Shotcuts: Time for celebration!

Actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Photo: M. Vedhan

When films of two stars release on the same day, it’s nothing short of celebration for the fans. And, looks like it’s going to be celebration all the way in August since both Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam 2 and Rajinikanth’s Kochadaiyaan are slated for release then. We hear that the post-production is on in full swing for both the films. Apparently, the crew that handled the technical aspects of The Avengers in is town for working on Kochadaiyaan , which uses 3D motion capture technology. The audio of both the films is expected to be released next month.

Change of heart

Actor Dhanush does not want to work with director Bharatbala anymore. Or so the actor thought till he watched the rushes of

Maryan . “I had a terrible time shooting for a few scenes in Africa. I had to run barefoot in the desert. I was confined in a cage with three cheetahs. I had to dive 50 feet deep in water, and I do not even know to swim! This is just a slice of what all I had to do for

Maryan . At one point, I did not want to do films with Bharatbala anymore. But everything changed when I watched the film’s rushes. Both the director and the cinematographer have done a brilliant job. In fact, I now want to work with Bharatbala on plenty of films! Another personal high spot for me is that in the last 13 years that I’ve been in the industry, this is the first time A.R. Rahman has composed music for my film. I’m doubly thrilled that he has set to tune a song I penned for the film! Also, I’m delighted that my friend Yuvan Shankar Raja has sung that song,” says a visibly thrilled Dhanush. A little birdie tells us that Dhanush is planning to set up a music company tentatively called Wunderbar Studio.

Camera, action…

Actor Arjun is gearing up to get behind the camera once again. Having directed films such as Sevagan , Madarasi , Prathap and Jai Hind , he’s all set to make Jai Hind 2 , in which he also plays the lead. However, he clarifies that the film is not a sequel to Jai Hind and will have no semblance to it. “The film shows how our education system is misused by a few unscrupulous people. It’s a trilingual, to be released in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. I dedicate the film to the media and our former President Abdul Kalam. He has always stressed the need for India to grow as a super power and how education is a must for all,” says Arjun. Surveen Chawla who’s worked with him in Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal is paired with him.

Role play

Sleeper hit Kahaani is to be remade in Tamil and Telugu, with Nayanthara in the lead. Directed by Sekhar Kammula, the film has Pasupathy and Vaibhav Reddy in important roles. Nayantara says, “I’m happy to reprise the role Vidya Balan played in the original. The first schedule of the film has begun.”

Packed calendar

After her recent outing in Edhir Neechal , Priya Anand is excited about her next with Vikram Prabhu. The film’s to be directed by Anand, an associate of A.R. Murugadoss. “I’ve done 12 films together in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, and things are even better after Edhir Neechal . I’m working round-the-clock with my projects. I’m doing a couple of Hindi films, including Fakrey , produced by Farhan Aktar. A couple of Tamil films too are on the pipeline,” says the actor.