TidBits - December 2007

Arjun & Arya will star in Vishnuvardhan's next film. The film is tentatively titled, "SARWAM" and is produced by Karunas of Ayngaran International.

After "DASVATHARAM", Kamal will be directing "MARMAYOGI". This will be followed by a film for Sivaji Productions with Shreya as heroine. The film will be directed by P.Vasu.

"Raja Rajathi Raja" song from "AGNI NATCHATHIRAM" has been remixed for Arjun starrer, "DURAI". The film is directed by Venkatesh.

"Jeyam Ravi" had only one release in 2007 (DEEPAVALI). In 2008, he is likely to have 3 releases - "DHAAM DHOOM" (directed by late cameraman, Jeeva), "SANTHOSH SUBRAMANIUM" (remake of telugu film, "BOMMARILU";directed by his brother Raja) and "PERAANMAI" (directed by Jananathan of "IYARKAI" & "E" fame). These films will be followed by a film directed by Ameer (director of "PARUTHIVEERAN").

Meanwhile, Ameer has decided to get in front of the camera. He is acting as hero in "YOGI". This film is directed by Subramanium Siva ("THIRUDA THIRUDI" and "PORI").

Chimbu is busy giving the final touches for "KAALAI". This film is all set for a Pongal release and is directed by Tarun Gopi. Tarun Gopi's last fim, "THIMIRU" was a big hit in tamil and telugu. Chimbu has already started "SILAMBAATAM" directed by cameraman, Saravanan. Music is by Dheena and he has remixed a song from "THIRUVILAYADAL". This film will release for Tamil New Year.

Finally Vikram's "BHEEMA" is slated for a release in 2008 (10th Jan). His next release will be "KANDASAMY" (likely date: April 14th). This will be followed by a film for Mohan Natarajan (producer of "VEL") and then a film for Ramesh Babu (producer of "POKIRI"). Ramesh Babu's film is likely to be directed by Selvaraghavan.

Myskin ("CHITIRAM PESUTHADI") has completed the shoot of his next film, "ANJATHEY". This film too has Naren as hero. Music is by Sunder C Babu, who too worked in his previous film. This action thriller may release in February.

Another success team that has come together is the "EM MAGAN" team. Actor Barath, Director Thirumurugan and music director Vidyasagar have teamed up for "MUNIYANDI VILANGIAL MOONRAMAANDU"

Namitha is acting as a "Karakatakari" in "SANDA". The film is directed by Sakthi Chidambaram and has Sunder C and Rahini playing the lead.

Cheran's Mayakannadi

Cheran has no time to bask in the success of Thavamaai Thavamirunthu. He is busy shooting for TV Chandran's Aadum Koothu. Now that the film's shooting is complete, Cheran has launched his new film Mayakannadi. Illayaraja is the music director (Earlier the two have worked together in Desiyageetham. This film is produced by veteran Panchu Arunachalam under a new banner ‘Chellamai Celluloid’. Cheran and Navya Nair play lead role along with a battalion of actors. Dwaraknath one of the cameramen in Autograph (the Sneha episodes) handles the camera independently for the first time. This is a city based love story.

Sarath in Gautham's Film

Gautham Menon has finished the final schedule of Kamal's Vetayadu Vilayadu and is busy with the post production work. The film is slated for release on April 14th. Gautham struck box office gold with Minnaley the minty cool love story and then Kaakha Kakha, a romantic action cop story, which redefined the aesthetics of Tamil commercial cinema. Industry talks on VV is very good and the film has been sold for a very high price

Gautham is now ready to shoot his next film, Vilai Uyirendraalum. Sarath Kumar is the hero with Shobana and Jyothika as the two leading ladies. According to Gautham, it is a different love story with some twists. Gautham wanted a middle aged hero as cop in this film and Sarath exactly fitted the bill. Instead of his regular cameraman (Rajashekar), Gautham is using Aravind Krishna (Selvaraghavan's favourite). Harris Jeyaraj is the music director.

Vijay's Next Film

We are aware that Vijay's Puli with SJ Surya is dropped. The news is confirmed that his next movie is going to be Murasu. The film is going to be directed by Muthuvadigu, brother of Perarasu (who directed racy Vijay movies like Thirupachi and Sivakasi). Perarasu has assured Vijay that he would assist his brother with the screenplay and direction. After the Aathi failure, Vijay is not keen on Trisha. Asin has other commitments. Though it is strongly rumoured that Chitiram Pesuthadi heroine Bhavana may get the chance to pair up with Vijay, the chance can also go to either Ileana or Tamanna (the two heroines in Ravi Krishna’s KD).The film is produced by ‘Swargachitra’ Appachan

Pongal Films

With over Rs 40 crore riding on it, Pongal 2006 is going to be Kollywood’s most expensive Pongal bash ever. The big clash is between reigning superstar Vijay’s Aathi and Ajit's comeback movie Paramasivan. And then there is Silambarasan, a pretender to the throne, who has also thrown in his towel. Prabhu and Murali are there as observers with their Pasakilikal, as `Captain' Vijaykanth and his Perarasu are likely to sit out of the Pongal race.

For Ajit, Paramasivan is the most crucial film of his career as he needs a hit badly for surviving in this dog-eat-dog industry, where only the box-office counts. Ajit's recent track record has been miserable -Anjaneya, Attakasam, and Ji, all of which have turned out to be flops. But now that he is on the comeback trail, the law of averages should help him. But above all, he has a director in P.Vasu, who, through his expertise in the movie business, has just delivered the biggest hit of all time.

As far as Vijay is concerned, he desperately wants Aathi to be a hit for the sake of his dad S.A.Chandrasekhara, who is the producer of the film. SAC, as he is popularly known as, had stopped production about seven years back and, believe it or not, all the films that he produced with his son as the hero were flops! Now SAC is all set to change his luck, after following the advice of a leading numerologist who made him change his name from Chandrasekharan to Chandrasekhara! Aathi has been sold to distributors for a record Rs 19 crore, due to Vijay’s new found superstar status.

Silambarasan is one actor who relishes taking on the established stars. He feels that he has an audience of his own, and is confident that Saravana will be the Pongal dark horse. Simbu is also taking a big risk as he is unofficially the producer of the film and is virtually distributing it in most areas. Simbu and his dad are taking one of the biggest gambles in their life. You really cannot rule out Saravana becoming a hit as K.S Ravi kumar, the director, knows how to dish out movies with mass appeal.

What is a family tear-jerker like Pasaikilikal doing in the midst of all these actioners? A good question, but the Prabhu-Murali-Navya Thankachi Pasam, written and scripted by the great man Kalingar Karunanidhi, may appeal to the female audience, especially in B&C centres.

When reports last came in, a panchayat (a meeting of financiers, distributors and the producer) was being held to sort out issues concerning our Captain’s long pending release, Perarasu, which was slated to release on this Pongal.