Friends and fame
Last year, on June 12, Vijay's Kaavalan was screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Coincidentally, this year on the same date, director Shankar's Nanban (Vijay in the lead) is being screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Kaavalan did wonders to Vijay's film career while Nanban , Shankar's remake of Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots , showcased Vijay's histrionic skills through a character far removed from his acting-dance routine. Says Vijay, who is currently shooting Thuppaki , “This will be the first Tamil film to be screened at a predominantly Bollywood festival and is expected to generate a lot of interest in my forthcoming films. I am proud and happy for the Nanban team. Thuppaki is shaping up well and has me in an interesting role, thanks to director Murugadoss's unique conceptualisation.”
Breezy comedy
Karthi is excited about his forthcoming film Saguni , directed by Shankar Dayal. Saguni is a political satire and traces the migration of the hero from a village to the city. “In the process, he creates lots of problems for himself, but simultaneously and unwittingly solves others' problems. It is a breezy comedy and I am sure the audience will go away with a light heart and a smile,” says Karthi. He feels that one of the highlights of Saguni is a song that was shot in 34 locations around Chennai and talks about the many facets of the city. “Also there is a dance number for which I had to put in lot of effort to learn new steps and movements. It has excellent music by G. V. Prakash.” The film also stars Pranitha.
Going solo
Anup Kumar, who plays the second lead in Ishtam , gears up for his solo role in Marumugam , directed by Kamal, a film institute alumnus. Anup's performances in films such as Kathikappal , Vattaram and Chikku Bukku have given him the confidence to take on the lead role in Marumugam which has Daniel Balaji playing a negative but powerful role. “I am not in a hurry to do the action, song and dance routine. I would like to do meaningful roles whether it is a lead, or a second lead or even a negative role and gradually grow in the industry,” says Anup. Marumugam is expected to hit the screens in a few months.
Survival story
Director Mohan Roop's maiden attempt in Tamil comes after eight successful Malayalam films. Thoodhuvan is scheduled to release this week and Mohan is confident that his portrayal of the lives of the underprivileged will touch a chord with the viewers. Starring Aditya, Gowri and Archana, Thoodhuvan is a realistic tale of those who are neglected or ignored by society. “Their lives are strewn with difficulties and challenges and how some of them fight the odds,” says Mohan Roop.
