K edi Billa Killadi Ranga , Rendavathu Padam and Moondru Per Moondru Kadhal — the line-up of films getting ready to hit the screens is keeping Vemal excited. Then there’s Desingu Raja, Jannal Oram and Manja Pai in different stages of completion. “And, I will shortly start Pulivaal, a remake of a Malayalam movie. I am happy about one thing: each character is different from the other and it gives me a lot of scope to explore my acting potential,” says Vemal. First off the block will be director C. S. Amudhan’s Rendavathu Padam which has Vemal in a never-before-seen role and his romantic interest in the film is Ramya Nambeesan.
Edge-of-the-seat thriller
Director Kaushik is already onto his second film, Adhiyum Andhamum , even as his first one, Panivizhum Nilavu, is likely to have an early release. Featuring Ajaay, Mitali Agarwal and Kavita Srinivasan, Adhiyum Andhamum is a psychological thriller. “A line in a thriller novel I read six years ago struck a chord in me. I let it play in my head and whenever I got time, I added bits and pieces to it, and it turned into a full-fledged thriller. Meanwhile, the earlier film happened and this was put on the back burner. It has now taken shape and most of the filming is done. It is a dark film and will strike terror in viewers, right from the first frame. That’s why I can’t reveal the story or what the actors are portraying,” says Kaushik. The music director is L. V. Ganesan, son of the legendary L. Vaidyanathan.
Love in a new light
Most human beings have two personalities. This is the central theme of director Raghava’s next film, Padam Pesum . “This is an action romance with a difference. Although there are two heroes and a heroine — Shakti, Poorna and Shankar — there is no typical love triangle. There is a unique relationship that will make the story interesting. Shakti and Poorna have acquitted themselves really well,” says Raghava.
Taste of success
The experience he gained by observing directors such as K. S. Ravikumar, S. A. Chandrasekar and Hari gave P. T. Selvakumar the confidence to launch his first directorial venture Onbathula Guru (released last week). “I am happy that the film has released in 300 theatres across Tamil Nadu and, during my visits to the theatres, I have noticed a large number of family audiences. The good news is that the producers of the Hindi film, Houseful 2 , have bought the remake rights of my film,” says Selvakumar. Incidentally, Houseful 2 was a remake of the comedy film Banda Paramasivam , produced by Selvakumar. “I am already working on my next film and have held discussions with R. B. Choudary and Kalaipuli Thanu for producing it,” says Selvakumar. His close association with Ravikumar prompted the director to do a guest role as a police officer in Onbathula Guru which stars Vinay and Lakshmi Rai in the lead.
