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

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

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

The Endhiran truth!

Looks like the buzz about Endiran releasing for this Diwali are nothing but rumors. A source close to the Endhiran stable revealed that although 85% of the movie is wrapped up except for a few scenes, the major chunk of the task, the post-production work is expected to extend for a year.

Made at a whopping budget, Endhiran’s graphics and visual effects are the highlights and will go on for about a year before the movie is ready to embellish the movie screens.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Endhiran songs on the net

Two songs from the Rajinikanth-Aishwarya Rai starrer Endhiran has found its way to YouTube.com. The footage, which runs to about four minutes, is of good clarity and shows Rajini and Ash rehearsing with a host of dancers at the backdrop. With both sound as well as visual clarity, the two songs are creating waves among the movie buffs. YouTube is said to have recorded over 13,000 hits so far. It is worth mentioning here that Oscar winner AR Rahman had scored the music for Endhiran.


Since it is not a copyright infringement, the Endhiran team cannot ask YouTube to remove it from the site, sources say. Rajinikanth and Shankar are furious over this leak and it needs to be seen if the songs will be replaced.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Talks are on with Rajini for his next film : Soundarya

Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya is working on the final touches of Sultan – The Warrior, the animation flick which has Rajini in the lead the role. Happy over the way this film has shaped up and directing her dad for the first time, Soundarya has plans to release Sultan – The Warrior worldwide.

Though the lady has her hands full with projects like Goa, which her production house Ocher Studios producing the film, she is discussing with the super star about a full length feature film that will have him in the lead. Soundarya also plans to wield the megaphone herself! The project is still in discussion stage and more details are awaited.

Sources say that with Rajini busy with Endhiran and Soundarya with Goa, the new project could begin only after their respective commitments are completed.

There are talks in the tinsel town that Rajini could star in a low budget film that is to be produced by Sun TV after Endhiran.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

'Shock' troubled ‘Endhiran’

Be it a small budget or big budget project, every film has its own behind-the-scene stories. It is not all about team work and co-ordination. The movie crew have to be equally prepared for any untoward accidents and delays.

The much awaited project ‘Endhiran’ had its schedule disrupted due to a ‘shock’. This Sun Pictures banner had spread itself on OMR road for a shooting, comprising a huge set of a hospital. Amidst the preparations, a crew member was unfortunately hit by an electric shock and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Adyar. The incident happened early in the morning and since the shooting was hindered, it was postponed. Sources reveal that though the victim (still in the hospital now) is out of danger, his condition is yet to be confirmed.

Hope all goes well after this…

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

Rs 5 crore set for Rajni's 'Endhiran'

Shankar's 'Endhiran, the Robot', has created yet another record. For the film, art director Sabu Cyril has created a set costing about Rs 5 crore and this is considered to be the costliest set ever in the history of Tamil cinema.

The set has been made by using eco-friendly aluminium composite panel and can be recycled. At this set, a stunning fight sequence involving Rajnikanth and 100 robots was shot, it is reported.

The film, produced by Sun Pictures, is one of the costliest Asian films ever. The science fiction film has Aishwarya Rai playing the female lead. Rajnikanth plays a double role in the movie: As a scientist and as a robot he creates. AR Rahman scores the tunes for this futuristic film.

Courtesy: msn.com

Aishwarya's Tamil stuns Rajinikanth

Aishwarya Bachchan has many hidden talents. One is her ability to grasp languages quickly. This, the unit of Shankar's Endhiran discovered while shooting with Aishwarya. She was required to hold her own against the glib-talking super-talking Rajni Sir. "And since Tamil isn’t really familiar territory for Aishwarya everyone including Rajni Sir and director Shankar was ready for several re-takes as she got used to the dialogue." To everyone's surprise Aishwarya got a grip of the language in no time at all.

"And she was soon rattling off the dialogues and getting hanged of the emotions with equal skill in both the Hindi and Tamil takes. So much so that Rajni Sir who has waited for decades to work with Aishwarya was taken aback." When asked about the above incident Aishwarya laughs, "Regional languages have never been a problem. I did a Bengali film Chokher Bali and I was able to get a hang of the complex intonations, though later they needed a particular sing-song tone and my voice had to be dubbed."

But the buzz in Robot is that they are planning to retain her Tamil lines in the final print. Says the actress from Ooty, "I'm not at familiar with Tamil. My mother tongue Tulu is very different from Tamil. But you must remember my first film River was in Tamil and I had to say lengthy lines in that film. From my beginnings with Mani Ratnam in Tamil to this my second Tamil film of my career….it's been quite a journey."

At the moment she's shooting in the freezing cold in Oooty for Mani Ratnam with Abhishek. "We shifted from the jungles of Kerala to Ooty by car so I couldn't accompany Abhishek. I've finished this schedule and go back to Shankar and Robot. Really gruelling."

Courtesy: oneindia.in

Sun TV pumps in Rs 2 bn towards movies in FY'09

Sun TV Network Ltd. has pumped in Rs 2 billion towards movies, upping its investments at a time when many players are crowding the market in the southern region.

Movie acquisition for telecast rights makes up the bulk of the investments for Sun TV Network which runs a clutch of highly successful channels in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages. 

"We have invested Rs 2 billion towards movies in FY'09. We have a library of 8500 films," says a source in the company.

On the film production front, Sun TV has an investment plan of Rs 700-800 million for 10-12 movies a year. "We have a pipeline plan and the strategy is to produce small and medium budget movies," adds the source.

Sun grossed a revenue of Rs 280 million from the few movies that it released last fiscal. "We had a 15-20 per cent RoI (return on investments) from the movies that we released in the fiscal," says the source.

Sun is producing Endhiran on a budget of Rs 700 million. "The movie will come up by the end of this year or erly next year," says the source.

Sun TV, which has Rs 3.30 billion of cash on its books, has a capex requirement of between Rs 750 million and Rs 1 billion in FY'10.

Courtesy: indiantelevision.com