Kama Of Kingstone

Since Kuselan (Tamil), and Kathanayakudu (Telugu) bombed in the box office, it is heard that talented director-hero Ramesh Aravind has cancelled his plan of remaking the film in Kannada. He has been preparing and working hard to direct the film and act as the poor barber who is the protagonist. Rajinikanth's role of the superstar was supposed to go to golden star Ganesh. But Kuselan failed to sustain the euphoria of a Rajini movie since Rajini's role in the film is much less than what audiences expected. The stalemate regarding who should take the responsibility of Kuselan's failure continues in Tamil Nadu.

Now, Ramesh Aravind is planning to make a comedy film on the lines of his own Rama Shama Bhama for Bangalore-based Sinema House. The screenplay is completed and it is likely to go on the floors in September.

Ramesh has been doing a one hour programme on TV every Sunday for the past one year. He admits that the programme named Preethiyinda Ramesh has completed 40 episodes and has done extremely well, making him more popular in Karnataka

BY, KARPAGAM THYAGARAJAN
Moser Baer announced that it will remake the Bollywood blockbuster Jab We Met, which starred Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles and ruled the box office several months. Earlier, actor Dhanush and Trisha were invited to play the lead roles in the Tamil version. But they both had to refuse this wonderful project owing to their busy schedules. Moser Baer has now chosen Bharath and Tamannaah to play the lead roles.

Tamannaah, who has become finicky in signing films these days, especially after the success of Kalloori, found this a good subject and readily accepted it. At present, she is acting Ananda Thaandavam, Ayan and Padikkathavan.

The fame of Jab We Met attracted Bharath too, who recently decided to concentrate more on the action hero image. At present, Bharath is acting in four films – Seval, Thiruttani, Arumugam, and Killadi. Seval, in its final stages, is slated for a release on Deepavali.

BY, KARPAGAM THYAGARAJAN

Over two decades ago, Sithara faced the camera for the first time when she was in Class IX. She was paired opposite two stars, Mohanlal and Mammootty, who still rule the Malayalam film industry.

During her career spanning more than 10 years, Sithara acted in many memorable Malayalam movies like Padippura (1988), Aryan (1988), Mukti (1988), Mazhavilkkavadi (1989), Jaathakam (1989), Puthiya Karukkal (1989), Naaduvazhikal (1989), Vachanam (1990), Orukkam (1990), Bhagyavan (1993), Chamayam (1993), Journalist (1993) and Guru (1997).

Later, she ventured into Tamil, then Telugu and Kannada films. Surprisingly, Sithara became instantly popular in Tamil with K. Balachander's Puthu Puthu Arthangal (1989). She appeared in more Tamil films like Chinna Durai (1999), Puthu Vasantham, Natpukkaga (1998) and Padayappa (1999), than in Malayalam. Panchapandavar (1999) was her last Malayalam film.

Sithara, who recently made a public appearance on the small screen as the judge of a reality show in Amrita TV which concluded recently, is now planning to make a comeback to the big screen.

Mirugam fame Saami's new flick Sarithiram will feature her in a prominent role opposite Raj Kiran. Shooting begins from the first week of September. Sarithiram, a story about the bravery of a Silambattam artist, will feature Aadi and Sreedevika in lead roles. Kalabhavan Mani, Karunas and Ganja Karuppu are other actors in the cast.

Sithara also seems to have plans to make a comeback to Malayalam films. Anyway, she should be willing to accept that her new innings would involve a lot of mature roles.

Bollywood Superstar Amitabh Bachchan became emotional when he delivered his dialogues of the Deewar film. He came out in tears amidst 20,000 strong audience as he recited in his inimitable baritone dialogues from all time hits like 'Deewar' and 'Agnipath' as part of the star studded 'Unforgettable' Show.

Bachchan became emotional while delivering dialogues from Deewar -- in which he plays an agnostic role who goes to the temple for the first time asking God to save the life of his mother -- and said: "Whenever I do the scene I get emotional about my mother whom I lost last year."

Besides the three-hour long glitz, glamour of Bollywood songs and dance sequences, performed last night, Bachchan read out some of the poems from Agnipath (Path of Fire), penned by his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

The show also had star attractions like Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Ritesh Deshmukh, Shilpa Shetty and music directors Vishal and Shekhar, assisted by a cast of 130 stage artists, who kept the crowd spell bound with their scintillating performances.

The show partners with TERI project to light a billion homes across the globe. "We (Unforgettable Show) have decided to light 1 billionhouses (in the world). About 1.6 billion people in the world do not have electricity. The Lighting a Billion lives campaign provides solar lanterns to people living in villages that don't have electricity," Jaya Bachchan, said.

The event promoted by India's Wizcraft International Entertainment, which marks Bachchans comeback to the stage after a gap of almost 20 years, will have its final event at Rotherdam in Netherlands on Aug 29.

They have already performed in Toronto, Trinidad, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New Jersey, Chicago and New York.

Simran, who recently started her second innings in Tamil cinema, is seemingly in an idea of testing hands in a different avatar. For that, she has decided to fulfill a longtime dream of her, that is to direct a film.

If sources are to be believed, Simran has requested ace director Maniratnam to allow her assist him in a movie, so that she could learn the nuances of film-making. It is said that Mani too has responded positively to the plea of Simran.

Reflecting this, the actress said, ‘It is my ambition to direct a film, eversince I started my career in the industry. Hope it will become a reality soon.’

BY, KARPAGAM THYAGARAJAN

Swathi, who made her debut in Deva and acted opposite Vijay and Ajith in many films will marry Srikanth, a Dubai based entrepreneur on 27 August in Tirupathi.

According to circles close to the actress, formal invitations are being sent to the citizens of the tinsel town and a large number of actors and actresses would attend the wedding and the reception.
It is said that the marriage was arranged by the elders in both the families and Swathi would consider acting post wedding, if meaty roles come in her way.

Ashish Vidyarthi, a well-known face in Bollywood needs no introduction.
The versatile actor has done numerous films in the last seven years down south in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada! He is back on the small screen now after a long gap in Waaris.
“My character Rudra Pratap is the perfect blend of black and white! His conflict is all about choosing his successor to head his family
business.”

So what projects is he doing lately? “Currently, along with Waaris, I’m shooting for four Tamil films and three Kannada films. I’m also working on two Hindi films — Red Alert by Anant Mahadevan and Shout with Seema Biswas.” With so much on his platter, how does he manage his schedule? “I am either travelling or shooting. I have no time for anything else but acting!” says the actor who has won National Film award for Best Actor in a supporting role for film Droh Kaal.

Having started his career with Sai Paranjpe’s TV serial Hum Panchhi Ek Chaal Ke, he says, “The television industry has metamorphosed completely. It has become bigger and more glamourous now. Even the channels are much more streamlined as the creative
inputs are given by both the production house and the channel. Channels are market research-oriented and tracks are routinely altered according to TRPs of the show.” He also adds “Television is now ruled by audience. Channels feed the audience with what they want to see. On television, audience is the king!” What is his take about reality shows? “They have really increased viewership. I personally prefer watching news channels and research-based shows.”

And how has his southern sojourn been so far? “Excellent. People down South have accepted me as an actor and even producers and directors have offered me a wide variety of characters to portray. The best part is that audiences down south accepted me as their own and love me for the roles I have played.”
And which have been his favourite roles till date? “I loved the characters I played in Is Raat ki Subah Nahi and Bichhoo; they are quite close to my heart.” says Ashish signing off.

By N.THYAGARAJAN
One may think, that anything brought under the control of either the State or the Centre will flourish immediately. Of course, to implement a scheme, it needs to face a lot of teething problems.
Tamil Nadu’s Arasu Cable TV Corporation, which started its Cable TV Control/Operation Office in Coimbatore city on Friday, is yet to receive the backing of cable operators in the district.
While the operators under the banner of ABC Cable TV Network have come forward to act under the Arasu Cable TV, those under the control of Sumangali Cable TV network are unwilling to join. They say the government seems to be unwilling to allow pay channels.
Sources say that the corporation has the support of only 10 per cent of 2,000 operators across the district. The city alone has about 550 operators.
The members of Coimbatore District Cable TV Operators Association (CCTVOA), presently attached to Sun group’s Sumangali Cable network, gathered at the Arasu Cable TV Office and aired their grievances to protect their livelihood. “We are told by the officials that it is run on a test basis from Friday morning. After 10 days we will get a clear picture. But one thing is clear that if the officials try to give connections through the members of ABC network, it will not happen. We are a huge group.Though we are under the control of Sumangali cable, we are ready to act under Arasu cable on the condition that pay channels such as Sun TV, Star TV, Zee TV and ESPN will be allowed through Arasu Cable connections. Operators can not survive without ensuring connections to these popular channels as the customers are obsessed with”, said C M Rajendran, district secretary of CCTVOA.Even if the government compels the operators to give Arasu cable connection to the people, the response will be poor. Those customers who opt for Arasu connection have the option of getting Sun DTH (Direct to Home). Hence, the Arasu cable should allow pay channels facilitating the operators to survive in the business, Rajendran added.
The members of CCTVOA at large feel that the government may threaten all the operators through local police inspectors to join the Arasu cable. However, Coimbatore unit of Tamil Nadu Cable TV Operators Welfare Association (TCOA) has expressed the full support for the Arasu cable TV corporation.
P Krishnakumar, district coordinator of the TCOA, said: “More operators are coming under the Arasu Corporation as the government has assured to protect their livelihood and provide all sorts of support.
Other Stories

Born on August 13, 1963, one of the most prominent, oomph-laden actresses to hit Bollywood still has a statuesque mythical quality to her even after having retired in the late ‘90s. Yes, Sridevi is her name and she celebrated her birthday yesterday.
She was introduced in Kandhan Karunai (Tamil) as a child actor and went on to spread her innocent charm in many Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu movies.
K. Balachander, who is credited with many discoveries, cast her in Moondru Mudichu as leading lady in 1976, opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. Not only did this landmark movie give Sridevi her first big break as a heroine, it also gave Rajinikanth one of his biggest critical hits to date. In Tamil movies, she has starred in the most number of movies opposite Kamal Haasan. She reined the South Indian film firmament from 1979 to 1983.
Though her major movies were mostly in Tamil, she also acted with all the top heroes in the Telugu industry with movies like Konda Veeti Simham, Vetagadu and Sardar Paparayudu with N. T. Rama Rao and Mudulla Koduku, Premabhishekham and Khaidi Rudrayya with A. Nageswara Rao. After Kamal Haasan, Sridevi has acted the most number of movies with Krishna.
Then came Himmatwala in 1983 and Sridevi was elevated from a regional star status to becoming the reigning queen of Bollywood in a very short span of time. Himmatwala, which earned her the famous moniker Thunder Thighs, also made Jeetendra and Sridevi a hit couple, starring in a string of hit movie together. She appeared as Anil Kapoor's heroine in a number of films, notably Mr. India. She then married Anil Kapoor's brother and they have two daughters.
Gumraah, one of her last movies, saw Sridevi winning her umpteenth Filmfare award. She retired after her hit drama serial ‘Judaai’ and came out of a six-year retirement to do the hit TV comedy serial ‘Malani Iyer’.
This evergreen superstar is one of the last breed of heroines who could carry a film solely on the strength of their name. She also reined non-stop for over a decade in Bollywood, a feat that hasn’t been repeated since.
We wish Sridevi a many happy returns and wish her the very best in her future endeavours.

N.THYAGARAJAN

The shooting of Dhanam was postponed the next day due to a saree which was used by actress Sangeetha for the shooting. According to the storyline Sangeetha in this film acts as a prostitute. She must appear in a sorry and walk with ten more prostitutes. The director had given her instruction that her walk and her appearance with the story should show a kind of action. Some prostitutes were also brought to the sets to learn the style of their walking. Sangeetha learnt everything and she performed her role well on the first day. Somehow, the director felt that the saree was not apt and hence ordered to pack up that day shooting. The next day the same scene was tried by the director with different sarees. But that did not also give appeal. Hence, Sangeetha was asked to wear the first saree which she worn. This time Sangeetha walked like the other prostitutes and showed her skills in the shooting. The director said the 'take' was OK.

"Salman Rushdie is my friend only and I had seen him once upon a time. We used to always to talk over phone" refuting the rumours by a section of people actress Riya Sen said that she was once introduced to the 66-year-old famous author Salman by an industrialist.Since, then she had been talking with him over phone and when he asked her to go for a round, she had refused it, Ms.Sen said to a group of journalists.

She also pointed out that there was rumour that her mother had relationships with the author. She said, her mother had seen him never in his life.

"What the people gain by making such awkard statements?" asks Riya Sen.

BY N.THYAGARAJAN

For anyone the music should flow from the heart and it can't be created,says Music Maestro Ilaiya Raja at a function held recently in Hyderabad. The music director who released the audio cassettes of the Mallapoo film, said for anyone the music should flow with the perfect knowledge in it.The music direction should not be done artificially. It is like making a bird to fly through computer animations, than enjoying the bird flying really in the real life, the music director quipped.

BY N.THYAGARAJAN

Super Star Rajinikanth on Tuesday early morning left for the USA to participate in the shootings of Robot. Earlier, the film unit of the Robot, the mega-budgeted film left on the Sunday morning. Rajinikanth on Tuesday early morning woke up from his bed, infact, according to his family members he did not sleep well on Monday, reached the International Air Port. All his family members took him to the Air Port and wished him a Happy and Prosperous Journey. It is expected, the Super Star will be returning home after a month's time.

BY N.THYAGARAJAN

The shooting of Sarvam in which Arya and Trisha pair did not took place when the police did not allow them. According to the Adyar Police Commissioner, the shooting did not take place, since there was no permission granted to shoot any film in Chennai City between 6 AM to 12 Midnight. This was due to the stringent rules of the government. However, any film that are to be shot in Chennai city will be allowed for the same from the midnight of the previous day to till the next day 6 AM, the Commissioner clarified. Hence, the director Vishnuvardhan on hearing it from the AC, asked his unit to pack off.

By N.Thyagarajan

Ajith’s Aegan and directed by Raju Sundaram and Vijay’s Villu directed by Prabhudeva are to be filmed in France. According to sources, that Ajith had suggested to shoot his film in France, since he was moved by the beautiful scenario of the country when he visited there to participate in the Cannes Film Festival. However, director Raju Sundaram has given nod to film the two song sequences of the film. But the director Prabhu Deva had sought a forty-day call-sheet from Vijay. According to indications, that both- Ajith and Vijay had no quarrel and with the release of their films, it is widely believed that the fans of the both the actors hereafter won’t believe that there existed enmity between the two heroes of the film.

This was proved earlier, when Ajith’s daughter Anosca was kept sometime on the laps of Vijay, when the Arun Pandiyan’s daughter’s betrothel took place.

After a long gap of seven years, the actress Vasundhara Das is now all set to make a comeback in Mollywood. She recently has signed for a Malayalam flick, BOSS, in which she will play the role of Pooja, a super actress who gets associated with a goon named Boss (Suresh Gopi).
Vasundhara Das, is concerned about the music of the film. During her career spanning less than nine years, she has already done it all: films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, playback singing, music band (Arya, that organizes rhythm-based events through out the world), and had also made several music programmes on tours. Before entering the music industry, Vasundhara featured in the Tamil films Citizen with Ajith, Hey Ram with Kamal Hassan, the Malayalam movie Ravana Prabhu with Mohanlal and the Kannada flick Lankesh Patrike with Darshan.
In the super hit Ravana Prabhu (the sequel of the Malayalam movie Devasuram, featuring Mohanlal in a double role as Mangallaserry Neelakandan and his son Karthikeyan) she played Janaki, a free-spirited young doctor. The movie, released in 2001, was a modern-day interpretation of the Ramayana.

Actress Mumtaz made high waves with her debut film 'Monisha En Monolisa' directed by Vijaya T Rajendran. Then, she raised herself to the peaks of success with alluring roles she played in Kushi starring Vijay in lead role and Chocolate where fast beat Kuthu song marked her as hot-glam doll in Kodambakkam. But her career graph was lowered and she didn't have big offers coming on her way. Well, Director Shakthi Chidambaram geared up with Rajathi Raja has now offered her to play the role of baddie in this film. Mumtaz who is elated about this offer has uttered that if she fetches good credits with this film, she would continue performing full-length negative roles.

BY AISHWARYA RAJAN

After a long hiatus,leading comedians of Kollywood -- Vivek and Vadivelu will be acting together in a film titled 'Panchamirutham'. The film produced by Abirami Ramanathan has Raju Easwaran handling story, screenplay, dialogues and direction. Nasser and Jayaraman play lead roles in the film and the story is centered on the mythological characters of Irumban and Maarisan. Director is in talks with these leading comedians for playing guest appearances in this film.