Shotcuts: Two at a time

Ashwin Kakumanu and Swathi in Itharkuthaney Asaipattai Balakumara

His performance in Mangatha was impressive and Ashwin Kakumanu has followed it up with two films being made simultaneously — Megha and Itharkuthaney Asaipattai Balakumara . “Although I began shooting for Megha before Itharkuthaney… , in all probability the latter will hit the screens first. I am happy with the strikingly different roles I play in the films. In Megha (where I am paired with Srishti), director Karthik Rishi has woven an interesting combination of romance, thriller and intrigue. It’s an investigative story and I play a modern, middle-class youth. Whereas Itharkuthaney…, directed by Gokul ( Rowthiram ), is a rip-roaring comedy with Vijay Sethupathy. I am paired with Swathi (of Subramaniapuram fame) in this film,” says Ashwin.

Grand road show planned

Premier Padmini, the iconic car which is still seen in some parts of the country as taxis, is the star of a Tamil film that goes by the name

Pannaiyaarum Padminiyum . Jayaprakash plays the pannaiyar who owns a Premier Padmini. Since the landlord does not know to drive, he engages Vijay Sethupathy as his driver. “There are two love stories in the film — one between Vijay Sethupathy and Aishwarya, and the other between the landlord and his car. The landlord’s wife is Chellamma. The affection for the three is such that it would almost seem triangular,” says director S. U. Arunkumar. “Sneha and Dinesh (of

Attakathi fame) play guest roles. I wouldn’t like to reveal more than this as the surprise element will be lost.” The producers have planned a unique promotion by taking two Padmini cars on a grand road show — one will start from Nagercoil and the other from Coimbatore, both heading towards Chennai. And when these arrive here, they will be given a rousing welcome.

Another biopic

War and ethnic strife have always made an ideal setting for movie scripts. The ethnic war in Sri Lanka has inspired many Kollywood filmmakers. Director V. Gowthaman's biopic on Prabhakaran is in its pre-production stage. Known for his TV series Santhana Kaadu and Auto Shankar and the Tamil film Magizhchi in which he also acted, Gowthaman now treads sensitive ground. “My confidence stems from the fact that the story will be a true account of the life of Prabhakaran from documented history. It may irk the guilty who might try to stall it, but I am prepared for such opposition. I am in the process of finalising the cast and the locations,” says Gowthaman.