Soundarya on animation!

It was Shriya Saran and now it is Soundarya Rajinikanth. The next guest lecturer on the ‘Times Avenues’ list was the Superstar’s daughter, to give a special lecture on her favourite topic and also her career field – animation. The talented lady shared her views on the subject and spoke about the opportunities available in the country when one chooses the animation career. She said, “There is a huge future for animation in India. Apart from the creative line, there are almost 10 times more opportunities on the technical side.” Talking about her current hot project, ‘Sultan’, she is very much looking forward to its release. Her love for pictures and images made her to choose animation over other forms in the film field and she decided to make an animation film with her dad as a hero. One can expect the usual masala and flavour of a commercial film from an animated Rajinikanth in ‘Sultan’, for she revealed, “There’s action, drama, revenge and love... It’s a commercial film. I am a commercial person. A confident Soundarya said, “I’m sure ‘Sultan’ will be path-breaking and we are working towards it.” The daddy dearest says when it comes to the opinion between the two movies ‘Sultan’ and ‘Endhiran’, she replied, “He thinks of them as two prestigious projects. The work to be put in them is the same.” It is said that this highly creative mind has other innovative plans like launching a ‘School of Thoughts’, which will be “a platform to people who have ideas.” Like they say, ‘like father, like daughter.’

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Sultan The Warrior with Rs.700 Million budget

Finally, Tamil Cinema goes to the world market with highest budget ever had. Thanks to the Superstar, who has opened a big market and a new trend in marketing the films worldwide. Rajini's Blockbuster Muthu is the first ever Tamil Cinema, which ran more than 400 days in Japan with a record collection.

After this, all his films got a simultaneous release worldwide and never makes mistake in world market. His recently released Shivaji (with a whopping Rs.800 Million budget) has created a new record in worldwide collections and caused for a boom to Tamil film business. Now his forthcoming Tamil- Telugu bilingual Kuselan's domestic rights procured by Pyramid Saimira for Rs.64 crores and overseas distribution for Rs.40 crores by Ayangaran. Film fans and distributors in the overseas have eagerly awaiting for this movie now.


Here is good news for Indian Film Industry, of course for Rajini fans. The cost of Ocher Studios-Adlabs-Warner Bros joint venture Sultan The Warrior featuring an animated Rajinikanth in a full length 3D movie touched Rs.700 million, said sources from its financier Exim Bank on Saturday.

According to the source, Sultan The Warrior will be the first ever costliest animated feature film in India and the business is expected to generate at least Rs.2.50 billion. The producers announced that the film would hit more than 1700 screens worldwide simultaneously.

"It began as a small Rs.70 million venture, but the unprecedented success of Shivaji last year saw it zoom past Rs.250 million and has now touched ten times its original cost," another believable source revealed.

While Ocher Studios is owned by Soundarya, daughter of Superstar Rajinikanth, Adlabs is owned by Anil Ambani. It is remembered that actor Ajith Kumar has been signed to play a key role in Ocher Studios' untitled solo maiden venture in feature film segment, Soundarya told reporters on Saturday. Work on the Ocher-Warner Bros joint venture, a sequel to Rajinikanth's earlier Blockbuster Billa (recently remade for Ajith) will begin in April next year
Courtesy: oneindia.in

Soundarya-Aishwarya: Super Duo

Another couple of star offspring to enter filmdom, albeit behind the camera, are none other than the Superstar’s daughters.

Soundarya Rajinikanth, his second daughter is working on her 3D animation movie Sultan -The Warrior, produced by her very own Ocher Studios.

And now Aishwarya, Dhanush’s wife, Rajinikanth’s first child, is starting off as assistant director to Selvaraghavan, who is directing Ayirathil Oruvan, starring Karthik (Suriya’s brother of Paruthi Veeran fame).

Just in case you forgot, Selvaraghavan is Aishwarya's brother-in-law, as he is Dhanush’s brother. In fact, it’s only from the second schedule of Ayirathil Oruvan that Aishwarya had joined as Selva's assistant. Previously it was the director’s wife, Sonia Agarwal, who was assisting him.

As they say, it’s all in the family.

Courtesy: galatta.com

The music of ‘Sultan The Warrior’

‘Sultan The Warrior’, the hi-tech and novel attempt on celluloid by Superstar Rajinikanth’s daughter, is growing in a fast pace with 20 per cent of the movie is completed.

More exciting news about the first ever 3D animation feature film in India is that the music wizard A.R. Rahman has so far composed two songs for the movie. As director Soundarya informed earlier, the film has all the ingredients of a Superstar flick, including the intro song for the Superstar. The song, penned by veteran lyricist Vairamuthu and sung by S.P. Balasubramaniam, is all set to enthrall the Rajini fans.

The other song is a duet song, which is again penned and sung by Vairamuthu and SPB respectively.

It is worth recalling that most of the intro songs in Rajini films, sung by SPB have become huge hits. The combination of ARR, SPB, Vairamuthu, and Rajini has rocked in films like ‘Muthu’ and ‘Padayappa’. We hope that the combination would recreate the magic in the animation film as well.

Courtesy: Indiaglitz.com

SRK, Yash Raj films & Rajinikanth clash!

As interesting as the headline is the story itself. If reports smoking out of Bollywood are to be believed then we can witness the clash of Titans, we mean with regards to the film industry.

Red Chillies VFX, Yash Raj FIlms and Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya's Ocher Studios will be vying with each other in the National Association of Broadcasters show to be held in Las Vegas on April 15.


The three production houses will also be making their presentations. Reports suggest that the production houses will also extend their service to not just desi but foreign films as well. The highest billing among these three production houses has been given to given to SRK's Red Chillies VFX. Not to mention that SRK's production has ventured into making animation films as well.

Rajinikanth's Ocher Studios has ventured in to the production and making of the animated film 'Sultan - The warrior', with a whooping budget of 70 crore rupees. Reports indicate that there is tough competition existing between Red Chillies VFX and Ocher Studios. And with Yash Raj films too coming out with an animation film titled 'Roadside Romeo' the competition is getting stiffer.

Now the best we can do is just wait till the calender turns April 15th and watch who gets picked as the best!
Courtesy: Indiaglitz.com

Soundarya expects Rs.100 cr from Sultan

The Rs 40 crore budgeted Rajinikanth's animation film 'Sultan the Warrior' is expected to do the business worth Rs.100 crore, as informed by Soundarya Rajinikanth, the director of the film. According to Soundarya, the film is progressing at a brisk pace and more than 100 technicians are working round the clock on the film at Soundarya's Ocher Studios.

Soundarya said, "Though the film is an animated version, it will be like a full-fledged Rajini film with as usual entertainment aspects. Our Superstar is going to sing and fight in this film. It is two and half entertainment extravaganza with all trade mark styles of Appa."

Latha Rajinikanth, wife of the Superstar also contributing in this film from her part. She is going to sing a song in Sultan

Courtesy: oneindia.in

What is A.R. Rahman’s secret title?

Maestro A.R. Rahman’s appearance in public events, leave alone press meets, is a rare occurrence. And when he called the media to address them, it was indeed a surprise

The occasion for this is the inauguration of his music school – KM Conservatory of Music. Addressing the media, Rahman said that this school would be for students wishing to pursue music courses either as a profession or a vocation.


He lamented that India, though rich and diverse in music, lacks symphony orchestras. To set this right, the students trained in the institute will pursue learning to play in a symphony orchestra. Initially, it will be formed partially with Indian and foreign students; however, he aims at creating one entirely for Indian students.

KM Conservatory of Music, for the time being, will be operated from the place adjacent to his studio in Kodambakkam. But about three acres of land has already been acquired in the suburbs in which class rooms, recording studios, concert hall and residences for faculties and students residing outside the city will be built. KM Conservatory of Music will operate in collaboration with Audio Media Education, an Apple certified institution. It has also been disclosed that talks are on with the University of Madras to grant Deemed University status to this institution.

When the reporters quizzed him on the why he had named the school KM, the maestro refused to divulge it and said the explanation behind the title will remain a secret close to his heart.

On composing music for the films of the Superstar, Rahman said he had worked with him several times earlier; his current projects with Rajini are Sultan the Warrior and Robot.

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

Animated Rajinikanth to get new mannerisms in 'Sultan'

An animated version of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth is set to wow fans in a 3-D film that features him in the role of an armour-clad warrior -- with a whole new set of his trademark mannerisms.

In "Sultan - The Warrior", directed by daughter Soundarya, Rajinikanth dons the persona of a swordsman with an uncanny resemblance to the 58-year-old actor.

"Thousands of years from now when you look up Indian entertainment history and you say animation, Rajinikanth will be the first man to (have) ever been animated," Soundarya said in an interview.

The animation film, slated for release in 12 languages by the end of 2008, is being promoted as a completely commercial venture and includes four song-and-dance sequences.


"It is a period film…on the lines of 'Troy' and 'Gladiator'…it is more of a war movie," the director said. "(But) It has everything a Rajinikanth commercial film needs in it".

Rajinikanth's unique acting style is characterised by a trademark gesture: toss a cigarette in the air, catch it in his lips, then light it with a match struck on a shirt sleeve.

In "Sultan - The Warrior", fans will get to see some new additions to his repository of popular mannerisms.

"Not only what he is already famous for but some new ones which my dad and I have personally worked on," said Soundarya.

"I want to do something that will become a trendsetter after 'Sultan', so lot of new mannerisms."

Rajnikanth's last film, "Sivaji -- The Boss", was a blockbuster hit in 2007 and fans are looking forward to seeing the superstar in a new avatar.

"We love Rajinikanth and we will go to see any film that he is in because we are sure that the film will be good," said businessman Vijay Menon. "Seeing Rajinikanth in an animation film will be a great experience."
Although his popularity remains largely restricted to southern India and the Tamil diaspora, Rajinikanth has also gained a cult following in Japan after his film "Muthu" was released there in 1998.

Courtesy: Deccanherald.com

Shruti Hassan in Sultan?

Sultan the warrior, the animated film being directed by Soundarya Rajnikanth and produced by Ochre studios in association with Adlabs is shaping up at a fast pace. The film has many firsts to its credit. Rajnikanth is the first Indian star to have been animated. Music is being scored by A R Rahman and two songs have been penned by Kavi

Perarasu Vairamuthu, out of which one will be the opening number and the other one is a duet. Recording of the songs have been done under tight wraps. It has also been alleged that these two tracks have been recorded very innovatively where creativity will be at its best and unique. Whispers floating in the industry also suggest that Shruti Hassan has sung a song in Sultan. Insiders reveal that the film is sure to be liked by kids as well as adults.

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

The journey so far

Music virtuoso A R Rahman in conversation with Rajiv Vijayakar about his newly-launched Music Conservatory and projects in the pipeline.

In every composer’s life comes a stage when he wants to pay back the art and medium that has given him so much. A R Rahman began in 1992 with Roja’s original Tamil version, little realising that he would win the National award for his debut — a first in film music history before Ismail Darbar repeated the feat in Hindi films with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

The payback in Hindi films was even better — Roja changed trends in music the way only Barsaat (1949), Dosti (1964), Aradhana (1969) and Aashiqui (1990) had done before. Today, Rahman, who also went on a techno trip and dominated digital domain and earned the ire of purists, is shifting gears. The Fuhrer of modern fusion, who has composed music in seven languages, has launched a unique Music Conservatory as his return gift to the seven notes.


Excerpts from an interview:

The K M Music Conservatory was a long-standing dream, right?
Yes, but since I kept hearing of similar projects I was not going ahead. Finally, since nothing was happening, I began work on it. Initially, we are operating from near my studio in Chennai. But soon, we will shift to a proper campus just outside the city.

What exactly is a Music Conservatory?
It is a concept quite prevalent in the West and takes care of music as well as musicians. For example, there are certain instruments that do not yield lucrative returns or even decent livelihoods for their players.

Such people can therefore earn in other ways, such as web designing or learning music production even as they continue with their passion. This ensures that such players are available and the instrument does not get lost.
In music today, being abreast with technology and music production opens up many doors and today's musicians should know these. When I have worked abroad, I have found it easy to prepare and record music in a few days flat — and yet it sounds good. This is as much because of the orderliness and harmonic structure of their music as it is due to availability of all kinds of instruments.

But in India, one has to often find musicians from abroad for an orchestra. And unlike two or three decades ago it is very difficult to find players of oboes or French horns, to mention just two instruments.

The same fate has come on various Indian instruments as musicians are discouraged from learning them because they cannot earn enough. In the end it is music that is compromised.

But in the conservatory, a young musician can learn even a rare instrument and earn well too. Since I have extended this concept even to Indian classical and folk music, musicians can come here to learn different styles of music too, like kirtanas or thumri. A world-class orchestra is another goal.

What will the faculty and curricula be like?
The K M Music Conservatory and Audio Media Education will be India's first Apple-authorised training centre. We will have a faculty of professors and musicians from both India and abroad and plan to start the first batch in 2008, when we will audition vocalists as well as different instrumentalists.

We will have courses in Western and Indian Vocals, Instrumental Performance, Classical, Theory, Music Appreciation, Ear Training, Piano, Audio Engineering, an Apple- certified course in Logic Pro, and a Digidesign-certified course in Pro Tools. We will give away A R Rahman Foundation Scholarships for deserving students.

Will you be choosier now about film assignments now to give more time to this activity?
(Smiles) A bit, yes. But then I was never into doing ten films at a time.

In Guru, your Barso re and Tere bina proved more popular than the ‘item’ song Mayya mayya. Does that indicate a shift in trends?
By itself, it is a very good sign. It is a fact that electronic music does not satisfy in the long run and I have always loved acoustics.

You have always taken amateur singers even if they are not in immaculate sur. Others use pitch-correction software for such voices, but you do not. Why is that?
I do not think that it is necessary to have perfection every time. Too much polish can be boring! (Laughs) It’s like this new jacket I am wearing which has rough and faded edges. That can sometimes look more attractive!

But some songs demand trained voices. Why did you want Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to sing the raag-oriented Man Mohana in Jodhaa Akbar?
Well, Ashutosh Gowariker was very keen on it, but Aishwarya had no time to rehearse. And there are hidden talents in people!

In Mumbai, two filmmakers have always had foolproof collaborations with you — Subhash Ghai and Ashutosh Gowariker.

That is why I am choosy and do not want to repeat some films that were mistakes. These filmmakers push you and yet give you time because they want perfection. As a composer, I have really enjoyed working on all their films.

You are the first choice in Mumbai for period films since Lagaan. But you have been accused of being indifferent to the eras and regions in terms of orchestration and sound.

Period films, whether Jodhaa Akbar or Bose— The Forgotten Hero make you think differently. You cannot use a catchy groove and a certain authenticity is needed. But at the same time, there should be a contemporary appeal and quality, so I have to see how friendly my music can be while retaining the correct vibe. I try to avoid something that has too modern, but it’s not always possible or even necessary. The impact of the orchestration and background music is more important, like Naushad-saab’s background score in Mughal-E-Azam.

Which are your forthcoming films?
I am doing Subhash Ghai’s Yuvraaj, Aamir Khan’s Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and his remake of Ghajini and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Dilli 6.

In Tamil films I am doing Shankar’s Robot and also Sultan— The Warrior. Then there is a Telugu film starring Pawan Kalyan.

Courtesy: Deccanherald.com

BEYOND THE FRONTIERS

In the fifteen years that he has been around, he has turned trends on their heads and reset music parameters. This year, A.R.Rahman has achieved the rare distinctions of winning both the Best Music and Best Background Music trophies for Guru and also opening an unique Music Conservatory in Chennai. In an informal chat, the elusive composer talks of - what else? - his music

You launched the K.M.Conservatory on your 42nd birthday. What exactly is the concept behind this?
Conservatories are widely known in the West and the concept comes from the orderliness and harmonic structure of Western classical music. When I worked abroad, it struck me that I could prepare and record music in three days flat - and yet it sounded so beautiful.
Over here we are not so well organised., and it is extremely difficult to find certain instruments like oboes and French horns because there are no players. Most of today’s musicians are into electronics and the learning of instruments is neglected and music is compromised because they cannot sustain a livelihood with them.
But in the conservatory, a young musician can learn the violin or even a rare instrument and sustain himself by doing, say, its edit on the computer. So he learns - but earns well too. This is a common practice abroad where people do something else for a livelihood and also play music. There are musicians, for example, who are also web designers, so that they can afford a decent lifestyle.
I have extended this concept even to Indian classical and folk music. Musicians can come here to learn different styles of music like kirtanas and thumri.
A world-class orchestra is also our goal. Since electronics sounds came in and their new sound was liked for its freshness, live classical music and instruments began to lose appreciation, which was ominous. So many Indian composers have to go abroad to find orchestras for recording. KM Music Conservatory aims to eliminate this shortcoming. For a modern classical musician, having knowledge of both music performance and music technology is invaluable. Therefore, as I said earlier, excellent music production capabilities will ensure many more career opportunities and financial security.

Where is this Conservatory located?

The KM Music Conservatory and Audio Media Education will be India’s first Apple-authorised training centre. Right now, it is located in a small premises next to my studio but by the end of this year we will shift to a proper campus just outside Chennai. We plan to have a faculty of professors and musicians from both India and abroad and start the first batch in 2008, when we will audition vocalists as well as flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, double bass, and percussion players.

What will be the curriculum like?
We will have courses including Western Vocal and Instrumental, Indian Classical Vocal, Western and Indian Music Theory, Music Appreciation, Ear Training, Piano, Audio Engineering, an Apple-certified course in Logic Pro, and a Digidesign-certified course in Pro Tools. We will also have a professional KM Music Symphony Orchestra for those who complete the programmes, and the A.R.Rahman Foundation Scholarships for deserving students.

A Mumbai daily stated that you are curtailing assignments, especially in Hindi films, to give more attention to this new mission.
It was my dream to have such a conservatory for years but I held back each time as news floated about others planning similar things. Finally, since nothing was happening I decided to move ahead. And it’s not that I am cutting down on Hindi films. I have always been fairly choosy, I think, and I can’t do 10 films at a time here. But yes, I am trying to choose the cream even from among them.

This time you were in Mumbai a day before theScreen Awards. So why did you not stay back? As it happened, you annexed both the Best Music and Best Background Music trophies for Guru.
I know, I regret that I could not attend the Screen Awards show. The problem was that I was in a whirlwind at that particular point, so I was not even accessible as I hardly had time even to check emails and SMS-es! Besides the launch of the Conservatory, I flew down for the music launch of Jodhaa Akbar on the 9th, but I had to fly abroad as a studio had been booked for two days for some background music work on the film.

We just spoke about classical music. In Guru, Barso re proved the most popular song along with Tere bina. The ‘item’ song Mayya mayya came a third. Does that indicate a trend?
By itself, it is a very good sign, though Mayya mayya was also popular, besides being the first song that we recorded. It is a fact that ‘item’ songs or electronic music does not satisfy in the long run, unlike folk-based or raag-based songs. But Barso re was an afterthought. We had earlier recorded a song that was based on Gujarati folk that was to be shot with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on a bicycle - Main chali. But then she suffered an injury and we thought of a rain song instead and that’s how Barso re happened. Tere bina was a Sufi number and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khansaab has always been a great inspiration for me.

What kind of song comes easier for you?
Making any good song or tune is never easy! (Laughs)

Speaking of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is it true that you wanted her to sing Man Mohana in Jodhaa Akbar?
Well, Ashutosh Gowariker was very keen on Aishwaryaji singing that song. But she had no time to rehearse.

But the song is very demanding musically. Could an actress doing a one-off rendition have done justice to it?
Well, there are hidden talents in people! Nicole Kidman successfully sang abroad.

Today, software for pitch-correction is available. On the other hand, you have always been known to use amateur singers and maintain their natural tones, even if they are not in immaculate sur. Why is that?
As a lover of world music, I have come to believe that it is not necessary to have perfection when someone has a passion for music. Too much polish can be boring sometimes! (Laughs) See this jacket that I am wearing. It’s a new jacket but there is a deliberate faded quality at the edges. That makes it more attractive!

You tend to do a lot of Hindi films with a period or historical backdrop - The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Bose - The Forgotten Hero, Mangal Pandey - The Rising and even Lagaan and a part of Guru. How do you approach these films’ scores vis-à-vis a ‘normal’ contemporary assignment?
Such films make you think differently. For example, there is no catchy groove that you can use and a certain authenticity is needed. At the same time, there should be a contemporary appeal and quality, and I have to see how friendly my music can be while retaining the correct vibe. Today even kids are smart - they pick up the best and the most interesting of songs, old or new.

A common allegation is that you use instruments that were not present in those eras.
Well, I try to avoid something that has too modern a sound, like a guitar. I love acoustics anyway. But such aspects are not always possible or necessary. And no composer has been able to be a purist in this genre of cinema. The effect and quality of the orchestration and background music are more important.

Another long-standing accusation against you is that your music often is repetitious, and this has been a personal observation too.
(Smiles) Well, I guess that’s because everything I do comes from within me, so a certain style or stamp is unavoidable. But it also has a lot to do with the film too and my inspirational level.

Well, we see freshness in every film of yours with say, a Mani Ratnam or a Subhash Ghai or an Ashutosh Gowariker. But then you do films like Lakeer, Tehzeeb…
(Shrugs) Sometimes I have done certain films for specific reasons. But as I said I want to be even choosier than before.

Himesh Reshammiya hopes to sing for you sometime. You used Bappi Lahiri’s vocals in Guru. And now there is news that you will be singing for Kailasa - The Band in their first film project.
Well, that’s not going to happen, unfortunately. Kailash (Kher) did want me to sing, but I am not comfortable as yet with the idea of singing for someone else. I can’t really explain why, but I guess I am somehow not cut out for that.

Which are the films that you are doing now?
I am doing Aamir Khan’s Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and his remake of Ghajini and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Dilli 6.Subhashji’s Yuvraaj will always release this year. In Tamil films I am doing Shankar’s Robot and also Sultan - The Warrior.Then there is a Telugu film starring Pawan Kalyan. Some more projects are coming up.

Courtesy: ScreenIndia.com

'Sultan is on the lines of Troy, Gladiator'

There are only a few people who could grab the spotlight from Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. One of them is his 23-year old daughter, Soundarya Rajnikanth.

No, she hasn't acted in any films. Rather, it is a film she is making with her Dad that is generating a lot of interest.

The film is a 3D animation titled Sultan The Warrior which is produced by Soundarya's company's (Ocher Studios) along with Adlabs, and directed by her.

Shobha Warrier caught up with the pretty director to know more. Excerpts:

How did the film with your father happen?

It started very small. My company (Ocher films) was already into visual effects and post production work. So, the next stage was to get into animation.

While I was travelling abroad I saw a couple of animation films. And it got me thinking. Here (India) we don't have those kinds of films. Animation abroad is considered as important as live action. For example, Shrek and Mission Impossible were appreciated and welcomed there. But this is not the case in India. I told myself, why don't I make one? Someone has to take the initiative and do it.

And this made you think of making a film with your father?

Yes, it did, because he is a superstar. I am such a fan of my father that I felt he deserved to be animated first. Appa is God to me. He is known for his style, mannerisms and gimmicks. If he could do so much in live action, imagine what he could do with animation? The sky is the limit. In Sultan too he does a lot of gimmicks.

So, it is my father's style that came to my mind the moment I thought of an animation film. You need someone stylish to get animated. I would say this film is a daughter's dedication to her father.

That's a very emotional statement...

Yes, it is. The film is very emotional for me because in the history of Indian entertainment, no Asian actor has been animated before. And, to me, this is my dedication to my father. The film is like making history, and it is making history.

Did he become emotional hearing that statement from you?

He did. The project is very personal to both of us. There is a lot of emotion involved in it because I am dedicating it to my father. It is good when there is sentiment attached to the project. You can't make a film without getting attached to it.

How did he react when you told your father that you were going to make an animation film on him?

He was very curious and also very excited. Again, animation is not known in India. It is new and it is a road that no one has travelled before.

So, his initial reaction was, animation? How is it going to be? And me as the hero?

I told him, Yes, Appa, you are going to be animated. Then I walked him through it and explained everything. He was very supportive, encouraging and very proud!

From the time I could remember, my parents have been extremely supportive of anything I want to do in life. My Dad is very involved in the project as it is his story.

Which part of his life are you going to animate?

It is not his life story; it is a story written by him.

Did he write the story for you?

No, he wrote the story to make it into a movie. But he never ended up doing it because Sultan's story is very, very grand. So, to make a live action movie, you require not only a gigantic budget but also a lot of effort by way of costumes, sets, etc. It is a huge undertaking because this is on the lines of Troy, Gladiator, etc. It is a film on a Warrior!

So, when I had this idea to make an animation film, Dad and I were discussing various ideas. Then, he gave me this story and said, 'develop this,' and I worked on it and went back to him with the screenplay. My father generally first approves the story of every film of his. Mr Rajnikanth approved the script and here we are doing the film!


Other than the story, what are the other areas he is involved with in the film?

He is giving his voice in the movie.

Only in Tamil?

Yes, as of now. We will think of the other languages later. He is also doing motion capture for the movie. Motion capture is a technology that is required for a 3D film. And I am shooting him live for reference.

How was the experience of directing your father?

I am yet to do it.

Are you dreading the day?

No, I am looking forward to it.

How will you treat him -- just as an actor?

Yes. When we were discussing things, it had always been between a director and an actor. But once home, we are father and daughter.

When we are on the floor, we are very professional. And, he is hundred percent a professional. Sultan is his film, and it will be his next release.



Was he your hero when you were young?

He has always been my hero. I am a die-hard fan of my Dad!

When did you realise that your father was the superstar of Tamil Nadu?

As long as I could remember. My father was a superstar when he got married. So, we grew up in that atmosphere. We have grown up watching his films and adored his every move. So, I can't really say when I realised he was the superstar because he has always been one for me!

What is it about his movies that you like?

He is symbolic of the meaning of the word style! You look up the dictionary for the word style, and it means Rajnikanth! He is the most stylish man -- on and off screen too.

Can you be objective while directing him?

I am a director and he is an actor in my film. So, he is an actor in my film, not my father.

But when I come back home, he is my Dad, and that will never change.

This type of objectivity would not have been possible when I was younger. When I was a kid, there were times when I saw him cry on screen. I would start crying too. I thought it was my father who was crying. I was too young to realise that it was the character he was playing that was crying. I also hated it when he was hit by villains. I would say, stop hitting my Dad!

How did he react when you told him that you were his greatest fan?

He knows that. It is not that we sat down and I told him that. My sister and I go mad when his films are released. We would be yelling in the theatre like his other fans.

How was it growing up as the superstar's daughter? How were you treated in school?

We didn't have a lot of privacy. A lot of people talk to you because you are his daughter. I am glad that I made lots of good friends.

Did you have a normal childhood?

We had a very, very normal and simple upbringing. My Mom balances it out.

Everybody talks about how simple your father is in real life. The way he conducts himself in public is as a very simple person...

I admire that aspect of him. The more successful he is, the simpler he becomes. That is how it is for him. The more he achieves, the more humble he becomes. When people respect and admire him more, the more simple he becomes. He is such an amazing human being. He is like God for me. I can't say more.

Is it very difficult to emulate the kind of lifestyle he leads?

No, no it's not like that. All of us are very, very simple people.

You went to Australia to study multimedia. Did it just happen, or have you always wanted to do something on these lines?

I have always been interested in graphics and visual effects. I studied multimedia which is more technical. I never went to a film school. I came to know all about films from growing up with a superstar.

I came back from Australia and started Ocher and here is where we are today. I always knew I would be behind the camera.

You must have got a lot of offers to be in front of the camera too...

I have, but I never got excited about it because I always knew I was the creative person who wanted to be behind the camera. I wanted to do something different.

Weren't you tempted at all to act in films?

Acting? No, it never crossed my mind. Never.

Was it because you were more passionate about being behind the camera?

Yes, I am more passionate about being behind the camera. I wanted to do something that was not done before. I wanted to create a benchmark. What I am doing is a first of its kind, and I am very passionate about this.

Is Sultan the Warrior a period film?

Yes, it is a period film but I am not specifying the period. It is a story that happened a long time ago.

Are you excited or nervous about Sultan?

I am excited and nervous too because it is a Rajnikanth film and people expect a lot. Being nervous makes me want to do more and take up more challenges.

Would you also be making feature films in future?

Yes, definitely. And, I want to take Ocher to another level. I want to establish my company and also be a filmmaker. I want to balance both.

How difficult is it to be both a businesswoman as well as a filmmaker?

The advantage is that both are interlinked. I am making my film completely out of my company. So, I know the kind of quality my company can give and the kind of quality I can get from my company. It works for me, by God's grace!

What kind of support do you get from your mother?

She is the chairperson of my company. I studied in her school (Ashram School). She is very involved in the project and the company as well. All of us at Ocher go to her for advice.

So, do you think you inherited the entrepreneurial spirit from your mother and the creative spirit from your father?

Believe me, my dad is a very good businessman. When he chooses his script and movies, he knows what he is doing. He is not only an actor, but a great businessman as well.

Does Ocher Studios do a lot of special effects for films?

Yes, we do. Apart from making our own content, we do that too. By God's grace, we do have a good market share down south. I am expanding my facilities more and getting into Hindi film graphics this year.

We started with 12 people and now have 80 working for us. We will definitely come to Mumbai. We may also go overseas. As we are doing Sultan, we are scaling up the company too.

Do you feel that you have all those projects in the south because you are Rajnikanth's daughter?

No, life has not been easy when I started out. Ours is a very young company -- we are only two years old. It's not that everybody would give you a job just because you are Rajnikanth's daughter. It's not like that.

On the contrary, it is more difficult because a lot of people are scared to give you work because they feel if something goes wrong, they can't question us. But we say, of course, you can question us. We are a company.

I went through all the problems that a start up company goes through, and I am still going through them. We are breaking into a market where there are already established companies.

Which was the first film you got to do special effects for?

Chandramukhi and I must say the response has been good. Chandramukhi ran for 800 days. When your first film is a hit, you are sentimentally happy about it. I have worked only in Tamil so far. Now I am venturing in to Telugu and Hindi.


As a filmmaker, what kind of feature films do you like to make?

I like to make fantasies. They are my favourite genre. I read a lot of Amar Chitra Katha. I was very interested in Indian mythological stories. I know Mahabharata and Ramayana thoroughly. I never read novels, however.

What kind of films do you watch?

I watch all kinds of movies except horror.

Do you feel films have to have a message?

Of course. But you can't say every movie has to have a message.

All your father's films have messages?

Yes, they have. Sultan also has a message. When someone is in a place from where he can tell people to do good, he has to do it. The lyrics of every song of my Dad's have strong messages and people do follow them.

Like your father, are you also a spiritual person?

Yes, I am a spiritual person. I have taken up his school of spirituality but I have never had the chance to go to the Himalayas. Hopefully, I will go there some day.

Do you believe in God?

Of course, I do.

What's God to you? You said earlier that your father is like God to you...

You can interpret what I said in many ways. When you say call someone God, it is like saying that you love and believe in that person completely. My father is irreplaceable. That is why I said he is like God to me.

Courtesy: Rediff.com

Rajni the animated superhero

Meet India's first 3-D superhero - superstar Rajnikanth! He is to star in an animated mythological film at a whopping budget of Rs 40 crores, and directing Rajnikanth in this new avataar is his own daughter.

Rajnikanth has always played larger-than-life images on the silver screen, but now South India's biggest superstar is attempting a bigger feat - an altogether new celluloid genre.

The film 'The Sultan' features Rajni as India's first 3-D animated superhero, and presenting him in a kingsize persona on reel is his daughter Soundarya who is calling the shots.

"My dad is ,king and I am very proud to say that. I personally think he deserves the best - and to be animated first is the best. All his films are for his fans, so he is putting in a lot of drama, a lot of humour and excitement in the story which is his own. It's a typical Rajnikanth commercial film," says Soundarya Rajnikanth, MD of Ocher Studio.

The slick production belies its Indian origins. The Sultan is a mythological movie to be made at a whopping Rs 40 crore budget and is expecetd to make Rajnikanth the first ever South Asian hero to be compeletely animated.

Soundarya says it is her tribute not only to her dad, but to the countless Indians technicians who are on par with their international counterparts in digital wizardry.

"This is my dedication to my father, and I am looking at giving it to him on his birthday this year. So there is a lot of effort that is going into it and definitely directing my father is not simple, but it's very exciting and apart from the excitement and the personal involement that my father and I have in this movie, I want to do this for the country as well; Indian technicians are so, so good and they have not have the recognition ot the chance to prove themselves as yet," says Soundarya.

This is just a small teaser for what will turn out to be a full-length feature film - one that will be not only be a much awaited one for Rajni fans, but all technosavvy Indians.

Courtesy: Timesnow.tv

Sultan the Warrior: First 3D animated feature film

Ecstatic Soundarya, the younger daughter of Superstar Rajinikanth launched the theatrical trailer of "Sultan of Warrior" India's biggest 3D animation film on January 13 in Chennai.

This 40 crore film is directed by Soundarya and Produced by Ocher in partnership with Adlabs.

The flamboyant aor agreed to do the film on the pretext of her daughter, under whose direction the film has promises to keep the expectation of huge fan following Rajinikanth.

With this movie Rajinikanth will script his name to be the first superhero to act in an animated film made in India or South East Asia.

Both the father and daughter are newcomers for one is going to be the first to do the animated film while his daughter is debuting with “Sultan of Warrior” and according to her the film is a ‘daughter’s gift to a father.’

“And with this, we hope to set a benchmark for Indian animation. There have been animation films before in India but, not of quality that we are trying to achieve with this movie,” she added.

“My father is happy and proud that I am a director. And I am proud of directing him,” she said.

The film has four songs written by Vairamuthu and A.R. Rehman scores the music.

India entertainment industry unknown to this concept will get a first hand experience which promises to break the myth that only Hollywood can deliver good animated movie. The film will be released by the end of the year in 12 different languages.

Courtesy: NewstrackIndia.com

Soundarya Rajnikanth reveals her future plans

"Apart from animation, I have plans to direct commercial films as well," revealed Soundarya Rajnikanth after launching the second trailer of her maiden venture Sultan The Warrior (STW), at the Inox Theatre.
STW is a 3D animation film featuring superstar Rajnikanth in the lead role, the movie has 10 million dollar budget and is jointly produced by Soundarya's Ocher Studios and Adlabs.

While replying to a question about how her father reacted to the venture, she said, "Initially my father was very apprehensive about the project. But after a few days of shooting and seeing my work, he was convinced."

Soundarya also revealed that the film was purely based on fiction and boasted of a fresh script. Except for Rajnikanth the characters of the heroine, comedian, villain are fictitious.

So can we expect some trademark Rajni style dialogues in STW, she say "Yes, of course! Some of them are even written by me."

When asked about the reason behind Sultan wearing a rudraksha around his neck, Soundarya said that her father's sentiments were attached to it and the reason would be justified in the script as well.

A.R. Rahman composes the music for this film, Thotta Tharani is in charge of the sets. The movie will be released in 12 different languages including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English and is scheduled for a 2008 end release.

Courtesy: Televisionpoint.com

Sultan: The Warrior is for my Appa, says Soundarya Rajnikant

"It's a daughter's gift to her father" - that's how Soundarya, daughter of Tamil superstar Rajnikant, describes her full-length animation film Sultan: The Warrior to be released in November this year.

Addressing mediapersons after a special screening of the second trailer of the much-awaited film, Soundarya sounded thrilled over producing the first-ever animation film made around an Indian actor.

She also confessed that her Appa (father) was initially very hesitant to play the role. She was happy, however, that he agreed after "all his apprehension were allayed".

Except Rajnikant, all the characters would be animated. The superstar would have his jodi (female opposite). Further details about the movie, however, are strictly under wraps.

The film, being made at a cost of $10 million by Adlabs, along with Soundarya's own Ocher Studio, will be released in 12 languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and English.

Soundarya said that the film is a "collective effort of 80 of us from the Ocher Studio".

The second trailer showed Rajnikant fighting the villains in his familiar style.

AR Rahman scores the music for the film, which will have four songs. One of these will be in English, and the search is on for a Western singer.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes.com

Sultan The Warrior - Images

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

Sultan The Warrior - Trailer

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

Rajnikanth’s new avatar: Animated Sultan!

Rajnikanth fans are in for a treat. The Tamil superstar, who has redefined the term ‘Stardom’ will soon, be seen as mythological, larger than life character. But what, you may ask, is so great about Rajni playing a larger than life character. Hasn’t he always done that?

Well, that’s where the novelty lies. For the first time in his glorious career, Rajnikanth will be seen in an animation. And donning the director hat would be none another than his daughter, the 23 year old Soundarya.

The animation film titled ‘Sultan’ is being developed at Chennai's Ocher Studios. While the film is targeted at both adults and children, Soundarya admits, making the film though is no child's play.

She is at the helm of the USD 10 million, full-length 3D animation film, Sultan-The Warrior, being co-produced with Adlabs. The movie will be made in 12 languages including Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, English and even Japanese.

"Animating a live-action hero is not easy at all because you have to get the size precise and even facial features like the eyes and the nose precise,” she said.

She is leaving no stones unturned to ensure that the movie becomes a benchmark for animation in the country. She even took the iconic actor to Brussels for a body scan. ‘I want him to be the first South East Asian actor to ever be animated.

If that’s not all, even the film’s promise to be a cracker, since none other than A R Rahman is composing the sound track.

"The background score is very, very important for an animation. It's the backbone of the film. The film's got four full-length songs, so Rahman sir has taken a lot of effort and he's done a lot of homework on his own. We are very excited about the music," says Soundarya.

In another first of sorts, the film will also have a separate English title song. A search is on for an international singer.

The movie is expected to hit theatres by the end of this year.

With the makers clearly looking for a global platform for their film, whether or not Sultan Rajni scores with the international audience, his fans are already queuing up for the tickets.

Courtesy: Zeenews.com

‘Sultan’ for Pongal

Here is some exciting news for the fans of superstar Rajinikanth. They can see Rajini in action in all screens that show the Pongal release movies. View 'Sultan the Warrior ' Trailer The trailer of ‘Sultan the Warrior’, an animated movie being made by Rajini’s daughter Soundarya, produced by Adlabs in association with Ocher Studios, will be screened from Pongal. The official sources reveal that the trailer would runs for 1 minute and 43 seconds. The trailer is sure to excite the audiences, as it is the first ever experiment to show the action hero with incredible charisma in an animated form. The film with the music of A R Rahman is expected to be released by the end of 2008. IndiaGlitz feels proud to announce the news first to the world.

Courtesy: IndiaGlitz.com