Gaining experience as an associate to National Award winning-director A. Sargunam (for Vaagai Sooda Vaa ), has given N. Raghavan the confidence to launch his debut venture Manja Pai . It has Vemal and Lakshmi Menon in the lead. Manjapai “Vemal, being a talented actor, takes on comedy along with romance, very confidently. Yet another important character is played by Rajkiran. This is a very crucial one to the story,” informs Raghavan
Reform or repeat?
First-time hero Ammit and Leema ( Sogusu Perundhu Nilayam , Madrasapattinam ) are supported by a large cast — Nasser’s brother Jawahar, ‘Nizhalgal’ Ravi, M.K. Stalin’s brother-in-law Rajamurthy, and Yogiram as villain — in director Siva G.’s Sembulam . “ Sembulam revolves around the illegitimate son of a foreign tourist who had a one-night stand with a local girl. When he grows up, unwanted and taunted by all around him, he gets into bad company and resorts to antisocial activities. Along comes the heroine who falls in love with him, and sensing that he has a good heart, proceeds to reform him. The hero spurns all her advances and carries on with his misdeeds, which leads to a murder of a foreign tourist. The climax of Sembulam will reveal the rest,” says Siva.
A giant leap
After his first film Inidhu Inidhu , Sharran Kumar did two others. “ Vaada Poda Nanbargal and Pathirama Paathukunga were small-budget films that served as stepping stones to bigger films this year,” says Sharran. He is looking forward to the three films in which he plays the lead. IsEsaki is ready for release while CSK-Life Is Not A Game has garnered interest. The one with Motherland Pictures is directed by veteran Manoj Kumar, and actor Prabhu plays Sharran’s father. “Working with such legends itself is an achievement; I feel blessed to be in their company,” says Sharran.
Love and passion
Director Rupesh Paul’s Saint Dracula 3D, produced by Sohan Roy, was shortlisted for nomination in three categories at this year’s Oscars — Best Picture, Original Score and Original Songs. It stars Mitch Powell as Dracula. The film is being released all over India this week in English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu with A certification. Says Rupesh, “ Saint Dracula is essentially a story of love and passion. While building up the script of Saint Dracula I went through the most thumping love experience of my life. It was in the air; it touched me and inspired me. This experience facilitated the script. In another state of mind and love, this would not have been possible.”
Four friends
It has been quite a while since his last directorial venture Kalinga (2006), but director Thomas has been patiently refining his script and preparing for his second outing Brahmaputra with four friends who got together to support his venture. “One of them, Dinesh, is also doing the second hero’s role in the film Brahmaputra . The lead is played by Murali ( Thirudi ) and the two heroines opposite them are Udayathara and Akshatha. I am introducing Dharani, who did a small role in Kumki , as the villain,” informs Thomas. Brahmaputra is a story about friendship among the four protagonists, taking place in 1985. The story opens in the current period.
