No Mandodari in Raavan

Bipasha Basu was touted to play the role of Mandodari in Raavan. Earlier, the film’s director Mani Ratnam had plans to sign up Nayanthara, which did not materialize due to date issues.

However, the recent buzz is that the director has decided to do away with the role entirely. Apparently, Mani Ratnam felt that he could not do enough justice to the role and there were chances that it could be reduced to a mere item number. Considering all this, Mani decided to chop off the role. This puts an end to the rumors that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was insecure of her role should the Mandodari character be given prominence.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Mani wants Vikram… says so to Selvaraghavan

The last leg of the Mani Ratnam-directed Raavan was being shot at the Malshej Ghats. Unfortunately, the heavy rains that have been lashing in those parts have made it difficult for the unit to film the scenes and as a result the stars and technicians are forced to stay indoors. The worst affected are the busy stars Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vikram. The trio is involved in several projects and have their diaries of schedule jam-packed already. This sudden delay is said to make things difficult for these stars.

A source says that Vikram needs to be in Ladakh later this month to take part in the Selvaraghavan directed flick and is really concerned about the delay. Sensing this, Mani has requested Selvaraghavan to spare a few days so that he could complete the shooting with Vikram.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

No leak from Raavan: Rahman

The latest wave in the Internet is a supposed ‘leaked’ song from Mani Ratnam’s upcoming film titled Raavan. 


The film, which stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in lead roles in the Hindi version and Vikram and Aishwarya in the Tamil version, has music by Oscar winner A R Rahman. According to a post in the internet recently, a song — titled Kaadale... in the Tamil version — has been sung by the lead actress Aishwarya herself!

However, music composer Rahman has denied that any such song features in the film. “Someone’s pulling a fast one,” is all he said. All eyes are on Raavan’s music as it will be the first album with the Mani Ratnam-Rahman combination that will be out after the composer’s double delight at the Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire. Besides Raavan, A R Rahman’s current projects include Rajinikanth’s Endhiran and Sultan, Couples Retreat and Vinaithaandi Varuvaaya. 


Courtesy:indiatimes.com

Aishwarya Rai completes filming Mani Ratnam's 'Ravan'

Aishwarya Rai has completed filming for Mani Ratnam's 'Ravan' with co-star and husband Abhishek Bachchan and is currently taking a break with her family.
October 04, 2009, (Sawf News) - Aishwarya Rai has completed filming for Mani Ratnam's 'Ravan' with co-star and husband Abhishek Bachchan and is currently taking a break with her family.


Aishwarya has been slogging it out, working on four films at a time - Mani Ratnam's Ravan and Raavana (Tamil), Vipul Shah's Action Replay and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish with co-star Hrithik Roshan.


Aishwarya is playing the same role in both the Hindi and Tamil versions of Ravan. She speaks her own dialogs for the Tamil version as she is fluent in the language.


Aishwarya and Abhishek have lately become inseparable. Late last month the couple signed their first ever commercial together for a soap manufacturer. There are reports that the couple shopped for some time to get the best deal. The ad will fetch them a whopping Rs25 crore.


The couple recently gave their first ever TV interview together when they appeared on U.S. chat show queen Oprah Winfrey's show on Monday, September 28.


Courtesy:sawfnews.com

Bipasha Basu out of Raavan

Bipasha Basu is quite upset these days as she is no longer a part of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan anymore. The actress had allotted 20 days for the shooting and had done the dress rehearsals too. However, Mani decided that Bipasha’s role, which also included an item number, would make the film too lengthy and hence chose not to use her. Sources say that it is still not clear if the actress would be replaced or the role is being chopped off entirely.

Mani is said to have made amends with the dejected actress by promising her a plum role in his future project.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Bipasha now in Ravana!

Here is a latest entrant to the much-hyped movie of the year, ‘Ravana’. The Mani Ratnam’s movie has always maintained a hush-hush atmosphere within itself. And the director had roped in this dusky beauty a month ago, on a condition to keep up the secrecy about her involvement in the project.

Now, when the news is out, Bipasha Basu will be playing the character of Mandodhari, wife of Ravana. In the movie, Abhishek Bachchan will be playing Ravana, Priyamani as Ravan’s sister Surpanaka, Aishwarya Rai as Sita, Vikram as Ram and finally Govinda as Hanuman. The movie will only carry the nuances of the epic Ramayana.

Initially, Sushmita Sen was rumoured to be approached for Mandodhari’s role. But as the diva refused, the offer fell into Bips’s lap, who readily accepted it.

Here our modern-day Mandodhari will be doing a sizzling item number. But no, the lady will be doing more than that! Bips will have a full-fledge role of 40 mins sources say. Our sexy lady is now packing up her bags for a 20-day shoot scheduled in coming days this month. “Bipasha’s costumes are ready. She is very happy with her look in the film. She is looking forward to joining the unit of Ravana,” added the sources. Wow, now that’s someone to add-on for the movie. Looks like the movie is getting spicier and hotter by the days…

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Mani Ratnam promotes Vikram for Hindi

Media hype is now and before the most vital thing in promoting a film or a star. Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ravana’ is one such film that has been on the headlines for quite some time now for both lucky and unlucky reasons unintentionally.

But now the director has worked on a perfect plan to launch his hero Vikram the right way in Bollywood.  Vikram plays an important role in both Tamil and Hindi versions of the film. 

According to the sources, Mani Ratnam has worked to highlight only Vikram’s character for the first trailer. It looks like the trailer is perfectly dyed-in-the-wool to show who Vikram is for the Bolly-world.

The filmmaker is known to create the best hype for almost all his heroes, for all good reasons. Let’s wait to see what lies beneath this publicity now!

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Mani Ratnam’s plans for Vikram!

Vikram plays an important role in both versions (Tamil and Hindi) of the Mani Ratnam directed Raavan. While there are a host of actors that star along with him in the film, like Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Priyamani, Prithviraj etc., the director has plans to make a trailer concentrating wholly on the title role or rather, the villain.

This first trailer, sources say, will concentrate on Vikram’s character, thus giving him a grand opening in Bollywood. Wonder what the director has in store for this versatile actor.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Prabhu in Mumbai for Raavan shoot

Prabhu, one of ace director Mani Ratnam's favourite heroes, has left for Mumbai for the shooting of the director's upcoming bilingual Raavan/ Ashokavanam, in which he plays a vital role, similar to Ramayan’s Vibheeshan. The shooting begins on August 28 in Khireshwar village near Malshej ghat, about 90 km from Pune.
Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Govinda and other film personalities will visit the village for the shooting. Meanwhile, the shooting of the film recently ran into trouble once again, with the forest authorities in Maharashtra slapping cases against 14 people from the crew for trespassing into forest property at Khireshwar village near Malshej Ghat.
According to reports, the crew, with the help of some villagers, erected two sheds and dumped materials used for erecting sets on forest land without obtaining permission. The crew's version is that they had applied for permission, which was under consideration.
This is not the first time that Raavan is running into trouble. Earlier, the Kerala Forest Department stopped Mani Ratnam from filming Raavan in the jungles of Malayathur, after it was found that the crew had constructed huts inside the forest, which comes under protected and reserve areas.



Courtesy: galatta.com

Raavan embarks for last schedule, gears up for Apr-May'10 release

With Mani Ratnam now back in action, Raavan is certainly seeing a strong push for itself as far as it's shooting stint is concerned. Come 27th August and this epic film would be embarking on the last shooting schedule.

Informs a senior crew member from Raavan, "Yes, we all would now be traveling to a place near Mahabaleshwar which would be the last shooting schedule for us. It would last for 40 days."

40 days? Isn't it too much considering the fact that quite a few movies are entirely shot in such a huge span of time? "Why are you forgetting that the movie is a bilingual and is being simultaneously shot in Hindi and Tamil? Every scene is shot twice with a change in actors taking place as well. You have to factor this as well before jumping to conclusions around the film being over shot", he explains.

Total shooting days for the film would read 110-115 days. "This is normal because it comes down to around 60 days a shoot for a single movie. For a movie of this scale, budget, canvas and subject, it is but natural to have an extended shooting schedule. Moreover, there is a lot of outdoors required in the film as well that includes rock climbing and some rough terrain", he divulges, "All of that comes with its own challenges; something which wasn't surprising for any of us at all. We knew what we were getting into the kind and the kind of dates that would be required from us".

Since this is the last shooting schedule for the film, Raavan would get into post production soon after the wrap is announced in early October. "Yes, the entire post production is going to be an intense exercise as well. The film is being readied for an April/May 2010 release", he reveals.

With music by A.R. Rahman, the Hindi version of Raavan stars Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Govinda and Nikhil Dwivedi.


Courtesy: bollywoodhungama.com

Forest troubles Ravana again!

Like how Lord Rama underwent troubles in forest, the cast and crew of ‘Ravana’, a film apparently inspired by Ramayana, too is undergoing trouble after trouble in forest areas.

A few weeks after a rouge elephant killed a man during the film’s shoot in Kerala following which the Animal Welfare Board of India sent a notice to Mani Ratnam- the director of the movie. Shooting of the flick once again ran into trouble, this time in a village near Pune, as the forest department has registered complaint against the villagers for illegally erecting two sheds, and dumping materials used for erecting sets on forest land without obtaining permission.

However, reports have it that Mani has not been booked in the case as he cannot be held liable for the acts done by the villagers as the local coordinator of the film did not obtain permission on time to use the forest land for shooting.

"The forest department had handed over some parts of the land to the irrigation department in 1992. As per the law, the land remains a reserved forest. The dam water is used for irrigation. Besides this, no other activity is allowed unless permission is obtained from the competent authority," Forest Officer Sadashiv Raut was quoted as saying.

He added: "Mani Ratnam had visited the village sometime back and had decided to shoot a part of the film here as the location had resemblance with the ancient setting he had in mind for the film."

This ambitious project of Mani, Ravan has Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram and Priyamani in lead roles. Musical score is by A R Rahman.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rajini hails Vairamuthu

Kaviyarasu Vairamuthu is truly a magician of lyrics. His abundant literary works and countless musical compositions are priceless treasures of Tamil cinema.

Recently the great poet and lyricist had impressed our Superstar Rajinikanth. Vairamuthu has penned the lyrics for few songs in Rajni’s ‘Endhiran’. Endhiran, meaning Robot, tells the story of a man who invents a robot. To suit the situation, Vairamuthu had written that as the robot is invented by a man, it has ‘father tongue’ and not ‘mother tongue’. Rajnikanth was bowled over this and wondered at Vairamuthu’s intelligence. A humble Vairamuthu said that even the director Shankar and Superstar were to share the appreciation for this line.

Well, we all are highly impressed with you sir, for all the memorable songs you have given so far.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Did Nayan say no to Mani Ratnam?

Raavan the grand project directed by Mani Ratnam is still in the process of introducing new characters and it is believed that Suhasini Mani Ratnam had called Nayanthara to be part of the prestigious project. It is also said that the role of Mandodhari was created keeping Nayan in mind.

Nayan, who is in South Africa right now for Aadhavan was keen to be a part of the project but was unable to allot dates, as she is already booked in Telugu and Malayalam.
Inside sources reveals that Nayan wanted a glamorous platform to make an impression in Bollywood and hence opted out of the Mani Rathnam’s project.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Raavan’s jinx continues with a tragedy

Raavan, the much-hyped film directed by Mani Ratnam, is now being shot in the forest area in Chalakudy in Kerala. The entire team, including Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, have been camping there for a couple of weeks. The film has already been delayed over a couple of months due to several unfortunate incidences.

The latest is a tragedy that struck the unit when a wild elephant entered the shooting spot and trampled a team member. However, details about the unit member who succumbed to the attack were not available immediately. Incidentally, the Raavan unit also had a trained elephant at the shooting spot.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

What caused Mani seethe on Raavan sets?

Director Mani Ratnam is working with some of the best actors and actresses in the Indian film industry for his forthcoming flick Raavan. However, this does not mean that all is well on the sets. The buzz we hear is that Mani is quite upset with Govinda who plays an important role in the film. The reason is that Govinda skipped the shots for three days in a row. While the actor made himself available on time in the previous schedules, trouble started when the unit moved to Ooty to shoot a few shots. 


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Raavan, a new chapter in Nikhil's career!

Like the typical Bollywood flick, everybody loves the outsider who makes it big. You know, the quintessential rags-to-riches hero sans a celebrated last name, who gets the hits.

Nikhil Dwivedi’s is turning out to be the classic case of the proverbial outsider storming Bolllywood without any star system to support him. He was noticed for his earnest debut performance in My Name is Anthony Gonsalves, and no less than the genius director Mani Ratnam impressed by his talent, signed Nikhil in his next cinematic vision Raavan, which turned out to be the best New Year gift any actor could get.

To Nikhil’s credit, the directors rave about his talent and his attitude, which they are sure will prove his altitude in the bollywood.

And sure enough Nikhil is not disappointing, as he has already signed on with 4 accomplished directors in their future projects. He has already built on the momentum that will pitchfork him as the star to look out for in the near future.

As Nikhil strongly believes that all of us are are in a common time zone, in the end, the hardworking people with talent, who are backed by their destinies will stay.

Well sure looks like Mani Ratnam’s Raavan can turn a new chapter, that one ‘ Zanjeer’ like moment, that will pitchfork Nikhil as the best young ‘Outside’ talent to become deeply rooted in the masses’ psyche like his illustrious predecessors!!

Courtesy: dayafterindia.com

Mani to start climax shoot of Raavan!

Mani Ratnam is planning to shoot the climax of his magnum opus Raavan in his favourite Chalakudy forest locations from July 16.

The buzz is that the artists who are doing this tri-lingual in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu mainly Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram and Aishwarya Rai have told the director that they have already given him over 100 days, and they cannot spare any further dates.
Mani and his buddy cameraman Santosh Sivan is planning to shoot the climax for the next 45 days in Chalakudy and Mysore forest areas. They have to shoot deep inside forest areas, for which permissions have to be granted by the respective state governments.
Added to that a few helicopter scenes inside forest areas have to be shot, for which special permission have to be obtained. Let us hope that Mani is successful in his mission to complete Raavan, this time.

Courtesy: sify.com

Will Mani make money now?

The maverick movie maker Mani Ratnam is back in action and currently he is busy wrapping up his forthcoming venture ‘Ravana’ which is being made in Hindi and Tamil.

The expectations are high on this one given the fact that Mani is leading from the front and the cast is exceptional in the form of Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya, Priyamani and others.

Now, the industry pundits are waiting to see whether Mani can spin his magic once again at the box office. The film will be dubbed into Telugu as well and the release would be happening simultaneously across all regions.

Mani has recently recovered from a stroke and he has already embarked onto other projects.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Priyamani opens up on Ravanan

National award winner Priyamani who is working in Mani Ratnam’s Ravan said that she has completed most of her work expect for a few scenes with Abhishek Bachchan.

Speaking about the project she said that she is happy to work with Mani than getting an entry into Bollywood. She also stated that she agreed to be part of this venture, just because it was directed by Mani.

Priyamani will be leaving for South Africa shortly for a Telugu film shooting.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Is Raavan getting delayed?

According to sources Southside, things are apparently not going as planned on Mani Ratnam's Raavan.

Apparently, the legendary director wants to re-shoot some parts of his film.

These sources claim Mani doesn't like Abhishek Bachchan's [ Images ] work in certain scenes, where the actor -- who plays the title character of Raavan -- has been overshadowed by Madhavan, who plays Ram.

Madhavan has apparently done such a fine job that Mani wants to re-shoot some scenes so that his hero can hold his own.

The film, which also stars Aishwarya Rai [ Images ] Bachchan, will also have a song choreographed, we hear, by the renowned dancer, Astad Deboo.

Courtesy: rediff.com