THE COMPLETE SOUTH INDIAN MOVIE MAGAZINE
SILVER JUBILEE ISSUE
GALATTA MAY 2009 VOL 3 ISSUE 2 MONTHLY
CINEMA
S$5.00 Rs.50
LOOKBOOK: BRINDA & HER OOMPH!
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TWINKLE TOES: SUPER CELEB DANCERS
MOVIE SPECIAL
AYNGARAN IS BACK
VISHNU VARDHAN’S
ARVVAM PL+S MAY 09 THRILL RIDE
RAMYA KRISHNAN - STILL A DIVA CHILL PILL - STARS BEAT THE HEAT BOX OFFICE MUSTWATCH MOVIES
pg. 64
pg. 86
pg. 102
CONTENTS 05.09 14. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 16. READERS’ VOICES
36MOVIE MANIA 36. PEEKABOO
A look at movies ready for release
70. GALATTA TALKIES
New releases in the theatres
40. BOX-OFFICE BIGGIES
Movies that are a cut above the rest
76. FIRST CUT
On location with movies in the making
A GALA-TTA 127 TIME! 78. WHAT’S ON G.COM
Hot stuff on Galatta.com this month
50. COVER FEATURE
ACROSS SORBET OF 110 18 BORDERS STARS 110. BEYOND SOUTH
18. KICKSTART
112. BRINGING HOLLYWOOD HOME
74. RISING STARS
Titbits from the out-of-towners
Ambitious new kids on the block
Hollywood biggies in India
88MEMORIES 88. NOSTALGIA
Yesteryear siblings in tinsel town
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82. STAR OF THE MONTH
pg. 106
20JUICY STUFF
114. EYE CANDY: GANESH VENKATRAMAN
Ramya Krishnan proves that she is unstoppable
& 95ROUND ABOUT
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
64. LOOKBOOK: BRINDA PAREKH
Numero Uno NTR Jr.
96. WALL OF SUPPORT
Applause-worthy supporting cast
102. HOT STEPPERS
The industry’s coolest dancers
106. BEAT THE HEAT
How the stars conquer sweltering summers
20. GALATTA GRAPEVINE All the info, all the goss!
46. SCENE ABOUT TOWN Tinseltown’s shimmering dos
86. FAST TRACK
Priyamani gives it back!
80. STARGAZING
Travel on the zodiac with the stars
32. GAME-TIME
Contests to win in a flash!
116. COOL STUFF
Lakshmi Rai and her gizmos
118. WRAP UP
Just in, super-fresh news
92
NOTE WORTHY
92. IN THE GROOVE
Soundtracks worth your money
94. TOP OF THE CHARTS Songs on the #1 lists
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pg. 114
50COVER FEATURE 50. SARVVAM - THE MOVIE
Vishnu Vardhan is back with another gorgeous and intriguing-looking movie. Get a load of this May-release blockbuster, from A to Z!
Celebrating Siblings Day, May 2nd... When Arya is making waves with his performances, can little brother Sathya be far behind? Sathya is all set to debut in Tamil movies with Kadhal 2 Kalyanam. For Sathya, Arya is a role model, who is ever ready to guide his little brother in his celluloid career. When your dad is Kamal Haasan, you’re pretty much half in the spotlight already! And Kamal’s daughters, Shruti and Akshara, are page 3 stars already! spotlight. The two gals, in spite of the years that separate them, are as thick as thieves! With big sister Shruti always close at hand to protect her, Akshara has never really felt the pressure of the hounding media. Shruti’s movie debut is close at hand and Akshara is surely taking notes!
Vishnu Vardhan has some great movies to his name. His style of direction has been appreciated widely for its urban and classy feel. Now it’s his brother Krishna’s turn to win our appreciation, only he is in front of the camera. The brothers are simple fun fellas, with an honest passion for quality cinema, and that’s what they are striving to attain.
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Priyamani is all set to break the village gal mould that earned her a National Award! She’s taken to glamour with a vengeance – her wet ways in Drona are proof enough. And now she’s geared to scorch the scene in Kannada too! Her debut Kannada film will be Ram, opposite Puneeth Rajkumar. Sandalwood, are you ready for this heat wave?
Mamta Mohandas’ singing in Kaalai, Villu and Yamadonga have resulted in musical offers, not only from Tamil and Telugu, but also from Malayalam movies. But for this talented actress, her on screen presence is top priority. Her latest release, the Madhavan starrer Guru En Aalu has been well received.
The wait is over [almost!] for all ye Mahesh Babu fanatics. The good-looker’s next movie, Varadu has finally kicked off. Mahesh plays a taxi driver in this film which is expected to release in July. This will be his first film in two years. His last release was Athidhi in 2007.
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Kamalini is all set to reprise her (Telugu) Gamyam role for the third time. She was part of the Tamil remake Kadhalna Summa Illai and now will be seen in the Kannada version as well.
Ever-smiling Genelia has made a mark, not just in the South but also up North. Better still is the fact that from the ads she does, Genelia is THE face of the younger generation. How does she feel about all the love? “I feel blessed to be accepted by audiences and movie makers in all regions, and am more than happy to grab good offers in any Indian language,” she says.
If you’ve watched Kotha Bangaru Lokam, chances are you did not realize that the girl in the picture above is Swetha Prasad! She debuted as a demure girl in Kotha Bangaru Lokam, but has now decided to shed all inhibitions and hot up for Ride with Nani and Tanisha!
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Anushka is absolutely happy with the stupendous reception her film Arundhathee (Arundhathi in Telugu) got in Chennai, far more than she had expected. She has decided to pay equal attention to Tamil films too. Vettaikaran is her next project in Tamil.
Come July, the costliest and most spectacular Indian animation film, Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Sultan – The Warrior will hit screens. This is the first time a South Indian star has received an anime avatar and the whole of India awaits its release. But what’s keeping Soundarya busy right now is the production work of Venkat Prabhu’s next movie Goa.
Sneha, the cover girl of GC’s second anniversary issue, has been honoured by the Rotary Club with the Excellence Award for her contribution to cinema. The Rotary Club recognizes women achievers every year in their respective fields, and encourages many self-help groups, especially for women. Way to go gal!
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MAY FEATURE
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It’s that phase in Indian cinema, where remakes and remixes are ‘in’. Joining that growing list is the Bharath-Tamannah starrer Kandein Kadhalai. The movie is the
BANNER: Moser Baer & Blue Ocean Entertainment PRODUCER: V.M. Lalitha DIRECTION: Kannan CAST: Bharath, Tamannaah, Santhanam MUSIC: Vidhyasagar CINEMATOGRAPHER: P.G. Mutthaiya
Tamil version of the 2007 super hit Hindi movie Jab We Met. Kandein Kadhalai will fall into the romantic comedy genre. Director Kannan, who proved his directorial prowess with Jayam Kondan, is directing this movie too and he promises that though it has borrowed
KANDEIN KADHALI
POKKISHAM
BANNER: Nemichand Jabak PRODUCER: V. Hitesh Jabak DIRECTOR: Cheran CAST: Cheran, Padmapriya MUSIC: Sabesh Murali CINEMATOGRAPHER: Rajesh Yadav
Cheran is one of those directors who takes a conscious effort to make his films as realistic as possible. His movies portray the lives of characters we can effortlessly connect with. Cheran deftly takes us through the joys and sorrows of his celluloid creations, making us laugh and cry with them. In this genre of realistic cinema comes Cheran’s next movie Pokkisham. The title means ‘treasure’ and likewise, the movie is about the emotion we all treasure – LOVE. It’s the 1970s and a Tamil Literature student falls in love with a girl doing doing her Marine Engineering. They come from two completely different religious and cultural backgrounds and hence meet hardhearted villains. How they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way is what this melodic love story is all about. Playing the lead pair in the movie are Padmapriya and Cheran himself. Padmapriya is a picky actress. From her debut till now, she has made it a point
the theme of a Hindi movie, the story has been tweaked to suit the taste of Kollywood audiences. With Kandein Kadhalai, Bharath is back in the city, playing the part of a sophisticated, educated and career oriented guy. For Tamannaah, acting in the remake of Jab We Met, playing Kareena’s part, was an offer she could not turn down, because she loved Jab We Met, and was hoping that she would get a chance to act in a remake of that movie. Santhanam has been brought on board to add to the comic relief, and has done a good job of it, sources reveal.
to only accept roles with substance and challenge. And obviously, she found that in Cheran’s next. Art director Vairabalan has done an excellent job recreating Madras (NOT Chennai) and Calcutta (NOT Kolkata) of the 1970s; music by Sabesh Murali fits the time period and mood with finesse.
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UNDERDOG AMAZES!
Cinema was not his dream. “I had no celluloid ambitions. My elder brother did. I loved him more than anyone else. He came to Chennai to make movies, but we lost him to an accident. My younger brother and I came to Chennai to make his dream come true. And today, I have made a movie,” smiles the unassuming Rajmohan, Captain of the Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puravum [KPKP] ship. He’s worked with a number of directors, before becoming one himself, but ask him if the struggle was painful and he simply says, “To make a dream come true, there will always be struggle. The true struggle is not knowing when you will make your own movie.” And that struggle ended when he met S.P. Charan. “At a time when nobody was even willing to listen to my story, a mutual friend put me on to Charan. And he was willing to listen. For that alone I was grateful, so you can imagine my disbelief when he agreed to invest in my movie! I will always be thankful to Charan for giving me a chance!” Adding quickly, “My first audience was with Charan and his father, Mr. S.P. Balasubramaniam. Not in my most remote dreams did I think my first movie would release with SPB’s blessings. When he said that he enjoyed my film, and when Charan said that the movie was fantastic, that alone was enough for me. I am sure the audience’s opinion will not differ!” Good Boy – Ramki “I know the struggles of an associate director, and so I thought why not give an associate director a chance. The moment I saw Ramki, I knew he was the apt guy for my script,” said Rajmohan, and thus associate director Ramki, who emphasizes, “Cheran sir is my Guru,” turned actor. He’s the simple boyaround-the-corner in person and in the movie. He came to Chennai to become a playback singer, landed up as a server in a college canteen, found his way on board K. Balachander’s team of associates, and then landed up on Cheran’s team. “I never thought of acting, and I still believe my ultimate achievement would be in direction. “He plays the lead in the movie and his character is that of an ordinary guy, whose life takes a drastic turn because of one particular incident. “What’s so different about my role in KPKP is that it is not different at all! I’m the guy everyone has met! Anyone can relate with me.” On the
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eve of the release of the movie, he showed no signs of anxiety. “I am to KPKP what a Rs. 10 shareholder is to Infosys! And I am totally confident in its success. There is excitement but no need for worry!” Bad Boy - Tarun “Tarun plays the anti-hero, Dharma. I based this character on an uncle of mine, notorious for his vile ways!” Rajmohan said, and introduced us to the bad boy in his movie. Tarun, a Bangalore boy, is a complete softy, so it’s quite hard to believe he plays the boisterous completely rural goon in KPKP. “I came to Chennai because I wanted to act. But I got the chance to assist director Tarun Gopi in Kaalai and ended up doing a small role in the movie. And then, a friend asked me to meet director Rajmohan, who convinced Charan sir, and got me on board KPKP!” For three months before shooting started, the lead players went through extensive rehearsals. “If you ask me, I’d say it was more like being
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auditioned! The regular rehearsals helped me get into character.” And to stay in character on set during breaks, Tarun says he spent loads of time with the locals of the village, without revealing to them that he was an actor! And not only that, he even napped on the sidewalk and doorsteps of houses near the shooting spot! The Girl Next Door – Tananya Tananya comes from a family of doctors and is a IVth year MBBS student. She was not into acting till she heard the story. It took a lot of convincing to get her family to let her act. She plays Tulsi, a simple girl from rural Tamil Nadu, but being a Hyderabad girl, playing Tulsi, walking barefoot in some of the state’s hottest villages, was quite a tough task. What’s next, after KPKP? “I want to finish my MBBS. I accepted KPKP because I liked the role. But now I will focus on finishing Medicine. Once I complete my course, I will decide whether I want to act again.”
Musical Mantras
Yuvanshankar Raja has revived his father maestro Ilayaraja’s style for the compositions of KPKP. ‘Muttathu Pakkathil’ by Venkat Prabhu is a complete, dancey entertainer. The rustic lines, slow-flowing music and the voices of Bela Shende and Javed Ali make ‘Chinna Sirisu’ absolutely enjoyable. ‘Kadaloram’ in Yuvan’s voice has an innovative tune with sounds never heard till now in Tamil cinema. In the version by S.P. Charan, his voice brings an aura of cheer to the song’s mood. S.P.B.’s ‘Na Dharmanda’ is a simple fast-paced number that comes to life because of his impeccable style and ageless voice. ‘Orunimisham’ is an ‘Oppari’ sung by Velmurugan to Yuvan’s reorganized and slightly faster rhythms.
GALATTA GALATTA CINEMA CINEMA | MAY | MAY 20092009 43 43
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eavy school bags weighing down their fragile frames, loads to learn and the world to compete with – that’s how hectic the lives of school kids are today. They are bogged down by their lessons and have hardly any time to run around in the field or dabble with some paints. Parents have become increasingly strict with their kids owing to tough competition. Pasanga is a plea to all parents to give their kids a break, to give them just the right amount of freedom and discipline. “I think I was the 14th producer that Pandiaraj approached with his story. Nobody was willing to take a movie that focused on children. But the moment I heard the story, I was impressed. I know that there is a certain amount of risk in making a movie that is neither an action flick or a romance. But I believe in the theme of this movie,” these words of confidence come straight from Sasikumar, the producer of the movie. Having been behind the sleeper success Subramaniapuram, Sasikumar should know what themes are worth believing in. “Anjali was the last movie in mainstream cinema that was for and about kids. The movie was a super hit. Now the trend is romance and action, but I believe that a less-used theme is as good as a new theme. And people are sure to come to theatres just to get a feel of newness. And when they come, they are bound to like what they see! The kids are going to love it, and they are going to bring their entire family to theatres!” So how hard was it to work with children? “The children called the shots! They made the schedule! When they were tired, we halted. When they were
hungry we took snack breaks. When they felt sleepy, we wrapped up the day’s shoot. We were in no hurry to finish the film, because we wanted to make a good movie. You can’t force kids to work. It took long to make, but I am more than happy with the outcome!“ Pasanga is set in a village near Pudhukottai and Vimal plays one of those happy-go-lucky guys we often see in cinema. He’s not a jobless loafer, he’s a small-time insurance agent, but that does not mean he’s all serious and boxed-up! He has his rib-tickling moments and eventually, does romance the local school kindergarten teacher played by Vega. “The
For Pandiaraj, making Pasanga was a dream come ture. He narrated his story to so many producers before a common friend lead him to Sasikumar, who was fresh from the sweeping success of Subramaniapuram. “Pandiaraj really impressed me with his story. He was open to my suggestions and when we started shooting, he impressed we with his working style. He puts in 100% effort and reaps the best results! He is sure to earn a good name in the industry,“ vouches Sasikumar, the producer of Pasanga.
BANNER: Compny Productions PRODUCER: Sasikumar DIRECTION: Pandiraj CAST: Vimal, Vega MUSIC: James Vasanthan CINEMATOGRAPHY: Premkumar
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movie is basically about letting kids enjoy their childhood. Parents are either too strict with kids or too lenient. The movie is about finding the right mix of strictness and leniency. And in the process, we had lots of fun,” says a visibly thrilled Vimal. And Vega echos the feeling. “In my first movie Saroja, I was surrounded by a gang of gung-ho boys! And in Pasanga, I was surrounded by a bunch of naughty boys! We had fun on the sets of Saroja, but this was something else. Being around these kids was fun,” she laughs. So did she have to play the teacher off-screen as well to keep the little pranksters focused? “Well,
very rarely! Sometimes they were really naughty and we had to be a little strict with them. But I figured the only way to get around them was to approach them as a friend. An occasional dose of the teacher-attitude was OK, but mostly I worked with them like we were all pals. We used to play cards or hide-andseek in the evenings, watch stuff on my laptop… it was loads of fun! They are so full of energy and life. It was great working with them,” she gushes! Pasanga is bound to make the summer school-break a memorable experience for kids in general and for the child within each one of us! Happy, happy holidays!
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Musical Mantras
James Vasanthan debuted as music director with Sasikumar’s Subramaniapuram. His sensational number, ‘Kangalirandaal’ stormed the music scene and topped charts for weeks on end. On par with one of Ilayaraja’s 1980s masterpieces, the song catapulted James to fame. Pasanga is his second music album. ‘Anbaale Azhagagum Veedu’ in the voice of Dr. Balamuralikrishn is a lilting melody with meaningful lyrics. The prelude to ‘Oru Vetkam Varudhe’ is very mich like a church hymn. But then the voices of Shreya Ghoshal and Naresh Iyer come along to caress our souls. ‘Nandhaan Gopanda’ by Sathyanarayan has a Western tune and the singer’s voice gives the song a hip personality of its own. The music combined with Sathyanarayan’s voice gives the song the same happy aura of Anjali’s ‘Mottai Maadi’, and you can’t help but picture a bunch of naughty kids upto some mischief. ‘Who’s that guy’ by Benny Dayal with its English lyrics and peppy beats sound like a club dance number and should certainly attract those who are always ready to put on their dancing shoes. With just four songs, James Vasanthan has again proved his musical capability. Crisp and clear, definitely all these songs will be situation-based and suit the mood of the film.
SARVVAM the movie - A Galatta Cinema feature presentation
THE SHINING Galatta Cinema presents Ayngaran International and Vishnu Vardhan’s stylish new movie. A thriller, a romance, a mystery, a drama... SARVVAM means “everything” and it is for everyone. SHAKTHI and KAANCHAN find out just what makes this movie tick...
Sarvvam means “everything”. And everything is what you can expect to see in it. Let’s start with its elitist list of cast & crew: Arya joins Vishnu’s team again after Arindum Ariyamalum and Pattiyal, fresh from a critically acclaimed performance in Naan Kadavul. Trisha is the fresh-faced beauty and their on-screen chemistry is like a whiff of cool breeze. Wellknown Telugu actor J.D. Chakravarthy looks every inch disturbed soul in his quirky role in the movie. Malayalam actor Prithviraj’s brother Indrajith enters Tamil cinema and 8-year old Rohan makes his silver screen debut with Sarvvam. And we wouldn’t forget the much-acclaimed 4-legged star of Sarvvam, a Rottweiler! Working for Sarvvam behind the scenes are K. Karunamoorthy and C. Arunpandian of Ayngaran International, shoulder to shoulder with Vishnu’s crew. Director Vishnu, cinematographer Nirav Shah and music director Yuvanshankar Raja are brothers in arms since Vishnu’s 1st film and here too they make a rocking job of it. Winning 5 State Awards and 6 National Awards haven’t dimmed the youth in editor Sreekar Prasad, just as Sabu Cyril’s assistant Mano Jagath doesn’t feel any stress when mocing his art direction from Malayalam to Tamil cinema. She may be the “Home Minister” to her husband off-duty, but Anu
Vardhan is also an ace stylist for all of Vishnu’s movies and she splashes colour into Sarvvam like never before. Other can’t-do-without technicians the Sarvvam team calls their own, are stunt master Thiyagarajan, choreographers Kalyan, Dinesh and Geetha Kapoor, scriptwriter Rajkanan, lyricist Pa. Vijay, sound designer A.S. Lakshmi Narayanan and graphics artist Neel Roy who has been handling publicity design for Vishnu since Pattiyal. Globally acclaimed photographer Sharad Haksar is the man behind the publicity studio shoots. Now for the story. Or should we say, stories...? Sarvvam has two parallel storylines - one is with Karthik (Arya) and Sandhya (Trisha). He is a flamboyant architect, she, a no-nonsense pediatrician. They fall in love despite their stark differences. The other story is one with Naushad (Indrajith) and his 8-year old son Imman (Rohan) who are threatened by a mentally unbalanced and vengeful Eashwar (J.D. Chakravarthy). Somewhere along the way, these two stories meet in an explosive union and the movie takes mind-boggling twists and turns, to end in a thrilling and titanic climax between a man who wants to protect life and the other who wants to destroy it. As Vishnu says, the magic is in the narration, not the story.
SARVVAM
COVER FEATURE
SARVVAM
A GALATTA.COM AND GALATTA CINEMA FEATURE PRESENTATION ON SARVVAM -
SARVVAM
AYGANARAN INTERNATIONAL’S BACK; VISHNU VARDHAN UPS THE ANTE ONSCREEN
MYSTERY MAN
What is it about ARYA in SARVVAM that speaks of an unfathomable depth in him? What is he? A romantic, an action-hero, a solemn soul, an ascetic? We’ll never know until we see the film, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try and peek!
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n his own words, green-eyed boy Arya jokes about how he is only as eligible a bachelor as his last hit movie. Or how he’s been around for five years but has made no money! But we believe differently. We believe that there is something in this boy that has kept him in the eye of the storm all through these years, hits or flops notwithstanding. Something that Vishnu Vardhan staunchly vouches for and something that even Master of Bizarre, director Bala, saw. Yes, the hypnotism goes beyond Arya’s light eyes; here is a young man who’s truly breaking the mould. He’s a lucky one, this man. Unlike so many big stars of today who don’t have the versatility that will keep them in the business, Arya is ready, willing and able to be anyone his director wants to be. He wants to be a big star, he wants to make the big bucks, but he has no qualms in breaking stereotypes. Look how he looks in Sarvvam – a dfferent man for different frames. Did you know he wasn’t even the original leading man when Sarvvam was first conceived of two years ago? Did you know he was ready to do even the villain’s role, image and consequences be damned? Says he of Sarvvam, “Like Vishnu says, I wanted to be a part of the movie no matter what my role was. Villains are rockers, I wanted to try it! But between then and now, here I am doing a million things in the movie as a hero. It’s all good, bro, it’s all good!”
SARVVAM
PETAL FRESH
TRISHA fills SARVVAM with her fragrance; ever youthful, everexuberant and the prettiest girl next door
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easure a little butter. Add some fresh fruit. Sprinkle a little cinnamon, throw in some silver dessert pearls. Carefully tuck in some rose petals. Voila! One lovely portion of Trisha Krishnan served up for you! When Vishnu conjured up Sarvvam way back in 2006, he was looking for a fresh face to play his hero’s love interest. He looked and looked and thought that a “fresh” face, sadly, meant a new one. Then he looked again – there was one who has been there and done that, but still blooms lovely and pink with every movie and doesn’t ever seem to stale, knock on wood. Trisha, Trisha everywhere and still new enough every time! Hers are not superstar looks. Hers is not a diva’s personality, although her carriage from her modelling days belies this. Her’s is not a carefully cultivated personality; the wit and charisma on screen is just an extension of her off-screen real life. Says Vishnu of the experience of shooting with her: “I thought she’d be a complete fun and games prankster, given that we’re all the same age group and hang out in similar circles. But no! Her years of having to be careful have turned her into a quiet girl, I think, because she would just sweetly and silently sit in her chair between shots and read her books while we boomeranged all over the place! But she’s a totally chilled-out and malleable person. Not for an instant does she make you realize what a big star she actually is!”
SARVVAM
O
n location
Some filmmakers look at making the most of their production freedom by flying all over the world and back with their crew, spending astronomical budgets for a few minutes of exotic beauty. And then there are the likes of Vishnu Vardhan (taking a page from Mani Ratnam’s book), who find beauty right here in this vast nation called India. Sarvvam has been to every place that was you thought was just a name in the tourist guidebooks, but now comes alive on 70 mm as if it were the most remote and exotic location. Munnar, Chalakudy, Palakkad, Bhuj, the expanse of Kutch, the white emptiness of Rajasthani deserts... it is a visual panorama.
CAUGHT in the
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magine swathes of colour immediately cutting to stark monochromes. Imagine deep blue seas and pure white sands. Imagine rich green woods and warm brown trees. Now imagine all of this in every kind of movie setting, from song sequences to fights to chases. We present you Sarvvam where, thanks to Mother Nature and dear Nirav Shah, the blues look like turquoise, the greens look like wizardry and the horizon appears to be painted with a soft, fat paintbrush using all the colours on a palette. Fooling around, having a good time, cooking up pranks, feelings the moment, living the shot, breathing the lines, working the film. What a life! What a high!
ACT!
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ast & crew
hen a constantly curious and intensely restless storyteller gets together with a bunch of other such souls and decides to make movies, all you have to do is help yourself to oodles of style and pizzazz. Director Vishnu Vardhan, cinematographer Nirav Shah, stylist Anu Vardhan, music director Yuvanshankar Raja, editor Sreekar Prasad and choreographer Kalyan are not just team mates in the project called Sarvvam, they are friends as close as family, have been since the time of Arindum Ariamalum! Three films later, Sarvvam is yet another that is as much talked-about for its behind-the-scenes excitement as its on-screen promises. Vishnu: “Sarvvam was a concept that was conceived way back in 2006. It was during a chillout session with my boys and girls that one of them told me about an incident that happened to someone she knew and the crux of Sarvvam was born. Over a period of time, we brainstormed, exchanged ideas and swapped tales – some fantastic, some more everyday and ordinary. All the while, I wrote and wrote the script, which changed every day but the one thing that didn’t change was how attached we all were to it! So even though Sarvvam was delayed for a while and Billa had to be finished first (the original plan was to have it the other way around!), there was just no way we were going to abandon this project. When I say it’s an emotional film, it’s not just for its story, but how close it is to all our hearts! If you ask me what the story is, I’d say, don’t – the beauty of Sarvvam is not in the story but the way this story is told! Screenplay and visual impact are at the max here! here!”
COLOUR ME COOL - VISHNU & ACE CAMERAMAN NIRAV SHAH
team tagchamps VISHNU VARDHAN’S CREW
I would have been so easy to put It SSarvvam on the perpetual back-burner a after Billa. Everyone told me to keep gettting “bigger” with the star-value of my films, b but I know that once I stop being real and g grounded and try to fly too high, I will crash a and burn. Sarvvam is close to all our hearts. IIt deserves to be made and now, it looks k kickass!
NIRAV SHAH - CAMERA
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olour comes easily to this Chennai-Gujju lensman. Ask Vishnu and he’d say he can’t imagine making a movie and Nirav NOT shooting it, not because of how he is the director’s mind’s eye come to life! Says Vishnu, “Nirav knows what I want, he knows how I think without me needing to spell it out for him! For Sarvvam, I just left him loose on the colour spectrum and he brought back the entire rainbow!” Nirav agrees. “It was exciting to try something with a myriad colours, after our last 3 films!”
ANU VARDHAN - STYLIST
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eing Vishnu Vardhan’s wife is a roller-coaster of juggling home, a son, work, brainstorming sessions and outdoor shooting schedules! So says this spry young mom, who has also been styling the costumes for all of Vishnu’s movies and been in on the decisions for the look of the movie itself. In fact, Anu’s comfort level with her team and all their movies’ stars has been so high, Ultimate Star Ajith actually requested for her specifically when styling his look for his Ayngaran movie Aegan! The greatest thing about Anu’s work? Unlike so many stylists whose work is sometimes bigger than the movie itself, Anu believes that everything she does has to only mould the characters and settings and become grander than them! Like Nirav, she too was thrilled to be able to throw in lots of fluff and colour into Sarvvam, after the stark Billa and dark and gritty Arindum Ariamalum and Pattiyal.
YUVAN - MUSIC DIRECTOR
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his is b but natural. When you have a rockstar team, y you gotta have a rockstar to make music for the movie! And a rockstar Yuvan truly is. One of the reasons Vishnu and Yuvan work so well tog together is their shared interest in music and things bizarre. W While Vishnu watches endless movies from the psychedelic to the cut-and-dry, Yuvan is on the side, in sync with him eevery step of the way as he draws inspiration from punk rock, rap, latino and Indian classical to put together mu music as rocking as Vishnu’s movies. Their jam sessions to decide the groove of a movie’s soundtrack happens during PSP and XBox gaming evenings, Hip Hop nights at nightclubs and playing around with Yuvan’s library in his studio. All’s well that ends up sounding well!
Vishnu, Nirav, Anu Vardhan, Yuvan, Sreekar and Kalyan are friends, a close-knit family, who started working together with Arindum Ariamalum. And Sarvvam is their fourth venture.
SARVVAM
The
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roducers
aking a movie is like doing a magic trick. You have to present it right and then do it right, and wait to see how much you’ve awed your audience audience. Sometimes, you’d have stunned and a few times, they might shrug to say ‘that didn’t impress me much.’ But the saddest part is, you, the magician can never know. Movies are makebelieve creations, much like the optical illusions of a magician. And in South Indian cinema, one of the biggest magicians is Ayngaran International – makers and distributors of celluloid magic! The story of Ayngaran International is a lesson in perseverance and hard work. What started out as a dream to mobilize distribution rights of Indian movies to be screened outside of the country, went on to become a reality, much larger than its owners ever imagined. And since its inception in 1987, Ayngaran International has dabbled with several areas of cinema from production to distribution to theatrical screening and even legal DVDs for the home video audience. If you have a movie that you want the
big
AYNGARAN INTERNATIONAL
daddy of films Mr. Karunamoorthy & Vishnu A light moment on the sets of Sarvvam.
world to see, Ayngaran is fully equipped to serve you! Ayngaran International’s cine career took off with the aquistion of the international rights of Tamil films. Over 1000 films, including several blockbusters such as Alaipayuthey, Indian, Jeans, Gilli and Pokkiri, constitute Ayngaran’s distribution list. Mega hits such as Padayappa and Chandramukhi have Ayngaran International to thank as well for their victorious overseas runs. Who are the people behind this organization that has carved an enviable name in the cinema industry, while also cultivating longstanding friendships therein? They are K. Karunamoorthy and C. Arunpandian. Unassuming, like all high achievers, these two guys know their way through tricky tinselville; and every star, big, small and nascent, knows them by their work. At a time when Tamil cinema was but a blip on the world cine radar, Ayngaran International’s highly motivated owners made the decisive move of getting their own theatres in France, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia, which proved a blessing to Indian cinema. There is no such thing as ‘sure success’ in cinema. There is only intuitive genius! Fo For Karunamoorthy an and Arunpandian, th this means belief in the script and ut utmost trust in th the director, and he hence in a matter of three years, they ha have established th themselves
Mr. Arunpandian & Nirav Shah – Understanding the intricacies of the camera as a production house that gives its directors complete creative freedom. Ayngaran’s foray into producing and releasing movies began in 2007 with the superhit Billa, starring Ultimate Star Ajith Kumar. They could not have chosen a better movie to set a new cinematic endeavour rolling! Spurred on by the success of their first movie, Karunamoorthy and Arunpandian decided to jump headlong into production, and film-makers flocked to the duo for financial support. Vishnu Vardhan is a director with a lot of vision and it was with him at the helm that Ayngaran International’s maiden release Billa took shape. The movies that followed Billa include Aegan and Villu. Hot on their platter, ready to release is Sarvvam, directed by Vishnu Vardhan and starring Arya and Trisha. Slated for a release in mid-May 2009, Sarvvam has everybody eager with anticipation. After a successful tie up with Vishnuvardhan in Billa, Ayngaran is fully confident about the success of Sarvvam, which pr promises to be an all-round entertainer.
Ayngaran International has a bunch of interesting movies in their kitty, all in various stages of production, this includes the Jayam Ravi starrer Peraanmai, Mysskin’s acting debut Nandalala, Prabhudeva’s acting comeback Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal, director Kathir’s comeback flick Students Day, Parthi Bhaskar’s Arjunan Kadhali and Vasantha Balan’s Angadi Theru.
BRINDA 64 GALATTA CINEMA |MAY 2009
YOU GIVE ME EVER
OT LIKE THE SUN - IT’S NOT EASY BEING GLAM PLUS CLASSY!
She’s just 25, but Brinda Parekh has been scorching screens with her presence for five years now! A regular in the advertising scene and a popular face on Page 3, Brinda has been the face of several well-known brands – from textiles to beer, her dusky looks and well-chiselled body have set fire to many a young (and old) heart! Born and brought up in the city of dreams, Mumbai, Brinda started her modelling career with Kingfisher Beer, quite a start for a first-time model coming from a Gujarati family. It is her sheer confidence and poise (and of course, her towering presence – she stands at 5 feet 10 inches) that made her one of the most popular faces in the fashion scene. Like most models, Brinda too had set her eyes on cinema. She may have wanted to enter Bollywood like many other young Mumbai models, but she found her calling in the Tamil film industry. Her first movie? The Simbu-Jyotika starrer Manmadhan.
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GLAM DO
IN THE OUSE
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Brinda’s role in Manmadan made her a much sought-after glam doll in Kollywood. This movie was followed by Thirudiya Idhayathai. After two films in two years, Brinda was still the item girl in movies. Not that it bothered this talented girl, for she was determined to make the most of all opportunities that came her way. In terms of banners, her 2006 film Corporate (directed by Madhur Bhandarkar) put her in the top league. Her dusky looks and chic style made the industry sit up and take notice of her. Though her role was that of a call girl, Brinda exploited her role to the hilt. The lead actress of the film was another dusky beauty Bipasha Basu, who Brinda claims is her mentor. Post Corporate, Brinda ventured southward once again, this time for a cameo in Prabhu Deva’s Pokkiri starring Ilayathalapthy Vijay, one of the biggest actors of Kollywood. Pokkiri went on to become one of the top grossers of 2007. The song ‘En Chella Peyar Apple’ set the screen on fire and Brinda was back in South cinema with a vengeance. Then came the Dhanush starrer Pollaadhavan, another big hit. The song ‘Naan Alibaba’ was another chart-topper. With movies in Kannada (Buddhivantha) and Tamil (Guru En Aalu), Brinda Parekh has become the most popular glam bombshell in South Indian movies.
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BR NDA
T’S
TIME FOR BRINDA PAREKH TO BREAK INTO THE BIG LEAGUE. SHE MAKES THE MOVE FROM SEXY TO SASSY TO SINFUL!
But is Brinda happy being just an item girl? No, there is no way you can tie this ambitious girl down. This sexy lass has set her eyes on the stars and is prepared to put in all her hard work and talent to reach out to them. After making appearances in blockbuster films, albeit in item songs and sexy cameos, Brinda Parekh has now signed a mega project London Dreams. The movie, directed by Vipul Shah, stars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan. The heroine is Ghajini girl Asin. In London Dreams, Brinda is not doing just an item song or a cameo, she plays an important character. Though the character has negative shades, it gives her ample scope to not only show her acting talent, but also exploit her glam image. A bad girl with a sexy attitude... that is indeed a deadly combination! With this movie, this sensuous actress is determined to prove that she is not just a pretty face, but also has the talent to perform. Not that we are complaining! We are happy to see her sizzle on screen with her dreamy eyes, to-die-for curves and seductive moves, but for a girl with her attitude and talent, Brinda definitely deserves a better deal. And we hope that her upcoming projects will potray her not only as a sex symbol, but also as a actress of substance. Keep logging on to www.galatta.com for the latest photo gallery, wallpapers, posters and latest news featuring Brinda Parekh and several such sizzling hot actresses, all set to make their marks in South Indian Cinema.
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“
I have no regrets about my life. There was failure and there was success. How long can you brood over what was not meant to be?
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What sets Ramya Krishnan apart from the rest of the glitzy world of cinema? What makes her star material? Her resilenct mindset; her natural good looks; her unassuming ways; her cool and composed attitude and her daring to be herself, in front of and behind the camera. With Ramy, what you see is what you get. She hates to complicate things. Keep it simple, keep it honest is her mantra. She lives by it, she swears by it. You look at her and it’s hard to tell she’s been under the arc lights for 25 years! But she has and she is not embarrassed to say she was not an overnight super star. The uphill climb for Ramya was a tough one. But it takes more than a bunch of flops to beat her down. She is still unbeaten, and she rightly holds her head high. Because only she knows the hard times that have tried to defeat her, and only she knows what strength it took to bounce back each time. She’s covered all four South Indian languages and even did a stint in Bollywood. Ramya has made a smooth transition to the small screen, and has already chiselled a career in TV acting to perfection. Artiste, loving wife, doting mom all bundled into one, Ramya Krishnan is a diva yet and honours GC by being our Star of the Month.
ALWAYS A
DIVA GALATTA CINEMA | MAY 2009 83
How did your journey up the ladder to success begin? We were just this normal middle-class family who did normal things! I was in school and was simultaneously learning Kuchipudi. It was after my arangetram that the offers started coming and the idea of acting trickled. Directors like Bharathi Raja and T. Rajender had offers for me, but Cho, my uncle, was strongly against it. With so many roles coming my way, my parents and I were confused and did not know whether to take up any or not. Then finally, we decided that a movie with Y.G. Mahendran was the safest bet because he was a very good friend. But for seven straight years, my movies bombed at the box office, in Tamil and in Telugu. But thankfully after that, things started looking up! You started off pretty young... Yes, I was just thirteen! It was quite scary in the beginning. Until then, all I knew was school, parents and close cousins. Now all of a sudden, I was meeting so many people and I was terrified! I was scared even to say Good Morning to people on the set! I would look at them and quietly walk away. That attitude was interpreted by others as arrogance, but only I know how fearful I was of everybody! Then too in the beginning, I did not take acting seriously. For me, it was more like a holiday – no school, no homework, no exams. But then, one fine day I realized this holiday was not going to end, because I had completely quit school! There was no turning back. I could not go to school again, because I had missed too many classes. It was then that I realized that flop after flop was just not doing my career any good. I had to start taking it seriously. And I did. How did you manage to stay off cliched heroine roles? I was not a big star yet, so I was not offered the cliched heroine roles! In a way, that was good, because I was getting all kinds of offers and since I had decided to get my act together, I was making the most of what came my way. By sheer luck, ever since I decided to get serious, I gave hit movies! I guess I decided to get serious at the right time! Does it bother you when people talk more about your flops than your hits?
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FAMILYFRONT Lucky in love! Absolutely! I’ve known Vamsi for 15 years and we’ve been married for five. Everyone in Andhra knew about us,. but no one really talked about it. I guess there isn’t as much yellow journalism there unlike here! So we had a long time to get to know each other and make sure we wanted this! We went through the highs and lows of a relationship even before we got married, so I guess that’s why it’s just smooth sailing now! When I hear married woman complain and crib, I always thank my lucky stars for having blessed me with Vamsi! I often feel like I have more freedom now than when I was single! I don’t know about Vamsi, but I am very thankful for the partner I have! Newfound love! That would be my son Ritwik! And he must be very thankful to have parents like us! He is a handful, but he is a sweet child! I enjoy the time I spend with him. But the trouble begins when I have work. I start worrying about who will be with him, who will take care of him! And when I got to go out of town, it’s even worse! But I am lucky there too, my mum pitches in most of the time! Best Friend Forever In my younger days one actress who I could relate with was Madhu. Till today, we are good friends. I guess we got on well because she was as wild as me! Wild as in we have loads of fun and laughs together. We just connect on every level, and that’s a wonderful thing to have.
Even in my flop films, my roles were not bad roles. Because I could do such a variety of roles, I was able to sustain myself in this field. So I don’t mind when people talk more about my movies that did not do well. So long as they keep talking about me, it’s OK, I guess!! You’ve acted with Amitabh Bachchan, yet your Bollywood career did not do too well. Any regrets? Absolutely none! Of course, I hoped my career in Hindi would do well, because then acting in a Hindi movie meant national recognition. But in both Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Khalnayak, though I was appreciated for my work, my roles failed to give me any mileage. How long can one brood over what is not? Life must go on. And moreover, I was getting good offers in the South, so I didn’t worry too much about that. Tell us about your shift to TV. When I made the shift, I had already been in films for 19-20 years. So I had reached a point where offers coming my way were stereotyped. An interesting role, like my role in Panchathanthiram, was rare. So I started working on my own TV production, but that did not take off. So when I got the Thanga Vettai offer, I took it up in the hope of learning about TV. Luckily, the show did well, and then I went on to do a Telegu TV show and now I’m doing Kalasam, a mega serial that is doing well too!
“
The movie that got me excited each day I woke up for shooting, the movie that let me be me... that movie has not happened yet!yet
Of friends and foes? No foes at all, please. I made many aquaintances. But amongst my contemporaries, my only close friend was Madhu. We were a wild pair and we got on famously. With others, it was a very cordial, polite, working relationship, possibly because of the intense competition then. But somehow today I see those walls have come down. I see today’s girls hanging out together and generally being more friendly than it used to be in those days. What do you wish for your family? I want my son to have a happy childhood and grow up to be a strong and independant person. And I want my loved ones to be close around me, for a long long time! I want us all to be happily together forever!
BACKTRACK The Southern Stage I must say that the three South Indian cine industries are very different. Telugu is loud and glamourous. Tamil is toned down. But Malayalam is completely toned down. I remember how tough the first few days of shooting a Malayalam film would be. They would keep telling me stop rushing the dialogues, and I would slow down but they would keep saying ‘Slow down more, please.’ Same goes for make up. I enjoyed the natural realistic feel of doing Malayalam films. Bold Moves My role in Sigaram was very bold and I gave my 100% to it. But in reality, I had my reservations and fears. For audiences and many flim makers, if it’s not white, it has to be black. People don’t see the gray shades. Soon after Sigaram, most of the roles that came my way were vamp roles. It’s OK to do one such movie, but after that, if I was going to get stuck in a rut, was it worth it? All this was worrying me but still, I went ahead and did the movie. Luck came knocking My role in Padayappa came to me because in Tamil I was not as big a star as I was in Telugu. At that time, I had no choice but to play the negative role. If I had been given the choice, I would have wanted to do Soundarya’s part. But thankfully, my role was a hit with the audiences!
We’ll toast to that!
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PRIYAMANI When you saw yourself on the screen the first time, what did you think? “Is this really you?”,I asked myself! I just couldn’t believe it was me. Of the ‘special treatment’ you get [coz you’re a star], what’s your favourite? When I plan to go for a movie, I don’t have to stand in queue to get a ticket, or to get in. A call before I leave will do the trick! You have a fetish for? Accessories! Junk jewellery, shoes, perfumes, shades... I see something cute and I’ll buy it! So how many shoes do you have? Enough to open a shop! You hate... Back-biters! I prefer people who can say what they feel, to your face! You love... My family and my friends Cine pals... Hmmm... Prithviraj, Bharath, Karthi, Allu Arjun, Nitin and Jagapathi Babu, to name a few If not an actress... I had many ambitions when I was younger. First, I wanted to be a teacher, then I wanted to do Hotel Management, then I wanted to be an air hostess... The person you go to first with good news... My Dad! The person you turn to when upset... My Dad... I’m a complete daddy’s gal! You’re punching bag? My sister Sandhya! She’s my best friend too! How do you respond to derogative rumours? If it’s something light-hearted, I’d laugh it off. But if it’s very hurting I’d call whoever wrote it and give him/ her a piece of mind!
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The one thing you would never step out without? My mobile phone! Whose photos do you have the most? Puppies! I love dogs! My dad has promised to get me one when my new apartment is ready... I can’t wait to cuddle up with the doggy! Born again, what would you like to be? Probably Queen Elizabeth! I like to live life King size, but if I were a Queen it would not need much effort! If you were a Super Hero, what would be your super power? INVISIBILITY! If you could eat only one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Rava dosa or maybe Olan, a dish from Kerala which is a curry made of pumpkin! Your dream date? I’m not going to say Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt! Actually I’m not sure who it would be! Other than leaves and money, what do you wish grew on trees? Kaju Barfis! I just love Kaju Barfis! Motto in life... I believe in the adage ‘Every dog has its day’, so if you are on top now, you may just fall to the bottom soon. So I climb the ladder one rung at the time, so the fall won’t make too loud a thud! Message to GC readers... Be happy with what you have. Give me your support and love, so I can keep entertaining you guys for a long time to come.
Love the stars talking snappy? Watch them get on candid camera for hours... online. Simply log onto www.galatta.com and check out the video interviews section.
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&
ROUND ABOUT WALL OF SUPPORT . CELEB DANCERS . BEAT THE HEAT We figured we needed an entire chapter to fit in our pot pourri of info on filmdom – titbits, concepts that got our goat, interesting movie info, people we love, like or simply can’t stand, itsy-bitsy celeb quotes and much more. And so we figured we’d put in this chapter after all, issue after issue, so that just when you thought you got your fill of filmi talk, we give you some more that you’d love to chomp on! Read on...
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DANIEL BALAJI
WALL OF SUPPORT
SRIMAN
DANIEL BALAJI Eccentric, queer, maniacal new-age villain who can send chills down your spine. Be it the gay Amudhan of Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu or the grim Ravi of Polladhavan, this ‘Chithi’ Daniel can never be ignored. Every time he is on screen, you have an creepy feeling in your stomach as you know fully well this nasty man is up to something weird. Indeed, a very Machiavelli among villains.
KOTA SRINIVAS RAO
With a director for an uncle and a producer for a father, all one would do is perfectly plan a helluva launch as hero. But Sriman took the roundabout way. He launched himself as actor, essayed the buddy, baddie and brother roles before playing the lead man. We’ve loved him as the diehard buddy in Sethu, the confused-and-confusing Reddy in Panchathanthiram, the dauntless Dilli in Ayutha Ezhuthu and the good-samaritan hotelier in Nala Damayanti. He would fit any bill – be it the hero or antihero, faithful friend or forlorn lover and doting brother or doubting husband.
Vicious, spiteful villain. Spits venom on-screen. Sometimes he is a jocular, freakish villain who has peculiar ways of punishing his opponents. He was the atrocious ‘Annachi’ of Saamy, the scheming Selvan Mani of Sarkar and the grim anti-hero of Ahanaa Pellanta. After 30 years of filmdom and many hits, Kota Srinivasa Rao comes across as one of the oddest villains who combines the subtle and the crass on-screen.
“
You need a bad guy... at least to make the hero look good!
KOVAI SARALA
PASUPATHY
MANORAMA
Having appeared in many films in Tamil and Telugu, Kovai Sarala is a name to reckon with among comedy actors. Her comedy tracks with Vadivelu and Vivek have won her lots of accolades. Her biggest achievement is working with Kamal Haasan as his wife in Sati Leelavathi. Irrespective of the character she plays, Sarala has always been at the top of her act: from beggar woman to loving mother.
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Supporting actors are the actual pillars of a film
Endearing ‘aachi’, prolific actress and veteran comedienne. More than 50 years of filmdom, 1500 films and innumerable awards to her credit, Manorama is indeed the unparalleled matriarch of Tamil cinema. Be it the perky, witty, go-between or the hep, ladies-clubregular socialite, be it the sharp, doting mother or smart, hilarious grandmother and be it chirpy Jill-Jill Ramamani or the buck-toothed Chinna Gounder’s mother with repartees, she is extraordinary in every role she dons. PASUPATHY Wanted to be a dancer. Left studies in Class X. Spent a decade with a drama troupe. Entered filmdom with a bang. That’s Pasupathy with the piercing eyes. You shuddered every time you saw the cunning Kothala Thevar. You empathized every moment you saw the meek ‘Kuselan’. A ‘happening’ villain/ supporting actor, Pasupathy’s film career is chequered with many hits and very few misses.
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Remember the clever, intelligent officer in Indian? The outright, practical father in Anniyan? Vichu’s guardiangrandpa in Silambattam? Nedimudi Venu will fit into any father/uncle/friend/well-wisher/officer role you ask for. Starting from stage, he forayed into films with Malayalam film Thambu in 1987. This national, state and film festival award-winner is also a script writer, director and TV artist.
SARANYA
PRAKASHRAJ Most lovable villain of recent times. Definitely, a “chellam” of the audience. Smart, sharp, witty and humorous, Prakashraj as villain is a sweet foil to the hero. His chilling villainy, gesticulations with idiosyncratic expressions and mannerisms, often makes you fall head over heels for him. You simply adore his style and charismatic presence on-screen. Just think, can you take away Muthupandi from Ghilli or Madhavan from Aasai? Never!
Once she was Nayagan’s wife. Now, she is almost every South Indian “nayagan’s” mother. After a dream debut in Mani Ratnam’s Nayagan, Saranya got some runningaround-trees roles. Thanks to her discretion in roles, she is today one of the most-wanted-mothers of the celluloid world. Be it the hubby-fearing mother of Em Magan or the caring, god-like mother of Raam or the resilient, impoverished woman of Thavamai Thavamirunthu, she is a big plus to any film.
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PRAKASHRAJ
NEDUMUDI VENU
WALL OF SUPPORT
“
When you can be different people, why mustn’t you!
KALABHAVAN MANI
NASSER
WALL OF SUPPORT
NAPOLEAN
From mimicry to comedy to acting to singing – no one ever thought the auto-driver of Aksharam would become a stalwart villain of South Indian cinema. Though something of a crass villain, thanks to his mimicry and banter, he is a delight to watch. Not a psychic or a decent, Page-3 rogue, he is most often the brash ruffian who spits fire and brimstone at the good people on-screen.
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Evolution and versatility the secrets of tinseltown longevity!
His characteristic smile and villainous ‘warmth’ is unrivalled in South Indian cinema. He made his debut as a 60-year-old big-moustached vile landlord at the age of 27 in Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Nathu. What followed was the portrayals of the grotesque yet sensitive Seevalperi Pandi and the misled husband in Kizhaku Chimayile. Often a rustic villain with all the paraphernalia of a landlord or a village head or a spoilt son, Napolean is a distinct master when it comes to the art of villainy. NASSER Can be the fatal, brutal and cruel Maya Thevan (Thevar Magan). Can be the merciless, money-sucking rich man of Anbe Sivam. Can also play the smart psychiatrist (Anniyan), the practical father (Jeans), the fanatic Hindu (Bombay), the dutiful cop (Roja) and even the rather peculiar ‘Maayan’. An actor par excellence, Nasser is an one-man industry who has acted, directed, produced and distributed successful films. But when it comes to villainy, he is Mr. Vindictive.
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SANTHANAM
KARUNAS
WALL OF SUPPORT
He started his acting career on the idiot box, but today, Santhanam can claim to have worked with some of the biggest stars of Tamil Cinema. From his debut in Manmadhan in 2004 to his latest release Siva Manasula Sakthi, Santhanam has given a new dimension to the hero’s best friend! His work in Billa with Ajith and in Rajinikanth’s Kuselan won him lots of appreciation. His future releases are Modhi Vilayadu, Vamanan, Kandein Kadhalai and the magnum opus Kanthaswamy. He is also part of the sci fi flick Enthiran.
ASHISH VIDYARTHI
KARUNAAS From ‘gaana’ (folk) singer to comedian, Karunas has is a modern day comedian, often ridiculing flippant romances, snobbish women or fanatically religious people. The casual, off-hand burglary in Nandha, parody of Vaali and Pithamagan and exciting, sidekick-comedy in Vasool Raja MBBS are some of his famous tracks. Though a comedian, he played the doubting, cowardly yet hilarious hero in Dindigul Sarathy.
The brash, crass and vindictive villain who reigns from Bollywood to Malluwood. His villainy spans many hit movies – from Hrithik’s Kaho Naa Pyar Hai to Rajini’s Baba to Mahesh Babu’s Athidhi. From drama to TV to stage, Ashish Vidyarthi has come a long way in the celluloid world. His dark face, distinctive toughness and autocratic villainy has earned him fame in tinsel town.
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Making someone laugh is not as easy as you think!
THILAKAN
VADIVELU
WALL OF SUPPORT
VIVEK
Aged 73 and with over five decades of acting, Thilakan is unrivalled on stage and screen. Starting his career with a drama troupe, the veteran has become a household name in South Indian cinema, especially the Malayalam film industry. He is simply unstoppable when it comes to essaying roles – from the doting father to the demoniac villain, he has played every possible role in films.
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Where else can you be completely whacky and get away with it!
‘Chinna Kalaivanar’ of Tamil cinema. Rib-tickling, tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic humour that makes us laugh at ourselves. Be it parodying films or veteran actors, mimicking superstars or ridiculing people (right from politicians to paupers), Vivek is a class apart from others. His comedy is a ridicule of society by society. We don’t laugh at him but with him. His recent achievements include being honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Government of India. VADIVELU “Vandhuttaangayya, vandhuttaangayya!” This ‘vaigai puyal’ can set you in splits even without uttering a word on-screen. His slanting-lethargic walk, hilarious get-ups, innocentcurious questioning and unshakeable trust in others makes him the butt of ridicule onscreen. Who can ever forget the heroic pretence of ‘Kaipulla’, the tenderness of the police ‘officer’ in Maruthamalai, the politics of ‘snake Babu’ or the idiotic-cowardly maharajah Pulikesi?
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CELEB DANCERS GET YOUR GROOVE ON Dancing is an integral part of cinema today. Today’s actors not only have to be good actors, they are also expected to be amazing dancers and performers. Over the years, dancing in cinema has undergone a sea change. From just standing to running around trees to dancing with hundreds of extras to dancing on pots and drums.... Today, dancing in cinema is more about style and sophistication. Of course, we still have the group dances and the larger-than-life sets, but the actors of today have developed a distinct style and trademark dance movements which have made them darlings of the masses. Galatta Cinema takes a pick of some dancers who we feel have created an impact with their dancing histronics: men and women who have created a niche in cinema with their footwork (and expressions!). Of course, it is not an exhaustive list, but we have picked actors who are the dancing sensations of recent years.
VIJAY: I LOVE TO EXPRESS MY SELF THROUGH DANCE... DANCE IS MY LIFE FORMAL TRAINING
Dance is something that comes to VIjay naturally. He belongs to a family that has been deeply involved in fine arts. His mother is a trained singer and Vijay too has dabbled in singing for several of his films. With such a good sense of rhythm, it is not surprising that that actor can shake a leg or two!
BEST MOVE IN A MOVIE
It is very hard to pick just one dance of Vijay’s. Every movie of his has a memorable song and dance number. A few unforgettable ones are ‘Machan peru Madurey’ for Madurey, ‘Pokkiri Pongal’ from Pongal, ‘Ellam pugalum’ from Azhagiya Tamil Magan... the list is endless. Every time he comes on the screen, his dance moves captivate the audience.
LOVES TO DANCE ???
Vijay is most alive when he is dancing. It is an outlet for him to let go of all his inhibitions. It is also a challenge for the actor to try and better his last performance. Dancing and Vijay are inseparable. You can see the joy on his face every time he moves to the sound of music!
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SHRIYA
TRISHA
RAKHI SAWANT
A trained Kathak dancer, Shriya got her first break thanks to her dancing teacher, famous dancer Shovana Narayan. She learnt Kuchipudi too.
Sweet and sexy Trisha is like a house on fire when she dances. She has no formal training in dance, but it looks like rhythm is in her blood.
Rakhi has had no formal training in dance. It is her experience in the industry for the last ten years that has been her teacher.
Without making a single move, she manages to set the audience sway to her songs. Her most memorable dance is ‘Vaa ji’ from Sivaji.
Her best on screen dances have been with co-star Vijay. Her facial expressions add to the fun element, be it Thirupachi, Unnakum Ennakum or King.
The music video ‘Pardesiya’ was her ticket to fame. Remix videos featuring her have been chart-busters. She will be soon seen in Tamil in Muthirhai.
Dancing has always been a passion with Shriya. Right from her childhood, she wanted to become a professional classical dancer.
Dancing is like secong nature to Trisha, it is an extension of her onscreen persona and an element of her offscreen image.
This queen of controversy is at her best when she is on the dance floor. Dancing keeps her sane and grounded, she says.
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CELEB DANCERS...GET YOUR GROOVE ON FORMAL TRAINING
BEST DANCE MOVE IN A MOVIE LOVES TO DANCE???
RAHASYA
SIMBU
She learnt Kathak from Guru Veeru Maharaj and is now training under Habeeba Master. She also learnt the Hip Hop style of dance. Zora, a trained dancer from the Gulf, taught her to belly dance. And now, she is learning Salsa with Sandheep Sopparkar.
He is a natural dancer. There is music and rhythm in his every vein and though dancing comes to him easily, he has worked hard.
The dance that took her to the top, the ‘Seena Thaana Doi’ item song from Vasool Raja MBBS, is definitely her best song. She may wear revealing clothes but her attitude makes everything she does – a class apart!
Every movie he has done till date has a memorable dance number. From Manmadhan to Silambattam, he has rocked and will continue to do so.
Dancing is like second nature for Rahasya. Of course, there is the genetics, but Rahasya just loves to dance. Reasons? There are no reasons really, she does what she does coz she loves to do it!
For Simbu, dancing is his life, his passion. It is part of his existence. Music and dance are the two most important aspects of his persona.
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PRABHU DEVA
CHIRANJEEVI
NTR JR.
Inspired by his dad (dance master Sundaram) Prabhu Deva underwent formal training in Bharatanatyam. He also took lessons in Western dance.
Chiranjeevi has no formal training in dance; his willingness to learn and dedication has made him one of the best dancers of recent times.
Tarak, as he is fondly referred to, took to dancing at a very young age. He is trained in the Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi.
As a dancer, Chikkupukku, Mukkala, Vennilave, Que Sera Sera... and many more are part of Prabhu Deva’s superhit list.
At 55, he still moves as though he is 25. His dances in Gentleman are very popular, so are his moves from Stalin, Indra and Aaj Ka Gundaraaj.
His dancing steps are a huge craze amongst his fans. Rakhi, Kantri and Yamadonga are some of his memorable movies.
Prabhu Deva said, “I was mad for dance.” And that summarises what this choreographer-actor-dancer-director thinks and feels about dancing.
He loves to dance because his fans love it when he performs on screen. Every fan of his tries to match his every step.
Tarak believes that dancing brings discipline in life. He loves being in front of the camera, acting or dancing!
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BEAT HEAT the
TARUN Summer diet: He’s a juicy guy! He can take a bite or two, but he would prefer it if you handed him a juice to sip on! Lemon juice, vegetable juice, any juice...! Beauty regime: He goes for the natural look! Holidaying in: He loves to chill out with friends and family in cooler climates. A quiet hill resort is his pick. Fashion Chillers: His fave fabric this season is cotton!
SHRIYA SARAN Summer diet: Litres of water and coconut water, lots of salads. Beauty regime: Nothing special, except water (again!) and all natural products only! And she never misses a day of workout even if the mercury is busting out of the thermometer! Holidaying in: The beaches of Goa, with friends and family; she loves relaxing on the sands and letting the cool sea breeze brush against her silky smooth skin... a true-blue water baby! Fashion Chillers: Off with the sleeves, she says! Sleeveless clothes, frocks and skirts, in cool blues and girly pinks, made out of light natural fabrics are the best for the season. Don’t forget to slather on the sun-block, she warns!
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Summer diet: She keeps hydrating herself with loads of water and watermelon coolers. She totally lays off spicy stuff. Beauty regime: She applies milk to her face and washes it off after 5 minutes. A cucumber pack is a great coolant too! Holidaying in: My aunt’s place in Kerala! I love to roam the beaches with my cousins and take in the fresh air. Not to mention the cool coconut groves. Fashion Chillers: She’s another cotton puppy for the summer! Cotton shirts, cotton clothes, cotton all the way!
SANDYA
RAM Summer diet: He’s not very conscious about his diet but keeps a good distance from oily stuff. Beauty regime: A splash of cold water first thing in the morning is the most refreshing experience! Holidaying in: Cool cool Switzerland! Fashion Chillers: T-shirts and shorts.
ANUSHKA Summer diet: She downs water by the pitcher, not just in summer but all the year round. For the hot times, she adds loads of fruits to her diet. Honey and bread add a glow to her skin on a hot day. Beauty regime: Anushka swears by yoga. It’s her panacea, relaxes the mind and cools the body, while also chiseling her curves to perfection! Holidaying in: She’s another water baby. Anywhere where there is water, is a possible summer geteaway! Any place to beat the heat! Fashion Chillers: Sleeveless tops and loose pants, preferably cotton clothes in cool summer colours.
Summer diet: It’s difficult for her to go on ANY diet! She sticks to fresh juices and light meals. Beauty regime: No slathering make up! She uses fruit-based creams and packs. Holidaying in: Wherever the mood strikes! Visiting her folks in Gujarat, staying indoors and having mom pamper her is holiday enough! Fashion chillers: For the dog days, white/ pastel tops. Lightweight jeans or thin cotton tights, long shirts cinched with funky belts. For the evenings, it’s fitting dresses and partywear, and a.c. venues!
NAMITHA
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ADITHYA
Summer diet: Nice chilled beer or frozen beer lollies or a beer-banana smoothie! Beauty regime: He eats lots of watermelon and then rubs the rind on his face; “it clears the tired creases while also cooling the body, he says. Holidaying in: Planning a trip to Kodaikanal with his pals this year. Fashion Chillers: His picks for the sweltering heat are T-shirts and pants, in white, maroon and shades of blue.
SADA Summer diet: Lots of chilled liquids! Water tops her list of summer thirst quenchers, followed by a nice watermelon juice with no added sugar. Fruits with high water content are great sources of heat relief. Beauty regime: She washes her face as many times as possible to get rid of the oily layer that the heat creates. And this is not just a summer habit. Holidaying in: Amsterdam and the tulips are two things she will never forget about Anniyan. She could make a million trips there and never tire of the place! Fashion Chillers: Flowing knee length frocks or skirts teamed up with shirts in light fabrics.
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Summer diet: He binges on fresh fruits and fruit juices all through the summer. He prefers light meals and dishes with less oil. Beauty regime: A calm mind reflects on our face. So he keeps himself relaxed, coz cool attitude is the secret for a healthy body and soul Holidaying in: He loves the ocean and the misty mountains. So it’s one or the other that he speeds off to on a shoot-free summer. Fashion Chillers: T-shirts and capris are the best bet this season.
SIDDHARTH
KAJAL AGARWAL Summer diet: She keeps sipping on fruit juices and coconut water throughout the day. Beauty regime: She washes her face with water regularly, applies a face pack of sandalwood and rose water which she finds cooling and relaxing! Holidaying in: Goa, chilling on the beach, playing in the water, dancing with the breeze... oooh! Fashion Chillers: Anything comfortable, Indian or Western, but in light cotton fabrics.
HANSIKA Summer diet: Her mantra for the burning days ahead, is Eat Light – preferably lots of green tossed salads. And on the side, a nice tall bottle of pristine water! Beauty regime: Her mommy dearest is a well-established dermatologist, so obviously this is mommy’s call! Holidaying in: Anywhere with family; be it the Swiss Alps or the beaches of Goa! Cool breezes and the promise of a dip in the water is a complete turn-on this summer! Fashion Chillers: Whites, blues, sunny yellows, minty greens... all these summer colours on light fabrics are the best picks for the days ahead!
Summer diet: He drinks loads of watermelon juice and lemon juice. Beauty regime: His mom does facials to take the tan off and keep his skin fresh and young. Each morn he drinks a mix of cinnamon, lemon and honey to burn fat. Lime is a natural bleach and helps get rid of the tan. Holidaying in: He’s off to watch the IPL matches, chill out and have fun in South Africa! Fashion Chillers: For him, it’s comfort that matters over the brand name. He loves the kurta-jeans combo or a T-shirtshorts combo in summer.
KRISHNA
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WRAP UP AJITH UPDATES!
RAJNI & KAMAL COME TOGETHER Super star Rajinikanth and Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan are the two stalwarts of Tamil cinema. Bringing these two legends together is no mean task. The two actors can be spotted at the same venue only if it’s a State Awards function or an Actors’ Association meeting. But recently, it was something else that brought them together – the 100th show of Y.G. Mahendran’s stage play Swadesi Iyer, a play that highlights an individual’s passion and love for his country.
AS AL
CO R
NE
R
Ajith celebrates his birthday on the 1st May, and for his fans, the day is a time to burst crackers, cut cakes and share goodies with one and all. But this year, at the actor’s request, none of these will happen. Word has it that Ajith has sent a mail to his various fan clubs, requesting them all to refrain from the usual festivities for two reasons: the suffering of Tamils in Sri Lanka and the elections. Meanwhile, he is super busy even though shooting for ASAL starts only at the end of May - he is refurbishing his home now and he insists on juggling his time between taking care of his little Anoushka and supervising the work. Plus, he’s working out to keep his new lean look and that’s no mean task, given his back injuries from his racer days!
SHRUTHI LAUNCHES KAVITHAI GUNDAR ALBUM
PASANGA, A HIT?
“From the music to the release, these guys have done a fab job. I am honoured to be at this launch. Rap is more than a music genre, it’s a culture by itself. There are so many kinds of rap, but I did not think it would be possible to rap in Tamil! Kavithai Gundar is quite a revelation,” said Shruthi Haasan at the launch of the Tamil hiphop album Kavithai Gundar produced by Studio 8 Production & Records. Shruthi, a hardcore heavy metal lover and composer, is composing the music for Kamal’s next movie Unnaipol Oruvan.
After Subramaniyapuram, it’s only natural that all eyes are on Sasi Kumar to deliver another Bohemian hit. He doesn’t disappoint with Pasanga, which he produced, earning rave reviews! Looks like he is well on his way for a hat-trick!
Published by T.S.P. Shanmuga Raja on behalf of Dot Com Infoway Limited from “GNG House”, K-48, Anna Nagar East, Chennai – 600 102 and printed by B. Ashok Kumar at Rathna Offset Printers, 40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai – 600 014. Editor – Shakthi Girish RNI No.TNENG/200721243, Postal Registration No. TN/CCN/310/07-09
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