Rajini’s movie releases tomorrow!

Sivaji - The Boss didn’t even need subtitles to pull people to the theatres in Mumbai. The magic of Rajinikanth was so empowering. Now the Superstar is set to weave his magic one more time on the people of cosmopolitan, but with his previous movie. Yes, that’s right, now Chandramukhi will be released in Mumbai, in Hindi and the best part is that Rajinikanth himself will be rendering voice.

The movie will be released by Dilip Dhanwani of the Royal Film Company with 150 prints. This is a new record for a dubbed movie.

Chandramukhi though based on the Malayalam original, Manichitrathazhu starring Mohanlal, did exceptional business in Kerala. It also broke couple of records in Andhra. The movie ran for close to 900 days at Shanthi theatre in Chennai. Now it is all set to woo the Mumbai cinema fans. In-spite of Bhool Bhulaiyaa, the Akshay starrer, which was again based on Manichitrathazhu running well in the city, distributor Dilip Dhanwani is very confident of the movie’s prospects. Talking to a Press meet he said, “Rajinikanth is a big brand here. Though the actor has stopped doing Bollywood movies, people remember him for his unique style. I am sure they will come to just see him.”

Give them back – Vijay style

When it comes to taking care of people who work for him, Ilaya Thalapathy Dr. Vijay always goes the extra mile.

The actor who usually meets his fans at his Saligramam residence has decided on a change of venue. He has shifted his office out of the place and moved it over to his marriage hall. Now the palatial house is separated into smaller compartments and has been given over to his support team. His driver, his personal make-up man and his favorite cook stay there free of cost.

His fans too are happy to meet him at the kalyana mandapam, since it is bigger place and can hold more people. Vijay has two marriage halls, one at Vadapalani and Saligramam each, and is building a third one near Ambatur.

Perhaps this is Ilaya Thalapathy style of saying thanks to not just his fans but those who work closely with him.

Kamal’s comment on ‘The Name Is Rajinikanth’

Dr Gayathri Sreekanth’s biography on Superstar Rajinikanth titled – ‘The Name Is Rajinikanth’ will be launched on March 6 at Taj Connemara in Chennai by Amitabh Bachchan.

The book with 384 pages and 130 pictures is priced at Rs 495. The book published by Om Books International has foreword by Kamal Haasan, K.Balachander, AVM Saravanan and Chief Minister Karunanidhi.

This is what Rajinikanth’s close friend and fiercest competitor Kamal Haasan had to tell about the book:

“Dr Gayathri Sreekanth has a unique viewpoint. An angle Rajini fans most cherish. A low angle shot looking up at their hero. Dr Gayathri has not destroyed truth for the sake of sensationalism. A book of this sort in English is long overdue. Precious, little, private details about the superstar fills the book. Though I know most of them, it is still a good read. The rise of Rajini is a notable achivement and will be remembered in Tamil commercial cinema history. So will Dr Gayathri’s book. Have a good read.”

Silanerangalil – Movie Review

A murder case that took place in mid sixties is narrated through a voice and radio news as the titles role on. A husband is accused of murdering his wife and he has been sentenced to death.

The film then moves forward with a dream by a girl (Navya Nair), who dreams of getting killed by a man. The girl is clad in an old style dress resembling the trend of sixties. She is not able to identify the man. Nor could she rationalize her dream. But one thing is clear. She is frightened. Terribly frightened.

So much so that she could not speak, recall her past, and get to terms with the present.

She is now in a home run by Christian Missionary. She is under care of Jo (Vincent Asokan), the person in charge for the rehabilitation of physically and mentally challenged persons. He names her as Anjali and develops a secret love towards her.

Enters psychiatrist Krishnan (Raghuvaran), expert in hypnotist therapy, comes forward to help them. The therapy reveals that she is the reincarnation of the girl, who was allegedly killed by her husband in 1965. The shocking revelation gives her back the power of speech but still she is unable to recall her past in this birth.

Further sittings with the psychiatrist reveal the possible reason for the murder. The husband suspected an affair between his wife and his friend, a famous playback singer Madhavan (Vineeth). The scenes surfaced in hypnotic sleep identify the husband. It is none other than Jo, who is the reincarnation of the husband.

Now Anjali is afraid of Jo and the doctor starts counseling Jo. He is put into hypnotic sleep in which he finds that the husband was not responsible for the murder.

Both Anjali and doctor are not ready to accept his words and they suspect that he would repeat the effort in this birth as well.

Jo, who is in love with Anjali, is shaken and determined to find the truth. This leads him searching the missing lines of the murder that took place forty years ago. The script reveals the truth with lots of unexpected twists in the tale.

‘Silanerangalil’, directed by Jaya Raj and produced by Ram New Light Productions Ltd, founded by 4 US based NRI, tells you a thriller with a very different backdrop. The reincarnation angle adds different colour to the murder mystery is. The movie has the support of a tight script, lively music, spectacular cinematography, and powerful performances by the main actors.

Malayalam director Jaya Raj who has won national award for five times, has by and large succeeded in presenting a thriller based on reincarnation theory. He has deftly handled the cast and mixed the thrill with right dosage of comedy. He has executed many scenes with aplomb, especially the flash back scenes. The get ups of the characters and the dialogues have credibly recreated the feelings of sixties.

Art director Muthuraj, music director Srikanth Deva, and lyricist Vairamuthu have brilliantly captured the essence of sixties. Veteran playback singer P. Susheela has been made to sing after a long gap for this partially period film. The songs have been beautifully picturised and the songs are tuneful and soothing to the ears. ‘Embavai’ stands out.

The US based producers approached the making of the movie in typical Hollywood style (producers, director and scriptwriter discussing to develop the script and a detailed storyboard) and the result shows. The script is well crafted and deftly executed. The clarity of the director is evident in each frame.

However, there are some missing links in the mystery. The background of the girl in this birth is not revealed till the end. Though the sittings with the doctor are effectively executed, the speed with which the girl goes in to her previous birth lacks credibility. The happenings revealed in hypnotic sleeps going beyond the realm of the person’s first hand experience is not convincing.

Vincent Asokan, son of veteran actor Asokan, smoothly transforms as a hero after playing villain in a few films. The man looks strong and acts well. He has depicted the jealous of a husband well and has excelled in stunt scenes. His looks help a lot in portraying the character with credibility.

Navya Nair, with lovely looks, is flawless. She brings out the fear and doubt in her face very well. Her expressive eyes play a vital role. Vineeth in a different get up in impressive, while Raghuvaran as a doctor with shades is convincing. He has excelled in the scene where he encounters his aged sister. Fathima Babu as jealous sister in law is perfect.

Sreeman in a small role makes his presence felt. Ramesh Khanna and Manobala manage to provide some comical moments.

Overall, Jaya Raj and his team have done well to give us a thriller with a different treatment. The movie passes muster despite some hiccups in the script

Verdict: A thriller with a different backdrop

Rating: 3 stars on 5

Watch out for this murder mystery

'Silanerangalil' the maiden Tamil venture of ace Malayalam director Jayaraj is all set to hit the theaters. The movie which stars Vincent Asokan, Navya Nair and Vineeth is a murder mystery set in the 60's and time travels to the present day, finding solution. Crisp and fast paced, the movie is just around 2 hours in length.

Produced by New Light Production, the film was recently rated a clean “U” by the censor board. Pyramid Saimira Theatre Group was so impressed after seeing the preview that they took over the distribution rights of the movie for entire India. The movie releases on February 29th throughout Tamil Nadu.

The audio released by Kamal Haasan, has been received well by the public. The music is scored by Srikanth Deva and lyrics by Vairamuthu. Dialogues are by Pattukotai Prabhakar and cinematography by Rajavel. Editing by national award winning Sreekar Prasad is said to be one of the highlights of the movie. New Light Productions is a joint venture of four software professionals based in US.

This clean entertainer definitely seems to be something to watch out for!

The Oscars – An Analysis

The Academy Awards are often berated by critics and film buffs for playing it safe by picking upbeat, feel-good crowd pleasers as winners, but this year the Academy surprised everyone pleasantly when it chose “No Country for Old Men”, a stark meditation on the nature of evil, as Best Picture. The directors of this dark film, brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, also won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. "Taxi to the Dark Side," which won Best Documentary Feature, looks at incidents of torture by the United States at its prison in Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq. Reporters also noticed that most of the major stars - Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Hilary Swank, and Tilda Swinton –were dressed in black.

What is significant is that all the best picture nominees won in one category or another – this way the Academy made sure no one film swept everything away. Something else that was unusual about this year’s Oscars is that it was only the second time in Academy history that Europeans took every acting prize: French actress Marion Cotillard won Best Actress for playing Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose," British actor Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor for his portrayal of a cruel oilman in "There Will Be Blood", Spanish actor Javier Bardem won Best Supporting Actor for his psychopath character in No Country for Old Men, and British actress Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress for playing a corporate executive who tries to cover up a scandal in "Michael Clayton”. When asked backstage about how she felt about European actors sweeping the Oscars, Swinton replied: "Dude, Hollywood is built on Europeans. Don't tell everybody, but we're everywhere."

The only two winners that had a cheerful side were "Ratatouille" for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Screenplay for Juno, a movie about a pregnant teenager. An Austrian thriller about forgery and the Nazis called "The Counterfeiters," won Best Foreign Language Film. Shekar Kapur’s Elizabeth: The Golden Age won only for Best Costume. The Golden Compass easily took away Best Visual Effects. And what of the blockbusters? "The Bourne Ultimatum" won three technical (Best Film Editing; Sound Mixing; Sound Editing) awards. Robert Elswit won Best Cinematography for "There Will Be Blood." Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglov won Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly," from the underrated contemporary romantic musical, "Once." Art Direction went to "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and Original Music Score went to Dario Marianelli for "Atonement".

Here, however, is a list of terrific movies that didn’t win but deserved to:

· Once

· The Savages

· Into the Wild

· 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

· The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

· I’m Not There

· Persepolis

· Across the Universe

Much loved star-pair once again on screen

The real life star pair is back once again, after a gap of nearly seven years. Well, if you are thinking Abhishek-Aishwarya you are wrong, they were last seen on screen just a year ago. If you are thinking Saif-Kareena then you are still way off the mark because their courtship is still in its early stages and none of the star pairs in Kollywood seem very keen to come on screen. This real life pair has not had much/any success on screen together. Both of them have been successful on their own terms in their own film but never together. Perhaps what comes closest to being called a success is the 1996 Ishq. Maybe those less informed about Bollywood would need more clues but the others should have stopped guessing by now. Raju Chacha! - does that ring a bell.

Well, let’s put it this way. One of them has formed the most successful ad loved on screen pairs with the Badshah of Bollywood (SRK). That should do it, Kajol….. And if you are still not sure of the other person in this real life pair then you need to get yourself educated in Hindi cinema.

Kajol and Ajay Devgan are coming together for the first time after Raju Chacha in U,Me aur Hum. The title sounds like a feel good romantic musical is on its way to theaters. Scheduled for an early April release this movie has already restarted a long paused debate; Can Kajol and Ajay translate their real life chemistry on screen? Past records suggest that their chances are not very bright but past records are immaterial when a movie releases, it stands on its own merits or demerits.

That’s not all, after U Me aur Hum they will be seen together once again in a very short time in Toonpur Ka Superhero, a 3D animation adventure where Kajol and Ajay Devgan (playing himself) will be seen with a host of animated characters in a fantasy land. May 2008 be the year when this real life pair comes good on screen too.

Filmfare Awards: Winners and the unlucky

All the glory and success that Bollywood garnered in 2007 were honored officially for one last time as the Filmfare Awards were announced. The competition this time was the closest that we have witnessed in a long time, with three films, Taare Zameen Par, Chak De India and Guru taking the fight all the way down to the wire. But there can be only one winner and while it may seem unfair that the other superlative efforts which would have normally walked away with a dozen awards in other ordinary years were confined to applauding to the winner - that quite clearly sums up the standards that have been raised and set in a year of excellence.

The winners

1. Best Film: Taare Zameen Par
2. Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Chak De India)
3. Best Actress: Kareena Kapoor (Jab We Met)
4. Best Director: Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)
5. Best Story: Amol Gupte (Taare Zameen Par)
6. Best Screenplay: Anurag Basu (Life in a….. Metro)
7. Best Dialogue: Imtiaz Ali (Jab We Met)
8. Best Supporting Actor : Irffan Khan (Life in a… Metro)
9. Best Supporting Actress: Konkana Sen Sharma (Life in a… Metro)
10. Best Music: A.R. Rahman (Guru)
11. Best BGM: A.R.Rahman (Guru)
12. Best Debut Male: Ranbir Kapoor (Saawariya)
13. Best Debut Female: Deepika Padukone (Om Shanthi Om)
14. Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi (Maa… Taare Zameen Par)
15. Best Art Director: Sameer Chanda(Guru)

Special Mentions:

1. Critics Award for Best Actor: Darsheel Zaffary (Taare Zameen Par)
2. Critics Award for Best Actress: Tabu (Cheeni Kum)
3. Critics Award for best film: Chak De India

Comments:

One cannot but feel sorry for Chak De India and Guru which deserved many more honors but were outclassed by Taare Zameen Par. Guru in particular seemed sidelined, more so because it has been such a long time since its release, Rahman’s music being good enough to hold fort for more than a year. Abhishek Bachchan must be feeling a bit unlucky after turning out the best performance of his career. Meanwhile, Saawariya which was widely touted to be the only real contender for best art direction was beaten by Samir Chanda’s simple yet effective work for Guru. Best Debut male was just a formality, there was just one real runner in the race but somehow one gets a feeling that Neil Nithin Mukesh should have received some mention for his performance in Johnny Gaddar. It also comes to mind that some daringly different unconventional cinema like Bheja Fry and Loins of Punjab went without mention; maybe it is time to consider an awards category for ‘niche’ cinema. Maybe a ‘best comeback star’ award too may be a good addition if veterans begin to make comebacks like the one Dharmendra made this year with Johnny Gaddar, Apnay and Life in a …. Metro. And don’t forget to note that Darsheel Zaafarry got the critics award for the best actor, not best child artiste. Overall a great way to cap off one of the best years in the decade for Bollywood. The night clearly belonged to Taare Zameen Par while others made glittering special appearances. Wishing for an equally good or an even better 2008.

Rajini ala Matrix

After the stupendous success of Sivaji, the Shankar–Rajini duo is back in action with their next project Robot. This Shankar’s brainchild was initially offered to Kamal Haasan and then to Shah Rukh Khan before it finally reached the superstar.

With the shooting of Robot all set to commence on May 10, 2008, the frenzy is bound to get bigger and bigger with every passing day. And even this time, as like his previous films, director Shankar will adhere strictly to his working style, which is 15-days shooting and 15-days discussion a month.

Another interesting piece of news is that the stunt master of the famous Hollywood film, Matrix, Yuen Woo-Ping has been roped in to direct the fight sequences in Robot. And naturally he has bagged the offer for a huge sum. Reckon how much? It is nothing less than Rs. 8 Crores. But then, grandiose, the name is Shankar right?

Action Choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping in a Set with Jackie Chan & Jet Li

Views of Universal Scholars about the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

http://www.quranflash.com/en/index.html

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"Reciting Salawath on our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an activity that will be accepted by Allah, even if we don't have Ikhlas (piety)".

The Character of Prophet (sal) is nothing but Holy Quran.

- Hazrath Ayisha (rali) Madeena Shareef, Arabia

There is no iota of doubt that the Holy Quran is a Divine Book. I have read the Holy Quran several times. I am really glad to find that the Holy Quran teaches truthfulness and nonviolence. My advice to the cabinet is that free India needs administrators like the Caliphs (Presidents) Aboobucker (Rali) and Umar (Rali). Prophet Muhammad (Sal) is a great Prophet of God. His lofty character was solely responsible for the spread of Islam and not the Sword.

- Father of the nation – Gandhi

Islam is the nascent force which was infused by a new Prophet Muhammad (sal) that awakened the Arab land and bestowed it with self-confidence and strength. I have come to Land (Arabia) which taught brotherhood to the entire world.

- Light of Asia – Nehru

I have learnt piety from the Prophet Muhammad (sal) who was born in the Arabland. (Courtesy “Swarjya” 08.10.1972)

- First Governor General of Free India – Rajaji

The day, on which Prophet Muhammad (sal) was born, is the day of good intention and golden day of good deeds ad the great day of happiness.

- Indira Gandhi

Allah is complete. Muhammad is his messenger. Pray to Allah who is unseen.

Hum Hum Allah Rasool Muhammad Kabarasya

Allah Allah Illallaladhi Illallah.

- Adharvana Vedha (1:10)

A famous person will emerge from the human race. Camels will be his Vehicles of transport.

(English Translation of the Sanskrit Text)

I respect Prophet Muhammad (sal) as he has united the society that was divided in the past. “Quran is a holy book not only for Muslims but also for the people of all religions of India”. Courtesy to Dinamani 23.03.2001.

- Prime Minister Vajpayee

Prophet Muhammad (sal) established an exemplary society by bringing out those people who were immersed in blind belief; he designed a decent political system for the establishment of such a society. The Prophet Muhammad (sal) changed the dark period of ignorance into enlightened period of wisdom. About Prophet Muhammad’s (sal) personality what has impressed me most are his sweet words, smiling face and the personal weapon of his patience by which he achieved success which could not have been won by sword. If all the religions of world are likened to the Jack fruit, Islam would be the inner fruit thereof. In the Jack fruit the skin and rind are to be removed but not in the inner fruit thereof which can be taken straight away. Islam is rational religion. It is also a beautiful religion. Islam is a religion of love. The saying of Prophet (sal) are like sparkling diamonds. Islam is true for all times and for all nations.

- Aringar Anna

The Holy Quran is a book of justice. The holy name of Prophet Muhammad who taught the mankind brotherhood, realization of independence and equality will prevail all over the word as long as it exists.

- Nightingale of India – Sarojini Naidu

But for the advent of Prophet Muhammad (sal) the ever shining lantern of belief in oneness of God would have extinguished for ever.

- Raja Ram Mohan Rai

The Prophet Muhammad (sal) is victorious. He had unparalleled courage and was a wisdonful preacher, a great devotee and an intelligent administrator. He was victorious everywhere and victorious in every thing. His mother tongue was also triumphant everywhere. It is very clear that Prophet Muhammad (sal) is an uncomparable saint and the greatest pious man. Allah bestowed him before he prayed Him. (An extract from his speech of Meelad Nabi celebration in Pottal puthur, Nellai District 20.06.1920, “Bharathiyar’s essays). Thanks to Librarian, Bharathi Memorial Illam, Triplicane.

- Maha Kavi Bharathiar

The most victorious among all the Prophets is Prophet Muhammad (sal). The Holy Quran is memorized by people more than the rest of the religious books.

- Encyclopedia Britannica

The 100 My Choice of Muhammad (sal) to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others; but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both religious and secular levels. Unlike Jesus Christ, Muhammad (sal) was the leader of the religion and the world. The Prophet Muhammad (sal), by his personal influence totally changed the past, present and future history of the world. For the reason only I accorded him “First Rank” in my book “The 100”. For over ten years the matter was under my thoughtful consideration before coming to this final conclusion.

- International Writer, Lawyer, Historian, Mathematician, Astronomer, Computer Engineer, a Jew, Michael H. Hart, Anandale, America (1978)

I have studied at Oxford University in England. But, I learned real education only after studying the Holy Quaran. (He sacrificed his life for the freedom of India in England)

- Moulana Muhammad Ali Jowhar – Congress Leader

Thinking that conversion of Hindus to Muslim in India took place only by sword and fire power would be height of madness. Muhammad Nabi (sal) is the pillar of brotherhood. Courtesy to the Book “Youths must come up for the service of mother India” Page No.160

- Vivekananda

We need to pay our attention towards the preachings and guidelines of the Prophet Muhammad (sal) which befit all the times.

- Chandrika – The President of SriLanka

He was a professor of philosophy in Mysore University, Karnataka, South India. He has brought out a classical work on the life history of Prophet Muhammad (sal) entitled “Muhammad (sal)”. He says that Muhammad (sal) refined the nature of Arabs likes spotless and purified gold and made their head kept aloft, evaluated them to zenith through civilization and education.

- Professor K.S. Ramakrishna Rao, Mysore University

There is no history as the history of Islam. There is no man who changed the fate of the world, as the Prophet Muhammad (sal)

- E.E. Kellet

We can say that no religious book has ever come in the world since that last 12 centuries as chaste and errorless as the Holy Quran.

- A famous historian Sir William Moore

The vast and everlasting service of the Prophet Muhammad (sal) with minimum provision he had, makes us admit that no person’s name shines as much as the name of the Prophet Muhammad (sal).

- J.W.H. Stopert

No man or demon can make a verse equal to the verses of Holy Quran. This phenomenon is sufficient to prove that Quran is from God, Himself. Quran is indeed, a wonder.

- Washington Irving – U.S.A

God has sent Muhammad (sal) to invite the people towards worshipping him. It was only fools and undeserved people who denied his advice. I visited twice Saudi Arabia due to my love for him.

(The wealthy men among us who have not so far cared to perform Haj may perhaps get a lesson from him)

- Gurunanak the Sikh Leader

Prophet Muhammad (sal) came to unite the people of East and the West.

- World famous Poet – Tennyson, England

The Prophet Mohammad (sal) established well structured political system, rationality and chaste characters in a land, where these things were not to be seen – in such a way that fetched him wonderful praising.

- Rev. Steephens

There is no equality or comparison in the world to the life of Prophet Muhammad (sal). The reason to praise him is that his words and deeds have found a place in history. His exemplary life guides people like an ever burning light and a light house. He has paved ways to people by occupying different positions in his life a friend, a servant, father, chaplain, religious leader, lawyer, entrepreneur, ruler, adviser, protector and husband. (Jamal Muhammad Sahib the founder of Jamal Muhammad College, Trichy) met Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall and enquired about the final cause which prompted him to embrace Islam. He replied with tears in his eyes that in his dream he had a vision of Prophet Muhammad (sal) asking him to embrace Islam; Soon he woke up from sleep and declared that had embraces Islam. Jamal Muhammad Sahib was willing to give him Rs.50,000 for the translation of the Holy Quran in English, but he refused to get it (It shows that he had no desire of money). His father was Christian Father in England. (Islamic Encyclopedia by M.R.M. Abdur Raheem III Volume, Page 542)

- Muhammad, Marmaduke Pickthal (The English man who embraced Islam and also translated Holy Quran into English)

Jodha Akbar – ban spreads to other states

After having been banned from the screens of Rajasthan following protests from the Rajputs sect who opposed its content, Jodha Akbar is also facing resistance from Madhya Pradesh now. The BJP led government stated that the movie has been taken off the screens in Madhya Pradesh for fear of threat to the law and order situation in the state. Last heard, the movie is also being taken off the screens in some of the theatres in Punjab and Bihar.

However, Jodha’s distributors are not taking the turn of events lightly and have approached the Madhya Pradesh high court seeking to lift the ban on the movie from being screened in the state. UTV’s spokesperson is also quoted saying that they are ready to take the case even to Supreme Court.

It is significant to note that Jodha Akbar has been given a clean chit by the Censor Board without any cuts.