An artful debut
Award-winning short and documentary filmmaker Venkatesh Kumar G ( Kannadi Bommaigal ) is all set to launch his first full-length feature film, Unakkul Naan . “The film revolves around a painter who gradually loses sight. But his creativity helps him gain social status. However, circumstances force him to resort to extreme actions. Unakkul Naan is about how he uses art to overcome adversity,” says Venkatesh, who plans to commence shooting after Tamil New Year’s Day. “ Unakkul Naan will be 100 minutes long. This is to hold the attention of the audience and not meander from the storyline.”
Small to big screen
Playing Draupadi in the serial Mahabharatham and hosting Surya Vanakkam on Sun TV has opened the doors to the silver screen for Nisha Krishnan. Her debut role in director Gopakumar’s Agavizhi, one of the six short films released as a combo production by Stone Bench Creations, was noticed by the film fraternity. “I am one of the leads in the just released Chennai Ungalai Anbudan Varaverkiradhu . Meanwhile, I have signed a Telugu film, titled Krishnudiki Vaarasudu , directed by Shabir. It has fresh faces from the Hyderabad Film Institute. I am also doing an important role in director Suseenthiran’s production, Vil Ambu ,” says Nisha who is on the verge of signing a big trilingual.
Rising expectations
After his stellar performance in a negative role in Yennai Arindhaal ( YA ), Arun Vijay is aware of the increased expectations. In director Shivagnanam’s Vaa Deal , Arun teams up with Karthika Nair. “ Vaa Deal was completed before YA. In most of my films, I have ensured that the characters I play are different. In Vaa Deal , I play a boy next door whose only weakness is rising to challenges. This film has all the elements to cater to a family audience,” says Arun. The film is expected to hit screens on May 1.
Athibar, Nandaa’s next
Nandaa shares screen space with Jeevan and Samuthirakani in director Suryaprakash’s film under production, Athibar , which is about landlords. “All three of us have equally important roles and, interestingly, Samuthirakani and I have no female pairing. Jeevan, known for his negative roles, plays a positive character in Athibar . While he appears throughout the film, I will be there in the first half and Samuthirakani in the second half. The screenplay is unique,” says Nandaa.