Targeting the youth
Vikram has struck fear in audiences (in Sethu and Raavanan ), touched an emotional chord (in Deivathirumagal) and taken them on different cinematic journeys through his other films. Now, in Rajapattai, he will make them feel good with his ‘gym boy' persona, romancing a fetching Deeksha. Apparently, this is one character close to his heart and Vikram hopes to identify with the youth with his ‘gym boy' role. To further his ‘connect' with his audience, Vikram has released a string of mobile apps across all platforms. He is the second actor (the first being Telugu actor Mahesh Babu) to do so.
In demand again
The success of Mankatha has wiped away the not-so-good memories of Saroja and Goa and brought back the brilliance of Chennai 28, which had catapulted Venkat Prabhu into the hallowed circle of successful film directors. With his new-found celebrity status, Venkat Prabhu is being sought after by leading stars of Kollywood. Recently, he was spotted in Suriya's office along with the latter's cousin K. E. Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green, a producer of merit. Now, what's cooking?
Confirms Gnanavel, “Yes, we have signed up Venkat Prabhu for a film project. Whether it will be with Suriya or Karthi has not yet been decided. It may also be a Telugu film with an established Telugu actor.”
Game of love
With a name like Laila Majnu Vilayattu for a film, one expects a tragic love story. Director Thabusankar does not give away the climax, but reveals it is a tumultuous love story. Says the director: “Ashok ( Pidichirukku ) and Dharshana ( Sindhanai Sei ) break up when she gets married to another person of her parents' choice. Along comes Krithika into Ashok's life, leading to the blossoming of yet another romance. As fate would have it, Dharshana and her husband enter the lives of Ashok and Krithika. Laila Majnu Vilayattu is all about how the game of love is played to the end.” With only the song sequences remaining to be shot, does the movie have a tragic or happy climax? “Wait and watch,” says Thabusankar.
Not on expected lines
While his Malainerathu Mayakkam has changed to Irandam Ulagam and is yet to get off the floor, director Selvaraghavan has done a quickie with brother Dhanush in the lead. “ Mayakkam Enna is the story of Gen Next. It's not a love story, but a story about love. It's not a conventional film on expected lines. You'll not be able to slot it in any particular genre,” says Selvaraghavan. Mayakkam Enna seems to be a movie with contradictions, in which Richa is paired with Dhanush. The brothers have written two songs each, while Dhanush has sung two for composer G. V. Prakash Kumar.
Love at first sight
Imagine going for an evening show and watching a film for two hours plus about a story that actually takes place in real time. “The run time and the psychological time of the story is the same in Maalaipozhudin Mayakkathile ,” says director Narayan Nagendra Rao. “The story is about two ordinary people (actors Aari and Shuba) falling in love at first sight and about what happens in the space of two hours. I have depicted this in a way that the audience actually experiences what's happening, as if they were part of the story,” says Narayan.
Correction: Pooja Hegde (Itsy-bitsy, CinemaPlus, September 25, 2011) has won many beauty titles but not as mentioned. The error is regretted.
