NEWS IN BRIEF 

Gurumurthy is KCSDSAA chief
GH Gurumurthy has been elected president of the Karnataka Cine Stunt Directors and Stunt Artistes Association (KCSDSAA) for 1997-98. Others elected during the recent association’s meeting at Sri Krishna Rao Park, Bangalore, include S Madhusoodhan, Jolly Bastin (vice presidents), PR Mukunda Rao (general secretary), NV Rajanna (treasurer), S Subramani and Pradip Singh (assistant secretaries), P Ashok, BS Siddaraj, N Shivram and Danny.

Mixing for Ranganna
Thanu Chitra’s Ranganna, produced by Sa Ra Govindu, with Jaggesh in the lead, is being re-recorded at Chamundeswari Studio, Bangalore. After the mixing, the film is to be ready for the censors’ viewing.

Jaggesh plays an auto driver in the film, in which Vijayalakshmi, Kavita, Srinath, Dhirendra, Gopal, Loknath, MS Karanath, Lakshmidevi and Harish Rai play key roles. Dialogue by JM Prahlad, lyrics by Sriranga, Doddaranga Gowda, Kalyan, Shyamsundar Kulkarni and Rudramurthy Sastry, screenplay and story by director H Vasu and music by Rajesh Ramanathan are the major credits.

Kuttichatan on small screen
India’s first film in 3-D, Navodaya’s My Dear Kuttichatan, which set box-office records in Kerala and later, all over India with its dubbed versions, is being remade for Sun TV. Titled Meendum Kuttichatan, the serial is being shown on Sun TV at 7 pm on Thursdays. Directing the mega serial is former cinematographer, BR Vijayalaxmi, who helped in the making of My Dear Kuttichatan, and directed the popular children’s serial Vasantham Colony. Baby Ana of Avvai Shanmughi fame plays one of the three children.

Mungarina Minchu ready
Vaibhavalakshmi Productions’ latest venture Mungarina Minchu has been sent to the CBFC for the censors’ approval and is expected to be released by month-end. Being produced by Dushyanth Singh and Jai Jagdeesh, the film has direction by SV Rajendra Singh Babu, cinematography by BC Gowrishanker, story by Usha Navarathna Rao and choreography by Udupi Jayaram. Ramesh, Shilpa, Suman Nagarkar, Lokesh, Srinivasamurthy, Padma Kumta and Bavyasri Rai play key roles.

Sridhar, Sithara teamed
Sridhar and Sithara play key roles in Shivachimbareshwara Combines’ maiden venture, Bayaludeepa. A musical, the film has lyrics by director DA Upadya. During a recent song recording at Sanketh Recording Studio, playback singer SP Balasubramaniam is said to have complimented the director on the lyrics.

The film is to be to canned at picturesque locales of Devanagere, Harihara and Haveri. It is a Sri Shivachimbareshwara Combines maiden venture and has story by director Upadya, cinematography by K Mallik and music by Rajan and Nagendra. The cast also includes Rajanand, Lohitashva and Satyabhama.