Kollywood Hotshots

Close friends of Reema were invited and at the event all the friends of Reema held the guests hearts pounding by sizzling at the dance floor.

And, Shriya, one of the very close friends of Reema, was the cynosure of all eyes as she took the entire event by storm with her sexy movements for the item song ‘Chikni Chameli’!

“The wedding couple actually planned a skit along with all the close friends and we had an item number in the skit. I performed the item song that brought everyone at the event to the dance floor. We had only 3 rehearsals for our skit but it came very well and was appreciated by all,” says Shriya.

Shriya had a white see-through saree with silk borders and a sexy thin choli while dancing at the floor!

The producer had re-shot some important scenes in the film because he wanted Jiiva to hold on to the success that he got in Ko. This has certainly upped the expectation levels for Rowthiram.

The film has Shriya Saran playing Jiiva’s arm candy. The music for Rowthiram has been scored by newbie Prakash Nikki.

Shreya who now wants to give a hit film is giving importance to stories. She is making the directors to narrate the full story. She is keen in avoiding contradictory stories without logic. She says." Now the audience will not accept the films without logic. I will act in films which will have logic. Tell me a story like Mozhi. I will act free of cot. So far I have acted for money. Now there is no need for money. Now I should earn a good name."

“I got up so early at 3:30 am because I am filming at 5 in the morning for Jeeva’s film,” she says and adds: “I am also watching movies back to back at the Chennai International Film Festival.”

On her walking the ramp wearing handloom saris at a recent expo, she says, “Every piece was woven by hand it is so unique. It’s a piece of art. Come let’s support Indian hand loom. I'm glad government is trying to promote traditional Indian craft.”

Urging Chennaiites to watch international films at the CIFF, she says, “All you Chennai people, please go and watch the movies at the festival. It is a great experience. I am excited.”

The actress said that she was always concerned about the welfare of the disabled from her childhood days and that her celebrity status hasn’t brought this attitude in her.  Getting into philosophical mode, she adds, “I’m aware that life is not all about money and fame; what matters is what we do or we can do for the people around us.  I’m planning to open a spa in Mumbai shortly to cater the needs of the blind and the visually challenged.

“When I used to study in Delhi, we used to visit a blind school quite often.  My experiences at the School has left a deep impact on me which might have contributed in a big way in my decision to shortly set up a special spa for visually challenged people in Mumbai,” says Shriya.

“The strongest of their senses is that of touch.  Keeping this min mind, we are planning to offer them at the spa treatments like reflexology and massages that are programmed to give them great comfort,” she added.

Professionally, Shriya is thrilled to bits with the great comeback she made in Telugu with Don Seenu and Puli.  She also looks with great hope and expectation to her Tamil film Chikku Bukku opposite Aarya, to resurrect her Tamil career too.

“I can even dub for myself now. I can pick up nuances quite easily as I was always imitating my teachers in school. However, South Indian languages are difficult when you’ve grown up in a Hindi-speaking home. And though they sound alike, actually they are vastly different. So often, on the sets of the Telugu film I would ask for tea in Malayalam and the poor chai guys would look so flummoxed,” she revealed.

After a gap of five years, this Kollywood miss is reportedly the heroine in a Telugu film Don Seenu opposite Ravi Teja once again.

Trisha was the first choice for this film, being directed by debutant director Malineni Gopichand, but she opted out due to unavailability of dates. Don Seenu is currently progressing in Rama Naidu Cine Village at Nanakramguda. After the next schedule in Hyderabad ending on March 20, the crew will leave for Switzerland and then Spain.

Meanwhile, Shriya is also doing her debut Malayalam film Pokkiri Raja opposite superstar Mammootty. The film is directed by Vysakh, a television anchor and associate of directors Johnny Antony and Joshy.

Says a spokesperson of Devi theatre in Chennai: “ Kutty was a slow starter but by evening show on day one it started filling up. Next three days the families took over as all shows were houseful. The film is the first hit of 2010.”

Says A Ravishankar Prasad of Gemini Film Circuit: “ The film is a hit and it held its head high among the Pongal releases as it was the only film with a clean U certificate. Family audiences are encouraging the film and all our distributors are happy. The songs of Devi Sri Prasad are slowly turning out to be hits and we are very happy”.

According to distributors what has worked for the film is its low budget and reasonable price it has been sold to the distributors. Says a leading distributor: “Kutty’s feel-good factor is working big time with the family audiences. Everybody would like to see a happy family entertainer during Pongal. It is a breezy romantic, along with good performances by the entire cast and peppy songs are major plus for the film."

A remake of the Telugu blockbuster Arya, Dhanush carries the entire film on his shoulders and he has emerged a winner. Kutty is his fourth hit in a row and the first one of 2010. Said a ed Dhanush : “I was keeping my fingers crossed and is so happy to hear positive feedback from audiences from all release centers. It is my best New Year gift”.

The meeting was attended by Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Nadigar Sangam president R Sarath Kumar, producer of the movie Radhika Sarath Kumar and chiefs of various associations in the industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamal said: "Encouraging piracy is equivalent to sedition. A portion of the revenue generated from the sale of pirated CDs ends up in the hands of anti-national elements."

Urging Sarath Kumar to take it as a free publicity for the movie, he said, "all efforts should be taken to release the movie at the earliest in theatres".

Expressing his solidarity with Sarath Kumar on the issue, Rajinikanth said, "the culprit is not anywhere from outside. It should be one among us. It is time for us to do some introspection. Running from pillar to post for help after an act of negligence is no good. We should stand united and fight against them."

Both Sarath Kumar and Radhika burst into tears. "We are left without words - a sense of anger and dismay prevails amongst us. Our hardwork for over a year to come up with a quality film has been belittled now. The labour of over 100-odd men has been demeaned," they said.

Jaggubhai is jointly produced by the Radhika Sarath Kumar-owned Raadan Media Network and Zee Motion Pictures and the film was directed by K S Ravi Kumar. Shot extensively in foreign locales, the film’s release is eagerly awaited as the KSR-Sarath combo had always worked out well at the box office.

"Not just Dhanush, but each and every member of his family, including his wife Aishwarya (daughter of 'Superstar' Rajinikanth) are close to me. We are more than just friends," she said.

Dwelling more on the 'relationship', the actress said, "when we are shooting for 'Kutty' near Tirunelveli, Dhanush asked me to visit the famous Nellaiappar temple. I had been to the shrine thanks to him and it was a marvellous experience. This is just an example and Dhanush has recommended me many other good things too."

Top actresses like Shriya Saran prefer to travel only by Jet Airways. On Thursday (Sep 10), Shriya flew in to Chennai from Bangalore (where she was shooting) for one of her endorsement events, in a different airline and was finding it difficult in the evening to get business class tickets to go back to Mumbai.

Shriya wanted to be in Mumbai on Friday , to celebrate her birthday with close friends and catch the Saturday early morning (3AM), Jet flight to Toronto, where she was to walk the red carpet for Deepa Mehta’s What’s Cooking Stella.

A peeved Shriya who was to go to Toronto from Mumbai accompanied by her mother and had booked weeks in advance found that her Jet flight has been cancelled!

Now Shriya is running around on her birthday trying to get a “business class” ticket for two to Toronto in “any international airline” as she has to be there latest by Saturday evening!

Shriya who is upbeat about Kanthaswamy success, says that the character of Subbulakshmi was a well-etched out character and she enjoyed doing the film as much as the audiences accepted her.

Now she is waiting for the release of Jaggu Bhai and Kutty, both according to her have shaped out well.

On how she is planning to celebrate her birthday, Shirya said: “I normally have low-key birthday s. I was away shooting in Mysore but have planned a small get-together for my close set of friends in Mumbai in the evening. Later on Saturday morning, I am off to Toronto for the red carpet premiere of What’s Cooking, Stella along with Seema Biswas and others”.

Excited over this, the actress says that it is an honor to rub shoulders with international film celebrities. She revealed that she has discussed her costumes with her designer. Known for stirring up several controversies for wearing skimpy clothes during several events in Kollywood, she was quizzed about her preference, to which Shriya said that she would consider wearing clothes that will reflect the Indian tradition. The lady hinted that she may wear a saree during the event.

Now here is an interesting scoop to delight the confident team of ‘Kanthaswamy’ and eager fans. Chiyan Vikram’s magnum opus has taken almost all the theatres in Chennai for its release. Moreover when the reservation was opened, an entire week’s tickets were sold out by the same afternoon. And that’s a record, people!

On August 15th the Regional Censor Board in Chennai cleared ‘Kanthaswamy’’s Tamil version with a ‘U’ certificate, with cuts. The Telugu version of the film ‘Mallanna’ was cleared in Hyderabad on August 14th with a ‘UA’ certificate.

Wow… This is something like the biggest ever release for a south Indian film!

Today (August 15), the Regional Censor Board in Chennai saw the Tamil original version and cleared it with a ‘U’ certificate, with cuts.

We had reported earlier that the Telugu version of the film Mallanna had been censored in Hyderabad on Friday with an ‘UA’ certificate.

The Susi Ganeshan directed film has been nearly two years in the making, and is one of the biggest movies ever in Tamil.

Says producer Kalaipuli.S Thanu: “I’m very happy that the censors have cleared Kanthaswamy, with a ‘U’ certificate. It is going to be the biggest ever release in over 900 screens.

For the last two days Thanu’s office was a beehive of activity as the trade people descended to see the new trailers and all the songs of the film at his home theatre.

The songs and trailer were slick and attractive and looked awesome. Imagine the clarity and colour on the big screen, was the statement made by many in the trade. Thanu says that trade is gung-ho about the film, which is expected to take a gargantuan opening.

While Speaking , Thanu said: “ Please inform the world that Kanthaswamy will hit the screens on August 15, for the big Independence day weekend in over 900 screens in its Tamil and Telugu versions.”