Director Soundarya Rajinikanth - Tamil Movie Directors Interview - Sultan The Warrior

The label of superstar’s daughter is inherited whereas the personality of a young film producer is an earned one. Soundarya Rajinikanth takes her first step as a producer through Goa. Over to Soundarya…

BW: Transition from running Ochre Studios to becoming a film producer? Soundarya Rajinikanth: Ochre Studios is like my baby that was started three and half years ago with just ten people. Today my team is 150 in number. We started with graphics work, digital editing, color grading, and animation work and have now moved to a higher level, i.e., film production. In film industry, production is one department which gives job opportunities for many. That’s why I decided to produce films. What kind of films would you like to produce? Our films would be fun-filled and rich in entertainment quotient. They also would be spoken for quality in content, technical excellence and good script. I am keen to introduce new actors, directors, cinematographers, makeup men and editors. Hence we are working on those lines. Ochre Studios will serve as an excellent platform for the generation next. " Ochre studios will serve as an excellent platform for the generation next " What is Ochre’s contribution to graphics department? We have done graphics work in many Tamil and Kannada films and

Chinmayi elated after winning award for 'Shivaji'

Chinmayi, who won the Tamil Nadu Government award for the best female playback singer for music chart-buster 'Sahana' in Rajinikanth-starrer 'Shivaji' says she feels "blessed" to have worked with Rahman on her award-winning song.

The singer, who is a multi-tasker with diverse interests in singing, dubbing, hosting TV shows and running her own company and, of late, learning to play the 'sarangi' (stringed musical instrument), is elated after winning the award.

"Working under Rahman sir is always a divine experience," said Chinmayi who was introduced by the popular music composer in the Mani Ratnam directed 'Kannathil Muthamittal' in 2002.

The song also fetched Chinmayi her first state government award for the best female playback singer.

Chinmayi, 24, who learned music from her mother, was studying in the 12th standard when she first met Rahman.


Courtesy: ptinews.com

Aishwarya to get 6 crore for Robot

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (35) is the highest paid Indian film heroine. Still, for her to land an eye-watering Rs 6 crore for a single film — Shankar’s The Robot — is something. Bonus: she serenades Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. Shankar last directed Rajni in Sivaji.

The Robot is India’s most expensive film to date. It was reportedly budgeted at Rs 128.70 crore but after one schedule in Brazil, the budget was expanded to Rs 150 crore.

That’s when the original producers— Ayngaran and Eros — upped and left, leaving the film to the loving care of the Brothers Maran (Sun TV) who were delighted to take over.

Reports have it that with a 27 per cent hike in crew remuneration (most of the technicians are American and have to be paid in dollars), the cost of The Robot or Endhiran, as it is called in Tamil, is set to skyrocket to Rs 165 crore. A new high for Indian cinema.

Courtesy:indiatimes.com

Title singer changes for Rajini

Superstar Rajinikanth has one of most enviable fan following in the industry. His punch dialogues and style of acting has wooed many people across the globe.

One of the highlights of his movies are the title songs which have been targeted at the masses. These songs have usually been sung by popular playback singer SP Balasubramanyam.

However there seems to be a change in the latest Rajni flick 'Yanthram'. Sources indicate that it will be the talented and fusion based singer Hariharan who will render his voice to the title song composed by A R Rahman.

Well let us see the impact of Hariharan’s voice for Rajini this time.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Title singer changes for Rajini

Superstar Rajinikanth has one of most enviable fan following in the industry. His punch dialogues and style of acting has wooed many people across the globe.

One of the highlights of his movies are the title songs which have been targeted at the masses. These songs have usually been sung by popular playback singer SP Balasubramanyam.

However there seems to be a change in the latest Rajni flick 'Yanthram'. Sources indicate that it will be the talented and fusion based singer Hariharan who will render his voice to the title song composed by A R Rahman.

Well let us see the impact of Hariharan’s voice for Rajini this time.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rajini’s confession!

The Ulaganayagan Kamal 50 show, organized by Vijay TV to honor the achievements of Kamal in the world of cinema raised quite a few eyebrows. The Nehru Indoor Stadium was bursting at its seams with the who’s who of the film fraternity attending the same.
Few interesting occurrences spiced up the event, like the superstar’s confession about where he learnt acting. In his address, Rajini mentioned that during his earlier days, when he worked with Kamal in KB’s movies, the latter tipped him on how amazing an actor Kamal was and that how Rajini should learn the art from him. “From then on, I started observing Kamal in the sets and began to infuse his flavors in my acting. I learnt Kamal’s nuances when I worked with him and tried to bring it in my performance,” Rajini confessed.
He also revealed that he wasn’t comfortable signing up for Robot since the movie was scripted with Kamal in mind. “However, Shankar convinced me that he has made necessary changes and modifications to suit it to my character. Only after deliberations, I decided to take the project,” he added.



Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Endhiran’s blazing climax

The shooting of Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’ is fast approaching its climax! Currently the team is busy in putting its heart and sweat into the making of the movie’s climax.

Being the significant part of the movie, the scene features a fire bursting out of a scientist’s laboratory. This is said to be only a 4-min scene, however an elaborate set has been erected in the city’s Prasad Studios.

The production team has specially flown down few Hollywood visual effects companies to supervise this fire scene. This expertise will decide as to how and where special effects would be applicable while editing later.

Now, did you know that this is something new and done for the first time in our Indian cinema? Well, this method was earlier followed by a famous American filmmaker George Lucas in several Hollywood flicks of his times. Shankar had recently highlighted the importance of special effects and graphics in movies.

A dedicated man he is, our Superstar has insisted on staying on the sets, to see the shooting; although he has no role to play in it.

Hmm, now if such interesting things are happening on the sets, one would be really thrilled to experience the happenings live! Right?

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman’s new find

The Chennai Mozart and now the double Oscar winner A R Rahman made a humble start in the music industry in Indian cinema. Now he has attained so much popularity in the global industry which others dream of.

He is always known for being genius and creating something all the time.

Now sources indicate that he something new for the flick “Yanthram”. The buzz is that Rahman is using a new instrument called Continuum fingerboard. This is supposedly a virtual touch screen keyboard and has been used by very few musicians.

Many are waiting to hear the new instrument from the Mozart and are excited about this new find of his.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Shankar’s version of Maruthi Gypsy

Noted as the showman of the south, Shankar is one of the most sought after directors in the south. He is known to make his movies on a grand scale. Even though his budgets for movies are sky high, the producers have lot of faith in him.

He is currently busy with the shooting of “Yanthram” which stars Superstar Rajinikanth and the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai in the lead.

Sources indicate that Shankar has used a Maruti Gypsy for the shooting. However this vehicle has twenty wheels instead of the regular four wheels.

The car apparently costs Rs 3 lakhs for the making and currently, the shooting has been happening in Chennai at a brisk pace.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

‘Endhiran’ confirmed for summer 2010

For sure, Shankar’s “Endhiran’ is worthy to be tagged as “ever longest project in the history of Kollywood’. The film started rolling, say, before 15 months and still the filming schedules haven’t been completed.
Earlier, during the occasion of “Eeram’ audio launch Rajnikanth had stated that his “Endhiran’ would hit the screens somewhere in December. But closer sources have now brought out the fact saying, “Although shooting would be wrapped-up within next month, it will take 4-5 months to complete the post production works.”
The sources further added that since director Shankar has used the latest techniques in computer graphics like “Animatronics’, it would take a long time to windup. “Animatronics’ is the most commonly used technique in Hollywood films where gigantic figures as Dinosaurs, King Kong and Anaconda were presented with realistic appeal. This is the first time that such a technique is being utilized in the history of Indian cinema.
Despites getting dashed down with their hopes, ardent followers of Rajnikanth have said, “Though it takes a very long time, it’s worth waiting for as our “Thalaivar’ offers something extraordinary in his each film.”

Courtesy: thaindian.com

Shankar speaks on Endhiran!

Shankar has given an interview to a Tamil daily where he has said: “ Endhiran is beyond imagination, with much grandeur and richness.

You can see the effort which is to be taken for 10 films in this one film. Rajni is such an amazing hero. Just words can’t describe his efforts.”

On Rajini’s look in the film, Shankar says “Sivaji was just a sample of how young the star can look. In Endhiran he will look even younger. For his make up things, we went to America and searched in many places but nothing came right. Then we tried in India and it worked out perfectly for the character he plays. Normally make-up, Kamal will only take efforts for make up is the public opinion. But in this film Rajni has taken amazing efforts as he waited patiently for two three hours to put up the make-up.”

On Aiswarya Rai- Rajinikanth screen combination, Shankar says: “There was terrific chemistry between them, as she plays a medical student. Shankar added that the film has “never before seen special effects and graphics.” They have used a technique called “Animatronics” the use of electronics and robotics in mechanised puppets (Robos) to make them appear to be alive.

Courtesy: sify.com

Kalabhavan Mani in Endhiran

South India's comedian-turned-hero and noted villain Kalabhavan Mani, known for his National award winning performance as a blind man in Vasantiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum (1999), will be seen in a meaty role in director S. Shankar's forthcoming Tamil science fiction film Endhiran, rumoured to be the last film by super star Rajinikanth before he enters politics.

The shooting of the climax scenes of Endhiran has begun recently. Sources say that 95% of the shooting has already been completed and the remaining portion, including a six minute climax fight scene, is being shot in Prasad Studios.

The first part of the climax was shot last week at the Siruseri IT Expressway. Some scenes were shot at the SIPCOT industrial estate in Sirucheri, where a Volvo bus has been used as a satellite remote sensing lab. Once the shooting is complete, Shankar will need another six to seven months to complete post production works, it is reported.

Courtesy: galatta.com

Soundarya as a specialist in ‘Endhiran’

Preparing for the final leg of the shoot director Shankar said that two songs are left to be canned abroad. “The first science-fiction film in Tamil will deal with the good and bad effects of robots in the backdrop of Indian culture”, said the director. Our superstar also confirmed it saying that more than 80%of the film’s shoot is over, during the ‘Eeram’ audio launch.

Sources close to the production house says that Sun TV is planning to release the film by April 2010. The reason behind the delay is the usage of EFX, CG and 3D animation techniques unlike another Tamil movie. They have used nearly two lakhs and fifty thousand frames for these special effects!

As all these works can’t be finished in Chennai alone, few important scenes have been handed over to a company in Canada. It’s heard that this particular firm has handled several Hollywood movies.

The focal information is that our hero Superstar’s daughter Soundarya is an important member in the team of Endhiran’s Digital experts’ team. The girl is always very much involved in boosting up her dad’s image… Great!

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Shankar commends Rajni’s patience

Produced by Sun Pictures, shooting for Shankar’s Enthiran starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is proceeding in full swing. Quite understandably, the director is unwilling to part with details of the script besides the fact that it’s a futuristic subject which requires a great detail of computer graphics work.

“I have always been fond of using graphics in my movies in songs sequences or at places where the script has demanded it. But with Enthiran, we’ve taken CG to the next level. However, I can vouch for the fact that audiences would hardly realize that graphics have been used,” informs Shankar.

Coming to Rajinikanth’s look in the movie, he says, “Well, yes, he looks much younger in this movie than in Sivaji. People said he looked very young in Sivaji, but when they see him in action in Enthiran, they’ll be quite stunned at how much more naturally youthful he looks,” says Shankar. Adding, “Spending longs hours on the make up chair is generally something one associates with Kamal Haasan, who has done it for scores of his movies. Well, for the first time Rajini has spent close to three hours almost every day getting his new look on! I really do appreciate his patience!” 

Courtesy: galatta.com

Could ‘Endhiran’ be Rajnikanth’s last film?

The entire Kollywood is brimmed with this surprising buzz rounding up in town. According to some of the inner sources, it has been divulged that “Endhiran’ would be Rajnikanth’s last film as the actor has planned to make it big in political arena.
Recently, when filmmaker P. Vasu approached Rajnikanth about working together for the sequel to “Chandiramukhi’, the actor didn’t show his concern over it as he said; “We’ll look into it later after the release of “Endhiran’.”
Nonetheless, superstar’s elder brother Sathya Narayana Rao had openly stated that the actor would probably make his entry into politics after “Endhiran’.
This has gradually turned the entire state much invigorated as Rajnikanth’s fans have been requesting him to get into politics for the past 12 years.

Courtesy: thaindian.com

Climax portions of Endhiran shot!

For the last few weeks Shankar is busy shooting portions of the climax scenes of his most ambitious film till date, Sun Pictures Endhiran, featuring superstar Rajinikanth and Aiswarya Rai.

Some parts of the climax have been shot at the SIPCOT industrial estate in Sirucheri. A Volvo bus has been souped up as a satellite remote sensing lab.

The set which has been put up by art director Sabu Cyril at a cost of nearly 50 lakhs is smashed to smithereens as the Robot takes on the imposters.

Soon Shankar and his stunt men will be moving to Prasad Studio where a huge set has been put up where a fight scene will be picturised as the whole place will go up in flames.

It will be for the first time in Indian cinema where advanced fire fighting technique methods will be used. 

Courtesy: sify.com

The secret of metallic look of Enthiran

Superstar has not not strained so much in his career for makeup like the one he goes through in Enthiran. Now let’s have a look what Times of India says about the metallic look that the star sports in the film.

The metallic look!

Superstar Rajinikanth is popular for undergoing a tremendous metamorphosis in terms of dressing and style for his films. For his forthcoming film Enthiran (Robot) Rajini will sport a ‘futuristic’ look! The look has been kept under wraps but an onlooker revealed, “Rajini sir sports a bizarre look in the film” We got in touch with hair-stylist Aalim who has styled Rajini. He said, “Rajinikanth’s outfits have been designed by Manish Malhotra.

A lot of copper is being used in it. The hairdo that I’ve created compliments the outfits. I’ve given him a very cutting edge look comprising stylish side locks and metallic hair extensions.” Aalim further added, “Rajini sir is very cool and despite being worshipped, he is extremely down-to-earth and humble. If I were to rate the most stylish men in films, Rajini sir would top the list and Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan would come next.”

Courtesy: enthiran.net

Robot Rajini in Chennai now

The Sirucheri SIPCOT industrial estate is the area in which our robot Rajini is right now! The team of Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’ is working busily in the location to complete an important scene of the film out there.

We hear that Shankar has brought in an extremely strange Volvo bus in to the sets. Birdies say that the director has transformed a normal Volvo bus into a satellite remote sensing lab. This makeover process of the bus has cost a whooping 50 lakhs!

A scene in which a morph gang attacks the robot Rajini, who is inside this satellite remote sensing lab, is being filmed. The blow of the news is that our superstar is not in the shooting spot at all. It’s a stunt artist who is masked as the robot Rajini.

Using a dupe is not a big deal as our Superstar is a real-time hero. What say people?

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rajini against Rajinis

“Endhiran” has been making headlines ever since it’s shooting commenced. Some of the big names of Indian cine industry including gorgeous Aishwarya Rai are coming together for this one.

Recently the shooting for a fight scene of the film was taking place in Chennai in the set that was erected by one of India’s popular art directors Sabu Cyril. According to the sources, the stunt was between superstar Rajinikanth and 100 other robots that look like him. Fight master Peter Heinz composed this stunt sequence along with few foreign fight masters.

Now another interesting tittle-tattle is that many Hollywood companies are roped in for the visual effects (VFX) of the film. Hollywood companies like ILM, Tippet, Cafe EFX; and Hong Kong companies like Centro and Menfond are involved in this mega-budget project.

We say- Cooooool...

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Endhiran upcoming indoor shooting at AVM studio

Aishwarya Rai-Rajnikanth starrer Endhiran, the Tami movie starts its next schedule of shooting in the AVM studio on September 10. The film has completed 85 % percent of its shooting.

Superstar Rajnikanth’s magnum opus ‘Endhiran’ is fast on the heels of completion, as the actor himself had announced that 85 percent of filming has been done. According to the sources, director Shankar has called back his team for the next schedule, which will start rolling from September 10.
The previous schedule was shot in and around the regions of Mayajaal Multiplex, situated in the outskirts of Chennai.This upcoming schedulewill be shot in an indoor set at AVM Studios. Although, director Shankar hasn’t confirmed officially about the film’s completion, sources close to him have stated that it will be the final schedule for this two and a half years project.
Once, the filming is done the entire team will kick-start vigorous promotions, as Sun Pictures has planned for a unique approach while HBO will promote the film across western countries.



Courtesy: calcuttatube.com