Andala O Chilaka
Art director takes up direction
A group of technicians are making a love story titled Andala O Chilaka with new faces, Danush and Siri. The audio cassette of the film was recently released by Dasari Narayana Rao at Hotel Greenpark. Art director Sri Raju turns director with this maiden production of BBC Films.

Both the producers, Bhaskar Raju and Udaybhaskar, expressed confidence about the project. Dasari revealed that most of the technicians-turned-producers have been quite successful and wished the unit all success. Director B Gopal and SV Krishna Reddy with whom Raju has worked as an art director including the latest blockbuster Narasimhanaidu recalled his hard-work and immense talent and welcomed few more films from this team.

The producers claimed that the comedy track led by ace comedian Brahmanandam would be a feast for the viewers and disclosed that the film would be released in April after completing the post-production in March.

Venkatesh’s new film
It looks like Venkatesh prefers to keep his films under wraps until the release. After Kalisundam Raa and Jeyam Manadera, the publicity for his next attraction for ace producer Trivikrama Rao was released recently. The light-hearted entertainer will have four glamour girls including Simran, Isha Koppikar, Ashasaini and Mink Singh in the female leads and it is being helmed by director Udayashankar who earlier delivered a massive hit Kalisundam Raa with Venkatesh. Regular shooting commenced in October last and it is almost nearing completion with the release being planned in the second week of April.
Venkatesh claimed that it would be a different film for him and branded it as a romantic musical. “It will be a feast for the youth and the entertainer will also convey a message for youngsters. Manisharma has come up with good numbers and we hope it will be a big musical hit too”.

Producer Trivikrama Rao said, “We have shot at various places including Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia and New Zealand. We would be wrapping the film soon. I am happy for repeating the team of Venky and Udayashankar of the blockbuster Kalisum ...

Director Udayashankar disclosed that it would be for all sections of the viewers.

Itlu Sravani Subramanyam
Shooting in Vizag
Young director Puri Jaganath of Badri fame had a disaster in Bachi but now he has again taken up a love story Itlu Sravani Subramanyam to prove his mettle. It is progressing briskly at Vizag. It is being produced by Vasundhara Seshu Reddy and Manjula Venugopal Reddy and stars Ravi Teja in the lead with newfind Tanurai and Sheen paired opposite him. They have canned many scenes and two songs during their 16-day schedule at Bimli, Ganavaram Beach and various locations near Vizag. The unit will shoot the remaining portions in Hyderabad.
The director said, “Though it sounds cliched but the film is truly different and interesting love story with mostly realistic characters and situations. We have chosen Vizag for its romantic ambience. The new girls are doing a good job”.
BVS Prakash

Rathi Devi
A film with a message
Shakeela seems to be the hot property for producers making dubbed films now. After the phenomenal success of Kameswari, the Malayalam-starrer of this Nellore born new sex queen’s films are in demand. Added to this Rathi Devi is directed by the Kameswari fame RJ Prasad. The film’s dubbing work commenced recently at Joy Recording Theatre, Chennai.

Talking about the film, writer Sai Ramesh said, “The hero is a painter. The heroine comes there on some research work. They fall in love and marry. The hero goes to Delhi to participate in an art exhibition. And here comes the twist to the story. The heroine develops a relationship with the servant boy which leads to complications. What happens next forms the climax with a message. A love marriage should bring bliss and not tragedy to the couple, that’s what the central theme conveys”.

Shakeela, Vijay Menon and Vineetha are in the cast. Lyrics are by Sai Ramesh and B.E. Rao, editing by Mohan, music by Jayakumar. The film is presented by G. Venugopal under Sri Sai films banner.

Premeswari
A romantic fare
The Malayalam film Driving School is being made in Telugu as Premeswari. Produced by SV Films, the film’s dubbing work commenced recently.
Presenter G Venugopal said, “Shakeela plays the role of a driving school owner cum coach. When her lover has an illicit relationship with another woman, what sort of a decision she takes forms an interesting part in this titillating fare. Director Joy has filmed the climax in a novel way. This is a romantic film aimed at youth. Sajani, the other heroine is bound to capture the young hearts”.
Mohan plays the hero in this film written by Sai Ramesh and produced by K Satyanarayana.

Mami
Sex bomb strikes again
This is another masala film being made in Telugu from Malayalam. And the main attraction is its heroine and the new sex bomb Shakeela. She plays the lead role in Mami produced by VAS Productions.

Says producer Addala Venkatarao, “The Malayalam version was released in February 99 and was a hit. We have already sold four areas on the first day of its projection in Telugu. The film has a message too. We have tried to portray that the married couple should have a perfect understanding between them and not jealousy and suspicion. In fact, there is jealousy when the women in the neighbourhood begin to fill the husband’s minds as they are jealous of her beauty. This leads to intriguing moments”.

Shakeela and Sowmya are the heroines opposite Satish Kumar. Sai Ramesh has written the dialogue, while SP Venkatesh has scored the music for the film directed by AC Roshan and produced by A Venkatarao, P Sambasiva Rao and K Ramasundaram. The film is due soon.

Little Hearts
For the kids
90 percent of the talkie portions of Venkateswara Film University’s maiden venture, Little Hearts was completed in and around Tirupati.
According to actor MS Narayana, “The film is meant to bring in an awareness among people who are neglecting their children. Looking at the way the producers are spending money over this children’s film, they could have easily made a big-budget film with an established hero. I play the role of a rifraff, who lives merrily on the money earned by some children. I am certain that this film will win many awards”.

The next schedule commenced from March 10 at Vizag and Araku where five songs are to be filmed, informed presenter Srinivas Balaji. “Master Mahendra and Baby Nithya, who have won several awards, are playing the lead roles. There are in all 500 children in the film and they are the principle stars, besides established actors”.

Others in the cast are Venkateswar, Gayathri, Priya, Rallapalli, Kallu Chidambaram, Y Vijaya, Sridevi and Tirupati Prakash. Dialogues are by Ambati Gopi and story, screenplay and direction are by Srikanth.

BILINGUAL
I Love You Ra
Ace Tamil director-producer Manoj Kumar is entering Telugu films with the launch of a cricket-oriented romantic bilingual I Love You Ra. Manoj made a casting coup of sorts by roping in popular choreographer Raju Sundaram to play the lead role opposite Simran. Prakash Raj and Raghuvaran are cast in pivotal roles.

“Telugu audience have always appreciated new ideas and fresh themes. And the recent success of some of the films made with newcomers in Telugu has given us the impetus to start this venture in Tamil and Telugu. C Rajadurai makes his debut as a director. He had earlier worked for our films including the recent hit, Vanavil as the co-director and for a Telugu film, Bava Bavamaridi. In fact, he has written the story of this film which revolves round the game of cricket. Raju Sundaram plays a national cricket player and a lover of the sport. Simran, at first, dislikes the game, but later develops an interest towards cricket as well as the hero. We commenced the shoot from March 15 and apart from Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, we shall be shooting on other locations too. The songs are planned in exotic foreign locales and the climax in London. We are trying to cast two popular cricketers, one of them right now representing the national team. He will be singing a song too. We have approached the Board for permission and once the BCCI clears the name, we shall announce it” said producer Manoj Kumar.

Bharadwaj scores the music for this Guru Films venture and A Kartik Raja cranks the camera. Selvi Manoj Kumar is the co-producer.

Naresh