JULY 29, 2010
‘I have survived a difficult journey’ - Ajith Interview
Actor Ajith, who has completed over 15 years in Tamil cinema and is all set to roll out his golden jubilee film later next month, has categorically stated that he is here to stay and here to act. These assurances from the actor’s lips may sound clichéd. But for his die-hard fans and devoted followers, the words carry greater significance. For till now, the actor has been precariously juggling his film career with his passion for motor sports.
It was inevitable that one of the two had to take a beating. His recent releases got a drubbing at the box office. Since the actor had found the lure of the race track hard to resist, it meant that he could do just one film a year. But now sources close to the actor say, “He has made his intentions clear. Now that he has decided to stay away from car racing, the actor is planning to do movies one after another and work with the who’s who of Kollywood, which would also serve his avowed purpose of encouraging fresh talent.”
This may have been prompted by the fact that though his recent films were made on a lavish budget and featured the best technicians, the desired results could not be accomplished at the turnstiles.
But now that Ajith’s back to films with full focus and no distractions, his admirers are confident that his run of flops will stop.
The actor is just as optimistic. Looking back at his journey in tinsel town he says, “I am in my 50th film. As I glance back, I see the journey as a difficult one. To have survived in such a volatile industry is no easy task. I have been walking a tightrope.”
The actor acknowledges that it has been the support and encouragement from his die-hard fans that has kept him going. They have always given his films grand openings, which were often the envy of many of his contemporaries in the industry.
Having set his priorities, Ajith is showing that he means business. He will soon commence shooting for Mangaatha (present title) to be directed by Venkat Prabhu, which co-stars him with Nagarjuna.
Impressed after watching Madarasapattinam, Ajith, who worked with director Vijay in Kireedom earlier, readily agreed to do a movie with him early next year.
In addition to all this, the actor is ready to team up with director Vishnuvardhan once again to do a sequel to Billa. The movie, inspired by the Rajinikanth cult classic was a milestone in the actor’s career. Ajith has also committed to doing a film with Gautham Vasudev Menon.
Sources close to the actor say that he is keen to repay his fans for their loyal support and patronage by giving them some outstanding entertainment.
Having firmly set his priorities, the actor continues to scout for creative filmmakers to ensure that his attempt to revive his flagging box-office fortunes, clicks in a big way. “I am here to stay. Ready and eager to run the extra mile!” he says with a determined lilt in his voice.
Source: Deccan Chronicle (Dated: 29-7-2010)
Thala is back with ‘Billa-2′
Last time, Thala said ‘I am Back’ and this time, he’s making it sure HE’s BACK. Yes, Cheer up Guys! For our Thala is striking back with the sequel of ‘Billa-2’ with the same team. The film that was made before couple of years turned to be the biggest grosser and indeed proved to be a turning point for Thala.
The film will now be made at a bigger cost and shot in foreign locations. Vishnuvardhan has been signed for wielding the megaphone. According to media manager of Director Vishnuvardhan who has confirmed with Ajithfans.com, that he has finished the script and the project will go on floors next year.
It looks like producers of the film will be none other than Sivaji Productions as Ajith Kumar had previously promised them that he’ll work for another project with the producers.
Let us keep our fingers crossed for the big bang duo!!!
JULY 22, 2010
A Galaxy Of Stars - TOI Special Article on Multi-Starrers
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A GALAXY OF STARS
MULTI-STARRERS SEEM TO BE THE WAY FORWARD FOR KOLLYWOOD…
Sreedhar Pillai | TNN
Kollywood’s traditional solo super hero films are undergoing a metamorphosis. From the days of MGR to now, big heroes refused to do multi-starrers saying vaguely that their fans would not enjoy other heroes hogging the limelight too. Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan did nearly a dozen films together early in their career in the late 1970s, but after they were anointed superstars, they refused to work together.
But now, all that is fast changing after the failure of a couple of superstar films and the success of multi-starrers in other languages like Raajneethi (Hindi), Pazhassi Raja (Malayalam) and Vedam (Telugu). Sarath Kumar, chief of the Nadigar Sangam, has been harping that multistarrers is the way forward for Tamil cinema.
Sarath Kumar, in an interview, said, “Multistarrers are working very well in other languages. I worked with Mammootty in Pazhassi Raja and am now working with Mohanlal in Christian Brothers. Everybody knows what their roles were. At the end of the day, we are all working for the commercial success of the film.” Sarath Kumar has a point as in Bollywood and in other languages, several producers are opting for multi-starrers.
Sarath Kumar feels that Tamil directors should come forward to make films with multiple heroes, keeping their image in mind and packaging it well at the same time. Says Bharath, who is doing Vaanam with Simbu, “I had earlier done a multi-starrer — Pattiyal — with Arya and it was not only a nice experience but also a hit. As far as Vaanam is concerned, everything has been worked out perfectly.” Maddy, who is just back from Europe after the first schedule of Manmadhan Ambu, says, “It’s a pleasure to work with Kamal Sir. We had earlier done Anbe Sivam, which is one of the best films I have done.” More multi-starrers are in the pipeline. Concluded a trade analyst, “Why is Shankar — a director who has worked in only big-budget single hero films — committing to do the remake of 3 Idiots, which is a multi-starrer?Venkat Prabhu’s Mangaatha has become the hottest film in the circuit overnight as it has Ajith and Nagarjuna boosting its business prospects.Multi-starrer films are going to be the future as they definitely have an edge over solo-hero films.”
Source: Times of India (Dated: 22-7-2010)
Mangattha is my title, says producer Mano
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Mangattha is my title, says producer Mano
ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN DECCAN CHRONICLE
Ajith Kumar, who is back to acting after putting his racing interest in the backburner, is all set to act as the lead protagonist in his Golden jubilee film, directed by Venkat Prabhu. The film, which also features Tollywood star Nagarjuna and Manchu Manoj (son of veteran actor Mohan Babu) is a bilingual gangster flick and is being produced by Dayanidhi Alagiri of Cloud Nine banner.
Neetu Chandra acts opposite Ajith. According to close sources, this milestone movie of the Billa star has been titled Mangattha. Now, producer Mano Akkineni of Indira Innovations says that Mangattha title belongs to her banner.
When Mano was contacted by this newspaper she said, “I also hear and read from media reports that Ajith’s next film has been titled Mangattha.
I have not come across flick and is being produced b Dayanidhi Alagiri of Cloud Nine banner.
Neetu Chandra acts opposite Ajith. According to close sources, this milestone movie of the Billa star has been titled Mangattha. Now, producer Mano Akkineni of Indira Innovations says that Mangattha title belongs to her banner.
When Mano was contacted by this newspaper she said, “I also hear and read from media reports that Ajith’s next film has been titled Mangattha.
I have not come across anything official about it. In any case, having intended to produce an array of films, I have properly registered few titles in the Tamil Film Producers Council and one such title is Mangattha, which I am planning to use for one of my future projects.” Now, it is Venkat Prabhu who will have to take a call on the new title!
Source: Deccan Chronicle (Dated: 19-7-2010)
Mr Nice-Guy - Venkat Prabhu
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Mr Nice-Guy - Venkat Prabhu
Bhanu Mathi Mohan
There was a time in Venkat Prabhu’s career when things looked bleak and he seemed to be walking a very stony path. It wasn’t so long ago that he and his family went through some very bad times financially and he felt that nothing was stable.
“When I returned home to India after eight years in the UK I decided to star in my father’s film Pooncholai. Unfortunately, that film did not even release and I began to sense that others were loosing faith in me and that I was beginning to be considered unlucky,” he recalls.
“It wasn’t until after I got married that I started to take my responsibilities seriously. I even started a band and played at weddings and functions to make ends meet and tried to launch a film magazine, which again did not take off.
“My father started a television company which was a flop and we actually lost our houses,” he reveals. “I came to know a lot about life and all it’s ups and downs. I worked on all sorts of projects and took acting roles as second-lead and even worked in Tamil TV serials.
“I tried all kinds of things and for me the turning point was a video project that I did for a company in Singapore. This got the notice of some people and when I asked SP Charan to produce and Yuvan Shankar Raja to do the music for what was to become Chennai 28, they immediately supported me.”
Since then, Venkat Prabhu has earned a name for himself as a cutting-edge film maker who has his finger on the pulse of ‘Generation Next’ with hit films such as Goa and Saroja.
“When I was at school I really wanted to become a singer and then later, I guess because of my strong interest in films, I decided to try to become a film maker,” he reflects. “I even looked into studying at the British Film Institute but it was way too expensive and after lengthy discussions with my father, I realised that direction is not necessarily something you needed to be formally trained in.
“A lot of people don’t realise this about the film-world but if you can manage your people and your budgets carefully, you have won half the battle. Thankfully, people always had the confidence in me even when I wasn’t too sure of myself. People have always believed in me.” …. That’s probably because you seem like such a nice guy I thought to myself and isn’t it great when one meets an exception to the rule that nice-guys always finish last.
Source: Indian Express (Dated: 17-7-2010)
Actress Neetu Chandra’s Interview : Double Delight for Neetu
Neetu Chandra is paired with Ajith in his 50th movie, which also stars Nagarjuna
V Lakshmi|TNN
Actress Neetu Chandra has hit the jackpot, and how! After debuting in Yaavarum Nalam opposite Madhavan, she wowed Kollywood audiences with her performance as the haughty and spoilt brat Tejaswini in Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai. And then, she went on to do a cameo song with director Ameer in Mysskin’s forthcoming Yuddham Sei. And now, the latest is that she has bagged the female lead in Venkat Prabhu’s film with Ajith and Nagarjuna, titled Mangaatha.
Talking to CT, Neetu says, “I got a call from Venkat Prabhu’s office a month ago and they spoke to my manager about casting me in a film opposite Ajith. I was quite excited about the offer and decided to go ahead. I later spoke to Venkat Prabhu as well. He said I’ll be playing the main female lead in the film. I think the shooting will begin in August.”
Neetu is super excited about being a part of a film that has her favourite south Indian stars and director. “I’ve heard about Venkat’s style of direction. He’s made films in different genres in a short span of time and all his movies are hilarious. He’s a great brand in Kollywood. Who would say no to working with him?” she smiles.
Mangaatha happens to be Ajith 50th film and Neetu says she’s quite lucky to land this offer. “I know Ajith has a huge fan following in south. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I hope our pairing clicks well,” she says.
Interestingly, Neetu was supposed to play Nagarjuna’s heroine in a Telugu film, which didn’t take off. “I admire Nagarjuna for his talent. But somehow, I couldn’t do that Telugu film with him. Now, I’m glad that I get to work with both Ajith and Nagarjuna in the same film,” she gushes.
Source: Times of India (Dated: 16-7-2010)
Ajith’s 50th film: Mangaatha?
For some time now there was confusion about who would direct Ajith’s 50th film. Earlier, Gowtham Menon was supposed to wield the megaphone for this film, which is produced by Dayanidhi Azhagiri of Cloud Nine Productions. Now we hear that Gowtham Menon has walked out of the film due to other projects. It’s not clear if they have dropped the project or if it is likely to happen in future. As far as the 50th film is concerned, Venkat Prabhu will direct it. The film is tentatively titled ‘Mangaatha’ and will be a multi-starrer. Venkat Prabhu is currently holding talks with a Tollywood superstar for playing another lead role. Venkat Prabhu’s cousin Yuvan Shankar Raja will score the music while Sakthi Saravanan is expected to handle the camera. As of now, Venkat Prabhu is in Hyderabad, discussing the script with few actors and official confirmations pertaining to his project will be made shortly as the producers plan to commence the shooting by the first week of August.
Source: Expressbuzz.Com (Dated: 30-6-2010)