Etcetera: Spotlight on the homeless

Venkatesh Kumar

After his

Moths won the Best Documentary Award at the Indo-Russian Film Festival New Delhi 2013 and his subsequent visit to Russia as part of a delegation, Venkatesh Kumar. G has started making another documentary, titled

Home . “This,” says Venkatesh, “will focus on people living on the streets of India, uncared for. I plan to shoot this documentary in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The documentary is done with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo — The Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation and under the programme “Generation Next” launched by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. I have started shooting in Chennai and will soon move to other cities.”

Home will be about an hour long and made in English for an international audience.

Newcomer from Bengal

It was while shooting for a Telugu film opposite Avitej that Supurna landed the heroine’s role in Tamil comedy thriller Aaya Vada Sutta Kathai . S. P. Balaji is the producer and cinematographer. Says Supurna, a Bengali actor based in Mumbai: “After completing my fourth Bengali film, I was offered a Telugu film opposite Avitej. Somewhere along the way, Balaji and director Panindra were planning a film with Avitej as the hero. That’s when Avitej suggested my name and here I am. I play a lively, mischievous girl in this movie which is about friendship and romance.” Aaya Vada Sutta Kathai takes place within the confines of an apartment in Chennai.

Back in a new look

After a short sabbatical during which he was busy with environment issues such as tree planting, comedian Vivekh is back with a Tamil film, Naanthan Bala . Sporting a new look — clean shaven, back-combed hair and all, Vivekh plays a temple priest in the film which is about paid killers and hooligans. The film is directed by Kannan, who had assisted director Bala in some of his earlier films.

“In contrast to my usual humorous roles, I play a very serious character of a temple priest. But, it will be a lively portrayal. I have taken care to see that my diction is correct when I recite the slokas. I have consulted experts about it and one of them was present during the dubbing. The priest inadvertently gets involved with antisocial elements. Will he change for the worse or will they change for the better? I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this role and hope this will be a landmark film in my career,” says Vivekh.