Human rights violation case against Slumdog Millionaire

Thapeshwar Viswakarma of Patna has filed a human rights violation petition against the makers and actors of Slumdog Millionaire in a Patna Judicial Magistrate Court. According to the complainant, the film deals with the lives of the slum people in a degrading manner and it amounts to human right violations.

On hearing the petition, the magistrate ordered Thapeshwar Viswakarma to file all the evidences substantiating his claims and adjourned the case to February 5th, 2009. It is worth mentioning here that A.R. Rahman, who had scored the music for the film and won the Golden Globe award.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rajni and Ash in a glass chamber

The Rajnikanth starrer Endhiran, which has Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as his lead pair, is being produced by Sun Pictures on a whopping budget of Rs. 140 crores. Endhiran's director Shankar, known for his penchant for creating extravagant sets in his films, has erected a huge glass chamber to can just a few scenes of a duet. Sources close to the Endhiran unit

say that it is impossible for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajni to stay in the glass chamber for a long time and hence only a very few shots will be picturised in it and not the entire song sequence. The necessity to erect such an extravagant set is to enhance the visual effect, it is said.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rahman returns home to a rousing reception

A.R. Rahman returned to Chennai from Los Angeles where he had received the Golden Globe award for the best music score for Slumdog Millionaire. He was given a rousing reception by his fans, who were waiting in droves at the airport. Rahman was accompanied by many of them right behind his car all the way to his residence. Speaking later,

Rahman said that he was feeling very special after having won the Golden Globe and that his next ambition was to go on and win the Oscar later this year. We hope and pray that this dream comes true.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Shankar finds Rajini's villain!

It is well known that the Rajini-starrer Endhiran's shooting is progressing at a breakneck speed to facilitate a release by the end of this year. The film also stars the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Director Shankar did not disclose the villain for this movie and kept it a closely guarded secret. But now our sources from Kollywood say that the

Bollywood actor Danny Denzongpa is the baddie in Endhiran. Danny Denzongpa shot to fame after his role in the Hindi film Qurbani became a huge hit. Yet another source close to the Endhiran team says that the unit is camping at a private engineering college near Chennai to can a few scenes that has both Rajinikanth and Aishwarya. Only the college students and staff are allowed inside the college to maintain privacy of the unit, our source adds.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

A.R. Rahman's greatest achievement till date!

Music director A.R. Rahman made all Indians proud today(Jan 12th 2009) by winning the Golden Globe award for his music in the film Slumdog Millionaire. It is interesting to note that he is the first Indian to be honored with this prestigious award. A.R. Rahman bagged the Golden Globe for his song Jai Ho, which was penned by Gulzar. The film also won

the Best Director award for Danny Boyle, Best Original Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy and the Best Motion Picture award. Ever since its release, Slumdog Millionaire has been receiving rave reviews and has already bagged several prestigious awards including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (2008) and the Broadcast Film Critics Association's Fourteenth Annual Critics Choice Awards. The 66th Golden Globe Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles. The movie is expected to hit Indian screens in January last week.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Songs shape up for Mani's Ravan

Mani Ratam's next venture Ravan is progressing at a breakneck speed in the jungles of Northern parts of India. The crew, including Abhishek, Ash and the Bhojpuri star Ravi Kissen, are camping in Jhansi for filming a song sequence. Ganesh Acharya is in charge of the choreography and a song with Abhishek and Ravi were canned.

According to set sources, this song would be Abhishek's introductory number. Scored by A R Rahman, the lyrics are penned by Gulzar. Apart from the lead actors, nearly 500 junior dancers participated in the dance scene, who were trained vigorously by Ganesh before the commencement of the shoots.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rajini congratulates A.R. Rahman

Showered by the congratulatory notes and messages, the recent Golden Globe Award winner A.R. Rahman must be a happy man indeed. It may be recalled that Rahman won the award for his music composition for the film Slumdog Millionaire. Among the film personalities that have congratulated him are Rajinikanth and Shankar.They have both stated

that Rahman has made Indian and Tamilians, in particular, proud. Others who sent him their wishes are Abirami Ramanthan, Rama Narayanan, Vairamuthu and AVM Saravanan. The widespread talk in Kollywood is that music of the same quality can be expected in films like Endhiran and Mani Ratnams’ Ravan for which A.R. Rahman scores the music.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

A R Rahman wins Golden Globe

நியூயார்க்: ஜனவரி 12, 2009

இந்திய சினிமாத்துறையின் புகழை உலகுக்கு உணர்த்தும் விதமாக, இசையமைப்பாளர் ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மான் கொல்டன் குளோப் விருதைப் பெற்றார்.

சர்வதேச அளவில் சினிமாத் துறையினருக்கு வழங்கப்படும் விருதுகளில், ஆஸ்காருக்கு அடுத்தாக மிக உயரிய விருதாகக் கருதப்படுவதே கோல்டன் குளோப் விருது!
'ஸ்லம்டாக் மில்லினியர்' ('Slumdog Millionaire) என்ற படத்துக்காக இவ்விருதுக்கான தெரிவிப் பட்டியலில் இடம்பிடித்திருந்த ரஹ்மான், கோல்டன் குளோப் விருதைத் தட்டிச் சென்றார்.
நியூயார்க்கில் இன்று நடைபெற்ற நிகழ்ச்சியில் விருது அறிவிக்கப்பட்டு, ரஹ்மானுக்கு இந்த உயரிய விருது வழங்கப்பட்டது.
இதன் மூலம் 'கோல்டன் குளோப்' விருதைப் பெற்ற முதல் இந்திய சினிமா இசைக் கலைஞர் என்ற மிக உயரிய சிறப்பைப் பெற்றார், ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மான்!
ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மானை இந்திய சினிமாவுக்கு வழங்கிய தமிழகம், இப்போது உலக அளவில் ரஹ்மான் புகழ் சேர்த்துள்ளதற்கு பெருமிதம் கொள்கிறது!
இந்த உயரிய விருதைப் பெற்ற ரஹ்மானுக்கு இந்திய முன்னணி கலைஞர்கள் பலரும் பாராட்டுகளைத் தெரிவித்த வண்ணம் உள்ளனர்.

'ஸ்லம்டாக் மில்லினியர்' பற்றி விகடனின் வெளியான கட்டுரை...

கடந்த நவம்பரில் ரிலீஸான இந்தப் படம் பெற்ற விருதுகளைப் பட்டியலிடவே சிலபல பாராக்கள் தேவைப்படும். பெற்ற விருதுகளுள் முக்கியமானது அமெரிக்காவின் தேசிய திரைப்படங்கள் திறனாய்வு விருது. சிறந்த படம், சிறந்த நடிகர், சிறந்த இசையமைப்பாளர் என கண்டம் தாண்டி கண்டம், விருதுகளையும் வசூலையும் குவித்துக்கொண்டு கம்பீரமாக ஆஸ்கர் அரங்க என்ட்ரிக்குக் காத்திருக்கிறது 'ஸ்லம்டாக் மில்லினியர்'!
விகாஸ் ஸ்வரூப்பின் நாவலை உச்சகட்ட உதறல் திரைக்கதையுடன் இயக்கியிருக்கிறார் பிரிட்டிஷ் இயக்குநர் டேனி பாய்ல். இயக்கம், கேமரா, எடிட்டிங் போன்ற டெக்னிக்கல் சங்கதிகளை பிரிட்டிஷ் மக்கள் கவனித்துக்கொள்ள... நடிப்பு மற்றும் இசை மட்டும் இந்தியர்கள் வசம். என்னதான் கதை?

மும்பை போலீஸார் ஜமால் மாலிக்கை சித்ரவதை செய்து, 'உண்மையைச் சொல்லு... உனக்கு எப்படி எல்லாம் தெரியும்?' என்று விசாரித்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கும் இடத்தில் துவங்குகிறது படம். ஜமால் மீதுள்ள குற்றச்சாட்டு? 'கோன் பனேகா க்ரோர்பதி?' நிகழ்ச்சியின் ஒவ்வொரு கேள்விக்கும் மிகச் சரியான பதில் சொல்லி இறுதிச் சுற்றை எட்டிப் பிடித்ததுதான்! மும்பையின் மிக மோசமான சேரிகளில் வளர்ந்திருந்த ஜமால் மாலிக் எப்படி அனைத்துக் கேள்விகளுக்கும் சரியான பதில் அளிக்க முடியும் என்பது போலீஸாரின் சந்தேகம். பதில் சொல்கிறது ஜமாலின் ஃப்ளாஷ்பேக். சின்ன வயதிலேயே மதக் கலவரத்தில் தன் தாயை இழக்கும் ஜமால், சேரியில் அநாதையாக சுற்றித் திரிகிறான். அப்போது அவனையும் சலீமையும் பிடித்துச் செல்கிறது பிள்ளை பிடிக்கும் கும்பல் ஒன்று. சலீம் அந்தக் கும்பலின் நடவடிக்கைகளால் ஈர்க்கப்பட்டு அவர்களுடன் கிரிமினல் நடவடிக்கைகளில் ஈடுபடத் தொடங்குகிறான். ஜமாலும் இன்னொரு சிறுமியான லத்திகாவும் பிச்சை எடுத்து வருமானத்தை தாதா கும்பலிடம் கொடுக்கிறார்கள். அப்போதே லத்திகா மீது ஜமாலுக்கு கன்றுக்குட்டிக் காதல். மூவரும் அந்தக் கும்பலிடம் இருந்து தப்பிக்க முற்பட, லத்திகா மட்டும் மீண்டும் அவர்களிடமே சிக்கிக்கொள்கிறாள். ஜமாலும் சலீமும் தப்பித்து தாஜ்மகால் அருகே டூர் கைட், பிக்பாக்கெட் என்று பிழைப்பு நடத்துகிறார்கள்.
ஒரு கட்டத்துக்கு மேல் மனசு பொறுக்காமல் சலீமையும் இழுத்துக்கொண்டு லத்திகாவைத் தேடி மீண்டும் மும்பைக்கே வருகிறான் ஜமால். அங்கு சிவப்பு விளக்குப் பகுதியில் அவளைக் கண்டுபிடிக்கிறார்கள். லத்திகாவை இவர்கள் காப்பாற்றும் சமயம் அங்கே வரும் தாதா தலைவனைச் சுட்டுக் கொல்கிறான் சலீம். லத்திகா தனக்குத்தான் சொந்தம் என்று ஜமாலோடு மல்லுக் கட்டுகிறான். தன்னோடு வராவிட்டால் ஜமாலைக் கொன்றுவிடுவதாக சலீம் மிரட்டவும் வேறு வழியில்லாமல் அவனோடு செல்கிறாள் லத்திகா.
வருடங்கள் உருள்கின்றன. தட்டிமுட்டி ஒரு கால் சென்டரில் உதவியாளராக வேலை பார்க்கிறான் ஜமால். அதே சமயம் மாஃபியா க்ரூப்பில் தளபதி கணக்காக வளர்ச்சியடைகிறான் சலீம். தன் மீது அதே காதலுடன் லத்திகா இருப்பதும், ஆனால், சலீமைவிட்டு பிரிந்து வர முடியாமல் தவிப்பதையும் அறிந்துகொள்கிறான் ஜமால்.
என்ன செய்தாவது லத்திகாவின் கவனம் கவர விரும்பும் ஜமாலின் நினைவில் பளிச்சிடுவது அவளுக்குப் பிடித்த 'கோன் பனேகா க்ரோர்பதி?' நிகழ்ச்சி. அதில் கலந்துகொண்டால் லத்திகாவின் கவனம் கவர முடியும் என்று முட்டி மோதி போட்டியில் பங்கெடுத்துக்கொள்கிறான். அமிதாப் பச்சன் போல நிகழ்ச்சியை நடத்துவது அனில் கபூர். மடக்கி மடக்கி கேள்வி கேட்டாலும் எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் சரியான பதில் சொல்லி இறுதிச் சுற்றை எட்டுகிறான் ஜமால். ஒரே ஒரு கேள்விக்குப் பதில் சொன்னால் பிரமாண்ட பரிசுத் தொகை. 'அதெப்படி சேரியில் வளர்ந்த ஒரு 'முஸ்லிம்' சிறுவன் சரியான பதில் சொல்ல முடியும். இதில் ஏதோ உள்குத்து இருக்கிறது' என்று கிளப்பிவிடப்படும் விவகாரம் காரணமாக போலீஸ் ஜமாலைக் கைது செய்கிறது.
ஜமாலின் பின்னணி தெரிந்தவுடன், அவன் 'கள்ளாட்டை' எதுவும் ஆடவில்லை என்று உணர்ந்து அவனை விடுவிக்கிறார்கள் போலீஸார். மீண்டும் 'கோன் பனேகா' அரங்கத்தில் ஜமால். இதற்குள் மீடியா கவனம் பெற்று நாடே நிகழ்ச்சியைப் பார்க்க டி.வி. முன் அமர்ந்திருக்கிறது. இந்தப் பரபரப்புகளுக்கு இடையில் லத்திகாவின் காதலை உணர்ந்து அவளிடம் தன் காரையும் செல்போனையும் கொடுத்து ஜமாலைச் சந்திக்க அனுப்புகிறான் சலீம். அங்கே போட்டியில் ஜமாலிடம் அந்த இறுதிக் கேள்வி கேட்கப்படுகிறது. அவனுக்குப் பதில் தெரியவில்லை!

நண்பனிடம் தொலைபேசி மூலம் உதவி கேட்கும் ஆப்ஷனை உபயோகப்படுத்துகிறான் ஜமால். அவன் கொடுத்திருக்கும் எண் சலீமினுடையது. அந்த செல்போனை காரிலேயே மறந்து வைத்துவிட்டு ரோட்டோர டி.வி-யில் நிகழ்ச்சியைப் பார்த்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறாள் லத்திகா. தன்னிடம்தான் போன் இருக் கிறது என்று உணர்ந்து கடைசி நொடியில் போன் பட்டன் அழுத்தி 'ஹலோ' என்கிறாள். லத்திகாவின் குரலைக் கேட்டதுமே பரிசு கிடைத்ததைக் காட்டிலும் அதிக உற்சாகமடைகிறான் ஜமால். அவளிடம் கேள்விக்குப் பதிலைக் கேட்க, அவளுக்கும் பதில் தெரியவில்லை.
ஜமால் சரியான பதில் சொன்னானா, லத்திகாவோடு இணைந்தானா என்பது க்ளைமாக்ஸ்! ரஹ்மானின் ஒவ்வொரு தாளத்துக்கும் தியேட்டர் அதிர்கிறதாம்


Courtesy: vikatan.com

'Endhiran' – from Kollywood to Hollywood

Sun Pictures is all set to make director Shankar's dream of making it to Hollywood come true. It's on the verge of a tie-up with HBO which will see' Endhiran' being released in the West simultaneously.

'Endhiran' will be subtitled in English and released in Hollywood simultaneously, making it the biggest opening for the film industry. Rajinikanth's 'Sivaji' had raked in good money overseas and has made things easier for Shankar.

With promotion in full swing, the film is progressing well after having suffered due to the recent cyclone in Chennai. The crew is about to finish the shoot at VIT University College in Vellore. The next stop is Top Slip and Valparai and the crew will then move to Kulu Manali next year.

Meanwhile there are reports that say that a Benz car has been purchased for the film at a whopping cost of 90 lakhs. According to reports an important scene feautring Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai will be shot in a brand new high-end Benz car.

Superstar Rajinikanth is also said to be working out with a rigorous schedule, to fit the role of a scientist and a robot (the actor plays two roles in the film), and also to look slim fit enough to romance Aishwarya Rai.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Yogi B sings for 'Endhiran'

Singer Yogi B who has made his presence felt in the Tamil film industry with some spectacular songs, has been roped in to sing a song for the mammoth production 'Endhiran' that stars superstar Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

A. R. Rahman who is the music director of the film has confirmed to Indiaglitz that Yogi B has indeed sung a song for the film. Moreover, he added that the Malaysian singer was in his studio a while back with regards to Endhiran. A. R. Rahman was working for the Aamir Khan starrer 'Ghajini' at that time. Though Yogi B was there was Endhiran, his services were used for a background score 'Run' that features in 'Ghajini'.

Everything about 'Endhiran' is shrouded with complete secrecy as is the case with every Shankar film. 'Endhiran' produced by Sun Pictures will be ready for release in 2010.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman bags yet another plum award

Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum dweller, has bagged five prestigious prizes including the Best Composer Award for Indian music maestro A R Rahman at the Broadcast Film Critics Association's 14th annual Critics Choice Awards.

British Director Danny Boyle's Indian drama was a big hit at the award ceremony last night. It won Best Film, Best Director for Danny Boyle, Best Writer for Simon Beaufoy, Best Young Actor for Dev Patel and Best Composer for A R Rahman.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association's 14th annual Critics Choice Awards (BFCA), which took place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium recently, is the largest film critics organization, with more than 200 members in the US and Canada.

Watch A. R. Rahman speak to the press….

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

'Ghajini' first Hindi movie to cross Rs 200cr mark

When booking for the movie opened at a theatre in the UK on Wednesday, the film became the first to gross Rs 200 crore at the worldwide box office. What's more, the mark has been achieved in little less than two weeks. It has grossed Rs 162 crore in the domestic market and Rs 39 crore has come from overseas till Thursday.

An ecstatic Madhu Mantena, the Ghajini producer, admits to being "overawed'' by the record but trade consultant Amod Mehra is apparently not surprised. "The film was very strong from Day 1. It has been galloping like a one-horse race and, in my estimate, it will cross the Rs-250-crore (gross) mark very easily,'' Mehra said.

Bollywood producer Punkej Kharbanda is also not surprised that a Hindi film has broken all previous box-office records. "In the last year alone, there has been a 40% increase in cinema screens and also a rise in the cinema-going population, especially in the age group of 18-35. With most of the theatres recording good numbers on Ghajini, the Rs-200-crore mark is hardly a surprise,'' Kharbanda said.

Ghajini released with the maximum number of prints in India (1,200 digital and analog versions) and it made inroads into even provincial towns where films never get released on the same day as the rest of the world. A trade source said, "The film is set to take over the mantle of the highest domestic Bollywood earner from Anil Sharma's Gadar-Ek Prem Katha.''

In the overseas market, the film is, till now, second only to Karan Johar's Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna.

Ghajini has also reportedly earned Rs 4 crore from gaming rights (a first for a Bollywood film), Rs 21 crore for satellite rights for India and overseas and something to the tune of Rs 10 crore for home video and music. 


Courtesy: indiatimes.com

Rahman's Oscar-favourite number originally for another film

A.R. Rahman's Hindi song from 'Slumdog Millionaire' is a now a hot favourite at the Oscars. What is not so well known is that the song, 'Aaja aaja shamiane ke taley', was originally written for another movie.

Song writer Gulzar had written the song for Subhash Ghai's latest release 'Yuvvraaj'.

"I wrote a song 'Aaja aaja shmiane ke taley/Zari wale neele aasman ke taley' for Subhash Ghai's 'Yuvvraaj'. But then for some reason Subhash felt he didn't need that song in the film," Gulzar said.

"So Rahman suggested that we use the track in 'Slumdog Millionaire' because it fits perfectly. We asked Subhash and he readily agreed. I must say it was very generous of him."

The number has now entered the Best Song category at the Academy Awards. It also fetched the Los Angeles Critics Choice Award for best score and has been nominated for the New York Critics Choice Award.

Brushing off the praise from Gulzar for allowing the song to be in another film, Ghai said: "Nothing generous about it. Give and take is an integral part of any creative field.

"Look at M.F. Husain Saab's generosity. He called me up all the way from Dubai to say he loved 'Yuvvraaj'. After the battering that it got his words came as balm to my soul, specially when Husain Saab said he saw the film twice and liked it even better the second time.

"I happily gave the 'Aaja aaja...' song to Rahman when he said it was needed for Danny Boyle's film. I felt the song was slightly too soft and subtle for the aggressive character (Zayed Khan in 'Yuvvraaj'). I'm glad they could use it."

Any regrets, now that the song is going places?

"None at all. Every film and every song has its own destiny. That song was meant to be in 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I'm just happy that a Hindi song is being noticed, heard and hummed in the US by non-NRI audiences," Ghai said.

Courtesy: hindu.com

AR Rahman wins ‘Best Composer’ for ‘Slumdog’

AR Rahman has walked away with the Best Music Composer award for Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ at the 14th annual Critics'' Choice awards in America.

The movie, which follows the story of the young boy from rags to riches, has walked away with five gongs at the award ceremony, reports 'Variety'.
Director Danny Boyle won Best Director award. Writer Simon Beaufoy, also won an award for the film.
Actor Dev Patel added another trophy to his credit with the young actor/actress award.
Actor Sean Penn walked away with the top award for best actor for his film 'Milk', while Anne Hathaway for ‘Rachel Getting Married’ and Meryl Streep, for ‘Doubt’ won a combined award for best actress.
Heath Ledger was honoured posthumously for his role as a Joker in 'The Dark Knight'.
Kate Winslet won the supporting actress for her role in "The Reader," and Bruce Springsteen received the song award for 'The Wrestler.'


Courtesy: indianexpress.com

Ghajini collections zoom to Rs 140 crore

Aamir Khan has given the biggest hit of Bollywood in the form of Ghajini. Its box office collections zoomed to Rs 140 crore before the end of two weeks.

The big hits of recent times like Singh is Kinng and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi pale in popularity and box office collections when compared to the Aamir Khan and Asin film.

In territory after territory, the film has established records of sorts in popularity and box office collection. Its overseas collection is one of the highest so far for any Aamir Khan film. Aamir Khan is not known to have a great fan following like Shah Rukh Khan when it comes to fans in hundreds of thousands in Europe, US and the Middle East. 


But this film has won accolades and has given him a good harvest in the form of god box office collections. Industry pundits say that the box office collection of the film has crossed US $ 6 million by the end of second week.

Though the film had some competition from Shah Rukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and also from Akshay Kumar’s last big release Singh is King when it came to box office collections, but Ghajini certainly has the last laugh.

Estimates say that the film is on its way to be the greatest hit of Bollywood in terms of money it may gross. The film is poised to become first rupees one billion movie. But many say it may gross a lot more than many had initially believed.

This is a turnaround of sorts for the Bollywood at the end of the year. None of the industry stalwarts had expected that the last week of 2008 would change the fortunes of the industry with two big hits being released very close to each other. 

Courtesy: khabrein.info

Ghajini's starlet turns nightmare for London Dreams

Ghajini-fame actress Asin has now become a nuisance on the sets of her forthcoming movie London Dreams. Apparently she is throwing several starry tantrums on the sets of London Dreamsthat several makeup artists and designers quit the project.

An insider source reveals that Director Vipul Shah had first appointed hairstylist and makeup man Manzoor Khan, but Asin had problems with the latter. Then it was designer Niharika Khan who had trouble and eventually she too quit the movie. After Niharika, the few other designers who came, refused to work with the actress. Finally the actress ordered some outfits from Chennai after which Ashley Rebello was appointed.

To add to the director's woes, Asin even began her interference in direction too. She started telling the assistant directors which shot to retain and which to delete.

Makeup man Manzoor Khan complained that it took the actress two days to decide on her look for the film. Apparently, whenever Manzoor would do the makeup, she would wash it off and put on some garish makeup. For instance, she kept giving instructions to Manzoor about how the makeup should be done.

Courtesy: hindustantimes.com

Producer chops "Endhiran; Shankar drops Producer!!

It was not global meltdown that caused the break up between Shankar, the director of ‘Endhiran’ and its producers Ayngaran International, if the reports from Kollywood insiders can be believed.


It seems that one of the key players in the film company, Arun Pandian, had the temerity to ask Shankar for the completed portions of the -Rajnikanth-Aishwarya Rai starrer and watch them. He even went to the extent of editing a song made by Shankar without his permission, it is rumoured.


Rumourmills in Kollywood say this was why Shankar found a new producer and not because Ayngaran International asked him to slash his budget. Now, the film is being produced by Sun Pictures, who has assured the director that as far as the budget of the film is concerned, sky is the limit.


But, Arun has not learnt his lessons from the ‘Endhiran’ episode, it seems. There are reports that he had interfered with the editing of Ajit’s ‘Aegan’ and now is repeating the same folly in Prabhudeva’s ‘Villu’.


Courtesy: msn.com

Shankar's dream to come true

Director Shankar’s dream of making it to Hollywood might well come true, thanks to the efforts of Sun Pictures, who has taken over the production rights of the director’s mega Project Endhiran: The Robot. The production house is on the verge of a tie-up with HBO which will see Enthiran being released in the West simultaneously.

Sun Pictures has been striding in where others fear to tread. It is releasing small-budget films that would have otherwise floundered in today’s market, and turning them into box-office hits with aggressive marketing and shrewd campaign. The success of Kaadhalil Vilzunden, Thenavettu and last week’s release Dindugal Sarathi might not have been possible without Sun Pictures’ effort.
The timing of Sun Pictures’ entry is more significant. It has entered the field with vigor, when many corporate filmmakers are struggling to stay in the field in this grim economic scenario.
When Ayangaran and Eros started to back off from Shankar’s mega-budget Enthiran, Sun Pictures came to the rescue, taking over the film and getting Shankar and Rajini to announce it on TV. Enthiran’s budget has now crossed Rs. 150 crores, according to the sources.
Sun Picturs has plans to market Enthiran abroad with English subtitles. It will be released in Hollywood simultaneously, making it the biggest opening for the Tamil film industry. It might just be a wise move given the popularity of Shankar, rajinikanth, and of cource, Aishwarya Rai in US. It may be recalled that Rajini - Shankar’s Shivaji had raked in good money overseas.


Courtesy: chennaionline.com

Kylie Minogue To Sing For Indian Musician A.R. Rahman

Popular Australian singer Kylie Minogue has been roped in by A.R. Rahman, one of India's best known composers to sing for a movie called "Blue." The song will feature in the film which stars many Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutta.
Reports suggest that Minogue will be paid a hefty amount for this song, which will be composed by Rahman. The recording is expected to happen next month after Minogue lands in India with her entire troupe. The singer is also expected to be featured in the video of the song.
It is still not clear if Rahman will just be composing, or singing with her as well.
Rahman has just won a Golden Globe nomination for his score in "Slumdog Millionaire" - a first for Indian music.


Courtesy: allheadlinenews.com

What's next after Ghajini?

After the smashing success of Ghajini, Director A R Murugadoss is all set to direct his second Hindi film. He says he's already decided on two stories but he's keeping the details firmly under wraps.

"I will definitely make more Hindi films. I have two stories in mind. Will work out the details in eight to ten days," said Murugadoss.

It was not the success of Ghajini that prompted him to pursue a Bollywood dream. He says Hindi movies were always on the cards.

"When I wrote Ghajini in Hindi, Aamir said he would act in it. It was a dream come true for me," he said.

But it's not only sucess that Murugadoss is relishing, he also savouring the experience of working with one of the best actors in Bollywood, Aamir Khan.

"At the start, Aamir told me, 'Just let me know if you need my help, with the language and dialogues'," he said.

The taste of sucess is sweet but it's only a lucky few who get to experience it. As for Murugadoss, he seems to have hit upon a winning formula.

Courtesy: ndtv.com