Tamil Movie News--1995 Review(Cont.)
Sandya Sitaraman
***Nadigaigal***
***Raadhika.. 1995 was an awesome year for Raadhika, she got to cry, make
others laugh.. and above all, got a chance to act really well!.. Even
though she began the year with the dismal "Veerapadhakkam".. things began
to look up with "Rani Maharani" and her "Paanparag-ai pottu kittu" song
which shook up her audience in laughter.. "Raasaiyah" "Villadhi Villain,"
in which she had thankless roles.. and "Udhavum Karangal" bombed,
nobody specifically complained about Raadhika or her acting!.. "Pasum Ponn"
proved to be great for her.. it gave the opportunity to act and display her
capabilities, even though the movie didn't stay long in the theatres!..
1996 ivalavu profitable irukkuma?.. Raadhika yeduthukara padaththai
poruthirukku!!..
***Kushboo.. Quite a few films to her credit in '95 including
K.S.Ravikumar's "Muthu Kullika Variyalaa," Sundhar's "Murai Maaman,"
Prem's "Varaar Chandiyar," Singeetham Srinivaasa Rao's "Chinna
Vaadhiyar," and Ramarajan's "Thedi Vandha Raasa" and I.V.Sasi's
"Kolangal".. It appears that Kushboo's popularity has gone up in recent
time, even though so many olli nadigaigal had tried to grab the lime
light.. Even though, none of the above films, drove fans to the movie
theatres in huge numbers, they have proved that Kushboo is here to stay..
Permanently!.. If you see her acting in "Kolangal".. it makes sense why
Kushboo doesn't need Prabhu to survive in Tamil movies today!!..
***Oorvasi.. She left the Malayaalam film industry in '94 and she is
never looking back!.. This year was very fruitful of Oorvasi: she was
praised for her work in "Maayabazaar 1995".. where she distinguished
between a veguli and a manthiravaadhi beautifully!.. Add to this, her
excellent acting in "Pullaikkuttikaaran" with Paarthiban.. and her own
Paanni of "Vannakam-nga" in "Ayudha Poojai".. The tamil industry,
luckily, has re-discovered Oorvasi and have a lot to benefit from it!..
Oorvasi currently stars with Naasar in "Aruvaavelu".. and with Suhasini
in "Iratai Roja".. Oorvasi.. Dhool arasi!!.
***Meena.. Could be considered a year to forget for Meena.. probably
since she hung out with Sarathkumar for most of 1995.. the two films she
acted with him "Coolie" and "Nadodi Mannan"..and then "Marumagan" with
Karthik.. basically gave her an idea what a terrible '95 this
would turn out to be!!.. Then along came "Muthu" and the whole picture
changed!.. "Muthu" was a mega hit.. and the image of Meena with a mrindangam
on her lap, "that"-ting away to glory.. is one that brought not only Rajini
fans but Meena fans to their feet in all theatres!!.. "Maaman Magal" which
was Meena's last film for last year, just came out in late November.. MM,
a comedy, must be doing okay, considering the hype over her dance with
Gurudaasmaan in "Chori Chori".. Meena stars with Arjun in "Shengotai" which
is due for Pongal 1996!!..
***Revathi.. An up-and-down year for Revathi this year.. "Avathaaram" in
which she starred as a blind woman, bombed at the box office.. thanks to
bad publicity that it was an art film!.. R. Sundararajan's "Gandhi
Pirandha Mann" which Revathi excepted to do, considering it was the "En
Aasai Machchaan" unit.. kaall-ai vaari vittadhu!.. But, a greatness of an
actress is lost just because of two bad films!.. Critics and fans alike
have praised her work in "Thotta Shinungi".. and Revathi's forthcoming
films "Meendum Saavithri" with Ramesh Arvind, Raghuvaran, Saranya and a
huge star cast.. and "August 15th".. for the first time with Arjun.. are
expected for release soon!.. Plus.. Revathi also stars with Ramesh Arvind
in Baalu Mahendra's latest film "Kodai Vidumurai".. 1996 looks good!!..
Real Good!!
***Nagma.. Ivar 1995-il thani aatchi nadathinaar!.. Her success began with
"Baadhsha" last year.. which turned out to be such a big hit!.. that
Sathyaraj immediately signed her for "Villaadhi Villain".. VV came out
and was a big box office hit!.. only that Nagma and Sathyaraj got into
major Vaayi shandai!.. Nagma walked off unscathed, yet it appears that
Sathyaraj might have trouble finding himself a heroine next time he
directs a film!.. Nagma's minor fall for the year came via Saratkumar's
"Rahasiya Police".. not much of a fall at all, when you see that she is
acting with Saratkumar in "Aravindhan". Chitra Lakshmanan's "Periya
Thambi" with Prabhu.. and P. Vasu's "Love Birds" with Prabhudeva..
expected for Pongal this year!.. Nagma.. neengalum Dhool dhaan MAA!!..
***Roja.. She has learned a lot this year.. especially that there are
films that exist besides her beau R.K.Selvamani's own ventures!.. Right
upto the success of "Makkal Aatchi".. Roja acted in bomb after bomb this
year.. "Rajamuthirai".. another of RKS's films did moderately well, while
his "Asuran" flopped.. To make things worse, "Raasaiyah" in which she
starred with Prabhudeva also balti adichu-fied!.. leaving Roja
scrambling!.. Once "Makkal Aatchi" succeeded, something got better of
Roja.. She starred with Arjun in "Ayudha Poojai".. in which she did a
commendable kavarchi nadigai job!.. Now comes, Bharathiraja's "Thamizh
Selvan" with Vijaykanth.. K.S.Ravikumar's "Parambarai" with Prabhu.. Roja
is on a dhideer hot streak!.. so watch out for her!!..
***Sangita.. What Vinitha, Roja, Nagma are.. Sangita's NOT!.. What that
means is, Sangita is not a kavarchi/azhagu padhumai, who dances, cries
and then quietly disappears.. Sangita was one actress who can honestly
say that she had a good year in 1995 and going to have a better 1996!..
"Pullaikkuttikaaran" and "Ellame En Raasa dhaan" both earned her a good
name in '95.. and not only that, she stars in V.Sekhar's "Kaalam Maari
Pochchu" with Pandiyarajan, "Master" with Mamooty and Napes, "Poove
Unakkaaga" with Vijay.. direction by Vikaraman(Puthu Vasantham), "Amman
Koil Vaasalile" with Ramarajan and Rajshri.. and "Soththukkatchi" with
Parthiban!.. There were some reports linking her to actor Parthiban.. but
that hasn't stopped from acting with him now!.. Azhagum, nadippum irukkum
Sangita 1996-il nandraaga nadikka.. nam vazhthukkal!!..
***Sangavi.. Her career really took off in '94 after acting in "Rasigan"
with Vijay.. since then, the Sangavi-Vijay koottani has always meant
success.. "Vishnu" did pretty well this year!.. Even though, "Muthu
Kullikka Vaariyala," "Anbu Magan," did poorly among the masses!..
Furthermore, Sangavi lost her chance to star in Meena's role in "Muthu"..
"Kolangal" pretty much kept Sangavi in the dark.. while Kasthuri took over..
However the bad luck is about to change.. Sangavi stars with Vijay in
"Kuyamoothur Maapillai".. and a few other films will begin 1996!..
***Vinitha.. Her career took a turn for the better in '95.. most of her
films did moderate to good business at the box office, even though
Vinitha went to her speciality: kavarchi, to make all her films run..
Except for "Maa Manidhan" and "Veluchaami" which did miserably among
critics, "Karna," "Raajamuthirai," "Mr. Madras," and "Periya Kudumbam"
all did well last year!.. Add "Nila" to this collection.. and you have a
hot, hot actress in your hands!.. Way to go Vinitha!!!..
***Ranjitha.. She made some wise choices in 1995, which paid her off very
well!!.. "Karna" "Karuppu Nila" "Makkal Aatchi" sored in collections at the
box office!.."Chinna Vaadhiyaar" did okay, while "Thamizhachi" "Thottil
Kuzhandhai" "Paatu Vaadhiyar" and "Seedhanam" reflected the bad side of
things!. Whatever the situation maybe, Ranjithaa is gradually polishing
her act and trying to make a decent name for herself.. Hopefully "Thaayagam"
with Vijaykanth should do the trick!..
***Short notes on others***
***Heera.. not so lucky as the others!.. She pulls off one movie a year
and never gets any breaks from that either!.. "Sathi Leelavathi" should
have helped her gain some more chances!.. yet, poor Heera has settled for
a very unstable life in Bombay, even though she stars in M.S.V. Gopi's
"Amaithi Poonga"..
***Yuvarani.. She did a sister role in "Baadhshaa" and danced "Ay Shabba"
in "Karna".. which basically left her with nothing!.. Fortunately, her
dance with Vignesh for "Thamarai poovukkum" in "Pasum Ponn" and the
success of "Chellakkannu" has earned Yuva a role in Raama Narayan's
"Thirumbi Paar" with Saravanan.. 1996-il eppadi panugiraar endru virai-vil
paarkalaam!!..
***Rajshri.. Unlike her co-star Maheshwari who also debuted in
"Karuthamma" with her.. Rajshri has been able to sustain her career in
Tamil this year!!.. "Neelakuyil".. though not a critically acclaimed
film, did not let her down.. "Murai Maapillai"'s fate has not been
determined yet!.. Rajshri stars in "Thaayagam," with Napolean, "Vaikarai
Pookkal" with Raja.. and a few more films!!..
***Manisha Koiraala.. Indha varudam nam ellorai-yum kalakki vitaar.. Her
great acting in "Bombay" brought her into the limelight at a national
level.. More so, after she was signed to act with Kamal in "Indhiyan"..
expected for Tamil New Year's day (April 1996).. Mani-yin modhira
kai-yaal kutta pattu.. ippo Manisha kodi katti parakkiraar!..
***Sukanya.. Oru round thirumba varugiraar Sukanya.. "Mr. Madras" did
well at the box office in 1995, which leaves Sukanya in a good position
to make a decent comeback with "Gnanapazham" with Bhagyaraj, expected for
Pongal 1996!.. Also in the works, is "Parivattam" with Jayaram.. and
"Indhiyan" with Kamal and Manisha.. Chitterumbu-kku bayangara luck!!..
***Kasthuri.. She wouldn't discuss this year with you, given a choice!..
She didn't have very many films to her credit, "Thenral Varum Theru" was
a good film, yet it ran out of the theatre.. F A S T!!.. "Kolangal"
didn't do very much for her!.. It appears that she is acting more in
telegu and malayaalam films now!!
My Sources: Anandha Vikatan, Kumudham, Cinema Express..
Eppodhum polla, ungalukku yedhavadhu pudhu thamizh pada seidhi
therindhaal, adhai ennudan pangu kollveergal yena nambukiren!!
Nanri..
Sandya..