Veteran actor Sathyaraj’s son Sibiraj’s debut film Lee , a home production, and his subsequent Naanayam didn’t do much to his career. “Hence I decided to go slow on films. My father and I started looking at scripts to come up with another home production,” says Sibiraj. Now, Nathambal Film Factory, their home banner, has finalised its second film, Naaigal Jaakirathai, for which Shakti Sounderarajan, who directed Naanayam , has scripted the story. Sibiraj says, “ Naaigal Jaakirathai is a comedy thriller revolving around a dog. I am a dog lover, right from childhood. I have always wanted to do a film with a dog as the protagonist. Shakti and I have been friends for a long time. He has come up with a unique story, incorporating some of my inputs,” says Sibiraj.
Entering the fray
Though comparisons with his grandfather renowned yesteryear actor K. A. Thangavelu are inevitable, actor Ashwin feels, he has a long way to go. “Some people have told me that there are shades of his characteristics in my style of dialogue delivery. And, I know I do have a streak of humour which helps me pull off the comedy scenes,” says Ashwin. With three films — Brinda Das’ Hi Da , Vijay Sekar’s Kaathal Kasakkuthaiya and Irasu Jagannathan’s Saranalayam — under different stages of production, Ashwin has just been signed up for director A. Kabilan’s Kalaintha Kanavugal . The story of Kalaintha Kanavugal is based on the premise that most parents are overprotective of their daughters and give their sons too much freedom, this sometimes make the youth go astray. “ Hi Da is ready for release and I am quite excited about the way my third film Saranalayam has shaped up. As for Kalaintha Kanavugal , we are yet to start shoot,” says Ashwin.
Newcomers all
Money by any other name will be…well, money! Director Kasturiraja should know, for he has already tasted success with some of his earlier productions starring his son Dhanush. But, Kaasu Panam Duddu ( KPD ) will not have either of his sons (Dhanush or director Selvaraghavan) to take him to the winning post. Nevertheless, Kasturiraja is a confident man when he is wielding the megaphone. He is introducing newcomer Mitran as the hero along with Sania and Suyesha Sawant as the heroines, while yet another new face Bala plays an important role. The story is set in a slum. Kasturiraja feels that a child is not born a criminal; it is the surroundings and the situations that turn him or her into one.
Back to acting
She romanced the likes of Gemini Ganesan and Sivaji Ganesan on screen. Then she endeared herself playing mother to many an actor. After this, K. R. Vijaya took a long break and was occasionally seen at some film do or the other. Now, she is back in director SPR’s Nilaavil Mazhai , playing the role of a doctor. Apparently, Vijaya was quite impressed with the director’s narration of her character and took an instant decision to act in the film. The story goes that the doctor is so dedicated to her profession that she doesn’t care much about her remuneration. Then she comes across a youth who is battling death due to a disease. Does she succeed in her efforts or not is what Nilaavil Mazhai is about, says director SPR.
