Kollywood News and Events

A.R. Rahman pays tribute to Michael Jackson on his death.

I am shocked at the untimely passing away of Michael Jackson, one of
the greatest musicians of our time.

MJ, for most of our generation was an icon who made uncompromising
music. He pushed the milestone of Pop music to unbelievable levels
through the 8os and 90s. I am yet to find an artist with that energy,
perfection and vision.

I met him personally after the Oscars in Los Angeles and we vibed very
well. He said that he loved India and the Indian people. He said he
heard good things about me and he was praising the chord progression
of Jai Ho's chorus.

He was bursting with energy and told me that every dance move he
did,came from his soul and did a five second stunning example. It was
like a lightning strike :)

He was concerned about developmental issues such as Global Warming and
about wars and its damages to the human community.

He asked me to compose a unity anthem on the likes of "We are the
World " for him. I nodded in awe ...!

He introduced me to his three lovely bright Kids. The kids told him
"I love you dad" and he replied “I love you more” as a proud father.
I wished him well for his concerts and he said “God Bless you”.

After hearing the shocking news I wished it was another rumor which
would fade away soon. It took me time to believe that he is no more.

I remember, my late sound engineer Sridhar had brought me a video of
the premiere of "Remember the Time" when I was recording "Kadal
Rojave" for my first movie Roja. Seeing it inspired all of us that
afternoon.

Now, there is no Sridhar and no Jackson anymore.

I hope all of us value people's existence more and respect them when
they are alive.

LIFE IS SHORT...! Artists and their art live for ever. Jai Ho, MJ !
We love you for your music, regardless of all the controversies!

All are awaiting with bated breadth for Kamal Hassan’s much-awaited movie Unnai Pol Oruvan with Mohanlal. The film, a remake of the Bollywood trendsetter, A Wednesday, has been tweaked to suit the taste of Tamil audience.


Kamal fans wanted it to be released on August 12, 2009, for sentimental reasons. It is the 50th Golden Jubilee year since the Ulaganayagan’s first film as a child artist Kalathoor Kannamma released on August 12, 1959.

Now, working on those sentiments, the trade wants it to be released on August 12, too, in Tamil and Telugu.As it is the Independence day weekend and with August 12 being a Wednesday, will the film have a record opening worldwide? Fingers crossed!!

Kollywood bombsheel Namitha is much leaner now! Courtesy, long walks around her dream home in Ambi Valley in Mumbai.

The actress who has lost 8 kilos says that she owe it all to her long walks and her nutritionist and dietician Rujuta Diwekar. Rujita was the one who helped Kareena Kapoor carve a super sexy body.

Guess who is Namitha's neighbour. It's none other than politician and PETA activist Maneka Gandhi

“I am now settled in Mumbai after my dream home in Ambi Valley got ready. I love the place as it is close to nature, and I go for long walks in the woods. It is something which I never could never dream of in Chennai or Hyderabad”.

Namitha is currently doing a Telugu film Desadrohi and a Malayalam film Black Stallion. Her ambitious film Indravizha in which she has an author backed role is getting ready for release on July 10.

The Prasanna - Sneha starrer Achamundu, Achamundu is all set for its release in Tamilnadu on July 10th.

This is India's first movie filmed on RED ONE camera. It is also the first film where Emmy award winner John Shea plays a prominent role.

At a recent screening of the film at Shanghai International film festival, Achchamundu! Achchamundu! received a thunderous reception.

The telugu version of AA is also getting ready and if things go as planned, it will hit the theatres simultaneously, said its director Arun Vaidyanathan.

The censor officials who have seen the film appreciated the AA team and its director for giving a good entertainer. The film is certified with UA and the producer Ananth govindan on behalf of his team says 'We are planning for 100% digital release all over Tamilnadu".

The Prasanna - Sneha starrer Achchamundu! Achchamundu! is all set for its release in Tamilnadu on July 10th.

This is India's first movie filmed on RED ONE camera. It is also the first film where Emmy award winner John Shea plays a prominent role.


The telugu version of AA is also getting ready and if things go as planned, it will hit the theatres simultaneously, said its director Arun Vaidyanathan.

The censor officials who have seen the film appreciated the AA team and its director for giving a good entertainer. The film is certified with UA and the producer Ananth govindan on behalf of his team says 'We are planning for 100% digital release all over Tamilnadu".

Renowned British director and the director of Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle, had congratulated Arun Vaidyanathan for a "clean entertainer."

The grand wedding ceremony took place at Srivaru Venkatachalapati palace in Chennai. Though it was an early muhurtham between 7.30 am and 9 am, the kollywood league was present in full strength to bless the couple.

The cute, bubbly, Mallu girl Bhavana is still at it! She is desperate to shed her girl-next-door image and wants to turn a hottie!

For the Ajith starrer Asal directed by Saran, Bhavana has undergone a 'shocking' makeover with a glam look. Sporting tights and chic T-shirts with straightened hair, she surely looks a hot babe.

However, her early makeovers in Malayalam film T-20, a Dileep-starrer turned a real flop. Though she was seen sun-kissing on the beaches of Mauritius in mini-skirts and tops, she flunked badly with her looks.

Hope this new makeover in Tamil will lend her the much-needed recognition. Good luck baby!

With Father's day nearing, here's another act from Father Sarathkumar.

He has teamed up with his daughter, Vijayalaxmi (born out of wedlock with his first wife Chaya) to form a company to promote theatre, drama, dance and musicals.

The duo plans to bring the the most popularl Broadway Musical, MAMMA MIA! from the Hot Shoe Entertainment Production to Chennai.

The twosome has already made arrangements for the musical to be performed in Chennai on July 4 and 5 at the Music Academy and on 24th and 25th of July in Bangalore.

Varalaxmi, who has done her degree in microbiology in Chennai and her Masters in Management in Scotland, had returned to Chennai only in 2007.

However, the bitten by the movie bug, she will soon make her debut in the forthcoming romantic comedy Poda Podi with Silambarasan.

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has unanimously elected comedy artiste Innocent as its president for the fourth time in a row.
Innocent said that he wanted to step down, but had to accept the post for the fourth time because everyone wanted him to continue.

Even though the Malayalam film industry is passing through difficult times with lesser number of films being produced, the body of film artistes is united as ever before and the actor is very happy.

"One thing why I am very happy is that I always wanted that in a body like ours there should be no elections because it could lead to unpleasant situations. We don't need a ruling and an opposition front among ourselves. This shows that we are united and we have no issues at all," said Innocent.

Innocent has been the president of AMMA since 2000 and at an executive meeting held here Monday night, there were no issues when his name was cleared unanimously.

Apart from Innocent, 16 other artistes were also elected unanimously to the executive committee. The two vice presidents are two time opposition legislator K.B. Ganesh Kumar and Mukesh.

Veteran superstar Mohanlal is the general secretary, while Edavela Babu is the secretary and Jagadish is the treasurer.

Superstar Mammooty and actor Dileep also found places in the committee.

The official announcement would be made here Thursday and the new committee will take charge at the 15th annual general body meeting to be held here June 25.

After Kuruvi, the second film from Red Giant Movies of Udhayanidhi Stalin is Aadhavan.

The film is pegged as another sure shot entertainer with Suriya and Nayantara in the lead. The key highlight of the movie is the reappearance of veteran actress Saroja Devi, who plays a key role in the film. Other cast include vedivelu, Murali, Fefsi Vijayan, Ramesh Khanna, Shayaji Shindae, Rahul Dev, Anand Babu, Manobala and Erode Soundar.

The shooting initially began in Chennai and was shot in Chettinad Palace. A few key scenes and a song sequence titled Dekho dekho (penned by Valee) and choreographed by Gayathiri Raghuram featuring over 200 junior artistes were taken.

At AVM Studios, a grand set erected by Rajeevan for a song titled Varayo varayo (penned by Kabilan) was shot on Suriya and Nayantara.

Another song, titled Masi Mas, featuring Suriya - Nayantara and Murali - Saroja Devi was canned in Darjeeling

Though most part of the movie was shot in Kodaikanal,. a few others involving Suriya and Rahul Dev were shot in busy streets of Kolkata and Delhi.

Now the cast and crew are off to iceland to shoot a song Eno Eno Interestingly this is the first film to be shot in the region where popular james Bond movies like A View To Kill and Die Another day were shot. The song would be canned for ten days.

The magnum opus of Selvaraghavan ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ is all set to hit the screens by first week of August. The project was shot nearly for 2 ½ years.

Director Selvaraghavan, Producer Ravendran, Actors Karthi, Parthiban and Andrea, Music Director G.V. Prakash, Cinematographer Ramji and Choreographer Siva Shankar interacted with the media today to announce the audio launch of the film.

The movie's audio launch is slated on Sunday June 14, 6.30 pm at University Hall. Chennai.

Producer Ravendran has set this occasion for a more grander display including dance performance by Ladies – Kerala ‘Singari Melam’, rope dance, snake dance, Kerala ‘Kalari Fight’
Classical Dance by actor Poorna, ‘MAKOSSA’ Dance from Nigeria, Dallu’s fashion show (Featuring the star-casts of ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ with his collections) and live performances by G.V. Prakash and his crew.

Southern spice Shrya Saran took her shots with hot dude Arya for their upcoming release, Chikku bukku. Some hot scenes were shot in picturesque coffee plantation in Chikmagalur in Karnataka.

The film directed by Manigandan, is reportedly a mix of three Bollywood films in which Shirya plays the role of a bubbly and chatty girl akin to Kareena in Jab we met.

Music composers Hariharan and Leslie Lewis are said to have churned out some really romatic tunes and the film is being billed as a romantic entertainer with all masala elements in it.

The wedding reception of actor Jeyam Ravi and Aarthi took place in MRC grounds in Chennai on June 7. The main marriage ceremony was held on June 4.
Almost the entire Kollywood fraternity and the small screen artists turned up wish the young couple.

Apart from top stars as Vijay, Surya, Dhanush, politicians like Deputy CM Stalin, Dayanidhi Maran, GK Vasan, ex-minister Anbumani, Jayakumar also attended the function

Superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan, attended the main wedding on June 4 and blessed the couple.

Even Nayanthara seems to unaware of her union with Prabhu Deva while the whole world is abuzz with their marriage rumours.

There were strong rumours on Sunday that Prabhu Deva, father of three children, has tied the knot with Kollywood hottie, Nayanthara in a secret place.

A few websites even claimed to have their wedding photos though what they threw up was only a set of individual photos of the twosome. Nayan's tatoo act, of having Prabhu Deva's name in her hand lend credence to this rumour.

However, coming out in the open about the gossip, Nayanthara in a press conference on Monday denied such an incident.

She said: “Even I heard about my marriage. Isn’t that funny? I’m not even in Hyderabad right now. Everyone knows that I am a very open person and when I decide to get married, I will officially announce it to the media. I believe in the institution of marriage and when it will be with the blessing of my parents. I don't need to do it secretly.

Remember Palaivanacholai, the super-duper hit of 1980s starring Suhasini and Chandrasekar with the excellent song Meghame Meghame rendred by Vani Jayaram?

This film joins the latest remake leagues. Maruti Films’ producer R Radhakrishnan and Director S Dayalan are all set to recreate the magic albeit some changes in the climax.

While the original cast included Chandrasekar, Janakaraj, Rajiv, Thyagu and Suhasini, the new version will have Nitin Sathya playing Chandrasekar's role with Sams, Abinaya, Sathyan and Karthika.

The rest of the cast includes TP Gajendran, Manobala, Anu Mohan and Veniradai Murthy amongst others.

Two remix songs are there amongst the five songs in the film. Megame is sung by Sadhana Sargam while Alanalum Aalu is by Karthik. Vairamuthu has penned the lyrics and EK Boby has handled music.

The film is set for release in July