Mani Ratnam permitted to shoot in forest area

Ace director Mani Ratnam, the shooting of whose latest multilingual film Ravana was stopped by the Kerala Forest department last week, has been given conditional sanction on Tuesday to continue shooting in the Malayatoor forest near Kochi.

Earlier, shooting was stopped on Friday and the forest officials asked the crew to pack up after they found that the crew had constructed huts inside the forest, which was against the terms of sanction.

According to new sanction, the crew numbers are restricted to 150. Shooting is permitted between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. only. There should not be any fight scenes in the location and no bushes or trees should be destroyed. No plastic material can be used. Besides, the filmmakers have been asked to remit a fee of Rs. 10,000 per day of shooting. The number of vehicles allowed inside the forest has also been drastically reduced. Reports said that the case registered by the forest department will continue.

Prior to the violations, all what they were charged was a mere Rs. 1,000 for the entire duration of the shoot. Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, who are part of the project, are expected to arrive next week. Prominent stars like Vikram, Govinda, Prithviraj and Priyamani will also participate. Reports indicate that the filming inside the forest included a battle where over 500 people were to take part.

Mani Ratnam is making this film in Hindi and Tamil simultaneously. Vikram will play the villain while Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai is the lead pair in Hindi; Vikram will play the lead opposite Aishwarya in Tamil. The film is based on the grand epic Ramayana.

Courtesy:galatta.com ....

Vaaranam Aayiram: First look

Films are often inspired by real life events. A successful film-maker is one who captures and converts into interesting plots the emotions associated with the influence of events. Vaaranam Aayiram, the latest from director Gautham Menon, is also based on a poignant experience. Dealing with the relationship between a father and a son, it was inspired by Gautham's own feelings when he lost his father.
The story, progressing from the youthful stage of the lead character, spans the next two phases of his life comprising his adolescence and adulthood. Surya (Suriya) is an ordinary young man, leading a quiet life with his parents Krishnan (Suriya) and Malini (Simran). Young Surya goes through a gamut of experiences in his life: he gets bullied by his roguish school seniors, battles an intense infatuation, is thrashed by street rowdies for a trivial fault and embarks upon adventurous experiments with his friends. All these are part of his growing up years; some trifle with his budding manhood and associated feelings while others teach him life's worthy lessons. Yet the experiences continue; each happening and its consequence adds a significant dimension, chiselling his expanding maturity. He slowly graduates from unassuming boyhood and teens, reaches adulthood and progresses to become a composed family man. His life continues to be eventful; some memories are stingingly painful, some are just unforgettable; these he treasures close to his heart.

Music is young Surya's passion. For him, the music from his guitar resembles reflects life's sensations. With music as his escape hatch, Surya is capable of transporting himself to places far and away from reality. What happens to this all-consuming zeal? Does it stop by just remaining his dilettante effort or does he dare to carry it through his life's changing times and tides? Is it the same music that lands him in a career in the army? What gives this delicate performer the strength and mindset to work in the tough, danger-ridden war fields?

Does Surya ever fall in love? Is love a part of his youthful flings? Does Priya (Divya Spandana) win his heart and stay to become his soulful partner? What predicaments force Surya to meet and marry Megha (Sameera)? How do failures and successes alter his personality? Vaaranam Aayiram drifts through Surya's life, chronicling all his feelings. Through the course of this turbulence comes another sweet and short love story, that of his parents Krishnan (Suriya) and Malini (Simran).

Though Vaaranam Aayiram deals with the life and rise of an ordinary individual, the fact that it appears like the story of a super-hero is because of Suriya's appearance. His taut physique and the famous six-pack abs add one more suspenseful dimension to the story as well as his character. Evidently, love and loss are going to be the bedrock of Vaaranam Aayiram too. So what will be special in the spectacle? Gautham's skilful direction, Harris Jayaraj's mind-blowing music, Rathnavelu's camera and Antony's crisp editing are going to bring about the marked difference and the desired punch in the movie. Don't miss to catch it on the big screen!

Courtesy:galatta.com ....

Priya Mani to play Surpanakai

Well, Mani Ratnam is making a bilingual film which is based on the popular epic Ramayana. It is well known that in the Tamil version Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, and Prithviraj represent the mythological Sita, Ram and Ravan respectively.

Apart from this tremendous star cast, it has been said that the film also will include Priyamani, the national award winning actress and the pride of Tamil Nadu. Earlier it was rumoured that Prithviraj and Priyamani will play a couple, which meant she would represent Ramayan’s Mandodari, which would limit her scope for performance to tear-jerking and looking melancholy. But now, there is an interesting rumour doing rounds, which has surprised the entire Kollywood – Priyamani would play Prithviraj’s sister in this film, which means she represents “Shoorpanaka” in this modern take on Ramayana. If that is true, we are in for a treat! Imagine, the talented actress playing the perpetrator of Ramayana, a very important role. It gives her a chance to portray an entire gamut of emotions – love, jealousy, frustration, anger and revenge. The sexy-eyed actress will definitely give a stellar performance that might win her yet another national award.

Mani Ratnam has always been fascinated with the epics of India. It could be recalled that he adapted the story of Karan (Mahabharat) into Thalapathy with Rajni playing the mythological hero.

Courtesy:galatta.com

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Aegan coming on October 25

Ayngaran International has suddenly decided to postpone Aegan’s release by one day. Earlier, the tentative release dates lay between 24th and 27. But now, October 25, is the date that has been announced.

Insiders say Aegan will definitely go on to become a blockbuster. But, it does not take an insider to know about an Ajith starrer’s grandeur and magnificence. Post-Billa, Ajith mania is on a high; every filmmaker who signs him up will reap the profits,e taking care not to tarnish the image Ajith garnered through his performance in Billa.

Raju Sundaram and cinematographer Arjunan have done a commendable job in Aegan, all the while keeping Ajith’s image in mind. Though this is ace dance choreographer-actor Raju Sundaram's first film as director, he has done a commendable job.

Just like his brother Prabhu Deva, Raju Sundaram too has an excellent sense of humour and a quirky perspective, and he has used these to his advantage in Aegan. Cinematographer Arjunan has worked wonders with his camera. Aegan should surely surpass its original Main Hoon Naa in sheen and glory.

And Nayantara, who sizzled in Billa in Ajith’s arms, has only grown more beautiful now and looks amazing in Aegan. The chemistry between them will surely scorch the screens.

Aegan will rock!

Courtesy:galatta.com ....

Aegan releasing BIG in USA

Ajith's fame seems to rise higher and higher with every film he does. Ever since he reprised the role of the demigod don in Billa's remake, his status has been elevated to new heights. After his tremendous performance in Billa, he is all ready to astound filmgoers all over the world, especially more Americans and NRIs of America.

Reason: For the first time, an Ajith starrer is releasing with more than 12 prints in the USA. Bharat Creations, who have also acquired the rights of Vaaranam Aayiram's distribution in USA, will distribute Aegan throughout the US. Slowly, the "movie worship culture" widely prevalent in India is being taken to USA where it is catching up fast. We witnessed how Kuselan was welcomed in the US with festoons, huge cut-outs of Rajinikanth and festivity.

Now, Ajith's fans in the US are going to celebrate Aegan's release during Diwali with great enthusiasm and style. It is a double bonanza for Indian film lovers of America. With these two great occasions to celebrate, they are in euphoric frenzy!

Courtesy:galatta.com ....

Prabhu in Mani Ratnam's bilingual?

Actor Prabhu, the dimple-cheeked hero of Kollywood, is rumoured to act in the Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Ravana featuring Vikram and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. It was already rumoured that actor Karthik would also have a role in this film.

So it looks like Mani Ratnam is trying to make his favourite heroes team up again in his grand film based on Ramayana; earlier they had acted together in Mani Ratnam's Agni Natchathiram.

Prabhu has become a very successful character artist after an awe-inspiring career as a film hero. But playing guest roles is nothing new to this actor and his guest roles have all been powerful and long-remembered - he stole the thunder from other actors in Priyanka with his cameo and left an indelible impression on the audience through his guest role in Anjali (again directed by Mani Ratnam).

With his grace and charm, he has turned into an actor who can carry an entire film on his broad shoulders.

Courtesy:galatta.com ....

Kerala Forest Department says 'No'to Mani Ratnam

After he has already completed 5 days of filming there for Ravana, the Kerala Forest Department has stopped Mani Ratnam from filming his latest bilingual in the jungles of Malayathur as it is comes under its protected and reserve areas.

Mani Ratnam is holding talks with the forest department officials to continue with his filming, trying to assure them that his unit will not damage the area or upset its ecological balance. But the Forest Department is concerned some of the conditions set by it have already been broken and the filming is planned to be held for 20 days more.

Mani Ratnam has decided to shoot his bilingual in the forests of Sri Lanka if there is no progress in his talks with the officials. But with the protests from Tamil film industry against the genocide in Sri Lanka, it would be highly inappropriate to hold his filming there right away.

Still, Mani Ratnam is positive that he will find a solution to this problem pretty soon. Mani Ratnam is making this film in Hindi and Tamil simultaneously. Vikram will play the villain while Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai is the lead pair in Hindi; Vikram will play the lead opposite Aishwarya in Tamil. The film is based on the grand epic Ramayana.

Courtesy:galatta.com ....