Kollywood Hotshots

If one has to go by reports, within two hours of the song’s release, it was downloaded more than 7,000 times. As Rahman croons ‘Khelo, jeeyo, hey-o, let's go…’, the rousing chorus takes the song forward, thereby giving an emotional appeal.

On Saturday, the Oscar-Grammy winner sung the song for around five minutes in front of a gathering which included Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, her Haryana counterpart Bhupinder Singh Hooda and CWG Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

“I feel honoured to get the opportunity to compose the theme song for the mega-event. It was not an easy task. I had started composing it six months ago and finished just last night,” the Mozart of Madras said.

A beaming Kalmadi hailed the launch of the theme song as a good beginning to the hosting of successful Games. “A well beginning is the half job done. Now onwards you will listen this song day in and day out,” he said.

“It’s my longtime wish that celebrated novels be made as films. I am happy that Gowthaman has come forward to film Neela Padmanabhan’s much acclaimed ‘Thalaimuraigal’. He is a great writer whose work should be celebrated by one and all,” the veteran actor said.

He added: “Literature should be mixed with cinema. Only then meaningful movies could be made. Kudos to Gowthaman and his team for his honest attempt. I am literally happy about Magizhchi.” Expressing gratitude to Kamal, Gowthaman, who is also one of the lead actors of ‘Magizhchi’, says, “It is a movie for everyone. This is one novel that impressed me and I read it over and over again. I actually spent 12 years writing the screenplay for this movie.”

Director Seeman and Prakash Raj have played crucial roles in this movie. Anjali and Karthika are the two heroines. According to the director, Vidyasagar’s music plays such an important role that it has taken the form of a character in the film.

Meanwhile the director held a special screening of the film for directors Abhavanan and P. Vasu (father of Sakthi) recently.

“Abhavanan sir is close to both Vasu sir and the producer. He was so impressed with the film that he sat with me for two hours and shared his views on film making. He also said that he would take care of the film’s promotion and even gifted me a ring,” Krishnaraam said to a leading English daily. There are also reports that P. Vasu has offered to produce Krishnaraam’s next venture.

As the young stars realised the association meant business this time hurriedly applied and became members. 'Angadi Theru' Magesh, 'Kalavani' Vimal, Genelia, Hansika Motwani, Sameera Reddy and many others have become members for the first time. So far 32 new members have been added to Nadigar Sangam

But all eyes were on Aishwarya who has been doing only the biggest of the biggest Tamil film at a time. Even Radha Ravi publicly requested her to become a member of Nadigar Sangam at the Endhiran audio launch in Malaysia. But even after the deadline of August 15 passed there was no word from Aishwarya.

But when we enquired some sources they said Aishwarya has agreed to become a member and has requested to send in the application to Mumbai and she will submit it at the Nadigar Sangam office when she is in Chennai next.

And now on the eve of the big day, he has hit the jackpot.

Prakash and his Duet Movies, the producers of Inidhu Inidhu - a film with newcomers (and a remake of Shekhar Kammula’s Happy Days) - was finding it difficult to sell the film to distributors. However, Prakash was bailed out of a difficult situation by leading producer Kalpathi S Aghoram and his AGS Entertainment, who have purchased all theatrical rights of the film.

Remember Prakash and the Inidhu Inidhu team, despite aggressive promotions in malls and college campuses in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tiruchi, soon realised that they will have to spend more money to release the film on their own.

It was at this time Prakash managed to work out a win-win deal with Aghoram. The trade believes that it is the best wedding gift that Prakash can ever get.

Prakash can now take it easy and let the film do all the talking when it releases this Friday. The award winning actor can now make preparations for his marriage next Tuesday, and later enjoy the honeymoon in Kulu Manali with Pony.

The latest buzz is that Vijay will wield the megaphone for Ajith Kumar’s 51st film. The actor has now signed Venkat Prabhu for his 50th movie, Mankatha, and the film will go on floors from September 8th of this year. Since, this will be a long project extending up to Jan-Feb 2011; the project involving Vijay may take off only in March.

Meanwhile Vijay has been signed to direct Vikram’s next movie, yet to be titled. According to the sources, Vikram was very much impressed with Vijay’s storyline and agreed to work with him.

Vijay has now made a place for himself with a successful hat-trick Kireedom, Poi Solla Poram and the recent release, Madharasapattinam.

However, Shalini’s team did not win the match and lost to their opponent. Though his wife was on the verge of losing the match, Ajith was seen encouraging her from the stands.

It may be recalled that Ajith is also an avid sportsperson and has taken part in several national and international car races.

Genelia, Hansika, Neetu Chandra, Vimal and host of other actors have made a beeline to the Nadigar Sangam and got themselves registered, sources say. According to Radha Ravi, the secretary of the Sangam, about 20 stars have registered in the past few days.

“I was totally shocked when doctors told me that she had suffered a brain hemorrhage. Apart from unit members, there was no one to help as the place and language are totally new to me,” the ‘Silambattam’ actress says.

She adds: “Thankfully, my family members and cousins started coming from the next day as there were not too many flights to Madurai. And my mother too recuperated after a few days. But I am still to come out of the shock.”

On ‘Aayiram Vilakku’, she says, “Santhanu was very friendly. I was initially scared to act with Sathyaraj sir as he is a veteran. However, he made me feel at ease. Director Hosimin is a bundle of talents and I have learnt a lot from all of them.”

The film is directed by debutant Vignesh Shiva and produced by Gemini and Padam Kumar. Reportedly the first shooting schedule will begin soon in London. Sources say there are many songs and dance sequences in the movie, along with generous doses of comedy and romance. As the title suggests, this film is an energetic rom-com about a vibrant couple full of life and loving to dance; Varalaxmi enacts the role of a Salsa dancer.

Arya and Nayantara participated on the last day shoot and the whole team was visibly happy. Udhayanidhi Stalin, KS Seenivasan and D Siva also took part in the celebrations.
‘Boss Engira Baskaran’ is a romantic comedy that will appeal to all types of people. Rajesh who earlier gave the hilarious romantic comedy ‘Siva Manasula Sakthi’ last year is the director of this film also.

Red Giant Movies has snapped up the theatrical rights of ‘Boss Engira Baskaran’. Music is by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Cinematography is by Shakthi Saravanan.

His home banner is also producing films like Veppam directed by Anjana and Azhagar Samiyin Kuthirai directed by Suseenthiran. Gautham says that he will start work on the Hindi remake of Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya in the first week of September simultaneously with the Rana project.

When asked about his proposed film with Ajith, the director lashes out: “I was supposed to start the film but he went off for racing and when he came back, he was speaking to almost all directors and decided to go ahead with Venkat Prabhu. He asked me to wait till next year. But why should I wait for him?”

The outspoken director continues: “If I have to wait for an actor to do my film it has to be Kamal sir or my good friend Suriya. I want to work with people who have their head firm on their shoulder”.

“Because I know what the truth is. We are just colleagues and we are going to act together in another film too. I can’t achieve my goals if I am bothered by these mindless rumours,” she says.

Saying she is not answerable to those spreading ‘rumours’ on her, Tamanna says the two persons she is accountable to are her mother and father. “They know pretty well what’s happening in my life.”

“The support from my parents has made me achieve something,” she says and adds: “But I am aware that there is still a long way to go. My aim is that I should act in all kind of roles before I call it a day.”

With this, Suriya has joined the elite 'Million dollar club of Tamil superstars' which includes Rajinikanth ($2.5 million), Kamal Haasan ($1.5 million) and Vijay ($ 1 million). It is the highest-ever overseas price paid for a Suriya film.

The latest buzz is that the Hindi version (Raktha Charitra), which was scheduled to release in August, will now grace theatres on September 17. There are also reports that RGV is planning to make the Hindi version in two parts and Tamil version as a single film. Reason: Suriya’s role will begin only towards the end of the first part of the film and hence the Tamil version will narrate the story from his perspective.

Kamal Haasan’s last major Malayalam film was ‘Chanakyan’ directed by TK Rajeev Kumar in 1989. Now after 20 years Kamal Haasan will be seen in Malayalam in a film ‘Four Friends’ directed by Saji Surendran.

Kamal Haasan plays a cameo as himself and all his portions will be filmed in Chennai itself. ‘Four Friends’ features Jayaram, Kunchakko Boban, Jayasuriya and Meera Jasmine as major casts and Kamal Haasan in his cameo comes at a crucial juncture of the movie.

Scripted by Krishna Poojappura, this youth flick narrates a story about three friends who are in a journey to search for one of their lady love of the past. The film is also said to have a remix version of the Hindi song 'Yeh dosti hum nahin chodenge' from 'Sholay'.

Interestingly, the film-maker's previous film Ghajini was based on Christopher Nolan’s Mementos. 7aum Arivu stars Shruti Haasan and Suriya in the lead roles.

Shruti Haasan, who is shooting in Coimbatore for the film along with Suriya, tweeted, "Clarification...!!! 7aum Arivu is NOT based on Inception.. Not at all.. Not in the slightest."