Kollywood fans surprise to Kamal-Rajini together?

Measured by reports that believe you have that Kalanithi Maran, who had produced "Endhiran 'with Rajinikanth-Shankar, led by spending huge (RS 160 cr) so far in Indian cinema, the implementation of another film planned with another great budget of Rs 500 crore. The film will be directed by Shankar and there are two living legends Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, now that's a surprise! ....

Rajinikant's 'Robot' Beats "3 Idiots", "Dabangg in 2 weeks

He is the undisputed market leader; Super star Rajnikanth in 'Enthiran (Robot) in Hindi has all records of Indian history refracted at the box office, the most expensive Indian film has set all records in Indian life and broken box-office film and still to complete a month. ....

Endhiran to release in 30 in Chennai

All the multiplexes in chennai are booked in chennai and in city limits of chennai for the release of Rajnikanth stared mega movie Endhiran in 30 theaters only in chennai by creating Record of its own kind. ....

Murugadoss’s dream to work with Rajni

A R Murugadoss will be directing Shahrukh Khan in a Hindi film which is yet to be titled. Mostly this film could be a remake of Tamil film Ramana. After completing Stalin, a Telugu film which had Chiranjeevi in the lead Murugadoss met Rajnikanth and narrated him a story. Rajnikanth was impressed with the story. So there was news that Rajni will act in Murugadoss film.

When asked about this Murugadoss said, “It is true that I had narrated the story to Rajnikanth. But now he is busy with Endhiran and I am also busy with Shahrukh film. I may get the opportunity to work with Rajni after these projects are completed. My ambition is to direct Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan.” ....

Rajinikanth's daughter to dub for Ash

As we all know Aish is shooting for two Tamil films back to back. One is the Shankar directed magnum opus ‘Endhiran’ that has Superstar Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai pairing up for the first time. This project has been in the news for the heroine bagging a whooping six crore rupees for signing up the project.

The other film is by ace director Mani Ratnam. This film is a multi lingual project and is being simultaneously shot in Hindi with Ash and hubby doing the lead roles. The Tamil remake of the film sees Chiyan Vikram and Ash in the lead roles. This flick’s title seems to have been inspired from the epic Ramayana and has hence been titled ‘Raavan’.

The story deals with the hero kidnapping another man’s wife and the fate that befalls.

The music for both the films will be by the twin Oscar award winner A.R. Rahman. Another interesting factor is that Rajinikanth’s daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanth will be lending her voice for Ash’s character in Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’ as well as Mani Rathnam’s ‘Raavan’. Reports also indicate that beauty queen Ash is also satisfied with the directors’ choice! ....

Sultan Rajini is in trouble!

We managed to get Soundarya Rajnikant, daughter of the Tamil supremo Rajnikant (and India’s highest paid actor with the largest fan base) to part with images of her first animated feature Sultan that is slated for a 2009 release. Incidentally this movie will release before the Rajni-Aishwarya Rai Bachchan flick The Robot.

Rumours down South have it that Soundarya’s production house and the Hollywood giant who were to co-produce Sultan have parted ways. But it actually turned out that Sultan is being made in partnership with a film corporation.

In a statement to BT, Richard Fox, Executive Vice-President International of the foreign studio, said, “We have been and will continue to work with Soundarya Rajnikant. Together, our companies have a number of southern Indian language projects in various stages, from early negotiations to active development. We will announce these projects at the appropriate time. But, any rumour that suggests otherwise is simply not true.”

When contacted, Soundarya said, “Our multi-picture deal contract with the foreign studio is positively intact as plans are on to jointly produce films in all four South Indian Languages, contrary to the untoward rumours doing the rounds in the Industry.”

Soundarya is exalted because her ‘appa’ (father) was very excited during the shoot and was surprised when he saw the first look of the film that this paper is currently being unveiled by this newspaper. Oscar winner A R Rahman has recorded four songs and two are yet to be done, says the star-daughter; and of course, “Daddy is yet to dub for his movie. He will do it after he has seen the final output.’’ ....

Rajni sports six pack abs!

Rajini has never looked this good. Muscular, well built and sporting a six pack, the Sultan truly looks a million bucks. And so does Rahul Dev, who plays a dancer in Soundarya Rajinikanth’s ‘Sultan The Warrior’, looks equally stunning, as one can observe in these exclusive stills from Sultan. Rahul Dev plays a baddie in this film, which is set in the Chola Era.

The film is a first-of-its-kind project, directed and produced by Rajini’s second daughter, Soundarya Rajinikanth. Vijayalakshmi plays his love interest in the film, which is a 2009 release.

Imagine Rajini, who plays an action-packed role in the flick, belting out punch dialogues in his booming voice. Summa Adhirudhile... ....

Rajini joins the 6-pack bandwagon

For once, the Superstar will follow the league of actors Dhanush, Suriya and Vishal. Surprised? This is in having a six pack trend young Kollywood actors are taking on to, seriously.

The Superstar, however, would not have sweated it out to develop his body. This will only be for his animated version for the film, ‘Sultan The Warrior’. The film is directed by daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth, apart from being produced by her.

The Superstar is said to be playing a warrior in the film, which is an action adventure. Despite being an animation film, the Superstar has himself enacted his part, which has been captured by a motion capture camera. Calling him a director’s delight, Soundarya Rajinikanth says the film will be over by end of this year.

The film has brought together the world’s best known technicians. The facial animation has been done by Image Matrix, which worked on Brad Pitt in his Academy Award-winning 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. The film’s budget is said to be a whopping $ 5 million. Calling it a typical punch film, Soundarya reels out one of her dialogues about dad in the film: “Adikkara Kaathula Parakkura Ilai Illa Da Sultan, Malai. Asaikka Mudiyaadhu.’

The film, which is said to be set in the Chola period, is 70 percent complete. ....

Rajni votes, Haasan not allowed to

While Tamil superstar Rajnikant voted for a "stable government" on Wednesday, thespian actor Kamal Haasan was unable to cast his ballot since his name was not on the electoral rolls.

After casting his vote, Rajnikant told reporters that he had voted to ensure a stable government at the centre.

Kamal Haasan cancelled his shooting schedule for the polls but could not cast his vote.

"My name is not on the list of voters. I am not alone. My brother Chandra Haasan also could not cast his vote," the actor said.

He said he has voted in almost all elections, except when he was hospitalised. ....

Rajni's 'Sultan' set for July release

Rajnikanth's much awaited animation film, 'Sultan - The Warrior', will hit screens in July; it will have a global release with approximately 3500 prints in 18 languages.

'Sultan - The Warrior' is produced and directed by Soundarya, Rajnikanth's daughter. The film is jointly produced by Ocher Studios and Warner Bros. winner A.R. Rahman has composed the music for the film.

The film has a hero made in the mould of the superstar who himself has dubbed for the character. The work for the film is almost complete, it is learnt. ....

Rajinikanth's fans start political party

In an attempt to spur Rajinikanth to enter politics, his fans have started a political party - Desiya Dravida Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (DDMMK). But it cannot be construed as Rajinikanth's political move; it is a decision taken by his fans, not by him. This act seems to be the culmination of a week of tension amidst his fans following the star's call for a meeting with fan clubs, tentatively on October 12th.

This announcement has given rise to many speculations about the meet's agenda: ranging from brainstorming to boost his star power to launching a political party; coming in the wake of Chiranjeevi's political party launch, Rajni's call for a meeting has made many think he too might announce a political party. At present, the star is busy with Robot's first tranche of filming. His meeting with his fan clubs, when he reveals his ideas, should put an end to speculations.

Courtesy:galatta.com ....

Exhibitors, distributors to boycott 'Kuselan' producers

CHENNAI: Tamil superstar Rajnikant may have promised Rs.100 million compensation to distributors of his box office flop "Kuselan", but exhibitors and distributors Friday announced a non-cooperation movement against the film's producers and the actor.

Small exhibitors and distributors across the state are angry with producer Pushpa Kandaswamy for blaming main distributor Pyramid Saimira for the losses, industry sources said.

"Exhibitors Pyramid Saimira's bosses saw the film a week before release, hiked its costs by publicity hype and hiked the ticket prices, going against the sane advice of Rajnikanth, and are responsible for the losses. Further, no film can be written off within 20 days of its release," Kandaswamy, daughter of director K. Balachander, said Thursday.

S. Palaniappan, head of a distributors' organisation, earlier this week complained that the distributors were taken for a ride by the producers, who claimed it was a full length Rajnikanth film, though he featured only for a little over 20 minutes.

The stir by distributors is likely to hit Kandaswamy's production house Kavithalaya. Its forthcoming releases, which include the Arjun-starrer "Thiruvannamalai" and "Krishna Leelai" are banking on the smaller distributors and exhibitors, who have now threatened to boycott the films.

Meanwhile, industry sources said that Rajnikant has asked producer Panchu Arunachalam to make a quick film and market it at a discount to help distributors. ....

Will Rajni energise fan clubs after lacklustre 'Kuselan'?

CHENNAI: Shaken by the lukewarm response to his latest release 'Kuselan', southern superstar Rajnikant is all set to energise his fan clubs in Tamil Nadu.

'We realised that most of our active members were lured away by actors-turned-politicians Vijaykanth and Sarath Kumar to build their parties, resulting in several clubs becoming headless. This also contributed to poor turnouts at 'Kuselan' screenings,' said a top functionary of the Rajni Rasikar Mandram.

The Mandram is an umbrella organisation of Rajnikant fan clubs in Tamil Nadu.

A meet has been scheduled for Aug 27 at the Raghavendra Marriage Hall here owned by Rajnikant to help overhaul the fan clubs. An announcement about the number of such clubs touching 100,000 would be made that day, a source said.

Industry sources said Rajnikant is being forced to shore up his act since the new movie projects starring him are expected to cost over Rs.2 billion.

'The actor had embarked upon a similar exercise after the 2002 flop 'Baba' and it fetched him good returns for subsequent releases, 'Chandramukhi' and 'Sivaji',' the sources said.

A fan club secretary from western Tamil Nadu said many branches of the Mandram body would request the iconic 50-plus actor to start his own political party. After all, another southern star, Chiranjeevi, has only just joined politics.

Sources close to Rajnikant, however, said he was against such a move and had discouraged a similar effort a few years ago when a political outfit had been named after him.

Explaining the reasons for the dull performance of 'Kuselan', a source said: 'Corporate houses out to make a fast buck are trying to break the existing distributor lobby in the south - a development frowned upon by the star.

'Though Rajnikant had discouraged the exhibitor, Pyramid Saimira, from billing 'Kuselan' as a full length film with him as the lead, they ignored his requests and hyped the film, unnecessarily leading to huge losses to small exhibitors,' the source said.

Saimira has, however, denied the charge and said the movie is expected to recover the cost. ....

Theatre owners seek compensation for losses

CHENNAI: RAJINI-starrer 'Kuselan' has suffered yet another low with the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association demanding more compensation for the losses they have suffered on the movie. The decision was taken at a meeting of the association here on Saturday.

Pyramid Saimira, the movie’s distributors, had earlier announced to compensate 35 per cent of the minimum guarantee amount at which the exhibitors had purchased the exhibiting rights.

“Pyramid Saimira had agreed to refund us and the other distributors of the movie to the extent of 35 percent.

But the distributors association is against reclaiming money for the losses suffered.

So, we have decided to ask Saimira for that compensation amount as well,” explained R Panneer Selvam, secretary, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association, adding that this would take the total compensation received to 60 per cent of the Minimum Guarantee amount.

Over 125 theatres, excluding Pyramid Saimira’s theatre chain, had obtained screening rights of 'Kuselan' under the minimum guarantee method, and over 80 per cent of them had reported a loss. Pyamid Saimira had obtained the distribution rights of the movie at Rs 67 crore and had distributed the films directly in a few areas, including Chennai and Salem.

Members of the theatre owners’ association had met Rajinikanth on Friday, and it transpired that the actor discussed their problems for almost an hour.“He was very understanding and even mentioned that we needn’t have purchased the rights to exhibit using the minimum guarantee method,” said Sukumaran, a committee member.

The total amount to be paid back to the theatre owners will have to be coughed up by Pyramid Saimira, Rajini kanth and producers Seven Arts and Kavithalaya.

Explaining why the theatre owners have asked for a reclaim from Rajini, though he was not the producer, Panneer Selvam said, “Film’s director Vasu had once announced that Kuselan is Rajini’s movie and changes have been made keeping the superstar in mind. Rajinikanth, who was also present at the event, did not refute it. Even their publicity for the movie was only Rajini-centric. This led us to believe that he is the movie and that is why we are seeking a compensation. In fact, we have suffered a loss for many movies, including Vijay’s 'Kuruvi', Simbhu’s 'Kaalai', Vikram’s 'Bheema' and currently Vishal’s 'Sathyam', but we haven’t asked for a refund.

That’s because we took the decision and were prepared to face the results. But, in Kuselan’s case, we were misled by Vasu’s statements.” 'Kuselan', the members said, had taught them a lesson on the entire system of acquiring exhibition rights.

“From now on, we have decided not to agree to exhibit any movie under the minimum guarantee method. It should actually be the movie’s producers, who pay us money first to screen their movie.

In future, if any theatre works under the minimum guarantee system, it will not be supported by the association,” Panneer Selvam added. ....

Kuselan may get more Rajini

CHENNAI: On the eve of the release of 'Kuselan', Rajinikanth had expressed regret for his earlier statements against Kannada chauvinists and then after the release, a dialogue was removed to assuage fans’ feelings. 'Kuselan' seems to be only getting into deeper trouble each passing day.

After theatre owners and distributors of the districts around Chennai converged on the city on Monday to demand compensation for their losses, on Tuesday, the buzz in the industry was that the film would be pulled out of cinemas in a couple of days — after just a three-week run.

Apart from critics having ripped the film apart — saying that it was a classic case of how to spoil a good story — 'Kuselan' has bombed at the box office.

Theatre owners and distributors of Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts said the occupancy was less than 30 per cent and that they did not gross even the minimum guarantee amount (Rs 4 crore).

In view of this, they called for a press conference to demand compensation from Pyramid Saimira which holds the distribution rights of 'Kuselan', bought for a price of Rs 67 crore. According to the Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram Theatre Owners Association, the producers, Seven Arts and Kavithaalaya, had told them that Rajinikanth would appear on screen almost all through the film. Though Rajinikanth’s appearance in 'Kuselan' is not very short, Pasupathy plays the the main character. This apparently has not gone down well with Rajinikanth fans, who have, for once, refrained from watching the film more than once.

More trouble is likely to come on August 23 when theatre owners from across the state meet to decide on the course of action to recover their losses. Now, another buzz is that the film is being pulled out to give it a new look — with Rajinikanth appearing in more scenes and re-launch it. ....

Rajnikant to compensate Rs.100 mn to "Kuselan" distributors

CHENNAI: Tamil superstar Rajnikant has reportedly promised Rs.100 million compensation to distributors of his box office flop "Kuselan" even as exhibitors raised the banner of revolt against him Monday after losing a lot of money.

"Over 375 cinemas have lost heavily due to the film being a disaster at the turnstiles. We have announced a movement for non-cooperation against 'Kuselan' producers K. Balachander and Seven Arts International and are meeting on Aug 23 to chalk out our plans with regard to Rajnikant," S. Palaniappan, head of a distributors' body, told reporters Monday evening.

"The loss will cross over Rs.250 million in the short term unless adequate remedial measures are initiated by the actor, who has immensely benefited out of our labours in the past. We were taken for a ride by the producers who claimed it was a full length Rajnikant film, which it was not," Palaniappan added.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the distribution company Pyramid Saimira, which is showing the film across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, said the movie had so far collected Rs.210 million since its release Aug 1. He expressed confidence about "Kuselan" covering the costs of Rs.600 million before being taken off theatres.

Saimira however, was noncommittal about accepting the compensation and did not react to the allegations made by the other distributors and exhibitors.

Sources close to Rajnikant told IANS late evening that the thespian's "fabled munificence will ensure none would be out of pocket".

While the star did not charge any fee from the Tamil producer and his mentor K. Balachander, the Telugu version's producers had paid Rajnikant a fee of Rs.100 million.

The movie icon had Friday recommended several cuts to improve the collections of the movie.

The matinee idol had underwritten the losses of his earlier flop "Baba" (2005) to the tune of over Rs.250 million and helped distributors and exhibitors stage a smart recovery through his subsequent release "Chandramukhi" (2005) which created box office history.

"Chandramukhi" ran for 800 days consecutively in Shanti Cinema, owned by the company that produced the film in the heart of the city - breaking the 64-year-old record created by "Haridas" (1944). ....

Rajnikanth to return Rs 10 crores?

Superstar Rajnkanth has been shocked by the poor fate of his Tamil film, Kuselan. The chief distributor of the film, Pyramid Saimira, is under pressure from smaller distributors and theatre-owners, as they incurred huge loses. They are now demanding their money back.

Rajni, who has been observing silently, has reportedly decided to act. He has reportedly held secret parleys with the administrators of Pyramid Saimira and assured them that he will pay Rs 10 crores to be disbursed to the distributors and theatre owners, who have lost their money.

It was ace director Mani Ratnam, who started this trend of compensating distributors and theatre-owners, when his film, Iruvar (1997) failed.

Years later, Rajnikanth did the same when his much-hyped Baba (2003) failed to create waves at the box office. The superstar gave money away to the disappointed distributors and theatre-owners and salvaged some of his reputation. ....

Rajnikanth's Kuselan gets rave reviews in Malaysia

KUALA LUMAPUR: Malaysian audiences should see Tamil superstar Rajnikanth's latest film Kuselan since it is a blend of a good story and fine acting, says a noted film critic of the South-East Asian nation.

"Such is the power of a good story that it can be appreciated all over India in diverse languages," critic K.N. Vijayan wrote in the New Straits Times.

Kuselan, which was released on July 30, has been running to packed houses across South India after getting over initial controversy over alleged anti-Kannada remarks. The story is based on the 2007 Malayalam hit movie Katha Parayumpol, starring Mammootty and Sreenivasan.

Rajnikanth plays superstar Ashok Kumar who comes to a picturesque village with leading actress Nayantara to film Chandramukhi II. Unknown to him, barber Balu (Pasupathy) claims the superstar was his classmate.

Balu's wife, played by Meena who did the same role in the Malayalam version, is proud of this fact. Everyone in the village tries to befriend Balu so that they can get to meet Ashok Kumar.

However, even Balu can't get to see the star because of the tight security. Soon everyone, including his wife and three children, begin to doubt his claims.

Urging Malaysians to "go see this one with the family", Vijayan said: "The last few minutes of the film draw a tear or two. That's when Rajnikanth proves how good an actor he is. Also, whoever wrote that speech Rajnikanth makes in the film needs a special award."

There is a lot of humour in the movie, with Vadivelu and Livingstone indulging in various antics. Vadivelu is wonderful in the scenes where he becomes hysterical after meeting Ashok Kumar, according to Vijayan.

Another draw of the movie is that it is directed by P. Vasu, who helmed one of the most successful Tamil movies ever - Chandramukhi - with Rajnikanth in the lead role.

G.V. Prakash's tunes are also slowly beginning to gain favour, the critic said.

Inspired by the success of the film's Telugu and Malayalam versions, Priyadarshan is re-making it in Hindi as Billoo Barber, with Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan Khan in the lead. ....

An ode to ‘superstar’ Rajinikanth

'KATHA Parayumbol' was a sweet little Malayalam film that had earned both critical acclaim and commercial success. Taking inspiration from the Krishna –Sudhama friendship saga, it depicts the bonding between a small-time barber in a little village who struggles to make both ends meet, and a superstar who was in the neighbourhood for a shoot.

Its simple narrative style, clearly etched screenplay, lively characters, inherent subtle humour and satirical look at the world around, had all made it a splendid fare. And the icing on the cake was Mammootty in a cameo, whose superlative performance in the crucial closing scenes, had lifted the film to a heightened level of emotional intensity. And now the film comes to Tamil as 'Kuselan'. Mauled, mangled and barely recognisable. Its feel and essence lost.

The adaptation

The re-worked screenplay meanders into irrelevant characters and situations and loses its focus soon enough. Many of the characters that were so lively in the Malayalam version are all reduced to stereotypes here. The tilt of balance to favour the character of Ashok Kumar, the superstar, works to the detriment of the theme and robs it of its essence.

For, whatever you try, Ashok Kumar was a character that could never enter the story, till it pulls him in, in the closing scenes. And so the extended cameo looks like a forced entry before it’s time. Slipshod and shoddy are the director’s approach at many places. Even simple matters, like the confusion on what film the unit had come to shoot near the village.

At one time they say it’s 'Chandramukhi-2', and at another time it’s supposed to be the 'Annamalai' sequel! The narration peps up at times, like the scene where the superstar has this humourous exchange of words with a braggart (Sunderrajan), who had come with some nuns to invite the star to preside over their school function. The song on the Superstar and Nayanthara is lavishly picturised , the bit with the exotic bamboo-forest backdrop straight out of the Chinese film House of flying daggers.

The Rajini-Ashok Kumar factor

They are both superstars, the real-life and reel- life at times overlapping each other. Ashok Kumar’s character was meant to be a cameo on the sidelines, which would enter the story at the crucial moment with an impact that would take one by surprise, and put all the others to shade.

But Ashok Kumar being played by Rajinikanth, the character is given so much exposure earlier, that when the time to spring the speech where hegoes nostalgic about his childhood buddy comes, the surprise element, and the impact in exposing the humane side of the character, is not as forceful as it should have been. But on the flip side, Rajini looks much younger, trim and good.

Pasupathy and others

Each time the script meanders and then returns to base, we keep getting more and more alienated from the central character of Balu and his plight, the character soon losing out on the sympathy factor. But it’s to Pasupathy’s credit, that he ploughs on bravely and manages to leave his mark. Graceful is Meena as the barber’s wife, re-enacting the role she had done in the earlier version.

If extending the superstar’s role was to appease his fans, there is no reason why Nayanthara who plays herself, as the heroine who happened to shoot with Ashok Kumar at the village, should have got so much of footage. Its her glamour quotient that is exploited here and she even gets a solo romp-in-the-rain song. Prabhu is totally wasted in an insignificant role.

Vadivelu is another long distraction, just a couple of his antics working out. At the end of it all, one wonders whether the story was about a superstar who had lost his childhood buddy. Or about a poor barber who had finally found his! Katha Parayumbol was truly an ode to friendship. But this version seems more like an ode to a superstar. And we are not talking of Ashok Kumar here! ....

Rajni declines to join issue with Tamil stars over apology

KARNATAKA: Film star Rajnikanth today declined to join issue saying he would not like to add anything more to the 'speculation.'

"I don't want to add anything more to the speculation," he said here in an apparent reference to criticism by Tamil film stars taking exception to his 'apology' to mollify pro-Kannada groups which had threatened to disrupt the movie launch yesterday in that state.

He, however, reiterated that his talk of ‘kicking’those in Karnataka against the water project was aimed at persons indulging in violence in the name of protests, and not aimed at Kanndigas as a whole.

In an emotional speech while taking part in a day-long fast here in April by the Tamil film industry demanding the implementation of the water project, Rajnikanth had asked "should we not kick those who are stopping us water?" in an apparent reference to protests against the project by some groups in Karnataka.

"I should have clarified this matter on the stage that day itself," the actor said today at an event held to distribute special incentives to the technicians of Kuchelan here. ....