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When we first brought out Southscope, a million doubts assailed our wellwishers’ minds about its future, its market. But Southscope was not launched with the aim to solely capture market share or rake in profits. It was meant to be a brand ambassador of south Indian cinema, and the voice of millions of south cinema loving Indians. In spite of producing more than 60 per cent films in the Indian film industry, the four south Indian film industries have drawn a naught when it comes to occupying space in countrywide film news circuits. Even film magazines originating from the south have relegated south film news to very few pages. Southscope was conceived as a platform that would represent the sentiments of the southern film industry and to unify the voices of the four regional industries. The initiative has been welcomed and supported by many superstars of the south. In just six months of its inception, the magazine has been enthusiastically embraced by readers, film fraternities, critics and connoisseurs of south Indian cinema. It has grown by leaps and bounds to become the highest circulated film magazine in its category with a readership of over 6 lakh. With readership figures progressing geometrically, the magazine is selling out within three days of its release. Sales agents and distributors are augmenting their indents every month. This bears testimony to the fact that readers have been eagerly waiting for a magazine like this. Its innovative editorial content, appealing design and superior production values truly make Southscope stand out. An experienced editor and a team of mintfresh film journalists understand and cater to the magazine’s loyal film readers through a monthly dose of exclusives, news, features and reviews of the hottest stars, films and music.
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CONTENTS/PAGE KAJAL AGARWAL’S WILD SIDE EXPOSED!
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I N D I A’ S L E A D I N G S O U T H F I L M M A G A Z I N E APRIL ‘10
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OF THE SEASON > FLICKS SUMMER RELEASES
Kajal
14 Readers’ Speak
Exclusives 28 Sekhar Kammula’s story just got a whole new twist 52 Kannada’s new set of six packs: Chetan 58 How cinematographer Venu found the view finder
NAGA CHAITANYA LOVES TO KISS AND TELL AINDRITA RAY VIEW FROM THE TOP
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46 54
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32
On the cover: Kajal Agarwal Photographer: Martin Prihoda Stylist: Nischay Polavarapu Hair: Sakhreem Make up: Tulsi Solanki Coordinated by: Anil Merani
24 Have you met Nani yet? 54 Aindrita Ray stops the traffic!
FEATURES 42 Summer releases - Here’s the menu I N D I A’ S L E A D I N G S O U T H F I L M M A G A Z I N E
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60 Get the look – Vikram’s million buck mantra
62 Style Evolution – Nagarjuna’s style journey
THE MADNESS ABOUT STAR TITLES
God’s own superstar
MOHANLAL MEGHNA NAIDU DOES HER HOT NUMBER…AGAIN IN PICTURES LAKSHMI RAI SERVED FOR DESSERT!
63 Style meter – Stars get rated
24
01 07
FROM SUHASINI MANIRATNAM’S PERSONAL DIARY
61 IT star of the month – Shruti’s haute on couture
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CONTENTS/ PAGE 46
kisser on the prowl: naga chaitanya
Funda 15 Junk mail
68 Hi 5 with the crackling
16 Gold Class
70 Flash Back
20 Loading...Please Wait
71 Screen test
51 Kaleidoscope
72 Chartbusters
Trivia on cinema Telugu Tinsel / Kannada Capers Films in the making
What happened when and where
64 Bioscope
Kriti Kharbanda
Sri Krishna Deva Raya replayed Launch pad for aspiring actors
73 Sing along Karaoke
Movie reviews
66 Numerology
April 2010 predictions
74 Final Cut
Letter from the editor
42
68 73
Saranya Reddy: The Southscope cover made us see a stunning Trisha in a never seen before way. Your cover shoots rock!
Gautham Nair: The articles are getting more and more interesting with each issue. Why don’t you plan to sell the cover images? The design team is amazing!
Prasanna Iyer: Good coverage from all the four industries. However, we would also like to see stars from Kannada and Malayalam cinema on the cover. The articles are good and the design is amazing.
Vijay Alapati: It would be great if you can get the e-magazine online soon for people who live abroad.
Hariharan Naidu: Nice work! You are bringing the urban elite to their toes! FORM IV (RULE 8) UNDER THE PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF BOOKS ACT, 1867 STATEMENT ABOUT OWNERSHIP AND OTHER PARTICULARS ABOUT MAGAZINE SOUTHSCOPE 1. Place of Publication : #202, Shiva Sai Sannidhi Dwarakapuri Colony, Punjagutta Hyderabad - 500 082. 2. Periodicity of its Publication
: Monthly
3. Printer’s Name : Moorthy Sreenivasulu Whether Citizen of Indian : Yes (If foreigner, state the Country address) : Address : #202, Shiva Sai Sannidhi Dwarakapuri Colony, Punjagutta, Hyderabad – 500 082. 4. Publisher’s Name : Moorthy Sreenivasulu Whether Citizen of India : Yes (If foreigner, state the Country address) : Address : #202, Shiva Sai Sannidhi Dwarakapuri Colony, Punjagutta Hyderabad – 500 082. 5. Editor’s Name : Moorthy Sreenivasulu Whether Citizen of Indian : Yes (If foreigner, state the Country address) : Address : #202, Shiva Sai Sannidhi Dwarakapuri Colony, Punjagutta Hyderabad – 500 082. 6 Name and address Of Individuals who own the Newspaper and are partners Or shareholders holding More than one per cent of the Total capital
: individual
I, Moorthy Sreenivasulu, hereby declare that the particulars given Above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Date : 1-04-2010 Sd/ Moorthy Sreenivasulu Signature of the Publisher
14 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Veteran director, Dasari Narayan Rao’s first brush with writing happened when he couldn’t afford a good writer for a play. Those were the days when Dasari was a talented young stage actor in his village, Palakollu. Encouraged by the overwhelming response to his performances, Dasari decided to start a drama society, Kshiraram Art Theatres. He was in search of a new play for his first stage show but didn’t have the money to pay a writer. He decided to take the plunge himself. After three months of hard work, he came up with the play, Panneru Kanneru, which turned out to be a big flop. Many wrote him off, saying he is too amateurish a writer. That would have broken the spirit of most, but Dasari was made of sterner stuff. The failure only inspired him to become a better writer. He went back to the drawing board and started rewriting the same play all over again. He would sit in the Gopuram (monumental tower) of the village temple everyday and work on the play. Finally, they performed the reworked play in Bandar and voila! It was a runaway success, which went on to win the best play, best actor, best actress and best supporting actor awards all over the state.
tel
You’ve seen them, you love them, you can’t imagine growing up without them… Now here’s what you didn’t know about them!
junk mail
Portraying realism was an obsession for NTR right from his initial days as an actor. In his first film, Palleturi Pilla, there is a crucial bullfight scene. It also involved a fight between a tough bull and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who also plays the lead in the film. According to the script, ANR was supposed to be attacked by the bull and NTR then had to jump in to take on the bull. ANR did his bit. The director Subbarao wanted to hire a body double, which NTR refused. An Australian bull was brought in for the film. When the camera started to roll, it turned into a full blooded fight between the bull and NTR who firmly held the bull’s noose in one hand and a horn with the other. The bull was strong and NTR seemed determined to tame the animal, which he managed for a few moments till he lost hold on the noose. Realising that the bull was furious, the director yelled to NTR to leave the animal and get away. But NTR did not hear that and clung on to the bull’s horn. The bull seething with rage, lifted NTR, swung him around and threw him on the ground. NTR had to be hospitalised for several weeks after this. But the whole episode was captured on camera. The bull fight scene turned out to be one of the major attractions of the film, which was a huge hit.
Arjun may have attained super star status in Tamil cinema, but he is remembered as a very popular child artiste of Kannada films. The son of Kannada actor Shakti Prasad, Arjun, who goes by the name Arjun Sarja in the industry, debuted with Putaani Agent 123, a hit children’s film. He was immediately identified for his Karate skills. After that, Arjun acted in a number of children’s films, including the highlysuccessful Simhada Mari Sainya. But he could not make it big as a lead actor in Kannada films when he grew up.
KAN
Not many know that Deepika Padukone started her acting career with Kannada movies. A regular on the fashion ramps in Bengaluru, Deepika was spotted by filmmaker Abhijith Lankesh. He cast her opposite Upendra in the film Aishwarya. The film, loosely based on Ghajini performed moderately at the box office. But Deepika was successful in setting the screen on fire with her stunning dancing (as well as her revealing clothes!) By the time she could weigh out other scripts in Kannada, she migrated to Mumbai. Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 15
GOLDCLASS
telugutinsel
Abhishek Bachchan is inspired by Chiru’s movie
Chiru may have quit acting for good, but his films still continue to inspire people. The latest to join that ever growing list is none other than junior Bachchan. Abhishek was appointed the Indian brand ambassador for this year’s Earth Hour campaign and he had been doing his bit to urge people to switch off lights for one hour on March 27. The plea is part of WWF’s Earth Hour 2010 campaign to support action on climate change. Abhishek fell back on his favourite Chiranjeevi movie. His tweet on the subject reads: “I have an Idea, which I got from one of my favourite Chiranjeevi films, Stalin. I’m requesting you to tell at least two people about Earth Hour. Give them all the details and what to do, and make them promise to tell two more people and start a chain reaction.” And guess what? That club is already over a lakh members strong. Indeed, what an idea Sir ji!
Sporty Sindhura
Did you know that the otherwise ultra feminine Sindhura Gadde loves adventure sports? She was mostly brought up in New Zealand and whenever she goes there, she makes it a point to go sky diving and snow boarding. Sindhura also never misses the local snow boarding contests. Ice ice baby!
Siddharth’s always in the news They say you are just as good as your last film. Not if you are Siddharth though. Striker (his last film) has come and gone but the shutterbugs just cannot seem to get enough of the self confessed “Shah Rukh Khan of Telugu cinema.” From the moment he walked in with Shruthi Haasan in tow for the premier of Striker, T-town has been agog with all sorts of stories about the couple. The two have been tight lipped about the issue so far. Now that they have been signed up to play the lead pair in director Prakash’s forthcoming fantasy adventure to be distributed by Walt Disney, one thing’s for sure, we will hear a lot more about Siddharth and Shruthi. Watch this space for more! 16 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
GOLDCLASS
telugutinsel
DSP the lensman!
Devi Sri Prasad looks like one of those busy music guys who are always bundled up in the studio. But guess what his other passion besides music is. And no we aren’t talking girls again or a new one yet. He has a huge thing for fashion photography. Surely, in the off chance that he’s bored with his career, he’s got an alternate ready. We hear DSP has also shot a number of folio pictures back in Chennai and simply loves shooting kids as well. From notes to frames, eh?
Something about Samantha The kiss queen of the Telugu screen, Samantha has set quite a few hearts aflutter with her debut, Ye Maya Chesave. But perhaps the best compliment she’s received so far came from the big daddy of Telugu cinema, ANR himself. She apparently reminds him of Savitri. No less! If you thought that was special, check this out. Samantha was officially the 201st girl Gautam had screen tested for the lead role in Ye Maya Chesave. Just try figuring out the math behind the probability of Samantha getting to play Jessie. Incredible in the least! And very soon she’s also going to be paired with NTR and Mahesh Babu. Well, maybe she must try her hand at lottery sometime!
Varun Sandesh is a Player ! Most stars like unwinding over coffee with friends or the dance floor but not Varun Sandesh who loves staying by himself, hooked to his play station. He has a thing for sport based games especially basketball, we hear. Whenever he isn’t shooting, he gets on with games on his Play Station 3 à la NBA, NCAA-Basketball. Keep aiming!
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 17
GOLDCLASS
kannadacapers
Krishna Prajwal upsets the industry… big time!
Pranita’s in big trouble The one film old Pranita has landed herself in a controversy. The actor had her debut with Darshan in Porki which was not such a great hit. Apparently, she turned down offers from makers of Yaksha and Rajadhani, preferring to act only with ‘top stars’ like Darshan. Soon, Kannada filmmakers stopped considering Pranita. Hope she does not pull the same stunt when she heads for Telugu!
Gurukiran and Upendra part ways
Long time buddies Upendra and music director Gurukiran have finally called it off. Their friendship, that is. Upendra surprised everyone and dropped Gurukiran from his multilingual project, Super. Till all this time the maestro has scored the music for all of Uppi’s hit films, including his debut, A. But Gurukiran has not been able to keep up with loads of new and promising music directors. The industry expected Gurukiran to rediscover his musical magic in Super. But Upendra evidently had other plans. So he went ahead and called a spade a spade. 18 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Krishna Prajwal, the producer of late Vishnuvardhana’s last blockbuster Aapta Rakshaka has practically become an outcast in the Kannada film industry. The reason: he failed to hold a special screening of the film for Vishnuvardhana’s family and the film fraternity before its release. The late actor’s wife Bharathi was forced to obtain the prints of Aapta Rakshaka from director, P Vasu for the special screening. After the goof up, Krishna Prajwal is no more seen in Gandhinagar, the hub of Kannada cinema.
Reel turns real for Saiprakash
It was a scene straight out of the movies he’s known for. Renowned Kannada film director Om Saiprakash, known for his tear-jerker hits has recently attempted suicide. He was apparently unable to deal with all the harassment from financiers, following the disaster of his home production Devaru Kotta Tangi. He was saved in the nick of time by his family. Ever since, the director has been given ‘free dates’ by leading stars to make up for the losses. We really hope his next film is a hit. It’s a matter of life or death, after all!
GOLDCLASS
kannadacapers
RGV’S Kannada debut
Looks like the Ram Gopal Varma - Sudeep bonhomie has now spread to Kannada films as well. The actor, who has become a close friend of RGV, has managed to convince him to direct a film in Kannada. Last heard, the film will be made in Hindi as well. According to Sudeep, Nirnaya, based on an original story, will be launched in a couple of months. Let’s see how this ‘ram’u kahani goes.
Mumaith’s
hot property! Mumaith Khan is in great demand these days with Kannada film producers. The dancing sensation did item numbers in two Kannada films, Shourya and Rajadhani, back to back within a month. She’s done four Kannada films already and has a few more projects lined up. As the grapevine goes, a producer is even keen on casting her in a lead role! Wonder what she’ll do the whole time when the dancing is done. Hmm…
What’s coming between
Shivarajkumar
and his century?
Shivarajkumar was a happy man, having signed up for his 100th film Jogayya, all set to be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Prem. He signed the project after confirming his 99th film Mailari. But now it turns out that the project has been shelved! The reason? A disagreement between the producer and the director of Mailari. We hear Shivanna wants Jogayya to be his 100th film, since it is a sequel to Jogi (directed by Prem), which propelled him to superstardom. Turning out to be a case of the nervous nineties, Sachin Tendulkar style? Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 19
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TELUGU
Collector Gari Bharya Cast
Prakash Raj, Bhumika, Brahmanandam, Tanikella Bharani, Duvvasi Mohan, Babu Mohan, MS Narayana, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Venu Madhav
Director T Kripakar Reddy Music
Chinna
Producer Vanitha Vani, Radhika Reddy Banner Aamodh Entertainments
20 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Bhumika Chawla plays the title role of the wife of the collector (Prakash Raj). With the likes of Brahmanadam, Tanikella Bharani, Dharmavarapu Subramyam, Venu Madhav and Babu Mohan in the fray, one can be assured of some side splitting comic moments. That is not what the film is about though. Collector Gari Bharya is billed to be about some of the things that make marriages work.
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TELUGU
Srikanth plays a lovable thief, Ranga and this film is about his many adventures. Also, he is no ordinary thief. He apparently specialises in robbing homes of police officers. Expect some rib tickling burglary episodes in this one.
Ranga the Donga
Cast Srikanth, Vimla Raman, Ramya Krishna, LB Sriram, MS Narayana, Bhuvaneshwari, Taslima, Jyothi, Jay Prakash Reddy and Raghu Babu
Director
Music
Producer
Banner
G V Sudhakar Naidu Chakri C R Manohar Naidu Golden Lion Films and Godfather Films
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 21
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KANNADA
Cast Yogi, Nana Patekar, Prakash Madhugiri, Atul Kulkarni, Mahesh, Ruby
Yaksha
Director
Ramesh Bhagavat
Music
Anoop Seelin
Producer T P Siddaraju Banner
Samy Associates
Several top stars will be seen in this crime thriller based on the life of a sharp shooter. Bollywood actor Nana Patekar makes his Kannada debut with this film, which also features Atul Kulkarni in a significant role. Yaksha is also the launch pad for Yogi’s elder brother, Mahesh. A special attraction is the dance number featuring Nana Patekar and the two male leads. What’s more, Nana has also dubbed for the film himself.
22 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
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KANNADA
Cast Yash, Bhama, Rangayana Raghu, Tara, Avinash Director Purushottam Music
V Harikrishna
roducer Mallikarjun Gadag & P Yogesh Narayan Banner Karnataka Talkies
Modala Sala
Modala Sala is a romantic entertainer about a rich guy falling in love with an innocent girl, directed by debutante Purushottam. The film is touted to have many interesting twists and turns. This one happens to be Yash’s fifth film and the impressive support cast includes the who’s who of the Kannada film industry. The film has been shot extensively in Coorg and Kerala.
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 23
24 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Jacket: SAGAR TENALI Hoody: JOURNEY Jeans and shoes: Earth Quake
Jacket, polo, pants and shoes: JOURNEY Scarf: REFLECT colors U wear
Photographer: Y S N Murthy Stylist: Maya Raj Make up: MIRRORS Location: Andhra Expanded Metal Mfg. Co. Coordinated by: Vrinda Prasad
The evening snack at Mocha, the coffee shop, after a tiring photo shoot was just what the doctor ordered. So was the conversation with Nani. Simple yet confident, just another guy on the street, yet heroic if the need arises is what Nani is in one line, discovers Vrinda Prasad as she indulges him in a heart-to-heart.
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 25
Tee, pants, scarves and shoes: JOURNEY
“Growing up, everybody knew me by my pet name Nani, and I thought why not use it as my screen name? It’s my identity after all!”
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As Nani enters the room apologising profusely for making us go back and forth for the photo shoot, we are quite enamored by his aura. He may be lean but is as rugged as he looks in the movie posters. Once we settle down for a chat, Nani tells us he never intended to be an actor. His sole ambition was to become a film director. “After college, when all my contemporaries had stable jobs and comfortable pay cheques, I was busy knocking countless directors and producers’ doors. My parents were most embarrassed to answer questions about my career. I guess they gave up at some point when they realised my cinema mania was not going away in a hurry,” he narrates. And just as his folks were at the point of exasperation, he got his big break as a clap boy for Bapu’s film, Radha Gopalam! And no, it wasn’t time for celebrations yet. Where was the money for it? He was being paid zilch. He continued, nevertheless, doing his best along the way. Allari Bullodu, Dhee and Asthram followed soon after as the assistant director. A short sabbatical later, he began writing a script. Around the same time, a film maker friend of his, who was at her wit’s end trying to find a male model, requested him to fill in and he did. Like they say, life happens when you’re busy making other plans. Mohan Krishna Indraganti, the director, saw the ad and knew that he had found the hero for his next film, Ashta Chemma. “That’s how my acting journey kick started. Though I was skeptical about being an actor in a lead role, I thought why not give it a shot? In any case, the life span of a lead actor is short and I could always get back to direction whenever I wanted,” he says pragmatically. On an emotional note, he continues, “The best moment of my life came when I saw my parents’ expressions as they watched me onscreen the first time. Happiness was writ large on their faces and that made it worth everything I had gone through until then.” Ride, ranked sixth among the hits of 2009 and Snehituda, a moderate success, followed. “After the success of Ashta Chemma I was being offered similar roles. So, I consciously chose these films to establish my versatility right in the beginning of my career.” But then, the fact remains that comedy is his forte and he breezes through such roles. And we don’t need much convincing when he says “Cinema ante pichi (Mad about movies.) When I was a student in Vijayawada, I jumped off the hostel wall late one night to watch Ram Gopal Varma’s film, Daiyyam. After the movie I was so terrified that I walked back through the main gate, fully prepared for getting caught,” he recalls. So what does his day look like when he is not working? “Just like everyone’s. I stay home, listen to music, Facebook or go out for a hookah with friends.” Marriage or a live-in relationship? “I believe in steady relationships.” So, is he seeing someone? “My girlfriend would be reading this,” he replies cleverly without naming her. We get the drift and get back to his other love. His forthcoming film Bheemili is based on the game of Kabaddi. Also in the pipeline are a Tamil film, Veppam and a yet to be titled Telugu film. Good going Nani!
Jacket: SAGAR TENALI Vest, tee, chain and jeans: JOURNEY Shoes: Earth Quake
Mover and Sekhar
Sekhar Kammula has struck bull’s eye yet again with Leader. He is on to bigger things as he begins work on his first Bollywood venture. Karthik Pasupulate finds out why he is unlike any filmmaker in town.
Here’s a bit of trivia to start with. Which national leader does Sekhar Kamulla look like? Let’s just hold our gaze on the contours of his face for a moment. See that convex face, the big, slightly erect ears, wide forehead, elongated head, those earnest spectacled eyes, prominent nose and that well rounded chin. Don’t those features ring a bell somewhere? Guess the similarities end right there, but if you have not guessed already, we are talking about the father of the nation, M K Gandhi! If you are thinking this is a contrived sales pitch for Leader, let’s assure you it is not! The film’s been declared a hit long before this seemingly startling discovery. It’s just one of those bizarre coincidences that we keep hitting upon from time to time. It just
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makes things a little more interesting, or so we tend to think. Maybe it’s just the Sekhar Kammula effect! He is, after all, not just your regular filmmaker. Leader was dying to be made We’ll stay on Leader for the moment. It was a big departure from the largely ‘happy’ brand of films like Anand and Happy Days. Yes there have been Dollar Dreams and Godavari, but they do not exactly deserve the qualifier of ‘hard hitting.’ We wonder what caused this shift to seemingly more serious cinema. But Sekhar, being Sekhar nonchalantly shrugs off all the usual intellectualism that goes into film analysis. “Leader was sitting there, waiting to be made since ages. Just as a youth film like Happy Days was lying there
to be made for so long. It was just a matter of time before somebody did a film like this,” he says, rather matter-of-factly. A thoughtful pause later, he continues. “Most of our films do not even remotely represent the lives and aspirations of the people. Our lives have changed so much, yet our films have remained in a time warp. In a way our films are a lot like our politics; they have not changed much,” he says. Sekhar is not prone to sarcasm or flourishes of speech. It’s all plain and simple. A lot like his films. An obligation Clearly Leader was a far cry from the soft, romantic ilk of films that we generally associate with Sekhar. We gather there’s more to him. “You will be surprised how clued in I am about what’s happening around the country. I read the paper very thoroughly and am very aware about politics,” he declares Movies can’t change the world, can they? At best they can perhaps entertain. “I believe a film, like any other mass media is obligated to the society. A film must ideally hold up a mirror to society, even if it’s not bringing about widespread change. For me, that is the fundamental premise of a film,” he explains, without as much as twitching a facial muscle. Youthopia Since he brought it up, we could not let him go without asking him a thing or two about the volatile T-situation in the state. Sekhar has an interesting take on it “It is heartening to see students finally getting involved. The good or bad of it is debatable,” he says. A little bit of dissent in the public space can’t be such a bad thing, can it? “It has really been a long time since we have seen the youth of this state get involved for whatever cause. For the last 20 years we have just got into this mode of accepting even bad and undemocratic things unquestioningly,” Sekhar contends. “Suddenly there is an uncertainty surrounding us, which wasn’t there three months ago. Students on campuses across the state are not just talking about Valentine’s Day or a forthcoming party or a campus interview. We are probably learning how to stand up and resist,” he reasons. Issues anyone? Hopefully this will get reflected on the silver screen as well. One would think that such a situation definitely gives rise to many stories. But considering Telugu cinema’s glorious history, one might not be so enthusiastic.
riots in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition, the 1992 riots, the student agitation in 1969 or even NTR’s stunning victory over the Indira Gandhi lead Congress in 1983 . . . some of the most important moments in contemporary history of the state have rarely found an earnest portrayal on the silver screen. We are talking three generations of celebrated filmmakers of the largest film producing state in the country. Clearly we do love our cinema! Sekhar believes it has more to do with our outlook to work and a resistance to good ideas. “There is no heartfelt writing happening. Our country and even our state per se are faced with so many issues. They are all stories worth telling. For some reason we have all closed our eyes and go through the motions,” says Sekhar with a poker face, to which he adds: “No matter what reason we give, it just boils down to mediocrity in writing and lack of original creative thinking.” Writer’s block Speaking of writing, Sekhar is quite a consummate author. Is that something that comes naturally, or is he one of those directors who feels in control only when he knows every word of the script he is working on? “My scripts are like novels. It takes me a long time to write stories. They usually run into well over 300 pages,” he laughs. “Writing is actually quite exhausting. It eats into the time I would normally spend with family or friends or reading. I don’t know how long I will go on like this,” he says. As the saying goes: why fix something that isn’t broken yet? As long as his movies are working, who’s complaining?
Be it the peasant agitation in Telangana, the Razzakar movement, police action, the communal
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“I have fantastic memories of growing up in Padmarao Nagar. Playing gully cricket with friends, flying kites and going out having chai at roadside tea stalls.” Bollywood calling
Less is more
Sekhar has started work on his first full fledged Bollywood venture, a remake of Happy Days. The prospect of catering to a bigger audience must be exciting. For one it would certainly widen his canvas. “I am a one-film-at-a-time guy. I don’t even know what my next film is going to be. I have been thinking about taking my craft to the next level and voicing out to a bigger audience. Saying something is the key. But what’s most important is that I am able to say what I want without any compromise. That’s what gives me a real kick.”
Sekhar has come a long way since. Today he is one of the most respected directors in the industry. But nothing much has changed besides that. No fancy cars and he still lives in the same house that he grew up in in Padmarao Nagar. “I am afraid of moving to Filmnagar. My office is also near my home in Padmarao Nagar. I ensure that all meetings happen in a hotel midway. I have to drive 40-45 minutes every day to get to Filmnagar, but it’s ok,” says Sekhar. Guess he likes the physical distance between work and home.
Baptism by fire
Being an insistent lot, we were not going to let him off so easily. “It’s just a matter of preference. This is my way,” he says. “I have fantastic memories of growing up in Padmarao Nagar. Playing gully cricket with friends, flying kites and going out having chai at roadside tea stalls. There weren’t as many TV channels, pubs or even the Internet. So it meant fun was only outdoors. I really think having less is better, outside the basic necessities I mean. Lesser TV channels, lesser films and lesser piracy.”
It would not be an understatement to say that Sekhar has made films on his own terms right from his first film, Dollar Dreams. The world first took notice of this US-returned filmmaker in 2000 when he won the National Award. “Dollar Dreams was a mature, socially relevant film. A bunch of friends came together to make the film on a shoe string budget of Rs 17 lakhs. We had a lot of fun working on the film. But the National Award came as a big surprise,” says Sekhar. That does not quite tell the whole story. It was quite a trial by fire for the young filmmaker. Sekhar Kammula had a tough time convincing the distributors. So he approached the management of Sangeet theater instead. They agreed to rent the theatre at Rs 10,000 per show but were not interested in buying the film. As it were, the film ran well for four weeks. 20th Century Fox watched the film and agreed to release it nationwide. 30 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Well what can you say to that? Home is home after all!
Stylist: Nischay Polavarapu Hair: Sakhreem Make up: Tulsi Solanki Location: Mukesh Mills, Mumbai Coordinated By: Anil Merani
Being Kajal‌just Kajal ! Photographer: Martin Prihoda
Text: Mona Ramavat
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There’s something that happens when the arc lights are turned out, the last of the spots have dusted the place after pack up and the studio doors shut to complete darkness. Feel the quiet, grope in the dark, go ahead and get spooked if you must, before we tell you what really happens. We aren’t ghost story writers so no such thrills here. But this is nothing short of some supernatural drama, either! When the arc lights dim out and it’s after pack up at the deserted studios, the actor is left behind. And who goes on home (or wherever) driven comfortably (presume so) in the vanity van, is just the girl! So what has all of this got to do with Kajal, you ask? Well, we decided to leave behind Kajal-the-actor at the sets and have for you only Kajal-the-girl. She is shuttling between Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai these days for shoots and has a Tamil movie coming up. Her film, Darling is due for release. But that’s about all we are keeping it to, where her acting and films are concerned.
Kaja
And guess what, the usually demure princess of Magadheera played along too and shed some inhibitions, let the guard slip just a wee bit. But we held on to those precious few moments and pried out some quirks, some smirks, the works.
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Outfit: Aftershock Accessories: Nischay Polavarapu
al
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Gown: COLLEZIONE MODA, Mumbai
Kajal
Describe an experience you could call supernatural: In my ninth grade my grandfather passed away. I was very close to him. He would dote over me. I was sleeping in his room with my sister the week after he passed away and I woke up in the middle of the night. I felt like I saw a figure. Till date everyone thinks that I was hallucinating but I am sure I was not. At that time I was frightened but now when I look back I realise it was nothing to get scared about. The figure was smiling at me. I felt that my grandfather had come to visit me for the last time. It still gives me goose bumps though. I was too young and couldn’t handle it. Which is worse: Landing at a party with a spaghetti strap torn off or chewing gum sticking to your hair?: Gum sticking to my hair. Certainly. One place you’d never want to go back to: Bangkok. I hate the place! But I have to go there again and again for my shoots. Can you believe it; we were taken to Bangkok for a school trip! I’ve hated it ever since. The one quality about you that you think attracts men the most to you: Charm. I’m too modest, ain’t I? (wink) If you were to suddenly land a big inheritance, what would you do with it?: A lot of things. Part of it, I would invest wisely so that it multiplies, I would donate some and yep, splurge the rest – clothes and bags and shoes! Ah! What would you give up three months of partying for?: Work. The cheekiest thing you’ve ever done: Don’t think I can say that to Southscope dude! Three material possessions you can’t do without: My phone, my lip balm and my shampoo. Contacts too. Blue lipstick or French Opera?: French opera. Blue lipstick? Bizarre! Most outrageous thing you’ve done so far: Went skydiving and jumped from 14,500 feet. That’s adventurous. Outrageous?: Took my friends for a drive in the middle of the night and I hadn’t learnt how to drive. I had to sneak my car out because my dad wouldn’t give it to me. I was 16. The best compliment a man ever gave you: Quite a few actually. Can’t pick one. If you were to realise after a meal alone at a restaurant that your wallet is somehow missing, what would you do?: Ring in a friend and scream for help. What do you do when you are cranky?: I cry. Whine. Shout. What would you do on a rainy evening?: Wear my gumboots and go splash in the water. Love the rain.
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Did you ever cheat in an exam?: I have! My last name is Agarwal so my role number has always been one or two, so I’ve always had to sit in the front bench. I sucked at map drawing in geography. So I would copy the map from my neighbour from right under the teacher’s nose. Oh, I would help also by the way. I was a nice girl too!
Black Dress: COLLEZIONE MODA, Mumbai Gloves: Nischay Polavarapu Ring: AFTERSHOCK, Mumbai
Which is a worse date: Someone shorter than you or someone who doesn’t let you talk at all?: Both are equally bad. Shorter than me. God! Total turn off.
What three things would you tell your boyfriend before getting him home to your folks?: Be super polite with my grandmother, beware of my younger sister (she’s the guy grilling type) and don’t even think of coming home with muddy soles.
If you found a cockroach in your handbag right now, who would be your first suspect?: You. What was the first thought on your mind after your first kiss?: Eewww. How old were you?: Eighteen. Politically correct answer?: That’s all Southscope gets! If you had the opportunity to choose a name for yourself, what would it be instead of Kajal? Kiera. I would name my daughter that. But my friends have already stolen it. What was your idea of marriage as a child?: I used to wonder how my parents could share the same bathroom. Describe your worst makeup/style disaster: I feel like saying something to you but I won’t! Ok, I was shooting out of the country and it’s really tough because we had to wake up early and get everything sorted since there are limited people to help. My outfit got burnt and I didn’t have a backup. I had to go shopping and figure something out, early in the morning. The ensemble turned out pretty alright I thought for a Pattaya nightclub scene. But the experience was disastrous. One guilty pleasure you really enjoy: My leisure baths. One incident you never tire of narrating: We were a bunch of brats in school and I jumped off my school parapet. I’ve told this to a hundred people a hundred times but I still enjoy talking about it. In a party if you found two men equally hot, how would you decide one over the other?: I’ll go for the one with a sense of humour. Choose: going through a dark tunnel with strange spooky noises or standing barefoot on a block of ice for an hour.: I’ve already done the latter. I had to dance on a block of ice for one of my films and ended up with frostbites. But it’s better than getting spooked out in a dark tunnel. What’s your idea of an awesome honeymoon destination?: The Caribbean. Or maybe South America. One habit you just can’t kick: Turning off my alarm and snoozing for those extra five minutes. What misconceptions did you have about sex?: Till I was 13 I used to think that the stork actually comes and gives you a baby!
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Animal Print Dress: COLLEZIONE MODA, Mumbai Boots: Nischay Polavarapu
The cheesiest pick up line you’ve heard: Guess your father’s a terrorist because you’re such a bomb. Puke!
Your darkest fantasy: I’m a typical chick and love all things cute. Chocolate and whipped cream variety. I’m not the kinky sort. What do you expect from life?: A lot. I’m very ambitious. And I do everything in my power to make my dreams come true. So expectations are naturally going to be there. Do you think the stomach is really the way to a man’s heart?: It actually works! You can actually impress a man with your culinary skills. So I’m trying to domesticate myself and develop them! I made strawberry cheesecake for someone and he was floored! I was quite impressed myself. Although it looked like mud pie, it tasted yum. What’s your worst nightmare?: Waking up with no hair on my head and my teeth all lost. Good dream?: I actually have had dreams about god and wake up feeling all nice and religious. Recurring dream?: An anonymous person was throwing me off a cliff. But after I started sky diving, the dream’s gone. Mother or father?: Mom. Shit, it’s dad. I don’t know. Both. Ok, mom. What three things would you tell your boyfriend before getting him home to your folks?: Be super polite with my grandmother, beware of my younger sister (she’s the guy grilling type) and don’t even think of coming home with muddy soles. Would you ever make the first move after the first date?: No. Never. Which actor comes closest to your idea of a dream man?: Aamir Khan. How did you react when you first saw your ‘hot’ pictures on the internet?: I was shocked. I was like technology can go that far and they can actually morph me.
White Printed Top & Chains: LATIN QUARTER, Mumbai Wristband: KAZO Shoes: ALDO 40 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Would you ever make the first move after the first date?: No. Never.
Summer reels With rising mercury levels, a host of new releases are vying for screen space across the south. Karthik Pasupulate, Aravind G Shivkamal and Sridevi Sreedhar brave the heat to bring you the reel taste of summer. Heat, dust and power cuts! Weather wise summers in south India are a tribulation you can’t escape at the best of times. Summers have a nostalgic association with the ideal getaway, for the best part of our lives. For filmmakers though, the season simply means “cash in!” There is no better season to unleash star spangled big ticket flicks. For cine crazy fans, the months of April and May are a time to indulge in their favourite obsession . . . movies, never mind the heat! There’s plenty to look forward to for the movie buffs as there is a wide range of films to choose from. Here’s a look at some of the most tantalising reel prospects this summer.
Telugu There will be “starwars” galore in T-town as Balakrishna, Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun and Prabhas lead the battle for box office supremacy this season. Their films will be leading the bandwagon of films out to make an impact at the BO. However, the likes of Varun Sandesh, Ram, Gopichand, Sharwanand, Jagapathi Babu and Allari Naresh are also in the fray. And they will be confident that their films will be able to beat that scorecard. Hold on folks, are we talking too much about the men here? Make no mistake 42 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
ladies, god knows we love you, but it’s usually the men that matter in this business. Then there are a bunch of small budget films that will be hoping to pull off a surprise. We will be the first to hail the underdogs when they hit it. For now though, we will stick to the principle of general public curiosity and reserve our attention to the usual suspects. The Groom to be First in the line of hopefuls is Allu Arjun’s wedding party, Varudu. Gunasekhar is a director with a proven track record and his strategy of not revealing the bride (read: the heroine) has clearly done the trick. While the guessing game is on, the movie has caught the imagination of the public at large. We’ll know soon enough how much of a surprise package the movie turns out to be. Not many will be betting against it though. Crouching Tiger It is easily one of the most awaited films ever! Pawan Kalyan has not had a release in two years. The film could not have hoped for a bigger publicity hook. You almost expect the anticipation surrounding the film to assume hysterical proportions come May, when Puli is slated to release. As if that wasn’t enough, A R Rahman
is composing the music for the film, his first original Telugu album in a (really) long time. Touted to be a high adrenaline action drama, we suspect director S J Surya’s might just have something special up his sleeve. Lion King A Balakrishna movie never ceases to arouse interest, albeit it has been a while since he has had a hit worthy of his stature. But with Balaiah, you know it’s just a matter of when rather than how. If the law of averages is anything to go by, one gets the feeling NBK might just be due for a big one. Simha has a lot going for it. Balakrishna is doing a double role and has Nayanthara and Sneha Ullal for company. Director Boyapati Seenu is known to have a way with his films and that’s what makes Simha a top contender. Darling Director Karunakaran’s latest offering of love is rather suggestively titled Darling. Romance is the idea of this film and Prabhas, Kajal Agarwal and Shradda Das make three sides of what looks like a love triangle. If the promos are anything to go by, the trio make quite a threesome. Pun intended! Guess it will all boil down to the chemistry, Darling! Rama Rama Krishna Krishna The hippie connotations of the title are only make believe! The name is Rama… Rama Krishna … Krishna! Get the drift? The quantum of ladies in the cast might offer some insights. There’s Priya Anand, Bindu Madhavi and Gracy Singh! Apparently the film’s made of the stuff of gods (pun intended)! Something about love, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna! Sounds heady! Come May, we will know more. Police story Gopichand is starring in this cop adventure modelled on the life of encounter specialist Dayanayak. Golimar promises to be another exciting bullet ridden tale of police machismo. Director Puri Jagannath will make sure the testosterone levels will be running high through out the film. Action movie lovers will be rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Kannada The scene is equally upbeat in Karnataka with several big-budget Kannada movies lined up for release. Heading the list is Puneet Rajkumar’s Prithvi directed by Jacob Verghese. Puneet’s last two films--Raaj, The Showman and Raam -- were successful. Unlike most of his hits which happen to be remakes, Prithvi is based on an original story. Watch out for the track for which Shruti Haasan has lent her voice, it’ll set a lot of hearts racing and feet tapping. This is the first time she has sung a Kannada film song. The film was extensively shot abroad, including West Asian
countries like Jordan, a first for Kannada films. Puneet’s elder brother Shivarajkumar is looking to strike bull’s eye through the big budget Cheluveye Ninna Nodalu. This flick’s claim to fame is that it is shot at all the Seven Wonders of the World. The movie’s budget has already crossed Rs 10 crore. Shivarajkumar’s fans are eagerly waiting for this flick, through which Sonal Chauhan makes her debut in Kannada. Another film that is creating a lot of buzz is the Yogi-starrer Yaksha. Bollywood stars like Nana Patekar and Atul Kulkarni have prominent roles. Yogi’s movies are known for their lavish sets and foot tapping music. Yogi’s brother is also making his debut on the large screen through Yaksha. Yogi is rapidly evolving into one of the most sought after actors in Kannada films. An interesting big budget flick that is making news in Kannada cinema is Rajadhani, featuring teenage heartthrobs Yash and Chetan Chandra. This multi-star movie is based on an original story and showcases the life of youth in Bengaluru. Sowmya Sathyan, a first time producer, is not taking any chances with Rajadhani which has Prakash Raj in a prominent role. The woman producer has roped in item girl Mumaith Khan for a steamy number. Sheena Shahabadi from the hit Telugu flick Bindaas would also make her debut in Kannada through Rajadhani. Hotshot producer Ramu has lined up two releases this summer. There’s Veera (featuring the producer’s wife Malashree) and Gandede (featuring Tamil actor Arjun’s nephew Chiranjeevi Sarja). After a long-break, superstar Ravichandran will be seen on the big screen with Namitha Rai in Hoo. Known for his surprising packages in films, Ravichandran has selected a perfect timing for the release of Hoo. Dhool, featuring Yogi and Prakash Rai, will also hit the screens this summer. Though it’s a remake of a Tamil film, the flick has already been lapped up by distributors for a fat advance, thanks to the popularity Yogi enjoys among his fans.
Tamil Unlike Bollywood, where all the big star flicks are scheduled for release after the IPL finals on April 25, in Tamil Nadu though most big banner films are hitting the screens between March 26 and April 14. The ‘unofficial ban’ on theatres screening IPL matches in Tamil Nadu surely helps. Perhaps the filmmakers are taking a cue from last year’s block buster Ayan, which released at the peak of IPL mania last summer. Leading the pack is Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam, scheduled to hit the screens in the last week of March. It is the first cowboy western since Jaishankar’s Ganga released 37 years Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 43
ago. Lawrence, Lakshmi Rai and Padmapriya play the lead in this ambitious project, being directed by Chimbudevan. Then there is Paiyya, touted to be a thriller on the road. The genre we mean! Karthi and Tamannaah hit it (the road) in director Lingusamy’s much talked about venture. Milind Soman also has a part to play in the scheme of things. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s compositions are a huge hit with the audiences already. Looks like Karthi’s going to make it three in a row! Sura is one of the most awaited films this summer for the simple reason that it happens to be Ilayathalapathi Vijay’s 50th movie. Tamannaah is playing the leading lady. Director S P Rajkumar is keeping the cards close to his chest, not letting out any news about the film. After the success of Vettaikaran, the expectations are running high from the film. Jayam Ravi is back to his chocolate boy ways with Thillagadi. A remake of the Telugu blockbuster Kick, director Jayam Raja will be hoping to recreate the success in the Tamil version as well. One of the USPs of the film is the song Pattu Pattu Pattam Poochi...sung by Simbhu. Surprise sursprise! Tamannaah is playing the leading lady in this film as well! Looks like Tamannaah is definitely the flavour this summer. Suriya’s home production Singam is going to be one of the most hyped releases of the season. Suriya is on a roll after the smashing success of Ayan and Adhavan. What’s more, the film is going to be Surya’s 25th release. Anushka is pairing up for the first time with Suriya. Director Hari is known for racy action films and we are sure he will not disappoint fans this time either. Director Mani Ratnam’s Ravan is the biggest movie of them all. Boasting of a stellar cast that includes Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Prithvi Raj and Priyamani, the film is all set for a June release. Set to be a modern adaptation of the Ramayana, the film is revving up to release amidst sky rocketing expectations.
Malayalam Summers normally kick start in Kerala by the end of March. In Kerala, the season begins traditionally from Easter Sunday to the last week of May, when monsoon hits the Kerala coast first in the subcontinent. The summer of 2010 is going to be exciting in God’s own country, as a lot of big and not so big films are due for release. The Malayalam film industry is not bothered about the IPL tournament which is clashing with school holidays, Easter and Vishu festivals. Here is the tentative list of films due for summer. The below-mentioned releases have been given by the producers and distributors of these films. Depending on the availability of theatres, censor and other production issues, the summer in Kerala may also be a slow season. The films releasing in April are Mohanlal’s Alexander the Great, Mammootty’s Pokkiri Raja, Sathyan Anthikkad’s yet untitled film with Jayaram, Mohanlal’s Oru Naal Varum, Suresh Gopi’s Janakan, which has Mohanlal in a special appearance, Dileep’s Paapi Appacha.
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46 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Photographer: Y S N Murthy Stylist: Maya Raj Make up and hair: Avni Coordinated by: Vrinda Prasad Location courtesy: The Executive Lounge, The Poolside, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre
He came, he kissed, he kissed some more! Naga Chaitanya unlike his superstar dad is scared
of dancing, prefers biking to driving (or most other things) and braved an unconventional lover boy role that had everyone sit up and take notice of their own love lives! Mona Ramavat examines the new love phenomenon on the Telugu screen.
One kiss is enough to make us (read hardcore southern movie audiences) shift just a tad uncomfortably in our seats, despite the darkness, despite the twenty first century. Imagine what many did to us! Chaitanya smiles at this. Grins actually. A shy sort of grin that he flashes sparingly. His second movie, the high on sugar Ye Maya Chesave had him kiss costar Samantha more than once in full frontal view. No over the shoulder shots to ‘suggest’ a kiss. None of those watermarking gimmicks either. “Well, someone had to make a beginning.” To break some conventions in Telugu cinema, that is.
But Chaitanya being Chaitanya, is ready with a clarification: “That doesn’t mean every Telugu film has to be packed to the brim with kisses. It’s time we brought in some freshness in Telugu cinema and the new breed of actors can do it.” He is one of them and a promising one at that, in all of southern cinema. Here’s one question many have asked Chaitanya and let’s get it out of the way right in the beginning since he’s bored answering it: What does he think of being Nagarjuna’s son and film veteran Rama Naidu’s grandson on the maternal side? What does his background mean to him? “Well, like
I keep telling everyone who asks me this, it’s not my fault that my family on both sides has been into cinema for the last sixty years!” He grins again and there’s not even a hint of arrogance here. “But just because I am a star son doesn’t mean I will sail through. At best I may be promoted for a couple of more films, since I stand that advantage. But essentially, I am on my own.” His debut was much hyped and rode on pretty high expectations. But Josh was a real disappointment. More so, because people expected something unrealistically excellent from Nag’s son and Venkatesh’s nephew. It got
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 47
him in a tizzy followed by what he calls his first ever heartbreak, but now he thinks it was better that way. “Whatever happens, happens for a reason after all. Since there was so much hype surrounding Josh and it didn’t do well, people didn’t expect much out of Ye Maya Chesave. As a result, it was received like a pleasant surprise, which certainly worked in our favour,” he reasons. Get him started about this film and he can go on, although otherwise, Chaitanya is rather quiet. “I loved everything about this film and the experience was pretty enriching. Gautam Sir (Gautam Menon, the director) gave us the liberty to find our own acting space rather than straightjacket our emoting. Loved the character I played too. Karthik is so much like what I am in reality.” Like intense and love struck? “Like passionate and uncomplicated.” Shy grin reappears. For the uninitiated, Chaitanya plays this young aspiring filmmaker who is crazily in love with a Malayalee Christian girl, two years older to him. So do 22 year olds really fall in love at first sight? With a sari clad girl? “Well, why not,” questions Chaitanya back. “For one, if well draped, I think the sari is the sexiest thing a woman can wear. About your other misgiving, the idea of romance is really changing these days. Many guys – unlike before – these days, don’t get put off when they find out that the girl they like is older to them.” But do 22 year olds fall in love at first sight or lust? “Ok lust. There might be nothing like love at first sight. Karthik realises it’s love, say half hour, into the film.” So we wonder when he realised it’s love in real life. “I am not the sort who would get into a relationship just like that. I need to know and understand someone thoroughly before I can even come close to talking to her about my feelings,” he shares. Although we probe deeper, there’s not much he reveals about love in his real life save for the first time it happened when he was in class nine and then the first kiss (with someone else we presume) in class eleven. So back to kiss. He wouldn’t say much about it, although he pretends to recall and we know he hasn’t forgotten. But anyway, back to the much talked about kisses in the movie. “There was a natural chemistry between me and Samantha and we didn’t feel
48 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Shirt: JOURNEY; Bracelet: Designer Sampath / CON’TRADITIONS
Looks like he enjoyed playing the lover boy thoroughly. Would he continue doing roles like these? “I like love stories, but my next film will most likely be an action film. I don’t want to be branded as a certain type. Lover boy or boy next door. So I’d like to experiment with my roles right at the beginning of my career,” he is sure about this. But many actors are comfortable being in the space they are expected to be in. Chaitanya shrugs, corners of the mouth drooped and head thrown back in thought. “But I’m honestly scared of being branded...” Talking of lover boys, we couldn’t have not brought up his dad, who still plays the lover boy once in a while. “Well yeah. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I took up this film. People sort of expected me to do a love story.” Obviously he’s much influenced by his dad. “No. I never wanted to become an actor. So there was no question.” He was pretty much raised by his mother in Chennai through his growing up years. “We never spoke about cinema or my dad’s acting career. I was light years away from the idea.” But it just struck when he was in the final year of B Com and since then he hasn’t thought twice about being a full time actor. “I studied acting for a bit at the New York Film Academy only to shed my inhibitions. But it really got me interested.” After all acting is in his genes. “I wonder,” he laughs aloud. “But yeah, acting cannot be taught. It’s either there in you or not.” So he did come back home with inhibitions shed, spare one. Dancing. “I am working on that one,” he explains as if ours was an accusation. “I love honing my acting skills but dancing is one area I’m still very shaky with.”
Knit jumper and scarf: ENVY Bag: Earth Quake Bracelet and chain: Designer Sampath / CON’TRADITIONS
awkward about kissing,” he shares. “Besides it was woven so beautifully in our characterization, it wasn’t like these stray lip locks put in for cheap thrills. If you remember, towards the end, Karthik asks Jessie (Samantha) if they can kiss while they chance upon each other in New York. Nobody there cares a damn even if you kiss in public. So it seemed natural.” Does that mean he is in for PDA? “Nope. Not really. Each to his own though. I personally wouldn’t kiss someone in public, if you ask me.” In New York or otherwise? “Yeah.” Shy grin.
So hopefully we’d see him dance in his next film? “Well, what do I say. Let’s see. One thing that I’ve heard from many who’ve seen my films is that I Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 49
Coat collar: JOURNEY underplay, while they have always liked their heroes more energetic. So I guess I will hyperventilate on screen in the next film!” So big female fan following? “I hope so.” Single? “Yeah, very much.” Ready to mingle? Shy grin. Six packs? “Not yet. But I am a fitness freak so may get them sooner than I think.” What stresses him out? “Dancing!” How does he de-stress? “I work out or go bike riding. I simply love my bike.” When his dad asked which car he wanted as his first, he said he wanted a bike. First kiss? “I told you. Eleventh standard.” No more. Kissqualified!
Jacket: ENVY Tee: JOURNEY
50 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
The success meet of Ye Maya Chesave, which is running a packed house, was attended by Naga Chaitanya, Samantha, Nagarjuna and ANR. Samantha walked away with all the attention.
Tamil stars Ganesh Venkataraman and Nayanthara wowed Bengaluru at the launch of the Times Food and Nightlife guide 2010.
Actor Ravichandran claps Puneet Rajkumar’s latest film Jackie with Bhavana. Director Soori is also seen.
Pic: Manu
Pic: Manu
The audio launch of the upcoming Super Cowboy saw the entire cast in full attendance, Lakshmi Rai, Padmapriya, Lawrence and Nassar included. Nagarjuna was the chief guest.
Pic: Manu
Pic: M N Bushan
The audio for Allu Arjun’s most talked about film; Varudu was launched at the Ramanaidu studios. The cast breezed in wearing wedding attire!
KALEIDOSCOPE
Pic: M N Bushan
The Blue-ray disc of the Telugu industry’s biggest hit in 2009, Maghadeera was launched at Hotel Marriott in Hyderabad. Ram Charan Tej, Allu Arvind, Rajamouli and Keeravani were awed by the amazing quality of the print.
Pic: M N Bushan
The coveted Nandi Awards this year saw full attendance from the film fraternity. Swati and Ravi Teja took home the award for Best Actor in the male and female categories respectively.
Pic: M N Bushan
Pic: M N Bushan
TELUGU / kannada
Audio CDs of the film, Gundrugovi were released by leading film personalities, including the male lead, ‘Aa Dinagalu’ Sathya in Bengaluru. Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 51
Five years ago when he landed in India with a back-pack and a curious mind, he had no inkling that soon he would be a sought after actor on screen with a bevy of besotted girls chasing him for autographs. Arvind G Shivkamal traces the meteoric rise of Chetan, the coolest hottie on the Kannada celluloid.
Photographer: MANU
American born, enlightened Chetan!
After delivering three hits in a row, each film in a class of its own, Chetan - an alumnus of the prestigious Yale University - is not yet in a hurry to sign new projects. Ask him why, and his answer is: “I knew that I would become an actor someday. But a film actor? No, not even in my wildest dreams. My presence in the entertainment industry is for a different purpose...” Chetan’s journey back home to India was not to earn the tag of a superstar, but for many other reasons, some of them personal and others academic. “Cinema happens to be just one of them,” he makes it clear. Thinking actor, huh? He insists we hear about his past from where he derives all the inspiration. Born and brought up in the US, Chetan’s parents are well-known physicians. He grew up in Chicago in a fastpaced society. “But I was very fortunate to be part of discussions at home on Indian history, culture, literature and anthropology. I wanted to learn more, experience everything first hand,” he points out.
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He also had the unique opportunity of spending time with leading historians of Kannada, noted litterateurs and musicians from India who were regular guests at Chetan’s home. Frequent interactions with such intellectuals and an early exposure to a variety of subjects at a young age strengthened Chetan’s quest for more. That curiosity took him to Yale where he studied Humanities and Anthropology. A Fulbright scholar, Chetan’s quest to learn more did not stop there. “Every summer, I visited India. With each visit, my curiosity about people and culture increased.” After completing his studies, the aspiring actor headed to India for good, disregarding his parents’ opinion.
I played the saxophone when I was a kid in front of the legendry Kadari Gopalanath. A mime artiste since childhood, Chetan realised that theatre was one of the best channels to reach out to people with divergent ideas. He travelled the length and breadth of Karnataka with various theatre troupes, performing with them and connecting with people. He also got involved with women’s self help groups helping them in their micro credit programmes. “Believe me, the experience was an eye-opener. For somebody exposed to western thought and education, the learning was great,” he admits. Subsequently, Chetan became a regular on the Bengaluru theatre circuit. The stage also helped him hone his acting skills for the screen. Chetan had three issues on mind – understanding society beyond what he knew, fulfilling the passion for language and exploring performance in various forms. This never-ending curiosity took him to Agni Shridhar, a well-known Kannada writer and a reformed underworld don. An audience with Agni Sridhar is still considered an impossibility for many. Chetan not only had successful sessions with Sridhar on society, democracy and literature, but also became good friends with him. Agni Sridhar’s autobiography, Dadagiriya Aa Dinagalu by then was a bestseller. Sridhar had plans of making a film based on a chapter from his book. The lead role was offered to Chetan, who immediately lapped it up, realising where it could take him. A dream team comprising renowned filmmaker Girish Karnad, music maestro Ilayaraja, theatre personality K M Chaitanya and ace cinematographer H C Venu was set up. The star cast included Bollywood biggies like Ashish Vidyarthi and Atul Kulkarni. “The team’s profile was mind-boggling. So many bigwigs in one film,” says an excited Chetan, who considers Aa Dinagalu a dream debut. Aa Dinagalu (Those days) exposed the notorious underworld of Bengaluru of the 80s. The film smashed box office records and went on to become one of the highest grossers of 2007. Ilayaraja’s melodious tracks were on the top 10 all year
through. Every actor from the film shot into prominence. Chetan, sporting longish untrimmed hair of the 80s, suddenly became sought after. He was flooded with offers, most of them commercial ventures, but Chetan’s next release was only in 2009: “I never aspired to become a star actor. I was looking only for interesting projects. That’s how I happened to take up Birugaali.” Directed by choreographer Harsha, Birugaali saw a completely different Chetan, sporting a pony tail. The film did pretty well, as did the music. Chetan thinks Birugaali helped him connect with the people even more. “Aa Dinagalu gave me my biggest break. But it was Birugaali that took me closer to the people. Even in remote parts of north Karnataka, people identified me as Birugaali Chetan,” he says. It was again a year before his third release happened. Suryakanthi, his third film was also directed by the director of Aa Dinagalu. “The storyline was so different that it took us all over the world for shooting, including Uzbekistan. I was comfortable working with Chaitanya. Most from the Aa Dinagalu team – Ilayaraja, Girish Karnad and Venu – were also part of Suryakanthi. It was fun working with them again,” he explains. Apart from these, the new kid on the block also had the opportunity to work with many other well known personalities of the Indian film industry –Nasser, Atul Agnihotri, Ashish Vidyarthi and Ganesh Yadav – in just three films, something that’s sure to make other up and coming actors pretty enviable... A good dancer with a muscular body and a theatre background, Chetan was the missing and much required element in the Kannada film industry. Following Suryakanthi’s success, Chetan is again flooded with offers. He is currently evaluating two scripts. “If everything goes as planned, my next film will go on floors in a few months,” he shares. When he is not acting, you can find Chetan playing his favorite tunes on his 21-year-old saxophone. You ask him and he can play the tune to precision. He even composes his own music. “My artistic foundation is very strong. My passion for music is immense. I played the saxophone when I was a kid in front of the legendry Kadari Gopalanath. He wanted me to go with him to Chennai for training. But my parents were against the idea at that point. I became Ekalavya practicing on my own!” Chetan can also play the violin and clarinet. His favourite leisure time activity is listening to jazz legends like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. An avid reader, he can read just about anything. “I try to make the best use of my time as I live alone in Bengaluru.” Ask him about other things and Chetan smiles: “Well, I have many friends among girls. Let’s say I am single as of now. I don’t have a girlfriend.” Hot, single, living alone and in demand. Sounds like mmm… what?
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 53
How Aindrita got hit,
got a hit and got a life‌
Two Kannada blockbusters in 2009 with acclaimed directors like Yogaraj Bhat and Duniya Soori. For this doctor-actor, who speaks Bengali at home and Kannada on the sets, it is an achievement that any other artiste would envy. Arvind G Shivkamal admires the guts of Aindrita Ray who has made it on her own mettle sans any godfather in the film industry.
Photographer: Venkatesh 54 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Till Aindrita Ray exploded onto the big screen in Junglee directed by Duniya Soori, she was a non entity in the film industry. Her debut film Meravanige in which she was paired with Prajwal Devaraj did not earn her the recognition she deserved. But the way she grooved to the number, Hale Paatre, Hale Kabana in Junglee earned her instant fame. Where ever she went, Aindritha was identified as the “Hale Paatre, Hale Kabana girl.” Sung by the trendsetting Kailash Kher, the song was such a mega hit that it is rated among the top three of 2009. Now, it has become Aindrita’s signature track. The film was also a success at the box office. Since then, Aindrita has never looked back. A choosy artiste, she acted in two other films – Vaayuputra, the debut movie of Chiranjeevi Sarja, nephew of Tamil actor Arjun, and Manasaare, a super duper hit directed by Yogaraj Bhat with upcoming actor Diganth. The sultry actor appeared in a few other films that are awaiting release. She is also eagerly looking forward to her next film Dhool with Yogi. The film featuring Prakash Raj has already created a buzz in the Kannada film industry for its unique style of filming. The expectations from Dhool are high. Unmindful of the pressure, Aindrita is now on a break evaluating future projects. “2009 was such a busy year... I did not have any time for myself. I badly needed this break. I feel very happy to spend time with family, friends and my pet. I am sure it will not be the same once Dhool hits the screens,” she says. Before entering tinsel town, Aindrita had a successful modelling career in advertising commercials. “I never ever dreamt that I would end up as an actor. But I am thoroughly enjoying every moment of it,” she contends. Her entry into the world of glamour and glitz was not accidental. After completing her preuniversity, Aindrita who has a penchant for fashion, was recommended by her aunt to a leading modelling agency in Mumbai. “I attended one audition and was immediately selected for a two-wheeler ad. After the ad was shot, I was not confident that it would be aired. When I was on vacation, I saw myself on the TV one day. It was a total shock,” the actor recalls. She appeared for a number of ads and several film offers came her way. “Most of them were Hindi. As I was new to the industry, I was skeptical. A couple of them were shady. So I never really showed any interest in them,” Aindrita points out. During her modelling career, she joined a dentistry course in Bengaluru. After completing two years, she took a break from education as Kannada film offers started flooding.
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 55
“My first film – Meravanige – was a memorable experience. I learnt the nuances of acting from the director Mahesh Babu,” she says and adds that she was able to overcome her shyness before the camera with that film. The actor claims that she was a reserved person during her childhood. “Though I was called a drama queen for imitating teachers and stuff, I was highly disciplined. For a cultural event in the school, I was asked to gyrate my hips. I opted out thinking it was obscene. But after my mum saw me shake my bum in Hale Paatre Hale Kabana, she realised that a new chapter had begun in my life!” Aindrita seems to have fallen in love with that new chapter. “Which outsider has got a chance to work with top directors in the same year in hit films? I consider myself extremely lucky…I have made a very nice beginning”. Through Junglee, Aindrita earned the tag of a hot girl and became a household name in Karnataka. “After Junglee, life became very interesting. Wherever I went, I could hear people humming Hale Paatre Hale Kabana at my back. A funny thing happened when I was shooting for Manasaare. A truck stopped at the shooting spot and the driver started singing the same hit song after seeing me. Such adulation was new to me,” she gushes. Though Junglee gave Aindrita instant fame, it was Manasaare that brought the best out of her as an actor. She plays the role of a mentally disturbed person who is also schizophrenic: “Yogaraj Bhat asked me to act without any formal preparation. Initially I started acting as if I were a mad person. But he corrected me by showing the rushes of the movie. He helped me get the act right. The best part of Bhat’s films is that they are edited on the spot. It is a great learning opportunity for every actor to correct themselves on the spot,” she contends. Aindrita received rave reviews for her performance in Manasaare. She is now among the top contenders for the best actress award for 2009. Is she excited about it? “Who does not want to win an award? I am keeping my fingers crossed.”
Photographer: VENKATESH
Her father’s a retired IAF officer and helps her evaluate the scripts. “I don’t take independent decisions. Whenever a movie is offered, I discuss it with my family. So far, my selection has been successful.” Is she planning to act in Tamil and Telugu films? She did one Telugu film Sari Nee Ishtam. But the movie is lying in the cans for unknown reasons. “I don’t even know what happened to it. There is no update. It is one bad episode that I want to forget,” she states. She is also
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choosy about signing Tamil projects at the moment. “After Junglee, there were interesting offers in Tamil. But I did not consider them at that point as I was busy with my Kannada assignments. As my beginning was good in Kannada films, I want a similar beginning in Tamil. I am looking forward to a good offer,” she says and adds that she is keen on acting in Bengali films as well! Another episode that she’d rather forget is shooting for Nooru Janmakoo in Macau last December. Renowned director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar had slapped her alleging indiscipline. She in turn counter alleged that the director had misbehaved with her. “It generated a lot of publicity. I never expected it to happen. It was very unfortunate. But I have made a good beginning in 2010 and I want to forget that incident forever. I have gone through a lot of pain because of that,” she says. The Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) had convened a peace meeting where the director apologised to Aindrita. Since then, both are under a gag order from the KFCC to not to speak about the incident. But Aindrita agrees that the incident portrayed the film industry in bad light. “I am very lucky to have worked with such wonderful people so far. Please ask anybody on the sets about me. I am a lively person and very friendly with the crew. Nobody had any complaints about me. They adore me...They cook my favorite dishes, celebrated my birthday with so much enthusiasm. I am enjoying the attention. It is the same even now.” The actor has a packed life outside cinema and acting. She is known for hanging out with friends at popular joints in Bengaluru. She is also seen regularly in Page 3 parties: “Please don’t call them Page 3 parties. It happens so that the pictures of the parties that I attend are published on page 3. I have not attended parties in recent times because of my hectic schedule. Otherwise, I love to unwind at home with my dog Zorro or watch movies.” Her love for animals took her to CUPA, an animal welfare organization. She periodically takes part in their campaigns and can be seen on the streets of Bengaluru defending animal rights. She is hot and happening, both on and off the screen. So, is she seeing anyone? “No! Not at all… Marriage is five years away. Seeing someone is not even on my mind”. For now, Aindrita wants to revive her student life to complete her dentistry course and simultaneously dabble with films. Come 2012, we will see the actor’s credentials changed to Dr Aindrita Ray on the screens!
Her love for animals took her to CUPA, an animal welfare organization. She periodically takes part in their campaigns and can be seen on the streets of Bengaluru defending animal rights.
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 57
We don’t need no education! Not the formal kind at least, if you went by H C Venugopal. He’s sought after, in demand and the only Kannada cinematographer who didn’t learn his craft in a classroom. Aravind G Shivkamal figures out the rest.
The year was 1997. Upendra, then an established director was all set to make his acting debut. The film was titled A, something of a brain-teaser. After all the success as a director, Upendra did not want anything to go wrong with this film. The expectations were high. He wanted everything to be different in A. And he was yet to find a cinematographer who could match his wavelength. Rather than working with someone already established, he was on the lookout for someone fresh. He finally decided to call Venugopal, who had worked with him earlier as a still photographer for the films Sshhh and Om. Till he met Uppi, Venu was under the impression that he would be asked to design the stills for A. But when Venu was shown the camera (the film camera) and told that he would be the cinematographer for this film, it was what he might have called a pleasant shock! “I thought he was poking fun at me. But he was
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dead serious,” recalls Venu, who is today among the highest paid and busiest cinematographers of the Kannada industry. With absolutely no formal training in cinematography, this first project was a real challenge. At best he just knew what a motion camera looked like. “Trust me, I was as clueless as ‘where’s the damn viewfinder!’ It was all new to me. Upendra had more confidence in me than I did in myself,” he shares. A phenomenal film, the costliest ever in the 90s, it was shot for some 106 days and the film reels ran over 1.25 lakh feet (as against an average of 40,000 feet), a record in Kannada cinema. After six months of working inhumanly hard, A was finally released and it went on to become a blockbuster. Incidentally, lesser known actor Gurukiran too debuted as music director with A. So that makes it three debutantes.
A healthy melange of good acting, refreshing music, a real-life script and amazing experimentation with the camera made A the trendsetter that it was. From then on, Venu became a sought after cinematographer, while Gurukiran replaced virtually every other music director in the business. “Over the last decade, I worked on some 26 films. Ironically though, I was so involved with my work that I missed the opportunity to work in Upendra’s latest
Trust me, I was as clueless as ‘where’s the damn viewfinder! film. But I have always remained indebted to Upendra,” concedes Venu. Following A, acclaimed filmmaker Sunil Kumar Desai roped in Venu for Sudeep’s debut film Sparsha. “Uppi and Desai laid the foundation for my career. I learnt the ropes of scene selection and shot composition from them. Prabhu Deva taught me the art of visualising dance sequences,” he shares. The first three films in his career were challenging in every aspect. A song for Sparsha had to be shot in Sikkim, across the ice-cold Teestha River. The camera had to be placed at a great height to capture Sudeep and Rekha on a swing overarching the river. Venu recalls, “Every artiste was dressed in classical dancing gear. The water was so cold that a couple of them developed hypothermia.” Besides, shooting at dusk was another issue. “I had to be innovative. The geographical terrain was not suitable for using a crane. I had to climb a very old and unstable bridge and place the camera at a 90 degree angle all by myself to shoot the song,” he reveals. That track from Sparsha was a chart-buster and the particular shot that required Venu’s ingenuity is considered a masterpiece. “In the film, it looks like no big deal, but on that rickety bridge, I had to make sure the camera didn’t shake even a bit. Also, I had to ensure I stayed alive to finish the shot!” In his third project, H20 directed by Upendra, Venu faced the biggest challenge of his career. It was the costliest movie that year, with a budget of Rs 5 crores. Uppi had selected a controversial subject featuring dancing sensation Prabhu Deva. “I was just two films old. H20 required filming a war scene in the deserts of Rajasthan. I had to make sure that there was not a single element of modernity in that scene. It was such a tough task. Once I completed the film, I felt more confident about my work and soon started signing new projects.”
Born to farmer parents, Venu never imagined that art and glamour would one day become his bread and butter. “I was always interested in painting. I applied for a course in a government polytechnic in Bangaluru. My application was rejected as I had scored just 38 per cent in my class 10. The cut off was 45 per cent,” Venu recalls his bewilderment. “I wondered how art is connected to grades. It was then that I decided to tread my own path.” Of course, life did turn a full circle, and how! Ironically, today Venu trains interns from the same government polytechnic that had rejected his application. Three of them are independent cinematographers today. “I tell everyone that creativity is nobody’s property. If you’ve got talent, you can prove it anywhere. You don’t necessarily need formal education.” So what are his creative insights as a cinematographer? “Shot composition and colour sense form the base. Still photography is the third essential requirement. If you are grounded in all three, you don’t need to study cinematography exclusively,” Venu finds. He is also inspired by many filmmakers. “When I was doing a painting course in 1983, Mani Ratnam’s directorial debut Pallavi Anu Pallavi (the Kannada film featuring Anil Kapoor and Lakshmi) overwhelmed me to the extent that I saw it 15 times in a row. Balu Mahendra’s cinematography was captivating to say the least. I wondered if I could one day recreate the same kind of magic. Venu had a chance to pay tribute to Balu Mahendra later. “I shot an entire song for Aa Dinagalu along the lines of Pallavi Anu Pallavi. It was a highly satisfying experience.” The track, for which Ilaiyaraja scored the music, is listed among the all-time great Kannada hits. If you thought that’s about all that’s unconventional in Venu’s life, hear this: he fell in love with national award winning actor, Tara while he was a still photographer for a news magazine. But he did not dare admit it to her as Tara was already an established actor then. “But one day, I found the courage to confess. She said yes and we got married. Ever since, she has been my greatest support,” he says. So does he find it uncomfortable shooting for his wife’s movies? “Not at all. She is an artiste first, then my wife. I have worked as a cinematographer for several of her films,” he states matter-of-factly. As of now, Venu has several films on hand. During his spare time, he paints. “I have led a nomadic life for long. Sometimes, I would just hop on to a train and travel all the way to the Himalayas. I still find a kind of spiritual solace there...”
Venu became somewhat of a permanent fixture in the films directed by Uppi and Sunil Kumar Desai which include Parva, Dum, Shriram, Daya Nayak, Aa Dinagalu, Kallarali Hoovagi and Bindaas.
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 59
sty e sutra That Vikram is unmatchable in the department of histrionics has been well established by his unforgettable performances on screen. Innovation is his middle name and his experimentation in the style department adds to his overflowing magnetism. Check out our own God of style unleash his intensity at the Southscope exclusive cover shoot. Want to ‘Get This Look?’ I personally love the linen pants and they are so what we all need this summer. So, shall we get cracking?
get this look
- Maya Raj
Rs.690
REFLECT colors U wear
Rs.1895
Rs.895
Journery
WILD WEST
19, My Home Tycoon, Begumpet, Hyderabad.
Plot No. 1, Journalist Colony, Road No. 3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Rs.199
Earth Quake 1-8-91/19/1, Sindhi Colony, PG Road, Secunderabad.
Rs.599
Earth Quake
Rs.1650
Rs.1295
SAGAR TENALI
Designer: Sampath / CON’TRADITIONS
8-2-460/3 Road No. 4, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
6-3-1089/7/13, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad.
Rs.1050
REFLECT colors U wear
1-8-215/7/B, Sindhi Colony, PG Road, Secunderabad.
Rs.1899
Rs.4495
Earth Quake
Journey
60 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Rs.599
Rs.2450
Earth Quake
SAGAR TENALI
It
Star of the month
sty esutra SHRUTHI HASSAN < `Check’ out Shruti’s cool quotient!
> Sari on Shruti has just got a new synonym heavenly.
Wow! What a designer’s dream Shruti manifests on the ramp… v
^ We love the bangs!
^ Guess black loves Shruti!
Shruti sizzles at the Eenadu audio launch.
- Maya Raj
> Hot bod in haute couture! Can it get any better? Nah!
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 61
62 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
- Maya Raj
Akkineni Nagarjuna has been the invincible Yuva Samrat of the Telugu industry for the past 24 years. He was part of many a blockbuster such as Siva, Geetanjali, Hello Brother, Ninne Pelladatha, Annamayya, Manmadhudu and Super. Take a look at Nag in any of these super hits and you can see that he works on the styling for each character, all the while looking as dapper as only he can. A quick glance through his look book reveals how much Nag has changed over the years. Kedi, his latest film added yet another element of surprise to his constsntly evolving style. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about you, but I am eagerly waiting to see what Nagâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next look will be!
Made in made out
sty esutra
Wondering why your favourite star doesn’t have the perfect 10 she deserves? Just log on to www.southscope.in. You too can get a piece of the action and rate the stars that will be featured in next month’s Style Meter. *Ratings below were derived from the online Southscope poll.
TER
E ME
STYL
- Maya Raj
8/10
Ah finally, something to brighten our day- and we are not just talking about Bindu’s killer smile.
6/10
6.5/10
7/10
The usually stunning Reema Sen seems to be having an off day!
Like the colour on Sandhya but that’s about all we can say. Classy yet chic Asin!
5/10
4/10 All well Ileana???
6/10
6/10
This ill fitting ensemble earns Sridevi no brownie points!
We think Kajal can do better! Someone should have really warned Kangna about the negative effects of flash photography!
bioscope
TELUGU Good Multiple storylines and disjointed narratives are in vogue these days. Aakasaramanna goes one step further, combining the two, albeit amateurishly!
n
Dark comedies are rare in Telugu cinema as we tend to prefer the loud, slapstick variety over anything else. The characterisation takes the cake.
n
Isha (Gauri Pandit) is the hottie who specialises in fleecing multiple boy friends for terminating her pregnancy. Then there is Timothy (Venu Madhav) who accidentally chops off his manhood (you read that right) while trying to relieve himself from the window of a moving van. Rana (Allari Naresh) who dumps the sweet but annoyingly dumb Meera Jasmine to get laid with Isha. Then there is Jai (Sivaji) who is a consummate womaniser and Rajiv Kankala who gets involved in a bizarre hit and run case. It is quite an exceptional assortment of characters.
n
Aakasaramanna Cast: Allari Naresh, Rajiv Kanakala, Venu Madhav, Sivaji, Meera Jasmine, Gowri Pandit, Rao Ramesh, Naga Babu Direction: Ashok Music: Chakri
64 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Could have been better... The film is inspired by the 2003 Hollywood thriller 11:14, which is not such a bad thing perhaps. The problem lies in the adaptation, which cannot boast of even the slightest pretence of intelligence or finesse. The gloves come off barely 15 minutes into the film.
n
The narrator of Aakasaramanna, who keeps updating the story in some silly Karmic context, blatantly simplifies the suspense behind the bizarrely interesting sequence of events.
n
Just about everything else about the film, the music, editing, screenplay, camera work is well, very milquetoast(ish).
n
- Karthik Pasupulate
Good
Aapta Rakshaka Cast
: Vishnuvardhana, Vimala Raman, Bhavana, Ramesh Bhat, Sandhya, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Avinash, Komal
Direction: P Vasu Music
: Gurukiran
A perfect sequel to the highly successful Aapta Mithra, this one’s a winner in all respects. The spirit of Nagavalli continues to haunt the audience in this last and 200th film of Vishnuvardhana.
n
bioscope
KANNADA
A superb script that’s full of unexpected twists
n
and turns is pretty thrilling. The storyline is quite different from Aapta Mithra and the themes of fantasy and magic have worked well.
The flashback of Vijayaraja Bahadur and Nagavalli is well depicted. PKH Doss’ work behind the camera is amazing.
n
The galaxy of stars is a treat to watch. Vishnuvardhana’s sterling performance in the dual roles of Vijay and Vijayaraja Bahadur stands out.
n
The highlight of the film is the moment at which the true identity of Nagavalli is revealed. The narration is truly gripping.
n
Could have been better... The music is a huge disappointment when compared to that of Aapta Mithra which is popular even now. Gurukiran couldn’t really sustain the same magic.
n
Some scenes and concepts inspired by the Matrix series and Harry Potter could have been avoided. They do not add any value to the storyline.
n
The climax seems too dramatic.
n
Graphics are not up to the mark.
n
Sandhya’s performance appears exaggerated.
n
- Aravind G Shivkamal Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 65
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66 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
E-mail: bhavikksangghvi@gmail.com Website: www.bhavikksangghvi.com
Astro Numerologist: Bhavikk Sangghvi
APRIL 2010 predictions
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Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 67
hi-5 with Photographer: G Venket Ram Stylist: Nischay Polavarapu Hair Stylist: Tanvi Gutka Make up: Sharon Uttangi
Kriti Kharbanda
Till not very long ago, all she passionately longed to do was design great jewellery. Had she not been spotted on the streets of Bengaluru by a filmmaker looking for a new face, guess she would have only continued to make great jewellery. Kriti Kharbanda infused a fresh whiff with her debut, Boni in Telugu, which didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do very well but she made a head start nevertheless. Resolved to push her acting career ahead, she is now back with a Kannada film thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not titled yet and another for the Cannes Film Festival this year. Vrinda Prasad takes it further from there.
68 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
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What makes you stand out among so many newcomers that come in every year? I look unique from the lot of up and coming actors. I truly believe I have a distinct personality and my petite stature works for me. Also, a lot of models who when they enter films, still look like models. I try and put in that extra bit to effectively transform into the character I am playing. Trust me, it’s really difficult to be an actor!that’s the driving factor!
How are you keeping yourself motivated despite not having had a good start? I didn’t have a great debut but that hasn’t bogged me down. Just because I’m not a star child doesn’t mean I can’t make it big. That keeps me motivated. Firsts are always memorable and I look at my first film as a learning experience.
03
How do you maintain your petite figure? (Laughs) I eat a lot! I can’t resist food and will not give up cheese and pizzas for anything. But I do tend to put on weight and that’s when I watch over what I eat. Otherwise, I’ve never stepped into a gym. And yoga? What is that? (Wink)
04
What do you say about skin show on screen?
05
What do you think actors mean when they say ‘we are just friends’?
As long as it’s done aesthetically, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with skin show on screen.
Omigod, I’m getting into trouble now! At times we mean we truly are just friends. We are invariably linked up with co-stars and just because actors are spotted partying or lunching together doesn’t mean they are dating. ‘We are just friends’ was invented for our scribe friends I guess!
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 69
Looking
BAC K Rummaging through the classics of the sixties, Aravind G Shivkamal chances upon Sri Krishnadevaraya, a film that turned out be a defining moment in Kannada cinema
Film: Sri Krishnadevaraya
Director & Producer: B R Panthulu
Story: Manivannan
Music: T G Lingappa
1969
Cinematographer: K G Vijayan
Screenplay and dialogues: Kanagal Prabhakar Shastry
Year of release: 1969
Banner: Padmini Pictures
Cast: Dr Rajkumar, Bharathi, Jayanthi, B R Panthulu, Narasimharaju M V Rajamma
Released in 1969, Sri Krishnadevaraya was Dr Rajkumar’s first colour film and a phenomenal hit. Shot at the Jaipur Palace, it is among the greatest historical Indian films ever made. What inspires many to revisit the classic is Rajkumar’s sterling performance, powerful dialogues and timeless songs. It is a story from the golden pages of the history of the Vijayanagara Empire. Shot in Eastman colour, it brought alive the richness and grandeur of that era and made the film one of the most expensive of its times, starring Rajkumar as Krishnadevaraya, the famed ruler of Vijayanagara, B R Panthulu (who also directed the film) as Thimmarasu, his able prime minister, Bharathi and Jayanthi as Thirumalambe and Chennambe (Krishnadevaraya’s consorts) and noted comedian Narasimharaju as the famous Tenali Ramakrishna. The film revolves around the entire life history of Krishnadevaraya - his childhood, ascent to the throne, his coronation, marriage with Tirumaladevi, his conquests and a series of misfortunes that led to the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. Rajkumar, who came from a theatre background, played the role of Krishnadevaraya with all the grace and panache required of a performance this powerful. His elaborate costumes, make-up and dialogue delivery only matched his perfect portrayal of the great king.
70 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
Comedian Narasimharaju, a regular in every Rajkumar film during those days, delivered one of his best comical performances. Playing Tenali Ramakrishna was extremely challenging, but Narasimharaju was remarkable. Till date, no other comedian has been successful in matching Narasimharaju in Sri Krishnadevaraya. During those days, female leads considered it a rare opportunity to work with Rajkumar barring a lucky few like Bharthi and Jayanti. It was for the first time that both were cast in the same film with Rajkumar and film pundits branded their performances as an extension of their constant competition to be cast with Rajkumar. T G Lingappa’s music was another of the film’s many strengths. Songs like Tirupathi Girivasa, Sree Chamundeshwari, Krishnana Hesare Lokapriya, Chennarasi Cheluvarasi are popular even today. Another high point of the film is the song Khana peena mouj udana which is the only complete Hindi song in a Kannada film so far. It was sung by S Janaki. Sri Krishnadevaraya was a huge commercial success and a silverjubilee hit. It was released in Bengaluru and Mysore completing 26 weeks and 30 weeks respectively, and also bagged many awards. A few theatres in Bengaluru re-release the movie to full houses even till date.
SCREENTEST He has modelled for many big brands including Pantaloons, Color Plus and Westside and also the MTV Stylecheck show, last year. Hemanshu discovered his flair for acting while being a part of the Koothupattarai theatre group in Chennai. One of his biggest strengths is that he can speak Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and English. Plus, he dances like a dream!
Southscope invites aspiring actors to send in their portfolio pictures to vrinda@southscope.in
Hugely passionate about cinema, Hemanshu Khanna is a model and also works for an MNC.
hemanshu khanna
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 71
Telugu
tamil
Kannada
01 YE MAAYA CHESAVE
01 Paiyya
01 Aapta Rakshaka
02 Varudu
02 Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya
02 Just Maath Maathalli
03 Maro Chritra
03 Mun Dhinam Paartheney
03 Raam
04 Leader
04 Tamil Padam
04 Gundrugovi
05 Aarya-2
05 Irumbukottai
05 Suryakanthi
06 Maleyali Jotheyali
06 adhurs
Muratusingam
07 Namo Venkatesha
06 Aasal
07 Manasare
08 Kedi
07 Maathiyosi
08 Parichaya
09 Yugaaniki Okadu
08 Kutcheri arambam
09 Raaj, The Showman
09 ayirathil Oruvan
10 Nanna Olavina Banna
10 Mounaraagam
10 Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai
Malayalam
Bollywood
International
01 Aagathan
01 MY NAME IS KHAN
02 Happy Husbands
02 3 IDIOTS
01 A R RAHMAN’S LATEST INTERNATIONAL SOUND Track
03 Yugapurushan
03 KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK
04 Arya-2
04 Teen Patti
05 Bodyguard
05 AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI
06 Chattambinadu
06 ISHQIYA
07 Gulumaal 08 Pazhassi Raja 09 My Big Father 10 Robinhood
07 PYAR IMPOSSIBLE 08 VEER 09 PAA 10 KURBAAN
02 GRAMMY NOMINEES-2010 03 MICHAEL JACKSON-THIS IS IT 04 IN THE CLUB 2009 05 ENRIQUE IGLESIAS GREATEST HITS 06 AKON-FREEDOM 07 BRITNEY-THE SINGLES COLLECTION 08 50 CENT-BEFORE I SELF DESTRUCT 09 ARMIN VAN BUURE A STATE OF TRANCE 10 MICHAEL JACKSON WE ARE THE WORLD
72 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010
karaoke// telugu //
om namaha…om om namaha… om namaha…om om namaha… saare jahaa… prema raaa om namaha…om om .. namaha…om om… saare jahaa… prema raaa preminche swatantram neede pellade sumantram neede neekunna swaroopam preeme naakunna swabhaavam preeme om namaha…om om .. namaha…om om… janmistuu preminchey premistuuu jeevinchey premante oo pandem oodinche gelupandam
Film : Varudu Singer : Benny Dayal Music : Mani Sharma
om namaha…om om .. namaha… om namaha om om… saare jahaa… prema raaa preminche swatantram neede pellade sumantram neede neekunna swaroopam preeme naakunna swabhaavam preeme preeme le veedantam preeme maa siddhantam aadyantam premunte advaitam preemante om namaha…om om .. namaha… om namaha om om… saare jahaa… prema raaa preminche swatantram neede pellade sumantram neede neekunna swaroopam preeme naakunna swabhaavam preeme eeehh
Apr 2010 SOUTHSCOPE 73
Letter from the Editor
Everybody is complaining about the heat. But, I feel, everything about this season is just so delectable. The fresh mango pickle, intoxicating jasmine, juicy watermelon, cool night breeze, the list could go on and on. Why, on earth, do we not realise the value of sunshine? Ask the Europeans who freeze and freeze and long for brightness and warmth. We, at Southscope, have decided to raise a toast to the summer season. In keeping with the spirit, we did some brainstorming to offer our readers an interesting combo of hot and cold. Any which way you look at them, either our April stars are cool dudes or hot babes. To begin with we have the quintessential Mohanlal, the coolest malayalee in the world, talking on touchy topics with absolute ease. Much has been written about this superstar but what he has told us, not many would know. In the cool dudes’ section we have on offer the super successful Sekhar Kammula, zany Jayam Ravi, dishy Naga Chaitanya, natty Nani, charismatic Chetan, gritty Gautam Menon… Quite a line up actually. Balancing the cool act with her warmth is Kajal Agarwal, the girl who’s most featured in every male fan’s dreams since Magadheera, who talks one to the dozen on things that matter to her and stuff she doesn’t give a damn about. And yeah, what a dream her photo shoot was! Check her out as she sets the pages on fire. And then we have scintillating Charmme, magnetic Meghna Naidu, lip smacking Aindrita Ray, sweet Samvrutha Sunil for visual gratification and Suhasini Manirathnam’s regular column for cerebral thrills. Quite a feast, did you say? We agree… This issue, we have gone easy on the features though your favourite regulars stay the same way. And by the way, our style sutra is going places. We have had responses pouring in from all over the globe mostly in appreciation and some who don’t quite agree with our stylist. What matters to us most, however, is the fact that you are reading the magazine in such great detail. So please keep the mail – love or hate – coming in. We value every single word you write to us. Enjoy the season…
Vanaja Banagiri
Editor-in-Chief
74 SOUTHSCOPE Apr 2010