Southscope December 2013 by South Scope

DECEMBER 2013

VOL 05 | ISSUE 03 www.southscope.in

AMY JACKSON “CHENNAI IS MY SECOND HOME” VAIRAMUTHU “POETRY IS THE FIRE WITHIN ME”

+ KARTHI’S WILD ESCAPADES

from the editor... 2013 has been a very interesting year for the South Indian film industry. One of its proudest moments this year was the celebration of 100 years of cinema. As for trends, in some industries 2013 has heralded the arrival of great new talent, a fresh perspective of filmmaking and the rise in popularity of the all-powerful genre of comedy. In others, it has borne witness to unexpected and quirky results at the box office. As actor Jiiva words it crisply in his interview in this edition, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Films are a fickle business.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; While we spend time analysing trends and trying to make sense of it all, there is a new breed of fearless filmmakers at work, aiming to delight audiences with their refreshing take on storytelling itself. A hundred years on, now is an exciting time for our cinema, when the envelope is pushed, very little is taboo and content still reigns. Get ready to be entertained like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been before!

Aruna R Krishnan Managing Editor

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Managing Editor Aruna R Krishnan

Founder & Advisor Allu Sirish

Editorial Coordinators Sruthi Sudhakaran

Senior Correspondent Shankaran Malini

Contributors Pothapragada Swarnalatha Shankaran Malini Shwetha Shivkamal Pavithra Srinivasan

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Executive – Client Service Swathi Ramakrishnan

CONTENTS 34 Vairamuthu The legendary poet and lyricist shares some poignant memories and thoughts

Meghana Raj Unconventional is the name of her game

Jiiva

Ravi Varman

10 years of a rollercoaster ride

An inspiring tale of success

Madhavan

Harish Shankar

He came, he changed, he conquered.

50 Yash A slice of fame for this young stud

On success, failure and the importance of believing in yourself

Audio launches, movie launches, previews - get your monthly fix of film events

Telugu

Kannada

Tamil

Race Gurram is a pace ahead!

Darling is our eye candy this month

Jayam Ravi makes waves with Nimirndhu Nil

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what caught the attention of our Roving Eye right through November

Amy Jackson is the Apple of our eye. Find out why!

Kannada

Tamil

Shravani Subrahmanya is intriguing

All set for Jilla!

SPECIAL FEATURE

FORTUNE TELLER

What do the stars hold in store for your favourite stars? Find out here

Walking on the wild side with nature lover

Meet newbie

Karthi

Surabhi Puranik

I n d i a â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s L u x u r y H o m e D e c o r B r a n d at

Offers Upto 50% off* for December

* T&C apply

le Sa

la e

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our pick from a month of audio launches, press meets and loads of other events

ADURTHI SUBBARAO BOOK LAUNCH

At this book launch, a visibly leaner Mahesh Babu looked charming as ever, alongside his lovely wife Namrata Shirodkar and many others.

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AATA ARAMBAM MUSIC LAUNCH

At the music launch of Ajithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aata Arambam the excitement was palpable and indeed justified. The film is a blockbuster success.

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LAUGHTER ALL AROUND

Quite expectedly, the fun-loving Biryani team brought the roof down at their press meet at the city. We snapped Premgi Amaren, actor Karthi and director Venkat Prabhu. We hope their film is as entertaining too.

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KAPIL DEV AND DIL DEEWANA

At the audio launch of Dil Deewana, a film made by Sekhar Kammula’s disciple Tumma Kiran and produced by Raja Reddy under Sri Bhavana Films’ banner, the chief guest of the occasion, cricketer Kapil Dev was the cynosure of all eyes.

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RANA FOR MALINI 22 PALAYAMKOTTAI

Actor Rana Daggubati made a grand impression at the audio launch of the Telugu version of Sripriyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut directorial, starring Nithya Menen.

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Celebrating in Style

where celebrations become grander Trousseau packing | Gift boxes | Gift packing | Garlands and more... Sanskrriti offers a range of custom-made, ethnic, and innovative wedding trousseau packaging, corporate gift hampers and festive giveaways to complement any celebratory occasion. Sanskrriti works closely out an inimitable style to your celebrations, making every moment count. Old No. 14, New No. 15, Sulaiman Zackariah Avenue, Casa Major Road, 3rd Lane, Egmore, Chennai - 600008. Ph: 2819 4489, 64992496 | Email: info.sanskrriti@gmail.com Weekdays: 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30pm | Closed on Sunday

A STAR-STUDDED EVENING!

Presented by Radiance Realty and powered by BOLS, the fifth edition of the coveted Audi RITZ ICON Awards was nothing short of a resounding success. Held at The Westin, Chennai Velachery on November 13, 2013, the glitzy and glamourous event honoured some of South India’s most inspiring achievers – individuals that have transformed lives through their vision, foresight and efforts – in a scintillating display of accomplishment, revelry and celebration. The event saw the who’s who of Chennai’s celeb and glam brigade in attendance, and a total of twenty-five Awards were presented to those people who have made a difference in their respective fields. Among the film fraternity, Gautami Tadimalla, lyricist Madan Karky, music directors Harris Jayaraj and Devi Sri Prasad, renowned cinematographer Santosh Sivan, producer S Madhan, actresses Aindrita Ray, Amy Jackson, Amala Paul and Hansika Motwani, actors Diganth Manchale, Vijay Sethupathy. STR, and Madhavan walked away with top honours. In what is the first time ever 18

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in South India, the parents of Nirbhaya, the Delhi gangrape victim whose horrible tragedy sparked international outrage and protests, were present on this special evening. All the partners of the event, including Aruna R Krishnan, Editor and Publisher of RITZ; Varun Manian, Managing Director of Radiance Realty; K Subramanian, CEO of Audi Chennai and Bengaluru; Pushpanjali Banerjee, Brand Director of Bols; Maria Zeena Johnson, Director of Sathyabama University and Shrikant Wakharkar, General Manager at The Westin Chennai came together to present a special memento captioned “In Ever Lasting Memory of the Delhi Braveheart” to Nirbhaya’s parents, in a resounding display of South India’s solidarity with them in their time of distress. With their extensive coverage of the Awards ceremony, the exclusive media partners of the event, TIMES NOW and ZOOM TV have ensured that the Audi RITZ Icon Awards is the only one of its kind in all of South India that seeks to recognize South Indian icons on a national platform.

December 2013 | Southscope

New birds in social media

Twitter handles are nothing new. They are in fact a must-have especially for A-list celebrities as it affords them a unique opportunity to stay very close to their fans and receive feedback from them directly. Although the medium is now beyond popular, Ileana and Tamannaah are the latest hotties to have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. While Tammu’s first tweet was (sic) “Hi! This is tamannaah, jst joined twitter, lookin forward to connect with all the tweeples”, Ileana seemed very excited about posting her first profile picture on Twitter. “Hey!!! Can’t decide which photo to put up as my profile photo...can u help me?? :) retweet the photo u like.. I’ll be keeping an eye out! X” she had tweeted. Ileana’s profile is introduced as “Actor, Tiramisu Maker, Coffee Fanatic & Professional Bathroom Singer. Hi Mama!” while Tamannaah’s reads, “Dreamer ... Following my Heart !”

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Taapsee is more of an Ajith fan than a Thala fan! Taapsee recently shared screen space with Tamil superstar Ajith in Aarrambam. And as a big fan of the charismatic actor, she posted a clarification. â&#x20AC;&#x153;.... I am more of an AJITH fan than THALA fan.... Basically meaning am a fan of his off screen persona more than on screen, to MAKE IT SIMPLEâ&#x20AC;?. The actress was apparently quoted wrongly in an interview and wanted to clarify. She also said that she did not refer to Superstar Rajinikanth at all.

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Vijay scores a 21 In the previous edition of Southscope, we had listed many stars who have completed a decade in the film industry. Ilayathalapathy Vijay, who started off as a child actor in 1984 has completed 21 years in the film industry! He started his film journey in the year 1992 with the lead role in Naalaya Theerpu and has gone through the ebbs and flows of the industry to emerge as one of the most successful heroes of Tamil cinema. Come 2014 and Vijayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming release, Jilla is ready to take the screens by storm. We wish Vijay tons more success in the years to come!

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A gorgeous pair! Haven’t we always thought that they make the cutest pair? Well, Siddharth and Samantha look radiant, gorgeous and very much in love in the LUX commercial. The two sensational stars share raw and absolutely crackling chemistry that has us go ‘Wow!’

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SURBHI PURANIK “It came to me as a joyous surprise when I was told that I fit into the character very well, after auditioning for the film Ivan Vera Mathiri, with Vikram Prabhu as the hero,” gushes Surbhi. This beauty queen was crowned Miss DLF NCR 2009 runner-up and titled Miss Photogenic. In her own words, she has had fun “imitating people even as a child” and has been an avid participant in drama/theatre right through school and college. Now in her final year of college, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Surbhi says her most favourite actress is the ethereal Aishwarya Rai, while Kamal Haasan and Aamir Khan are her favourite heroes. - Shankaran Malini

AGE: 22 Years HEIGHT: 5’6” WEIGHT: 51 Kgs

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Photography by Sunder Ramu Hair and Make up by Vasantha of Bounce salon Location : Sunder's studio Clothes and Styling by Rehane Yavar Dhala Accessories by Amethyst Shoes by Aldo Car, Jaguar XF from V.S.T Grandeur, Egmore

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THE APPLE OF OUR EYE Porcelain skin that needs very little makeup, a sensuous size 2 figure, mesmerizing eyes and to top it all, the coveted title of a beauty queen! The very English Amy Jackson has all this and much more. No wonder, shooting with Amy was everything plus fun. Off camera she is a giggling, funloving girl who is barely 21. But once the arc lights are on, her personality takes on an aura that is at once enigmatic and surreal. She captured hearts in ‘Madrasapattinam’, and forayed into Bollywood with ex-boyfriend Prateik Babbar in Gautam Menon’s ‘Ek Deewana Tha’. The film flopped, but Amy continued her journey in South cinema. After UTV’s Thaandavam, the lovely lass will now be seen in director Shankar’s magnum opus Ai, as well as in the Telugu film Yevadu, opposite Ram Charan. Amy Jackson opens up to Southscope during this exclusive photoshoot. December 2013 | Southscope

B A lot of people in India want fair skin

eing part of Shankar’s film is a huge high for Amy Jackson. Well, any actress for that matter. After all, he is one of India’s most successful and sought-after directors. “2013 has been a busy year for me, mainly because of Shankar’s Ai. I have shot for close to 18 months for the film and I am very excited about it.” Amy is contractually bound to not reveal much about the film. The actress had posted a picture on her micro blogging page recently with just her face visible and a bindi on. “I play an Indian girl, called Diya in Ai. It is a great role. The film is packaged beautifully. There is action. There is romance. All things considered, working for Shankar’s Ai has been a life-changing experience. I am happy I got to work with Vikram again, post Thaandavam; and collaborating with PC Sreeram and Shankar makes me feel very fortunate indeed. Having worked with them for over 200 days, I can say that the crew is like my Indian family.” Her upcoming release in Telugu, Yevadu, has also got Amy quite excited. “I play a girl called Shruthi, who is bubbly – think Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met. And I got a really good song with Ram Charan.” Chennai is like second home to Amy, no doubt. “Yes, the city is my second home. I like to keep to myself post work. I believe in separating my work from my personal life. I have got a great support system – my mum accompanies me on my visits to India, Chennai in particular. My dad was here last month. My relationship right now is with my work.” Amy refuses to talk about her ex-flame Prateik, or the tattoo that she is trying her best to get rid of. We ask her about why she hasn’t been seen in Hindi films of late. “The roles are good here, so is the remuneration. I have no complaints because I love the work I am getting in South Indian films. I hear scripts

December 2013 | Southscope

and if I hear a great script, I scrutinise the character and the storyline. If it appeals to my heart I make the decision to go ahead with it. Whether Bollywood, or Kollywood, China or Timbuktu, I am ready to go anywhere,” she responds. That she has had a steady stream of offers in South India is proof enough of broadening visions and horizons in cinema. But how intense is her competition as a foreign actress, with Indian stars? She quips safely, “I guess you are your own competition. You do what you are expected to do, in your best possible way. As an actress, I believe that creating an impact on the audiences is the biggest challenge.” Amy has a hearty laugh when asked about her take on the fairness trend in India and our crazed obsession with fair skin. “Back in England, people want to get a tan, they invest in creams and spend hours in the sun to get a lovely tan. In India it is different. A lot of people want fair skin. Stars like Shahrukh Khan endorse fairness creams. I guess the grass is greener on the other side,” she chuckles. Amy, who is scheduled to fly back to England immediately after our photo shoot, will also go to Miami and return to her Liverpool home just in time for Christmas. “I am looking forward to spending Christmas day with my entire family. For New Year, I guess I will be Las Vegas for me. I have work there.” A while ago, Amy had adopted a dolphin, named Smoothie. “She still swims along the coast of England where I am told there are no restrictions. I have seen her couple of times but now it is love from a distance because I have been away on work for so long.” Signing off, Amy makes a theatrical wish to God, to bestow 35 days to every month of the New Year because work is keeping her really busy. You go, girl!

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Whether Bollywood, or Kollywood, China or Timbuktu, I am ready to go anywhere

December 2013 | Southscope

In the bard’s paradise

It is a balmy Saturday morning and I am prompt at the venue for this interview. As I stay seated in the legendary poet’s working chamber, an assistant tells me, “He will be here in five minutes,” even as he places a pair of spectacles and some stationery on the table. This is an interaction that I have been looking forward to, as poetry has always fascinated and inspired me. Six National Awards for Best Lyricist (the most by any Indian lyricist) in addition to the Padmashri title, the Sahitya Akademi Award, Kalaimamani Award, six state government awards and many more laurels and accolades are just the tip of the iceberg, when you describe the achievements of the incomparable Vairamuthu. Read on as he talks exclusively to Shankaran Malini about his contribution to cinema and literature.

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Photography by Gurunath Prabhu

December 2013 | Southscope

ight at the entrance to this imposing yet beautiful home, poet and lyricist Vairmmithu’s love for Tamil is evident. The word Tamil is etched on one side of the gate flanked by the inscription of his name in his signature style on the other. I wonder how one can describe him – poet or lyricist? “Basically, I am only a poet. My love for poetry is like the roots of a tree, which hold the tree intact, and because of which the tree thrives and flourishes, whereas the lyricist side of me is but a branch of this tree,” explains Vairamuthu in rich Tamil. I am reminded of Wordsworth’s definition of poetry, where he calls poetry “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.” Poetry, according to Vairamuthu, is personal; a personal encounter with life, an inspiration witnessed, an experience lived. “Poetry is the fire within me,” he says. “As a lyricist, I need to pen others’ feelings, emotions and experiences – be it a man’s love for a woman, or a woman’s feelings for a man. All poetry can become lyrics but all lyrics cannot become poetry,” he adds. So, on occasion at least, isn’t there a possibility of lyrics and poetry stemming out of a similar feeling? “Yes,” he says, as he cites an instance, “In the film industry, I experienced a separation, soon after I won the first National Award. I never mentioned it anywhere, be it in my poetry or in prose or in lyrics or in any of my speeches. But years later, when I had to pen a song for Rajinikanth, the situation of the song and my past experience merged – a challenge taken up by the protagonist to succeed and reach great heights, a determination that stems from after being cheated by a friend. The song, ‘Vettri Nichhayam’ echoes the sum total of my feelings,” he says. Vairamuthu has penned about 1500 songs over these years, since he began with Ponmaalai Pozhudhu for Nizhalgal. And the poet mentions that he is looking forward to more of his creations, such as in the Rajinikanth-starrer Kochadaiiyaan music for which is composed by AR Rahman, the Kamal Haasan-starrer Viswaroopam 2, the Dhanush-starrer Anegan and others. Recollecting his first encounter with lyrics he says, “It was like a mother-to-be going into labour for the first time. I was in a

government job at that time (as a translator in the State Official Languages (Legislative) Commission). I was on my way to submit my leave application because my wife was about to deliver our first child (Madhan Karki) and was at the hospital. It was March 10, 1980, as I clearly remember. At that time, I got a call intimating me that Bharathirajaa and Ilayaraja were waiting for me. About six months earlier, I had had a chat with Bharathirajaa to whom I said that I could bring about a fresh aspect in lyrics, as films those days, in spite of their fresh themes, had lyrics that were old for their age. I met them and was given a situation to pen a song – about a carefree guy, with no strings attached, and in happiness. And that’s how Ponmaalai Pozhudhu happened. I told my wife that it was “Thala Prasavam” (first delivery) for both of us,” he laughs. Out of sheer curiosity, I ask whether the trio will come together once again to collaborate for a project, to which he says, “The charm of the past cannot be wrought again in the present. That magic won’t work again. Even if it happens, fans and audiences will compare it with the past and may be disappointed. The past is past and society has to move on.” His wife, Ponmani Vairamuthu also writes poems, but of late she has been focusing more on the spiritual aspect, he mentions. As a father, Vairamuthu is very proud of his sons Madhan Karki and Kabilan. “They were science students and I thought they would become successful scientists someday,” he laughs. “But poetry runs in their blood. I am glad about their works.”

Whatever has happened and is still happening to Sri Lankan Tamils is perhaps one of the biggest cruelties of the millennium

So what’s his thought on women lyricists in the film industry striving to make their mark in a man’s world? “As lyrics are to song, and song to a duet, it is but obvious that there is no gender bias as a lyricist. We urge more and more women to come into the industry as lyricists. But it is also important to note that writing lyrics is different from writing poems. If you have the talent, you are here to stay.” Epic Poet, as the former president of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had described him, Kavi Samrat, as described by the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kavi Perarasu conferred by Kalaignar Karunanidhi… Vairamuthu has received accolades aplenty in recognition of his phenomenal body of work from the mighty

December 2013 | Southscope

them, because his fans celebrate him. I like the song Sakkarai Nilavae that I had penned for Vijay in Youth and after that film, I am writing for him only in Jilla now. The song, Sattham Illadha Thanimai Kaettaen from Amarkalam, which I had penned for Ajith, in the form of poetry, was the ultimate. His fans and the general public received it so well. So it is important to bear the image and the personality of the star in mind when writing songs and lyrics for them.”

and the powerful. His association with the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu has been well chronicled. “We have been friends for the last 35 years. Irrespective of whether Kalaignar is the chief minister or not, the two of us have shared a lot, till date, in terms of literature and literary thoughts and ideas. I am not into politics at all. Our friendship and association is at a different level altogether. He has attended several functions of mine, about 14 events so far. We talk even today, everyday. I have been a big fan of his literary works, poetry, prose and the like. Come December 14, Kalaignar Karunanidhi will release the sixth edition of my works.” The poet agrees that he has been concentrating a lot on prose lately. “Whilst poetry connects you to thousands of fans, prose connects you to lakhs of people. The message reaches them directly. Moreover, certain things are best said by way of prose. I have published at least six anthologies of my poems. I shall get back to poetry soon,” he says. What do awards and accolades hold for him? “It’s a momentary pleasure. And the very next day onwards it increases your responsibility. You see, on a long journey, when you walk under the sun and the skies, you tend to rest occasionally under a tree and relax in its cool shade; but you cannot be there forever, you will have to get up and continue your journey. Winning awards and accolades is a similar feeling to me,” he says. We touch upon the topic of penning lyrics for our heroes. Vairamuthu’s lyrics have seamlessly applied themselves to the top superstars of the industry, cutting across generations – Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Vijay and the like. He elaborates, “I haven’t written for MGR because I came into this industry in 1980 and by 1977, MGR had already become the chief minister of the state. I have written for Sivaji Ganesan, the first being Mudhal Mariyadhai; it marked a complete change in how Sivaji was usually presented in his films. Bharathiraaja had directed the film. Kamal Haasan started off as a romantic hero and today right up to Viswaroopam 2, there have been various facets to his histrionic skills over the years. When I write songs for Rajinikanth, it is necessary to bear in mind how it will connect to the audiences and be received by

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While the formation of a song is a team effort comprising the lyricist, music director and the singer, Vairamuthu believes that it is through the voices of the singer that songs reach the masses. “SPB has sung a lot of songs of mine. So have Janaki and Chitra.”

The charm of the past cannot be wrought again in the present

Our conversation veers back to politics and I am curious to know from Vairamuthu, whether cinema personalities make good leaders. “The constitution of India says that anybody can come into politics. There is no formal background required. But in order to become a good leader, it is the leadership quality that matters. MGR in Tamil Nadu, NTR in Andhra Pradesh, Ronald Reagan in America, are all examples of great leaders because they had the leadership quality in them. Today, in Kerala, Mohanlal and Mammotty are very popular heroes, but whether they will be accepted as political leaders is not guaranteed. Same is the case with Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan. Leadership requires sacrifice, attitude and loads of other vital attributes. It is in the hands of the public to decide who is a leader.” Vairamuthu says, he has no “enemies” in the industry, and that in his circle, there are close to ten friends – “I have a good relationship with Rajini, Kamal, AVM Saravanan, AR Rahman, Bharathirajaa and others. I don’t have enemies in cinema,” he says. He recalls an incident, at the time of Mani Ratnam’s Raavanan. “There was this song that I wrote in Tamil and Gulzar wrote it in Hindi. People who heard both the versions said they loved the Tamil version the most. I said, ‘Gulzar is a great contemporary, a lyricist who is senior to me. But the language, Tamil in which I wrote the lyrics is great. This honour is for Tamil and not for me.’ His love for Tamil supersedes all else and Vairamuthu believes that the more our literature gets

interconnected with other languages of India and the world, the more its glory will spread. However, when it comes to certain works the soul can be lost in translation from Tamil. Ask him what characters impresses him the most from mythology and he quips, “Good question. I like the character of Arjuna in Mahabharata and in Ramayana I like Ravanan a lot. In Silapathigaram, I like the characters of Kannagi and Madhavi.” Among his own literary works, Vairamuthu rates Mannin Kadhai and Moondraam Ulaga Por as favourites. The former is about his village that has made way for the Vaigai Dam, along with 18 other villages. He recalls an incident, about seven years back. “I sometimes take my wife and children on short trips to our hometown. And once, we sat near the place where our house in the village was, where the dam is now. And we wept a lot. At that time, we found the “ural” that used to be in our home. Although very little of our home remained, this “ural” was still there. So we brought it home and have it in our backyard till date. Moondram Ulaga Por is about global warming. And the 11 lakhs that I earned out of it, I distributed it to 11 families in the affected areas.” Vairamuthu also empathises very strongly with the Sri Lankan Tamils. “Whatever has happened and is still happening to Sri Lankan Tamils is perhaps one of the biggest cruelties of the millennium. Genocide is unpardonable. They say that the war has ended, but then why shed blood even now? I will compile and document the cruelties faced by Sri Lankan Tamils by visiting them soon.” So what’s the typical day in the life of one of the greatest lyricists of contemporary cinema like? He says, “I read the newspapers in the morning. I go for walks. I write during the daytime. And these days since people come home regarding my lyrics, I save a lot of time that way. I need not go on errands. I definitely read before I go to bed. It’s a very simple life. No drinks, no socializing.” Having spent close to an hour in conversation with Southscope, Vairamuthu patiently poses for our photographer. As I bid good bye and leave his home, I am reminded of Wordsworth’s lines, “The music in my heart I bore, long after it was heard no more.”

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Photography by Karthik Srinivasan Hair and Make up by Vasantha of Bounce salon Location : Karthik's studio Styling by Kaushik Valendra Clothes and Accessories by Gatsby Shoes by Aldo

December 2013 | Southscope

A MegaBite of Jiiva

As actor Jiiva gears up for his upcoming Christmas release, Endrendrum Punnagai on December 20, he chats nineteen to the dozen with Southscope during this fun photo shoot.

I can recall the first time I met Jiiva at his office, Super Good Films. Back then, he was a celebrity judge on a popular dance show telecast in a regional channel. Even back then, despite his privileged and wealthy background, Jiiva, with his cheerful, pleasing demeanor, Jiiva came across as a simple guy who had a firm head on his shoulders. Today, all of us at Southscope are extremely happy to see his rise to commercial success. Jiiva arrives at the venue of the shoot on time. Amidst the flurry of activity all around to get the shot ready for him, he grabs a Subway sandwich and starts chatting away. I ask him about his Christmas and New Year plans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Frankly speaking, I have no plans for Christmas. I am not going to be here in town. I may be away in Morocco most probably, on a film shoot. There is frenetic activity

December 2013 | Southscope

going on now. By the end of this year, I want to finish a lot of things – my house, for example. Then, a couple of my projects too. My film Endrendrum Punnagai is releasing on December 20th. I feel the timing of its release is very good. I have been working with this team for the last 2 years and to approach the release now is a great feeling. In addition to this, we have been waiting for my film Yaan – we’ve been hunting for locations, in fact. Morocco has been finalised and we will be shooting a couple of songs there. I am hoping for a March or April release for Yaan. I’ve shouldered a big responsibility, you know, with these two films.” Jiiva pleasantly surprises me by saying that he doesn’t believe in New Year resolutions. “I don’t have any resolutions, because I don’t believe in resolutions at all. Every year is a new year. Every day is a new day. So why mark out just one day of the year for resolutions and burden yourself with it? What you can do for New Year’s Day, you can do on any other day, right?” he reasons with a laugh. Well put, indeed. So what does it feel like, being a decade old in Kollywood? “I am thrilled, to say the least. There are a lot of people still waiting for their big break, a lot of people who came and went out of the industry. I can only say that 10 years on, I am proud and I am happy. There is some sort of satisfaction but it is not complete. I am still learning the medium. When I see legends and doyens who have spent over 25, 30 or 50 years in the industry and I get a chance to work with them, the decade I have spent seems too short a time period. But then again, when you isolate it, it’s a big thing indeed. As an actor I have had the privilege of visiting different parts of the world, working with talented co-stars and some great directors and technical crew who have taught me tons about cinema, acting and much more. These last two years have been a rollercoaster ride for me in cinema. I have seen the good things and the bad things about cinema. It’s like riding a tide – it has its high and low points, but is constantly exciting. And at the end of the day, I am having a jolly good ride!” So what about 100 years of Indian cinema? “I am very proud of the fact that I am a part

December 2013 | Southscope

of Indian cinema, in its 100th year. Not many get this opportunity and privilege. 100 years is a century and that reminds me of Sachin Tendulkar,” he says, continuing, “I have grown up watching Sachin Tendulkar’s cricket. I couldn’t get over that moment when he was bidding farewell. I was in tears and recorded his farewell speech. I am sure many others would have done it too.” With the next CCL season approaching soon, Jiiva is kicked up about the whole thing, “Every year we wait for November, December, and January. We have a whale of a time as a team. We are ourselves totally, not as actors, but as individuals who are part of a team. That’s a great feeling indeed. We bond with Telugu actors; we bond with Kannada actors... This year, I don’t think we will have new teams.” Jiiva’s closest buddies in CCL are Vishal, Arya, Viishnu and Vikranth. And he says that since Jayam Ravi will be busy with his film, he might not be able to play in the CCL this time. I ask him about the current trends in the film industry. “The flavour of the season is comedy and it seems good. But then again, there have been instances when even comedy films have bombed at the box office. So have some action masala films too. But the best part is that the new wave of films has brought new talents into the industry today.” Jiiva has always had the image of a grounded, family guy and doting husband. I broach the topic with him and he says, “We are four brothers in all. I am the fourth one. My brothers are more like friends to me. I am very close to Ramesh and Jeevan and Jeevan is ten years elder to me. We have seen the good and the bad of life together. And we share a very good rapport. My father is my boss. And for the last six years, I have been a husband and thereafter a father myself. All this completes my world.” Jiiva tied the knot with Supriya in 2007. And together they have a son named Sparsha, who is about three years old. “I have tripped on love of every kind with Supriya. Short distance love, long distance love, childhood love, dating, courtship. When I think of the time she was in Delhi and later on in the US for over six years, all those Reliance plans for calling, and every other mode of communication rushes

to my mind now. The beautiful thing is that when I see Sparsha, I can see all the love that I showered on Surpiya. It simply reflects on his face,” he says. He adds, “I am a good son, brother, husband and father. I only don’t know how good I am as an actor,” and he laughs. About Sparsha he says, “This time for Sparsha’s birthday, we did not want to lavish money on parties. Instead we wanted children from orphanages to come home and celebrate the birthday with him. Even next year, I want Sparsha to visit some orphanages and learn important life lessons.” About his leisure time with Supriya and Sparsha, he fondly remembers the time they spent touring seven countries in Europe and the 2-3 days they spent in Kodaikanal. His street food restaurant, 1 MegaBite (MB) is doing fairly well and plans are afoot to open more outlets in the city. “Once, I got talking with a friend at the airport and that’s when we planned to do this. We thought it was a very good thing and opened it up.” Wasn’t there a buzz a while ago about Jiiva floating his own production house? When we ask him about it he clearly dismisses the rumour saying, “We have a very good production house right now – Super Good films. I don’t want to start another one. My dad is my boss. We have been in this industry as Super Good Films for 25 years now, having done a hundred films.” So, what has been his role in the production of the Vijay-starrer Jilla? “Nothing actually. All I have done is tweeting. My brother Ramesh is the co-producer and he has been really busy with the film.” Jiiva is on three projects including a home production, Production 86 as it is tentatively called, because the title they chose was already registered by someone else. He also has a project with Rajesh, which is slated to start later.

I have tripped on love of every kind with Supriya. Short distance love, long distance love, childhood love, dating, courtship…

Jiiva accepts the fact that films are a fickle business. “Life is not only about doing a film, and depending on whether it is a hit or flop, you celebrate or stay sad. I am happy to be doing other things as well. Right now, I am eagerly looking forward to finishing up my villa on OMR, which will be ready for occupation in about six months from now.”

December 2013 | Southscope

Far away from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Maddy-ingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crowd Getting hold of actor Madhavan for an interview is plain hard. Luckily for us, he was in town for the Audi RITZ Icon Awards 2013, hosted by our sister publication RITZ. Post his workout in the gym one evening, Maddy, as he is fondly called, settles in for a freewheeling chat with Southscope, about his much-hyped Hollywood debut project, his admiration for Kamal Haasan and his new found love for Seychelles. Shankaran Malini listens in rapt attention.

December 2013 | Southscope

Chennai and indeed, Tamil Nadu, has always been fond of this Alaipayuthey boy. After all who can forget all those unforgettable one-liners from Minnale and Alaipayuthey that made many girls swoon for him? Sure enough he does visit Chennai quite frequently. “I am in the city after a gap of roughly two weeks. My script is happening here, and so I am in the city quite often. Only when I was shooting for the English film (his Hollywood project), I was away from the country for over a year. Now I am back for a Hindi film and a Tamil film,” opens up Maddy who arrived in Chennai to attend the Audi Ritz Icon Awards, where he won the prestigious Iconic South Indian Entertainer of the Year Award. Maddy is playing a boxer in his upcoming Tamil film; He looks stunning in his new avatar, with a well-built body and beard. He says he had to build up his body to suit his look and role in the film. “I am not putting on weight, I am just building muscles,” he says with a smile, pointing out the difference. Arguably one of the very few South Indian stars who command a national presence, Maddy’s choice of cinema for quite sometime has been diverse. Be it Inba from Aayitha Ezhuthu, or Anbarasu from Anbe Sivam, each was gripping and different. “I do films very rarely now, maybe once in a year or once in two years. I am looking at a very different level of cinema now,” he quips. Kamal Haasan, his co-star in Anbe Sivam and Manmadhan Ambu celebrated his birthday in November. Maddy was a part of the birthday bash held in Chennai recently. “I met Kamal Haasan after about three-four months and he

December 2013 | Southscope

looks very fit. He showed me some pictures of his upcoming flick, Vishwaroopam 2 and it looks exceptionally good,” he says. His Hollywood project is the talk of the town. It’s a huge transition for a star of his stature. “Simon (West) is producing it. It’s a cult American film, very next-gen and a completely new genre too. One has to be prepared for the next level in cinema, you know. We have finished shooting for the film and it (Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D) is likely to release in August next year.” Ask him about his recent trips abroad and Maddy immediately talks about his newfound love of the scenic Seychelles. “Seychelles was real fun. I was part of the India Day celebrations there, on special invitation from their High Commissioner and Vice President. Simply put, it’s paradise, a very clean and natural place. This was my second trip to Seychelles and I was there for about five days. The people there are very nice and lawabiding. I wish more people here get a chance to visit Seychelles.” So is there any unusual plan up his sleeve? He is planning a road trip on his bike, he reveals energetically. “I love my bike and I am planning a road trip with my wife. The roads in India, especially in the south are excellent. Mumbai to Bengaluru and Mumbai to Chennai are both excellent.” When I make a reference to superstar Ajith’s bike ride earlier this year to spread awareness about road safety, he says his trip is going to be purely for pleasure. “The highways are phenomenal and it gives me great joy to cruise on my bike,” he smiles and signs off.

December 2013 | Southscope

An unconventional rise to fame This actor sounds ecstatic and why ever not when he has had back to back movie successes. Known as one of the most consistent Kannada actors, he has the support of big banners, directors and producers. When the box office figures do the talking for you, all you need is Yashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cheshire cat grin. The current box office magnet, Yash speaks to Shwetha Shivkamal on why he is ready to knock your socks off with another firecracker innings.

Sandalwood heartthrob Yash is on cloud nine. 2013 has been very lucky for him as his two films Googly and Rajahuli have been declared hits, garnering over 15 crores in collections. The insuperable Yash has done it all; comedy, drama and action roles. His versatility as an actor has become undeniable with multiple hits on screen. Making the jump from theatre and TV to cinema is never easy, but Yash has left no stone unturned to reach the heights of success and his no-nonsense attitude to acting is sure to take him a long way. Now, thanks to his performance and of course with three hit films back-to-back, Yash has producers vying for him. Experimenting with his roles while delivering mass appeal, Yash has created a successful niche for himself in the industry

December 2013 | Southscope

Theatre to TV to cinema is not an easy transition “The process of transitioning from theatre to the small screen and then to the big screen has been amazing. Theatre teaches you not only acting, but what it takes to showcase your acting skills in in front of the audience. It kills your ego easily. Television teaches you what teamwork is and how to adapt yourself to different environments and people. The big screen is an amalgamation of theatre and the small screen. The entire process has been very good for me and I’ve learnt how to deal with people and myself.

I’ve been addicted to whistles and claps from my childhood If there is some music that can be melodious to my ears, then it has to be the whistles and claps from my audience. Films were my only choice of career, and acting was all I knew. I had a clear-cut target of getting into films and knew I belonged here. Every time I watched a film as an audience, I dreamt of seeing myself on the big screen. The dream came true when I was applauded for my performance in Moggina Manassu. Self-confidence has been my biggest asset and that has kept me going in this profession.

My success has many names to thank for Whatever I am today has not come to me unexpectedly. There is a lot of hard work and effort put in by my family too. My parents have borne all my stubbornness and have faced my struggles along with me. The initial years were a period of struggle and that has taught me how to be a better actor and person.

It’s all about the script

film that is offered to me. I have to like the script first; the role that I’m going to play has to satisfy me; the director and the production house are important criteria too. I prefer doing one film at a time. I feel if I take up two projects at a time, I wouldn’t be able to do justice to either of the films.

Innovation keeps me fresh I’ve always tried something new in every movie of mine. I like trying new things; be it my acting, my looks, my dialect. When I read a script that is being given to me, I see it from the view of an audience not an actor. The story that the director wants to share and the excitement it brings matters to me first. Will I be happy to watch such a movie as someone in the audience, is the question that comes to my mind first. Films with new concepts and new themes interest me more than anything else.

Getting attention is inevitable and I accept it A person becomes an actor for many reasons, one of them being the attention and fame he or she receives. A movie actor who doesn’t get attention is not an actor. Getting attention is inevitable and is a crucial factor of being an actor.

Well-intentioned lies are necessary A harmless lie is good sometimes. For example: during an interview, depending on what kind of questions I am asked, I would have to lie (laughs). Sometimes because of unavoidable circumstances I will have to handle questions diplomatically. If it’s about my personal life and there are other people involved, then I will have to be careful for their sake and mine.

Though I was keen on choosing films as my career, I am not on a spree to accept every

December 2013 | Southscope

“Malayalam movies have converted me into a Malayalee”

In a candid conversation with Shwetha Shivakamal, Meghana Raj talks about her love for the limelight, life as an actress and the conventionality of unconventional roles. From day one of her arrival in Yakshiyum Njanum, Meghana Raj has spelt unconventionality in capitals. She has a strong onscreen persona and even off screen, Meghana’s vivacious and charming personality can be quite captivating. The fun-loving actress may have played a mother of two, but it must be said that she has given versatility a new meaning.

December 2013 | Southscope

Acting is in my DNA

Turning point

There was no specific trigger point for me to become an actor. It was kind of imbibed in me. Considering the fact I come from a family of actors, it was a natural choice. Cinema was an extended part of my family and acting is more of a second nature. So this was not a decision that I took randomly. This thought existed in my mind from the day I knew I had to do something in life. The only thing is I wasn’t sure was, when I would get into films. I knew I was destined to be in movies. I always that the only career I wanted to pursue was acting. Acting is in my DNA.

I must say it is Yakshiym Njanum and Beautiful. Yakshiyum Njanum provided me a strong platform in Mollywood. I didn’t know that my performance would be appreciated so well by the Malayalam audience. I was overwhelmed when people accepted me so easily. The next turning point was Beautiful, which was a cult film. The movie showcased me in a role that was quite different from the other roles I had played. I never imagined that this movie would be a runway hit. I took up the film because I liked the negative element of it. I am proud to have been a part of this film.

I am a Malayalee now! When I signed up for my first Malayalam film, I didn’t know the language, and that was the biggest challenge for me. But now, the Malayalam industry has converted me into a Malayalee (laughs). The cast and crew of my Malayalam films don’t talk to me in English and prefer speaking to me in Malayalam. They think I was born a Malayalee! I have learnt to converse well in the language, though I’m not perfect.

I play to my strenghts I am not the kind of actor to take up projects in an unsystematic way, just because I need to do films and keep myself busy. It is all about being a part of one or two good projects and giving my 100 per cent. I tend to be drawn towards things I can relate to and in a way it is always good to play to my strengths. It is the characterization that is important to me and not the length of my role. Whether it is 2 minutes or 5 minutes, how much of an impact my role creates is what is crucial.

My parents are my teachers Of course, whatever I am today is because of them. It was never important for me to attend any acting course or acting schools, simply because I had two teachers at home. They have taught me the intricacies of performing and not acting. They have always guided me with my choice of roles and have fine-tuned my skills. My mother has been my best and worst critic (laughs).

Unconventional roles If I take up roles that everybody does, then who is Meghana Raj? I want to be somebody different in this field. I want to do films that I find good and those that I find interesting to watch. Many people tell me that I choose unconventional roles. I tend to agree with them. For example: I play a mother of two in Namukku Parkkan, a ghost in Yakshiyum Njanum, a leading lady with a negative character in Beautiful. I enjoy such roles. Those are the kind of characters that I want to play. Of course I wouldn’t say no to playing the cheerful girl-next-door, but I guess people are more used to seeing me in complex, complicated characters and I enjoy them as well.

Meghana, the person I’m a very easy-going person. I’m a simple girl who also likes the glam and glitz of the film world. When I’m on the sets I love the attention attached to stardom, all the frenetic activity and the energy, but when I get back home, I want to be cut off from it all. I enjoy my alone time, reading books, going out with friends for coffee or just lounging at home watching movies. I don’t want to miss out on the small things in life, because it is these things that keep me charged up. Of course my real life is quite a contrast to my reel personas. I’m a little moody but won’t let those mood swings affect others.

Quick reads

1 2 3 4 5

Three character traits you think are important for everyone: § Honesty § Being yourself § Let go attitude

Three things that turn off you off: § Baseless arguments § Traffic § Pretensions

Three things we don’t know about Meghana: § My pet name is Kutti ma § I love chocolates, I can even eat Sambhar if it is made of chocolates § I am short-tempered

Describe yourself in 3 words § I am awesome

One fashion failure you’ve had: § I am not a very good dresser, so most of the time I’m a fashion disaster.

December 2013 | Southscope

A lesson in never giving up Swarnalatha Pothapragada talks to ace cinematographer Ravi Varman and comes away completely moved and inspired by the story of his ascent to success.

December 2013 | Southscope

warnalatha Pothapragada talks to ace cinematographer Ravi Varman and comes away completely moved and inspired by the story of his ascent to success. For more reasons than one, his Phir Milenge has been a film that has impacted me deeply. I especially cannot forget the song, Jeene Ka Ishara. And who can forget the breathtaking visuals in the Allu Arjun starrer Badrinadh? Cinematographer Ravi Varman has lent his magical touch to many films, the latest being Ram Leela. The Bollywood blockbuster has been making waves and people who have seen the film are showering high praise on its cinematography. Well, credit indeed goes to Ravi Varman. Be it Barfi, Dasavataram, or his other numerous films, Ravi’s brand of cinematography is flawless and picture perfect. Born in a small village near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, probably no one could ever have guessed that the shy and simple Ravi was going to become a famous cinematographer one day. Clearing his throat, Ravi begins to tell me his extraordinary story. “I belong to a very well-to-do family. I lost my parents at a very young age. I am very much attached to my mother. I say ‘I am’ because as far as I am concerned my mother is alive, and is my driving force and inspiration. The day I lost my parents, I was completely shattered and utterly dejected. I was young and did not know what to do. At the height of all the trauma, pain and vexation of having lost my parents, I even contemplated suicide. However, circumstances made me realise that suicide is a coward’s approach to life’s problems,” says Ravi about his rocky growing up years. Shocked, I gather my guts to ask him to continue speaking. “After I lost my mother, one day I saw a photograph taken at a wedding in my neighbourhood, in which my mom was also accidentally clicked. I took the photograph to a studio and told them to clear up the blurred image of my mother and give it to me. That’s when I first came to know what the phrase ‘Out Of Focus’ meant. It also marked my first initiation into the world of cameras.” Ravi Varman’s story is one of intense struggle, desperation and the indomitable will to succeed. “Did you know that I ran away from my home town and came to Chennai?

For about 4 months I had no work. I survived on the free food distributed everyday at an Ayyappa Temple. The only driving force was that I had to chart my own course. Save for this determination, I did not now what to do or where to go. I had nothing – not even good clothes or a decent pair of chappals… nothing. I was in desperate need of money so I joined Amaravathi restaurant as a server and started working for 125 rupees a month. When I got my first month’s salary, I went shopping. Nothing excited me except a camera, which I bought for 105 rupees. The funny part was that I had no clue how to operate it and since I did not know English, I could not learn anything from the manual as well. So, the next thing I did was to buy an English to Tamil dictionary; with that, I explored and eventually learnt to use my beloved camera,” says Ravi Varman. “While working in the restaurant, one of my friends was trying his hand at acting and that piqued my interest too. However, I quickly realised that I was not meant to act or direct films and proceeded to join a production house as office boy and worked 24 hours a day, just to stay there and help out during the shooting. Unfortunately, office boys were never taken to shoots. But I was so desperate to go to the shoot that I hid in the costume van and landed up at the shooting spot. The director and the crew were very angry with me but I convinced them that I would do any kind of work to stay at the location. During this phase it was KV Mani (still photographer) who identified me and spotted my enthusiasm for camera work and made me his assistant. While working as Mani’s assistant, cinematographer Ranga who saw my work (photos) asked me to assist him. The film was made and it was a flop,” reminisces Ravi.

For about 4 months I had no work. I survived on the free food distributed everyday at an Ayyappa Temple

His short stint as an assistant led him nowhere and it seemed as though life had brought him back to square one. “The film flopped and I was again jobless. But I knew that it was cinema that I loved and so to stay on in the field, I took up the job of a makeup artist. Later, I was like, ‘What am I doing? Is this what I want to do?’ Reality hit me and I asked Ranga whether I could assist him and he agreed. That’s how I became a part of the Rajinikanth-starrer Mapillai. Later, I worked with Ranga on 2-3 films. After that,

December 2013 | Southscope

I am a great cameraman. I am good and I believe in self-analysis. When I am at work, my only thought is ‘It’s a new day, a new opportunity; people are investing money on me, what can I do better?’ Every day you must try to do something new and better. For example, do we wear the same dress every day? No. I respect my work and I respect myself. My work is my best friend and my enemy too. I believe in staying grounded, understanding myself and believing in my work.”

I approached various other cinematographers like Balu Mahendra and P C Sreeram but nothing happened. That’s when I met Ravi K Chandran who liked my work and I got to assist him for 9 years. It was in 1999 that I finally decided to go independent and got my first film Jalamarmaram in Malayalam,” shares Ravi. Successive films like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Santham and others brought him to the limelight. Right through his repertoire, the beauty of each work shines through. “How should I put it? All I can say is, I have seen the darkest side of life and therefore, I ensure that my work is colourful and full of life. I ensure every shot brightens the scene and excites the viewer. Also, I am a big admirer of the paintings of Ravi Varma and Peter Paul Rubens. So, maybe it’s that influence,” says Ravi about his attachment to colour. In a span of 14 years, Ravi has been a part of many wonderful films and has received various National and International awards that have all made him one of the most soughtafter cinematographers. “I never thought I would get to where I am right now. Life has taught me many things and I have learnt each of my lessons the hard way. So success does not excite me nor does failure disappoint me. I just feel happy that my life is better today, than the day I came to Chennai when no one knew me. Also, in the film industry, a hit or a flop is a matter of a week, after which you are back to your next project and have to work with the same dedication, if not more. I feel success and failure are just relative terms. For me, success is delivering my best every day. Success is knowing who I am and what I want. I do what my mind tells me to. I live my life one day at a time. Today is my day, and about tomorrow I really don’t know. So, I believe in giving my best and living today to the fullest,” says Ravi philosophically about his take on success and failure. “I don’t think there is any such thing as a success mantra. People say hard work is the key to success but I feel sensible work gets you success,” he adds. Every film he has worked on has been appreciated. How does he manage this, especially considering that in a creative field like cinema, delivering consistently good work every time is not easy. “I don’t think

December 2013 | Southscope

Success does not excite me nor does failure disappoint me. I just feel happy that my life is better today, than the day I came to Chennai when no one knew me

I ask him who or what inspires him and pat comes the reply, “My mother has been an inspiration to me. My 11-year old daughter who paints very well inspires me. The people I have worked with inspire me. So, it’s not one person, or one kind of cinema that inspires me.” Considering that he is a successful cinematographer in South Indian films and Bollwyood too, I ask him to share his experiences of working in diverse industries and he quips, “Ah, I don’t consider it as working in different industries. For me, a film is a film, irrespective of the language; I work on each film with the same passion and zeal. There is so much to learn from people of every industry. For instance, people in the Telugu industry are very supportive; the ones in Kerala are hardworking while the Tamil industry is creative and Bollwood is super focussed. Every industry is special and unique.” Ravi even tried his hand at direction, with Moscowin Kavery through which he introduced actress Samantha and music director Thaman to the industry. “I want to share my experiences as a director after my next directorial venture,” he says, subtly shifting the topic of conversation. His visuals may be bright but as an individual Ravi Varman is simple and low-key. “My world is very small and it consists of my wife, my daughter and cinema. Once shooting is over for the day, I spend time either with my family or by myself, reading books. I don’t bother about tomorrow. I have not enjoyed my childhood, so I am reliving my childhood in my daughter’s growing up years,” says Ravi with a sense of joy in his voice.

Rav Varman has worked on several films that have got him accolades from the industry and the audiences as well. Joining this elite list is the latest Ram Leela, the visual brilliance of which has left audiences spellbound and enthralled. “It has been a wonderful experience. I got a call from Sanjay Leela Bhansali even before the release of Barfi. When I met him, he asked, ‘Could you show me your best work till date?’ And I told him, ‘My best is yet to come.’ His replied that we should work together and even suggested that we start right from that very moment! It is a known fact that making cinema is a team effort so you cannot just attribute all the appreciation to me alone. Nearly 150 people work as a team to bring about the entire visual experience. I have to say that I got complete creative freedom while working on Ram Leela. This film is very close to my heart for two reasons. First, I have always loved the story of Romeo and Juliet because in all the time I spent learning English, it was this story that I read the maximum number of times. Second was the fact that I was working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Working with him was great because he would actually ensure that I was completely satisfied with every shot. We would discuss each and every scene and he was a man who respected his technicians. I remember shooting in Gujarat during the winter. Needless to say, winters in Gujarat are extremely cold. We had to shoot this particular scene at 5.30 AM and believe it or not, the entire crew was right on time! The scene required Ranveer to be in water and he was actually standing in the freezing water for two and a half hours to give his shot. That has been the level of dedication of the actors and technicians and that is the reason why Ram Leela is being appreciated so much.” I ask him about his toughest film projects. “Every film has been challenging, no doubt. But I must say that shooting Santham was very tough, as we shot in the rains with no light or generator. Barfi was another tough film, because it is a light-hearted comedy and the challenge was to show such a subtle film beautifully.” Regarding his forthcoming projects, Ravi Varman says, “Right now, I am working on Anurag Basu’s film Jhakas Jasoos starring Ranbir and Katrina. After that, I will start my directorial venture.”

December 2013 | Southscope

“It’s all about knowing the pulse of the audience” I

t’s a rainy evening and the ‘Madhuram Madhuram’ song from his first film plays in my car, as I drive to meet the man behind the 2012 blockbuster ‘Gabbar Singh’ that set and reset several records at the box office. I still remember the feverish excitement that surrounded the film when it released to packed theatres and kept roaring gloriously for many, many weeks. Like the millions who loved it and watched it many times over, I saw Gabbar Singh 4 times in the theatres. As I wait for the director of this blockbuster, the hilarious Antakshari scene from Gabbar Singh flashes in my mind making me smile. He walks out of his cabin inviting me in to begin the interview and we kick off onto his roller coaster cinematic journey. In conversation with the lively, straightforward and extremely warm Harish Shankar.

“I was born and brought up in Hyderabad at BHEL. So, I am 100% Hyderabadi. Growing up, I always had nosebleeds when I played outside and ended up spending most of my time at home. So, my father introduced me to literature to keep me occupied and by the time I was 15, I had read books from Balamitra to books by authors like Yendamuri and many more. BHEL was a big cultural hub and every year we used to have drama competitions in which I was very active. I started as a child artiste in the dramas and soon was interested in learning the details of the craft. It was during this participation in drama that I met my gurus like Mohan Rao garu, Bhujangarao garu, Srinivas garu and Nagmohan garu who moulded me and refined my skills in theatre. It was during this phase of active participation in theatre, when Srinivas garu who was the Finance Head, encouraged me to join the National School of Drama (NSD). I tried and cleared the prelims but failed in the finals. When I was walking out of NSD, one of the

panel members asked me whether I would be interested to know why I did not make it to NSD. He said, ‘You were trying to impress us with your dialogues, acting etc. and we were impressed too. You were entertaining but not in the true art of theatre. So, you will not continue in theatre. Go and chase your dream.’ I was confused about whether it was a compliment or not. However, later I realised what he meant was that, with my knowledge of theatre, and thirst to entertain, It was cinema where my heart was,” reminisces Harish. He realised it was films that excited him and the journey for that one big break began. “I feel, once you know what you want or what you are good at, half the battle is won. The rest is just to achieve it. So, after I realised I liked commercial cinema, the only thought was to find a way to achieve the goal. Thankfully, when I decided to make my foray into the industry, the industry had shifted to Hyderabad. So, every day I used to go to December 2013 | Southscope

Filmnagar in search of work and for that one chance of presenting my skills. However, I believe every individual has to struggle to achieve what he wants. So, I don’t wallow in self pity by saying I struggled a lot and used to search for work day and night. Films were a conscious choice and so I knew I had to try all means possible to achieve my dreams,” says Harish about his early days. It is surprising that, he used to work as a theatre artiste, loved cinema and wanted to work as a writer. He laughs and continues, “See, as I said, I was exposed to a lot of literature so I had a lot of respect and love towards writing. I admired EVV Satyanarayana garu who use to encourage many writers and it was the writer in me who was attracted to work with him. However, I could not meet him, due to various obstacles. Also, while in theatre, though I used to act, it was the ‘making of’ that always attracted me. The lighting, the sets and the visuals were always fascinating to me. So, I was keener on directing as it would give me a lot of creative freedom, as compared to being an actor who is confined to the director’s or writer’s vision.”

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With Destination Cinema as his driving force, Harish worked progressively forward. “I worked just 3 films before I made my first film as director. I was first an assistant, in my second film an associate and in the third, the co-director. My fourth film was my debut directorial venture. It was while working with Ravi Raja Pinisetty garu as associate that I got the complete confidence that I can direct a film. All credit goes to him. He is like a master of directors. The sheer potential he has when it comes to executing things and the clarity with which he works amazed me. I learnt a lot from him and from S Gopal Reddy garu with whom I worked as co-director in Na Autograph,” shares Harish about his initial endeavours as an aspiring director. He climbed the ladder of learning quite fast and floated his maiden project Shock. Like the name, it was a shock in many ways. He laughs again. “I was actually asked to co-direct Shock. After Na Autograph, I had narrated a story to Ravi Teja which I wanted to float as my maiden project. Ravi told me to come with the complete script. While working on my script, one day Ravi called me and asked me to work as co-director for Shock.

Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) was planning to make Shock with Ravi Teja and Jyotika, and the film was to be directed by Prawaal Raman, a Mumbai-based director. Because it was a Telugu film, Ravi Teja wanted a Telugu co-director apart from the Mumbai team and asked me to take up the task. That’s how writer Kona Venkat and I went to meet RGV to get the details about scheduling the project, the cast etc. It was the first time I was meeting him and I was amazed and spellbound by the way he narrated the story. As he narrated, I could imagine the entire movie playing out. After the narration, I told him that the script was amazing but it would not work with Ravi Teja. RGV said, ‘Just because you have come all the way from Hyderabad and I am in Mumbai, it does not mean I will take your word. You think you are a film expert? Nobody can say which film will work and which will not.’ I said, ‘I agree but this what I feel.’ He replied, ‘I like that you spoke your heart and did not try to merely impress me. Now I’ll give you an offer: Make whatever changes you want to, you are the director of the film. I’ll give you half an hour to decide.’ I was SHOCKED! More than me, it was Kona Venkat who

was excited and told me take up the project. it is a very dark subject and I had some reservations. Kona Venkat said, ‘People are craving and struggling to get a break and when you get this golden chance to float your maiden project and share the title space with RGV, you say you are not confident? He says you can make any changes you want, so why not?’ When RGV came back from his phone call (which was to Ravi Teja to check whether he was ok if I directed the film), I agreed to direct the film. He said, ‘You have taken the wisest decision of your life.’ But, I did not know that my ‘wise decision’ would stop me from making films for 4 years,” says Harish with a hearty laugh of how unexpectedly, or shockingly ‘Shock’ happened. Shock released and unfortunately failed to shock or excite the audiences. “When the movie released I knew that it would not become a blockbuster. I was taking a chance but filmmaking itself is a risk. So, whatever happened to Shock, whether it flopped or people loved the flashback of the film or the success of the Madhuram Madhuram song, it’s all because of me. Except for the storyline, RGV did not interfere in the film at all. Also, Ravi Teja, Jyotika and Tabu were extremely professional and did whatever I asked them to. I have no regrets,” says Harish about his risky directorial début. His second film Mirapakay gave the audience the spice and flavour that was appreciated and loved. “Post Shock, things were really tough. During that phase, Puri Jagannadh came to know about me. He liked Shock and was open to take me in as his associate director. Though it was tough to go back to being an associate after directing your own film, I felt it was justified, as the very purpose of my being in the industry was to be associated with filmmaking. After Pokiri, getting such a chance gave me a high and I had always admired him as a writer too. I am a very practical guy and thus just took up the opportunity. I have to say, working with Puri Jagannadh is the best thing that happened to me. He taught me the essence and tips of commercial cinema. I worked with him on 2 films: Chirutha and Bujjigadu. I travelled with him for nearly one and a half years and learnt a lot from just observing him. After Bujjigadu, I began introspecting about my career. After Shock and before I joined Puri Jagannadh, I was offered to direct a film under MS Raju garu which I quit, because I was very clear that my next film had to be my thought and nothing else. Then I started working on my second script. I narrated the story to Jr NTR and Pawan Kalyan but it did not work out. Around this time, one day Ravi Teja called me and said, ‘We need to start a film.’ That’s when I narrated the script to him December 2013 | Southscope

and he agreed immediately. I have to say, Ravi Teja has always had more confidence in me than I had in myself. He has always been there for me and I owe my career to him. He said, ‘This is you, Harish. Your style of story,’ and we floated Mirapakay. The rest as they say, is history,” says Harish about the postShock effect and how he managed to bounce back with Mirapakay. Mirapakay washed out the debris of Shock and he tasted success. If technically Shock was his first film, it was Mirapakay that actually launched him as a potential commercial film director. After Mirapakay, came the sensational hit Gabbar Singh (remake of Dabangg) which swept all records and made Harish Shankar a household name. However, making Gabbar Singh was like playing with a double-edged sword with Dabangg’s success at one end and Pawan Kalyan’s superstar status on the other. “While shooting Mirapakay, I went to see Dabangg but could not see the full film as I had to rush out due to a post-production problem. Moreover, due to some or the other reason, Dabangg remained unwatched. After a couple of months one day, I got a call from Power Star (who had known me since my first film) who told me that he was doing the remake of Dabangg and asked whether I would be interested in directing it. He had already decided the name of the remake as ‘Gabbar Singh.’ My 10-year dream of directing Pawan Kalyan was becoming a reality! You see, Dabangg may be a new story for North Indian audiences but definitely not so for the South. So I had to ensure that the story catered to the Telugu audience. For me, Pawan Kalyan is much bigger than Dabangg. The contents of the film and the characterisation of my hero were all written long back. I had a vision of my directorial debut with Pawan Kalyan. Every scene would start with him and end with him and I don’t mind if people say that it’s not a film but a show reel of Pawan Kalyan. I would take that comment like an Oscar Award (laughs). Thankfully, because Dabangg had a very simple, basic story line, I had the creative freedom to add my sensibilities like a Kabbadi fight, Antakshari etc. that obviously fit in the story. I made Gabbar Singh as a hardcore Pawan Kalyan fan. If I made it as a director keeping the success of Dabangg in mind, the film would have not worked. For me Dabangg was purely an excuse to make my kind of film with Pawan Kalyan. I am happy and thankful that my instinct was right and Gabbar Singh became a big success,” says Harish. With language barriers slowly melting away in Indian cinema, there have been quite a few South Indian directors making their foray into Bollywood. “After Gabbar Singh, 68

December 2013 | Southscope

I had got many offers from Bollywood. Also, when I gave interviews or interacted with Mumbai-based newspapers and channels, they were surprised at my Hindi-speaking skills and knowledge of Hindi cinema. I could even quote Swanand Kirkire, Gulzar saab, Salim-Javed and others. I got offers to remake Telugu films in Hindi and to be honest, I was not offered a straight film. So, I said, ‘Yes I can remake any Telugu film for you, but it would be easier to adopt my sensibilities than another director’s sensibilities.’ So, I wanted to start off with the remake of my films. That’s where things are now. Directing a Hindi film is definitely on the cards; in fact, I would love to work with Hindi technicians,” he says. A unique point about Harish Shankar’s films would have to be his heroes. They completely own the script, and are the supreme masters of the show. Their one-liners are amazing too. Harish explains his larger-than-life characterisations, “I am a hardcore heroworshipping kind of guy. I have grown up on Zanjeer’s background score and Agneepath’s dialogues.” (Coincidentally his phone rings and the ringtone is a dialogue from Agneepath). Harish smiles, “I have grown up like this. I still remember, when I was young, there use to be a program on radio called Shabd Chitra, which was the audio broadcast of the whole film. It was a very powerful experince and I remember listening to it and thinking, ‘One day, my films should make such a big impact too.’ A dialogue is truly appreciated when it is delivered by a credible hero. So, in my films, I try to show my heroes in a new avatar in terms of characterisation with interesting dialogues and signature oneliners instead of merely tweaking their looks. For example while making Gabbar Singh, Power Star asked me, “Because Gabbar Singh is a cop, do you want me to shorten my hair?” I said, Gabbar Singh is not a cop who follows the rules; he is the one who sets the rules (which became his signature one liner: ‘Nenu trend follow avanu, trend set chesthanu’), so you please don’t change your look. In fact I wanted to see the Pawan Kalyan of Khushi. Ditto was the case with Jr.NTR in Ramaiyya Vastavayya, the look is of Adi and Simhadri.” I ask him about his scripting process. “Our industry is hero-driven. I write a story after the hero is confirmed. It’s never like I have a great story and then I am in search of artistes who suit the story. In my case the reverse is true. It’s the hero who leads me to the story. I believe what I know is secondary; to whom I am delivering the film is the primary concern for selecting any story. So, my focus is: who is the star, what has he done already, what can I do with him and how is it different? This is my thought process when I work on my script.”

His latest film Ramaiyya Vastavayya garnered a lukewarm response a the box office. “Firstly, I strongly believe that the audience won’t excuse you or appreciate you just because your previous film was a superhit. One has to keep on delivering and giving their best. I have known Tarak for quite a long time. He has done many emotional and high-octane roles onscreen but offscreen he is an extremely cool guy, who is very simple and warm. I wanted to showcase him like that in Ramaiyya Vastavayya. I am glad that I did it. However, I do know that the audience has a complaint about the action sequences in the second half but they thoroughly enjoyed the first half and the film received enough appreciation. We may not have achieved our target because it was too high, but we reached the people quite well.” In an industry where success is heady and failure fatal, his journey has been quite a rollercoaster ride. “I don’t complain when people want to work with only successful people. Even after my first film failed, I wanted to work with successful actors like Jr.NTR, Pawan Kalyan and Ravi Teja and never looked at the not-so-successful actors. Similarly, even producers would like to work only with successful directors. It is success that ultimately matters. At the same time, failure has to be endured and the big lesson is to find out where you went wrong. My constant effort is to know what the audiences expect and it is how far I can deliver or match their expectations that keeps me going.”

I, Me, Myself 1

Describe yourself in one word?

Your success mantra?

Do you get angry?

Very hyper

Being true to my instincts

A million times a day. But showing your anger is different from getting angry. I don’t show my anger

Cinema Scope

1. One Telugu film that you can keep watching back-to-back Can I name 2? Maya Bazaar (old classic) and Saagara Sangamam

2. One contemporary director whom you admire SS Rajamouli

3. Describe your heroes a. Ravi Teja: My life b. Pawan Kalyan: Genuine c. Jr. NTR: Single take

4. One film you would love to remake? Instead of calling it a remake, let me name the film for which I would like to see my name in the card as director. It is Saagara Sangamam. (Given his background of commercial entertainers, I ask him why he would want to be associated with a cult classic like Saagara Sangamam) He laughs, “I can’t make Saagara Sangamam so at least I want to see my name in the cards..”

5. One Bollywood actor you want to work with Again, I can name 2 - Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan

6. A non-telugu director you admire the most? Priyadarshan

7. Your message to the audience? Please see my films on Repeat mode..(bursts out laughing)

8. Piece of advice to aspiring directors? Don’t take any advices including mine

9. Your next project? A film with Allu Arjun is on the cards provided I narrate a script that he is satified with. I am working on that script and can give a confirmation regarding the project only when he likes the script. So, right now the complete focus is on Allu Arjun.

December 2013 | Southscope

Walking on the wild side 70

December 2013 | Southscope

SPECIAL FEATURE

When Karthi adopted Namrata, the white tiger at the Vandalur Zoo in 2011 and donated money towards her maintenance expenses, we were thrilled to see this caring side to his personality. In a candid chat with Southscope, Karthi opens up about his love for nature and wildlife, his travel adventures and more. “It all started with my liking for Geography. Our geography teacher used to bring pictures and maps of places and literally bring geography to life. It was very exciting to learn about diverse cultures, habits, regions and people. I used to score well in Geography – always above 70%. The very thought of meeting strangers and talking to them would excite me a lot. And with time, I started liking history too. I was curious even as a child, and would always insist, ‘Tell me more…’ I was never satisfied with just a few details. I would want the whole picture. This was true particularly of World War 2. Remember how it is always exciting to hear an incident or a story from a grandparent? Well, I still remember my grandfather telling us how his uncle used to describe all that happened during World War 2 with the help of maps,” says Karthi.

It is but obvious that Karthi nurtured a love of nature, wildlife and travel even as a child. “I have always loved the outdoors. For our summer vacations, I always looked forward to visiting my grandmother in Coimbatore. I would insist on travelling in the second class compartment and not first class. I still remember all that time I spent travelling on the doorstep of the train speaking to the TTR or a family or a vendor. I used to love being among people,” he says. I am reminded of the saying, ‘The world is a book, and those who don’t travel only read one page.’ I ask Karthi for his most inspiring definition of travel and he quotes Robert Williams of Good Will Hunting. “I am reminded of this conversation between Will and Sean, where he explains that unless you have lived your experiences yourself, you won’t be able to comprehend things. It is a very, very inspiring dialogue relevant for travel.” Karthi’s initiation into wildlife travel came through his good friend (actor) Sathyan. “Sathyan is a close family friend. We all grew up together. Once for the vacations,

we went to his village of Madhampatti near Coimbatore. His ancestors were Zamindars and I had seen photographs of several of them posing near various animals killed during their hunting trips – a lion, bison, tiger or a bear. I don’t support hunting at all but the concept of going into a forest is what excites me immensely. We went on a safari ride in a local jeep. And just when we were entering the forest, we could sense elephants on both the sides of the road, walking amid the dense foliage. We were half way up there and were told to go back because the elephants could come on to the road at any time and it could all get very risky then. I remember feeling very scared for the first time. I could feel the elephants all around me already. Indeed, bears and elephants with their calves can be very dangerous,” he says. Mention Top Slip and Karthi’s eyes light up. “If someone asked me to choose between going to Kulu-Manali or Top Slip, I would pick Top Slip in a heartbeat. As little children, we obviously weren’t allowed to go anywhere alone. But from my 8th grade onwards, I started travelling alone or with a group of close friends. The one experience I remember

December 2013 | Southscope

vividly is of being fed up one day of not getting to see a leopard, panther or tiger on one of our trips. We had got special permission from forest officials on that trip. I was walking in the forest calmly, when I saw something pop out from behind the grasslands. As I approached closer, I spotted a leopard, which upon seeing me, ran away…well, not so much ran away, but bounced off! I was so excited. And just when I was about to go down the hills, I saw a bear cub running towards me, and moments later I saw the mother running after it. I was a little scared but couldn’t help thinking, ‘Man, what a day…!” About dream trips, Karthi says that he wishes to go an African wild safari and also witness the monsoon migration. “It’s a beautiful sight from an altitude, to see huge groups of animals migrate. I have seen pictures shared by wildlife photographer friends of mine and it seems like heaven.” Karthi is not the sort to relentlessly click pictures all through his safaris and adventure holidays. “For a while, I was also clicking away, but then I realised that I was never able to enjoy the sights entirely. By the time I see something marvelous in the forests, click a picture and tell someone, ‘Look what a beautiful thing it is,’ I have already lost that moment without enjoying it entirely.” Karthi continues, “From New York to New Orleans – from the north to the south crossing

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SPECIAL FEATURE

North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi, I have travelled the length and breadth of the US of A with my friends. I had a friend who wanted to see another friend and thus the chain built up. We started in the winter and as we drove down, the landscape changed completely. From snow to the plains and the sands. We noticed the change in food, the portions etc. The chicken down south was the best. One of the highlights of the trip was that I drove all through. Although we decided that we would take turns to drive, none of the others were deft in driving.” The worst travel experience for Karthi is undoubtedly the trip to Poland to shoot for Saguni. “We wanted to shoot in the beginning of Fall, but when we reached Poland, the weather had completely changed. The sun would rise at 8 and set by 3.30. It was misty right through. We had to travel long distances for the shoot, for hours together. And we hadn’t exactly packed for the winter. It was cold all the time. We had to get a mountain shot. And we could get it only when the breeze stopped. It was so cold that even standing around was difficult. But the DOP couldn’t budge and he held the camera to get the shot,” he adds. Karthi loves visiting Kerala, Mudhumalai, Wayanad and Kulu-Manali. “You can spot huge bisons in the forests in Kerala. Shola forests are a beautiful sight here, and the

purple leaves are a sight to behold. Believe me, this place looks like Scotland. There are lots of virgin forests. I remember going into a forest and seeing a huge bison. It was right in the centre. Standing there, looking at the majestic animal, I was reminded of a scene from a film where the protagonist comes in search of a bull and chances upon a valley infested with bulls!” He continues, “It makes me very sad when forests are cleared to make way for people and plantations. Did you now that young tribal boys are employed the most by forest officials? And they literally risk their lives every day. They are taken into temporary jobs and face huge threats in areas where illegal cultivations or deforestations happen. If they are caught as a witness, they cannot come back alive. And still, they risk their lives each day, because they know nothing else, except the forests. We need to provide them with better headgear and hand gear at the very least,” he says. Karthi is also concerned about the vandalism and littering that takes place in monuments of great importance. “You find these plastic bottles and rubbish everywhere. You visit the Taj Mahal and can’t help but notice that the surroundings are dirty. Yet, Taj Mahal is the only beautiful object there. In summer, your feet cannot touch the marble floors there. Even then the beauty of the monument is priceless.”

December 2013 | Southscope

TELUGU

M A R R U G E

RAC

CAST: Allu Arjun, Shruti Haasan, Prakash Raj, Suhasini Maniratnam

DIRECTOR: Surender Reddy MUSIC: S Thaman PRODUCER: Nallamalapu Srinivas

Race Gurram happens to the first film of director Surender Reddy with stylish star Allu Arjun. The shooting for the movie is in progress. One of the highly expected movies of Tollywood, Race Gurram is said to be an action and romantic entertainer. Originally, Samantha Ruth Prabhu was roped in to play the female lead. However, because of the lengthy shooting schedule and a clash of dates, Shruti Hassan replaced Samantha. Saloni Aswani is the second female lead of the movie. The shooting for the movie took place extensively in foreign locations, including Norway and other European nations. Arjun is said to have shot for some of the best action sequences in Hyderabad, which have been choreographed by Ram-Lakshman. Shruti Haasan has not signed any Telugu movie, as she is busy with her Hindi film assignments. The success of Race Gurram could waltz her right to the top in Tollywood. - Shwetha Shivkamal 74

December 2013 | Southscope

KANNADA

G N I L DAR CAST: Yogi & Mukta Bhanu DIRECTOR: Santhu MUSIC: Arjun Janya PRODUCER: T P Siddaraju

This movie is said to be the “bounceback” project for Yogi, who has failed to deliver hits in the last one year. Consequently, his father has roped in some of the best talent in the Kannada film industry for Darling. Santhu, who directed last year’s Alemaari, has taken up the project with Arjun Janya composing the music. He is expecting another hit movie out of Darling.

Malayalam actress Mukta is making her debut in Sandalwood through Darling. Recently, the duo took part in a photoshoot, images of which have been splashed across the state. The movie is being shot extensively in and around Bengaluru. Yogi made headlines after he fell off a speeding motorbike while shooting for an action sequence. It was a chasing sequence and Yogi lost control of his bike and fell on the ground, and had to be hospitalised. Consequently, the shooting had to be suspended for a week. - Shwetha Shivakamal

December 2013 | Southscope

TAMIL

L I N DHU

N R I NIM

CAST: JAYAM RAVI, AMALA PAUL, SARATH KUMAR, RAGINI DWIVEDI

DIRECTOR: Samuthirakani MUSIC: GV Prakash Kumar PRODUCER: KS Sreenivasan (Vasan Visual Ventures)

A lot is riding on this film for actor Jayam Ravi, who will be seen on the big screen post Ameerin Aadhi Bhagavan. Talented though he is, Ravi’s films in the recent past have been average grossers. According to the actor, he sports two looks in the film – one is that of a middle-aged man and the other, a tween.

Typical of Samuthirakani’s films, there is the aspect of social responsibility in this one, apart from tackling a social issue. In terms of preparing for this role, Jayam Ravi had to bulk up for the middle-aged look and slim down considerably to play the younger guy. We wish this charming, talented actor the very best.

December 2013 | Southscope

KANNADA

SHRAVANI SUBRAHMANYA

CAST: Ganesh, Amoolya, Parul Yadav, Ananth Nag DIRECTOR: Manju Swaraj MUSIC: V Harikrishna PRODUCER: K A Suresh

• One of the most awaited movies of Sandalwood, Golden Star Ganesh and Amoolya are being paired after a gap of 6 years in Shravani Subrahmanya. The pair has delivered several hits and therefore the expectations from this movie are high. • Parul Yadav has appeared in a special role in the movie. The actress has also performed to a special number. Her addition to the star cast has further enhanced the stakes of the movie. • According to the director Manju Swaraj, the movie has romance as its theme and is sure to become a hit among Ganesh’s fans. This is an important project for the superstar, as many of his recent movies have failed at the BO. • It is a comeback of sorts for Amoolya too, as the actress has been in and out of Sandalwood. Shravani Subrahmanya in many ways will decide the future of Ganesh and Amoolya in Sandalwood. - Shwetha Shivkamal

December 2013 | Southscope

TAMIL

JILLA CAST: Vijay, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal DIRECTOR: : RT Nesan MUSIC: D Imman PRODUCER: RB Choudhary (Super Good Films)

After Thalaivaa, Vijay’s upcoming Pongal 2014 fete happens to be Jilla, where the Tamil superstar stars alongside Mollywood stalwart, Mohanlal for the first time. The film’s audio, composed by Imman is due for release in December along with which the film’s trailer/teaser will be released too, as revealed by producer Jithan Ramesh on his micro blogging page. The cast and crew recently flew to Osaka in Japan to can a couple of songs, choreographed by Raju Sundaram. The film will have five songs and some solid action sequences. The climax sequence was canned in Hyderabad using a multiple camera set up. The film has been shot in Madurai, Karaikudi, Chennai, and Hyderabad and Japan. For a brief period, the shooting was stalled owing to Mohanlal’s health. - Shankaran Malini

December 2013 | Southscope

FORTUNE TELLER

For Taureans, the Page of Water in your love tarot says a new person or an emotion-rousing situation will enter your life. It could be the start of a friendship or romance or the renewal of one from your past. Your intuitions and psychic abilities will increase tremendously in 2014. Your artistic endeavours will keep you connected to your job. At work standup for yourself rather than letting others dominate the field. The Page of Water can also signify a keen intuition or natural artistic ability that can be developed to a high level. 2014 will bring in the final completion of a long sought after goal. Family tensions will be healed. Relatives will approach you for help and guidance.

The sentimental Crab loves to be pampered and looked after. The tarot angels bring you this card because you are entering a new and exciting phase of your life. The chariot in your tarot says you have successfully balanced a recently challenging situation. Your ability to see both sides, take action and make decisions has garnered you approval, respect and gratitude. It’s important that you have believed in yourself and know that the benevolent universe wants you to succeed. The love tarot talks about a very innocent, playful relationship that’s about to begin.

December 2013 | Southscope

The King of Earth in your tarot predicts a very successful 2014. Your current projects will go well. You may be promoted or offered a higher salary. Your talents and skills will bring rewards for you and others. Accept the opportunities offered to you and have the confidence that you will succeed. Your incredible ability of communication is going to attract good fortune in your life. You will be able to win over the hearts and minds of many people due to your talent. Controlling and channeling your thought processes is important. Learn to balance thought with emotion and you will be the winner.

Best months: May, June

Best months: March, August, October

Best months: February, March, September

C a n c er

G e in m

urus

For Arians, 2014 is going to be a stupendous year with a tremendously tight schedule. Have a measured approach and stay balanced. The seven of earth in your tarot suggests a period where the fruits of your labour will grow and the harvest is imminent. There are chances of your getting anxiety pangs, which could affect your health. Don’t waste your life worrying about bygones. This year will no longer be ordinary; it will be abundant with surprises. Take the period of no activity as a period to recharge your batteries. Love tarot suggests that you will dedicate yourself to your relationship. Be patient. Keep working at it, taking small steps to improve the relationship.

Best months: February, May, June

Best months: January, July, August

Best Months: July, August, September

A ri e s

As this year ends, let’s see what 2014 has in store for the stars. Tarot analyst Inseeya Nazir, who consults out of Mumbai and Hyderabad, decodes the future.

Leo The Ten Of Earth predicts abundance and financial security in the year 2013. You have established a lasting foundation of success in business. With this success comes the feeling of freedom. Material comforts, satisfaction in your accomplishments and the capacity to enjoy yourself are now yours. Still it’s important to enjoy the little things in life. This is the way of Zen. The cycle continues and whatever has been absorbing your time and energy is now coming to an end. In completing it, you will be clearing the space for something new to begin. Use this interval to celebrate both the end of the old and the coming of the new. Your health needs to be looked after too. A health regime has to be started in this year.

V ir g o The Four of Water in the tarot for 2014 says it’s a time for re-evaluation of the situation. Otherwise you may miss out on an amazing opportunity. Fortunately in this New Year, positive forces are working to assist you. Don’t feel distracted or emotionally trapped. It’s possible that by focusing on what you don’t have, you are taking for granted the good things that you do have. The last quarter of 2013 would see you a bit discontented, bored or in a dull mood. Try to overcome this by remembering that you are holding on to something. It may not necessarily be wealth but something as simple as sharing your time with your loved ones. You must realise that ‘things’ are not the target; you and your innermost being are the target. Learn to covet not merely a beautiful house, but a beautiful you; not a wealthy lifestyle but a rich aura around you.

2014 is a significant period that requires your fullest attention. While time is of the essence, it is important to avoid making rash decisions. Your enthusiasm will be at the helm. But it is advisable to be wise and cautious. There will be quite a few adventures throughout this year, which will take you on an emotional and professional rollercoaster ride. Be a true Libran – totally fearless, bold and courageous. This year will see you surrounded by friends since you are amazingly charming, amiable and above all a good listener. You will crave for a soul mate. You will meet some one ideal enough but unfortunately he /she will take time in deciding. The tarot portends a possible shift to a new home, or the acquisition of additional property. Zen meditation is very important throughout 2013. Remember that you are carrying a Masterpiece hidden within you, but are not letting this be seen. Just move aside and reveal the Masterpiece, says Zen. The Universe never gives birth to anything less than a Masterpiece. Drop the idea of trying to become perfect, because you already are.

Work-wise, 2013 is going to bring in tremendous opportunities. Focus and you are going to get what you want. This year there will be heightened emotions. In fact, you will be sometimes overwhelmingly turbulent and sometimes smouldering with passion. Your magnetic, mysterious and mesmeric charm will be at its helm. A Scorpion is never short of admirers and has the reputation of being the sexiest sign in the zodiac. This year you are bound to fall in love. You will be very savvy with money. The Scorpions believe in mind over matter, that is if the mind stays healthy you remain absolutely fit and fine. Health could fluctuate.

i t t a ri

2014 will see you over the top, absolutely friendly, very cheerful and enthusiastic. A period of great activity, conquest and power is seen. A lot of action and quick decisions have to be made. Sagittarians have a reputation of being scrupulously fair. While your career is going to be absolutely smooth, lots of travel and visits to far-off places will keep you busy. This year you are bound to be tremendously lucky. Your love life will be calm and smooth. There will be two conflicting sides throughout the year. Sometimes you may need your own space and time and may choose to spend it with your books or music. Like all fire signs, you enjoy your share of flattery. 2014 could witness the birth of a little one in the family.

Best months: March, April, July

Best months: October, November, December

u a ri u

2014 will make you turn your ideas into reality. The tarot also says that this year will make you work within limitations and to make the best out of difficult situations. The Star card in your tarot promises good fortune. If you are unhappy with your job or profession, anticipate a turn for the better. New opportunities will come across. Your dream job will literally land in your lap. Channel all your energy and enthusiasm into your dream project. It’s going to take off very well and become a roaring success. As for relationships, a true love will lead to marriage. This year signifies lots of love and romance, but jealousy could pose a major setback.

o rpio

Best months: July, August, November

a p ri c o

Libra

Best months: January, December

Best months: August, November

Best months: April, May, October

During 2014, Aquarians will be able to see everything clearly and feel confident about the positions you take. The problem is others do not share your point of view and also think they are right! It is important not to forget there are no truths that aren’t unbiased truths. Letting others talk without automatically taking the opposite position could avoid unnecessary difficulties. Since many Water Bearers also have their hands full and their social calendars choc-a-bloc, they tend to be detached, absent-minded and unmindful of their partner’s needs. And, when confronted, they may simply refuse to cooperate. Tarot suggests that you don’t squander your chances of finding your true love. A period of confusions can exist. It is the time to identify your true identity. A time for introspection, indeed.

P isc es The Fish may exhibit a tendency to move from one to another usually in search of ‘real’ love, of spirituality and of greater depth. As far as destiny is concerned Pisceans can look forward to the period from March to mid July and again in November. You will have to work hard and stay focused. Career matters are a concern for Pisceans, and of prime focus. Most of your time, energy and stamina will go into improving your career prospects. You will deeply want a love affair that will sweep you off your feet. It is very much possible that you will meet your soul mate. The big challenge of love in 2014 will be to maintain that impetus once the first flush of heady romance has faded.

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Regd.No. L II RNP/HD/1118/2013-15 | December 2013 | Date of Publication on the 5th of every month