Comedy actors Goundamani and Vadivelu recently turned heroes, and Vivek has followed suit. He will play the lead in Naan Thaan Bala directed by R. Kannan. “Two people made me accept this role — Kamal Haasan and director Bala. When I met Kamal Haasan recently, he told me I could pull off the lead character in any film. So did director Bala. When I accepted Naan Thaan Bala, director Bala apparently told his associate Kannan that I was right for the role. As for the role, I’m doing some home work. I met Vaishnavism exponent Velukkudi Krishnan for guidance on how a Vaishnavite should be. I also got in touch with Samskrita Bharati that popularises Sanskrit in the country, to learn a few Sanskrit slokas with authenticity,” says Vivek.
Getting busy
Looks like actor STR has a packed calendar. One day he’s busy shooting for Gautham Vasudev Menon’s film, the next day for Vaalu, and another day for director Pandiraj’s project. And we hear he has signed a film for director Selvaraghavan too. The first schedule of Menon’s film, with music by A.R. Rahman, is said to be over and the team is gearing up for the second schedule. And not surprisingly, this is what STR recently wrote on a social networking site: “Life sure is a great leveler. When things don’t work out in one department, a door to a whole new world opens up. Professionally things haven’t looked better... Feel like I’ve arrived, all over again. I’m ready to fly, people.”
Wait and watch
Music director Devi Sri Prasad was busy the whole of 2013, and is all set to see the result of his hard work this year. “There are four releases this month — Ajith Kumar’s Veeram in Tamil, Mahesh Babu’s and Ram Charan Teja’s films in Telugu, and the song ‘Nachere’ in Salman Khan’s Jai Ho. I’m keenly awaiting the response to these films,” says the music composer.
Crossing borders
Comedy actor Santhanam has dabbled in singing and film production. And now he’s all set to test his acting skills in Malayalam. In the Malayalam film Salala Mobiles , Santhanam will play a Tamilian.
Says the film’s director Sharath A. Haridaasan, “Santhanam plays Azhagarsami in the film. When I wrote the script, I decided only Santhanam should do this. I am happy he has accepted to do it.” The actor himself is said to be happy to do a Malayalam film, and in a new role at that.
