Film fans association honours artistes, technicians

The Hindu
Sept 18, 2006
Chennai: The Film Fans' Association on Saturday honoured several artistes and technicians in recognition of their success in film, television industries.
Film producers Appachan and M.Balasubramanian were honoured with the tongue `Outstanding contribution to filmdom' award while producer K.C.N.Gowda received the `Life Time Achievement' award.
Television actors Abhishek and Ajay were honoured for their roles in 'Kolangal', while actors Saravana, Kamalesh, Manjari and Latha Rao were among awardees. Awards were given in other categories including Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema.
Cinematographer Ravivarman was awarded for his work in 'Anniyan'.

Rajamouli turns producer

IndiaGlitz
Sept 18, 2006
The combination of SS Rajamouli and Young Tiger Junior NT Ramarao, which gave two good hit films like 'Student No.1' and 'Simhadri’, is repeating yet again.
Another specialty of the film is that Rajamouli is also turning as a producer with this film and is launching a banner called 'Viswamitra Creations'.
While 'Student No. 1' was shot with student backdrop, 'Simhadri' was made with Kerala backdrop. But the latest flick will be a socio-fantasy film with five heroines and Meera Jasmine was selected one among the five.

Top south Indian film singers delight crowd

Gulf Times, Qatar
Sept 16, 2006
Doha: Two prominent south Indian film playback singers treated their audience to a feast of Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi songs at a Doha concert.
The concert, Onanilaavu 2006, was hosted by Kerala Social and Cultural Association (KSCA) as part of its Onam celebrations on Thursday evening at Doha Cinema.
The singers were Sujata Mohan and Biju Narayanan. Another entertainer was mimic Suraj Venjarammodu.
The more than three-hour-long show featured fast numbers as well as melodies, and both old and new songs. Sujata and Narayanan drew loud cheers and applause for every song.

Striking presence

VIJAY GEORGE
The Hindu
Sept 16, 2006
After some impressive roles in a few offbeat films, Jyothirmayee acquired a reputation as the quintessential "thinking man's heroine." But then that is discounting her feisty dance in `Meesa Madhavan,' which proved, once and for all, that she is not a one-dimensional actor.
The peppy number `Chingamaasam Vannuchernnal... ,' which she says brings her centrestage every year in the Malayalam month of Chingam, in Lal Jose's `Meesa Madhavan' catapulted her to instant stardom.
Now, she is trying to strike a balance between potboilers and offbeat films in Tamil and Malayalam.
"Though I had insisted on performance oriented roles earlier, I am aware that it cannot happen every time. That is why I do both offbeat and commercial films, " she says

Filmmakers' hotspot

G. KRISHNAKUMAR/The Hindu
Sept 15, 2006
Kochi is fast becoming a hub for post-production activities related to the Malayalam film industry. Increasing revenue opportunities in this field have encouraged actors and producers to come up with new projects.
Actors Lal and Dileep have joined hands to set up a state-of-the-art studio complex at Padivattom in Kochi. They claim that filmmakers need not depend on studios outside the State once the project gets completed.

Shooting of 'Sholay' remake to begin this month

The Hindu
Sept 16, 2006
New Delhi: After months of talk in the media over whether it would see the light of day, work on the remake of the cult film 'Sholay', being directed by Ramgopal Verma, will begin later this month.
However, rather than a frame-to-frame copy of the Ramesh Sippy's 1975 blockbuster, Ramgopal verma's 'Sholay' will be part of an effort by the filmmaker to revive the "long-forgotten" genre of action films and the "intense angry young man" that characterised the films in the 70s and the 80s.
With the movie's cast, except for Basanti, having been finalised; Ajay Devgan will play Veeru (played in the original by Dharmendra), Mohit Ahlawat the quiet Jai (played by Amitabh Bachchan in the original), Katrina Kaif will play the widow Radha (Jaya Bachchan essayed the role in the 70s classic), Mohanlal being cast for the role of Thakur (played by Sanjeev Kumar in the original) and Sushant Singh cast as Gabbar's henchman, Sambha; Ramgopa, Verma plans to wrap up the film in two month's time.

Meera Jasmine going places

IndiaGlitz
Sept 16, 2006
Malayalam girl Meera Jasmine, who is now shooting for S J Suryah's Thirumagan and Dhanush starrer Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram, is busy completing her Telugu venture starring Balakrishna and directed by P Vasu.
Meanwhile, the young actress from the God's Own Country has accepted to do a movie in Kannada now.