Marma Yogi, Endhiran & the Global economic crisis

On Kamal Haasan’s birthday, the news that we are receiving about Marma Yogi is not a cause for any celebrations. Credible sources have revealed that Marma Yogi might be neck deep in trouble, to the point of being indefinitely postponed or infinitely worse, be dropped. The reason is quite simple: the global economic crisis. Many were deceived

into thinking that the global meltdown was not indeed global and that India was insulated. Now we have proof that there are problems everywhere. Pyramid Saimira is reportedly wallowing and the processes of Marma Yogi have been temporarily held up. But it is not only the global economic crash that is behind Marma Yogi’s predicament. Kuselan is also being seen as a key factor. As everyone knows, the losses incurred by Pyramid Saimira due to the Kuselan debacle were huge and to top it all, they were even forced to refund distributors. It is in this scenario that SUN Pictures made an entry showing some interest. A team was entrusted with the responsibility of making a thorough research of all resources that would have to go into Marma Yogi. The report presented said that even the pre-production activities of the movie would cost quite a sum which would make the project difficult to execute; SUN Pictures exit; enter OCHER Studios and Warner Brothers. Talks are doing the rounds that Soundarya Rajnikanth has shown enough interest in Marma Yogi. It is believed that Warner Brothers are ready to go by her word and enter the movie. But conversations are still at a very primary stage and nothing is official or confirmed. To add to speculations, it has come to light that Rajkamal films have registered the title ‘Thalaivan Irukkiran’. Further enquiry revealed that Rajkamal indeed intend to go ahead with such a movie without much delay. However, other details were not available. From Marma Yogi to Endhiran. The global meltdown has not spared this one too. It has been reported that the London based Ayngaran Groups funds might be stuck in the European markets that is going through a liquidity crunch at present. With the third schedule of Endhiran slated to begin some time next week, the required funds are yet to arrive and London Karunas is reported to have left for London for the same purpose. Again, the unexpectedly poor show of Deepavali releases Aegan (own production) and Seval (outright purchase) seems to have not done them any favor. However, the troubles with Endhiran are not as serious as ones with Marma Yogi. If, Ayngaran is able to accumulate the funds in time, the shooting will proceed as planned. Otherwise, the worst scenario we are looking at is a delay which is not much of an issue, looking at what Marma Yogi is facing. But with dates being bought, a delay might make schedules go haywire, especially with Aishwarya Rai who also has Ravana. We just hope that all troubles settle down at the earliest.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Soundarya Rajinikanth and Kamal team up!

For Marmayogi, Kamal Haasan has decided to switch from Pyramid Saimira to Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Ocher-Warner productions. As reported earlier Soundarya is in the process of producing films in collaboration with WarnerBros. Most recently, they have reportedly paid a huge advance to Jayam and Raja Ravi for an upcoming film.


Kamal is reported to have returned the advance he took from Pyramid Saimira and is intiatiating talks with Ocher Studios to produce his next historical magnum opus. The reason sited is that Pyramid were reluctant to go as high as 150 crores for Marmayogi’s budget. They were more comfortable with 100.

Kamal has apparently, as a first step, sent the entire script of Marmayogi to Warner Bros in the U.S. so that they would get an idea of the kind of production he has in mind for this period epic. The only question now is: will Warner Bros go for it?
 
Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Tamil film industry frowns at corporate film ‘raiders’

Star prices in the Tamil film industry have sky rocketed ever since Mumbai’s corporate world entered the field,

Entertainment majors like Adlabs, UTV, Moser Baer, Eros Entertainment and Ashtavinayak have made inroads into the southern film industry by offering 20 percent commission - making it difficult for the southern entertainment companies to compete.

Director S. Ramanarayanan, also president of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC), said the entry of the Mumbai corporate world had rendered star prices beyond the reach of hardworking entertainment companies.

‘The despicable 20 percent commission culture that has begun plaguing the south Indian film industry has allowed corporate raiders that have zero commitment to our culture to gain more than a foothold here,’ Ramanarayanan told IANS.

‘Driven by their yearning for pelf, they are driving star prices sky high for a reported 20 percent commission leaving the mainstays of the south high and dry,’ Ramanarayanan fumed.

According to reports, the Mumbai companies are offering B-grade southern stars Rs.12 million per film - way beyond the Rs.4 million they were getting earlier. The top two stars, Rajnikant and Kamal Haasan are untouched by the new developments. While Rajnikant, whose ‘Kuselan’ released recently, has not signed any film, Kamal is an independent filmmaker.

The other popular stars Vijay and Ajit have not signed any venture with the Mumbai firms, said a source.

‘We ought to learn a thing or two from Hollywood professionals,’ Ramanarayanan pointed out. ‘While Walt Disney is collaborating with southern mainstay Pyramid Saimira to make the forthcoming Kamal Hassan starrer ‘Marmayogi’, Warner Brothers are doing business only with the committed Saundarya Rajnikant to make an animated film.’

‘Neither of the Hollywood companies pays any commission,’ the director remarked.

Significantly, while most of the Mumbai-based business houses have demanded memberships of TFPC, the two Hollywood outfits have steered clear of the move as they have little interest in pocketing the generous subsidies made available by film technician Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi or capturing the world of south Indian cinema, film sources added.

The TFPC has deferred a decision to admit the Mumbai corporate houses at its next general body meeting.

‘At least 80 people claiming to be directors representing Mumbai corporate entities have approached me with an unrealistically high price, provided I cooperated in fudging the books. Though I turned them down others have not,’ a top actor admitted on condition of anonymity.

A top actress differed with this view.

‘Till recently, top cricketers earned a pittance when the Board of Control for Cricket in India made itself the richest body in the world. The entry of corporate houses has made our sportsmen richer. So why not us as well,’ the actress, who stars in at least two big ventures, argued.

Corporate houses have resented the TFPC outburst.

A source close to Moser Baer said Ramanarayanan’s views were lopsided.

‘Production houses and their pet directors in the south churned out silly movies in the past at massive costs. Our entry has infused a new found professionalism into the set up. While stories can no longer be stolen, inane movies will soon be a thing of the past. The corporate world has forced arm-chair story-thieves to clean up their act or close shop,’ the source said.

Courtesy: sindhtoday.net

Kamal film to be produced by Rajni's daughter?

Soundarya Rajnikanth, whose Ocher Studios is in the process of producing films in collaboration with Hollywood production company Warner Brothers, has reportedly paid a hefty advance each to the brothers 'Jeyam' Ravi and Raja for her next film. The celebrity brothers will be joining hands for the fifth time after their back-to-back hits four times in a row.

Recent reports indicate that even Kamal's 'Marmayogi' might fall into the hands of the Ocher Studios-Warner Brothers combine. Kamal is said to have returned the advance amount to the company, which was about to produce the film, and has reportedly initiated talks with Soundarya and Warner Brothers to associate himself with them.

As a first step, Kamal Haasan has reportedly sent the entire 'script' of his 'Marmayogi' to Warner Brothers' bosses in the U.S. Once Kamal gets the nod, he would be working closely with them and Soundarya.

The reason for Kamal's decision to switch over to Warner-Soundarya combine is said to be the hike in the production cost of the film from Rs.100 crores to Rs.150 crores. This was obviously not acceptable to the previous company.

Courtesy: chennaionline.com

Can he deliver a hit for Mahesh this time?

Mahesh’s film with Warner Bros. is getting hotter even before the film entered the script stage.

This trilingual will go to floors next year; meanwhile Mahesh will complete his current assignment with Trivikram.

Latest buzz on Mahesh’s film with Warner Bros. is that AR Rahman might score music for this film. Rahman scored music for Mahesh’s Nani earlier but failed to impress. Nani music and film too had flopped big time. If Rahman is roped in for this film we have wait and see if he can deliver a hit for him this time.

Courtesy: andhracafe.com

Soundarya Rajinikanth's multilingual film with Mahesh Babu

Soundarya Rajinikanth's Ocher studio started its production campaign in style with the costly project 'Sultan The Warrior' which is the first of its kind of an animation feature film featuring a fully 3D animated version of an Indian film superstar.

The film has the potential to start a trend.

Then there was the news of Soundarya taking a keen interest in making the second part of the blockbuster film 'Billa'.


Rajinikanth's daughter seems to follow the corporate way of making movies by planning for more than one film and simultaneously announcing and starting the work on the different projects at the same time.

A new big project to be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi will be made with the Tollywood hero Mahesh Babu in the lead role.

The super hit director Puri Jagannath will be the director in charge of the new mega project of Soundarya Rajinikanth.

However the movie's work will start only next April with December 2009 being planned as the time for the release.

The film's story, dialogues and Screenplay will be written by the director himself and is a joint venture between Ocher studios and Warner Brothers.

Puri Jagannath told that he was overjoyed when Soundarya approached him to direct the big film as it brought back the memories of the day when Rajinikanth himself told that if he ever had a son he would have surely launched him as a hero in a film directed by him.

After giving two blockbusters in the form of 'Athadu' and 'Pokiri', Mahesh Babu teams up with Puri Jagannath again for this new film.

The Telugu pin up boy told that he is very happy to work again with Puri Jagannath and will try to reach up to people's expectations.

Although a new addition to the list of players in the production business, Ocher studios has set its sights on transforming itself into one among the top most film business houses in India with carefully deciding on each new project with proven experienced film makers at the helm.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Soundarya Rajini confirms Billa-2

Soundarya Rajinikanth, the director of Rajini's forthcoming animated magnum opus, Sultan - The Warrior officially confirmed the idea of making Billa 2 with actor Ajith. She said that she will start working on the film after June 2009, by which time Ajith will be free from Aegan and she will be free from Sultan: the warrior.

She revealed this with media persons a couple of days ago and said, "I decided this project only after consulted with my father and now a team has seriously in the discussions for Billa-2. Apart from this, I'm making all arrangements to take the entire Billa team into the sequel. When I told this idea to my father, he was very happy and also told that he is also very eager to watch the sequel of his classic action film with some other actor."


When a reporter asked about his father's role in Billa-2, Soundarya categorically dismissed that there was no such idea. Soundarya is going to produce this sequel in association with Warner Bros. Pictures India.

Courtesy: oneindia.in

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