Matadana
Nearing completion
This film is anxiously awaited in the Kannada film circle. Firstly, the film is written by the stalwart writer of Kannada literature, Dr SL Byrappa. Secondly, it is directed by TN Seetharam and thirdly it is has the combined effort of noted music directors C Ashwath and V Manohar and lastly it has seasoned artistes comprising Anant Nag, Devraj, Thara, Avinash, Mukyamantri Chandru, Sudha Belawadi, Hemanth Vasishta, Karibasavaiah, Sunderraj and Sridevi. The much expected venture from the king of small screen TN Seetharam (remember his Mayamruga), Matadana is all set to release. This film recently completed its re-recording.

Halu Sakkare
Dubbing in progress
A quickie from the banner of Kumar Movies, Halu Sakkare has now entered the dubbing stage. This is a pure family entertainer, says producer Kumar, with some real life incidents that will touch the hearts of middle class people.
The title suggests what is commonly felt in each and every middle class household that life should be like milk with sugar.
LN Shastri is the music director. The starcast comprises Devraj, Shashikumar, Jaggesh, S Narayan, Suhasini, Archana, Dhamini, Roopa Prabhakar, Santosh Uppin, Mahesh, Suji Vishwanath and Raghavendra.

Chitra
Song recorded
A romantic song for the second Kannada venture of media baron Dr Ramoji Rao (the first one, Bharath 2000, was a disaster) and producer Jayasri Devi’s Chitra was completed recently. The song Jumma Jumma Roma Romanchana was shot at a private house in Basavanagudi. Director Dinesh Baboo is remaking it from a Telugu film with Prabhudeva’s younger brother Prasad who is making his debut and debutant Rekha. Anant Nag, Vanitha Vasu, Kashi, Bank Janardhan, Master Anand, Master Sunil, Vinayak Joshi, Anirudd and Ganesh Vardha are also in the cast.

Ellara Mane Dosenu Thoothe
Progressing in two units
Sitting high on the success of Yaarge Salathe Sambala, producer BN Gangadhar is working on a subject of a common man once again. The title indicates that problems are unlimited in middle class society like the holes you find in a mouth-watering dosa (Ellara Mane Dosenu Thoothe is a famous proverb in Kannada).

At a private house in Bangalore, the key artistes were participating in the talkie portion and at Raghuveer estate songs were being canned by cameraman Prasad Babu. As usual music and lyrics is provided by Hamsalekha. The film stars Ramkumar (son-in-law of Dr Rajkumar), Shruthi, Mohan, Bhavana, Kashi, Umasri, Bank Janardhan, Honnavalli Krishna, Darshan Toogudeepa Srinivas and Poornima. Prakash of Baro Nanna Muddina Krishna fame heads the team as the director.

Jai Jagdeesh bids
good bye to production
One of the talented actors with a 25 year stint in Kannada cinema and more than 100 films to his credit, Jai Jagdeesh is highly disgusted these days that he has decided to quit the production of Kannada films..

He is an highly recognised producer with eleven films (Rani Maharani, Kalla Malla, Hoovu Hannu, Kalyanotsava, Mungarina Minchu, Bhoomi Thayiya Chohala Maga and Oh Premave). He was also the joint producer of Thayigobba Tharle Maga and Mathrudevobhava.

An estate owner with nearly 50 workers working for him in his native place Coorg, Jai Jagdeesh now intends to shift his interests to small screen. He feels the producer today is cared and respected only uptill the muhurat of the film. After that, he is under the mercy of the artistes and technicians. Jai Jagdeesh told this reporter at the Bangalore City Institute, “I am only looking for good returns from my last production Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu, directed by my brother-in-law, the nationally acclaimed director SV Rajendra Singh. It is a wholesome comedy film for the family. After that, I will be shifting my interests to television production.”

Jai is already done some soaps. He figures in mega serials such as Kappu There, Belli There and Bhoomika. Married to the noted actress of yesteryears Vijayalakshmi Singh, Jai also has plans to produce serials.

Thespians likely to act in
a Kannada film
The thick rumours surrounding the Kannada film industry is that either thespian Sivaji Ganeshan or Akkineni Nageshwara Rao will make a guest appearance in producer Dhanraj’s untitled film starring Upendra and hero of Tamil films, Prabhudeva.

According to the highly placed sources, the doyen of Tamil cinema Sivaji Ganeshan has disagreed to play the role as he is required to come to Pollachi for shooting. This is not acceptable to Sivaji Ganeshan as his present health condition does not permit him to take strains. With support he can work to a maximum of two hours a day. On the similar ground, Sivaji did not even accept the offer of ace director Sunilkumar Desai for his Prathyartha where he was to play an Union Home Minister.

It seems the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, Akkineni Nageshwar Rao is likely to give his consent for to the role. If he does it, this will be the doyen of Telugu cinema’s debut in Kannada. In the early 50’s, Sivaji Ganeshan had acted in a Kannada film School Master, produced and directed by veteran BR Panthulu.

Vasishta