NEWS FLASH

Rama Naidu launches Pavithra Bandhan in Hindi
The successful Telugu film Pavithra Bandham, which won the Screen-Videocon Award last year, now goes to Mumbai as Pavithra Bandhan. Suresh Productions, the banner which has in the past remade many successful South Indian films in Hindi, is remaking this film too. The film will feature Anil Kapoor and Kajol in lead roles. Venkatesh and Soundarya played the lead in the Telugu original.

Producer D Rama Naidu, who is returning to his familiar turf in Hindi after a gap of nearly two years, is eager to make it a grand venture even if he has to spend lavishly on it. Art director Sharmishta Roy is designing special sets at the Rama Naidu cine village at Nanakramguda on the outskirts of Hyderabad for the film. Kabeer Lal is the cinematographer.

The film was launched with a simple pooja in a temple within the studios, and soon after, music director Anu Malik began recording the songs at the recording theatre. “This is the first Hindi film song to be recorded in Hyderabad,” announced Naidu. The first song was rendered by Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan.

“I am recording three songs now and this recording theatre is fully equipped and I can do my work even without the full complement of orchestra,” says Anu. The regular shooting for the film will begin on February 16. Director Satish Kaushik, who is very thrilled to direct this remake (“the subject is unique and has never been attempted before on the Indian screen”), lyricist Sameer and Boney Kapoor (standing in for hero and brother Anil Kapoor) were the others present on the occasion.

“Anupam Kher will play Anil’s father (in the original version, it was played by SP Balasubramaniam). Shakti Kapoor and Satish Kaushik will be the main comedians. Others in the cast are Sadhu Mehar, Sudha Chandran, Smita Jaykar, Himani Shivpuri, Parmeet Sethi and Mink,” adds Naidu who is also planning remakes of Thodikodallu, Pellichesukundam, Preminchukundam Raa and Naidugari Kutumbam.

Devotional album released
The second part of a devotional audio album in praise of Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Saraswathi, Sri Raghavendraswamy and Durga, titled Apoorva Bhakti Sangama, was formally released by Dr Rajkumar at his residence recently. Two US based Indians, Dr Chaya Swamy and Dr Ramprasad have collaborated on the album, the proceeds of which will be donated to social causes, such as helping Asian and Indian women in the US.

A doctor who has been working in the US for the last two decades, Chaya Swamy has written the lyrics and composed the music for the album. Dr Ramprasad, who has a strong background in singing, has lent his voice for the album. In fact, he has also sung for a film by music director V Manohar and is hoping to sing for music director Mano Murthy (of America America fame) in June. In the eight songs sung by Dr Ramprasad, noted singers like Manjula Gururaj, Vani Jayaram, BR Chaya and KS Surekha have sung duets along with him.

Promoting tourism in Karnataka
A programme on Karnataka’s cultural heritage and tourist destinations is now on air on Doordarshan International every Friday. The Navrathri Creations 26-episode-serial is a joint venture between the Karnataka government and producers Sricharan and HS Murali.

With the aim of promoting Karnataka as an ideal tourist destination this ambitious project showcases the exotic locations in the state and provides the channel’s international audience vital information about the state. Cultural programmes like Dasara are also highlighted in the programme.

Short subtitles in French, Russian, Chinese and Japanese languages will be provided for the benefit of the foreign audience, said Sricharan who is also planning to make television programmes on education and agriculture in for DD International.

The serial has editing by G Nagarajan, cinematography by RC Mapakshi and Janardhan Shivanand and music by Nagendra.