Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Jasraj sing together for the first time
Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and Padma Bhushan Pandit Jasraj have come together for the first time to sing for a Marathi film. Legend Movies Internationals’ Aai Tuza Aashirwad was launched with the recording of this song at Swarlata Studios. Produced by Shaarangdev and Jeet Singh, it is directed by Madhura Jasraj. Music Director Mayuresh Pai has composed music for all the songs in the film. Shooting for the film has already begun in Kolhapur in the presence of the entire cast comprising Arun Nalawade, Milind Gavli, Durga Jasraj, Sharad ponshe, Dilip Pansare and others.
Gautham plans Rs100-crore film funding
Gautham Vasudev Menon, the director who has come up with brilliant films in Malayalam like Kaakka Kaakka, Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu, Vaaranam Aayiram, etc, is reportedly planning something that’s unheard of in South Indian cinema. Gautham’s unique idea is to establish a Rs 100-crore fund for Tamil films, which can be utilised by production houses for making films, promos, purchasing films, song rights etc. His plan is to bring into the project some non-film people too and eventually make it a real big thing. Non-film people too can invest in films like any other business and this would be beneficial for the Tamil film industry. Gautham Menon has stated that the process is already on and it will be launched in a couple of months, most likely in November. Meanwhile Gautham Menon is working on his latest project, the Simbu-Trisha starrer Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya, which will also have a Telugu version.
Cash award for Goan filmmaker over Toronto honour
The Goa government on September 21 declared a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh to filmmaker, Laxmikant Shetgaonkar for winning the critique’s award at the Toronto International Film Festival for his film Pula Poltoddcho Munis (The Man Beyond The Bridge).
The decision was taken in the governing body meeting of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) held at Panaji on September 21. This was the first-ever Konkani film to have won laurels in an international event held outside the country. Although, the critique’s award is only consolatory in nature, the ESG decided to honour Shetgaonkar with a cash reward to enable him to produce films of high standard in near future.
“This is a proud moment not only for Goa but for the entire country. This award has actually contributed to take our official language Konkani, beyond national boundaries. This will surely serve as a huge boost to all the budding filmmakers of Goa,” Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said.
The film, which got the award on September 19, is based on a widowed forest ranger, Vinayak, who develops an intimate relationship with a mentally-ill woman, and in his struggle in giving her a fair chance to rebuild her life he risks becoming an outcast in his community. The entire 96-minute film was shot in the scenic beauty of Goan villages.
The ESG will soon organise a special function to honour the director as well as his team.
