Guna caves and Rajiv murder- Rajini in Hindi film - Kamal inCoimbatore

Manjumel Boys the Malayalam film has excited the Kollywood biggies after the release. Right from Udhaynidhi Stalin onwards, everybody is raving about it. The disclosure that the Guna caves was recreated in a set in Perumbavoor as the authorities have banned any activity in the area, was another suprise. The real hero of the true incident was awarded the national award for bravery. Having said this, yours truly had a few thoughts to share about covering the shooting of the song Anbodu Kanmani in these cave for Guna. We the press team of five people were taken to the hill where the cave was located.From the top you can see a cave lit up and on the wall a torch of flame set up. Inside we could see Kamal – Roshinni and cameraman Venu. The lines would play out of the speaker and song motions would start. Only way to go in and out was a man made steps on side and a thick rope that was dangling from the top outlet. Quickest way was to latch on to rope and slide down or climb the rope to get out. Kamal asked DNS his Manager and Producer of the film to ask me and my colleague Vallabhan to not take a risk and venture inside. Others were hauled down and up by the rope handled by hefty men ho were Kodaikanal natives. During lunch break, Kamal said that e would send a car for me to reach his hotel for an interview scheduled for next morning. We were back in our cottages and spend our time in roaming the hill resort. By dusk, we started our session and went on to past midnight. As I was sitting in the balcony outside, I saw Sakthi, son of DNS running towards our cottage. He was shouting that Bad has happened. My first thought was that Kamal had slipped from the rope and got injured. Sakthi broke the news – Rajiv Gandhi was killed. Kamal got a call from Chennai. We were shocked and also scared. We had seen the aftermath of MGR death. Sakthi did a wise thing. He gathered as much vegetables, rice and dal in the night itself. The canteen in the cottage had dried up. We saw an elderly couple crying as they heard that their hotel back home was burnt by a mob. We stayed in Kamal’s room to watch the TV. Sarika was sobbing . We saw Cho who was driving his car. He stopped and asked us to come to his house. All roads from Kodai to downtown was cut with huge trees put across. After we got news that the first train from Madurai was moving out to Chennai, we got into a van with sticker Press on it. On the way we could see wailing women on the roads. Madurai was literally burning. Next day we reached Chennai by noon. Each time I saw Guna, this incident came across my mind. It was once again refreshed while seeing Manjummel Boys. Incidentally Guna and Rajini’s Thalapathy were released on same date – November 5 1991.

After Bulaandi in 2000 , Rajinikanth is to act in a Bollywood Production. Sajid Nadiadwala made this announcement of him producing a film with Thalaivar. This news has electrified the Superstar fans. From what we hear, this is a straight Hindi film and not a Tamil film passed off as a Pan Indian one. Rajinikanth who has a battery of South Producers lined up had wanted to do a Hindi film that was produced by a Bollywood Producer. He wanted this to be marketed as a Hindi film and not have it dubbed or some portions reshot. R Balki is the name that we hear as Director. Also we hear that Big B and Akshay Kumar are likely to be co- star in this film. The reason for Rajini to take up Hindi films is that he wants to do roles where he is not the Thalaivar or in other words do films that are not Superstar material. As of now he has a sequel to Jailor committed apart from the film Vattaiyan that is under filming. Next in line is that Kamal Haasan is moving to Serbia to shoot for Mani Ratnam film Thug Life and that Jeyam Ravi is playing an extended cameo. Kamal will be in Serbia for ten days and come back to once gain plunge into seat sharing talks with DMK A political birdie tells that DMK denied Communist parties the Coimbatore seat as Kamal wanted it for himself to avenge his defeat at hands of BJP in Assembly polls. As CPM is asking for a third seat as it’s right, talks are stalled .