Itsy Bitsy

Rashmi Gautham

Discovering joy

Her debut film in Tamil, Kandein has just released and Rashmi Gautam is all excited that her role has got her the much-needed attention. Although she made her acting debut with a Telugu film, Prasthanam , Rashmi considers Kandein her stepping stone to success. Rashmi was spotted by actor Sangeetha in a reality dance show and referred to Mugil, the director of Kandein. “Mugil is a real taskmaster but that has helped me to bring out my best in the film,” says the actor, who stars with Shantanoo in the film. Mugil, who worked with Bharatiraja and Prabhu Deva ( Pokkiri and Villu ) is happy that Kandein, his first film has been well-received. He next wants to direct an action film with Vijay in the lead.

Dream come true

V R P Manohar, who used to run a successful advertising agency in Sivakasi, always wanted to direct a feature film. So when the opportunity came his way, he instantly took it up. His film

Vaanavil Naatkal is a simple love story. “I have signed newcomers J. Prakash and Rithika as it will be easy to mould them to fit into characters I have conceived. The film focuses on how love sometimes fails. We have examples in history and mythology,” says the first-time director. He firmly believes that discipline and values can bring success even in this demanding and fickle field.

About love and life

The hero Vikas is a man with a vision and wants to make it big in life. But, as fate would have it, he loses his heart to a girl and sets aside his professional ambitions. “Somewhere along the way, he fails in his love, loses his girl and is a shattered man. He tries to pick up the threads of his life and starts chasing the goals he had lost track of. Does he succeed? Is there a way to balance love and life? “

Kaathalichi Paar is all about this,” says first-time director K. S. Vijayabalan, who has worked with many directors including Raj Bharath. Playing Vikas' love interest is Mega Nair (earlier seen in

Thangam ).

Change of image

After one film in Tamil, Chikku Bukku , Preetika did Happy Days , a youth-oriented Telugu film with Varun Sandesh. “I played the role of a traditional girl in Chikku Bukku , but at heart I am a modern girl and want to do glamorous roles, too. In director Sravan's film, I am playing a college student. Incidentally, I am also singing all my songs and dubbing my Tamil dialogues,” says Preetika, who is a trained singer.