Sardar Fame Mithran with Sanjay Leela Bhansali / Su from So Tamil remake/ Chemmen Hindi Rights

 Kollywood Director P S Mithran known for helming stylish and successful thrillers like Irumbu Thirai and Sardar,  has joined. producers Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shabinaa Khan for a film loosely based on Rowdy Rathore. The producers wanted to do a sequel to Rowdy Rathore. Rowdy Rathore is a 2012 action-comedy film directed by Prabhu Deva and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ronnie Screwvala. Starring Akshay Kumar in a dual role and Sonakshi Sinha as the female lead, the film was a massive commercial success, For three years the idea to do a sequel was underway with Siddharth Malhotra, YTV was acquitted by Disney India and they were not keen for a sequel. Mithran will do an action thriller like Rowdy Rathore but not have any link to it. Siddharth is not the hero. Sardar 2 is ready for release.

Blockbuster Kannada film Su From So is ready to stream on Jio HotStar. and on Kannada= Telugu TV channels. The latest development is that NS Rajkumar, known for producing over 17 films in Kannada and distributing more than 60 titles across South Indian languages, has now acquired the Tamil remake rights of Su From So at a record price. Rajkumar sees strong potential in adapting this Kannada blockbuster for Tamil audiences. The team is currently working on finalising the cast and crew lineup, with official announcements expected soon.

According to Rajkumar, it wasn’t just the humour that stood out, but also the underlying message in this comedy-drama—something he believes will strike a chord in Tamil Nadu as well. Su From So, produced by Raj B Shetty’s Lighter Buddha Films, was released in Kannada and later dubbed into Malayalam and Telugu, and is doing stupendously well at the box office. The film, directed by JP Thuminad, stars Raj B Shetty, JP Thuminad, Shaneel Gautham, Sandhya Arakere, Mime Prasad, and Prakash Thuminad, among others, who have all contributed to its popularity with their engaging performances. It was distributed by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films for distribution across Kerala. After release, Anil Thadani’s AA Films acquired the North India distribution rights. The film was also released internationally by Phars Film. On August 8 the Telugu version was released by Mythiri. Film is set stream on Jio HotStar. They bought it for Rs 5.5 crore. The film entered the Rs 100 crore club in Kannada.

 

 Chemmeen novel by Thakazhi would have had an Hindi avatar with Sunil Dutt doing Madhu role  revealed Madhu at 60^th year of the iconic Malayalam film. Sunil Dutt bought the novel rights to film in Hindu but later dropped it as he was told that it could trigger Hindi- Muslim feud. “ If not Sunil Dutt would have been walking the seashore singing sad song like me in Chemmeen’ Hindi” quipped Madhu.i.

 

 

 

 

 

Mammootty in Sri Lankan Political thriller - Madhu turns 91

 

Mammootty – Mahesh Narayanan political thriller will be funded by Lyca Productions . The film will have Mohanlal in an extended cameo and screen time of 20 minutes. The shooting portions of the film has around 30-40 days in Sri lanka and this film being a political thriller, is the film anything to do with Sri Lankan politics ? What adds to this theory is that the film has an equally long schedule in London. We all know that London is also a hub for overseas Tamils of Sri Lankan origin. Similarly New Delhi is another major locale. The fact that Lyca’s owner Subhaskaran is a Sri Lankan Tamil adds to the likely angle of the thriller.

Yet another aspect is that Mammootty Kampany and son Dulquer’s Wayfarer films are coming together with Lyca. A photo of Mammooty with Mohanlal and Producer Antony of Aashirvad Cinemas together led to a speculation that Mammootty is playing a cameo in underproduction film and sequel to Empuran directed by Prithviraj.

About the Mahesh Narayanan film, we learn that de-aging technology is to be used for younger days of Mammotty. In the anthology based on MT stories, Mammootty portions were shot in Sri Lanka. If Mahesh Narayanan is the director can it be with without Fahadh Faasil?

Shooting has started in Nagercoil for Mammootty film directed by Jithin  K jose began without Mammootty. Vinayakan is playing a guy who is targeted by by a bad cop played by Mammootty in the film. Dulquer is the Producer.

A short nostalgic trip . A news item that Madhu has turned 91 , prompted me to pen a few thoughts about him. Though I had interviewed Madhu several times in Trivandrum for Screen, it was my chat with him in Palmgrove Hotel Chennai that lingers in me. Madhu had a soft corner for me as he has seen me when I used to accompany my grandfather Ayyappan Pillai ( ex Trivandrum Corporation Comissioner) to Sri Moolam Club known as SMC. While my grandfather sat inside and played cards , I sat in the lounge and read the magazines. Madhu was also a card player.

After the card game, I would help my grandfather board the car and go to our house. Sometimes, our car would not be available and anybody from the card game set gave a lift. Many times Madhu has given us a lift. I learnt from my grandfather that Chemeen’s Bombay show and publicity was all coordinated by S S Pillai then Editor of Screen weekly in Bombay. Pillai is none other than my grandfather’s younger brother. A side track- my aunt Udaya Tara Nayar later became Editor and later yours truly headed the South Bureau of the magazine.

Many times on my visit to Trivandrum ( I was by then based in Chennai for Screen ), I used to see him and talk to him at SMC. My cousin was a member of SMC. Cinema Express , Tamil fortnightly from Indian Express ( Madurai ) group was part of our group. The Editor Ramamurthy and I shared a good friendship.. I suggested Madhu name to Cinema Express Awards Life Time Achievement award. I went to Trivandrum and invited him. I asked him which hotel he wanted to stay. He said that Palmgrove and quipped if it still exists.

He came one day earlier. He told me that he had not informed anybody about his visit to Chennai and said that he would feel bored if there was nobody to talk. As I had a few invites to give, I told him that he could start the `session’ and I would join later.

When I arrived, Madhu was in full form. I joined him. I had told him that a car was at his disposal as soon as he arrived. I asked him if he went anywhere. He said no and said that he spoke to some and they were all not very active. He asked me what was the rent  of the cottage that he was staying and I said that it was Rs 5000 per day.

This sparked a nostalgic trip in him. He said that for Chemeen , he was paid Rs 2000 and adde that Sathyan got paid Rs 12,000. “ I had most of the scenes than Sathyan “ he added. Do you know that the film totally cost Kanmani Babu Rs 8 lakhs ? he asked.

He wanted to go to actress Srividya’s house and said that he was having dinner with her. I gave the exact route to her house then located in Alwarpet.

After the function , he was leaving next day early morning for Trivandrum. I bid him goodbye at the hotel and told him that office car and driver was parked in the hotel. Next day, the car driver came with a big smile – “ What a gentlemen ! He carried his own suitcase and tipped me a Rs 100 . He pushed it in my shirt pocket. No VIP has even bothered to even goodbye leave alone give a tip”.

May you live for many more years – Madhu Saar.