Ramu’s next three

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Ramu International, one of the renowned banners in Karnataka, is planning for three more big ventures soon. Already there are three projects which are under production amounting to Rs.15 crores. The multi-lingual film Hollywood, starring Upendra in triple roles with Australian actress Felicity, Shakuni with Ravichandran, Raveena Tandon and Juhi Chawla and Nanjundi, a village based film are ready to go on floors.

More than Rs 15 crores are involved in Arjun Sarja, besides acting also directs the Tamil film Kutralam, the Sudeep-starrer Kicha and Malashri-starrer Kiran Bedi. While Kutralam is at the scripting stage and Kicha is all set to go on floors soon, Kiran Bedi is all set to mount after the approval for the title from Kiran Bedi, India’s proud IPS officer is got. Producer Ramu is very confident of procuring the title. Being directed by Om Prakash Rao and script by Ravi Srivatsa, real life incidents from Kiran Bedi’s life forms the key issues in the film. Actress Malashri is making a come back to acting after a two-year gap.

Avinash in K Balachander’s Tamil film

Ace Tamil film director K Balachander has selected versatile Kannada actor Avinash to play the main role in his forthcoming film. Avinash confirmed this on the sets of his new Kannada film Dadru Saar Dadru at Best Club in Bangalore recently.

Since his debut in Sri Madhvacharya, Avinash has always done a variety of roles in Kannada. Recently he bagged the State Government’s award for the best supporting role for his performance in Mathadana. "I was selected after my first meeting with director K Balachander. Actually I have been making frequent trips to Chennai as my wife Malavika is playing a key role in Anni which is directed by KB. And as soon as KB completes his commitments on small screen, he will start this film. The shooting is planned in New Zealand for 25 days. This film will then be dubbed in Telugu. The lead role is played by a relative of KB," informed Avinash.

Kanteerava Studio posts profit

After suffering losses for lack of good management for almost a decade, the Government-owned Kanteerava Studio Limited has registered a net profit of Rs 3.25 lakhs for the financial year ending 2001-2002. The Information Minister Shivanna disclosed that the studio is progressing well and some strategies have been worked out to make it more self-reliant. The 19-acre Studio was started in 1966 by some private people and in 1974, its management was taken over by the Karnataka State Government. This is the third time in the history of Kanteerava Studio that it is making a profit, he added.

Recently the studio even made provisions for outdoor shooting by sprucing up its garden. The office of the Karnataka Film Industry Development Corporation has been shifted to the premises of Kanteerava Studio Limited thus bringing in the rent.

The minister also informed that the other plans of the government would be to introduce voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to its employees. The 7300 square feet of the land of the studio would be acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority. The government has also sought the report for the upgradation of the studio. On the long-standing issue of Film City, the minister ruled out a film city in Mysore and added that the proposal to start a film city at a land available near Hesaraghatta is still open and whoever is interested may present a proposal to the Government.

KFAA office soon

The work on the building of the Kannada Film Artists Association (KFAA) at Chamrajpet would start soon, said the Association President, Ambarish.

"There are a few hurdles in the court but we know we will win the case and plan to start the construction of the building immediately," informed the actor during a chat with the media persons at the muhurut of Dadru Saar Dadru adding that, "Those doubting our intentions should understand that we are not building clubs or restaurants on this site. The office is purely in the interest of the artistes."

Vishnuvardhan with S Narayan again

The magic of superstar Vishnuvardhan and brilliance of director S Narayan will be seen once again for the fifth time after Veerappanayaka, Suryavamsha, Jamindarru and the recently released Simhadriya Sinha.

The new film is titled Veera Simha and is produced by Vizag Raaju. The muhurut for the film was held at a private house recently. This film will be a hat-trick for Deva as he is scoring music for the third film in a row starring Vishnuvardhan. The earlier ones are Kotigobba and Simhadriya Simha.

Bhavya in a guest role

Bhavya, veteran actress of over 100 Kannada films, is playing a guest role in Thavariga Baa Thangi, a tear-jerker starring Shivrajkumar, Radhika and Anu Prabhakar. Directed by Om Sai Prakash, the film is briskly nearing completion. Bhavya participated in a prominent song at Channapatna recently. Ajaykumar has penned the story and Hamsalekha scores the music. Hema Chaudhary, Padma Vasanthi, Keerthi, Doddanna, Tennis Krishna, Anilkumar, Sadhu Kokila and Rekha Das are also in the supporting roles.

Indrajit to direct Lankesh Patrike

After Thuntata, his debut film which did average business, Indrajit is to direct Lankesh Patrike. The film is named after the popular weekly tabloid of over 25 years started by his late father P Lankesh. Lankesh Patrike is a film on the underworld.

Brimming with happiness, Indrajit said, "I accept that Thuntata had a hairline story yet it has been accepted by the youth. I am happy that my debut film has been well received."

Indrajit’s sister Kavitha Lankesh is a famous actress with Deveeri and Alemari to her credit. Eldest sister Gauri is heading the tabloid Lankesh Patrike after shifting base from English journalism to Kannada journalism after the demise of their father.

Indrajit has three more offers to direct films for producer K Manju, Balachandra of Publishers Production (producer of Thuntata) and Kanakapura Srinivas.

House in Vishnuvardhan’s name

After making huge profits from the Vishnuvardhan-starrers Soorappa and Kotigobba, MB Babu, noted producer of Kannada films, has named his new house at II Block Rajajinagar as Vishnuvardhana Nilaya. Vishnuvardhan, his actress wife Bharathi, actors Upendra, Devaraj and Jaggesh were present at the house warming on June 26.

Ramesh Aravind working on a script

Actor Ramesh Aravind, who has over 100 Kannada films to his credit, is working on a script that requires 17 stars. "It will be a wholesome comedy. I started working on the script following the advice of director Sunilkumar Desai," said the actor. Apparently, this is the second time he is writing a script. Hoomale, made by director Nagathihalli Chandrasekhar earlier, was about widow remarriage. Starring Ramesh and Suman Nagarkar, it was rated high at the state level and even bagged the best regional cinema award at the national level.

"I am slowing down with acting as I am fed up of routine films," Ramesh Aravind disclosed to this correspondent during the announcement of his new film Bimba at the Press Club of Bangalore. "I am doing director Ramachandra’s Telugu film Akashamlo Bookampam and have also signed a Malayalam film. Meanwhile the remake of the Hindi film Abhimaan in Tamil is ready for release. My latest release Panchatantram is doing very well all over South India," he said proudly. Ramesh also has three Kannada films Ninne Preethisuve, Kushalave Kshemave and Olu Saar Bari Olu ready for release. In Bimba, he plays a guest role. He wants to more meaningful films now.

Devraj as an advocate

Actor Devraj, who has been seen mostly as an inspector in Kannada films, and after refusing 17 offers in one year, is playing an advocate in Talwar. With a strong theatre background and scores of films in Kannada, Devraj is planning to return back to stage too even as he banks hopes on Kambalahalli, a film on the real life story of nine Dalit who were burnt. "Another film Kachaguli is ready to go on floors. It will change my image as a comedian," says the actor on the sets of Talwar at Kanteerava Studio.

Meanwhile Devraj is constructing a house and grooming his two sons Pranam and Prajwal. Prajwal recently got rave reviews for his role as Anant Nag’s grandson in the Kannada film Manase Oh Manase. Devraj is planning on penning his autobiography.

Shruthi delivers baby girl

Actress Shruthi, who has over 100 Kannada films to her credit, and wife of director S Mahender, delivered a baby girl recently in Bangalore. Both mother and child are in good health.

Adhi to be made in Kannada

Adhi, the blockbuster Telugu film starring NTR Junior that made a business of Rs 30 crores, is being made in Kannada by Telugu director KVV Sathyanarayana. The top director of 14 Telugu films, KVVS is looking for a hero to the Kannada version of Adhi.