KANNADA
Yaarige Beda Duddu
Recordings commence
After Yaarge Salathe Sambale (For whom the salary is sufficient) which did a whopping business, the producers of Nargis Enterprises are following up with Yaarge Beda Duddu (Who does not want money). Guruprasad who had directed comedy films like Aaha Brahmachari and Sidukabeda Singari and the thriller Mrityubandhana is the director. The film has six songs, the recording of which is already underway at Arun Studio, Bangalore. The star and technical team is being finalised.

Madhuve Aagona Baa
Naidu film almost complete
The Guinness record holder and Member of Parliament, Dr D Rama Naidu’s latest venture in Kannada, Madhuve Aagona Baa starring Shiv Rajkumar and Laya is making quick progress. Dialogues for the film are being recorded at Chamundeswari Studio. The shoots for the songs were wrapped up in Switzerland a few months ago. VS Reddy of Kannada hits like Gadibidi Ganda, Mangalyam Thantunaanena, Naanu Nanna Hendthiru and Preethsu Thappinilla is directing a Shiv Rajkumar starrer for the first time. The film has story by Bhoopathiraja and dialogue by Kanjunda, while Koti is the music director and V Pratap the cinematographer.

Shilpi, Kashi, Sumitra, Ramakrishna, Sunderraj, Mandya Ramesh, Shivaram, Aravind, Lakshman, Brahmanandam, Sharan, Arunkumar, Srilalitha, Devisri, Rajitha, Meghana, Lavanya, Ramya, Malasri and Amoolya play key roles.

A few days of shoots remain for the film, though the sets where the shoots were in progress, have been dismantled after the property changed hands. This is a unique problem the producers will have to overcome.

Roshagni
A Karate, Kung-Fu special!
Rajaveer, the leading Kung-Fu and Karate exponent, is now exhibiting his skills on the Kannada film screen, with Roshagni. Besides appearing in the lead role, Rajaveer has also written the story, screenplay and dialogue, apart from scoring the music and directing the film. The film, according to Rajaveer, is a sentiment-packed drama rich in stunts, comedy and music.
One scene has Rajaveer breaking 120 bricks with one shot, during a daring encounter. And many more such thrilling stunts abound. S Nagendra Urs, the son of late actor, Sunderakrishna Urs, makes his debut as the editor. Nagendra is also the nephew of Suresh Urs, the national-award winning editor.

Gangadharachar, Jayanthi, Tara, Sudarshan, Marimuthu, Bank Janardhan, Shanker Bhat, Michael Johnson and Savitha Rao are also in the cast.

Andhra Hendthi
Ramya Krishna roped in
The first time producer NL Narayanappa has had to shelve his plans to complete his maiden production, Andhra Hendthi, within 90 days of its launch, owing to the recent 2 month bandh clamped on the industry. Shoots, however, are now progressing briskly.

To introduce glamour and glitz, the producer has roped in Ramya Krishna into the cast. The music mixing has been in progress from October 9. The first print is expected by the end of this month. The story of Andhra Hendthi is about a musician who goes to Andhra Pradesh to make it big, and finds he has to return with a beautiful girl in tow. What happens on his return to Karnataka comprises the rest of the story.

AR Babu has directed the thriller, with which Shivamaya makes his debut as music director. Prasad Babu is the cameraman and Kaurava Venkatesh the action director. Thriller Manju, Madan Mallu and Anant Nag are also in the cast.

Vasishta

MALAYALAM
Mohan Lal in Sibi Malayil film
Sibi Malayil had initially planned to make this film with new faces but when Mohan Lal heard the story and evinced interest in it, the director made a few changes to make the film with Lal, who plays the famous music composer Vishal Krishnamoorthy.

The film narrates the story of the music lover, who takes up the family business for survival. And though he proves to be a good businessman, his heart is always with his first love — music. He decides one day to bid goodbye to is business empire and takes off on a journey in search of music that inspires him. He creates the symphony, Rhythm of love, and it’s hailed as a masterpiece. But the price he has to pay for the success is heavy. A chance invitation brings him back to his alma mater to help students compose the music for an inter collegiate competition. Sneha, his student, coaxes him into taking up the assignment, despite his painful memories of life on the campus. Once again, he is disturbed on meeting Angelina Ignatius, the matron.

Jayaprada plays the matron, while newfind Vijayalakshmi, who currently acts in Siddiq’s Tamil film, Friends plays Sneha. The film also has Jagadish, Jagathy and Janardhan in the cast. Cinematography by Santosh (not Santosh Sivan) and music by Vidyasagar are the other credits in the film produced by Siyad Koker and released by Anupama. The title is yet to be finalised.

Utthaman
Jayaram, Prema teamed
Anil-Babu the director duo known for their successful comedies, comes up with yet another comedy, Utthaman, starring Jayaram in the title role. It’s the story of an orphan, who grows up serving tea and coffee to the constables and inspector at the local police station. He becomes an unofficial policeman, without salary or powers, though he sports police boots, khaki pants, a crew cut and twirled moustache. He is also a favourite with the locals, because he is a kind-hearted man.

However, when sub inspector Jayaraj takes charge at the police station, things take a different turn for Utthaman. Jayaraj has the unauthorised cop thrown out from the station, and even insults him in public. Utthaman is shaken up. He no longer sports police boots or long moustache. But Jayaraj’s mother scolds her son and asks him to reinstate Utthaman.

Prema and Sindhu are the two leading ladies. Siddique plays Jayaraj, while Kaviyoor Ponnamma plays his mother. Innocent, TG Ravi, Meghanathan, Indrans, Nedumudi Venu, Babu Antony and Baburaj are also in the cast. Music by Johnson and cinematography by Shaji are other credits in the film produced by Akshara Films.

Thenkasipattanam
Suresh Gopi, Lal play bosom pals
Suresh Gopi and Lal (of the Siddiq-Lal team) play lead roles in Thenkasipattanam directed by Rafi Mercartin. The film, centered around Thenkasipattanam, the market place in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, tells the story of two friends Kannan and Dasan who dream of becoming the undisputed kings of the market, where they work as labourers. They slowly grow up into big businessmen, the market’s most respected and feared duo, who control the edible oil trade and oust the existing traders from the field. Their only sister, Devooty is a college student, though nobody knows which among the friends is her brother. Into their life comes Shatru, a youth who in no time becomes the closest confidante of the duo. He begins to play an important part in the lives of the friends.

Suresh plays Kannan and Lal plays Dasan. Kavy Madhavan plays Devooty. Samyuktha Varma and Geethu Mohandas are the other leading ladies. The film is being shot near pollachi. Music by Suresh Peters and cinematography by Saloo George are other credits in the film, which has Spadikam George, TP Madhavan and Salim Kumar in important roles. The film is produced by Lal Creations.

Thillana Thillana
Krishna, Joemol teamed
An out and out campus romance, that is Thillana Thillana for you. Youngsters Krishna, Joemol and Kaveri are in the lead. Directed by Saji the film is about a rich youth, Bobby, who stays in a lodge along with his friends leading a happy life. Bobby is torn between the two girls, Vandana and Malavika, who claim to love him. Krishna plays Bobby but who plays his fiancee is a mystery the director will not reveal just yet.

Jagathy, Kalabhavan Navas and Harishree Asokan are the other artistes in the cast. Suresh Gopi plays a guest role. Nikhila, an actress from Mumbai makes her debut in the film. Screenplay by Balu Kiriyath, cinematography by Vipin Mohan and music by Thankaraj are other credits in the film produced by Kerala Pictures.

Ayyappa Prasad