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More news →Vivek Oberoi Villain of Thala Ajith Kajal Aggarwal in AK57 Thala57
A couple of days back IndiaGlitz had reported that Thala Ajiths 'AK 57' team is trying to rope in a Bollywood hero as the villain and they are planning to approach Abhishek Bachchan for the baddie's role.Now half of the news has become true. Yes, it has been confirmed that a stylish Bollywood actor will be playing the lead antagonist in 'AK 57'. However it is not the Junior Bachchan but Vivek Oberoi.Vivekh Oberoi made his acting debut with the Ram Gopal Varma project 'Company' that released in 2002. Since then he has acted as the hero in more than 30 Hindi films including 'Saathiya' the remake of Tamil super hit 'Alaipayuthey' and director Mani Ratnam's 'Yuva'. He also acted as villain in RGV's 'Raktha Charithra' and the blockbuster 'Krish 3'.With 'AK 57' he will be making a dream debut in Kollywood as he will get to clash swords with the equally stylish hero and the top league star of the industry. Directed by Siva and produced by Sathya Jyothi Films banner, the International spy thriller flick temporarily referred as 'AK 57' is currently progressing in its second schedule in Hyderabad.Official confirmation in this regard is expected in a few days.
Want Madhavan to do more Tamil films: Mani Ratnam
Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who has appreciated R. Madhavan's performance in bilingual boxing drama "Irudhi Suttru", feels the actor should focus on doing more Tamil films. It was in Ratnam's 2000 film "Alaipayuthey", that Madhavan made his Tamil cinema debut. "Even before I launched him in 'Alaipayuthey', he had worked in Hindi films and television. He had developed a career graph even before he came to me. I'm really happy for him. I wish he concentrates more on Tamil cinema and do more films," Ratnam said in a video. Madhavan's last Tamil film was "Vettai", which released in 2012. Heaping praise on his former assistant Sudha Kongara, director of "Irudhi Suttru", the "Roja" director said she has done a fabulous job. "I loved the film. It is a complete package. Sudha's individuality has reflected clearly. There is some intelligence in the storytelling and meticulous detailing in her screenplay. I was happy," he said. The film deals with the relationship between a boxing coach and his student. "Boxing-based films have rarely been made in Tamil. So, the idea of a plot centered on the life of a female boxer was interesting. Here, the plot was different from the usual sports films. The way it's narrated was lively, entertaining and wholesome. It was nicely packed commercially," Ratnam added.
At 60, Mani Ratnam continues to inspire
In his illustrious career of over two decades, filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who turns 60 on Tuesday, has not only touched and entertained thousands of lives with his movies, he has also inspired a whole generation of directors, writers, editors, music composers and several others from different crafts of cinema. And he continues to do so. For filmmaker RS Prasanna, Ratnam's "Iruvar", which was about the relationship between cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu, is his 'Bhagwad Gita' on filmmaking. "I think the kind of filmmaking that was done in the movie was world-class, and it was a biopic that was very different from 'Nayagan' in terms of the narrative style. In 'Iruvar', there was a lot of international influence in terms of shots and angles," Prasanna told. "It was one movie where everything came together so brilliantly. It's such an underrated movie and sadly. it didn't do well at the box office.," he said, and added that it was "Iruvar" that brought him and his debut film's cinematographer Krishnan Vasant together. Mani Ratnam's tryst as film director began with the 1983 project "Pallavi AnuPallavi", and there has been no looking back ever since. He produces most of his films, and has surprisingly, not assisted anyone. Recalling his memorable experience of a Mani Ratnam film, actor Rahul Ravindran said it was his "Nayagan" that sowed his acting seeds. "My earliest memory of falling in love with the medium and actually being conscious and aware that I was falling in love and fascinated with the movies, was when I watched 'Nayagan' as a child," Rahul said. "A part of me changed irrevocably the day I watched it. I didn't realise what it was that fascinated me, but just remember experiencing a sense of heightened excitement... The realization was more subliminal. Now I know that it was perhaps because the film was so searingly original in tone, so unique and new in execution compared to any film I had seen till that point," he added. It was that day, Rahul said, the seeds were sown. He eventually quit a corporate job and came to cinema to try his luck. Sound designer Kunal Rajan said it was Mani Ratnam's "Aayutha Ezhuthu", which had music by AR Rahman, which left a lasting impact on him. "It was such a rich soundtrack with so many layers.... it had a new sound and that got me inspired," Kunal said. For composer K, two Mani Ratnam films that changed his perspective of music were "Nayagan" and "Mounaragam". "'Nayagan' had the most unbelievable music, especially its theme music, and it changed a whole lot of things for me. Even if I heard one line from the album, I could remember the whole scene with the music. Both 'Mounaragam' and 'Nayagan' have influenced my work," K said. He added that the theme music of his Tamil thriller "Yuddham Sei" had a tinge of "Mounaragam". Writer-filmmaker Nandhini says it's tough to pick one film of the auteur as all his films are like textbooks in different genres of filmmaking. "For a commercial entertainer, I'd say 'Agni Natchathiram' and 'Dhalapathy'. As a romantic drama, 'Roja' blew my mind. For crime or gangster movie, there's 'Nayagan'. And 'Iruvar' for political drama, while 'Anjali' for children and family audiences," Nandhini said. National Award winning editor KL Praveen admits it was "Iruvar" that showed him how a film could be cut in a lot of ways. "I liked his work in collaboration with editor Sreekar Prasad. In 'Alaipayuthey', I loved the way 'Kadhal sadugudu' song was shot in reverse. It was cut so well," Praveen said. "I haven't watched his latest film 'O Kadhal Kanmani'. But I loved the way its promos were cut with city lights in the backdrop. Although it's an old style, but the way Mani sir presents it, it looks really good," he said. Cinematographer Murali says he learnt the art of wide angle shots from "Iruvar". "In this film, Mani sir uses the faces of his characters to express most of the story. He achieved that using close-ups captured through wide lens and everything was shot in 4:3 compositions. It was an experiment, but it worked so well," said Murali, and added that Ratnam's "Mounaragam" was one film that he felt was complete from all perspectives. Filmmaker Mysskin admires Mani Ratnam films' for his "aesthetic writing and visual skills".
Playing a negative role now
Karthik Kumar is smiling all the way thanks to the unprecedented success of 'Poi Solla Porom'. Though he had been part of several films in the past, he was hitherto branded as an actor, who was considered fit to play an NRI or a foreign-returned youth. ' 'Poi Solla Porom' has changed the course of my life. Introduced by Mani Rathnam in 'Alaipayuthey', I almost waited for seven years to strike it rich', he says, ' 'My next film, 'Ninaithale Inikkum', is a remake of the Malayalam film 'Classmates', I play a negative character, the one played by Jayasurya in the original. This is very, very exciting for me. Shades of grey have to be explored in Tamil cinema', he says Expressing his thanks to director Vijay, he says, 'His encouragement and the fact that working with seasoned artistes like Nedumudi venu, Nasser and Mouli helped to make a lot to give my best on screen.
Loads of lies coming your way
Noted director Priyadharshan's production venture 'Poi Solla Porom' is being directed by his prot©g© Vijay (director of 'Kireedam'). The movie is reportedly shaping up well and is nearing completion. The movie jointly produced by Ronnie Screwala's UTV Motion Pictures and Priyadharshan's Four Frames Pictures features Nassar in a prominent role. Nedumudi Venu and Alaipayuthey fame 'Karthik' are also in the cast. The movie has musical score by M G Sreekumar, a prominent singer in Malayalam filmdom. The audio of the movie would be launched in Chennai on the 11th of July. Arvind Krishna handles cinematography, editing by Anthony and choreography by Gayathri Raghuram. Vijay, who made his debut with Kireedam, says, 'it would be a trend-setting film that will win the hearts of the audience'.
Happy Birthday Mani Ratnam!
The man considered to be one of the greatest talents India has ever produced in the field of movie direction is celebrating his birthday today ' 2nd June. Every single actor and technician in India who wants to make it big has an enduring desire to be part of this director's team. Mani Ratnam's first movie 'Pallavi Anupallavi' was made in Kannada and brought to light the emotional struggles of a man in love with a woman older than himself. Though the movie did not do well at the box office, the movie was successful in garnering a Karnataka state award. Many critics felt at that time that the movie was much ahead of its time. But there was no stopping Mani Ratnam. He went on to make a string of movies in Tamil that rocked audiences with what was to be later called 'the Mani Ratnam style'. 'Mouna Ragaam' is the story about a woman who is ever so passionate about her love life before marriage that she cannot come to terms with her marriage with a groom of her parents' choice. Then came 'Nayagan', starring Kamal Haasan. The dark story of a helpless and homeless boy who goes on to become the undisputed don of the underworld. The movie won such rave reviews worldwide and a feather in the cap of Mani Ratnam's career is the fact that 'Nayagan' has made it to the top 100 of Time Magazine's All Time Greatest movies. Then came 'Agni Natchathiram' and 'Anjali' which were huge box office successes. 'Dalapathi' saw superstar Rajinikanth join hands with the ace director. The success was unimaginable. Mani Ratnam's 'Roja' and 'Bombay' captured national attention and Mani Ratnam had become a household name all over India. 'Alaipayuthey' rocked South India with its smooth screenplay and slick direction big time. The story of a boy and girl getting married secretly and living their lives with their respective families as though nothing had happened became the object of fascination among young minds. Passion overflowing in abundance among the central characters showed sparks of Mani Ratnam's understanding of youthful exhuberance. His latest flick 'Guru' with Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai was critically acclaimed and went on to be a huge money grosser. Industry sources suggest that the team is coming together for another movie. The Tamil version of the film is to feature Vikram in the place of Abhishek Bachchan. Prithviraj has been assigned to play the villain. Though a popular hero, he has the experience of playing the baddie in the film 'Kanaa Kandaen'. With the best technicians in the industry and his inimitable style of story telling, Mani Ratnam is indeed a huge asset to the world of cinema and let's all hope this ace director goes on to make many more absorbing film as the years roll on. The musicmazaa team wishes Mani Ratnam a very happy birthday!