Bheema for Pongal!

Vikram's magnum opus, the Lingusamy directed Bheema is finally getting out of its deep slumber and is almost certain to be the big Pongal 2008 release!

The first half Re-Recording (RR) of the film is complete. Harris Jayaraj and Editor Antony are raving about Bheema and have told their close friends –" It's awesome, never seen a movie so slick, racy and what a story!"

The second half re-recording is going on and the mixing is likely to start by the first week of December. And with the film carrying super pre-release reports, the distributors and financiers of Bheema are doing their best to bail Producer A.M Ratnam out of his financial mess. Bheema are doing their best to bail Producer A.M Ratnam out of his financial mess. ....

Yuvan's great escape!

Yuvan Shankar Raja has bounced back to the top slot! Yuvan was down in the dumps as he was overshadowed by A.R Rahman and his ATM audio selling more than all his three Diwali releases- Kannanmoochi Yaenada, Machakaran, Vel put together. Music critics had rubbished Vel as his worst album, and sales were bad.

But post Diwali, with Hari's Vel emerging as the winner at Tamilnadu box-office, there is a huge grin on Yuvan's face, though his other two films failed to impress. Today two songs from Vel- Ottraikannale Une Pathe… sung by Haricharan and Sucharita picturised on Surya and Asin in Switzerland and Aayiram Janaal Veedu… sung by Premji, Rahul and Vadivel, and picturised on the happy family are topping the charts!

The irony of it is that pre-Diwali nobody wanted to buy Vel CD's as ATM music was a rage. Today the tables have been turned though ATM has far better tunes, picturisation and quality of music! The bottom line is that if a film becomes a hit, its music too slowly picks up with the listeners.

Monday (November 26), Yuvan has more reasons to celebrate, as the audio of Ajit's BillaBilla, which has two terrific re-mix numbers and three other songs which are sure going to be chartbusters. The music trade is expecting Yuvan's Billa audio to take as impressive opening as this years toppers A.R Rahman's Sivaji and ATM albums! will release across the world. Ajit loyal fan base are geared up to buy Ayngaran Audio's

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Senthil is back in a crazy, comedy!

The veteran comedian Senthil, of the famous Goundamani-Senthil team of the 80’s and 90’s is now trying to make a comeback as a hero with the comic film Aadivasiyum Athisayapesiyum, being directed by Malan for BBC International.

According to Malan, the film has an interesting premise about a tribal's adventures when a cell phone lands in his hand from above! However the publicity stills and the one-line story of the film reminds you of the 1980 South African film The Gods must be crazy, which was a crazy and goofy movie about a African tribal who encounters technology for the first time in the form of a Coke bottle!

The film is to be shot in the forest areas of Malaysia and coastal Africa, from December 5. Aadivasiyum Athisayapesiyum is going to be a crazy non-stop laugh riot, especially when you have comedians like Senthil along with Mayilsamy, Vyapuri and Ramesh Aravind! ....

Karthi, Nayantara in Lingusamy film

Director Lingusamy, who is awaiting the release of Bheema, will commence his next venture with Paruthiveeran"s Karthi playing hero. He will make this film under his home production company Tirupathi Brothers. It is said that Nayantara will be roped in as the heroine of this movie. After her dashing style in Ajith's Billa, Nayan is in great demand both in Tamil and Telugu film industry (Billa will simultaneously hits in Telugu Screens).Lingusamy said that the actress has positively affirmed her intrest and has shown a great interest in this movie. Karthi is at present acting in Ayirathil Oruvan, Selvaraghavan"s mega venture. Nayantara is now busy in Dhanush film Yaradi Nee .

By: Settu Shankar

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Surya - the king of Diwali

It"s official. Finally a winner has emerged from the Box Office this Diwali and it is none other than Surya. The Surya – Asin starrer 'Vel' is placed well on the top of Kollywood box office charts. Its first week collection has set a new record and the advance booking of the film is still continuing in Chennai theaters even a week after its release. This typical Hari film with sentiment, comedy, fire like action and emotions in right proportions are the reasons behind the film being a super hit.In Chennai City, Shahrukh Khan starrer Om Shanti Om still maintained its superiority over Tamil films at the end of the first week after Diwali. Here is the list of top-5 films of this week:

Vel: Director- Hari. The positive word of mouth talk about the film and the family based action story is well suited to Surya"s stature. For distributors and exhibitors, Vel is the undisputed winner from among the Diwali releases this week. Particularly in B and C centers, the film is running like a 'Jallikattu Bull' and makes is making Surya a Box Office mass hero.

Azhagiya Tamil Magan: Director- Bharathan. Though the director worked hard to portray Vijay in different look and style, he failed to give a solid foundation via the script. AR Rehman's excellent tunes and Vijay's thrilling dances in the films songs is keeping the interest of the viewers and keeping them glued to the film. At the end of the first week, ATM is in the second position but one can assure that it wont be the same place in the next week.

Pollathavan: Director – Vetrimaaran. The debutant director's different approach, Dhanush"s realistic look and underplay in performance makes the film watchable. The film is slowly picking up after positive word of mouth and aggressive publicity.

Kannamoochi Enada: Director- Priya V. Produced by Radaan Media Works and directed by Priya V, it is a light romantic comedy inspired from the Hollywood film. But what made this film remain one of the lower names is that the director has not used the story and the actors well enough to get the best out of them. However Sathyaraj, Prithviraj and Radhika performed with ease thus making the movie watchable. Chances are few that the film will pick up in rural and semi urban centers.

Machakkaran: Director- Tamilvavan. This is definitely a hurdle for the fast growing actor Jeevan, who had given two big hits like Thiruttu Payale and Naan Avanillai. It has earned the name of being the most boring film released this Diwali.

By: Settu Shankar

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Vijay very happy with ATM

Vijay said that his fans have not accepted the story of his latest releases Azhagiya Tamil Magan that is the reason for the films second position in the top 5 films. In an interview the actor said, "When director Bharathan had narrated the story to me, I realized that it is indeed a different story from the regular film stories. That is why I had accepted the movie. Even after the announcement of the film, I had told everyone that ATM is a totally different movie and that one should get ready to indeed to watch a different film from me. Now after the release, I agree that there was definitely a mixed response to it in the first three days of its release, but now after watching the film two or three times they have started appreciating the subject." ....

Thirumagan's next film announced

Thirumurugan, the successful filmmaker who came from the small to silver screen via Emdan Magan', has finalized his second film. This is the film based on the story of village young man who joins a college and the problems he causes there. According to the director, Bharath will play the lead role too in this film and the film will have the same cast and crew.The film has been tentatively titled as Muniyandi-Vilangiyal Moonramaandu but it may be changed anytime before the launch of the film. A Malaysia based production company Lotus Five Star will produce the film. Thiru Pictures is plays the role of the films co-producer while it is being made. According to the director, he is yet to be finalized the heroine and other cast. Vidhyasagar will score the music for this film too. I will give all the details in a week or too. Till then, please wait", the director told.

By: Settu Shankar

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