the lead paired opposite two
Mumbai imports Menaka Senail and Radhika Chowduri, both of them being commercial models.
Menaka Senail
|
Radhika Choudry
|
"Time" is a bilingual made simultaneously in
both Tamil and Telugu. Karan, Prithvi, Nazar, SP Balasubramaniam, Manivannan and the
Rexona ad-man Bobbu Poonai would form the rest of the cast for the movie.
What is all about this name "Time"? Well
Geethakrishna explains:
"Time is like Fate, for it alone knows what lies
in store for lovers. And my film has a message in it for those in love. Prabhu Deva plays
the lead but the dances in the film were not added as after-thoughts with him in mind.
Nonetheless they serve to develop the plot."
Interestingly the movie has a Tamil hero, heroines from
Mumbai, Telugu director and an English title.
I
Change of Scene
Normally music director A.R. Rahman would visit some
exotic places for seclusion to get inspired for his compositions. Now the veteran
Ilayaraja too has joined this club with his recent visit to Maldivis for the movie
"Time".
With Raja around the musical sittings for the film
"Time" were held for four consecutive days in the Maldives. When asked to
comment on his new numbers in the film, director Geetakrishna says that their efforts have
yielded excellent results. He also adds that Ilayaraja has come up with great tunes for
"Time" that would be an asset to the film.
Incidentally Ilayaraja is also the music director
for Agathian’s movie "Kaadal Kavithai". For one of the songs in the movie,
Raja who normally never sits for his recording sessions after six in the evening took
special interest and waited till midnight to complete the song. Later Raja said he was so
involved in the song and its situation in the movie, he lost count of time.
New temptress in the block!
Few years ego the former Miss-Madras Kasthuri was a
strong contender for the top spot in Tamil. But her success was short-lived, chiefly
because of her own behavior. 
Being a law
graduate herself she started imposing rules and questioning her directors. In the process
she eventually lost her ground in Tamil. So she shifted to Malayalam and Telugu for
survival. To compete with other sex-sirens, particularly in Telugu she acted in roles that
demanded too much of exposing. Unfortunately due to strong competition from the girls like
Saakshi Sivanand, Rakshana etc., Kasthuri’s sensual appearances could not help her
stay long in Telugu.
So the determined Kasthuri is heading back home with
"Kaadal Kavithai" a Prasanth starrer directed by "Kaadal Kottai" fame
Agathian. Though she would play second fiddle to its lead lady Isha Khoppikar, Kasthuri
too has a meaty role in "Kaadal Kavithai". In the movie she appears as
Prasant’s seductive secretary, who is all out to woo him. Like Priyaraman who
surprised everyone in her "Pudumai Piththan", Kasthuri too is expected cause
sleepless nights for many who watch the movie.
Ajeet's ailment
Before joining movies Ajeet was a professional
motorcycle racer. In one of those races he got his spine injured. Though he recovered from
it soon, sometimes he still suffers from severe back pain. Recently he had one such
outbreak of pain that led him admitted into a famous hospital in Chennai. While he was in
the hospital he had a surgery to reduce the pain. Besides the surgeon told him to have
complete rest for a month.
So to have some rest Ajeet is currently in the U.S,
visiting his brother. Interestingly for this trip his beau Hera has also accompanied him.
But some mischievous people question that how on earth could he have any rest with his
girl friend around! Well while he recovers in the U.S., Ajeet definitely needs someone to
comfort him. So if it happens to be his sweetheart Heera herself, what else could bring
him a faster recovery!
With his sudden departure to the States, the movies
of Ajeet have come to a complete halt. Because only after his recovery, Ajeet would resume
his work on his movies "Vaali", "Thodarum" and "Unnai
Thedi".
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