SouthScope - December 2009 - NTR Coverpage

Pa n o r a m a o f s o u t h c i n e m a Vol 1 Issue 3 December 2009

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PANORAMA OF SOUTH CINEMA

Publisher & Managing Director Moorthy Sreenivasulu Chief Executive Officer Allu Sirish Executive Director Ramakanth T Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Features Editor Senior Copy Editor Features Writer

Vanaja Banagiri Mona Ramavat Karthik Pasupulate Rahul Ganguly Vrinda Prasad

Editorial Coordinators Tamil Nadu & Kerala Sridevi Sreedhar Karnataka Aravind G Mumbai Anil Merani Creative Director Art Director Senior Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Production Head

Raj Shekar Badireddi Jaya Prakash Karanam Patur Suresh CH , Suresh K Palvai Vamshi Vulavapati, Naresh P Krishna P

Creative Consultant Priya Gazdar Public Relations Southspin Talent Management

Branding & Marketing Director Ayyar S, ayyar@southscope.in Marketing Manager Saroj Kumar Biswal, saroj@southscope.in

Circulation National Manager Deputy Manager Regional Manager (Chennai) Consultant - Distribution

Board of Advisors

Raghu Kumar Gorthy, gorthy@southscope.in Sanjay Kumar S, sanjay@southscope.in Mohan Manoharan, manoharan@southscope.in Ravanam Swaminaidu Vishnuvardhan Induri Radhakrishna G

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PUBLISHED FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2009 RNI NO.: APENG/2009/29389

Printed, published and owned by Moorthy Sreenivasulu on behalf of Silver Scope Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd. Printed at Kalajyothi Process Pvt. Ltd, 1-1-60/5, RTC X Roads, Hyderabad – 500 020. Published from 202, Shiva Sai Sannidhi, Dwarakapuri Colony, Panjagutta, Hyderabad 500034, A.P. Tel.: +91 40 3060 2323 / 2424 Publisher: Moorthy Sreenivasulu

PANORAMA OF SOUTH CINEMA

CONTENTS

VOL 01 ISSUE 03 DECEMBER 2009

Funda

10 Telugu Tinsel, Jolly Kolly, 12 Readers Write

Kannada Capers, Simbly Malayalee Who’s doing what, where?

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80

Mumbai Matinee & Wild West

90

Films in the making

Bollywood Brouhaha & Hollywood Hullabaloo

Sing Along

94

Bioscope

96

Karaoke

Films in the making

Features The Stylemakers of south cinema Style Icons Telugu 22 Style Icons Tamil 45 Style Icons Malayalam 65 Style Icons Kannada 72

TO SUBSCRIBE SMS SCOPE TO 56263

READERSPEAK Southscope, the name itself evokes a sense of pride in me, as a fan of south Indian cinema. Hope it will do everything to provide the necessary media space for our stalwarts, technicians, singers etc who have made an impact on Indian cinema. All the best Southscope!

Interesting trivia and interviews. Layouts are refreshingly different. I quite enjoyed reading Allu Sirish’s article. It would be nice if the font size of articles can be increased.

Jaya Parthasarthy

Rajesh Kumar Paidi Love the layouts and also the quality of content.

Nayanthara’s centre spread was a killer. She looked totally different from her usual self. Cheers to the photographer and stylist!

Smita Ram I would like to wish you all success for your magazine. I picked up a copy and it’s pretty good.

Nice work guys. Thanks for giving the south film industry its due credit. Publisher’s note makes a lot of sense. Best of luck to the team.

Congratulations on bringing out Southscope.The articles are very interesting and timely. The photographs are very well taken. Ramakanth’s narrative is vivid and has captured my interests. In fact, I am now motivated to see the film, There Will Be Blood.

Thank you.

Emmannuel David

Kulwant Singh Oops...

Thangavelu’s picture was carried instead of Chandra Babu’s on Page 17, November 2009 issue. We sincerely regret the error.

Read the magazine at one go and it surely has style! The November issue is much better than the first one. Sirish’s article was a great read but in Ram’s interview, I thought Ready received more than a lukewarm response. All in all, a great magazine. Big thumbs up to the team.

Congratulations to team Southscope. I loved the magazine. Ours is a movie loving nation and people love reading about their favourite stars. Southscope is doing a fabulous job of giving people what they want. On behalf of hmtv, we wish Southscope a grand success.

Hemanth Kumar

Sujata C

Ashwin Naidu

10 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Preeti I loved the articles, photographs and layouts. Already at par with the best of film glossies, it will surely be the best seller in due time.

Giri Dhar

I was amazed at the quality of the product. South Indian cinema does deserves the best. Southscope is the ideal platform. Hats off to the editorial team for giving us a great mix of superb articles encompassing the entire spectrum of south cinema. A special word of praise to Kalajyothi press for world class printing. One request though – Please do not use terms such as Kollywood, Tollywood etc. Great going! I conclude by saying, of all the film magazines in the country Southscope is the Magadheera! Keep rocking…

Southscope is definitely an insightful window to the world of south cinema.

Especially for readers like me who don’t know too much about it, but are interested in knowing more about an industry that is known for its technical genius. Would love to read more about the plethora of music talent down south too. All in all, a lot of effort and a great initiative.

Your take: We would love to hear from you!

Write back to us with your suggestions, feedback, flowers and flak at: editor@southscope.in

FUNDA

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!

Thespian Rajkumar will always be known for his simplicity and humility. He was a great orator and easily communicated with his audience. But he was also an effective wordsmith. Rajkumar, who did not even complete his primary education, is known for introducing many new fascinating terms to the Kannada language.

He always addressed his fans as “Abhimaani Devarugalee…” meaning “My dear fan gods” or “I see god in my fans.” He owed his phenomenal success to his fans and often remarked, “My fans are my gods and goddesses. Without their blessings and wishes, I would never have reached where I am.” No wonder, his fan following was in millions.

Popularly known as Hasya Brahma (creator of comedy) Jandhyala Veera Venkata Durga Siva Subramanya Sastry can easily be counted among the best filmmakers of Telugu cinema. Not to mention he was also a writer par excellence.

It was his writing that paved his way into films. A prolific playwright from his student days, Jandhyala earned much acclaim with plays like Atmahuthi (which he wrote while still in class 10!) and Bahukrita Vesham. However, it was Ek Din Ka Sultan, 1968, that catapulted him to fame as a writer of eminence. So popular was the play that it was enacted over 10,000 times with 15 reprints of the script, which was translated into Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and English as well. Legendary actor, Gummadi Venkateshwa Rao happened to see his play, Sandhya Raagam and arranged for it to be staged in Madras, the home of the south Indian film industry then. There he was spotted by the great BN Reddy, who invited him to write for his film.

The rest, as they say is history. If not for that quirk of fate, Jandhyala was all set to become a chartered accountant!

Not many know that Anil Kapoor entered the film industry as a hero with a Kannada film in 1983. Though his first film as a lead artiste was in Telugu, his second film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi hit the screens first. The experimental project, considered a classic today, had an impressive cast and crew.

Pallavi Anu Pallavi was the directorial debut of acclaimed director Maniratnam and the cinematographer was Balu Mahendra with music composed by Illaiyaraja! It also featured popular actress Lakshmi. The film’s songs are popular even today.

Ramanagara, known as the silk town of Karnataka, is also famous for another reason.

Over the decades, it has turned out to be a favourite shooting location for movie-makers.

The town’s moment of glory came when Sholay, which was shot near Ramanagara became one of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema. Soon, a number of Hindi filmmakers rushed to Ramanagara, which is surrounded by a rocky granite hilly landscape. Next, it was Hollywood film, A Passage to India, based on E M Forster’s novel, that was shot here. The tunnels dug out for the movie have now turned into picnic spots. Tamil and Kannada films are also routinely shot here, which is why they call it ‘film town.’

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 11

KANNADA

They say marriages are made in heaven, but superstar Krishna and his wife Vijaya Nirmala would probably say marriages are made in Pullidhindhi. While working for a film together, Krishna and Vijaya Nirmala were to marry at a temple in Pullidhindhi for the climax. Raja Babu, the comedian remarked that anyone who marries here will have a long lasting relationship. It was only meant to be a joke as Krishna was already married. But life had other plans.

Krishna and Vijaya Nirmala got married (in real life) soon after and have been happily married ever since.

TELUGU

RIDE ON THE SIDE

TAMIL MALAYALAM

RIDE ON THE SIDE

FUNDA

‘Makkal Kalaignar’ Jaishankar, known fondly as south India’s James Bond, was every bit as informal and accessible to the general public as his title suggested. When it was the norm for the production crew and supporting cast to rise when a leading star entered, Jai always greeted everyone with a friendly “Hi.” His concern for costars was a well-documented fact. When he began to take on negative roles later in his career, he requested his fan clubs to stop putting up posters as that would act against the image of the lead star. Superstar Rajnikanth’s fans repaid the actor’s sentiments amply, when the movie Gayathri released, starring both Rajnikanth and Jaishankar. They put up posters calling him ‘Super Bond.’

Villain extraordinaire, M R Radha wasn’t known as Nadigavel or King of Acting, for nothing. The veteran artiste was a trendsetter when it came to addressing social situations and political farces through theatre. It came as a surprise to many, though, that he had a flair for comedy as well. One example is Bale Pandiya, the Panthulu classic co-starring Sivaji Ganesan and Devika, a laugh-riot with one particularly hilarious scene: Sivaji Ganesan and M R Radha are part of a classical music session and Sivaji is singing. Radha, having taken in the mannerisms of contemporary classical singers and their rasikas to perfection, added his touch by supposedly ‘listening’ in such an exaggerated fashion that his wig fell off. So into the scene was he that he completed the rest of his caricature, holding onto his wig!

Writer-director Lohitadas, who passed away this year, was just about gaining prominence as a playwright when director Sibi Malayil approached him for a script. But Lohi did not have any solid story ideas then. However, Lohi went for a walk later that evening and on the street he found an old friend, who was going to visit his teacher at the hospital. Lohi was shocked to know that the teacher was admitted there by his family for treatment of some supposed psychiatric problems, which he never had.

That struck him hard and it was inspiration enough for him to write the script of Thaniyavarthanam. It was released more than two decades ago with Mammootty playing the lead as a school teacher, and is regarded as an all time classic.

Poet Kannadasan, known for his exquisite lyrics and M S Viswanathan, veteran music composer were always a duo to contend with.

Together they produced some of the best music for Tamil cinema in the 50s, 60s and 70s. One particular romantic song in a Sivaji Ganesan starrer had them stymied. They came up with a total of seven tunes for the lyrics, but couldn’t seem to agree on any one of them. A coffee-boy eventually came up with the idea to remix the third and seventh tunes to come with a new one. In the end, despite the good poet’s misgivings, that was what they did, and the song became a cult classic among fans for its unique appeal. The song?

Madhana Maaligaiyil … from Rajapart Rangadurai.

Remember Seema who shot to fame with IV Sasi’s path breaking Malayalam film Avalude Ravukal (Her Nights) which released in 1978? Early in her career she was known as Shanthi, a group dancer in Chennai with the famous choreographer Thankappan Master whose then assistant was Kamal Haasan! She had appeared in a lot of song sequences in Tamil films as one of the many dancers in the background, before Malayalam director IV Sasi spotted her. Shanthi became Seema and a sex symbol following the success of Avalude Ravukal. Finally with Sandhyakku Virinju Poove, a family oriented film in which Mammootty played a lawyer and Mohanlal was the villain, did Shanthi shed her hot gal image. Later she went on to become an actor of substance and played the lead in most films scripted by MT Vasudevan Nair, which were mostly directed by her mentor turned husband, IV Sasi.

12 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TELUGU TINSEL

FUNDA

Magadheera’s

AFTER EFFECTS

Close on the heels of the record-breaking success of Ram Charan’s Magadheera, it looks like a particular superstar from the yesteryears is looking out to remake an old super hit film of his. We hear the man in question has requested the same director, Rajamouli to take up the project. But wait a sec: the buzz indicates that our man is also planning to get his son to play the male lead.

The heat of competition, that’s what it is. All current heartthrobs are feeling it. Just look how!

MATCH FIXING WOES It seems a certain Telugu director is having a tough time finding a bride for his son. It has been over two years since he has been on the lookout for a girl, but no luck so far. Apparently, prospective in laws just aren’t willing to consider the boy in question for their daughters, thanks to the not-so-mentionable company he keeps. Sources say that some people have even brought the son’s character under scrutiny. Last heard, the director is reportedly desperate now to get a suitable match for his son, doesn’t matter where she comes from!

Is NIKHIL celebrating rakhi again?

Nikhil’s sister, Sonali has always been special to him and he’s known to get her anything she asks for and more.

Recently, he gifted her a Maruti Ritz, which was meant to be a surprise, although she has been wanting a car in a long time. Nikhil decided not to go in for anything big because Sonali is quite petite and he wanted something to suit her personality. So there it was. Raksha bandhan has come and long gone but this brother doesn’t need an occasion to celebrate. Oh brother!

Follow the

LEADER Producer Suresh Babu’s son Rana is making his acting debut with Leader directed by Shekhar Kammula. Though many are tight-lipped about the film, we hear it is going to be an interesting political drama. It might also have a few scenes showing the late chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s padayatra. According to sources, in the film the Chief Minister is murdered. This scene was shot a day before YSR passed away in a helicopter crash. Some coincidence, that!

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 13

TELUGU TINSEL

FUNDA

DSP GETTING

HITCHED?

VISHNU

We’ve lost count of the number of linkups around Devi Sri Prasad! The last we heard, Charmi was always seen ‘around’ him. Her car would follow his wherever they were both invited. But the new rumour doing the rounds is that Devi and Hansika Motwani have a little thing going on. And that is not all. Rumour mongers are getting a little too carried away and speculating that they may even tie the knot!

Wonder if that is music to anybody’s ears?

MANOJ

vs

Vishnu Manchu and Manoj Manchu are certainly heading for a showdown. Both brothers will be pitted against each other when their films are expected to hit the screens this month. The audio launches of both - Manoj starrer Bindaas and Vishnu’s Saleem – were two days apart and their release dates too seem to be around the same time. Comparisons began almost from the time the films were signed. While Bindaas is being directed by debutant director Veeru Potla, Saleem is a YVS Choudhary film. On that count at least, seems like its advantage Vishnu. But who’s to bet on it?

14 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

MAMTA FINALLY GETS HER WAY! Looks like things are finally going great for Mamta Mohandas. After getting less than her due in terms of screen time in the Nagarjuna-starrer King and her role in Don snipped short at the editing board, Mamta was apparently upset with not being given her rightful share. Now the grapevine is abuzz that she will be featured in Nagarjuna’s yet-untitled project, to be produced by D Shivaprasad Reddy, and that too in the lead role!

Seems like this time around, Nag wants to make her happy and let bygones be at peace. Last heard, Mamta was having a ball playing the lead. More power to her, we say!

PRABHU’S

JOLLY KOLLY

FUNDA

9

There were rumours that Prabhudeva has been seeing Nayanthara and then there were rumours that it’s all a rumour! But contrary to this, he is still going strong with Nayanthara. In fact Prabhu purchased a brand new black Chevrolet Captiva that he drives around in Chennai and guess what, he went out of his way to get the registration number 9 for the new SUV. A source at the registration office shared that Prabhu shelled out a whopping amount to get the fancy number plate in an auction!

Didn’t get the drift? Nayan, 9, see?

SOUNDARYA RAJINIKANTH?

NOT A STAR KID!

TRISHA

SPEAKS FLUENT HINDI! Trisha is all excited about her Bollywood debut, Khatta Meetha with Akshay Kumar and directed by her mentor Priyadarshan.

She is supposed to have impressed everybody on the sets including Akshay Kumar with her Hindi. Before the shoot she had said that she can’t converse in Hindi.

But she took everyone by surprise when she rattled off her dialogues fluently in Hindi.

Trisha plays two characters in different time periods though it’s not your quintessential double role. Anna Singh is styling her and it’s mostly a lot of ethnic clothes. Priyan is introducing Trisha as a north Indian girl and there are no traces of her south Indian roots.

Unlike Priyadarshan’s earlier slapstick comedies with Akshay, this one is a remake of an old Malayalam film, Vellanakalude Nadu, supposedly a family drama on the lines of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee films, with lots of scope for Trisha to perform. Let’s see how meetha or khatta this will turn out to be!

The youngest daughter of superstar Rajinikanth, Soundarya is a true professional who is confident about creating a landmark in Indian cinema on her own merit. She grabbed the attention of the national media when she decided to direct a full-length animated feature film, Sultan: The Warrior in which the main character is Rajinikanth, which is expected to be released in several languages simultaneously. We also hear that Soundarya’s Ocher Studios the first Indian studio to venture into a 3D animation feature film - is also producing the Venkat Prabhu directed Goa. What’s more, she never thinks of herself as a star kid. When others bring it up, she insists that she goes through the same struggles like any other person while making a film or running a company. “Like everyone, I am a big fan of Rajinikanth!” she was heard saying recently. The latest on Soundarya is that in association with Mahesh Bhupathy’s Globosport, she’s all set to launch South Indian Film Awards (SIFA) to popularise south cinema which accounts for nearly 350 films in the four southern languages every year.

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 15

JOLLY KOLLY

FUNDA

ALL ABOUT VIJAY’S LATEST Ilayathalapathy Vijay’s eagerly awaited mass masala entertainer, Vettaikaran will be a big Christmas release. Vijay loves remaking Telugu films into Tamil. Vijay, who has been having a lean period at the box-office of late is likely to bounce back with this film. It’s got Anushka playing the female lead and if this film turns out to be as big as they’re speculating it will be, Anushka will surely be on a roll. Her Tamil debut a few years ago with Rendu was just about okay. Vijay is playing an autorickshaw driver and if he is able to provide his regular quota of entertainment to his fans, with the marketing muscle of Sun Pictures thrown in, and Vijay Anthony’s hit music, Vettaikaran is sure going to create some stir. Let’s wait and watch!

LEGAL EAGLE

GANESH PRANKY After playing a cop to the hilt in his recent flick Unnai Pol Iruvan, Ganesh Vekatraman is all set to trade the khaki uniform for the lawyer’s coat in his next project, Muriyadi under the K Balachander banner. Slipping into a lawyer’s role seemed to be quite a cakewalk for him, since Ganesh’s dad also happens to be a lawyer in real life. He grew up watching his father at work and so it would be easy for Ganesh to understand the character better. He’ll be playing this young and dynamic lawyer, who fights social injustice with an intense passion. Sathyraj is playing the pivotal role of a common man while Ramya Nambisan will be this smitten television journalist totally taken in by Ganesh’s character. Let’s hope we’ll be smitten too!

16 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

BIRTHDAY

REEMA! Reema Sen who never really celebrates her birthday in a big way, made an exception this year when she invited a set of close friends to her palatial Lokhandwala apartment in Mumbai. The guest list included Madhavan and wife Saritha, Raima Sen, Shriya Saran, Sabu Cyril, Malavika among others. It was a happening party for Reems – it’s what they call her – one she will remember, for a real long time. Everyone played pranks on everyone else. And we mean everything, from stopping people from using the toilet because someone insisted that there was no water, to having Reema cut a smashed cake (of the 12 that were got for her). That a sloshed guest sat on it, she found out only later. But the grand finale came when Rahul, her close friend and the son of a top Bollywood producer decided to change all the dedication notes on her gifts to ‘from Rahul with love’ or something to that effect. The next morning was chaotic (and embarrassing we’re sure) when she didn’t know which guest gave which gift. What fun!

SIMBLY MALAYALEE

FUNDA

Meera returns

Meera Jasmine, who was facing an unofficial ban from the Malayalam film industry, is back after a hiatus of more than a year. She has signed a film titled Pattinte Palazhi, in which she plays the role of a singer, who is lonely at the top. Veteran actor Revathy too will be playing an important role in this film, which is based on the life and times of a top playback singer in India. The film is directed by Rajeev Anchal, who is noted for his offbeat films. Despite being busy with Tamil, Kannada and Telugu, Meera’s heart has always been set on Malayalam cinema, thanks to which she’s known as a powerful performer in the festival circuits abroad. Welcome back Meera. You are still the best!

Santosh

gets in front of the camera Ace cameraman Santosh Sivan will be the hero of art house director Lenin Rajendran’s Malayalam film Makaramanju. He will be playing the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma in the film. Karthika, yesteryears’ actress Radha’s daughter who made her Telugu debut with Josh a few weeks ago, will play the female lead.

We hear Lenin has been asking Santosh to do this film on the life and times of Raja Ravi Varma for the last one year but he was busy with Mani Ratnam’s Raavan.

Apparently, Santosh was quite taken in by the script since he grew up on folklore surrounding Varma’s art.

When he took up painting, he was quite influenced by the great artist. Arty welcome to acting, Santosh!

Another multi starrer to start rolling After the stupendous success of Twenty 20, director Joshy is making another multi-starrer titled Christian Brothers. The film will have Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, Manoj K Jayan, Biju Menon, Thilakan, Kavya Madhavan, Padmapriya and a top Tamil hero in the cast. Kavya is making a sensational comeback as Mohanlal’s heroine after her short-lived marriage. The buzz is that Mohanlal plays a godfather of sorts and Gopi, Dileep and Jayasurya are his brothers. It will be an action film set against a Christian milieu. And guess what, Christian Brothers will be shot in one single schedule and touted as a big summer release early next year. Yes, we’re waiting…

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 17

SIMBLY MALAYALEE

FUNDA

The stork comes visiting

GOPIKA

MOHANLAL’S MAGIC ON STAGE

Gopika and her husband Ajilesh are the newest proud parents-to-be in the Malayalam film circles. She stated in a recent interview that she is keen to start a family soon. And incidentally she played the pregnant wife of Dileep in Swa Le, which was lukewarm at the box-office. Gopika, who is settled in Ireland had flown back from her sets to celebrate her first wedding anniversary.

And a few days ago, we hear she let everyone know that she is going to be a mommy soon. Congratulations! And good luck too.

FROM COP TO DOC He is usually identified on screen as a cop with a loaded gun, spewing venom at corrupt politicians and any wrongdoer who so much as comes in his line of vision. Yeah, we’re talking about Suresh Gopi.

But now we’ll see him sport unkempt hair and a kurta, in the role of an eccentric psychiatrist in director Harikumar’s Sadgamaya.

Navya Nair will play a patient who needs treatment. The director says that this story delves deep into the minds of his characters. Sounds like a psycho thriller we sure wouldn’t want to miss!

18 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

It was quite an experience to see big stars Mohanlal and Mukesh, with a few others bring alive the magic of Chayamukhi on stage at Kochi. Chayamukhi, based on a rather interesting episode from the Mahabharatha, is in fact a mirror that his wife Hidumbi gifts Bheema. It’s not the image of those who look at it that is seen in the mirror, but the one of your beloved! The mirror breaks several hearts and Bheema is shattered when Draupadi looks at Chayamukhi. He wished it was him, but instead it was the image of his brother Arjuna that shows up! Mohanlal’s tryst with the theatre includes Karnabharam, a Sanskrit play that he was part of some years ago and Kadhayattam. He is now planning to perform poet ONV Kurup’s Ujjayani on stage. Some theatre calling that is!

KANNADA CAPERS

FUNDA

DR RAJKUMAR STAMPED! Kannada’s evergreen hero Dr Rajkumar’s legacy never fails to make a mark. The Indian government, in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, has brought out a postal stamp on him. The Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa released the stamp on the occasion of Kannada Rajyothsava in Bangalore.

The star-studded event was attended by the who’s who of the Kannada film industry. Rajkumar happens to be the 31st personality from Karnataka to have received this honour.

ALL THE BEST

DOING A HOUSEFUL?

ONE FILM, TWO OWNERS! Golden star Ganesh who is busy shooting for his maiden home production Maleyali Jotheyali also seems to be courting controversy. Recently, it was announced that Ganesh had bought the remake rights of Tamil classic 16 Vayadinale. The Tamil film featuring Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan and Sridevi was to be remade in Kannada by Ganesh.

But now they say that renowned Kannada film producer Muniratna had already purchased the remake rights of 16 Vayadinale a few years ago. The confusion is still on and it doesn’t look like there’ll be an easy way out of the mess.

No we aren’t talking about how the film is doing in Bangalore. Instead, this is about Kannada film director, Hemanth Hegde, who has accused the producers of All The Best of stealing his story! Hemanth’s previous Kannada venture, Houseful failed to make an impression. Now, the actor-director is contending that All The Best is similar to Houseful and this certainly amounts to plagiarism. We hear Hemanth initially circulated the script of Houseful among a few Hindi film producers. When none showed interest, he decided to do the movie in Kannada. Now, it seems some producer, who read the script, made it into All The Best. Will Hemanth now take the legal route, let’s wait and watch.

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 19

KANNADA CAPERS

FUNDA

SUHASINI’S LAUGHING MATTER!

MAMMOOTTY IN A KANNADA FILM?

Guess what Suhasini is up to these days. She’s been paired with senior actor Ananth Nag for her next Kannada film titled Eradane Maduve (second marriage), which promises to be a laugh riot. Suhasini plays the role of a banker in this comedy flick that also features Prem and Jenifer Kotwal and is set to be directed by Dinesh Babu. Now this is one film we are certainly waiting for!

RADHIKA PANDITH AND A FOUR-YEAR-OLD TALE

Fresh screen sensation Radhika Pandith, we hear has virtually rejuvenated a film that was lying in the cans for the last four years.

Radhika, who shot to fame after winning several awards this year, had acted in 18th Cross, with another new-comer Deepak. But the film never released then. The producers of 18th Cross are all set to release the movie now, thanks to Radhika Pandith’s latest film Love Guru, which completed 50 days recently. So it was hard not to cash in on that success.

The happiest person however happens to be Deepak, since people had almost forgotten this one film wonder!

Will he or won’t he? That’s the question worrying ace producer K Manju who is keen on bringing Mammootty to Kannada films.

The producer reportedly has already held one round of discussions with the star. If all goes well, Kannada movie buffs will soon see Mammootty in action in a movie titled Shikari, next year. New entrant to the Kannada film industry, Abhay Simha is expected to direct the movie. In the past, Manju has been successful in bringing superstars from the other states to Kannada films. Let’s see if he’ll be able to pull it off one more time.

20 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

KANNADA

MALAYALAM

TAMIL

Text: Vanaja Banagiri, Mona Ramavat, Karthik Pasupulate, Aravind Gowda

TELUGU

Some tasks are daunting, some impossible. Enlisting the trendsetting style icons of all times, was somewhere in between.

Needless to say, it was just not possible to fit them all in a few hundred words or pages. Southscope chose this gallery of names for their outstanding personal style that immensely enriched southern cinema.

We have deliberately left out the winners of the Southscope Style Awards from this gallery. But any other exclusion is purely due to lack of space. While we celebrate style with this bunch of dazzling stars, we also raise a toast to all those not part of this list, loved once but forgotten now and everyone else who added to the style factor of southern cinema!

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 21

TELUGU

andamuri taraka rama rao The undisputed original superstar of Telugu cinema, NTR played by his own rules, both on and off-screen. Where flamboyance met striking good looks, NTR could be found! Given to brooding mannerisms and a charisma that was spellbinding, he had the most killer effect on his fans and his superstardom hit the stratosphere! What he wore never mattered nor how much he measured around the waist. He made a distinct style statement regardless. As god in innumerable mythological films or the heartless smuggler who looked every bit the charming rascal in flashing suits and bell bottoms, he was in a league of his own. And when he forayed into politics, what youngsters did earlier, politicians started to do too – everyone wanted to dress like him, talk like him and look like him. NTR showed us just what it was to be truly larger than life.

TELUGU Suave, sophisticated and understated, ANR was a trailblazer as an actor and style icon. Interestingly, his characters were developed with his wardrobe in mind. You could ask what a superstar from about a half a century ago can teach the metro sexual man of today about dressing up. Come to think of it, he is perhaps the most influential dressers of all time in southern cinema. The English hats, trench coats, shawls, tuxedos, hunting jackets, cigars ... they all made up ANR’s onscreen persona. When everyone carefully followed fashion trends and stuck to conventions, he was busy venturing into unfamiliar territory and reinvented himself many times over.

We can say safely enough that ANR was among the first to realise that you need to dress the part to play it.

KKINENI NAGESWARA RAO

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 23

TELUGU

Shobhan Babu was a man who preferred to dress like one. At a time when baggy pants weren’t around, track suits were unheard of and well fitted trousers were more popular than denims, he made the Andhra style dhoti a fashion statement in his film Soggadu (meaning, a stylish man) From his famous fringe to his classic fitted trousers and the aviator sun glasses, Sobhan Babu’s sense of style can best be described as distinctly impeccable. That he was devastatingly handsome was obvious, yet it wasn’t just good looks that made him stand out. Much like his acting, he carried himself with a natural style that was truly unpretentious.

HOBHAN BABU

RISHNA Natashekhara Krishna is our king of cool from those times. From dancing in a park sporting white shirt, white pants, white belt, white socks and white boots to playing the revolutionary Alluri Seetharamaraju, Krishna did it all with characteristic panache. He was just as fashionable playing the Indian cowboy or a homegrown James Bond. In short he was Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood rolled into one, of course with a south Indian flavour.

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TELUGU Of all the elements that made up Mohan Babu’s inimitable style, what he wore is perhaps the least important. With his cocky walk, unconventional good looks, unique dialogue delivery and the six feet something frame, it did not matter whether he was playing the hero or the anti-hero, Mohan Babu always cut a striking figure.

He was perhaps the first actor who made bad look cool.

OHAN BABU

He has acted in over 200 films and many as a lead. Yet we cannot seem to get ourselves to call him a hero unapologetically. We are more comfortable calling him a comedy actor. Let’s just say he is an actor, period. A very good one at that! Jest was his style. Most of his movies were of the slice of life variety, and Rajendra Prasad has been the eternal we-could-see-him-justabout-anywhere kind of a guy. But that was before Quick Gun Murugun!

Now he is an international icon of southern cinematic style.

AJENDRA PRASAD

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 25

HIRANJEEVI

TELUGU

Going by normal standards it would be hard to say Chiranjeevi is handsome. Perhaps that is what helped him become one of the biggest matinee idols ever. He looks so much like the regular guy we see everyday, yet the megastar also epitomises a fundamental precept of style: It’s not the clothes, but the personality that matters more. That is why two men dressed in the same outfit never quite produce the same effect. However, with Chiru, clothes were merely incidental.

It did not matter whether he was dressed like a taxi driver devouring his bidi, he still did it like nobody else could. We are not sure how much of a fashion follower he was, but he certainly was an instigator. His first major hit Khaidi gave him the angry young man image, which stuck on for over three decades. True to that image, his style was always eye-stopping and had an intense presence, much like the last puff of a hand rolled cigar... raw but deeply satisfying.

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TELUGU

ALAKRISHNA He is the quintessential super hero of Telugu cinema. We are used to heroes altering the laws of physics routinely but with Balakrishna, it comes with public demand. He can make a train change direction, by just slapping his thigh! His onscreen persona is such that he could get away with just about anything. And we love him for it. Some say it’s silly but mind you it is a hard act to match. He has been entertaining us for over 35 years now and that takes some doing. As he says he is a technique in himself. A showman par excellence, or maybe the show himself. Just sit back and enjoy it while it lasts, for you might never see another like him!

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 27

TELUGU

VENKATESH

Family hero doesn’t exactly sum up Venkatesh. But then that is the thing with popular perceptions. They are more popular than real. Yes, he did act in a lot of family based films but Venky has done a lot of other stuff as well.

Having started off as this intense young brooder in Kaliyuga Pandavulu, Venky has reinvented himself continuously over the last quarter century. Today, he is a complete package as an actor and boasts of a success rate that is probably the best in the industry. Understated in his mannerisms both on and off screen, Venky exudes a distinct laid back style which is so him.

ENKATESH

28 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TELUGU

AGARJUNA

You’ve heard it all before, right? Nagarjuna is smart, classy and witty. Oh yes, he can dress as well. However, things were not always so. All through the 80s, until the mid 90s Nagarjuna was always counted among the most popular young stars of Telugu cinema.

He was more of a good looker than a style symbol, really. But all of that changed. It was as though he suddenly grew up and showed the world how a man should dress. With films like Ninne Pelladatha, Santosham, Manmadhudu, Mass, Super, Nag has cemented his place as a stylish, urbane actor. And he’s getting only more style packed with each passing year. At 51, he is certainly well past his youngest. But Nag is looking fitter and better than ever before. A quintessential style icon? Yes, he is.

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 29

TELUGU

AWAN KALYAN When not posing for shutterbugs, Pawan Kalyan is this lone withdrawn figure on most public occasions. The lank hair, brooding persona, intense gaze, and a poker face only accentuate the effect. However, his onscreen mannerisms are quite in contrast. He is all spunk and quirks when he is in the act.

His sense of style is as free spirited as his acting, and he sure has a flair for clothes. He has done more than his bit to raise the bar for contemporary style in Telugu cinema.

30 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TELUGU Even after a decade in showbiz all we know about Mahesh Babu is that he is soft spoken, reclusive and a complete family man. His penchant for perfection is one reason why he excels in the role of an undercover cop. Jokes apart, Mahesh could not have been more of an anti-thesis of the action hero that he is onscreen.

Not sure if that is all a part of carefully constructed image, though. May be the guy is just a compulsive recluse. But what we know for sure though is that Mahesh is one of the biggest youth icons of southern cinema. As far as decoding the enigma goes, guess we’ll figure him out eventually.

AHESH BABU

Photographer: Suresh Natarajan

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 31

TELUGU

AM CHARAN Horses, swords, Magadheera, Ram Charan! He is still just two films old, but is already being touted to be the next super star. The expectations are enormous but it looks like Charan can live up to them.

A natural, he has quite a presence, long hair or short.

Well-groomed, well-bred and soft-spoken Charan looks casual and approachable.

Quiet and introverted, Charan is charismatic, minus the frills.

Just get the feeling he is on his way to becoming something quite special?

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TELUGU There is a sense of relaxed confidence about him, which is very appealing, to the women in particular. He can carry off whatever he wears with some panache. That, with a sense of humour to match can be a potent combination. Guess it’s easy to figure why he is the ladies’ man. On the dance floor, he exudes such infectious energy, they call him livewire. His sense of style has contributed to fashion in Telugu cinema and is right up there with the best ever.

LLU ARJUN

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 33

TELUGU

Tall, dark and handsome, Prabhas is probably the most naturally good looking guy in the business. Jeans, tees, khakis, blazers, pajamas, give him whatever and he’ll still look nice. His casual style and a debonair air make him one of the favourite pin-up boys of Telugu cinema. What works for him is the flair to blend the rustic with the urban.

Irresistible, did someone just say?

RABHAS

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TELUGU Many say she was the most beautiful women ever. She even lived up to her name as the fanatically faithful wife and the sacrificial mother.

That, with a compellingly beautiful face; she became some sort of an idol for many middle class south Indian women. She had this angelic quality to her onscreen persona and she won many hearts with her graceful manners that represented the best of classic femininity. She made acting look ridiculously simple too.

Aptly called the Mahanati (great actress) Savitri is still considered to be one of the most iconic women of Telugu cinema.

AVITRI

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 35

TELUGU

ANISRI She was one of the most influential icons of Telugu cinema, with an avid interest in fashion. She created a look that was distinctly her own and kicked off many fashion trends with her saris, jewellery and makeup.

Come the colour era and she was the first actor to try on different shades of lipsticks, bindis and nail colour that would match the saris.

Hers is perhaps the most imitated looks of all time.

HANUMATI Apart from being an outstanding actor, Bhanumati was also a gifted musician. Having a sense for music can add greatly to the rhythm of a performance they say and she did full justice to both, borrowing meaningfully from each for the other. In whatever she did, Bhanumathi left an impression nobody will forget.

AMUNA She was a captivating blend of glamour, sophistication, innocence and vulnerability. Her distinguished career has been characterised by an innate sense of style, beauty and grace. Think minimal, traditional and simple, think Jamuna. A veteran of close to 200 films, Jamuna in fact never dreamt of becoming an actor. But good she ended up as one, else it would have been a loss to Telugu cinema.

A three time National Award winner, Urvasi Sarada was a no-fuss actor. Her style can be best described as vintage south Indian. With those high cheek bones, almond shaped eyes, dusky complexion and a near perfect nose, Sarada was just plain good looking. She was forever playing the serious sort of roles and she certainly looked the part. One of the most respected actors of her time, Sarada was really one of a kind.

RVASI SARADA 36 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TELUGU

AKSHMI

She is best known as the dusky south Indian belle who made heads turn as Julie, in the musical hit of the 70s. A chocolate brown complexion, her husky voice and that curvaceous figure turned her into a teenage sensation overnight. She never acted in a Hindi film after that but she continued to be an object of desire down south all through the 70s. A National Award winning actor, she was the sort you couldn’t help but admire with something approaching respect.

AYASUDHA

It is impossible to look like Jayaprada, people said. Even Satayjit Ray thought she was one of the most beautiful women in the world. Down to earth yet strikingly charming, she had a uniquely fresh spirit and her style reflected it.

The saris, that long braid (often decked with jasmine strings or a rose on the side), the huge bindis plus that beauty spot strategically near her mouth, had everyone sit back and take notice. She still is as beautiful and seems to be getting prettier as she’s aging…

AYAPRADA

She started off as a teenage sensation who loved her mini skirts and swimsuits and that created quite a flutter in the 70s. As time passed the mini skirts and tight jeans gave way to designer saris and her roles got more substantial and meaningful. Her natural grace earned her the title of being a Sahaja nati (natural actress) and it showed in so many little ways when she appeared on screen.

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TELUGU

RIDEVI The drama queen of southern cinema grabbed eyeballs whether in a sari, or half sari, jeans and a tee, bikini, a crazy combination of mismatched colours, styles or even garments! The dramatic eye makeup and coloured contacts added to the magic, as did her signature red lipstick. Talking of which, a whole generation of men (young and not so young) stood gaping in wonder when she chewed her lower lip sometimes in seeming innocence or smiled that half smile with the single objective to seduce. Long braid, short bob, natural curls – she made everything look stylish. The knee length dresses she’s seen in these days with those clutches of course are so her too.

Shall we say, Sridevi reinvents herself even more stylishly? Like that is even possible…

38 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TELUGU

IJAYASHANTI

The only man among women, she was certainly every bit the Lady Amitabh she was nicknamed! The action queen of Telugu cinema, Vijayashanti’s idea of glamour was of the gun toting variety.

Or the sickle too sometimes.

Actually she was an action hero. It was her electrifying performance as a Kiran Bedi styled cop in Kartavyam that catapulted her to superstardom.

People said her movies didn’t need a hero. And we haven’t had one such heroine since then!

ADHAVI

HANUPRIYA

She was gorgeous in another way. Her unconventional, vulnerable, shy, solemn, dusky, sensual beauty captured the imagination of the south Indian male of the 80s. When she turned up in a two piece bikini in the Kamal Haasan starrer, Raja Paarvai, all hell broke loose (will male fantasy ever be satiated?). Cut outs of Madhavi had become a fixture in boys’ hostels and bachelor pads across the south. But Madhavi was more than just an object of desire. She was a phenomenally talented actor too. Quite a complete package, we think.

She probably had the most expressive pair of eyes in all of south India and Bhanupriya knew how to use them. But there was a lot more to this immensely talented actor. Her beauty was a heady concoction of the native and pristine, something that is not so often seen these days. A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, she was probably second only to Sridevi on the popularity meter. But as a performer she is right up there with the best.

Hot she certainly was and caught everyone unawares when she was introduced as a promising teenager back in the early 80s. She was one of those southern actors of that time who could be called the item girl in spirit rather than actually being one. She heated up the screen with her hot saris, skirts, tube tops, the works. It was hard not to keep looking whenever she appeared on the screen and it was harder to walk out of the movie theatre thinking straight!

ADHA Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 39

AGMA

IVYA BHARTI

TELUGU She did exactly four Telugu films before moving on to Bollywood. Divya Bharti left an indelible impression nevertheless. We must say that she had this angelic quality about her that catapulted her to the top league overnight after the success of Bobbili Raja. She was as talented as she was beautiful. At 19, she was rated among the top three female actors in Bollywood, trailing behind Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. Divya Bharti turned out to be somewhat of a phenomenon even in her short lived film career with the stylish roles she did. Just imagine where she’d have been had she still been around…

ABU She never grew up to be an earth shattering phenomenon, but Nagma was no less popular in the south and later in Bollywood and even later in Bhojpuri cinema! She created a place for herself thanks to the variety of roles she played, and how she danced on popular catchy numbers. Add to that the coloured hair which looked natural enough and eyes that never failed to intoxicate.

We wouldn’t be too off the mark to say, there can be only one Nagma!

40 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Defining her in a line can be one wasteful exercise. Really, how can you even begin to summarize someone who is a category by herself! She’s a south Indian who’s done southern cinema and Bollywood both with an artistry that’s international. Tabu’s style like her moods can best be described as surprising. That said, she gave the sari a new lease of style and her pony’s tail kind of hair always added so much personality to anything she wore. Let’s share this with you too. At a recent event for felicitating Kamal Haasan, she told everyone that she loved his makeup in Chachi 420. To this Kamal remarked, “But you don’t need any makeup.”

Well, that’s the best we can do sum her up in a line.

TELUGU It was Kushi in 2001 that first introduced us to this girl with dreamy eyes and bee stung lips. There’s something very lovable about her. Thanks to the roles she has played so far, Bhumika seems like the kind you would like to take home to your mother. An actor of repute, she is probably one among the few women around who does not need a big star for her movies.

If you have had a career spanning over two decades, chances are you would have done everything there is to be done. Ramya Krishna did it all; played goddess as well. Her career could be cleaved into two halves. In the first, she was this rather well endowed glam queen. Men would throng movie theatres just to get a glimpse of her.

Eventually, she established herself as a grounded actor and not just a looker.

Best of both worlds, that’s what she got.

AMYA KRISHNA

HUMIKA

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 41

TELUGU

She was the poster girl of the south Indian sexual fantasy in the nineties. With her famous voluminous figure and an innocent face with those seductive eyes, Rambha’s rise to the top was pretty sensational. At the peak of her career she was seen jigging with Salman Khan and Govinda. After a few years of lull, she returned as very much the south Indian male’s fantasy. How else would you describe Mango Dolly of Quick Gun Murgun?

Don’t know if she’ll turn the clock back but she was something of a diva then and that’s how she’ll be best known.

AMBHA

OUNDARYA Soundarya made a career out of playing strong women whose grit rather than beauty was something to talk about. That she was always more of a serious performer than a sex symbol was an aspect that defined her personal style. With some acting prowess to her credit, she carved a niche for herself as one actor who’s definitely enriched Telugu cinema in her own way.

42 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

NUSHKA

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 43

TELUGU

How bout a sexed up yoga guru for an actor? Well, how else do we say it, if that’s what Anushka is! She is the sort who hardly needs to do anything much to get your attention.

It’s no surprise, then, that Anushka Shetty is currently among the most desirable women in south cinema. What’s more, she’s proven she’s also good enough to carry a film on her like she did in Arundhati. It also goes to show that while she’s glamorous in short skirts and bikini bras, she can be quite svelte in saris too.

TELUGU

ENELIA

44 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Funny is sexy, and no one knows that better than Genelia D’ Souza. Her comic timing and inherent girl-I’d-love-to-meet appeal make her enchantingly desirable.

Nobody could have played Haasini in Bommarillu better, and what’s more, Haasini became a popular name with a whole generation of young parents in the hope that their daughters would turn out as bubbly and cute. She’s got a smile that’s effervescent and evokes a sort of tender protectiveness. Bottom line: men have a weakness for cute funny women and Genelia more than indulges them!

TAMIL

GR When M G Ramachandran appeared on screen – with layers of face paint or prancing among bushes in a garden – women sighed in unison and with much delight. He added drama to romance on the Tamil screen of the 50s and 60s, after which anything theatrical became the ‘in thing,’ well into the Eastman colour years. Read hot pink shirts and hoops for the ears. Or sleeveless jackets in loud patterns draped casually over shirts, with an arm candy (often Jayalalitha) and the effect was nothing short of mesmerising. When he moved from acting to production and later politics, MGR’s charisma remained intact while his signature style became synonymous with the fur cap and dark glasses. His image became immortalised thus. He never died…

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There are stars and there are actors but when we are talking of Sivaji Ganesan, we might as well not bother making any such distinctions. Regarded as one of the first method actors of Asia, the characters Sivaji played, not only added immense value to Indian cinema but also gave him the kind of mass following that was truly phenomenal. His subtle yet very powerful presence was his strongest style statement, which evoked more awe than excitement. It still does and always will.

IVAJI GANESAN

TAMIL

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 47

TAMIL

A whole generation of young boys tried (and failed) flipping cigarettes up and lighting them midair, or sported bell bottoms till long after they went out of vogue. But his dialogues can never get too old fashioned, just like his one-sided hair flip is timeless. When Rajinikanth does his thing on screen, all reason gets left behind and in the darkness of the movie theatre, it’s just his charisma that shines the brightest. With one nudge of the foot, he can defy the laws of Physics or enslave men and women alike, once he begins to dance. We loved him despite (or maybe for) those blond wigs he wore in Sivaji and can’t wait to check him out all over again in Robot set to release next year. The second highest paid star of Asia is off screen, a simple kurta-churidar and sandals sporting man, with a following that influences popular culture and politics. What more do we say. Just the name says it all…

AJiNIKANTH

TAMIL

amal Haasan

Somebody once remarked about Kamal that where the man ends and the actor begins, is difficult to say, if not impossible. How lithely he’s slipped in and out of the numerous characters he’s played is as much a study of style as it is of personality. He’s surprised us all along, across a career spanning half a century with a new look each time. Gaudily printed shirts and scarves seemed to look just as stylish on him as did that signature white kurta pyjama that he danced Bharatanatyam in. For that matter, the heavy moustache or the clean shaven look and then the ten dramatically different looks in Dasavataram. At the recent mega event in Chennai that celebrated his completion of 50 years in cinema, he sported his signature black formals, with an easy style that’s been and continues to be age defying. Here’s raising a toast to the only complete star of Indian cinema, whose style might not be mass but whose acclaim is truly global.

48 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TAMIL

rabhu

ijaykanth

The legendary Sivaji Ganesan’s son, Prabhu was born with the prized surname and certainly inherited those killer genes! But it stopped right there.

Prabhu’s own identity and style was what he was known for then, and still is.

His line Enna kadmai Sarvanan idhi (What kind of torture is this Sarvanan?) from the film Chandramukhi turned into some kind of a cult chant. Some style icon he has been!

Want to know about Vijaykanth’s style? Well, simply listen to his very popular dialogues and there you are. Sample this: You can study and get any certificate. But you cannot get your death certificate. Or, you can find tea in a teacup but world in world cup? This in Tamil delivered with an intense frown. Plus his very distinct hairstyle does make for some interesting mass appeal. Doesn’t it?

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TAMIL

He did over a hundred films in Tamil and Telugu before entering politics full time. But not before creating a minor stir of his own, especially with all those comic roles that Karthik played. Now that he’s not so active on the silver screen, we miss him; those amusing mannerisms and the easy smile.

ARTHIK

BBAS Women, right from those who saw Premadesam once to those who still thrive on it, thought Abbas was the cutest and the most adorable guy in all of southern cinema.

Adding to that conviction was his buttery smooth complexion (that women vie for) and a vulnerability that wasn’t for the weak hearted! He still lights up any frame with his smile and it really doesn’t matter what he wears, because it all looks chic when he wears it.

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Photographer: G Venket Ram

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If we were holding a contest for intense gazers, Vikram would most certainly have won it! It really doesn’t matter what clothes he wore then or now. His eyes do all the seducing. What’s more, whether it’s the stubble or the beard, on him it all looks super stylish; the moustache too. Post Kanthaswamy, his seduction prowess reached quite another level. For one, the minimalist tattoo on one flared bicep did nothing to spare women from nine to 50 go jelly kneed. Imagine rugged intensity meeting a perfectly sculpted body. That’s Vikram, in flesh (rather alluring) and blood (rather hot) for you.

IKRAM

TAMIL

TAMIL

ADHAVAN Girls who happened to be in college during the late 90s (not just in the south, but across the nation) would agree that Madhavan, at least at some point, was their favourite chocolate boy. More than ten years later, he’s done looking like a boy but his mildly dimpled grin still manages to melt enough hearts. Add to that a voice that can touch, warm, caress, turn on‌chocolate still very much!

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Two factors make Vijay worthy of his title - Illayathalapati.

One – he shares a rather intimate chemistry with the camera.

Two – he carries it to the masses, with everything, from what he wears (open shirts with colourful vests) to how he dances (rather energetically with an acrobatic style) and all those mannerisms (the casual salute included) aped by his die-hard fan mélange. No surprise then that his overseas market is next perhaps only to Rajinikanth’s. He’s totally mass and that’s how we like him best!

IJAY

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TAMIL

TAMIL

JITH KUMAR Some like ‘em hot and some like their stars who can also race!

What do you expect from an auto racer bitten by the acting bug to do anything but action roles? But man, did he also romance with some style, or what! Trendy shades were at one point his trademark accessory. And without them, an expression with somewhat permanently raised eyebrows in a flirty smirk is meant to draw crowds by the housefuls. He raced with immense style at the 2003 Formula Asia BMW Championships, and into our hearts he does with equal ĂŠlan.

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TAMIL

ilambarasan Little Superstar they call him. Not only because he made his acting debut as a child artiste but also thanks to an early influence of Rajinikanth. He grew up however, not to imitate his favourite actor on screen but to add to what he picked up, elements of his own personal style. Simbu experiments with his hair as much with his roles. Swinging between action and romance with an easy swagger that’s as likeable as his expressive eyes. His biggest style statement off screen these days is his swanky white BMW X6. How cool is that!

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TAMIL

iddharth At 28, or 32 or 46, he’ll always look a decade younger! If sporting those casual tees and student denims is a strategy to make him look vulnerable in a come hither way, then we’d say it worked perfectly. Get him into a designer jacket plus shades plus dusky complexion and we get Siddharth at his stylish best. But there are many who like him the most for the way he speaks.

On and off screen. Catch him grin slowly while he smooth drawls, for a visual treat!

Photographer: Ranganath Stylist: Asmita Marwa

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TAMIL He’s got some appeal and we couldn’t have left him out of this list!

Everything from his six packs to the moustache to that towering presence make him enough of a style icon in Tamil cinema. Vishal’s style is all about machismo, what else? And the sort that gives men a multi-storied complex and women, much fodder for fantasy!

ishal

harath To make youth look refreshingly stylish on screen can be a challenge, but not when it’s Bharath’s hugely popular Boys we are talking. What a debut, and what a trendsetter film. Let’s talk of his latest one too. Whoever says he merely copied Shahid Kapoor in the Tamil remake of Jab We Met, Kandein Kadhalai needs to watch the film again. That’s because Bharath infused in it a good measure of his own personal style. From those trendy tees and sweaters and to the cross strapped bag, his style always screams fresh!

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He walked the ramp while he was a computer engineer.

He’s a Malayalee who debuted with a Tamil film. And he is soon going to make his Telugu debut as well.

Arya looks every bit the model he used to be before he entered films. And along the way he picked up the finer nuances of acting. Potent combination! And what a body!

RYA

TAMIL

TAMIL

ayalalita

The hugely popular former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu learnt all about commanding mass adulation pretty early on in life. Fifteen sure is early!

The young Jayalalitha was never interested in pursuing a film career since she was academically inclined. But soon her live wire presence on screen started to create quite a stir. The kajal extending much beyond the natural eye line was in vogue those days but showing off shapely thighs sure wasn’t!

Among the first ones of her time to play heroine and also sport leg and back baring outfits, she never stuck to conventions, with her style or otherwise‌

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 59

EVATHI In a man’s world, this woman more than managed to create a place of her own and how! How many women superstars’ temples get built after all? Big she grew soon and big she always was. She made voluptuousness look hot. Her stylish sari blouses and that tattoo on her back get talked about all the time. And any Tamil cinema lover worth his sambar would have definitely sampled the Khushboo idly! We told you, she makes round seem so stylish, didn’t we?

hushboo

autami

TAMIL

She went off shoulder often in her younger days and looked like an artist’s muse. After many years since then and well into her 40s she looks no less striking. Adding hugely to that appeal are those wiry curls against a smooth complexion. If one woman can make the no makeup look hot, it’s her! Off screen, she still stands out as a much loved style icon of the south.

Revathi is every bit your quintessential Indian woman. What with her designer saris and bold red bindis. You’ll know what we’re talking about if you’ve seen Thevar Magan. During her younger days, she looked quite likeable sporting a fringe and in skirts or denims. But nothing could beat the panache of the six yard wonder when it came to Revathi.

TAMIL

imran

Jyothika’s smile is the most striking thing about her at first glance. See her some more and you’ll find that the naturally brown hair adds a good measure of allure to her otherwise unconventional looks. She’s one offering of the south that stands out for her elegance and an unfussy appeal.

yothika

The multilingual Simran is our chosen dancing queen in this list. She does her Salsa with as much grace as she does the Bharatanatyam. That, with a chiseled face known across the industry makes Simran a much sought after actor. She’s one of those from the southern industry who is more than good enough for the ramp, although she didn’t really start off as a model. When she comes on screen, any frame turns stylish!

TAMIL

RISHA

If flawless skin is a style statement too, then Trisha flaunts hers all the time!

But apart from that she’s one girl who does full justice to the long skirt. She chooses length not to hide those oh-I-just-can’t-show-‘em-legs but because she doesn’t think she can look hot only in a short skirt! Like an unruly mop of hair can look sexy on some, slightly smudged eyeliner looks wonderful on Trisha.

All set for her Bollywood debut, we’ll soon see her don designer Anna Singh’s ethnic creations and speak flawless Hindi!

62 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Photographer: Avinash Gowariker

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 63

TAMIL

How she meandered between Malayalam and Tamil, Telugu and now Bollywood…just like she flitted easily from saris or half saris in some of her initial films to those stylish (but not so hot) casuals later. The evening gowns that followed – usually pastels or simply pristine white – best matched her personality, perhaps. Asin’s name means without a blemish and there, she made unspoiled, virginal, innocent look so stylish. Then there’s the childlike face with vivacious intelligent eyes. Don’t even bother resisting her understated charm touched with just the right amount of heat!

SIN

64 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Let’s start right from the name. She spells it Tamannaah. If aah is not about oomph then you tell us what it’s all about. Extra syllables in how many people’s names sound this stylish, astrology or no?

Where clothes go, her slim frame is good enough for anything. What stands out the most about her style though is an inherent bubbly flavour of her personality that we see on and off screen. She did a Kareena Kapoor rather easily in her recent film.

Desirable, totally!

AMANNAah

TAMIL

MALAYALAM

OHANLAL

He doesn’t bother with any mass appeal. He simply holds us hostage! He can never be called a hunk but he’s more popular than perhaps most hunks put together in Indian cinema. It doesn’t come as a surprise at all that there’s somewhat of a minor earthquake in Kerala just before the release of his films. They say the movie going experience is not complete till they see Mohanlal wield his magic on screen – his dialogues, the moustache (or clean sometimes) and a range of clothing styles right from the ethnic mundus to the designer shirts. And what do we say about his Pattanam Rasheed? The convincing makeup added two decades to his age. He carried the look with immense style and the conviction of a four time National Award winning actor. He’s got some spunk, really!

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 65

MALAYALAM

Think tough cop of the 90s and how can you not think of Suresh Gopi! He came, he fought the baddies and he definitely conquered countless hearts on the way. His bulky frame and strong voice evoked something close to awe and came to be seen as synonymous with his onscreen style. He played a variety of characters, but, for us he’s the cop or some such hard-hitting man who will make things right in the end, no matter how wrong they are! Add to that his famous dialogues in English that script writer Renji Panicker penned. Some guy and some style!

URESH GOPI

AYARAM

The 80s and 90s saw just how popular this Malayalam screen god became. Still continues to be and with such élan. The number of films he’s done and the variety of roles he’s played simply goes beyond profiling him in a mere hundred words. Whether as a cop in Rahasya Police or the pivotal Vinod Bhasker in Twenty:20, Jayaram not only slips into his character with the grace of a panther, but also happens to be among everyone’s favourite crowd pullers, thanks to his distinctive mannerisms on screen and the way he fills the frame!

66 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

ILEEP

RITHVIRAJ He gave up studies for acting, and aren’t we glad he did! Prithviraj made his debut in Malayalam cinema in 2002 and from then to now, he’s surely come a long way. So long a way that many imagine him to be able to break into the star monopoly of Malayalam. He’s got the looks of a supermodel and the makings of a superstar. We love him with the moustache and we love him without it, even more! What more do we say…

MALAYALAM

There’s so much to this man’s style. We wonder really where to begin. Comedy is of many kinds, but the kind of comedy Dileep did, especially in the early 2000s is certainly a one of its kind in style - inimitable and truly unique. His voice again is his identity too. Dileep is also a commendable mimicry artist and that talent gets translated into some amazing dialogue delivery. Unmatched again and a trademark of his style. He’s produced Twenty:20 which released last year and said to be the highest grossing film in Malayalam. It turned out to be so popular that he went ahead and started a restaurant named Twenty:20 Food Mall in Kochi. If that’s not about personal style trickling into cinema and cinematic style finding its way beyond the screen, what is?

MALAYALAM

HOBHANA Let’s sound clichéd for a while and say that when she dances, it’s poetry in motion. It’s because that’s how it is. We don’t know how else to describe her as she swirls in heady passion or emotes using just her eyes. And rather deeply beautiful ones, kohl lined most often on or off screen. With a penchant for eye makeup and hair styles, she experiments with her looks quite often, although we know her best, flailing that wildish hair in a frenzy of artful movements as she performs the Bharathanatyam on stage. Many call her the most beautiful woman of the southern film industry. And we aren’t disputing that at all!

68 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

MALAYALAM She’s among the busiest female actors of the Malayalam industry these days and why not, with some enviable projects in her kitty of late, it’s only natural. She used to be a child artist and got her first lead role when she was as young as in class nine! Kavya perhaps looks her best in traditional saris and huge bindis on screen, but she is one versatile actor with some potential to sport a good variety of looks.

AVYA MADHAVAN

Television’s loss turned out to be Malayalam cinema’s gain when Meera Nandan moved from the reality show she was hosting to feature in Mulla for which she won a Filmfare award.

A stunning debut for an unconventionally beautiful girl with an effervescent thing about her and immense potential too.

EERA NANDAN

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 69

HAMA

OPIKA

MALAYALAM

Gopika perhaps entered the film industry at a time when everyone seemed to be on the lookout for a new face. A few modeling assignments later, she got into Malayalam cinema and has since been winning many hearts as much for her acting prowess as for those lively eyes. Marriage did not affect her career and we’re sure motherhood will neither. She’s going to be a mum soon and still manages to look as pretty!

EERA JASMINE Who says, to be popular on the screen you need to necessarily be ultra glam too? For one, Meera Jasmine doesn’t. The various difficult roles she’s essayed in her comparatively short film career hold enough evidence, if you ask us. With each role came a different look. From a vulnerable teenager to a guy (you heard that right!) she’s looked more than convincing, everytime. The National Award winning actor makes a comeback after a hiatus, and shall we say with some style?

70 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

An innocent face with very much a woman’s body – that’s Bhama’s style file for you in one line. Just over two years old in the Malayalam industry, she’s already making people sit up and take notice thanks to her hit Malayalam films Cycle and Ivar Vivahitarayal. She’s got promise and she’s got an interesting way about her with a smile that’s truly winning.

MALAYALAM

AMTA MOHANDAS

Now this is one gal who can’t help but look as hot in a sarong or a sari! What’s more , she’s got divine proportions albeit with a touch of the south Indian male’s fantasy. Mamta crooned her way into southern cinema with a voice that’s packed with as much chutzpah as her penchant for biking. For the uninitiated, Mamta can often be seen racing at something like over 200 kmph on her 1000 cc bike. Boy, oh boy!

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 71

KANNADA

The 50s and 60s were called the golden era of the Kannada film industry. And if the audiences across generations are asked to vote for one actor who brought style quotient to this era, the unanimous choice would most certainly be Dr. Rajkumar. Born Mutturaju, his rise to superstardom of epic proportions, is what legends are made of. His voice, his dress sense, his moustache, his hair cut, his body language, his dialogue delivery, every aspect that went into the making of this superstar exuded Style with a capital S. Rajkumar was a one stop destination for a moviegoer for generations. Parents saw their son in him, young girls their ideal lover and wives, their dream husbands. The rise of Rajkumar was backed by adulation like never before, never after. He played a royal prince, an ardent devotee, a priceless pauper, a passionate lover, a devoted husband, a parent who’s ready to kill for the sake of his kids, besides being the only actor in the history of Kannada cinema to have sung for himself. Various characters, many experiments. One actor who rose above every role and every expectation.

Every movie, a blockbuster. Every role, life defining. While the rest of his contemporaries across Indian cinema were hamming their hearts out and exaggerating every mannerism, Rajkumar stayed as close to real life as possible. His reel life and real life behaviour were set apart by an almost invisible dividing line. Some gumption and some conviction that must have required in an era where theatrics ruled the roost. His physical body may have crossed over to a different world but his soulful performances linger on in the hearts of cinema lovers. If that is not style, what is?

AJ KUMAR

72 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

KANNADA

MBARISH

There are stars and there are actors. And then there are actors who are neither conventional in their looks nor acting. Yet they dare to break the mould and reinvent themselves according to the role in their films. Anant Nag belongs to the latter. Whether he was a blackmailing ex lover, a devoted husband possessed by an evil spirit, a dutiful son or an enchanted boy friend, every character he portrayed on screen was replete with Anant Nag’s signature style. While his villainy made audiences hate him with a vengeance, his comedy had people in splits. Obviously such Êlan had to cross boundaries and he went on to act in Marathi, Malayalam and Hindi films, besides the immensely popular Malgudi Days on National TV. His experimentation with all kinds of roles made him one of the most successful actors of all times. Proficient in delineating complex psychological characters, Anant Nag has the image of the boy-nextdoor. His persona compliments it and he has done justice to it by presenting characters right out of reality.

Shankar Nag, younger brother of Anant Nag, was a popular actor and director of Kannada cinema. With an inimitable style of his own, Shankar was an unconventional hero with an unshaven face, distinct swagger, dark eyes and a masculine drawl . Crowds cheered to his impeccable dialogue delivery and stylish walk, which till date is emulated by his fans. His mannerisms, voice, body language and dialogue delivery is so popular that that he is the first choice of every mimicry artiste in Karnataka even today. As Shankar was successfully growing from strength to strength in the industry trying out different kinds of movies, fate had other plans. He died in a road accident in 1990. But his style remains truly timeless.

HANKAR NAG

NANT NAG

Much before the trend of negative heroes began in filmdom, Ambarish did it with much aplomb. His unusual looks caught the attention of the legendary director Puttanna Kanagal who introduced him to Kannada movies. His first film Naagara Haavu in which he played a mean guy made him the centre of audiences’ hatred. But Ambarish being Ambarish took it as a compliment and went on to perfect the art. Eventually he transitioned into a hero and played the angry young man with as much conviction, outwitting the baddies in their own game. His bell bottoms, side burns, oversized dark glasses were style symbols of the then student generation. Following his success several films were tailor-made accordingly. Several of his films were remade in Tamil and Hindi. In the late 90s he reinvented himself as a successful politician making politics more frequently watched on TV channels.

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 73

KANNADA

PENDRA

Puneet Rajkumar entered the Kannada film industry pretty much with a bang. His first film, Premada Kanike, was released when he was, hold your breath, one year old. At 11, he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for the film Bettada Hoovu. By 14, he had acted in 12 films as Master Puneet Rajkumar. A 12 year break, and at 26, his first film as a hero, Appu, broke all box office records and ran for 175 days. A star was made. More than that, a star with inimitable style was born. With a generous sprinkling of his father’s charm, Puneet created mass hysteria with every role he essayed, lending to it a distinct definition with his characteristic style. Every single film of his so far has been a mega block buster running in theatres for not less than 100 days. His fans emulate their matinee idol in every gesture. They dress like him, talk like him and even woo girls like him. Currently considered the most bankable star, Puneet’s highest paid actor status says it all. Like father, like son.

74 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

HIVARAJKUMAR

UNEET RAJKUMAR

Upendra a.k.a Uppi is a highly unlikely candidate for superstardom if you go by conventional definitions. Born in a middle class Brahmin family sans godfathers, Uppi’s rise has been meteoric. With a style that is his own, his whacky sense of dressing and his dramatic expression of anger, he literally stormed into the hearts of Kannada audiences. Blood curdling stunts, eye for an eye when faced with injustice became his hallmarks as film after film with violent themes began hitting the bull’s eye. Scripts were written and roles were conceived for him. His debut film, A turned out to be some sort of a cult hit, spawning plenty in that genre. Most of them went on to become blockbusters endorsing Uppi’s sartorial sense of style. All his directorial ventures have Uppi writ large on them. Some style, no?

He may have inherited the DNA but it took a certain K Balachander to convince him to join an acting school in Chennai. While he studied to become a chemical engineer he also trained in Kuchipudi dance with the renowned master Vempati Chinna Satyam. We are talking of Shivarajkumar, Dr. Rajkumar’s first born. When Shivarajkumar entered the industry, some said he was not a patch on his charismatic father. He neither had the looks nor his father’s acting abilities, they pronounced. Anybody else would have crumbled under the enormous pressure that was being built up by his detractors. But Shivaraj Kumar knew that the only way he could take on the mantle was to do what his father always did – let his work speak. Fondly called Shivanna, Shiv’s first three movies Anand, Rathasapthami and Mana Mechchida Hudugi in a row completed silver jubilee and earned him the title of ‘Hat trick Hero - Shivarajkumar’. By which time Shivarajkumar had evolved a style of his own. Again like his father, Shivarajkumar reiterated that putting on an act doesn’t necessarily have to be over dramatic. Style is congenital for this star.

KANNADA

UDEEP

A hotelier’s son becomes a hotelier, or so we think.

But Sudeep was born to act and obviously had to find his calling sooner or later. It happened sooner, much to Sudeep’s delight. There was no looking back for this tall and lanky actor who started off with bit roles.

The turning point came in the form of a powerful role in Huccha, a remake of Vikram-starrer Sethu in Tamil.

Legions of fans had found their idol. From a lover boy to an anti social element, family man to an anti hero, he has done them all with inimitable style. His Bollywood debut with Ramgopal Varma’s Phoonk only reinforced his popularity. Soon to follow are Rann with the Big B, Phoonk 2 and Rakta Charitra. Sudeep’s next directorial venture in Kannada, Just Math Mathalli, a romantic comedy is all set to hit the screens soon.

ANESH Ganesh is known as the golden star in the Kannada film industry. His unique gestures and mannerisms are immensely popular with the Sandalwood audience. Ganesh shot to popularity with the blockbuster Mungaaru Male which is one of the biggest hits in South Indian cinema with earnings crossing Rs. 75 crores. Before entering films, Ganesh was a popular name in TV serials. However, this chocolate hero proved his acting capabilities in Mungaaru Male earning him a huge fan following.

He is also a great mimicry artist who mimics veteran stars like Dr. Rajkumar, Balakrishna and others with ease. Tailor-made for comedy and love stories, Ganesh has rejected offers from filmmakers of other south Indian languages.

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 75

KANNADA

AVICHANDRAN The very name V Ravichandran in the Kannada cinema industry is synonymous with big-budget movies that have lavish sets, rich music, grand direction and superb song picturisation. Yes, Ravichandran, son of film producer Late N Veeraswamy is one multi-faceted talent in the Kannada film industry who has donned the roles of an actor, director, producer, music director, and lyricist. Though his initial movies were box-office failures, he saw success as the leading actor in Naanu Nanna Hendthi, a comedy movie. This was followed by several blockbusters. His maverick style earned him the title ‘Crazy Star’. Ravichandran, with his expertise in all aspects of film making, is known for innovation, whether his films become blockbusters or otherwise.

AMESH ARAVIND When he first entered the film industry two decades ago, nobody thought that Ramesh would become a noted actor very soon. Ramesh, also popularly known as Ramesh Aravind in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, has portrayed brilliant roles in more than a hundred films. Film makers could not go wrong in choosing Ramesh, with cute looks and a thick signature moustache, distinct dialogue delivery and a style of his own. Ramesh’s films are synonymous with wholesome family entertainment.

76 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

KANNADA

REMA

Actress Prema remains in the hearts of Kannada movie buffs for some of her scinitillating roles in most Kannada movies during her active career. This Coorgi belle has acted in the lead with the who’s who of Kannada film industry like Shivrajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ravichandran, Upendra and Ramesh Aravind. Prema stepped into Kannada filmdom with the movie Savyasachi starring with Shivarajkumar in 1995.

She gained a comfortable position as an actress through the block buster Om again with Shivarajkumar, which got her a State Award for best actress. However, Prema’s height was thought to be a deterrent as few stars would fall short of an inch or two when paired with her. But that did not stop her from becoming an acclaimed actress of her times. Prema was very different compared to her contemporaries. With close to 50 films to her credit, Prema has stayed away from controversies and affairs and enjoys a high reputation among movie-goers.

AYANTHI

ALASRI

Haughty, tomboyish, homely, a tough woman cop – all these are taglines for Kannada actress Malashree.

But her unusual style that belied all feminine definitions catapulted her to an all time high. She ruled the roost as the highest paid actress in Kannada cinema for a long time.

Her debut movie Nanjundi Kalyana opposite Raghavendra Rajkumar, released in 1989, is an all-time hit.

She also has the distinction of acting with Ramakrishna Hegde, the Late Chief minister of Karanataka in Marana Mrudanga. Married to producer Ramu, Malashree still remains one of those fine actors who ruled Kannada Cinema.

Known as Abhinaya Sharade, Jayanthi, ruled the Kannada marquee with effortless grace. She acted in over 500 films, including films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi. Her ride, though, was anything but smooth. She was ridiculed most of the times as she was plump and could never dance well. During her teens she had the chance to act in a few Tamil and Telugu movies as an extra. On one such occasion (as Jayanthi recollected in one of her interviews) the great Telugu actress Savitri was upset with newcomer Jayanthi who could not convincingly narrate a few Tamil dialogues. She stormed out of the sets in protest. Jayanthi was shattered after the episode but promised herself that one day she would prove her worth. She did and how! With success changed the definitions of beauty. What people called plump until then, became feminine! Her sarees, her hair style, everything she did was followed by hundreds of fans. She ruled the Kannada Film industry as one of the leading ladies. Producers capitalised on her hit pairing with the famous actor and doyen of Kannada Cinema Dr.Rajkumar in more than 30 movies.

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 77

KANNADA

OOJA GANDHI Pooja Gandhi, who had initially changed her name from Sanjana Gandhi is today a popular actress in the Kannada film industry. Pooja, who comes from an orthodox Punjabi family is the daughter of a businessman. With no connections or god fathers in the Kannada film industry, Pooja tasted success with her very first film Mungaaru Male. Her no holds barred style has a lot to do with her success. A fast learner that she is, Pooja has won the hearts of millions of Kannadigas for having learnt to speak Kannada in a very short time. She has dubbed herself for her role in the upcoming movie Namarari Kadhiruve.

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TELUGU

FUNDA

In the role of a saviour protecting the interests of the common man, Balakrishna seems to be geared up for an interesting experience with this film. Expected to be a Sankranthi release, Simha is set as an action flick, replete with classic fight sequences. Touted to be a groundbreaking film within the action genre, Simha is said to feature scenes with mass as well as class appeal. In fact, three sets were specially erected at the Ramoji Film City studios to shoot songs with Namitha, while a bunch of separate sets are being set by art director A S Prakash for songs featuring Sneha Ullal. The filmmaker sure knows how to keep potential rivalry at a safe distance, that’s for sure!

Cast

Balakrishna, Sneha Ullal, Namitha

Director

Boyapati Sreenu

Music

Chakri

SIMHA

80 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TELUGU

FUNDA

This film is a romantic entertainer, and most of it has already been canned.

While the first song has been shot in Australia, the second song was filmed in Lucerne, Switzerland. All set for a mid-January release, Seeta Ramula Kalyanam…Lanka Lo is said to feature some breathtaking shots taken inside the Swarovski Crystal World. The film is slated for an early 2010 release.

Cast

Nitin, Hansika

Director

Eeshwar Reddy

Music

Anoop Rubens

SEETA RAMULA KALYANAM… LANKA LO Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 81

TAMIL

FUNDA

GOA

Cast

Jai, Vaibhav,Premji, Sneha, Pia, Sampath

Director

Venkat Prabhu

Music

Yuvan Shankar Raja

Goa, produced by Soundarya Rajinikanth is turning out to be quite a surprise package for Pongal 2010. The basic premise of the film charts how things planned with great care may go awry at the last minute, resulting in chaos. The clincher is that by the end of the film, the characters realise that it was all for the best. The soundtrack would feature a number of eminent singers along with maestro Ilayaraja himself. Set in the entertainer mould with liberal dollops of sentimentality, Goa is gearing up for its audio release in December. Meanwhile, watch out for Nayanthara’s glam-loaded cameo in the film, which is likely to be one of the trump cards for this 2010 release.

82 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

TAMIL

FUNDA

Vettaikaran also happens to be the title of an old MGR film. It is Vijay’s 49th film and is said to be an action adventure film.

Vettaikaran is scheduled to hit the screens on Christmas day, considered to be a lucky date for the actor. Said to be inspired from two Telugu potboilers, the film would see Vijay play an auto rickshaw driver taking on the baddies, providing vigilant justice along the way. The script is rumoured to have a number of punch lines laced with the director’s political ideology, which may (or may not) be retained when it hits the theatres.

VETTAIKARAN

Cast

Vijay, Anushka

Director

Babu Sivan

Music

Vijay Antony

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 83

MALAYALAM

FUNDA

After delivering two superhits, Mammootty and director Shafi are back with the actionentertainer, Chattambinadu. Slated as Mammootty’s Christmas release, the film features the star as a planter with 37 criminal cases against him. As the story goes, the protagonist heads to Karnataka to buy out a coffee plantation, which happens to be infested with criminals. The plot then charts how the gangster takes on the bunch of goons in a clean up drive. Speculations indicate Mammooka would speak with a heavy Kannada accent, while donning a brave new look in this film.

CHATTAMBINADU

Cast

Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai, Meenakshi, Siddique, Salim Kumar

Director

Shafi

Music

Alex Paul

84 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

MALAYALAM

FUNDA

IVIDAM SWARGAM AANU

Mohanlal and director Roshan Andrews are back with Ividam Swargam Aanu, with the story being penned by James Albert. The film has Mohanlal playing a Kanjirapally Syrian Christian farmer, Mathew and follows his relationship with his father Jeremiah, played by Thilakan. The dad and son duo then take on a bunch of land mafia intent on exploiting farmlands. Antony Perumbavoor is producing the film, currently in post-production. Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Sukumari, who happen to be among the hero’s favourite screen mothers are playing the parts of Mohanlal’s mother and aunt. The family entertainer also features three heroines.

Cast

Mohanlal, Thilakan, Lakshmi Rai, Jagathy, Innocent

Director

Roshan Andrews

Music

Mohan Sitara

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 85

KANNADA

FUNDA

Even before the film has wrapped up shooting, industry insiders are predicting that Ram is destined to be a box office smash. Reason: the combo of Puneet Rajkumar and Priyamani, who marks her debut in Kannada cinema.

Going by the expectation surrounding the film though, she could not have asked for a better debut! Buzz has it that Madesh made some alterations in the storyline to suit Puneet’s screen image of the angry young man. Major chunks of the film were shot in B R Hills, M M Hills and the lush forests of Uttara Kannada.

Not giving foreign locations a miss, Ram also boasts of exotic locations in its song sequences.

Cast

Puneet Rajkumar, Priyamani, Srinath, Doddanna

Director

Madesh

Music

V Harikrishna

86 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

RAM

KANNADA

FUNDA

SWAYAMVARA

Taking a leaf out of Rakhi Sawant’s screen swayamvar, actor Sharmila Mandre will soon be a part of Swayamvara. It’s about the two male protagonists vying for the hand of their love interest, played by Sharmila. Penned by five veteran film directors – Yograj Bhat, Prem, Nagendra Prasad, Tushar Ranganath and A P Arjuna – the lyrics of the songs, for sure would be something to keep an ear out for. Who gets the girl? Your guess is as good as ours.

Cast

Srinagar Kitty, Sharmila Mandre, Diganth

Director

Anantharaju

Music

Manikanth Kadri Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 87

Ram: I want Santa’s magical reindeers because I love animals and I can fly to work rather than getting stuck in traffic! (Oh deer…)

MADHAVAN I want to meet the biggest idiot in the world. (Then there’ll be four…)

I raju: Kama hariot l a m Ka ’s c e Santa want e every bab k a n t i el a and y Ang ve fun l l a i c espe to, ha to Plu k. (That’ll e i l o c J me ba estial and co l trans-cel ea be a r p!) o Pitt st Seiya Gautham: Want to go for a kiddy party with Santa. (Oh, we think you’re too tall for that!)

Priyamani: I want Santa to gift me a golden retriever or a Newfoundland.

(Whoever said diamonds were a woman’s best friend, hmm…)

88 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Nikhil: Want to be left all alone on an island with Penelope Cruz. (How exactly do you plan to cruise back?)

Need Adithya Adhi: ny a Playboy Bun y n n u B (Playboy k in W listening? wink!)

Shraddha Das : I’d like a house far aw ay from India which has ev erything from food to clothe s et al. Also fill the house with so much money that I don’t need to work. (Then yo u’ll work only for pleasu re, sweets?)

I want a lady Santa (And we want a ladies’ Santa!) - Sharvanand Ileana: I want a horse.

(Have you already found a knight rider to sweep you off your feet or what?)

Shruti Haasan: A Grammy or an Oscar (We hope you get both!)

Rana Daggu bati: God’s g iven m e a lot if I ask him an I’ll be p ymore unishe d ;-) (Her e gratefu ’s one l dude! )

Upendra: Everybody believes in the future, but I believe in the present.

I do not wish for anything special.

Whatever comes my way, I accept it.

(At this rate, Santa will be out of job!)

Allu Arjun:

hi: Radhika Gand kid, When I was a I used to place at a Christmas h ouse outside the h hoping Santa e would give m ies. d loads of goo ill Even now, I w be happy with ta whatever San t the u gives me. (B sn’t recession doe affect Santa!)

in ant to be Ramya: W Alone?) d. ( dreamlan Want the Puneeth: . r success ladder fo n lready o (You are a one…)

Radhika Pandith: Another Filmfare award…Lots of goodies and good film projects. (Now that’s a bullet point agenda)

I want Santa to make me taller by 2 inches.

(Size does matter, huh?)

Vimala Ram an: The wa ckiest present wo uld be a wa rdrobe that’s large enough and never ending to fi Tamannah: Nothing to ask t all my clo thes and shoes... he for. Want to thank Santa hehe and a lso a couple of world tr for giving me a memorable ip tickets...

I wanna see 2009. (But your name itself Reem more islan a Sen: ds around means desire girl…)

I just want th e world :) the release (Extra ticke ts for cows of my film & elephants to Aayirathil Or uvan o ? ) (Practic

Sharmila Mandre: I am

yearning for a vacation to an exotic holiday destination like Hawaii, Mauritius or Bali.

I want Santa to grant me that wish. (Maybe Santa could suggest more options too.)

Trisha: I wou ld wish to meet my Mr ri ght for X’mas so the looking out can stop righ t there...

(And then som ething else can start)

ally yours, Reema Sen)

Nayanthara : I have not thought ab out anything to ask. I am alw ays spontaneo us and will ask what come s to my mind th en.

(Then? Wh en?)

Sonu Sood: Dhanush: I w ant to ask A one way Santa to give me a 10 ticket with days break so Penelope Cruz that I can spend time w to Bahamas ith my son (What happens during his X’m as holidays. to Sonali So od (Sonny side de finitely up!) and little

(Inputs by Aravind G and Sreedevi Sreedhar)

ra: Neetu Chand back.

I want my dad

Ishan, tch tch?)

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 89

BOLLYWOOD

KATRINA has the last laugh

RK as in

Ranbir Kapoor!

FUNDA

Guess what Ranbir Kapoor wants. And no we aren’t talking of a certain Deepika. He wants to revive the RK banner and also direct films like his grand father, great grand father and uncles Shammi and Shashi Kapoor did. But this is something that the third generation Kapoors – Randhir and Rajeev could never accomplish. Even Ranbir’s father, Rishi Kapoor has stayed away. But Ranbir formally studied film direction from the US. He had even assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Black. We hear he’ll take up the mantle of the RK banner but not anytime soon. He’s still got a couple of years to go before he prepares himself fully. It looks like this enormous responsibility will lie on Ranbir’s shoulders alone since the others in his generation (read Kareena and Karisma) are rather caught up with their personal careers and ahem, much more. Now that’s a family man!

VIVEK’S WOMEN 90 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

The current top ranking Bollywood beauty didn’t get where she is without her fair share of struggles and rejections galore. Interestingly, all those filmmakers who refused to take her on eventually offered her big roles. And all those films turned out to be hits. Vipul Shah (Namaste London), Aneez Bazmi (Welcome), Raj Kumar Santoshi (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani) – all of them (and more) initially rejected her. The icing on the cake was when Yashraj came back with New York after saying no to her for earlier projects. This is a major high for Katrina, who was always written off as a plastic beauty who couldn’t speak a word of Hindi properly. We hear that Yashraj’s rejection was the most painful of them all, for her, but she never gave up. Glad she didn’t, aren’t we?

Although Vivek Oberoi’s love life (read ex-love Gurdeep and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) did not get anywhere, he is quite happy with all the female attention flooding in on Facebook. He’s got numerous women friends and he flirts with them like there’s no tomorrow. With nothing much happening on the career front, Vivek has also got loads of time on hand for all his virtual pursuits. Neither real nor reel, hmm…

BOLLYWOOD

FUNDA

Aamir Khan wants to be the lucky

IDIOT

What is this we hear, now? Apparently, Aamir Khan is not very happy that Sharman Joshi will walk away with Kareena Kapoor among the 3 Idiots - Madhavan being the third one. What’s more, Aamir is even putting pressure on director Raj Kumar Hirani to change the script in his favour, and influencing the editing process. Funny, isn’t it?

Even after so many years in the industry, is Aamir insecure about his star status? But probably most other senior actors would have done this too, except maybe Abhishek Bachchan, who graciously agreed to be outdone by Ritesh Deshmukh in Bluff Master.

People at the Shree Aasthvinayak banner surely must be wondering why they ever made Blue. After it sort of bombed at the box office, the issue is whether a sequel should be made? Soon after the release there were rumours which suggested that the production house will start work on a sequel, this time set in Australia. But they denied any such possibility. However, Sanjay Dutt went ahead and declared that the sequel will indeed be made. Sanjay’s clear contradiction leaves open the possibility that he might make the film with the same director but not under the Shree Aasthvinayak banner. This is something that the hassled producers wouldn’t want as it will mean bungling up relations with Sanju Baba. So they might be forced to make a sequel to Blue even if they don’t really want to.

Now that’s what we call being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea…

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 91

HOLLYWOOD

FUNDA

IS WITHERSPOON A ‘JUNK’IE? Reese Witherspoon has a few rather dirty habits, it seems. While on a promotional tour for her new film Perfume, she confessed of dumping her excess garbage in neighbours’ bins. What’s more, she spoke of her obsession with garbage and how she sneaked out at nights to dispose off excess litter in neighbourhood garbage bins. Witherspoon hates her trash, and in case of an overflow of junk, she would mount on the garbage bin with boots and smash the garbage down. But do that to the neighbours’ Comic genius Danny DeVito is all set to drop his pants bins? What’s that on television. The 64-year-old star from Be Cool said now? that he would bare it all for a Christmas special

DANNY’S BARE ACT

LADY GAGA’S new high Lady GaGa’s weird wardrobe penchants never seem to keep her away from trouble. She was recently stopped by the police for excessive skin show. While she never really had a timid fashion sense, going to the extent of being caught in lingerie in public; this is surely bold by any standard. As far as the juice goes, the cops in Chicago recently reprimanded Lady GaGa when she stepped out in a pair of tiny hotpants.

GaGa, real name Stefani Germanotta in turn says that the encounter was a lot of fun, considering the befuddled expression on the officers’ faces. Her latest encounter with the law however, has reportedly strengthened GaGa’s resolve to continue wearing her eye-popping outfits in public. Some new high, folks!

92 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

segment on his hit television show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Danny has confirmed that he would be seen bursting out of a sofa in the buff at a party in the television show, while party guests would shriek and run from him. Playing a flabby, short-statured old man going commando on screen might just add that extra slice of spice to Danny’s acting career.

And where he’s headed after this is well, anybody’s guess. Until then, it’s hot cross buns all the way!

HOLLYWOOD

FUNDA

PAM’S

BANK-ING ON PUBLICITY Guess what, Pamela Anderson is hitting back at rumors that she is in serious financial trouble. She claims that she owns quite a bit of property back home in chilly Canada. The wires, however were jammed with rumours that Pamela was in debt over a cool million dollars. Busy these days with the construction of her new home in Los Angeles, Pam said that things have been sorted out, thanks to her new business management guys. She really has her way of bouncing back, and how!

JACKSON’S DAD AFTER HIS MONEY!

Recent court records revealed that deceased pop star Michael Jackson’s father is eyeing a hefty chunk of his son’s estate. An attorney for Joe Jackson filed papers in Los Angeles seeking a stipend, saying there was no reason to deny an allowance for the 81-year-old family patriarch.

But get this: Michael Jackson’s will only called for money to be paid to his mother, Katherine, his three young children, and various charities. It was no surprise that big daddy was clearly left out of the arrangement, much to his disappointment. With all the physical and mental abuse, Jackson Sr. has never been a family favourite. Too late to learn a lesson, huh?

No romance for ROB Twilight hottie Robert Pattinson may have the girls screaming for more, but the young actor with the dynamite hair admits that he is probably not the most romantic person alive. He recently confessed that the most romantic thing he did was to put a bunch of flowers in someone’s locker room sometime in school. And he’s completely at ease with all those link up rumours with Kristen Stewart, while his female fan base is only becoming bigger and bigger. Yet, he just can’t seem to find any romance anywhere. A case of water water everywhere…

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 93

FUNDA Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Posh’u posh’u paradesi nenu..

Foreign nunchi vachesanu..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Rosham unna kuralla kosam..

Washingtonn’u vadilesanu..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Air bus yekki yekki rothe putti Yerra bus meeda naku moje putti Yerrakota cherinanu..

Cherinaka yeduru chusina..

Yevari kosam Bodi moothi mudhulante bore kotti ..

Kora meesa kurragala aara patti..

Bengulore’u kellinanu..

Mangalore’u kellinanu..

Beeharu kellinanu..

Jaipuru kellinanu..

Raayalori seema ki vachi set aiyanu..

Oho marikkadi kurrollem chesaru Kadapa bombu kannultho yesi..

Kanne kompa pelchesaru..

Ammani..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Veta kathi vontlona dhoosi..

Siggu guthi thenchesaru..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Vayinchu yehe..

Idhigo thella pilla..

Adantha saregani..

Asalu ee ringa ringa golenti..

Asalukemo na sontha peru..

Andriana Schwarzo Ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Palakaleka eellettinaru..

Mudduperu ringa ringa..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa

94 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Jeans theesi kattinaru voni langa..

Bobbed hair’u pettinaru savaram bagaa..

Raya laga unna nannu..

Rangasaani chesinaruga..

English’u marchinaru yetakaranga..

Inti yenakaki vochinaru yamakaranga..

Onti loni water antha chemata laaga pindinaru..

Vompu loni atharantha aaviralle peelchinaru..

Vompi vompi sompulanni tagesaru.. ai baboi tagesara inkem chesaru..

Puttu machalu lekkettesaru..

Leni machalu puttincharu Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Unna kolathalu marchesinaru..

Raani madathalu rappincharu..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Idigo foreign ammai..

Ela undeti mana kurralla power Pancha kattu kurrallaloni..

Punch naku thelisochindi..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree

Film : Arya2 Singer : Priya Hemesh Music : Devi Sri Prasad

Muntha kallu laginchetolla..

Strengthu naku tega nachindi..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Neeti bed sarasamante garru garru..

Mulakamanchamante inka kirru kirru..

Surrumanna scenelanni phone lo friends thoti cheppinaa Chepina Chepesavetti..

Five star hotel ante kacha picha..

Pampu settu matter ite racho rachaa..

Annamata cheppagane ..

Ireland’u greenland’u newzeland’u..

Netherland’u thailand’u phinland’u.. anni landula papaleeda land ayyaru.. landayyara mari memem cheyyali Hand meeda handeseyyandi..

Landu kabja cheseyyandi..

Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Hand meeda handesesthame.. landu kabja chesesthamey Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree Ringa ringa Ringa ringa Ringa ringa ringaa ringaree..

FUNDA You gotta keep moving if you out with your drama This is many of the gossip you wanna get with me mama You can see me bowling just by looking at my sneakers And my credit card got really good features Oru Chinna Thamarai en kannil poothadhey Athan minnal vaarthaigal en ullam thedi thaikindradhae Idhai unmai enbadha Illai poi thaan enbadha En degham muzhuvadhum Oru vinmeen koottam moikkindradhey En roma kaalgalo oru payanam poghudhae Un eera punnagai sooduthae En kaattu padhaiyil Nee otrai poovada Un vaasam thaakkiye malarndhen uyire Oru Chinna Thamarai en kannil poothadhae Athan minnal vaarthaigal en ullam thedi thaikindradhae You gotta keep moving if you out with your drama This is many of the gossip you wanna get with me mama You can see me bowling just by looking at my sneakers And my credit card got really good features Un peyar kettale adi paaraiyil poo pookum

Un kural kettale andha kuyilgalukkum koosum Nee moochinil swasitha kaatrugal mattum motchathinai serum Anumadhi ketkamal Un kangal ennai meyum Naan ithanai naalai ezhuppiya gopuram nodiyil kudai saayum Un kaigal korkaamal payanangal kidayathu Unnodhu vandhale saalaigal mudiyathu Oru Chinna Thamarai en kannil poothadhae

Un kaaladi theendiya vaarthaigal ellam kavidhaigalai maarum Un peyar paarthaley en kangal alai modhum Un vaasal thedi pogha solli kenjuthu en paadham En vaazhkai varalaatril yellame un pakkangal Unnaale en veetin suvar ellam jannalgal Oru Chinna Thamarai en kannil poothadhae Athan minnal vaarthaigal en ullam thedi thaikindradhae Machi got to say chennai wood player Pennai paarkum podhu pathi kichu fever Vittu tharuvadhu am a gentle player Kannai pol therigindra gaandhaam oru fire

Athan minnal vaarthaigal en ullam thedi thaikindradhae Idhay unmai enbadha illai poi thaan enbadha Yen degham muzhuvadhum Oru vinmeen koottam moikkindradhae En roma kaalgalo oru payanam poghudhae Un eera punnagai sooduthae En kaattu padhaiyil Nee otrai poovada Un vaasam thaakkiye malarndhen uyire Oru Chinna Thamarai en kannil poothadhae Athan minnal vaarthaigal en ullam thedi thaikindradhae Idhay unmai enbadha illai poi thaan enbadha

Film : Vettaikkaran Singers : Krish, Suchitra Music Director : Vijay Antony

Yen degham muzhuvadhum Oru vinmeen koottam moikkindradhae You gotta keep moving if you out with your drama This is many of the gossip you wanna get with me mama You can see me bowling just by looking at my sneakers And my credit card got really good features

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 95

BIOSCOPE

FUNDA

Good n

The village settings in East Godavari and the Konaseema waters have been captured quite nicely, thanks to Ramana Salwa’s remarkable cinematography.

n

It sure is a small budget wonder.

n

The romantic relationship is already established between the lead pair. The basic premise of gaining parental consent for their marriage and the father’s reluctance in accepting a chubby guy as his son-in-law is nothing very new. But the story surges ahead beautifully thanks to the sheer chemistry between the girl’s father who is a staunch ex-army officer, and the happy-go-lucky Krishnudu.

n

The overall tone of comedy is quite likable.

n

The music is more than hummable. Chinukai varadai…was special for its seemingly effortless simplicity.

n

The introduction of the young and handsome army officer, played by Bharath Reddy breathes a sense of freshness, even through its slower moments.

Could have been better... n

n

Though Saranya holds her own through a large part of the film despite (or is it because of?) her childish on-screen charm, the chemistry between her and Krishnudu never really goes past the lukewarm point, which gets a bit long drawn.

The Meet the Parents-esque content of the film, doesn’t somehow make a strong connect.

Stuff like the urbane Karthik suddenly turning up to visit his potential in-laws’ village farmhouse seems contrived and certain comic moments verge on the absurd.

- Rahul Ganguly

96 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

VILLAGE LO VINAYAKUDU Cast: Krishnudu, Saranya Mohan, Rao Ramesh, Jogi Nayudu, Yandamuri Veerendranadh, Bharath Reddy Direction: Sai Kiran Adavi Music: Manikanth Kadri

FUNDA

BIOSCOPE

Good n

Although Kanden Kadhali is a frame by frame copy of Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met, Kannan has done a good job of remaking it for the mass Tamil audiences.

n

The comedy track of Santhanam is a scream.

n

PG Muthiah’s camera work is top notch, especially the Theni locations.

n

Tamannaah has aped Kareena Kapoor to the T. She is pretty, bubbly, and lovable.

Chinmayi’s voice suits her.

KANDEN KADHALI Cast: Bharath, Tamannaah, Santhanam Direction: Kannan Music: Vidyasagar

Could have been better... n

This remake lacks the magic of the original, and is a bit slow paced in the second half.

n

The music is average and there is nothing new with the picturisation.

n

Tamannaah does not pass off as a Thevar girl from Theni.

n

Pattukkottai Prabhakar’s dialogues could certainly have been better.

n

Although Bharath has done his best, he somehow looks wooden and uncomfortable as the rich suave guy.

- Sridevi Sreedhar

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 97

FUNDA

BIOSCOPE

Good

Could have been better...

n

A monumental period film, that will be treasured for years to come. It is gutsy and outstanding. A real gem from the masters, this is a movie that goes beyond the message.

n

Ilayaraja’s music is rather uninspiring. There is nothing new as the choreography looks similar to Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha released 20 years ago!

n

It’s technically brilliant and is several notches above the standard fare offered in Malayalam cinema.

n

Some cinematic liberties have been taken in the course of the narration.

n

Mammootty looks majestic and handsome as the mighty Pazhassi Raja. It is virtually impossible to imagine anyone else in his place.

n

The second half is a bit slow.

n

The surprise package is Sarath Kumar, who looks wonderfully fit, heroic and absolutely invincible as Edachena Kunkan.

n

As the fierce tribal girl who fights like a cheetah, Padmapriya excels in her role as Neeli.

n

Manoj K Jayan, Suresh Krishna and Suman have delivered inspiring performances.

n

Ramanath Shetty’s cinematography, Ravi Dewan’s action, Resul Pookkutty’s sound and Sreekar Prasad’s editing have come together beautifully and the result is a unique film taken to a different level.

PAZHASSI RAJA Cast: Mammootty, Sarathkumar, Manoj K Jayan, Kaniha, Padmapriya Direction: Hariharan Music: Ilayaraja

98 SOUTHSCOPE Dec 09

- Sridevi Sreedhar

FUNDA

BIOSCOPE

Good n

Inspired by Hollywood hit Serendipity, Parichaya is a story about two youngsters, Jayanth (Tarun) and Nimmi (Rekha), who get introduced to each other on Valentine’s Day, and how destiny brings the two together. Interesting concept.

n

Though Tarun is not a great looker, his acting is appealing. And let’s say his dancing too.

n

Rekha! With her svelte looks and a slender figure, Rekha pairs well with Tarun, if you could discount the slightly raw edge to her acting.

n

Jessie Gift’s musical score is the main attraction of this one. A few songs have caught on with the younger lot in a big way.

n

Cinematography is excellent.

PARICHAYA Cast: Tarun, Rekha, Avinash, Shobhraj, Master Anand Direction: Sanjay K Music: Jessie Gift

Could have been better... n

Sanjay, who had earlier directed Hudugaata with Ganesh and Rekha in the lead roles, has not done full justice to the story line and narration of the movie.

n

The climax seems unending.

n

Some scenes are yawn-inspiring.

- Aravind Gowda

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 99

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Few more weeks and we will take the leap into a brand new year. And every year, at this time, most of us echo, I think universally, similar sentiments. Time flies! And how! But the truth is, time neither stands still nor does it race. Depending on what we are doing and where we are headed, we imagine so. For all of us at Southscope, it’s been an eventful year not to mention momentous.

Seems like yesterday when we were brainstorming over the launch issue in the month of June. Then, it seemed like 2009 had just about begun. And look where we are now. Three issues and the year flew past like there was no yesterday. No, we are not bemoaning. Just the contrary. The warm reception we received for our October and November issues surpassed all our expectations. Honestly, we expected to get there at the end of six issues. And that, we were told by many in the publishing industry, was being optimistic. So you can imagine our exhilaration as our circulation head Raghu Kumar Gorthy kept us in the loop about the trickling magazine figures. “It’s like magic,” he keeps saying.

So who made the magic happen? It’s you, my dear readers, who have overwhelmed us. It’s you who are the magicians as far as the success of Southscope is concerned. Saying a mere `thank you’ sounds feeble. Honestly, words are neither sufficient nor efficient to express our gratitude. The only way we could do that is by getting better with each issue.

In this issue, we have brought to you all the dope on the Southscope Style Awards event, like we promised in the last. In addition, we have also tried to capture the style statements of our southern stars across generations. Obviously, it’s impossible for us to include all of them due to space constraints. But we have tried our best. And then we are also sharing with you what the stars want from Santa this Christmas besides regulars on forthcoming films, reviews, songs, snippets and more.

Before I sign off, season’s greetings from all of us at Southscope. Have a merry Christmas and get ready to ring in 2010 with gusto.

Vanaja Banagiri Editor-in-Chief

Dec 09 SOUTHSCOPE 117