MOVIE DUNIYA: TAMIL

Jun 26, 2014

South Actress Bhavana Menon Interview

Bhavana Menon Interview

When you entered the industry, there were very few youth oriented films in Malayalam. But nowadays every film seems to be youth centric. What do you have to say about the trend?

I came into the industry through the film Nammal, which had four youngsters. It was one of the films that started off the trend. I was a part of plenty more, like Swapnakkoodu, Chadikkatha Chanthu, Lollypop, Robinhood etc. I don't think there has been such a huge change over the years. The recent movies that I did, Ezhamathe Varavu, Honeybee, Polytechnic and now, Angry Babies are all different in their own way. I have been lucky to have done all kinds of roles and escaped any kind of stereotyping.

Why do you do just one or two films a year?
When I'm approached for a film, I look at the whole team, the director, producer etc. Even if I'm okay with the team, I wouldn't do a film unless I like the story and script and vice-versa too. I've left out big projects at times because of this. But I have absolutely no issues with new directors. Many of the films I have done are with newbies.

Your looks have evolved beyond recognition over the past 10 years... I did my first film at the age of 15, when I had no idea about make-up or styling or fashion. I wasn't bothered about them for many years and also, no senior actress ever told me that I should change. Even those who I asked for help never supported me. It was maybe at the age of 19-20 that I myself realised that I should change. I educated myself and learnt everything about fitness, make-up and style, all by myself. And now, when young girls ask me tips and tricks, I am so glad they ask and am only happy to help them.

In your latest release, Angry Babies, your co-star is Anoop Menon, again... How do you explain the coincidence? Anoop and I had already acted in Trivandrum Lodge, where the chemistry worked out really well. As a co-star, I feel very comfortable with Anoop ettan, more than comfortable, actually.

You revealed that you are in a relationship... With many Malayalam actresses getting married recently, don't you feel like taking the leap?
Yes, I am seeing someone but I can't say at this point where it's going or whether it will lead to marriage. If at all I marry, I plan to do so next year. But I feel it is better to get married when I am ready for it, not because others are doing it or under pressure from society or other people. I never take any decision that way. Because if there are any problems, none of these people will be there; there will be just me and my family to face it. At the end of the day, I live for myself, not for others. I will listen to everyone but the final decision will be mine.

What about the whole debate on whether actresses should act after marriage?
Do you see any actor stopping acting after marriage? The film industry is not something dirty that you should stop acting after you marry. Having said that, it is each person's personal decision, I feel. I have always maintained that I will never say goodbye to films completely. Kajol, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai and Sreedevi have all done good roles after marriage. If I get good roles, I too will definitely take them up. Not that I will do anything and everything which comes my way, but then, I don't do that now either. If I get offered a film which I like, which I feel I shouldn't miss, I will I do it, just like now.

And I will marry only someone who recognises acting as my profession and someone who will encourage me and support me to do a good film, like a good friend, not a narrow-minded person who thinks on the lines of - from now on, stay at home and look after me and do nothing else.

Is there anything like you won't marry someone from the film industry... If I fall in love with an actor or filmmaker, what's wrong with it? Cinema is something I have been doing since age 15. And whatever anyone says, I have never had even one bad experience with the industry. I really love this profession; it has given me everything, made me what I am. So I have absolutely no aversion towards people from the film industry. I would love a person for the human being he is; on the basis of his personality, not on the basis of his profession.

What are you working on next?
I will be doing two Malayalam films and one Kannada film this year, but the official agreement is not over yet.

source: toi

Jun 13, 2014

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Pawan Kalyan Tops There, Rajinikanth Tops There

Mar 8, 2014

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Comedian Lollu Sabha Balaji Passes Away

Mar 6, 2014

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Kochadaiiyaan Audio Track List Lyric Video

Feb 27, 2014

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Jayalalithaa Amma Everywhere, From Food And Water To Cinema And PM Posters

This is in Coimbatore, showing the kind of respect a PM should ideally command from world leaders. The one kneeling is Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. The words translate as, “This is how our PM should be. Who can be so, other than our Amma? Think, people!” R Balu Mahendran

Jayalalithaa, Mayawati and Mamata could individually hold the key to govt formation, if not pitch for the PM’s chair themselves, given the number of seats each is targeting in her state. A look at how they are going about their objective of a larger role in Delhi. It was December 31, 2012. J Jayalalithaa was just back from the ceremony swearing in Narendra Modi, a self-confessed friend, as Gujarat chief minister. At a meeting of the party general council, an AIADMK minister got up to suggest Jayalalithaa was the ideal prime ministerial candidate. She went on to tell the meeting her party would not align with either the Congress or the BJP. In the year since, Jayalalithaa has largely been silent on Modi, congratulating him on his elevation as BJP campaign committee chief but making no comment when he became the party’s PM candidate. As farfetched as it may seem outside, “Prime Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Dr J Jayalalithaa” has a resonance inside Tamil Nadu. Posters and advertisements announce this day after day. One has her in front of Parliament, another has the President inviting her, and a third has Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse bowing before her. The most memorable vignette had Finance Minister O Panneerselvam standing reverentially behind her on budget day, clutching a suitcase with her photo, with Parliament in the background.

The AIADMK campaign has taken a shriller pitch around Jayalalithaa’s 66th birthday, celebrated Monday, with loyalists and fans playing on the date, 24, and the number 66. The government-run Music and Fine Arts University is holding a 66-hour festival; the health department is organising 660 medical camps; and Jayalalithaa planted the first of 66 lakh tree saplings February 21. The PR department has placed LCD screens and photo exhibitions across the state to extol her government; the department of Tamil development last week organised a seminar on Tamil e-books; the transport department held a blood donation drive that has reportedly entered the Guinness Book with over 50,000 participants — all linked to her birthday. The AIADMK has organised kabaddi matches, festivals, seminars and personality development classes. Enterprising businessmen have turned social workers feeding the needy. A well-known fan, Chennai mayor “Saidai” S Duraisamy, has undertaken an expansion of “Brand Amma”. He has launched Amma Canteens for the urban poor, followed by Amma packaged drinking water. In the budget

for Chennai a few days ago, he unveiled cinemas, guesthouses, women’s hostels, weekly markets, computer training, all named Amma. It is now difficult for the common man not to be touched by Amma.
Panneerselvam himself announced Amma Pharmacies in this budget. The sycophancy apart, there is hard-nosed politicking in the exercise. Just as there is no noticeable wave of dissatisfaction against Jayalalithaa’s administration, there is no major unifying thread either. The PM pitch is helping energise the AIADMK cadre. At present, though, what is helping Jayalalithaa the most is the muddle in the rival camps. The DMK is yet to resolve its sibling rivalry, the DMDK cannot decide between the Congress and the BJP, and the BJP cannot finalise an agreement with the MDMK and the PMK.Tamil Nadu has 39 seats and Puducherry one, and Jayalalithaa will share at best share two or three with the CPM and the CPI. Other than the BJP and the Congress, only a party from Uttar Pradesh (80 seats) or Bengal (42) can realistically hope to win more seats than Jayalalithaa, with the competition expected to be tighter in the other large states: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. And even UP is predicted to be split at least three ways. Her maximum target of 36 may look too small compared to the 272 majority mark, but H D Deve Gowda did become PM in 1996 with 46 in the Janata Dal’s kitty. But all these predictions will depend on variables such as the Congress faring poorly and the BJP underperforming but winning enough in UP to undercut the chances of the SP and the BSP. Things could go wrong also with the federal front of which Jayalalithaa is part.

A more direct threat to her plans is the assets case against her. The DMK claims there is enough evidence to convict her for over three years, which would disqualify her for the immediate future. That she is not going for broke on prime ministership is clear from her reluctance to take Modi on directly. If he leads his party to a sizeable figure, Jayalalithaa’s could well be the second largest party in the post-poll NDA. However, as the joke goes, it is easier to fight Jayalalithaa than manage an alliance with her. Her unpredictability is infamous, and the BJP has had a taste of it. In 1998, she helped the NDA government form under A B Vajpayee but delayed sending the letter of support. And within a year, she pulled the government down on grounds less than convincing. They joined hands once more before the 2004 polls, only to part again after the results.
At the same time, a fact to remember is that 36, the number Jayalalithaa is looking at, is twice the best she has ever managed.

Feb 26, 2014

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Vishal-Lakshmi To Pair In `Naan Sigappu Manithan`

Feb 13, 2014

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Meera Jasmine, Anil John Wedding Photos, Videos

Jan 28, 2014

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Tamil Movie Ithu Kathirvelan Kadhal Official Trailer

Jan 7, 2014

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Uday Kiran, Telugu Film Actor, Commits Suicide

Born: June 26, 1980, Andhra Pradesh
Died: January 6, 2014
Spouse: Vishitha (m. 2012)
Siblings: Sridevi
Parents: Nirmala, VVK Murthy

Cut-throat competition in the Telugu film industry may have claimed the life of Telugu film actor Uday Kiran.
33-year-old Kiran, who was known to portray romantic roles, was found hanging in his flat at Srinagar colony in Hyderabad past midnight on Sunday. Uday Kiran, who had acted in 19 films, was not getting any good offers as an actor and was reportedly unhappy about the way his career was progressing. Uday began his career with a bang with a small-budget film "Chitram" directed by Dharma Teja in June 2000. He went on to deliver a few hits and soon got the tag of 'lover boy' in Telugu cinema. In 2003, Uday got engaged to Chiranjeevi's daughter Sushmita, which was called off within a few months. It was alleged that Uday was not accepted by some of Chiranjeevi's family members, including his brother Pawan Kalyan.

Uday Kiran's downfall began soon after this incident as no producer was willing to offer him roles. The fact that Tollywood's mega star Chiranjeevi kept him at bay made producers hesitant in signing Uday. The actor, as a result, had to take up any project that came his way. His last film "Jai Sriram" released in April last year.
According to sources, when Uday took the extreme step of committing suicide, his wife Vishitha was not at home. Uday had made some calls to some of his friends but when they called him back, he did not respond. Police sources said that his friends found him hanging when they rushed to his house. They rushed him to Apollo Hospital at Banjara Hills where the doctors declared him brought dead. "There was no reason for him to commit suicide. He had enough money. If it was a question of his career not progressing well, he had time on his side," said VVK Murthy, his father.

Uday Kiran and his father were not on talking terms for the last six years as Uday Kiran felt his father was allegedly misusing his finances. Murthy had retired as a government employee and chose not to get involved with his son's life after the fall-out. Uday Kiran got married to Vishitha in 2012 which was attended by most people from the film industry. Vishitha reportedly told the police that Uday had been in depression for some time because of his film career. Telugu filmmaker Dharma Teja, who launched Uday Kiran with "Chitram" in 2000, said the late actor was a very passionate actor. "Uday and I started our careers together with 'Chitram'. It was a very special film for both of us and we enjoyed its success together. He was a passionate actor and I sensed it a few days after we started working on our film," Teja said

For his 2001 hit film "Nuvvu Nenu" which was directed by Teja, Uday Kiran got the image of a soft and romantic hero. For his role in this film, he had even got the Filmfare award as best actor. All the subsequent films that Uday Kiran did were not up to the expectations of the audience and his ratings as an actor fell.
Uday Kiran hoped that his career would revive with his Tamil movie "Poi", but it remained stagnant. With "Jai Sreeram" last year, Uday Kiran tried to show that he could do tough roles too, something that would appeal to the masses but even this attempt fell flat. Banjara Hills ACP Ashok Kumar during preliminary investigation said that they came to know that Uday Kiran had been in a state of depression for the past one month. According to sources, Uday had messaged his wife saying, "I Love You" before he committed suicide.

In a shocking incident, Telugu cinema hero Uday Kiran died by committing suicide. Initial reports say that the actor died after taking the extreme step in his flat at Srinagar colony.

Jan 3, 2014

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Tamil Movie Jilla Official Teaser

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Ajith's Veeram Official HD Trailer

Jan 1, 2014

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Veeram Movie New Wallpapers, Cast & Crew, Music Trailer

Dec 4, 2013

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Taapsee Pannu Interview

Taapsee admits to being very selective about the Tamil films she signs.With two hits in three films, the strategy seems to be working fine for the 23-year-old. The actress seems to be taking up only big-star productions — Dhanush's Adukalam, Jiiva's Vanthan Vendran and the latest, Ajith's Arrambam, releasing in Telugu as Aata Arrambam.

The Punjabi kudi reckons it is "the role" and not the star that's the "defining factor". "In Tamil cinema, I've consciously sought roles that make up a significant part of the film's narrative, rather than just play the glam doll," says Taapsee, who essays the character of a "wannabe journalist" in the movie. By her admission, it's a very goofy character. "I play an engineering student who wants to become a big shot journalist despite having no obvious talent.

However, she is full of passion and more often than not, ends up looking very funny. I fell in love with the naivete of the character. In what is otherwise a serious thriller, my parts offer the only comic relief," shares Taapsee. She is paired opposite Arya who plays an expert hacker helping Ajith unearth a scam involving powerful politicians.

Directed by Vishnuvardhan, the movie is set in the backdrop of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It's a stylish action flick that thrives on Ajith's star power. Taapsee, for one, is a self-proclaimed Ajith fan and flaunts her loyalties declaring, "I am more of an Ajith fan than a Thalaivar (Rajinikanth) fan." Taapsee believes it is Ajith's off screen persona that's most endearing.

"He is so humble. Be it the sweeper or the film's producer, the warmth with which he greets everyone on the sets and otherwise, is the same. He makes sure everyone around him is made comfortable. A thorough gentleman, he is always encouraging his co-stars and technicians. After the shooting was complete, he made it a point to thank me for being a part of the film and said he loved my performance! I was like 'I must thank you'. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him," signs off the actress who is presently shooting for her second Bollywood film,Running Shaadi.com.

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