On The Sets

KANNADA

Deviri gets a ‘U’

DEVIRI, the Nandita Das starrer based on well-known writer P Lankesh’s novel Akka, has been certified ‘U’ by the Central Board of Film Certification. The theme revolves round cruelty and humanity as seen by a boy in a slum. Directed by Kavitha Lankesh and produced by Navajeevana Films, it has been cinematographed by S Ramachandra with music by V Manohar. Besides Nandita Das, others in the cast are Manjunath, Kashi, B Jayasri, Bhavana, Jairaj, Asif, Hasan Raghu, Rekha and Master Santosh.

Ugadi
Vishnu, Khushboo teamed again

VISHNUVARDHAN and Khushboo have been teamed again in RM Productions’ Ugadi, being produced by HA Rehman and K Mustafa. The twosome were earlier teamed in Jeevanadhi.

Ugadi, a sentimental family film, will be directed by Radha Bharathi (Sheshadri), Vishnuvardhan’s brother. It will have dialogues by Ravi Srivitsa and lyrics and music by Hamsalekha.

Hollywood
Hollywood-bound!

PRODUCER Ramu, known for making big-budget films in Kannada, is now aiming to shoot his next film, Hollywood in its entirety in Hollywood. It will be directed by Murali Mohan S, with Upendra playing the key role. This will be the costliest production of producer Ramu in which Aishwarya Rai is likely to make her debut in Kannada films.

Sumangali
A launch amidst fanfare

THE Lord Ganesha Temple at Sadashivanagar near Dr Rajkumar’s residence was decked with flowers and wore a festive look for the muhurat of Sumangali, co-starring Shruthi and Kumar Govind. The crowd became uncontrollable when Dr Rajkumar entered to bless the unit members.

AJ Seshadri will direct the film, being produced by Nataraj, a former lecturer at the Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic.

Shruthi, known for essaying tragic, tear-jerking roles in Kannada films, will be enacting a totally different role in Sumangali, according to director Seshadri. Among others in the cast are Somasekhara Rao, Girija Lokesh and Ramanand. Music director V Manohar has already composed tunes for six songs. Umapathi is the cinematographer.

TELUGU

Bagunnara
Naveen, Priya Gill teamed

BUSINESSMAN-turned-film producer Pulli Anand Rao’s maiden production in Telugu Bagunnara is a wholesome family entertainer being directed by Fakruddin, erstwhile assistant of K Bhagyaraj. Naveen and Priya Gill play the lead in the film cinematographed on locales in and around Hyderabad. Barring one schedule, it is complete and the producer hopes to release it in March. Deva, well-known music director of Tamil films including the recent hit Tholi Prema, has composed the music of Bagunnara, whose producer said that Deva has given music for a Telugu film after a long gap and felt that the composer has given his best.

When asked why Naveen had been chosen when the actor was going through a lean trot, producer Anand Rao said that Naveen had been selected because “he is a very good actor and aptly suits the character he is enacting.” According to him, Naveen had done an excellent job and the film had shaped out very well. “The film,” he said, “has gone over-budget since we did not want to compromise on quality but we are confident of selling the film on the strength of the subject.”