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Chinna 'Thirai'
Wonders happen when the story and the screenplay embrace closely as a snake
would do with a tree.
Last Friday, Sun T.V displayed 'Agni Nakshatram' Super hit Velli scheme. It was
surprising that a theme of two wives has hit as a brainwave for Manirathnam. But
he didn't dissipate his attention on the two wives. Instead, he had formulated
his screenplay on the rivalry that emanates between the offspring's of those two
wives. The screenplay becomes highly imaginative and endearing by engaging
thereby. Karthik and Prabhu play the roles of stepbrothers in an efficient
fashion. Some people, despite belonging to the film world, are groping in
darkness trying to find out the lucky mole that enables a person to bring out a
classic film. The story is the mascot, the luck bringer. It is the screenplay
that does the trick. The connoisseurs who have a discerning eye for good stories
and screenplay like these ones can create good films on their own right. They
can do wonders at the box-office also as they can get back the capital invested
by them within just twenty days.
'Vanakkam Thamizhagam' should an interview with Producer - Director K.R. K.R is
a person with a rich experience in the film world. On the first day of filming 'Vanaja
Girija', Oorvasi was asked to act in some ordinary scenes. This arose a doubt in
her mind. She feared that she might not be having a performance-oriented role in
that film. When she related her anxiety to the storyteller, he promptly took up
the matter to K.R. The next itself, K.R. annihilated the fears of Oorvasi by
giving long dialogues and meaningful scenes to her. When the magazines and the
movie-goers praised her after the release of the film for her splendid portrayal
in that role, she might have surely felt sorry for her unfounded fears on that
first day.
Sun T.V. is known to telecast songs under its 'Top Ten' programme through one
pretty damsel or another who can talk Tamil without straining any single sinew
of them and according to their whims and fancies with some graphics jugglery at
the backdrop. Now it has chosen to please the viewers by specially
re-telecasting the 'Top Ten' program that was presented by Vivek some five years
ago. Whether 'Top Ten' stands to gain fame because of this or is it Vivek who is
benefited? 'Both' should be the right answer.
Last Saturday, we could view 'Ninaiththale Inikkum' on Raj T.V. The music of
M.S.Viswanathan, the dialogues of Sujatha, and the direction of K.Balachandran
was top-class. First class first! Kamal would be introducing Rajini to the
public in the first scene. Rajini would start playing with his fingers on the
guitar in his speedy, inimitable style. That scene still remains etched in our
eyes and minds. When are these two mountains going to share the screen again?
The very thought of seeing them together in a single frame tastes sweet. Isn't
it?
S H A N T H I - M A D H A N
Shanthi and Madhan had their eyes glued to the television as the political
happenings engaged their attention in full.
Shanthi enquired Madhan : "Madhan! Have you noticed one thing? Tamil Nadu
is being ruled by film celebrities for the past 30 years and more. Isn't it?
"Rightly said! This is a unique feature occurring only in our state in the
whole of the country. As the trends suggest, this kind of state of affairs may
continue to exist even for another 30 years…."
"Madhan, I have an inkling in this connection. It seems to me the actor
whose arrival into the political arena would be playing a vital role in the next
general elections!
"But there are five long years before we witness such scenes. In the
meantime, let us turn our attention to the world of Cinema. Did you notice the
new type of desire that is found among our actresses?"
"Perhaps you are pointing out that some of our actresses are bent upon
winning the hands of certain handsome directors."
"Those are their personal matters. I was in fact, referring to their desire
to talk with their own voice. As of now, Meena and Ramya Krishnan are the two
actresses who don't need anyone to lend voices for them. Soon Abirami and Sneha
would be joining them. Devayani and Suvalakshmi also have decided to talk
originally in order to please the audiences."
"Let it be so. But they also should not cause injuries to the chaste
languages of Tamil as some of the anchorpersons in T.V are perpetrating that
atrocity.
'Shanthi, Can you tell who is the director who uses very less number of words or
letters in the titles of his films?"
"Well, it is S.J.Surya, for Sure! The directors are known to tell their
stories in short in just two lines, or two sentences. But this one needs just
two words, why, just two letters to form the name of his film"
"There you are! But there is person in Kannada filmdom to outsmart him. And
his name is Upendra. The titles of his films are known to contain just a single
letter such as 'O' or 'E' (Aye). Now he has titled a film in which he would be
sharing the screen with Prabhudeva as H20!
"Wonderful! In his Case, the capacity for creativity flows as freely as
water!"
"Alright, Madhan! Have you anything to tell about Shalini?"
"Don't be crazy. Is she a very big actress?"
"Definitely. Her great acting performance in'Piriyadha Varam Vendum' still
lingers in my mind."
"I agree with you, Shanthi! Probably she has won the hearts of more fans
through her last film than any one else. Many people have cringed before her
requesting her to act again in films. But she is not for acting in films any
longer. She has bid goodbye once and for all. Said she, "Hereafter I am
going to look after the interests of my family alone". She has become a
grand housewife with a spoon in her hand, for certain.
"Why Madhan! Is there not another work? Why can't she function as the
costume designer for Ajit, her husband? Is not that practice in vogue with the
wives of many other heroes?"
I don't know. But Shalini prefers remaining in the background than acting before
the Camera"
"We miss her very much. She has proved her mettle as a classic actress
within the short span of her acting career. It is a case of Vini Vidi Vici (I
Came, I Saw, I Conquered). National awards have lost the opportunity of
embellishing her. Her absence is a great loss to the celluloid world!"
"I have something to tell about the national awards! K.R. who has been a
member of the National awards committee has a bombshell to throw on us.
According to him, many members of the National awards committee were not willing
even to see the film, "Bharathi". There was also much opposition for
granting an award to the film! Another thing told by him is quite
shocking".
"What that terrible news?"
"But for his Herculean attempts in unison with some other members, Tamil
film industry may not have been honoured with even a single award. It was
possible for our industry to win 10 awards, just because of the Himalayan
efforts and the virtual fight of the producer - director, K.R!"
"Oh, my God! Do so many things happen behind the iron curtain of the
National awards Committee?"
Today two gossips have assumed giant like proportions in Tamil Cinema. Even
ordinary film fans are debating on them.
"During the shooting of Bhadri, S.J.Surya waited for three hours to pick up
Bhoomika with him. What will you attribute this to? He has extracted strong
acting performances from Simran in'Vaali' and Jyothika in Kushi. But he didn't
evince an equal amount of interest in extracting a fine acting performance from
Bhoomika in the Telugu version of Kushi. Why is it so? Obviously he didn't want
her to strain or exert herself! You can see for yourself. As soon as he finishes
his own film, 'New', Surya is going to tie the wedding knot around the neck of
Bhoomika."
Simran was expected to leave for Punjab, lock, stock and barrel, because of the
tempestuous arrival of Jyothika into Tamil film industry. But it was not to be.
Simran has managed to hold her own. She has withstood the onslaught ably well.
At the moment, she has eight films to her credit.
Media Dreams are in sagging spirits, as 'Little John' could not give the impact
like 'Bharathi' on the audiences. And 'Bharathi', after all, was a serious,
artiste film. It was by no means a masala potboiler.
Many big shots would be toppled down following the release of Citizen. Thus
speaks Kodambakkam.
Misfortunes come in a row. It is trouble time for Vijay.
K.Rajan, the producer, makes more problems than others, in Tamil film industry
of late, he delayed giving payments to the technicians who worked for the film,
'Ninaikkatha Naal Illai' produced by him. This has driven those technicians to
the extent of taking a decision that they won't be working anymore in the films
to be made by him.
These are the most repeated words in Tamil Cinema circles for quite some time.
Devayani has set up her own family and is leading her newly wedded life. She is
angry with the producers of Tamil films.
'Kadhal Mannan' was made just for Ajith. That beautiful title was conceived so
as to suit the handsome hero. Growing from strength to strength, today, Ajith
stands tall as a Goliath. His image with the movie-lovers has registered a
manifold increase. Ajithkumar is the sole reason for the profitable sales of all
his pictures. He is a one-man army.
The masses of Mumbai are a restless lot. They are always on their toes. It's a
rat race with them. Chennai is quite different, people here are peaceful and
pious. They have a tendency to help when warranted. They stop to answer us when
we ask for the route to our destination. By nature, they are polite. Mumbai has
the reign of underground dons (Daadhas). Chennai has no underground Kings. Women
are treated more respectfully in Chennai than in Mumbai.
Anywhere, anytime in my career I won't fail to fix my seal. I have acted
alongside all heroes under all the banners. Recently, I have signed five new
films. The list of my films would still grow more long. I will definitely
register a comeback to the front rank.
Mumtaj is going to act alongside Bhagyaraj in the film, "Romba
Pidichchavanga". But we would be seeing a different Mumtaj all through that
picture, as she would be draping herself in Sarees.
Devoid of any movie chances, Meena is focused on the preparations of her album,
"Kadhalism".
It is said that 'Anandham', the next movie of Super Good Films would be a
successful one, for it is having a fine story that revolves around a family.
Maams, a Prabu - Ramba starrer was inaugurated very sensationally. But the
production has been stalled at present because of financial problems.
Vivek has penned a song for the picture, 'Super Kudumbam'. The path he is
following may load him right up to directing films.
In 'Thavasi', the film which would feature Vijayakanth in two roles, Meena would
be pairing with the 'elderly' Vijayakanth.
Charan is going direct 'Erumugam' a film which would have Ajit as its hero,
after finishing the task at his hand, 'Alli Arjuna'. Thereafter, he would be
taking up the direction of a film which would show Vijay in a dual role.
As he had planned, Dhina has become a busy-bee in making film music during the
current year. At the moment he is concentrating on three films. But all of them
are low budget ones.