pg. 100
pg. 90
pg. 10
contents 01.10 06. editorial 08. readers’ voices
22MOVIE MANIA 22. PEEKABOO
A look at movies ready for release
30. galatta talkies
Movies that hit the screens
32. popcorn
Kandhakottai, Odipolaama
46. FIRST CUT
On location with movies in the making
GALA-TTA 51ATIME! 51. SUBSCRIBE!
Get GC to your doorstep - sign up here!
72. WHAT’S ON G.COM
Hot stuff on Galatta.com this month
52. COVER FEATURE
SORBET OF 92ACROSS 10 BORDERS STARS 92. BEYOND SOUTH
10. KICKSTARt
Titbits from the out-of-towners
Raring to go, Hansika
94. BRINGING HOLLYWOOD HOME
60. behind the scenes
Hollywood biggies in India
26SPECIALS
Must - watch January movie fare!
104. a year of service
Asthtva Foundation’s outstanding work
Ambitious new kids on the block
78. star of the month
26. january jalsa
Producer G. Ramkumar
74. rising stars
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
82. spotlight
Sensational Sneha
MEMORIES 108 108. NOSTALGIA
AV. Meiyappan, the movie mogul
119. tribute
pg. 74
Remembering Vishnuvardhan
96
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
12JUICY STUFF
96. lookbook
Chennai International Fashion Week Showstoppers
12. galatta grapevine
All the info, all the goss!
28. cool stuff
Mahesh Babu
38. SCENE ABOUT TOWN Tinseltown’s shimmering dos
48. game-time
Contests to win in a flash!
76. fast track
pg. 82
102. stargazing
XTRA-G 112
Chillin’ with Lekha!
Travel on the zodiac with the stars
122. wrap up
112. 2009 analysis G. Dhananjayan of Moser Baer on movies’ maths in 2009
Just in, super-fresh news
64
NOTE WORTHY
64. iN THE GROOVE
52COVER FEATURE
Soundtracks worth your money
66. top of the charts Songs on the #1 lists
pg. 76
52. AASAL – The real story
A grand spread of one of the biggest movies of 2010, Sivaji Productions’ Ajith starrer Aasal, directed by Saran.
Editor’s Note
On the cover: Ajith Kumar Courtesy: Sivaji Productions EDITOR Shakthi Girish EDITING CONSULTANT Ashok L. Rajani SUB-EDITOR Padma Iyer WRITERS Kaanchan B., Baiju N., Ambili Design Consultant Sharon Suares Chief Designer Sankaran N. DESIGNERS Punitha V., Rameshkumar M. Suresh Babu V. MANAGER - INDUSTRY RELATIONS & SALES Shailesh Kumaran Seran MD & CEO, GALATTA.COM C.R. Venkatesh
SPECIAL THANKS TO Mr. C. N. Ramdas IAS (R), Chairman, GNG Group of Companies Mr. C. R. Rajendran, Chairman, Bojaraj Textiles
PRESIDENT, GALATTA.COM Girish Ramdas MANAGER – AD SALES Sunil Krishnamurthy MANAGER – AD SALES Abilasha Krishna Assistant Manager – Ad Sales (NCR) Akash Saxena sales & marketing rep. (Hyderabad) Indrani SENIOR MARKETING COORDINATOR Jayshree G. Manager - CIRCULATION Mohan H. PRINTING PRESS Rathna Offset Printers
Mrs. Kamalam Rajendran, MD, Bojaraj Textiles Mrs. Nirmala Ramdas, Director, GNG Group of Companies
Thank you for helping us put this issue together: Mr. Ramkumar, Sivaji Productions, Mr. Kiran Reddy & Mr. Swaroop Reddy of Sathyam Cinemas, Mr. Vijayakumar Radhakrishnan – CTO, Dot Com Infoway Ltd. and Mr. Gnanam. We thank the ENTIRE FILM industry: actors, producers, technicians, managers and PROs, assistants, other staff and those who have supported us. Special thanks: To our beloved Venket Ram, whose genius is only surpassed by his generosity. His shots inspire great stories! Our buddy Sunder Ramu, whose love for colour is as rich as his exuberance. Stylists and idea-banks who lend unique excellence to Galatta Cinema. Our heartfelt thanks to: Mr. Randor Guy who spearheads the Nostalgia section of our magazine. His superb memory and inimitable writing style have brought an eclectic feel and old-world charm to Galatta Cinema! To advertise on Galatta Cinema, contact: Sunil Krishnamurthy at +91-96000 84464 Abilasha Krishna +91-95661 11922 Akash Saxena (New Delhi) +91-99999 84203 Indrani (Hyderabad) +91-98498 34123 Shailesh Kumaran Seran at +91-95000 51947 For coverage of events and publicity on Galatta, contact: Shailesh Kumaran Seran at +91-95000 51947 Or email us at: ads@galattacinema.com For retail and distribution enquiries, contact: Mohan H. +91-97909 78455 For more info, log onto: www.galattacinema.com Address: Galatta Cinema, Post Box 7166, Chennai 600 102 Talk to us! Email: editor@galattacinema.com Snail Mail: Galatta Cinema, Post Box No. 7166, Chennai 600 102, Tamilnadu, India
6 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
A
Ringing in the new decade
nother year gone by and a new one ready to test our strengths. Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010. Hello also to the long list of movies that kept promising to release in 2009 but never did. Some said that the post-production was taking such a long time so they can get the details right (we’ll see). Some said they’re releasing bi-linguals at the same time so it’s taking twice as much time (over a year?). Some medium budget movies were being shoved around here and there for fear of timing their release wrong. Some producers ran out of money, some producers were affected by the Telangana issue and yet others just faced several rocks and hard places at the same time. The result? We may not have enjoyed too many fabulous South Indian releases last year (the good ones that did release, though, were really good!), but we feasted our eyes on and upped our standards of movie-watching with some fabulous Hindi and English movies. I love being South Indian, but I also ardently pray that in 2010, our movies too will have the gloss and international quality of script, screenplay and finish that these goodfellas had. Sneer and slot me in the multiplex class... but I am proud to be one: I insist on good movies for my Rs.120 and diss the crap ones that have wasted my time, money and intellectual space.
N
ever mind. Positivity is the order of the day and I am sure - looking at the fine lineup of projects scheduled for this year - that if the movie-makers tighten their target dates and stick to their visions of quality and time-line, we’re in for a fantastic rollercoaster on the big screen. Take a look at what to expect: Aasal, Aayirathil Oruvan, Paiyya, Goa, Endhiran, Ravana and Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (Tamil); Leader, Kedi (Telugu); Dronar, Pokiri Raja, Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram and Shikari (Malayalam); Prithvi (Kannada)... phew. Not bad, say what?
O
n a points-to-ponder note: This is a purgatory of sorts that we seem to be floating in. We desperately need a new breed of charismatic and skilled actors to scale our standards up higher and bring back the glory of an industry known for great actors and great technicians. We need to look at technology - the Internet, for one - as our vehicle and not our enemy. We need to combine the experience of the older generation of filmmakers with the adaptability of the new breed of youngsters in the industry. We need to move with the times in terms of publicising and marketing our movies; make our movies available to more people in more forms so they don’t feel the need to own pirated content. Companies like Moser Baer have taken the first steps to make legal copies of content available at rates even more competitive than the pirates’! A start that needs to be supported by us, the moviebuffs and the industry on the whole. Today, a Hindi moviemaker says he’s going to release his latest movie on YouTube OFFICIALLY so people don’t have to be party to content thievery. We as the public, for one, should stop being callous and run to the nearest Burma Bazaar “potti kadai” for our dirty, badly shot camera print DVD of a latest release and instead, take the slightly longer but more satisfactory route and get our movie experience the right way.
P
ondering time is over. Reading time has begun. January 2010 lineup’s is as big as it can get and the perfect booming start of GC for the new year. Aasal dominates our issue - after all, it doesn’t get bigger than this! A slew of previews, reviews, interviews and specials add to the gloss but despite all this mirth, we take a moment to mourn Kannada superstar Vishnuvardhan. Dear reader, we wish you a wonderful 2010 - stay with us and let’s enjoy this 1st year of the new decade!
Shakthi Girish
Readers’ Voices sameer-ah! The December ‘09 cover of Sameera Reddy was unexpectedly sizzling! Unexpected because it was a completely un-revealing outfit and a very simple pose... and sizzling because the attitudefilled smouldering look she had was sexy in itself! I like the classy way you’ve managed to sexi-fy a simple cover picture! It’s no wonder I was ensnared in an instant! - Rakesh Goel, Hyderabad oops! we didn’t mean it! Apology: Last month, we mentioned the audio label for the movie Saleem incorrectly - the real owner of the audio of Saleem is Sony Music. We apologise for this inadvertent error. - Editor xmas xstasy? I love your monthly specials. I’ve started looking forward to them and love reading about which star does what, how, when and with whom! I loved the little details like how you’ve not just talked about the year’s great
movies and bad moments, but how you’ve gotten the stars themselves to wax eloquent about these. A warm Christmas indeed for us readers. - Carol Michelle D’Cruz, Bangalore
We want to hear from you!
Write in to us with your comments, critiques, wish lists on who you want to see featured, what you like, what you hate and pretty much... your inner thoughts! The fastest way, of course is, email: feedback@galattacinema.com
simbu: such a sizzle! I never realised what a goodlooking fellow Simbu was until I saw him in Galatta Cinema last month! Very cool, uber-urban styling and I really liked the metrosexual look. It’s nice to see male stars from the South work on their clothing and body language too these days. Good going, Galatta! - Kanchana Naidu, Coimbatore chennai truly stylish! You were the guys behind the famed CIFW? Wow, I saw all the ads and all the publicity you guys were also giving the event, without realising it’s cos you were behind it all! Then, when I attended 3 days of this kick-ass event and had such a blast and went home in awe that someone has pooh-poohed the naysayers and put together such a fantastic event in sleepy
Snail
mail is good too Post Box No. 7166, Chennai 600 102. We look forward to filling this page with YOUR words!
2nd anniversary
the 1st cover
Chennai... it struck me with the force of a train that Galatta Media partnered with the event! I am proud of you guys. Thank you for giving us something big to look forward to in Chennai every year! - Deepti Vishwanathan, Chennai Dear Deepti, Thank you for your support and your encouragement; we are inspired to do bigger and better! May 2010 is the next season of CIFW and we hope to see you there with the same gusto! - Editor abs-d out and happy Haha, I loved the 6-pack contest last month! I, who never descends to the level of writing to sundry glossies – or so I thought – laughed my way to the post office with this letter! - Karthik Ram, Bangalore cover
1st anniversary
cover
best galatta covers!
Galatta cinema best magazine award!
Three covers of Galatta Cinema made it to the Top 100 covers of 2009 in the NDTV countdown. The July 2009 cover featuring the hot Namitha was on 99th position, the August 2009 cover featuring the mesmerizing Mamta Mohandas was on 60th position and the November 2009 cover which had the sizzling Meenakshi was on 24th position.
2010 started with a bang for Galatta Cinema. The magazine won the best movie magazine award at the V4 Awards held in Chennai on January 1, 2010. It is indeed a joyous occasion for the entire Galatta Cinema Magazine team and Galatta. com. We thank our readers and subscribers for making Galatta Cinema such a popular movie magazine.
8 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
Chocolate boy Maddy is back in Kollywood. The actor has apparently given a green signal to a script narrated by Kumaravelan of Ninaithaley Inukum fame. Sources say that it was an immediate Yes! The actor is currently busy sailing on the waves of Bollywood big banners.
Acting sensation Tabu is returning to Tamil. No, she has not signed any new film, but her Hindi thriller Hawa (2003) is all set to be dubbed in Tamil as Raja Leelai. Hawa was inspired by Sidney Furie’s 1982 horror film The Entity.
12 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
Glam queen Reema Sen is one excited lady these days with the release of her long-awaited film Aayirathil Oruvan. She has also changed her name to Reemma. Will the name change bring in more luck for this gorgeous actress? Let us wait and watch.
Prithviraj will pair up with hot actress Namitha for an upcoming TamilTelugu bilingual project produced by Lakshmi Sindhu Cine Creations. This is the first time that the duo will be acting together. Namitha has recently been pairing with younger heroes like Srikanth and Bala.
Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi resigned from his MLA post, vowing to fight for a unified Andhra. Claiming that a united state was in the best interests of the people of Telangana, he dramatically brandished his resignation letter before the media
14 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
Tamannaah is going great guns! She has had two big successes in 2009: Ayan with Suriya and Kanden Kadhalai with Bharath. In 2010, she continues to take bigger strides. She will be seen with Karthi in Paiyya and with Jayam Ravi in Thilalangadi. She is also paired with Vijay in his 50th film Sura. Great going Tamu!
Sandya has a 20 minutes cameo in Simbudevan’s Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam, in which she plays the role of a Red Indian princess. She is also busy with Odipolaama with newcomer Parimal, remake of Nootrukku Nooru with Vinay and a Kannada film Aptha Rakshaka with P. Vasu. Looks like a great year ahead for her!
Yet another feather in his cap! Madras Mozart and Oscar winner A.R. Rahman has been presented with the ‘Entertainer of the Year 2009’ as well as ‘Indian of the Year 2009’ awards by CNN-IBN, one of the leading news channels in India.
16 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
Telugu hero Nagarjuna was recently felicitated by representatives of the Greek government in Milos Island. The hero was in Greece shooting for a song for his forthcoming film Kedi with Mamta Mohandas.
JALSA
ANUARY
Aayirathil
Oruvan
Banner: Dream Valley producer: R. Ravindran director: selvaraghavan cast: karthi, reemma, andreah, parthiban cinematography: ramji music: g.v. prakash kumar
THREE PEOPLE, AN UNKNOWN
When history has to be created it takes more than a lifetime. Similarly when as epic is being created on celluloid all the time in the world seems to be not enough. This is absolutely true with Selvaraghavan’s magnum opus Aayirathil Oruvan. The movie which has been in the making for almost three years hits the screens for Pongal.
JOURNEY, RESULT? A ROLLER
When the movie started rolling even Selva had not anticipated that it would take so long. The delay in the film is solely due to the subject which required not only shooting in some very remote regions but also detailing in terms of sets and special effects. But one look at the trailer and one is intrigued about the film.
ELEMENTS OF ADVENTURE, SO
It is said that the music of a film gives a glimpse of what is to come on screen and G.V. Prakash has certainly raised the bar. The bygone era feel to the songs and the sheer richness in the lyrics and sounds that we hear promise that Aayirathil Oruvan will indeed be a film of lifetime.
COASTER OF ACTION AND EMOTION.... ALL THE
EXPLORE!
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR IN Aayirathil oruvan * Karthi, as this is his second release after the super successful Paruthiveeran * Reemma, she is as never seen before * Andreah, we don’t see her on screen as much! * Parthiban, in his own words, it is one of his most amazing works till date * The larger than life sets and never before seen on screen locations * A great adventure in Selvaraghavan style!
26 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
GOA Banner: ocher studios producer: soundarya rajnikanth director: venkat prabhu cast: Sneha, jai, Piaa, aravind akash, vaibhav, premji, melanie, sampath cinematography: ramji music: yuvanshankar raja There are action films, romantic films, tragedy films, comedy films... and then there are Venkat Prabhu films. This talented director may be only two films old, but he has been able to carve a niche for his kind of cinema. An ensemble cast, an honest story and dedicated team effort – these are the elements that make a true-blue Venkat Prabhu film. Like his earlier films, Goa too has an ensemble cast: five heroes, three heroines and a good dose of cameo appearances. In Venkat’s own words, it is a romantic film at heart with adequate doses of comedy, similar to what we have seen in Hollywood flicks Road Trip and American Pie, but the tone and level has been brought down to suit Tamil audiences’ sensibitlies. Another highlight of the film is that Venkat Prabhu, his brother Premji and cousins Karthik Raja, Yuvanshankar Raja and Bhavatharini, have recorded a song together for the film!
FIVE YOUNG MEN, ONE TRIP TO THE PARTY HOT SPOT GOA, RESULT? FUN, FROLIC, ACTION, ROMANCE.... ALL THE ELEMENTS OF LIFE, SO
ENJOY!
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR IN goa * Loads of fun in Venkat Prabhu style * The scenic beaches of Goa * Sneha like never seen before * Debut of Australian actress Melanie, who is cast opposite Premji * The group song by the children of brothers Ilayaraja and Gangai Amaren! * Cameo appearances by Simbu and Nayantara!
Galatta Cinema | January 2010 27
popcorn
32 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
a h d n Ka i a t t Ko Some people may be misogynists, but how many of us have ever met anybody who completely hates love and lovers? This is the subject matter in debutant director Sakthivel’s latest romantic thriller Kandha Kottai, starring sensational dancing hero Nakul opposite Poorna. Director Sakthivel admits that as a youngster, he too hated lovers and enjoyed the (sadistic) pleasure of separating them. He revealed that this facet of his youth greatly inspired him in characterizing Kandha Kottai’s hero Siva (played by Nakul). An associate of directors Radha Mohan and Priya, Sakthivel initially wanted to make his debut with a soft, romantic entertainer. Then he thought this plot (based on the idea of a love-hater opposite a girl who defends and assists love and lovers) looked more novel, promising and interesting.
The Promising Debut Though some naysayers and critics feel the story line is very similar to commercial flicks of the 80s and 90s, debutant Sakthivel is extremely happy with the film’s box office performance and tremendous audience responses. “I am truly happy my film was well-appreciated by moviegoers, mostly for its comedy by Santhanam, ‘out of the blue’ action sequences by Nakul and superb music by Dhina. The film has everything in the right proportion. It began as a small project, but in the course of time, due to the popularity of Nakul’s musical hit Maasilamani, the film grew to become a big budget film. I thank producer Raju and Kalapathy S. Agoram who bought the theatrical rights,” Sakthiveli says, adding that he has already begun his next project, probably again with Nakul.
The Nakulan Effect From Day One when he heard the script during the dubbing of Maasilamani, Nakul was really excited about Kandhai Kottai for its not-so-common story. “In real life, it is nearly impossible to find people who hate love. Everybody loves to love and to be loved! Unlike other movies in which we see lead pairs falling in love at first sight or after a few ego clashes, dancing at exotic foreign locales and ready to fight the villain, then tying the wedding knot in the climax, Kandha Kottai has a very different story, showing why the lead character hates love and how he finally realizes the true meaning of love. I was totally impressed by the way Sakthivel narrated the story to me in just an hour. I felt like WOW.”
Galatta Cinema | January 2010 33
The Singing Experiments However, Nakul was a bit nervous about the music of Kandha Kottai. “My previous two movies (Kadhalil Vizhunthen and Maasilamani) were musical hits and I was a bit nervous thinking how Kandha Kottai would fare in the music field! Thankfully, music director Dhina has done a good job. Most surprisingly, he asked me to sing ‘Eppadi ennul kadhal vandhadhu’. I am just a bathroom singer and I’ve no idea why director chose me to croon that song. Perhaps he thought I could give more life to the song and make it more realistic as I portray the character. Anyway, the song has come out very well.”
The Secret behind Secrets The secret behind how Nakul was chosen by the makers to sing in Kandha Kottai is revealed by music director Dhina. “After I composed ‘Eppadi ennul kadhal vandhadhu’, Sakthivel and Nakul came to my lobby to hear the song. After listening to the song, Nakul started singing it and I was just behind him. He sang really well and I asked him to croon the song for recording. Despite his initial reluctance, he agreed to sing and the song was recorded in just an hour,” Dhina reveals.
34 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
popcorn Cast: Parimal, Sandya
Direction: Kanmani
Music: D. Imman
ODIPoLAAMA
Bubbly Sandya teams up with young and talented debutant Parimal in this fun and adventurous flick. As the name suggests, the story is about two young people who run away from their homes. The only difference here is that they run away, but not together and not for love. Visu (Parimal), a computer science student falls in love with Anjali (Sandya), also a computer science student. To be close to her, he changes his residence to a house near hers. Due to some personal issues, Anjali decides to run away from home; coincidentally, Visu is also travelling in the same bus. It is therefore contrued by the local people that Visu and Anjali have run away together. As the movie progresses, the two become friends, learn to understand each other and show each other the right path. When they decide it is time for them to return home, things don’t turn out the way they had planned amd anticipated. Parimal has given a commendable performance in his debut film. Sandya plays her part well. All in all, it is a fun and interesting film to watch with friends and family.
36 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
aASAL
COVER FEATURE
January 2010 is the beginning of what is, hopefully, a new year of better movies, better scripts, better actors and better sense in movie-making (technical, aesthetical and all of that) than the last couple of years of mediocrity. Yes, big budgets are not necessarily big hits and certainly not necessarily good movies... at the risk of playing Devil’s advocate, it doesn’t mean that smaller movies are good ones either! Still, there is no thrill that equals the anticipation of a really big, all-star cast blockbuster; the heady moments of standing in long cinema queues for tickets, the glimpses of your favourite superstar in a cool new look... Where are these movies? Where is this excitement? Have we given up on our Southern biggies and pasted our hopes on fantastic, vast Hollywood projects and Hindi juggernauts? Don’t give up just yet, for around the corner awaits a super-duper project waiting to hit the screens; starring the man touted to be the best openingweekend-earner, produced by a company steeped in traditional values and ethics and put together by a team that is a brilliant mix of the young, the beautiful, the restless and the skilled. Welcome to the world of Aasal and get ready to have your visual senses pleasantly assaulted this January!
AASAL
AJITH
aasal is vast. a thrill ride. welcome to my realm.
Galatta Cinema |january 2010 53
In true Ajith style, no one is talking about this movie called Aasal. Just snippets of eagerly-lapped up info on how the script is an action-thriller never done before, how the locations all over the world are breathtaking, how there are two lovely leading ladies in the movie who are not mere eye-candy and how the sex-appeal of the villains – five of them at least – match any hero’s! Perhaps that’s why Thala has been chosen to fill the large superstar’s shoes...
i don’t tempt the fates with too much pre-release talk. but this one is irresistible! 54 Galatta Cinema |january 2010
AJITH
AASAL
REALITY CHECK reel people CHECK Talking to director Saran, as Aasal stands on the verge of release, one can observe the same calm he displayed just before shooting commenced. He knows what anticipation his partnership with Ajith creates, but is completely untouched by its pressure. Call it confidence or call it professionalism? “There are two important things about Aasal that we did take into consideration. What Ajith fans expect from a Ajith-Saran combo and what they expect when that combo combines with Sivaji Productions, a production house that has given the super hit Chandramukhi. We had to fulfill these expectations, but at the same time, we drew a boundary for ourselves as well. While we have taken utmost efforts to satisfy Ajith’s diehard fans, we have also made sure that the movie will suit the rest of the audience as well. While the fan is sure to feel the movie was made entirely for him, the rest of the audience will not feel left out either,” reveals the director, who has his finger on the pulse of the Ultimate Star’s loyal fans. “Ajith is undeniably a mass hero. He knows exactly what his fans would like to see on the screen. That’s why it has been a pleasure to have him contribute towards the dialogues and screenplay,” he adds. Yugi Sethu, the screenwriter, confirms the same, saying, “His part in the script and dialogues has been invaluable. Ajith is fully in sync with the cravings of his fans, while Saran is great at improvising things on the spot. The three of us worked on the script together. I believe this is the first time Ajith’s name will appear in the writers’ category, and that makes us writers all the more proud of our craft. If it were not an important facet of the movie, why would he associate himself with it?” “We have taken utmost care to give the movie a very stylish look. Billa set a standard of putting out an urban, stylish movie that also appealed to the general masses and we are not just living up to it, but we have given our best effort to better it,” asserts Saran. “Watching Aasal being made and looking at the rushes, I had a feeling of coming of age. Tamil cinema has moved on to another level . There must be no turning back. The only way is forward,” sums up Yugi.
1 2
the look: international. the demeanour: cold and dangerous. add to that, a new twist in urban styling - the spiked hair and scottish sideburns. perfectly executed.
Gautham vasudev menon was supposed to direct ajith’s FIRst movie with sivaji productions. When the project was called off, the immediate choice for director, suggested by ajith himself, was Saran.
3
prabhu, who co-starred with ajith in billa, assumes another such role in aasal too. he plays mirasi, who runs a shipping port and has a very unique relationship with the main protagonists.
4
Ganesh Acharya has choreographed the song kuthiraiku theriyum with ajith and Sameera reddy. He was brought on board by prabhu. An interesting fact is – his real name is sivaji ganesan!
5
Yuhi sethu, who is one of the writers on board aasal, insists that the movie’s usp besides ajith is the strong characterization of every individual – especially the heroines and villains!
Galatta Cinema |january 2010 55
‘Stylish’ is just one of the words that describe the technical superiority of Aasal. The movie has a whole bunch of skilled technicians who have worked around the clock to make Aasal look international. “We wanted the movie to look classy and stylish. That puts a heavy load on the shoulders of the cinematographer. Prashanth, an associate of Nirav Shah, is the cinematographer of Aasal. Every one is aware of Nirav’s prowess, so we felt that someone who has studiously learnt and worked under Nirav would do a great job too... and he has. In terms of lighting, colour and overall look, Prashanth has achieved exactly what we had in mind,” insist Vikram Prabhu and Dusshyanth, Executive Producers, Sivaji Productions.
AASAL colour code
CHECK
1
Colour plays a vital part in setting the style tone of a movie. aasal’s characters have dictated the colours used in every scene, enhancing each character’s personality.
2
much grading and colourcorrection work has been done in post production to bring different hues to every scene and yet keep the general tone of the entire movie the same.
3
AJITH
it’s a thrill to add my name to the technical credits as well!
one of the biggest reasons a big chunk of the movie has been shot in european countries like france is to keep the cool look and provide a visual backdrop not seen before.
Galatta Cinema |january 2010 57
REALITY BYTES “Ajith is a real gentleman. While working with him in Billa I was completely bowled over by his personality and professionalism, and I requested him to do a movie for our banner. He promptly agreed,” begins veteran actor Prabhu, who plays a significant role in Aasal, which he absolutely downplays when asked about it! “I am also a part of the movie,” is all he says and you can’t but admire the humility that shines through, disarming dimples and all! “50% of the movie is the script and the remaining is all Ajith! I think he is one of the most handsome actors in Tamil cinema and I admire him for the way he respects everybody. Everyone knows what a gentleman Rajinikanth is. I find that in Ajith too,” he says, adding, “He has been a great source of support all through the making of the movie. In spite of his star status he did not want to hog all the limelight!” Director Saran nods in assent when he says, “Most superstars would insist on their presence being highlighted in every frame. Being the hero, they would want all attention on them. That’s where Ajith is different. He wanted every character in the movie to shine – to make an impact.” Yuhi Sethu for his part, adds, “Even during the times of MGR’s peak popularity, when he shared sequences with actors like Nagesh, he would let them take the attention off him, in respect for their talent. In this movie, Ajith has been gracious enough to share the spotlight with everybody, because he believes that the story as a whole should reach people, not just his part.” And that’s probably one reason why the villains in the movie are not your typical Tamil movie style baddies! “Ajith is undeniably the dashing hero of Aasal, but take a look at our villains. They are not the usual vile-looking stereotypes that we see in every other movie. We have five main villains and each of them looks good enough to be a hero himself. The ugliness is only in their characters. There again, they are all not completely evil. Their levels and reasons for being bad are very different and that makes it all the more interesting ,” smiles Saran.
man matters
BYTES
1
pradeep rawal “When you’re a villain, you’re generally going to HAVE to do bad things. So it’s really important how different your character is from movie to movie. In Aasal, on a scale of 1 to 10, I will rate my vile-ness at 9!” Badder than in Ghajini, yeah!
2
suresh “I play a cop in France. A role that nobody has played thus far and I am very kicked about it! Working on Aasal has been a blast! It’s a comprehensible entertainer and yet, it is also one that shows myriad characters, all interesting!”
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Rajeev krishna “More than looking at us as villains, look at us as welldeveloped characters with degrees of good or bad. Take mine, for instance; I am not all bad. I have a few redeeming qualities and there are reasons why I do the things I do.’’
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Sampath “For the first time we villains have a clean and stylish look! No bristling handlebar moustache, for one!” exclaims Sampath. “What I totally appreciated working with Aasal was how the producers treated even us villains as stars!”
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kELLY dORJee “Amongst our main villains is Kelly Dorji whose performance is as great as he looks! From his modelling days, he has the silky elegance and manly grace; and with his Oriental features, he exudes an international presence!” says actor Prabhu.
Thus muses Ajith: “There are so many stories that crop up all around a movie when the rumour mill doesn’t have any info to churn out! ‘Aasal is a remake of Payback’ Or, ‘Ajith wanted a prequel to Billa and this is what Aasal is all about’ or whatever else. Perhaps they believe it builds more anticipation. Or perhaps they just want to be the stars of their dinner-table conversations with scoop that is perhaps just a smidgen of an idea built into a tale. Never mind - they can all have their fun. I, on the other hand, still believe in keeping things mysterious and something to await eagerly in the dark. The movie experience should, after all, be fresh and a revelation!’’
AJITH
AASAL i won’t say aasal is big. but you will, once you watch it!
BEHIND THE SCENES
Aasal the
Star o f the m onth
- G.ramkumar
man
When Ramkumar and his brother Prabhu took over Sivaji Productions, they shouldered an immense responsibilty. Their father Sivaji Ganesan and uncle V.C. Shanmugam had left behind a production house that had started as a movie production company but was now considered one of the most respectable banners in the industry. The first two films produced by Sivaji Productions were the Hindi movies Amardeep (1958) and Rakhi (1962), both co-productions. The first independent film under the banner was the Sivaji Ganesan-Padmini starrer Vietnam Veedu. This was followed by several more films, all Sivaji Ganesan and Prabhu starrers. Ramkumar took over the mantle in 1986 after the death of his uncle V.C. Shanmugam. But taking over the banner was no easy task. Ramkumar and Prabhu had been working with Sivaji Productions in the 70s. Being young and enthusiastic, they did make some wrong moves. While talking about it, Ramkumar says, “We were young, highly motivated and overenthusiastic – mistakes were bound to happen.” But that did not dampen their spirits. Every failure was a learning experience. And today, after more that 30 years, the duo is older and wiser. The pressure has definitely come down as they are a force to reckon with in their own right. Ramkumar has been in the movie business for over 30 years now and has worked with the big stars of Kollywood: his dad Sivaji Ganesan, Superstar Rajinikanth, Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan and little bro Prabhu. And now with Ajith in Aasal. With changing times and changing generations of actors, Ramkumar has adapted Sivaji Productions to the changing times as well. The style of film making, incorporating new ideas and themes, making films that are more contemporary... To smoothen this transition, Dusshyanth and Vikram, sons of Ramkumar and Prabhu, have joined hands with their dads. In Ramkumar’s own words, “They bring in the
60 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
freshness of this gen and we give them the wisdom of years at the production front.” So with the old and new working together, the sun will continue to shine on the Sivaji Productions banner. When asked about what he thinks was the principle on which Sivaji Productions worked, Ramkumar said, “Sticking to timelines! We were around when movies were made in 30 days or less, so we do know that it’s quite possible to work well within set timelines! And in today’s time, the longer you take to make a movie, the more expensive it gets. So for all practical purposes, it’s better to work towards the preset deadline! And that is how we like to work.” Ramkumar also takes his involvement in a film very seriously. It is not just about being a producer, but being involved in the entire film making process, right from the scripting stage to the execution and finally, the promotion and release of the film. Some one from the production house (Ramkumar or his brother Prabhu or the sons) is always present at the shooting spot. This is not to create a sense of fear in the minds of the team; this is just their way of saying that this is their film too and they are part of the creative team. Sivaji Productions has crossed several milestones. The banner produced the 200th film of Sivaji Ganesan and Prabhu’s 100th film. So what are the other heights that Ramkumar hopes to achieve? “To make quality movies that are commercially viable!” And this is the wish of every prodution house. For the film industry to grow and prosper, it is vital that everyone makes good quality films that are financially profitable as well. And Ramkumar feels that it is important
“Vikram and DuSshyanth bring in the freshness of this genERATION and we give them the wisdom of years at the production front.” that there is healthy competition as well because with no competition, there will be no development. “If all the production houses do well, the industry will scale greater heights. So my only wish is that we ALL do well!” Now all the attention of Ramkumar and Sivaji Productions is on Aasal. The movie, starring Ajith and directed by Saran, is the Utimate Star’s 49th film. After the super success of Superstar Rajinikanth’ Chandramukhi, the entire film industry as well as the audience is eagerly waiting for Aasal to release. Expected to hit the screens by the end of this month, Aasal will be one of the biggest films to open in 2010. The movie, which also stars Sameera and Bhavana, is also a beautiful amalgamation of movie industries of India. One of the heroines (Sameera Reddy), two of the villains (Pradeep Rawal and Kelly Dorji) and one of the choreographers (Ganesh Acharya) are from Bollywood. The other heroine Bhavana is one of the top actresses in Malayalam cinema. And from Tollywood, we have Kelly Dorji again, who was the baddie in Nagarjuna’s King. And of course Ajith, Saran and music director Bharadwaj are from Kollywood along with the other villains and co-stars. So it doesn’t get more real than AASAL!
fact file nUMBER OF FILMS PRODUCED: 21 (including aasal)
first film as independent producer:
vietnam veedu (1970)
milestones: - vIEtnam Veedu (1970) - Thangappathakkam (1974) - Thirisoolam (1979): Sivaji’s 200th film, All-Time Blockbuster - Vettri Vizhaa (1989): Kamal Haasan’s only movie with Sivaji Productions, All-Time Blockbuster - Mannan (1990): The first film Superstar Rajinikanth did for Sivaji Productions - Rajakumaaran (1992): Prabhu’s 100th film - Chandramukhi (2005): Longest running Tamil film in recent times, All-Time Blockbuster
Hindi films under the sivaji banner: Amardeep (1958) rakhi (1962) delhii heights (2007)
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Sivaji Productions Prabhu Presents Ultimate Star Ajith kumar
the power of silence
AASAL
directed by Saran for the FIRst time: story & screenplay by ajith kumar BharaDwaj & Y-kinz
Kavi Perarasu Vairamuthu
yuhi sethu
Prasanth D. Missale Antony M. PrabhakAran G. Venket ram Diamond Babu Kumar a galatta cinema feature presentation Join the official aasal online community on galatta.com: simply log onto http: //community.galatta.com/aasal
role play Strong man meets strong woman and sparks fly This is the essence of Ajith and Sameera’s characters in Aasal He is the strong-willed hero and she is the outspoken daughter of a diplomat ajith plays A French businessman who handles government deals AND sameera plays a cultural attache – meaty roles indeed a large part of the movie has been shot in europe and to add to the authenticity of the story-visuals combo, each of the characters in these locales has a depth – the heroines have careers or a mission in life or both; the villains all have shades of personality beyond the monochromatic and so on. the sameera-ajith combination is one such that goes beyond running around medieval fountains and cathedrals of europe in dance...
ajith & i were part of aasal well before even the director came onboard! sameera reddy
sameera & ajith
? vaaranam aayiram was sameera’s FIRst movie in tamil and despite her star status in telugu cinema, she knows that tamil cinema is a different cuppa; so she made sure she had a project that was high-profile and still had substance.
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sameera jumped at the chance of a movie with one of the biggest stars of tamil cinema and one of its most esteemed production houses. with confidence typical of her, she signed up with complete confidence AND no doubts on the cast & script.
2
as the script progressed, the producers and saran decided that since this is a 2-heroine story, they needed a strong protagonist and a soft-spoken other as two completely opposite characters for the heroine. sameera fit the toughie role.
3
says ajith of sameera, “she is a thorough professional, typical of the mumbai girls. she is bursting with energy, very to-the-point and works hard at her character. it’s good to have someone like her up the ante on heroine characterisation!”
4
says sameera of her role and pairing with ajith, “it has been an unimaginably pleasant experience. ajith is so humble and courteous, you wouldn’t believe he’s the #1 tamil star! plus, the cast and crew have been so professional and target-oriented, it’s amazing.”
5
rated
h ot!
Rising stars Having a filmi background sure helps one to launch his film career but very few have used this asset the right way! Now meet Rana Daggubati, grandson of Tollywood moghul D. Rama Naidu, son of producer Suresh Babu and nephew of actor Venkatesh. Having inherited a passion for cinema from his family, he carries on the family legacy, not just behind the camera, but in front of it as well!
learning the ropes
Straight out of school in 2002, Rana joined a two year photography course in Chennai and started directing several documentaries and ad films in Chennai and Hyderabad. At age 19, he directed the 60-minute Hindi film Barah which won him several accolades in youth film circles. After working as the executive producer and cinematographer for a number of films, he started ‘Spirit Media’ in 2005, which later established itself as the premier Digital Post facility in South India. In 2006, he produced Bommalata (A Belly Full of Dreams). The film won the National Award for the best Telugu film at the 53rd National Awards.
from technician to actor
After the success of Spirit Media, Rana began training for an active career as an actor. He went through two years of intensive training in acting at the Barry John School of Acting, Mumbai. He also underwent training in a stunt academy. A successful Digital Post entrepreneur, Rana is set to make a mark as an actor with the Telugu flick Leader, an intense political drama directed by ace Shekhar Kammula.
leader: his debut
Talking about his soon-to-release debut film, the actor says, “In Leader, I portray the role of a young visionary, who takes up the mantle of a leader and through his revolutionary pursuits, creates and implements a wish list of sorts for better governance in a short span,” Rana says. We wish all the best for Rana’s future endeavours.
Rana Daggubati 74 Galatta Cinema |January 2010
Rising stars Her mother Radha and aunt Ambika were very successful Tamil-Telugu-Malayalam actresses two decades ago, having acted opposite almost all South Indian heroes. After winning many accolades, both retired from movies and settled into matrimony and family responsibilities. Radha married hotelier Rajasekaran Nair, settled in Mumbai, and has three daughters.
mamma’s girl
After 20 years away from the media glare, Radha grabbed media attention by launching her beautiful daughter, noted classical dancer Karthika, into tinsel town through Josh, which also marked the debut of Nagarjuna’s son Naga Chaitanya. Though the film did not gallop ahead in the box office race, the tall and lissome actress proved her acting calibre with her role of school teacher Nithya.
actor by chance
Acting for her happened very suddenly, says Karthika, describing herself as an “actor by chance”. Karthika would probably have chosen an academic career and had plans to complete a hotel management course in Switzerland. A few days after Josh released, 18-year old Karthika signed her second film Makara Manju by Mollywood’s talented parallel film maker Lenin Rajendran.
makara manju
The most striking part of Makara Manju? It draws inspiration from the life of legendary Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma; cinematographerdirector Santosh Sivan plays the title role. Some reports suggest that Karthika, as the story demands, is likely to appear in some aesthetically revealing scenes in this art flick. Karthika has already rubbished these reports, saying she will not appear nude on screen even if there are such scenes in the film. Let’s hope Karthika will stick to her words and still emerge as a leading actress in the South.
Karthika Galatta Cinema |january 2010 75
FIRST THINGS FIRST!
LET’S GET WORDY!
First person you go to with good news... I keep it to myself, because I won’t believe it right away!
Three words that describe you... Just three? A kind of an extremist! I can be a workaholic and I can be lazy! So you could say OXIMoRON is my right word! I’m madly passionate about what I do. I’m nowhere close to being your typical filmy heroine…
First person you go to with bad news... My mum… First crush... When I was four years old, we visited the Taj Mahal where I was completely smitten by a bearded man who was singing and dancing! I have no clue who he is, but there’s a picture of him in my Baby Book! First thing that comes to your mind when we say SS Music... A good and unforgettable experience… SS Music allowed me to be myself. First thing you bought with your pay... I had done a graphics design project, for which my pay was a computer, printer and scanner. First thing that comes to your mind when we say Jayam Kondan... Sister Role! It was a great acting experience and I am very proud of how I performed. It broke the HOT-gal image of SS Music but it also stereotyped me in a way I did not want. First lesson you learnt about cinema, on the job... The most important lesson learnt is to BE DIPLOMATIC! But that’s very hard for me to do. First thing that you thought when you saw yourself on the big screen... I was literally cringing! I could not look at myself without being critical. First friend you made in cinema? Lots… I don’t wanna take anyone’s name….
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The phrase you use the most... It’s all good! Your favourite saying... ‘There are more things in heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy’ it’s said by Horatio in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Your most frequent lie... I am fine! [But these days I try to tell people how I really feel when they ask me, “How are you?”] The best advice given to you... The best advice is always the hardest to go by! I always take wrong advice! The funniest rumour you’ve heard about yourself ... There was this ridiculous article about my skydiving saying, that I crawled out of the plane on a seven foot pole, before jumping off! How do you crawl on a pole before sky-diving? It made absolutely no sense! The best compliment you’ve got yet... My friends Bindhu Malini once said to me (with regards to my art and sculpture), “You inspire me to be a better person”. I was completely floored! but I sure do hope that someday I can create work that actually moves people. To the readers of GC: Please watch my films! I’m so glad you love cinema, because I do too! And yeah… it’s all good!
Lekha Washington Galatta Cinema |january 2010 77
Star of the month
S.p. balasubrahmanyam
As long as we live, there can never be enough music - -martin luther king
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Music they say, is soul food. The bringers of such divine gifts must surely be part divine themselves... S.P. Balasubrahmanyan was born to woo the masses with his voice. While fans go crazy listening to his voice, the man humbly says, “A good voice is God’s gift. He has been far too kind. I have done nothing but capitalise on His blessing!” Even so, SPB was the chosen one and hence, there were no second thoughts on who should kickstart our Star of the Month section in this brand-new year! The first kindly voice that an infant hears is the gentle cooing of his mother and her soulful lullabies. In all likelihood, SPB’s passion for music began way back then! Friends and family recall the man’s insatiable enthusiasm for music (that remains the same even today). It’s been nearly five decades since his tryst with playback singing began, yet he shows no signs of aging in person or voice. He still sings for debutant heroes, each time aweing us with his youthful tone and earnest renditions. SPB made his singing debut way back in the late 1960’s in the music of his mentor Kodhandapani. That marked the beginning of an endless journey. He has sung over 36,000 songs in various Indian languages, and even holds the Guiness Record for the most number of songs rendered by a male singer. The years and these numbers have only doubled and tripled his passion for the art, rather than sap his energy. “The first time I met my mentor Kodhandapani was at a music competition, in which I had participated. In our very first meeting, he said that I had the potential and discipline that would be able to keep me going in the music field for at least forty years,” reveals SPB. The words of the master have come true. SPB has crossed the four decade mark, and is well on his way to add one more. In the field of music, he is a true veteran. Music has changed. Music composers have changed. Audiences have changed. But SPB has managed to weather all this change and remain the King behind the mike. The number of songs he does per year may have reduced, but at any given moment, once he decides, he can give the young crop of singers a run for their money! “I have not consciously reduced the number of songs I do in a year. I merely set a standard for myself, and have stuck by it. Then there are also a number of young singers today, passionate about their work and good at it too. We have to make way for their growth too,” explains SPB. He is a big name, but has absolutely no airs. That humility is a byproduct of his discipline and respect for his art and his colleagues. “In the 70s, when I was just getting started as a singer, I worked with some great composers. They could have been very firm with me and forced me to do only as told. But they always had faith in me, that my improvisations would only add value to the song. Then too, when I went a bit over the top, they would tell me to tone it down. Young composers might be a bit intimidated to tell me how they want things done, but having grown in the industry, with so many liberties, I have learnt to respect other personss opinions, irrespective of their age,” he adds. “People often say that I am very humble. That is something that comes with years of working with legendary musicians whose talents surpass all else. Then too, I know who I am and take pride in that.” His wise words tell volumes about his years in the music business – learning lessons in music and life straight from the likes of M.S.
Galatta Cinema | January 2010 79
I was tricked into dubbing for Kamal Haasan in his Telugu movies! When they first hinted at the possibility, I had politely declined the offer, insisting instead on singing the songs! But during the pooja of Manmadha Leela, I was asked to read a few lines of the dialogue which was recorded without my knowledge! Everyone appreciated my reading, and before I knew it, I had become Kamal’s voice in Telugu Cinema!
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Vishwanathan and Ilayaraja. There have been many mimics, but for as long as he wants to sing, nobody can scale even half his heights. With several thousand songs to his name, SPB’s credentials did not end with playback singing alone. The man is multi-faceted and it would be a terrible error to miss out on mentioning his many other talents. Having sung to the tunes of so many composers, it was quite natural for the man to try his hand at composing as well, one of his very best composing ventures being Sigaram. a movie that also fetched him accolades for his acting skills. With more than 20 movies to his credit as a music director, SPB proved once again that music was woven into the fabric of his soul! Another important dimension to his cine career behind the mike is his dubbing talent. As a singer, emoting is a big part of getting the tune right. SPB is still popular for his fantastic and apt voice modulations that have always proved an asset to all his songs. Hence, it was not quite a surprise that he turned out to be a fabulous dubbing artist as well! Kamal Haasan. one of Indian Cinema’s prized assets, has often dubbed his movies in various languages. When it comes to Telugu versions of his movies, he insists he has no dubbing problems or worries, because SPB does an excellent job! SPB is Kamal Haasan’s official dubbing artist and is always on the mark with his modulations. While Kamal himself has often attributed his popularity in Telugu cinema to SPB’s voice, SPB insists that dubbing for Kamal was a breeze, because his acting conveyed much more than what any dialogues ever could! SPB is a success in the field of dubbing as well, but it’s a job that fell in his lap and he took up with great reluctance. “I was not keen on doing the dubbing. I was tricked into dubbing for Kamal Haasan in his Telugu movies, starting with Manmadha Leela. When they first hinted that I should do the dubbing, I politely declined and added that I would gladly sing the songs. During the pooja, I was handed a few lines of the dialogue in Telugu and asked to read. I did so and everybody clapped and appreciated me for it. Only then did I realise it had been recorded and then, there was no turning back,” recalls SPB, the dubbing artist. Till date, SPB’s voice is what audiences hear when they watch a Kamal Haasan film in Telugu. “In Dasavathaaram, except for the three English speaking characters, I have given the voice for all the other avatars of Kamal in the Telugu version of the movie, and that includes the old lady’s voice as well!” Two more tags to his name are Actor and Producer. As an actor, he has given some memorable and moving performances. His roles in movies such as Sigaram and Keladi Kanmani tugged at one’s heart strings. His interesting supporting roles in movies such as Guna, Thiruda Thiruda and Kadalan further established his acting prowess, a talent that nearly equals his soulful voice. Producer SPB is a much more choosey man. He has produced a handful of movies, two of which are Kamal starrers Thenali [Tamil] and Avvai Shanmugi [Telugu]. Nowadays, however, his production house is being headed by his very able and ambitious son S.P. Charan, who has already tasted success with his production venture Chennai 600028. SPB is not your typical filmi dad who makes sure his heir has a cushion to fall back on. Nevertheless, his heartfelt blessings caress S.P. Charan’s every endeavour, like only a loving dad’s best wishes can! - compiled by Kaanchan B.
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Stunning. Sublime. Subtle. Sexy. Serene. Simple. seductive. sensible spotlight
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sneha
Stunning. Sublime. Subtle. Sexy. Serene. Simple. seductive. sensible
S Sensational
Her mesmerizing smile, her friendly demeanour, her positive attitude, her dedication to work... all these make Sneha the person she is. From the girl next door image to her glamorous avatar and now her action roles, this talented woman has indeed come a long way in cinema. Hats off to you Sneha!
Galatta Cinema | january 2009 83
Stunning. Sublime. Subtle. Sexy. Serene. Simple. seductive. sensible 84 Galatta Cinema |january 2010
Sneha has always worked on terms close to her heart. From her first film Ingane oru Nilapakshi in Malayalam to her Tamil debut Ennavale with Madhavan to her latest releases Silambattam and Achchamundu! Achchamundu!, she has done every film on her own terms. Her work is never an half-hearted effort. She has never succumbed to commercial pressure and focussed on her strengths. But that does not mean she has not experimented with her roles. Of course, she may have been typecast as the girl next door, but even in those roles, she has played a wide variety of characters. Be it the Thavamani of Virubugiren, Priya of Punngai Desam, Sathya and Janani of Parthiban Kanavu, Dr. Janaki of Vasool Raja MBBS, Divya of Autograph, Krishnaveni of Pudupettai, Anjali of Naan Avan Illai, Gayathri of Silambattam, Visalakshi of Pirivoam Santhippoam and Malini Kumar in Achchamundu! Achchamundu!, each role she portrayed on screen was real and believable.
t h e
sfactor Stunning. Sublime. Subtle. Sexy. Serene. Simple. seductive. sensible
“To be glamorous is to be a diva, a star. Glam does not mean skimpily clothed. It simply means pushing the limits right to the very edge. That’s where I want to be.”
Galatta Cinema | january 2009 85
Stunning. Sublime. Subtle. Sexy. Serene. Simple. seductive. sensible
“My movies are sometimes a reflection of myself and sometimes, they’re just my projects, my experiments with my acting skills.” Sneha has acted in a wide range of movies. Talking about the variety of her roles, she says, “If box office success was the only criterion for selecting a film, then variety is not possible. I choose my films based on what touches me in the script. Of course, I also look at the commerical aspects, the banner, my co-stars, the market viability of the subject... all that is important, but more than all that, the strength of my role as well my comfort level with the team matters most.” This shows in the films she has done till date. Her work with Cheran is some of her best till date. In both her films with Cheran (Autograph and Pirivoam Sandhippoam) Sneha had meaty roles and her performance earned her accolades and awards. Her on screen comfort level with co-stars has also contributed to excellent performances, be it Srikanth in Parthiban Kanavu, with Shaam in Aye Ni Romba Azhaga Irukkai, Prasanna in Achchamundu! Achchamundu! or Simbu in Silambattam. She will be soon seen in Goa; she is working with Venkat Prabhu and team for the first time and had a blast shooting for the film. And then there is the cop flick Bhavani. She loved the experience so much that she really misses not being in uniform! She will be donning the uniform again (but of a pilot) in Vande Mataram in which she is paired with veteran actor Mammootty. For more news, pictures and downloads on Sneha and her movies log on to www.galatta.com.
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the power of silence Kavi Perarasu Vairamuthu
yuhi sethu
Join the official aasal online community on galatta.com: simply log onto http: //community.galatta.com/aasal
a galatta cinema feature presentation
Prasanth. D. Missale Antony M. Prabhakran G. Venket ram Diamond Babu Kumar
Bharatwaj & Y-kinz
ajith kumar
directed by Saran for the 1st time: story & screenplay by
AASAL
Ultimate Star Ajithkumar
Prabhu Presents
Sivaji Productions
sweet talk
? “the search for someone suitable for bhavana’s character took forever until we realised that the perfect feminine, fresh face was right here next to us and we didn’t need to look beyond bhavana! all i will say is, it’s been the right decision!” says ajith
5
bhavana is absolutely thrilled to be a part of an ajith starrer, so early in her career. director saran insists that bhavana has been fabulous to work with.
weet!
s
rated
Bhavana plays a young girl who is inseparable from a book given to her by her father before he died. every time she needs answers, she finds them in that very book!
sulabha works for mirasi, and is one extremely sweet girl. Though ajith plays a tough guy in the movie, the one thing that’s common is that they are both in need of love...
2 3 4
Bhavana was busy in a malayalam film when the offer came her way. fortunately, the director was nice enough to adjust dates, so she could make it for aasal!
1
bhavana & AJITH
who will waltz away with the man?
to the other, each standing at two extremes of the spectrum. but
motivated sameera reddy. each character acts as the perfect foil
charming and an absolute contrast to the strong willed, self
bhavana plays a sugary sweet character called sulabha. naive,
He’s a good guy, but rub him the wrong way and you won’t know what hit you! But she is all good – no shades of grey.
There’s something about the mysterious man that rouses the romance in the most timid of girls. Can Sulabha RESIST Cupid’s arrows?
Truly desi gal meets truly dashing guy. Can she help getting swept off her feet?
bhavana
this is my biggest project yet and the casting has been perfect!
s r e p p o t s w o sh The Chennai International Fashion Week, a one-of-its-kind global fashion week in India, brought together designers from not only all over India but also from across the world. From upcoming designers to established names, from Chennai-based designers to international icons... the five day fashion extravaganza saw some of the best in the fashion industry. The highlights, of course, were the Kollywood beauties who, along with the models, set the ramp on fire. Here’s a look at some of the showstoppers at CIFW Spring Summer 2010.
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genelia This Kollywood-Tollywood-Bollywood star sashayed down the ramp for upcoming designer Ishita Singh, who had dressed up Genelia in quite a few movies. Dressed in red velvet and layers of fabric, Genelia looked like a princess, graceful and charming.
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Marriage has in no way dimmed her star presence. Kanihaa, riding high on the success of Pazhassi Raja, scorched the ramp to cheering crowds and a proud husband, in an black and silver saree by Sanjana Jon, looking elegant and beautiful.
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cifw cifw cifw cifwcifwcifw cifw cifw cifwcifw cifw Gorgeous... there is no other word to describe her. Sneha, who made her presence felt at CIFW from day one, scorched the ramp in a blue Archana Kochhar number. She continued to enchant the fashion week audience with her presence. She walked the ramp once more for designer Sanjana Jon in an offwhite embroidered outfit, looking, as always, ravishing!
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98 Galatta Cinema |january 2010
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Joining Shriya on the ramp was hottie Neetu Chandra. Neetu captivated CIFW when she came on day One in a black dress. She was the joy of all the photographers, who couldn’t stop clicking and on the grand finale, she charmed everyone with her presence.
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cifw cifw cifw cifwcifwcifw cifw cifw cifwcifw cifw A perfect ending to the fashion week, style diva Shriya brought the curtains down on the Chennai International Fashion Week as she sashayed gracefully on the runway, even showing off some classical dance movements much to the delight of the audience. In a traditional Neeta Lulla lehanga and sexy choli, Shriya looked every bit the Diva that she is!
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Galatta Cinema |january 2010 99
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rahasya
She knows how to let her hair down and have some fun. When she was not walking the ramp, she was cheering the models and when she finally did walk the ramp, she sizzled. In a beautiful black dress designed by Sanjana Jon, Rahasya strutted on the runway, even breaking into a little hip-swaying jig!
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cifw cifw cifw cifwcifwcifw cifw cifw cifwcifw cifw No one can captivate people like Namitha. A glance, a hint of a smile, casually turning her head... every mannerism of hers is mesmerizing. And on the first day of CIFW when she walked down the ramp dressed in Chennai designer Sidney Sladen’s creation, she walked right into the hearts of the audience.
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100 Galatta Cinema |january 2010
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She may not yet have started her cine career, but Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has made her presence felt in creative circles with her musical Mamma Mia! This talented young woman sizzled on the ramp in a white gown with beautiful embroidery designed by Chennai’s very own designer Rehane.
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cifw cifw cifw cifwcifwcifw cifw cifw cifwcifw cifw 2009 has been a great year for Tamannaah with a line of hits. And when she took to the ramp in a Nishka Lulla dress, the bright colours of the outfit seemed to celebrate her on-screen successes. The applauding audience only reiterated the fact the Tamannaah has indeed become one of the top actresses in South Indian cinema today!
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CIFW: SEASON 2 AUTUMN - WINTER 2010-11 MODEL AUDITIONS & PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY
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Galatta Cinema |january 2010 101
Tribute
Remembering Vishnuvardhan he has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films. He has worked with Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikath and Mammootty. He married actress Bharati in 1975. He has two adopted daughters Keerthi and Chandana. Vishnuvardhan has won the Karnataka State Best Actor Award 7 times and the Filmfare Award (South) five times. In 2005, Bangalore University bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate. His 200th film Apatharakshaka, sequel to Apathamithra is to be released soon. VIshnuvardhan passed away on December 30, 2009 in Mysore. He was 59. Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa has allocated two acres of land next to Abhiman Studio on Mysore Road for the memorial of Dr. Vishnuvardhan. Galatta Cinema pays its heartfelt tribute to the veteran actor. May his soul rest in peace
In the year 1972, a young actor named Sampat Kumar made his debut in Kannada films with Girish Karnad’s Vamsha Vriksha. But it was the film Nagarahaavu directed by Puttanna Kanagal that released the same year that made him the most sought after actor in Sandalwood. In this film he was christened as Vishnuvardhan by the director and the name became an icon in Kannada Cinema. Since then for the next 35 years, Vishnuvardhan continued to be one of the most loved and respected stars. Some of his most popular films include: Muthina Haara, Hombisilu, Sahasa Simha, Bandhana, Naagara Hole, Nishkarsha, Yajamana, Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu, Apthamitra and Mathad Mathad Mallige. Besides commercial films the actor also ventured into parallel cinema. One of his critically acclaimed work is from the film Harakeya Kuri, based on the novel of the same name by Dr. Chandrashekar Kambar. Vishnuvardhan was also a good singer. He sang in some of his films occasionally and of late had taken to singing devotional songs. Besides Kannada
Galatta Cinema |january 2010 119