Tamil Movie News--Pudhu Edition(Cont.)
Sandya Sitaraman
***Tamil Movie News(Cont.)***
***"Indhiyan" Special***
***"Indhiyan"-ai valarththadhu eppadi?!.. Today, "Indhiyan" is the most
talked about film in town!.. and for all the right reasons!.. The film
began and still remains filled with plenty of buzz.. kisu kisus, shandaigal,
glamour and color galore!.. After the very successful "Gentleman" and
"Kaadhalan".. Director Shankar's talent has really been put to the
ultimate test in directing Kamalahaasan in "Indhiyan".. Rumours are
currently olaaththu-fying that "Indhiyan" is loosely based on the life
of famous freedom fighter Subhaash Chandra Bose.. But when did all this hoopla
begin over "Indhiyan".. it should be interesting to see!..
As Shankar has related in his latest interview in "Kumudham".. ellam pona
varudam June maasam arambichchadhu.. Producer A.M.Ratnam, who was
Vijayashanthi's former manager got together with Director Shankar to make
a film.. When Kamal was announced as the hero.. ellarukkum vayaththil
puli karaikka arambichchaachu!.. And more was made of it, when Shankar
refused to let poor Jackie Shroff enter the sets of "Indhiyan" in Madras..
Director Shankar put strict restrictions on all the workers in the
"Indhiyan" unit.. all needed passes to enter the studios and sets!..
Ippadiye poyi kondirundha raamayanam, took an interesting turn, when
Aishwarya Rai (former Miss. World) peyir adi pattadhu!..
Shankar had tried to get Aishwarya to star in the film.. but
unfortunately, she had already committed herself to an advertising
company and couldn't get off till Oct. '95!.. As luck would have it,
Manisha Koirala's heart wrenching portrayal of "Shaila Banu" in
"Bombay".. caught Shankar's eyes.. So, heroine maari.. Manisha Koirala
took over!..
Appuram.. dhideer-nu a new idea of a second heroine is conceived..
Raadhika who initially signs the film, backs out because of prior
commitments to T.V.serials.. Oorvasi, who then decides to join
"Indhiyan," tata kaatu-fies after supposedly, Shankar refused to let her
attend her sister's wedding on the day of a movie shooting schedule!.. Then,
comes Sukanya.. and luckily, she decides to stay!.. Plus, Suki has some
sentiments that maybe the "Mahanadhi" luck will rub off on her again!..
And of course, there is nothing like a whole pattiyal of kisu kisus..
especially since we all don't know the story.. or any of the characters..
The first one began with Kamalahaasan not attending the song tune
discussion session with A.R.Rahman, Shankar and Kamal himself!.. Later
on, Kamal supposedly accussed Shankar and ARR of sadhi pannu-fying
against him.. and went to A.M.Ratnam to do madhyastham!.. the more juicy
element in all of this is.. Shankar conveniently Kamal-ai paarthu kai
kaatti.. "Avar-ukkum song/tune-ukkum yendha sambandhamum kidaiyaadhu.. if
he can't stay out of my business.. then maybe Kamal should not be acting in
my film at all!..".. Ippadi Shankar oru poda potta-dhaaga oru kisu kisu
vara.. Both Shankar, ARR and Kamal went all out to the press and
clarified that there was no fight.. and idhu ellam meesai kaarar seidha
sadhi!.. (Enter K.T.Kunjumon!!)..
In the meantime, K.T.Kunjumon who had a serious ladaai with Shankar,
announces his film "Kaadhal Desam" starring Vineeth (May Maadham), Tabu
(Hindi irakkumadhi), Abbaas(new), S.P.B. and others.. and music by
A.R.Rahman.. To add to more spice to the situation, he challenges Shankar
to a box office duel.. by releasing "Kaadhal Desam" at the same time as
"Indhiyan".. In an effort to make his "KD" an awesome film, right after
the valarppu magan kalyaanam, Kunjumon is busy breaking, smashing bridges
in Madras.. and transforming himself into a policeman for the film!..
Here's the most intriguing juncture in the making of "Indhiyan"..
"Rangeela" the film by Ram Gopal Verma, is seriously cashing in at all
the box office registers around the world.. and enter Urmila Matonkar
into the picture!.. Better yet, a take off from his original idea in
"Gentleman" with Prabhudeva and Gouthami doing a one-song stint.. Shankar
decides that Urmila is "it" for his "Indhiyan".. Shankar irakkumadhis
another 70 some Bombay models for the one song with Kamal.. and before
you know it, innum jaasthi kashtangal.. The Cine Dancers Union file a
complaint against Shankar.. avar ingay irukkum tamil penn-galai vittu
vittu yedhukku Bombay models-ai nadanam aada vaikka vendum?.. Now,
Shankar is accussed of ripping of Tamil penngal-in chance to dance for
the film!.. He tries to reason with the Union.. and finally pays them
off.. nashta eedu!!..
In the middle of all this hoopla.. Shankar pays a visit to Las
Vegas to attend a convention on the latest technology.. cameras, steady
cams.. and so on.. Don't know what he bought.. but we will soon!.. More
interestingly, he takes a joy trip with cinematographer Jeeva, Music
Director A.R.Rahman to Australia to do location selection!.. ARR
continues to work on his tunes even in kangaroo country!.. Later on,
Shankar returns and picturizes a Kamal-Manisha duet in Australia..
Sydney, Canbara.. and spends 15 days just on that!.. Plus.. he hires 20
other dancers to background dance.. and picturize the song smoothly!..
So.. innum Shankar ondrum pannavillai-yendru ninaiththaal.. here's news
for you.. Shankar hired two make-up men from Los Angeles.. Michael and
Jones to do make-up work for Kamalahaasan and Sukanya in the film!..
After 5 hours of make-up on each person.. nobody could tell that it was
Kamal at all!.. Kamal went on a joyous stroll on Anna Saalai.. only to
find that not a single Tamil soul recognized him!.. Adaiyaalam kandu
pidikka yaaraalum mudiyavillai!..
Ippadi dhaan "Indhiyan" valarndhaan!.. continues to valarndhu-fy actually!..
Shankar got married to a girl named Ishwari and then are expecting their
first child soon!.. He has decided to skip the scanning procedure and
wait for the big bundle of joy itself.. to find out if it's a boy or
girl!.. He wants it to be a surprise!.. and when the Kumudham reporter
tried to squeeze the storyline of "Indhiyan" out of him.. Shankar
smiled.. "Sorry.. Adhuvum Suspense dhaan"..
Shankar's "Indhiyan" is scheduled to open in Udhyam theatre in Madras for
Tamil New Year's Day.. April 14th..
Film: "Indhiyan"..
Producer: A.M.Ratnam..
Story, Screenplay, Director: Shankar
Starring: Kamalahaasan, Manisha Koirala, Sukanya, Goundamani, Senthil,
Baala singh(Avathaaram), and Urmila Matondkar(guest!)..
Dialogues: Sujatha
Dance: Sundharam, Raju Sundharam (maybe Prabhudeva..)
Stunts: Vikram Dharma
Art: Thotta Tharani
Cinematography: Jeeva (Gentleman, Aasai, Kaadhalan)..
Music: A.R.Rahman..
Distribution by: Ashok Amritaraj and Walter Soloman, who began a new
production company with offices in Madras..
***Tamil Movie News***
Other news!!..
***"Ilamthenral (Adhiyamaan-mel) veesum kaalam idhu!"... Just as
Adhiyaaman begins preparations for this second film.. after the
tremendous success of "Thotta Shinungi".. Vadakku-vaa vaa yendru
koopidukiradhu!.. K.C.Bokadia, who happenned to view "Thotta Shinungi"
was very impressed.. and has signed Adhiyamaan to direct the film in
hindi as well!.. Juhi Chawla plays Revathi's role, Aamir Khan plays
Karthik's part.. and guess what?.. Raghuvaran reprises his role as the
obsessed husband!.. Considering the song "Q Funk" is doing well in the
Hindi music charts.. Maybe Philip-Jerry-um izhuththu kondu vandhu indha
remake-kku poda vaithu viduvaargal pola irukku!..
***Arvind Swamy-in pudhiya image!.. It appears that anywhere Arvind Swamy
goes, he is swarmed by dozens of young tamil girls.. aanal, manidhar
konjam level-headed aaga irukkiraar!.. He finally recognized Maniratnam
recently by giving Mani credit.. a lot of credit for his success in tamil
films!.. Mani-yai praise panna therindha Arvind Swamy-ukku is getting
paid off in big dividends.. He currently stars with Saakshi (pudhu hindi
irakkumadhi), Mamooty and Aamni in Kovai Chezhian's "Pudhayal".. music by
Vidhyasaagar.. and direction by Selva (Thalaivaasal, Karna).. Arvind
Swamy also stars in Mani's latest "Anandham" with Mohanlal, Tabu,
Suhasini.. AVM Productions "Minsaara Kanavu" with Prabhudeva and Kajol..
both films music composed by A.R.Rahman.. "Devaraagam" with Sridevi and
Ravali.. direction by Bharathan.. and music by Maragadhamani.. Arvind
also stars in Sivaji Productions' new film to be directed by Suresh
Krishna (Baadhshaa, Veera).. Arvind Swamy vaazhvil dhideer yendru "Roja
Roja" vaai pooththu kulungu-giradhu!!..
***Naduthara vargam yendraale V.Sekhar dhaan gnyabagam varuvaar!.. and it
isn't surprisingly since all his films since "Pondaati Sonna
Kettukannum," "Onna Irukka Kaththukkanum" and many others focus on the
middle class in Tamilnadu.. His latest is a bit different!.. He adopts a
new script to show how educated women should be married to the right
kinds of men.. of a similar standing!.. Pandiyarajan, Sangita, Vinu
Chakravarthy, Rekha, Kovai Sarala, Vadivelu, R.Sundhararajan, Vijaya
Chandhrika, Vadivukarasi.. and many others star in "Kaalam Maari
Pochchu".. music is by Deva.. The film is progressing fast, considering
it's pretty low budget.. and should be out soon!..
***Nambalukku theriyaadha sila vishayangal.. Who could ever imagine a
person like Rajkumar Santhoshi to speak tamil with us?!.. Well, imagine
again!.. Santhoshi who directed famous films Damini, Ghayal, and the much
publicized Barsaat, has a father from Uttar Pradesh and a mom from
Madurai.. This leaves him fluent in Tamil and filled with desire to take
a Tamil film!.. Indha aasai-yai niraivetha help seiya pogum hero and
heroine.. Prabhudeva and Madhuri Dixit (AVM karaargal azhugai vendaam!)..
Santhoshi plans on taking a tamil/hindi film, the shooting begins at the
end of this year!.. Kodukkara news ellam "Damini"(lightning) range-il
dhaan irukkum polirukku!..
***Meet Ruchita.. "Kanden Sithaiyai"-yai kalakka varum pudhu mugam!.. Her
name has conveniently been changed to Jayasandhya.. but luckily, she
still gets to act with a whole pattalam of famous tamil names!.. It
appears that she is from Bombay.. yet, no one seems to elaborate anytime
the subject of the "KS" heroine comes up!.. Originally, "Amaiyaana
Saththiyam" was taken with a lot of women-oriented sentiments!.. when
Director Balachandra Menon asked how Kamal wanted "Kanden Sithaiyai" to
be made.. Kamal told him to preserve the original as much as possible!..
So, lucky Ruchitha who was one in 7,000 who tried to get the role, will
get more acting time and exposure than Kamal himself!..
Interestingly, it might be important to mention that Annie who had acted
in "Amaiyaana Saththiyam".. refused to act in "Kanden Sithaiyai"
after she was asked to cut her hair to fit the requirements of the
part!.. "Mudiyave mudiyaadhu" yendru soli vittu tata kaatti vittaar!..
(Ruchita.. jaagiradha-yaaga lips-ai paarththu kollungal!.. Extra
caution.. Kamal-odu nadikireergal, allavaa?)..
***One song kavarchi nadanam aadinaal Devayaani-yaavadhu..
Kivayaani-yaavadhu.. Devayaani, who starred in "Thotta Shinungi" as
Raghuvaran's sister.. and currently acting in Pavithran's "Kaloorivaasal"
with Prasanth, Pooja Bhatt and Ajeethkumar.. decided on dancing for one
song in Suresh Krishna's "Siva-Shakthi" (the Sathyaraj, Prabhu film!)..
S.A.Chandrasekaran who was intending on casting Devayaani as Vijay's pair
in his new film "Maanbumigu Maanavan".. immediately changed his mind..
and dropped Devayaani.. Kaaranam ketadharkku.. he said that he did not
want an actress who dances for one kavarchi song to act his film!.. Adhu
eppadi sir.. Sangavi adhay kavarchi range-la ellap paattukkum aadaraanga,
avangalai mattum Vijay-oda nadikka udareenga?!.. SAC is looking for a new
face heroine right now!!..
***Last but not least, some very good news for Nadhiya fans.. Though her
initial comeback with "Raajakumaran" and "Chinna Madam" in 1994 wasn't
very successful.. After Pongal was over this year, Nadhiya is back in
tamil tinsel town.. currently acting in one tamil film and a couple
Malaayalam films!.. Indha pudhu comeback-kku SCT-yin vaazhthukkal!!..
My Sources: Cinema Express, Anandha Vikatan, Kumudham..
Eppodhum Polla ungalukku yedhavadhu pudhu thamizh pada seidhigal
therindhaal, adhai yennudan pangu kollveergal yena nambukiren!!..
Nanri..
Sandya..