MALAYALAM
Chempoththu
Suresh Gopi for the first time in a Lohitadas film
Lohitadas, the writer turned director, whose sixth film Joker is currently doing its rounds in the theatres, is to make a film with Suresh Gopi in the lead for the first time.

The film, Chempoththu, would be produced by Salim Sathar, who had earlier produced Joker. Cast opposite Suresh Gopi is Manya, who had made her debut in Joker and Nishant Sagar, who too had done a notable role in Joker, would also be doing a major role in the film. Being made under the banner of Aachis Films, Chempoththu would commence its shoot very soon.

Kamal-Lohidas-Lal join hands
Director Kamal, writer Lohitadas and actor Mohanlal are to team up in Kamal’s next venture after Madhuranombarakaattu. The film, which would be Kamal’s Mohanlal-starrer after Ulladakam and Ayaal Kathayezhuthukayaanu, is to be produced by Johny Sagarika under the banner of Sagarika Films and will commence in February. Said to be a comedy, it would released during Vishu.

Viji Thampy-Mohanlal
team up for the first time
Director Viji Thampy, whose latest film Satyameva Jayate has been a big hit, is teaming up with superstar Mohanlal for the first time. The film, to be scripted by AK Sajan, will be produced by M Mani for Aroma Films. Shooting for the film is likely to commence early next year.

Jaya Bachchan-Mohanlal in
Shaji’s next
Noted filmmaker, Shaji N Karun, who gained international repute with his first film Piravi itself, has announced his next film. This is his fourth venture after Piravi, Swam and Vaanaprastham. His latest venture would be an adaptation of Kadal, a short story written by noted Malayalam writer T Padmanabhan. The most notable thing about the film would be that along with well-known actor Mohanlal (who had done the main role in Vaanaprastham), Jaya Bachchan would feature in the cast.

For Jaya Bachchan, who lately gave stellar performances in Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa and Fiza, this is surel going to be another challenging role. The shooting of the film is likely to commence from June next year and the main locations will be Varanasi, Ladakh and Rajasthan. The film is to have dialogues in Hindi also. The director hasn’t yet divulged more information about the script.
Another interesting thing about the film is that though the name of the story on which it is based is Kadal, meaning sea, the film is to be shot at locations away from the sea. The story, as lovers of Malayalam literature may well be knowing, revolves around a character, who has had a sort of a romantic fascination for the sea, which she has never seen and never ever sees in her life. The story focusses on the intricacies of human relationships and since the main character is one who loves poetry and music, music is going to be an important aspect of the film. The director has had extensive discussions with Jaya Bachchan. For Mohanlal, who bagged the National award last year for his performance in Vaanaprastham, the role in this film is undoubtedly going to be a feather in his cap.

Good Morning Chiang Ching
Jagathy Sreekumar plays title role
Mummy Century, the producer of five films including Five Star Hospital and Junior Mandrake, turned director with Bhadra which is to be released in January. He has now announced his second directorial venture Good Morning Chiang Ching with none other than Jagathy Sreekumar playing the title role of Chiang Ching, a Chinese. Along with him in the cast are Jagadeesh, Harisri Ashokan, Cochin Haneefa, Kalabhavan Mani, Shankar, Mamookoya and Kanakalatha. The female lead will be played by Vani Viswanath. The new film is to be produced under the banner of Brahmaputra Films. It will commence shoot in early January next year.

Dileep stars in Thaha’s film
Dileep is to star in the new film to be directed by Thaha (of the Ashokan-Thaha duo). Being produced by Hamsa Kottayam under the banner of Kalasangham, it will also star Harisri Ashokan, Janardhanan and Oduvil Unnikrishnan. The script is by VR Gopalakrishnan. While Salu George will cinematograph the film, Ousepachchan will set to tune lyrics by Gireesh Puthencherry. The film would be shot mostly in Ernakulam and Pondicherry.

Kapiththaan
Kapiththaan is to be directed by TS Suresh Babu for Jaygeetham Films. Shooting will commence shortly. The lead roles will be enacted by Janardhanan and KPAC Lalitha. The script is by AR Mukesh. Babu-Rajendran will cinematograph the film. Sanjeev Babu will compose music to the lyrics penned by S Rameshan Nair.
Unni R Nair

TELUGU
Rowdy Sheeter
Sentimental melodrama
Action star Saikumar is pinning hopes on his next film Rowdy Sheeter which is nearing completion. Bengali actress Rachana plays his sister while Ashasaini is paired opposite him in this brother-sister sentimental melodrama. Director Ajaykumar has woven a family drama against an action backdrop. Venkat and Prithvi play other key roles in this tale of a rowdy sheeter who reforms and uses his muscle and money power for the welfare of the society. Producer TVD Prasad said that after canning the action part and songs, the film will be released by December end.

Talking about his role, Saikumar said, “My character is caught between a loving sister and profession. But on the insistence of my sister, I decide to mend my ways. It will be a good family drama”.

Srihari’s new film launched
Producer Mahendra, the torch-bearer of small-budget films, introduced Srihari as the hero last year with Police and followed it up with Deva. Now Srihari is doing a film for AA Arts which was launched recently at Ramanaidu Cine village. Director Haribabu of Ganapathy fame is helming this melodrama. Writer Posani said that with this family drama, Srihari will prove to his detractors that he is a capable performer since they have branded him as an action star. Srihari’s son Sashank and Mahendra’s grandson conucted the pooja. The muhurat shot showed Srihari speeding away on a bicycle.

Srihari, who has had seven hits in a row to his credit, said, “It is like homecoming for me. Since everyone associated with this film have a penchant for trying something different we are making an experimental film. We will wrap up it in a start-to-finish schedule and release it on Janury 14.

Sividu
Suresh’s film launched
Actor Suresh’s second film, Sivudu, under the banner of Krishnapreetam Productions, commenced recently without much fanfare. Suresh, after making an action film Bhavani, has now chosen a contrasting theme of a family melodrama in Sivudu. While popular Tamil TV actor Vijayadiraj makes his debut in Telugu, Sushva plays the female lead. Suresh requested the press to co-operate with him as he wants to keep the progress of the film a secret so that curiosity is created among the viewers. Regular shooting began from November 6 and it will be completed by December 15.

Actor-turned-producer Suresh said, “I am playing a playful character. This time we are making a family entertainer. We will shoot at virgin locales to provide a fresh backdrop”.
BVS Prakash

Tamil
Star
Prashant and Jothika in the lead
Prasanth whose career was on a slide after a series of flops resurrected after the sucess of Parthea Rasithean in which he co-starred with Simran and Laila. The success of the film gave this young hero a new lease of life. Director Pravinkanth who directed Jodi with Prasanth and Simran got an offer from AR Rahman to score the music for his next film and Star was born. The film is all about love between two youngsters who are madly in love.

The start of this love affair was recently shot in the streets of Chennai. The scene was of an verbal duel between Jothika and a auto driver. Jothika accuses the driver of transporting arrack in the auto that she travelled while the driver accuses her of carrying the arrack in his auto. At this point, Prasanth walks in and hear both the sides. He feel that the driver is innoncent and it was Jothika who was carried arrack. He advise her to boil milk instead of brewing arrack. The first meeting leads to further conflicts but later slowly it turns to friendship and love.

The film also stars Manivannan, Vijaykumar, Rameshkana, Raghuvaran, srividya, Madanbob, Mumtaz, Chinni Jayanth and Rajkapoor in key roles. The film has cinematography by Priyan and lyrics by Vairamuthu, while it is produced by Vijaykrishna under the banner of Srisubha Jothi Movies.

Simran’s sibling makes her debut
Monal, sister of actress Simran, makes her debut as leading lady in Paarvai Ondru Poothumae opposite Kunal (the hero of Kathalar Dhinam). The first schedule of the film got underway in Chennai at a office complex featuring Kunal, Monal and Curran. Curran does the role of an owner of a big business empire. Monal comes to visit him and she presents him a costly watch as birthday gift. Curran and Monal talk coyly and when Kunal enters the office and seeing Monal gives a shocked expression.

The film is purported to be a love story directed by Muralikrishna who comes from the adworld and promises to give a different fare in terms of visuals and content appealing to the youth. The debut film of Kunal was a big hit in Tamilnadu and a great amount of excitement is generated in the industry to see whether Monal will become another Simran.

Debutant music director Bharani is also geared up to provide a good musical fare. A renowned cameraman of Malayalm films Sreesankar makes his debut in a Tamil film. The film is produced by A Rajpal under the banner of Amudha Movie Makers.
Ayyappa Prasad

TAMIL
Little John
Prakashraj in a different role
Prakashraj whose penchant for doing offbeat roles received him rave reviews recently for his role of an enuch in Appu, directed by Vasanth promises to give yet another challenging performance. This time it is in the role of a Swami Bhiravan who possess evil powers living for the past 2000 years to get the mookuthi (nose ring) in director Singeethan Srinivasa Rao’s Little John. He is putting in tremendous efforts to make the role worth watching. “I have to be with the make-up man by 5 in the morning for the 9 am shoot”, says Prakashraj. His hairdo and facial features are all redone. He was all praise for Singeetham who directed Kamal Haasan in hit films like Pushpak and iApporva Sahodrangal to name a few. “His novel thoughts and energetic behaviour is very inspiring”, said the actor adjusting his loin cloth.

Star
Prashant-Jothika team
Prasanth whose career was on a slide after a series of flops resurrected after the sucess of Parthea Rasithean in which he co-starred with Simran and Laila. The success of the film gave this young hero a new lease of life. Director Pravinkanth who directed Jodi with Prasanth and Simran got an offer from AR Rahman to score the music for his next film and Star was born. The film is all about love between two youngsters who are madly in love.

The start of this love affair was recently shot in the streets of Chennai. The scene was of an verbal duel between Jothika and a auto driver. Jothika accuses the driver of transporting arrack in the auto that she travelled while the driver accuses her of carrying the arrack in his auto. At this point, Prasanth walks in and hear both the sides. He feel that the driver is innoncent and it was Jothika who was carried arrack. He advise her to boil milk instead of brewing arrack. The first meeting leads to further conflicts but later slowly it turns to friendship and love.

The film also stars Manivannan, Vijaykumar, Rameshkana, Raghuvaran, srividya, Madanbob, Mumtaz, Chinni Jayanth and Rajkapoor in key roles. The film has cinematography by Priyan and lyrics by Vairamuthu, while it is produced by Vijaykrishna under the banner of Srisubha Jothi Movies.