India's double Oscar winner A.R. Rahman dedicated his awards to the younger generation as he returned home to a hero's welcome, with ace drummer Sivamani and his troupe providing a pulsating backdrop, and a large crowd of thousands dancing to the chant of Jai ho.
The awards, Rahman hoped, would change fans' approach towards Indian music and his career.
"It's a starting point in my career and will indeed make a difference in fans' approach towards good music," said Rahmanat the Anna International Air Terminal after returning from Los Angeles, where he bagged two golden statuettes for Slumdog Millionaire for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for Jai Ho.
"I am completely overwhelmed, touched, with the kind of reception I got... it is great to be back," he added.
With a broad smile, Rahman exuded love when he addressed reporters briefly.
"My award's message was said clearly in my acceptance speech. 'In my life, I always had a choice between love and hate and I chose love.' That is my philosophy in life and in music," Rahman said.
"I chose to live a life overriding differences between people, states, language and religion. My fans should do the same. Hollywood stars Michael Jackson and Penelope Cruz liked this attitude and told me its inherent love affected them deeply," Rahman said.
As fans congregated outside his home in the southwestern suburb of Kodambakkam, Rahman was keen to ensure that neighbours were not disturbed in the dead of night.
"Thank you for coming, but I will not disturb you so early. We will meet again. Remember we are in the early hours. I'm tired after a long journey, have to work in the morning and my children have to go to school," Rahman told applauding fans.
Also present at the airport to welcome the composer were state Information Minister Paruthi Ilamvazhuthi and offbeat actor R. Parthiban. The minister led a delegation from the state government's protocol department and gave the music maestro a welcome generally associated with heads of state.
While Sivamani's troupe performed, a little away was another team from Kerala playing traditional music to herald the return of the hero.
Commenting on his win, Rahman said: "When I won the second Oscar, I wanted to give a bigger message. We have a choice for love and hate for everything whether religion, caste, language - it is to choose love over hate whether in music or the philosophy of life.
"All the actors and directors in Hollywood loved the statement. Michael Jackson liked it too. It is not the highest point in my career, but it is a starting point of making a lot of difference.
"I hope my award inspires others as well," said Rahman.
Rahman will be felicitated March 1 by the Cine Musicians' Union, according to the body's press statement.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who will be discharged from hospital on March 1, may briefly attend the fete - not only in his official capacity but also as the elder statesman of the Tamil film industry, ruling DMK sources added.
Courtesy: ndtv.com
Showing posts with label karunanidhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karunanidhi. Show all posts
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, August 11, 2008
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
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
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