Kamal, Shruti Haasan in a film

Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan are set to share the screen for a new film to be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi trilingual versions. Kamal has informed recently that the story is all ready and the project will take off once Shruti’s Hindi as a lead actress hits the screens.

Shruti Haasan has notable releases in the form of "7am Arivu" with Suriya and "3" with Dhanush while her Telugu film Gabbar Singh has turned blockbuster hit. Shruti Haasan is busy with a couple of Telugu films Yevadu and Balupu while she is shooting for her Hindi film taking shape in the hands of choreographer turned director Prabhudeva.

On the other hand, Kamal Haasan is waiting for the release of his magnum opus Vishwaroopam for Pongal that is directed and produced by him.

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What the Stars on the first day of the New Year

Rajinikanth with fans on new Year

Kollywood stars celebrated the dawn of the New Year 2013 in their own and unique ways. Superstar Rajinikanth led the way by meeting up with his fans at his sprawling Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in Kodambakkam. He not only appreciated the fans for arranging a grand birthday celebration last month but also presented each of them with mementoes and wished them a happy and prosperous year ahead.

Rajini also accepted huge calendars (bearing his image) printed and brought by his fans. During an informal chat, Rajini expressed confidence that the ensuing year would be a good year for the industry in general in terms of box-office successes. Usually, Rajini’s wife Latha would distribute sweets and snacks to those who visit the house on New Year day.

This time, though, the fans were in for a surprise as Rajini himself met them, spoke to them and got himself photographed with them besides presenting them with mementoes.

Kamal was busy with his preparation the works of Vishwaroopam, convincing the theatre owner and getting the Telugu version of Vishwaroopam also to be released on Jan 11, in spite of non availability of theatres for sankranti. Its a matter of fact that his talks did succeed and Vishwaroopam Telugu version also would be released on Jan 11.

Elsewhere, actresses Samantha,Tamannaah and Kajal Aggarwal welcomed the commencement of the new year by celebrating the occasion in the midst of their respective families.

Nayanthara, however, celebrated the birth of the New Year in Dubai but was lucky to be in the company of her family members. Nayanthara, who had gone to Dubai to stay at her brother’s place, had reached the city even before Christmas. She had said last week that for the first time in many years, she celebrated Christmas with the usual spirit and happiness and amidst her family members.

At that time, she had said that she would extend her stay in Dubai by a week so as to celebrate the New Year eve. Speaking over phone, Nayan said “I had a very fruitful year in 2012 wherein I signed up many Tamil and Telugu films. I also got the prestigious Nandi Award from the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and hope this year would be as fruitful as last year both professionally as well as personally!”

Wishing all the stars a great year ahead !!

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Alex Pandian is U certified

Alex Pandian

Karthi starrer Alex Pandian has been given a U certificate by the censor board and the team is ecstatic as they have begun the year with a good news straight way. The flick will be exempted from tax following which the theatre owners are eyeing good margins from the movies release. In fact, they have already started to posting  the films poster all around.

On a closer look the tax exemption will yield the theatre owners a better share in the profits.Obviously, it is only in their best interest to promote the movie to the best of their abilities.

However, the pre release promotions have impressed many thanks to a big allocation of the budget by moguls Studio Green. As part of the promotions a musical night was held at the YMCA grounds, anticipating a great year ahead. The event was a hot success and saw composer Devi Sri Prasad belt out some raunchy dance numbers from his arsenal.

Alex Pandian is an action thriller directed by Suraaj and produced by Studio Green.The movie has Anushka Shetty playing a female lead and comedian Santhanam in a key role.The flick will release this January 12th in more than four hundred screens across the state during Pongal season.

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Actors warned not to avoid protest fast on 7th Jan.

Kollywood strike against Service Tax during 2012 Wall poster

The entire Kollywood would be sitting on a day-long fast on 7th January (next Monday) in order to protest against the imposition of 12.36% of service tax by the central government. The imposition of tax was announced last January and soon after, Kollywood held a protest strike on 23rd February  last year, and it was recalled. But again the central government has come with the plan.

The film industry has now geared up to hold another round of protest and would be sitting on a day-long fast on 7th January. Sarath Kumar, the president of the Nadigar Sangam, said that the strike would be total in all respects. However, theatre-owners have announced that they won’t be closing down the theatres on the said day as the ST doesn’t affect them.

A stern warning has been issued to all actors, actresses, technicians and employees of the film industry not to miss out on the day-long protest fast being organized to engage the government’s attention on the Service Tax issue. Members of all film-related bodies including Nadigar Sangam, the Tamil Film Producers’ Council, the Directors’ Association and leading distributors and producers would be taking part in the protest.

The venue is yet to be decided and it could either by the Valluvar Kottam or outside the Government Guest House near Chepauk. The shooting schedules of all the films slated for the day stands cancelled, it is informed. ‘Tough action’ would be initiated against those who don’t take part in the protest fast on 7th day and they would also be facing ‘boycott’ by other bodies as well, it is further informed.

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Jay Jay beauty returns to Kollywood with Padam Pesum

Nisha Kothari

Back in 2003 Nisha Kothari entered filmdom as Amoga in Jay Jay. It was her first movie and she was more than happy to start her career in Kollywood with then chocolate boy Madhavan. However, post the release her career ran dry in the south and it was only six years hence that she was seen in a Tamil entertainer.As a matter of fact even her last appearance in K town was merely for an item number in Kacheri Arambam with actor Jiiva. Relentless to put her career in shape the actress bagged many roles in Hindi, Kannada and other regional movies. Unfortunately the pretty girl has not been able to stay on top demand with any of the offers.

Much to her relief now, an upcoming movie in Tamil titled Padam Pesum will finally see her in a supporting role alongside Sakthi of Ninaithale Inikkum fame. Touted to be a romantic thriller south beauty Poorna too is eyeing a comeback with the flick.Directed by Raghava composer Mani Sharma will score the music for this movie.

Nisha says “ Padam Pesum is a proper commercial flick with all the mass ingredients intact, I am sure my fans will be happy for me.”

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Theatre-owners ready for talks on DTH issue

Abirami Ramanathan

Abirami Ramanathan, who wields a lot of clout among theatre-owners across the State, has conceded for the first time in recent times that he is ‘ready’ for holding talks on the contentious issue of ‘Ulaganayagan’ Kamal Haasan’s decision to release his upcoming film Vishwaroopam on television via DTH before it hits the screens on 11th January.

Ramanathan was taking part along with producer-director Keyaar and K. Bhagyaraj in the function held to mark the audio-launch of the film Ooratchi Ondriyam held at the Prasad Labs premises in the city. Speaking at the event, Keyaar said that among the 146 films released last year, only 8 films succeeded at the box-office and even those films were small and medium-budget films and not the mega-budget ventures.

“I feel it’s a healthy augury for the industry that small-budget films do well at the box-office but unfortunately, these films find it very difficult to get the desired theatres for their release. Even superstar Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan did star in many small-budget films in their early days. It’s unfortunate that 62 small-budget films, which have even been censored, are lying in cold storage for want of halls to release them.

“Now the issue of Vishwaroopam releasing on DTH has become a big one. Theatre-owners say they won’t allow it to release in theatres; I’m sure an amicable solution would be found soon to this issue,” he concluded. Ramanathan, in his reply, said that theatre-owners depended largely on small-budget films for their survival and added that theatres would continue to patronize small budget films.

“Keyaar asked us to discuss the Viswaroopam issue to iron out a solution. To be very frank, we weren’t asked at all to discuss the issue. We, the theatre-owners, have an open mind and are ready to discuss in detail provided we are called for a talk on the issue,” he said, indicating amply that the theatre-owners are ready for talks on allowing Kamal’s Viswaroopam to release in theatres on 11th January.

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Vallinams first look confirms its based on basketball

Vallinam Poster

Director Arivazhagan who shot to fame with Eeram has his next project Vallinam under production. He has decided to cast Kandhakottai  Nakul and debutant Mrudhula Basker in pivotal roles for the movie.The antagonist is Tollywood actor Siddharth Jonnalagadda who plays a cricketer in the flick. Likewise Nakul is a sportsman and a Basketball champion in the same film.

The script is based on the intense rivalry amongst their game and personal choices.The recent first look poster of the movie also had a lot to tell about what is to follow. As we can see an attempt has been made to indicate a dark story which is waiting to be told. A shoeprint of a basket player has been embossed over a grey basketball court. In addition, white arcs have been etched on a rectangular floor that seems smaller in size to the foot of the player. However, the after marks of the footsteps do indicate a determination that won’t wear off easily as they have a melting metallic sheen to them. Moreover,the floor lacks the sparkle of maple and on the contrary is very rough for a game of basketball.

Aascar Ravichandran has produced the movie and for the climax at Nehru Stadium a staggering amount of money was spent to fill the place with people.S Thaman has been roped in to compose the music. Earlier Simbu, Nakul and Andrea have already sung for the composer. The sports thriller earlier scheduled for December has been postponed. The date of release will be disclosed soon.

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Vishals Madha Gaja Raja suffers as Samar releases this Pongal

Samar-Movie-Release-Poster

Fans of Trisha are happy that Samar alongside her and Sunanina will hit the silver screens soon. After much confusion that Vishal’s Samar and Madha Gaja Raja will collide head on at the box office things have gradually been sorted out.As promised, despite all the financial strains, the Trisha and Vishal starrer Samar, will finally see the light of the day this January 13.

Meanwhile, Vishal’s simultaneously venture Madha Gaja Raja which was earlier scheduled for January 15 this Pongal has been pushed  to a later date which is yet to be disclosed. Industry insiders say it is a tactful move as it is suicidal for the promoters to fight against each other with Vishal playing the lead role for both the movies.

After the news surfaced a happy Vishal fan opined “The repeated postponement of Samar has been disappointing. Nevertheless, I am happy that it is finally releasing at the theaters this Pongal, I am so excited.I hope it will be a comeback for Vishal.”

Director Thiru has wielded the megaphone for the romantic thriller and the bilingual is produced under the banner Jaya Balaji Real Media in Tamil. Wishing the Samar team all the best for the upcoming Pongal season.

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Siddharth to get busy with Tamil films

Siddharth is set t join the sets of Sundar C directorial in a week and the film casts Hansika as his lady love. The duo earlier paired up for a Telugu film Oh My Friend.

Actress Khushboo will produce the movie on the banner of Avni Cinemax. The film will be made in bilingual versions in Telugu and Tamil and the latter version has been titled as ‘Theeya Velai Seyyanum’.

An excited Siddharth tweeted, “Sundar C’s film kicks off next week. Life has no chance of being the same after sundar c & Santhanam…can’t wait:)”

Siddharth has also confirmed his film with director Vasanthabalan. “It’s official. My next film is directed by the acclaimed Vasanthabalan. Music by the one & only A.R.Rahman. Produced by Y Not studios,” further informed the actor.

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UTV announces next Tamil film 'Sigaram Thodu'

"Sigaram Thodu" is the next Tamil offering from UTV Motion Pictures. It will feature actor Vikram Prabhu in the lead.

Gaurav of "Thoonga Nagaram" fame is the writer and director of the film.

The pre-production work for "Sigaram Thodu" commenced Wednesday, and the film's shooting is expected to begin from April 2013. The other cast and crew is under finalisation and will be announced shortly.

"As a Studio, it has been our constant endeavour to bring across the right mix of content for our consumers like we have done with our Hindi slate. South is a key market for us and we will be announcing an equally eclectic slate this side as well," said G. Dhananjayan, chief - South Business, Studios, DisneyUTV, said in a statement.

UTV Motion Pictures has also produced Tamil film "Settai", the remake of hit Bollywood film "Delhi Belly". It will the banner's first release in Tamil, and will release in February.

"Sigaram Thodu" will hit theatres in December.

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