Monsoon Journal

By M. Bharat Kumar The audience will get to see a ‘different’ Ajith in my next film. He would sport a differ- ent look and would be admired by one and all, says ace director Goutham Menon. Goutham will be directing Ajith for the lat- ter’s 50th film to be produced by Dayanidhi Alagiri. Pre-production work is on and the project would go to floors very soon, says the filmmaker. Buoyed with the bumper opening for his latest work Vinnai Thaandi Varuvayaa, Gout- ham says, ‘I had a little hesitation when I penned the script for VTV… There was some doubt in my mind as to whether audience would accept a full-length romantic film. But after its release, I am over- whelmed by the response it has been receiving from everyone’.

Vinnai Thaandi Varuvayaa featured Silam- barasan and Trisha in the lead with musical score by A R Rahman. ‘Audience relate the in- cidents in the story with their lives. It has won rave reviews in all southern States’, he adds. Asked whether VTV is based on any real- life incident, Goutham says, ‘it is the story of two persons whom I met recently. But I don’t want to disclose their identity since I want them to lead a happy life’. Queried as to whether it intentional on his part to opt for a love theme, he says, ‘I keep my mind blank when I conceive a story. I will always ensure that my films are different from each other. I always crave for novel themes’. VTV is a simple love story that one can re- late to quite easily. The cast including Silam- barasan, Trisha, Ganesh among others played their part well, he adds. Heaping laurels on Rahman, he says, ‘it was a great joy to work with him. Though he has won several awards and accolades, he is still down-to-earth. It is my eighth film and first with Rahman. He was articulate and amazing’. To a question on his joining hands with Ajith, he says, ‘We are coming together for the first time. It would be a different film made with state-of-the-art technology. Soon the film would go to the floors. We can see a different Ajith’.

‘I still see cinema with surprise. It is full of twists, thrills, sorrow and joy’, said actor Kamal Haasan. Speaking at a function organised to cel- ebrate Aadhavan’s 100-day run in Chennai on recently, Kamal Haasan said, ‘when my movies release, I wish to catch reaction of the audience. Their joy on watching my movie gives me immense satisfaction’. ‘One thing I would like to emphasise is to put your recent success behind you. This is the most essential mantra’, he added.

Failures should not deter an actor, Kamal said and re- called that even thespian Sivaji Ganesan had a lean patch in his career as he had 13 consecu- tive failures in his career at one point of time. Produced by Udhyanidhi Stalin, Aadha- van featured Suriya, Nayanthara, Saroja Devi, Vadivelu among others in the cast. Di- rected by K S Ravikumar, the movie had mu- sic by Harris Jeyaraj. All the artists and technicians of the movie were honoured and mementos were given away. Speakers at the function hailed Udhaynidhi Stalin as a director-friendly producer. As a noble gesture the producer gave away Rs one lakh each to charitable organisations. Actor - director Parthiban, actresses Nay- anthara, Saroja Devi among others took part in the celebrations.

Noted politician and ruling DMK South Chennai District Secretary J An- bazhagan has announced his foray into film production with the launch of his Anbu Pictures. Having been into film distribution for the last five years, his venturing into production, by his own admission, was a fulfillment of his cherished dream.

‘I had always wanted to produce a film and it is only now that my wish is being fulfilled,’ Anbazhagan, who is also the former MLA from T Nagar said. Anbu Pictures would be producing Aadhi Bagavan, to be directed by ac- claimed film director Ameer, whose Paruthi Veeran, won several awards, including the National Award. Anbazhagan, who had unsuccessful- ly contested from T Nagar in the May 2006 Assembly elections, said his deci- sion to produce films had nothing to do with politics. ‘

I am already into film distribution. I am passionate about movies. I met Ameer…got a good story and decided to produce it,’ Anbazhagan said, with- out specifying what the budget would be. ‘My political journey will continue. This is (film production) is entirely different,’ he said.Jayam Ravi will be playing the lead role in the film, the shooting for which is expected to commence in March.

Yuvan Shankar Raja, son of maestro Ilayaraja, will be composing the music and it is expected to be among the Pongal releases next year. Without going into the details, Jayam Ravi and Ameer said Aadhi Bagavan would be an entertainer with an urban story line reflecting the theme ‘Obses- sive love’.

‘The leading lady to be paired with Jayam Ravi would be decided soon,’ Ameer said. On his part, Ravi said, ‘it will be a different story with new di- mensions and I hope the audience will receive it well.’ ‘Ameer knows how to bring the best out of his heroes. Hopefully Aadhi Bagawan, will show me in a different light,’ he adds. ‘My role in Peranmai was different and with Ameer’s film I am confident that new vistas will open up for me in the film industry,’ he adds.

My Name Is Khan is a ‘must watch movie’ writes Sarita Tanwar, in Mumbai’s Midday: WHAT IT’S ABOUT: When the mae- stro of romance teams up with celluloid’s most adored pair, you know there’s magic waiting to happen.

Get set for the year’s best offering so far. My Name Is Khan has all the gloss you expect from a KJo film — only this time, it comes along with a new sensibility and a bolder theme. The film is about Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, a birth disorder. Rizwan has problems in his social interactions. After his mother’s (Zarina Wa- hab) death, his US-based younger brother (Jimmy Shergill) takes him to San Francisco where Rizwan starts working as a salesman.

On one of his calls, he encounters Man- dira (Kajol) and his life changes. Mandira is a single mother, falls in love with Riz- wan in an improbable yet utterly romantic manner. They get married and, life seems till (9/11) changes it all. Rizwan and Man- dira are torn apart after they face a monu- mental tragedy as victims of racism. To win Mandira back, Rizwan is faced with the most daunting task of all. And thus be- gins his journey — across states, cultures, people, racial profiling and hatred. In his quest to rediscover his lost love, how Riz- wan emerges as the most unlikely hero forms the crux of the film.

WHAT’S HOT: There’s no one quite like Karan Johar when it comes to love stories and MNIK simply reinforces that. This is a difficult subject to handle — it’s multi-layered unlike his previous attempts. There’s a hero with a handicap; the lead- ing lady who is the mother of a school kid; there’s a clash of cultures inspired by true events and there’s some hard-hitting drama. It’s commendable the way Karan interweaves all of this in his narrative, in a film which at the core is a love story with epical proportions. Even though MNIK is the director’s shortest film in terms of length, it’s the most comprehensive story he’s ever told. The quintessential dazzle of a KJo film is all there — from the zig- zag streets of Frisco to the stark beauty of Arizona.

The director scores full marks in the poignant portrayal of each of the relation- ships. The Rizwan-Mandira romance is captured beautifully. Rizwan’s moments with her son are brilliant and the child’s acceptance of the new man in his mother’s life is subtle yet so effective. The second half of the film is the crowning glory — the lead pair’s parting forms the base leading to Rizwan’s spectacular ride through the country and his ability to strike a chord with everyone he encounters. MNIK works because it’s an uplifting tale of an underdog told in an entertaining manner. There’s also that element of freshness in the film also his choice of actors — Za- rina Wahab, Jimmy Shergill, Soniya Jehan (simply superb) and Arif Zakaria. It’s a delight to see Kajol back in action — she brings Mandira alive first with her char- acteristic candour and then with her heart- rending complexity of emotions. The dis- tressing scene with her son is proof of why she’s simply the best. But MNIK is, after all, the story of Rizwan and it is to Shah Rukh Khan’s credit that Rizwan grows on you with every scene. What seems awk- ward initially eventually culminates into a character you warm upto want to take home — you want to laugh at his innocent antics and cry when he’s in pain. The SRK magic is at play in almost all the crucial moments — when Mandira proposes to him; his touching camaraderie with the African-American family; the sequence in the Church where he speaks about his son; the one where he stands up to a fanatic; the scene — MNIK is Shah Rukh

WHAT’S NOT: In a near-perfect film, the only over-the-top part is Rizwan’s re- turn to a flood-hit small town to save the African-American family. It’s stands out because everything else is so understated. And then the part about the media brigade landing there followed by Rizwan’s sup- porters is a bit unconvincing. Also, one of the highlights of all Karan Johar films has been the musical score. In MNIK, nothing impresses us much except for the Noor-E- Khuda track, which is haunting.

WHAT’S THAT: Rizwan never shakes hands with anyone — he has a problem with that. Yet, when he meets the Ameri- can President, he shakes hands not once but twice. Special treatment for special people? WHAT TO DO: Brave the protests and head for the nearest cinema hall. MNIK is a must-watch. The Karan-Shah Rukh- Kajol combo strikes once more. (www.mid-day.com)

Director Selvaraghavan’s Aayirathil Oruvan has be- come a rage in Tollywood. Dubbed in Telugu as Yugani- ki Okkadu, the movie has made quite a splash in Andhra Pradesh and Karthi, who played the lead role has won fans across the State.

It is very likely now that Karthi’s his Tamil movie Pa- ruthiveeran will also be dubbed and released in Telugu.

The latest buzz is that the actor has decided to dub for his character in the Telugu version of Paruthiveeran ti- tled Palnati Veerudu.

The actor is reportedly learning the nuances of Telugu pronunciation now. [newstodaynet]

Tamil film celebri- ties gathered under one roof for the an- nual Edison Film Awards distribution held at Lady Andal School in Chennai recently.

Jayam Ravi received an award for Peranmai while Prasanna and Sneha received the awards for Achamundu Achamundu.

The other award- ees included cinema- tographer - director K V Anand, script writer and actor Ramesh Kanna, actress Aarthi, film per- sonalities including Kishore, Ambika, Shammu, Manoj Paramahamsa, Krish among others. A variety cultural programme was organised as part of the celebrations.

Ramana is back after a break. The Nayakan actor is playing an angry youth who falls head over heels in love with a girl in Thambi Arjuna. Directed by Vijay R Anand, a former associate of Arun Pandian, the movie features Suman, French artiste Feroz Khan and Aas- hima.

Speaking about the movie, the director, says, ‘wom- en have always occupied a prominent place in history. They have made and destroyed many empires. Thambi Arjuna is a tale of a young woman and her lover.’ Suman plays a tough policeman, while Feroz Khan, who is a kickboxer, is the baddie. Music composer Dheena is act- ing in this movie.

A great fan of Ram Gopal Varma films, Vijay R Anand says, ‘I want my movie to do all the talking. It will be shot using state-of-the-art technology. Action sequences will be the highlights.’ Ramana has worked out rigorously and toned his phy- sique for the role. Filmmaker Aabavannan has crooned for a song. Produced by G M Balaji, shooting for Th- ambi Arjuna is on at a fast pace. Dheena has scored the music while Madhavraj is tak- ing care of cinematography.

Veteran actress Jayachithra, who has more than 200 films in various South lan- guages to her name, is launching her 21-year-old son Am- aresh Ganesh as hero in a film titled Naane Ennul Illai. Besides directing the movie, the actress also pens the story, screenplay and dialogues.

Amaresh had brought out music videos during his col- lege days.

Interestingly Amaresh is also debuting as a music composer with this movie. Two heroines are yet to be finalised. Actor Raghav is the lead villain and Nasser, Gangai Amaran, Saranya will appear in supporting roles.

Prasad Babu, a well known name in Tollywood, has been signed up as the cinematographer.