Hollywood makes fun of Thalaivar- Amazon rift with Suriya - NASA names STAR after Hansika- Meera backed by B'Town director ?

Did American band make fun of Thalaiva ? Suriya and Amazon Prime part ways? NASA named a celestial Star after Hansika Motwani? Meera Mitun has the backing of a maverick director? These questions were raised by many of the netizens today. The answers. Black Eyed Peas the American band in a music video `Action’ features scenes from films like Rajinikanth’s Enthiran, Vishal’s Aambala, Ajay Devgn’s Singham, among others. The action scenes are identical to the original, except for the faces of the actors, upon which Black Eyed Peas member’s will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo have superimposed their own faces through deep fake technology. Scenes from the Swedish movie Kopps and Maryada Ramanna also appear in Action’s music video. Now Thalaivar, who is completing 45 years in Cinema on August 15th and basking in the praises flowing from his colleagues finds that his fans are unhappy with this music video. Fans say that it actually makes fun of the action scenes in Enthiran ( Robot). The makers wrote, “Check out our video for #ACTION inspired by #BOLLYWOOD…ive always loved music from india…#Elephunk and #MonkeyBusiness were inspired by Indian Culture…thank you india for your vibrancy and contribution to the world…” Music Maestro AR Rahman approved of the music video and quote-tweeted will.i.am’s tweet, “The borders are blurring through art! #tamilcinema @directorshankar #rajnikant #india.” Watching the video the fans do have a point. When the Common DP is making waves, the timing of the music video seems ill-timed. 

Now Suriya’s 2D Ent was the first to let Amazon Prime have a premiere release of their film Ponmaghal vandhal. He is to act in a web series helmed by Mani Rathnam for the same company. Now what went wrong? Why was 24 pulled out by the OTT?. Nothing to worry. Viewers said that audio quality is bad and it will be back with a bang soon says Amazon. 

No NASA did not name any celestial star after actress Hansika Motwani. A few friends paid the amount to the website https://www.star-registration.com/. In case you want to gift a STAR, pls visit the website. They give you a certificate that has a lifetime validity. So Hansika at 29 years need not worry about stardom. To further clear the query- Hansika never mentioned about NASA. It was an overzealous web portal. 

Yes, Meera Mitun announced that she is launching her production company in Delhi on Ganesh Chatuthurthi day She thanked her politicians-financier friends. Bhartiraaja who is to head the active producer’s council has warned Meera not to cross the line in her attacks on Stars. She called wives of Suriya and Vijay as woman with bad past. Her ex manager alleges that a big director in Mumbai is sponsoring her attacks on Kollywood. Talking about NASA, my astrologer says it has rearranged positions. Now my astrological planet sign has changed and should follow new sign. That is why I missed the prediction of COVID 19.

Michael Jackson Karmic effect on Kodambakkam

June 25^th was the death anniversary of Michael Jackson (MJ) and I am not here to tell you about his moves etc but the telling effect he had on Kodambakkam. For one ,the only University in the World to have a statue of MJ in its campus is Vels University in Chennai. MJ’s comeback concert in India was the one way ticket to doom for a movie moghul GV (brother of director Mani Rathnam). Above all, MJ gave Indian Cinema. the great acrobatic performer – actor- director Prabhu Deva. The last achievement stands partially corrected as the credit should go to K T kunjumon KTK), the white colour obsessed film producer who wore white shirt- pants- shoes, matching watch strap and dial .

In all probability, MJ statue in Vels might be covered in crow shit or moved over to a place that does not distract the students and obstruct the expansion plan of Vels. According to KTK, Shankar told him a story of a poor boy with great dancing skills and a Governor’s daughter falling in love. Sundaram Master said that his son Prabhu Deva could be given a shot. Prabhu Deva had turned independent choreographer with Kamal- Pratap Pothen film `Vetri Vizha and was very busy.Distributors told KTK that a choreographer being hero was not their cup of tea. So then why not add Madhuri Dixit ?. Madhuri is busy. Someone said Nagma. Fine. So Rahman does music. KTK says gets best special effects, even if it from abroad. Movie runs for 100 days. Now KTK is happy that his political God – AMMA is happy. The Governor character was modeled on Channa Reddy , with whom Amma was having a war going on. KTK gave a huge amount to Girish Karnad, the art house actor to accept a commercial film as he felt that Karnad looked like Channa Reddy.

Bharat Shah, the big Bollywood guy, buys Kadhalan and dubs it in Hindi. So Shah asks KTK, whose cut-out should we keep outside the theater? KTK says – mine. KTK says a beggar at a traffic signal in Mumbai recognized him and danced waving show tickets. After the premiere show, G P Sippy and Ramesh Sippy hugged KTK and said that this is bigger than Sholay.  Prabhu Deva becomes a national sensation. Now logically, KTK and Prabhu Deva should be the top of the charts. KTK kept his winning streak with Kadhal Desam and gave Abbas, a lover boy who swept the audience. After that he ventured into making films based on his own subjects and sticking to new director’s who failed him. Prabhu Deva to a certain extent kept his dancing boy image intact with Minsarra Kanavu that had Aravind Swamy- Kajol with Rajiv Menon direction and Rahman music.

His acting career plunged and with a Telugu film that he directed, he took a new avatar. Now coming back to MJ. GV having produced Rajinikanth film Dhalapathy directed by his brother had made his GV Films , a listed company in the stock market. He then took the rights to conduct a concert of MJ in Mumbai.  A Mumbai company had the contract for the show. Now, GV gives me a scoop. Prabhu Deva will dance on the MJ stage.  All tickets sold out. It was something like Rambo Stallone to fight Salman Khan Kind of hype. Something happened. MJ did come to Mumbai but he did not perform. Prabhu Deva found that MJ does not allow any outsider to share a stage with him. Finally, Prabhu Deva, I think through Anupam Kher got to take a few photos with MJ at the hotel. GV Films shares crashed and in 1993, he had to file a lawsuit of Rs 3 crores against MJ and the Mumbai Company.

Years later, Prabhu Deva and his brother Raju, A R Rahman and actress Shobana took part in a concert called Friends of Micheal Jackson in Munich. Here too Prabhu Deva item was to be followed by MJ and latter was to join him on stage. It did not happen.  Prabhu Deva is a PR agent’s nightmare. Put him in front of a TV interviewer who knows only Hindi and English and he will sweat. He still is not comfortable with the languages. Despite this he has directed actors like Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Akshay Kumar . His stock reply as to why he chose to do a film of a particular director or producer is that – He is a nice guy. 

Once he was asked to give a vote of thanks in English at the Chennai Tennis League. His producer -friend Dr Ishari Ganesh of Vels University requested him to do it. He got the audience sympathy by saying that it was his maiden speech in English and got an ovation when he finished by saying `I finally did it’. As the saying goes – Everybody has his Achilles heel. Here it is his neck. He takes care to not strain that part of the body.

Not nepotism but politicians made Rajnikanth- Kamal to cringe

If nepotism rules Bollywood according to many, it is political dadagiri that rules Kollywood. If the Khans or Kapoors had said something similar to what Rajinikanth or Kamalhassan said, it would have been a breaking news in CNN, WION . Rajinikanth after the clash with PMK political party over depiction of smoking scenes in BABA - If I go to Mumbai, I am called a Madrasi. In Karnataka, I am a Tamizhan and here in Tamil Nadu, where I earned my bread and butter, I am a Kaannadiga. Where should I go?. Am not an Indian? Next shift to Kamal after the opposition by Muslim bodies (read as instigated by AIADMK) over Viswaroopam release.- If my nationality is questioned , then I think it is better to leave India and go to another country.

Shift to a function held by entire Kollywood to felicitate Karunanidhi on becoming the CM (It was not the first time he was becoming CM). Ajith goes on stage and says - Please do not compel anyone to attend such functions. Rajini stands up and claps. Cut to Udhaynidhi Stalin (actor - producer) who moves court to get a directive to ask the State committee to declare that the film he produced is serving the purpose of spreading the Tamil language. This enables the producer to get a tax exemption, a rule passed by his grandfather Karunanidhi and turned into a weapon by Jayalalithaa to deny tax sops to those having DMK links.  A Vijay starrer `Mersal’ which had dialogues against GST in the trailor , led to BJP warning distributors and theatres that if it was screened with the objectionable portions, they would face the music. DMK MLA J Anabazhagan ( who passed away recently due to Covid 19) said that he is willing to distribute it all over the State , without any changes. When Jayalalithaa was alive, Rajini in `Annamalai’ and later in `Padayappa’ had taken onscreen potshots at her. In the first instance, she was in power and brought in  a rule that Madras should not have film posters. In the second instance, she was not in power.

Vijay who did suffer from Jayalalithaa’s autocratic ways. It was mainly to help Jaya TV ,then owned by Sasikala . Earlier he had to do a volte-face as his father agreed to help AIADMK election campaign but did not do so and unluckily for him, Jayalalithaa came to power. Since then, he had been facing problems. After Jayalalithaa’s death, came Sarkar ( 2017). It stirred a hornets’ nest as it talked about Jayalalithaa’s freebie politics and to top it the antagonist in the film was Komalavalli(  a name given to Jayalalithaa by her grandmother) Predictably, it created a turbulent period in film trade as AIADMK was in power.

Now that Rajini and Kamal have entered politics and Stalin seems to be having a cordial relationship with both, the era of political muscle play in filmdom would hopefully end. When Karunanidhi was CM, Jayalalithaa alleged that Stalin’s son, Alagiri’s son and Sun TV were controlling the filmdom and arm twisting was rampant. Satellite rights were bought but no cash was given by Sun TV and after Jayalalithaa came back to power, a few cases and money reached those who were to get it. Now Sun TV is producing blockbusters and buying them too. Jaya TV and Luxe Cinemas of Sasikala have no backing of the ruling EPS- OPS group. BJP seems to harbor a grudge against Vijay and the IT raids were a part of it. The politicalisation of film trade bodies needs to be eradicated to bring in a transparent business scenario is what many films corporate who did business in Kollywood feel. Most of them have left in disgust.

As a journalist covering four South film industries, I can say that Kannada and Telugu filmdom does have a nepotism culture. To a little extent, it does exist in Malayalam. We all know about Prithiviraj who faced hardships in the initial days. Now, he has directed a film with Mohanlal as hero and latter’s man Friday as producer.  A few days back, a director spoke about Prithiviraj’s father Late Sukumaran  unofficially getting blacklisted from the industry. Sukumaran , whenever in Chennai, made it  a point to sit over a drink with me and hear about Kodambakkam news. His visits became rare and I heard that he was not called by producers. In one of his visits, I think to sell his flat in Gemini Parsn (don’t remember), I met him. I asked what the problem was. Laughingly he said – “I was on a flight to home. I did not get up and wish Joy. From that day onwards, my phone stopped ringing. Many think that I am an extravagant arrogant xxx. I have invested all my money safely enough for my family to live comfortably. Just because I am not doing films, do not stop meeting me. You ( my tribe) people have this habit of chasing only those in limelight. I don’t blame you. Your owner wants to sell his paper,”

As he rightly predicted , though I visited Trivandrum ( my home town) many times after that, it slipped my mind to pick up the phone and meet him for a drink.

Mammooty – Madrasile Mon in Poojapura Central Jail

Khushbu 's audio leak tape : A look at `leakages'

Khushbu 's telephonic conversation within a TV producer's group found it's way to the social media. Here she is asking the producer's to be alert as the media is looking for news and might click pixs at the shooting spot. TV producer's started their shoot  after agreeing  to guidelines laid by State Government. The tome in which she spoke sounded like - keep those nosy xxxx out of the picture. Anyway, she apologized saying that it was a talk among peers and not for a broadcast and went back to 34 years of her public life and respect shown to media. This leaking of media ( she says selected leakage and it makes it even thrilling as to what other juicy details were omitted). This leakages are often done with the connivance of the subjects in the content and sometimes to settle scores.
Anyway, if wash room talk in preview theaters among film journalists are recorded and  leaked, many would not be able to face those whom they call Thalaivaa, Madam, Boss and so on.
 In the days when there was no mobile phones, it was landlines or over hearing and phone cross talk that did the damage. After mobile phones came, the route was put it on conferencing and talk  as recording had not come' 

This behind the back talk has played havoc in Kollywood. It is said in hushed tones that Sivaji Ganesan swore not to ever set his foot on the soil of Nadigar Sangham after he heard a close buddy and `glass' mate - actor  of him  saying something nasty behind his back at a session in the Sangham. The buddy thought that Sivaji had left the room. The buddy and regular sidekick of Sivaji faded into oblivion. It is not film folk who alone did the mischief. A journalist is credited to having created a misunderstanding within  Sivaji family and another who was gifted a costly bike called Sivaji a stingy xxx for not buying him a new Tyre, a year later.

A very big movie empire with sons and grandsons living under one roof  saw the family  split after a lady member of the household picked up an extension phone and heard some unsavory comments coming from her hubby's  brother. The houses that had no compound walls started to be build. It further split leading to division of property and many embarrassing moments like a crew working in the studio given a bill for panning a shot of a structure owned by another brother in the same studio.

Sometime back  a video clip from a phone of a celeb ( who was stone drunk ) found it's way to another  celeb.who put it out on social media and created a storm.As it involved quite a lot of big names, the person who `leaked' the content was said to be a mental patient( maybe the illness was all about hacking phones and putting it on the net). Morphed pictures and videos do get circulated. When we get scenes of doctors and nurses in PPE gear, we also get on net the videos and snaps of actresses spending Lockdown by taking photos of themselves clad in dresses that look like handkerchief made  into bra and panties. 

The most baffling `leakages' are of scenes of blockbusters under shooting. We are told that the entire crew and cast went into a tizzy after these shooting spot scenes were put on the net. The best part is that these scenes were shot in locales abroad or within four walls of a studio covered by security systems. So it has now become predictable as part of film promo. Poster release and motion poster release, First look and several looks, Final look, single audio track and more singles lyric track, minimum of two leaked scenes, audio release and then final look. A few tweet war between fans is pre-production promo. As soon as first reel is over, tweets about what a great film it is all about  and so on and by midnight the movie trackers have put the movie in the Rs 200 cr FDFS Worldwide club ( figures from Papa New Guinea are also included).

I am now interested in tracking this mysterious person behind the leak whom Khushbhu says will get similarly get stabbed in the back and despite all the efforts, she will continue to be in limelight. This mystery person who she says is in the shadows has to be found as it is important we give some non Covid  news to take their minds off the epidemic..

Kamal - Priyan- Balachandra Menon

Kamal Haasan was to work with Balachandra Menon and Priyadarshan and both the projects got dropped. While the film with Priyadarshan  got shelved, the film with Menon  took another shape. It got directed by K Ravikumar  , another director who like Menon  is known for his comic genre films. The Menon film theme was of a girl masquerading as a boy to fool those looking to kill her  and in  the new version , it was Kamal playing the woman trying to win back his estranged wife and daughter. It was Avvai Shanmughi.

The Tamil film was titled Kanden Seethaiyai and  launched with great fanfare with  Ruchitha Prasad as heroine and Mukesh in the cast. The film later underwent changes with Ramesh Aravind joining the cast. Menon had directed the film Ammayane Satyam with the same subject in Malayalam. With two weeks to go for pack up, the film got stuck. Producers cited that they were having financial problems. Menon claimed that Kamal wanted to play the boy disguised as girl role on prodding from his friends. Menon claimed that he had even offered to take over the production but Kamal did not relent.

The film later took shape with the same set of producers ( Wig Ravi-  Hari- Murali) as Avvai Shanmughi and Meena playing the estranged wife. The film had a close semblance to Mrs Doubtfire. Trade sources said that the Menon project was actually committed by Kamal as Sivaji wanted him to help his onetime wig maker Ravi. As Kamal found that he had little to do and there was no novelty since the subject was made in Malayalam, he wanted a total rework of the screenplay. Later it turned out that Wig Ravi was told not to pay any more money, except for production costs that included actors and technicians wages and in turn Kamal took all the distribution- remake rights of all non- Tamil Languages. The film was a whooping hit.

From here, Kamal moved to remaking it in Hindi as Chachi 420 with ad-film maker Shantanu Sheorey as director and Tabu playing Meena’s role. He had Jhamu Sughand as co-producer. Once again difference erupted with Kamal and the director. Finally it was left to Kamal to don the director’s hat and complete the film. It was the first directorial venture of the celebrated actor that otherwise should have been a big momentous event. Film did collect at the box office. I remember Shanthanu managing to put in his version of the differences in Screen through the then Editor Rauf Ahmed. I met Kamal as he felt that Screen was being partisan to Shantanu . He asked me – Have you come to see me as my friend or a Screen man? I replied – As your friend. A rebuttal was given and printed but with Rauf using his powers as Editor to omit out some portions.

Priyadarshan was to direct a film based on a story of Kamal Haasan. It was a surprise choice as the subject line was serious. It talked about union’s v/s corporate and intertwined in a love story. Priyan had created a name as a humour film director. To top it, R Madhavan was part of the cast. Maddy was the rage of the youth in the South. Priyadarshan backed out before the shoot began and did not give any reason. Kamal on his part told Subhash K Jha -"Priyan is no longer directing the project. He wanted to direct me in a much bigger project. So he is working on a script about class conflict. Anbesivam will now be directed by C Sunder”. Said Kamal, "Like Priyan, being directed by Sundar would be a new experience for me. I am looking forward to working with him and Madhavan. As for Priyan, neither of us is running away anywhere." So far  Priyan has not readied any class conflict subject and is awaiting the release of Arabikadullah Simham- Marikkar starring Mohanlal.

Menon has not got over the shelving of the project and even recently said that it was the pride and ego that made Kamal walk away from the project and that even today Kamal cannot face him.

Nagesh about MGR

I had come across Nagesh in many studios and knew each other and even did interview of him. Nagesh probably thinking that as I was from an English movie weekly `Screen' at our first meeting said that he is married to Regina who speaks fluent English. He also said that he was a clerk in the Indian Railways. I asked him in all innocence -" Is she an Anglo Indian ?". Nagesh turned red-green- blue , sputtered and kept quiet. I later learnt that Anglo Indian ladies image in Chennai was those wore frocks, smoked and drank wine, danced wildly in parties and came from areas like Doveton.
He told me what he had been saying to everyone. His going to mother's funeral after it was over due to his job commitment etc. The first thing that comes to my mind whenever I saw Nagesh, it was the song `Avalukku enna Alagiya Mugham' ( Server Sundaram). Step aside Micheal Jackson- Prabhu Deva please. It was at the shooting of a Telugu film `Gandeevam' with Balakrishna and Roja which had  ANR in the cast and Mohanlal doing a cameo in a song. I was guest of Balakrishna at Hyderabad. Nagesh and me were sitting in the house where the shoot was going on. Nagesh went for his shots and came back to chit chat. By noon, I decided to go to my hotel and to my surprise Nagesh too was coming with me in the same car.
On the way I picked up a bottle of brandy and Nagesh smiled. . " This is a paid holiday. Evening I am shifting to Jubilee Hills Hotel and my interview with Balakrishna could be tonight or tomorrow. Till then then just relax. Joining me ? " I asked. Go ahead, he said.As I had warmed up, Nagesh came in. He took the bottle and opened it and took  a deep sniff  and with a smile he said this kick is enough. But what came later was dynamite.
Our talk moved to MGR with whom he is said to have a broken friendship  that put his career in jeopardy and led to strained finances. Finally MGR is said to have bailed him out. The talk between us was in 1994.MGR died in 1987. When I asked him about MGR bailing him out when his theater was to be auctioned , he said it is all old stuff. I asked him about whether it was his rift with his comic sidekick Manorama ( a pair that MGR had popularized) was the reason for MGR's anger.
He said that his relationship with MGR was such that he could take any liberties that other's would dread and still get away with it. He said when the dialogue sheet came, he would add some dialogues that would poke fun at MGR. During rehearsal, MGR would hear the dialogue and say - Look you are going too much. Be careful, my boys  ( fans) might beat you up.  I would say -It will never happen as I keep calling you Anna ( big brother) and you call me Thambi ( younger brother).
He them said that he understood MGR after an incident he saw. Nagesh said that everyday he noticed that a unit hand was very vociferous in cheering MGR after a shot. ( It was a norm that unit hands clapped and cheered the actors after each shot, especially after a stunt scene). One day MGR called the aide and asked him what this unit hand wanted. The unit hand was employee of Sathya  Studios owned by MGR . He also told the manager that give him what he wants and tell him to report for work at the Ramapuram residence from now onward. Nagesh at first thought it was a promotion for the flattery but later only did MGR tell him - When somebody starts outdoing others in flattery, then be sure that he has a hidden agenda. By putting him in my farm house, he will be financially secure but will not see the studios again.
Nagesh blasted me saying - Why are you waiting for his interview? He should be waiting for you. These days no respect for press. Then he said - See what waste of time . Cameraman is taking several shots of Roja's backside when she is going upstairs. I was told the camera costs Rs 10,000 per hour. ( Then a Steadycam is said to cost that much).
Later, I met him in Vijaya studios where the shooting of Nammavar was going on. Kamal was the hero and K S Sethumadhavan the director. The makeup rooms and corridors were supposed to be backdrop of a college, I was told. I asked Nagesh who played a college Principal - What Sir, You and Kamal are making a good team now -a-days ? He replied - Kamal himself is a good humorist and his comic timing is perfect. Now he needs an actor who will be a great foil to him and who else but this old WAR HORSE. He is open to hearing you out and best part is he does not put you on a pedestal and instead treats you like everyone .
I don't remember Nagesh having any titles  like the comedians have today. Vaigai puyal, Chinna Kalaivanar, and so on.

K S Sethumadhavan- Sanyasi in filmdom

The intention was to write about my interactions with Nagesh and later Raghuvaran. As I was recollecting about Nagesh, it struck me that it was at the shooting of `Nammavar’ that I interacted the most with the ace comedian. The director was K S Sethumadhavan. I then decided that my interaction with Sethumadhavan was the one that had to be written now. In my entire career, I think Sethumadhavan is one director who does not go to great lengths to explain why his movies are classics. All you need is to ask any  director  about a striking scene in the film and probably the only saving grace of the film, the director would get excited and­­­­ explain in detail. In case of Sethumadhavan, the explanations are simple and no rhetoric. He would acknowledge your compliment with a smile and not say something like even Marlon Brando thought so.

The making of his movies were all done methodically and silently. He did not have any juicy bits like how he got the lead actors to emote or got involved in their personal tiffs. I remember Sharadha who was talking to me suddenly  running say that Master is calling. According to her, Sethumadhavan is like a school master who wants his actors to emote the way he wants. She said that he was a stickler for timing, the place you stand and the angle. If you look at his movies from this angle, you will never find any such touch of a `master’ behind it. The actors are their natural best. Many directors say that they can mould anybody to the role. Sethumadhavan had the ability to make a hero play the villain, a heroine a vamp and get away with it.

If you look at the range of actors he has worked, it  is amazing. All the top actors and actress of Malayalam, he also handled multi starrer films with ease. He also directed MGR in the remake of Yaadon Ki baarat.  He was not keen to do the film as he had already done a remake in Hindi with Sanjeev Kumar. MGR agreed and he did it as his brother was keen to produce it.

Most of the director’s whom I have come across have said that it was very difficult to handle literary writers   when it came to making  their works into films. They could not understand the commercial elements that needed to be added to their work. If you look at his films, the range of writers whose works he has adapted and made into hit films is amazing. As an example, one should read Pamman’s  Chattakari and then see the film to understand how Sethumadhavan has used the craft to tell the story.

I asked him about `Chattakari’ which even today fascinates me. The music, the sensuousness in the air and all time great acting by Adoor Bhasi had caught my imagination. I was then in my school final. When I got to interview the man who created this movie, I simply could not resist asking the question- `How did you conceive those tender love scenes in `Chattakari’?. This question was partly triggered by Sethumadhavan saying that his wish in younger days was to be a sanyasi. Generally ( going by the biographies)  the makers of romantic love stories are die hard romantics in real life but Sethumadhavan was far from all this .  All he did was blush.

A man who is polite to media but do not chase it, surprised me. I got a call saying, “Look, I want you see my Telugu film and give me publicity. It is a NFDC production and they will not do a good job. It is for the first time that I am asking a journalist to write about my film,” he said. I saw the film and had a chat with him and took the stills and left. As I was about to write about the film, Sethumadhavan called me and said –“Sorry. NFDC says they will handle the publicity. So please don’t write about it,” I laughingly told him that in your life for the first time you asked a journalist to write about your film and for the first time in my career, a director tells me not to write about his film.  I felt bad when `Marupakkam’ directed by him in Tamil and his screenplay based on the Indira Parthsarathy’s novel `Ucha Veyil’  gave Tamil cinema the first national award for Best Film and Silver Lotus award for best screenplay. Jayabharathi got special jury mention. It was the joke of the year and the start of Bollywood lobby gaining upper hand, when Amitabh got best actor award for Agneepath. Till last minute Sivakumar for his performance in `Marupakkam’ was the front runner for the coveted award.

Challenges for Kollywood ahead and an Iron Man Chintamani Murugesan

If the Iron Man `Chintamani’ Murugesan  had way back in 1993 relented, doing business in  Kollywood would be easy and beneficial to all stake holders in movie business. Post Covid, the Tamil filmdom is going to witness an election to Producer’s Council, Nadigar Sangham and opening up of a new platform called OTT for the Tamil Aaam aadmi. The restrictions put in place over number of employees to work in a film unit are going to make the workers depend on the movie business, a restless lot.

Uzhaippali, a P Vasu film with Rajinikanth – Roja in the cast and produced by Chandamama – Vijaya Productions that draws it lineage from Nagi Reddy was hot property. Rajini and Vasu was hit combo. Now Murugesan with an undisputed hold over the film trade says that the actors should take a cut in their salary as returns for distributors after settling theaters was meager or in a deficit. Those days the film was bought outright for 5 years. Hit or miss, it was the distributor’s lookout. Regular producer’s had an edge as they had the dates of stars whom the distributors banked on for their forthcoming projects.  Rajini says that if actor’s are the cause of a film loss, then he would not take payment and instead keep some areas for distribution.  He decides to keep the NSC area of Uzhaippali  for distribution. NSC is North- South- Arcot Area, those that include Kanchipuram- Thirivalluvar- Chengalpet areas. In short the adjoining areas of Chennai. City- NSC area was the top selling area. The letter from Producer to Distributor Association stated that NSC area has been given to Rajinikanth and he will do as he likes. Many producers were happy over this move as it gave them relief from settling Star’s rising fees. Some distributors too said that when actors learn the real worth after becoming distributor, they would cut the salary.

Today most of the Bollywood biggies have actors as co-producers and in Andhra, actors take only 10% as advance and a share of the business. Only in Kodambakkam, the hero gets paid in full before release and a 50% advance. Now the situation has changed with many fly by night distributors putting the actor’s on the block to settle the dues, if they want to see the film released. As publicity is already done, many of the new crops of heroes were caught in this trap. Now as alarm bells are ringing, many have got cold feet.

Coming back to Uzhaippali, though Murugesan lost the battle, the victory of Rajinikanth remained a flash in point. It was business as usual. Kamal took other South States distribution and other language remake rights. Later , he shifted to a first copy basis by which he produced the film for an agreed amount to the producer. Now for Indian 2, he is said to hold some area rights and that includes North India. He had put forth an idea by which a film would get theatrical and release over satellite DTH networks at the same time. Theater lobby revolted. Today, movies are to get premiered on OTT which will be on every DTH platform and on every online piracy site. So who is the loser?

Chintamani Murugesan, the President of the Association, said that if actors started being distributors, then distributors would have to be film reps who reported theater collections to the actor. Also a rule was in force that a non- member cannot distribute a film. If the Association issued a Red Card, theatres would not give any advance to the distributor. This was a major source of finance for a producer. Egged by Rajanikanth, the Production house held a pooja. Distributors usually turned up at the pooja and gave the advance amount. This did not happen. Many actors including Sivaji Ganesan came but that can only be a morale booster and not  cash to the producer. There was even some bullying tactics. Hotels at locations of shoot were not offering discounts on threat of boycott from other producer’s as they were in line with the Murugesan ban.

As release date neared, Rajanikanth met Kamal Haasan and drove down to Meeran Sahib Street ( also known as Ritchie Street, Next to India Silk House in Anna Salai). The street ,where film distributors and smuggled electronic goods and spare part dealers set shop, he met Murugesan and had a talk. Nothing happened. Meanwhile there was a cross current happening against Murugesan.. AVM’s Yejamaan was to release as the dispute was going on and it was exempted from the Red Card. The collections were high. As in many cases, the issue reached the CM. It was Jayalalithaa. Chandamama Vijaya productions handed over the NSC rights to Ramana distributors of Rajinikanth. Many theatres defying the ban had already given advance to the Producer and bypassed the distributors. The ban flopped. Rajini did not bear any grudge. He asked the Producer to not hold any 100 day function as it would mean rubbing salt in the wound of Murugesan. His fans did hold a function and honored the loyal theaters.

It was at the function of 200 days of Padaiayappa that one saw Muthukumariah son of Murugesan presenting a huge silver sword to Rajanikanth. Murugesan’s son was the distributor of the film. The battle saw the start of the decline of a man called Iron Man who ruled the all powerful body that controlled the business for 18 long years. Sometimes life’s twists and turns are more creative than any scriptwriter. Murugesan was hauled to court by the executive body and stripped of all rights and put as associate member with no voting rights. Murugesan had a lifestyle around which filmdom revolved. Being a close friend of Mathioli Shanmugham, then brain behind GV and Kayaar and a trade pundit, I was privy to many meetings of the Iron Man. He came to his office in Meeran Sahib Street in the morning. He had called panchayat ( disputes) to handle. By noon, he moved to his room in Cosmopolitan Club. He then had his session and in company of his aides who were also took part in the morning meetings. He then had his food and went to sleep. Woke up in the night, changed to yet another starched kurta and mundu and did a small prayer. With holy ash on his forehead, fresh as ever, he came back to his office. The dispute meet continued and sometimes past midnight, the decision was taken. Distributors and theater owers waiting in labs gave extra money to take delivery of prints. It was derisively referred as spreading the towel by the producer to pick the crumbs to release the film. Today, it has shifted to office of those who hold the rights of digital release in theaters. Then it was called strike order and now it is KDM that gets a film coming alive on your screen.

Mohanlal's Vanaprastham forgotten

Heard almost all the praises for Lalettan on turning 60. Quite disgusted that nobody mentioned about Vanaprastham. It might not figure in Ettan fans list or those who think he is God's biggest gift to Cinema. The film , I think, in his 40 yrs career as actor and a producer and looking back on his 60th birthday can proudly pat himself on the back. Not just coz it got premiered in Cannes or got him the National award for best actor.

The depth of acting is something that you have to see to experience it. Shaji's direction and handling of the actor in MohanLal is amazing. Vanaprastham is not the first outing for Shaji at Cannes.

Let me share a few happenings. On one side the detractors of Shaji from art house club said the invited viewers walked out midway at Cannes. Some said that Shaji has finally managed to pull the shutters on Mohanlal distribution company Pranavam. Though the BO was not expected to be high, poor planning by Shaji led to phenomenal rise in costs and that too in foreign exchange, said the critics. Shaji wanted a Panavision camera and it costs $1000 per day and lenses with trained crew and cinematographer extra. The rental schedule could not be kept as Shaji had no proper planning of shots. The cameraman and crew fled after pocketing a huge amount. Santosh Sivan stepped in to salvage the film and so amid derisive laughter they said after all it is no first Panavision film. The basic idea was that Shaji had chewed more than he could. Mohanlal was taken for a ride.

Pranavam shut shop and so rest of the story had to be true. Doing art-house movies and for a pittance by sale able actor's is the norm. Mohanlal invested his own money and with a Euro American company as partner for what ? To show that he is an actor par excellence ? The answer to the question will give you the Complete personality of Mohanlal. At least one of the channel could have telecast Vanaprastham. The man at extreme left is Pierre Assouline

Madhuri Dixit - Sivaji Ganesan and South Screen Awards

A few days back the media was all talking  all about Madhuri Dixit’s birthday. My acquaintance with this Bollywood Diva was on three occasions. One when Madhuri made her first appearance at a public function in Chennai – the first Edition of South Screen Awards. Second at the Tamil film `Engineer’ launch and third coverage of a song sequence shoot in Chidambaram for a film `Izzataadar’ directed by Bapiah and produced by Sudhakar Bokade. It was Raghuvaran’s first film in Hindi.

The South Screen Awards was the first to hold an open air event of film awards in South. It turned into an open air event  by default and due to the enmity of then CM Jayalalithaa towards Rajinikanth who was one of the recipients.  More of that in coming days. The award function marked the public appearance of Sivaji Ganesan after a long hiatus and received the Life Time Achievement award in the presence of many Bollywood veterans. The most interesting part was that Sivaji and Madhuri had come in separate cars. Both came in  white Contessa model car parked close to each other and parked inside the venue. I was in charge of chaperoning Sivaji. Soon after the function was over, Madhuri  walked up to the car and entered with her aide. Just behind, Sivaji came and knocked on the window and smilingly asked  Madhuri – “By your leave, could I  have my  car”. A sheepish Madhuri got out and apologized and soon she was escorted to her car. Next day the dailies carried a photo of a sheepish Madhuri coming out of Sivaji’s car.

The other was the shoot in Chidambaram Lake where there were speed boats. Madhuri had come to the locale and was waiting for us. Press team from Mumbai and only Madrasi from Madras had followed Govinda from Chennai. As usual, what was to be a journey that begins after breakfast in Chennai, turned to be a post brunch ride as Govinda wakes up late and so do the Mumbai press. Some of them who woke up had  gone to Pondy Bazar to pick up Kanchivaram sarees. Poor me, used to actors turning up at early hours in the morning for shoot, had no option to be at the PRO’s room and doze off. The PRO was heading the shopping team.

A few boat rides with the lead pair and shot in different angles, it was pack up. Reason was that Govinda is a single take actor. PRO introduced me to Madhuri who greeted me and asked about my Editor ( Taraji). We drove down. On reaching the Chennai hotel, I saw Madhuri leaving for the airport as she had no scenes in Madras.

Next was the pooja of Engineer. It was a sensation. Post Roja, Aravind Swamy was the hottest guy in the nation and teamed with a Diva like Madhuri . Director Gandhi Krishna, a sishya of director Shankar and what more you need. Rahman’s music and Jeeva’s camera. Boy, the works. Any Producer’s dream project. Hot property. It all fizzled out after a 85% shoot. No idea.

In my office cabin wall, I  had  a poster of Amitabh  with Madhuri Dixit together, shot by our then Screen photographer R Krishna. The shoot took place at Big B’s house and it was a casting coup as both of them had not worked together then. Madhuri’s manager Rikku’s dedication and the immense trust that she had  in him is something that I have heard from my Screen colleagues in Mumbai. Recently, I saw photos of Rikku’s daughter’s wedding reception in which Madhuri attended with her hubby Dr. Nene.

Where is Kanaka the Karahatakkaran and Godfather actress ?

In fact, in my entire career as a film journalist, I never came across a lady like Devika, the mother of actress Kanaka. (Remember Kanaka in Karakattakkaran  and Malayalam film Godfather ? ). It also surprises me that nobody is even asking the question about where Kanaka is now?. The actress whose Tami debut film `Karakattakkaran’ created box office history by running for a full one year and her Malayalam film `Godfather’ ( remember theater actor N N Pillai in it ?) ran for 404 days. Coming back to Devika. I went to her house to interview her daughter Kanaka. Devika has acted as heroine opposite S S Rajendran , MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesah. She had memorable roles in Sridhar directed films. The younger lot can watch her in the song Sonnadhu Nee Thaana in Nenjil Oru Aalayam.

So, I was introduced to Devika by Filmnews Anandan as Screen correspondent. Devika said that though she acted with Stars like Rajendra Kumar, Kishore Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar in Hindi, it was the Bombay heroines like Nargis, Sadhana and Asha Parekh who got the write-up in Screen. She acknowledged that that her South outings were well covered. Now to correct the historical imbalance done by my predecessors decades back in Screen,  I was commanded to do an elaborate interview  of her. So it was that I interview the mother to get her daughter to talk.

It started with her grandfather being the first to produce a Telugu film and how an uncle of her as Mayor of Madras changed the face of the city. She spoke about the standing ovation she got from likes of Rajendra Kumar and the heroines got jealous, her undying love for Tamil cinema and director Sridhar kept her away from Bombay. In between, her hubby Devadas came in to listen. After the interview was published ( it came in nostalgia column) I was given the opportunity to interview Kanaka. The girl started off saying something but to be interrupted by Devika. It turned out to be a Kanaka interview as told by Devika. I said that a photo shoot was needed and Devika agreed.

After that, I and Devika became friends. Her house was in R A Puram, I think.  It had Telugu speaking workers and a bossy Devika shouting at them. The last I saw Kanaka was at locales of Narasimham, the Mohanlal film that was a blockbuster hit. She had several hits in Malayalam including Vietnam Colony and quite a few opposite Prabhu in Tamil. Soon after Karakattakkaran , the same pair came together in Thangamana Rasa ( which did fairly well). However, they never came together again. One reason said was that Devika asked heavy amount to act opposite Ramarajan ( hero of Karakattakkaran )

One day I came across Devika. I told her that Kanaka has easily merged wth Kerala industry and she is considered a lucky mascot. This was her reply –“Malayalam directors do not have the expertise to utlise an actress dates. A big production manager came and said that they need 20 days call sheet. They want a week gap between. I told them to bring the director and I will them him how to manage without disruption.” So what happened, I asked. They did not come back, she said. I was told that the film was `Akashdhoothu’. Murali was a very busy actor and hence a slight gap in dates was needed. Madhavi did the role and got Kerala State Award for second best actress. Also the best actress award from FilmFare. The director who did not go to learn how to utilze dates of actors was Sibi Malayil.

Some say that she got hitched to a cameraman in Hyderabad. Another person claims that she is in Chennai and manages her real estate holdings.

Rajanikanth - Govinda and bottle

All those who are heaping praises on Rajanikanth for his view on opening of TASMAC  has missed the point. He said that if you open before lockdown ends you will not come to power. After Lockdown ??? Back to business???. But I also appreciate EPS for his counter reaction to Kasturi Sankar who asked -Is it food that one needs every day? He announced opening of all tea shops but with a rider – only parcels. So you can get your vessel and collect tea and the bites ( don’t mistake it for bytes). By one stroke EPS says look I am not only in favour of saraku but also of tea-kadai class. Now Radhakarishnan IAS will have to handle Nair tea kadai cluster in Teynampet to Annachi kadai in Pulianthope. Tea can be sold on  cycles too. So tracking of cycles is needed. GPRS fitted cycles or vendors linked to setu app. Anything to do with Setu creates controversy. Remember Ramar Sethu bridge?

The most   frightening assignment I got was to cover a Govinda – Karisma film shoot in Hyderabad. During my tenure in Delhi, I was send to cover riots in UP and Bihar. It never scared me. It was a cover story or inputs to a cover story. But this assignment given to me based in Chennai scared me. I called Bombay and said that I had an important Tamil film shoot on same day to cover. My News Editor said ‘” Look, no one here is free”.  Anyway, I was told by Bombay PRO that Govinda and team was going back same night. I was relieved. I could come back to Chennai, the same night. It was not my desire to be with my wife that I wanted to come back or that I missed Chennai. Whole of Andhra was under prohibition.

I reached the hotel and the counter staff gave me the return ticket. My heart sank. My flight was only the next day. So what about the night ?. I entered the room and first thing that caught my eye was a full bottle of Whisky inside my cupboard. I quickly shoved it my bag. So night is taken care off. The PRO said the car was ready to go to the location. I left. Govinda and Karishma were shooting a song. Came lunch break. Silver tumblers on silver trays went around. All of us picked one and Govinda remarked that it was very Royal. The tumbler contained whisky with soda. After a few a Royal treats, we had lunch.

The PRO said –“Sir evening we are having a press conference and all of us will leave for airport. Your flight is tomorrow,” I nodded and I thought of the bottle in my bag and thanked the good soul who left it in my cupboard. As I was crossing the lobby, I saw a few read beacon cars outside. At the door to hall stood  khaki uniformed men. Inside was a big party on. Usually, the meet has journalists and cast and sometimes the family of the producer – financiers. Here it looked like a shaadi ka Baarat. There was a bar counter, barmen and waiters going around with glasses and bites. I nearly swooned.

At that time the man behind this entire miracle popped up and hugged me. “ Ayyappa. Where have you been?. I hope you got my welcome bottle kept in your room? Enjoy. You stay as long as you want. Your flight is tomorrow morning,” he said.  The man is none other than the Great Movie Moghul D Rama Naidu. The PRO told me that the families were that of the Excise Commissioner and other top brass. There was also the Police top brass. I innocently asked – “ They can have booze anytime and anyplace they want, why here and in public  ? “ . The PRO said that – “It is not always you get to drink with Govinda and Karishma”. He added – “Your Press friends did not believe that Naidu gaaru will pull it off and somebody scared them of being in jail. Even your office chickened out and send you,”

The next day in Chennai. I opened the bottle for my friends and said I brought it from Hyderabad as a gift from D Rama Naidu and the first drink was toasted to the finest movie maker of India and man who understands the feelings of a thirsty man.

Jayalalithaa - Karunanidhi and more

Stalwarts I met and did not

I met some film stalwarts as a political journalist and some as a film journalist. Prem Nazir , NTR and MGR, I met as a political journalist I never interacted with Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi and interviewed Dr Rajkumar and Karnataka CM Bangarappa as a film  journalist. Interactions with Nadigar Thikam Dr Sivaji Ganesan will come as a special section. 

Prem Nazir coming from Cheranyngir a little town off Trivandrum ( my home town) was known to me even before I came to journalism. Many of his relatives were my classmates and friends. Through them, I have talked to him and seen him at marriages etc. He knew my grandfather S S Pillai ( then Editor of Screen weekly). In fact, we had a group that saw every first second show of Nazir film. Second show was convenient to say some excuse from home and escape. In fact, we started a fan club of Nazir funded by Latheef Bhai. Latheef was  a know production controller in Malayalam films and a right hand of Nazir.

The announcement came that Nazir is to enter politics and that too on a Congress ticket. Karunakaran was said to be behind the move. The talk was that pressure from IT raids had led him to take refuge in Congress. I was then working for The Sunday Observer and took his interview. His entry did not go as planned. One night, I got a call saying Nazir was no more and his body was coming next day from Madras to Trivandrum. Photographers climbed to a parked ladder to shoot the body coming out of the exit door of the passenger side but instead it came from the luggage loft below. At one end there was a microphone blaring that Kerala’s  golden son’s mortal remains has touched ground. Later after I was doing my film rounds in Chennai, I was told that Indian Airlines asked for passenger charges if the body had to be kept o top. It meant removing seats. Hence Kerala’s Golden Son came in a regular flight and in a luggage hold. Many producers who became lakhpati due to Nazir suddenly went penniless when they were asked to pay for the airline charges. What about Nazir’s brother and son;s decision ? Your guess is as good as mine.

MGR

As the custom in Trivandrum, we were members of MGR and Sivaji fan clubs. The theaters showing Tamil films belonged to my classmates Dad, a Tamilian himself. Cut-out came from Nagercoil by road. Burly men in cycles fitted with load racks and sporting multicolored lungi and net bannian came in droves for MGR films while car parking lot overflowed for Sivaji films. One fine morning, we were told that MGR was coming to campaign for Kovalam beach constituency. He had a press meet at Guest House and what he said was not clear. His public speeches were translated into Malayalam but bore no link to his mutterings.  He had a man who shouted the question in Tamil and interpreted the mumblings into Malayalam. That was interview of MGR for Sunday Observer.  A big disappointment for a fan turned journalist.

Dr. Rajkumar

My first meeting with Dr Rajkumar was at his Trustpuram house. He had an interpreter to translate his Kannada into Tamil and vice versa.. His wife Parvathamma and sons spoke good Tamil. He had the best of relations with all thespians and more so with Sivaji. In fact, he spearheaded the shift of Kannada filmdom to Bangalore. Behind his white and white dress and a messiah like smile lay a sinister man who went to any extent to keep his rivals out, was what many said about him. All said, his charisma remained intact even after quitting films and not having occupied any political chair. Till his end, he kept politicians on tenterhooks saying that he nursed political ambitions. Luckily for him, his sons too have taken after him.

NTR

During the Shivarathri festival of ten nights, we usedt o see purana ( mythological) films every night to keep awake We saw NTR in many such films and followed by Gemini and Sivaji. We heard that people  fell at his feet and prayed when he came out  of his house. Later while covering a Sivaji film shooting, I was introduced to the cameraman Williams ( known as Korangu ( monkey) Williams). I was told by Williams that he had the audacity to smoke and not get up from the chair , when NTR walked in. Williams got away with it or not, I can’t recall.

I was investigating a major scam In Tirupati temple  involving sale of laddus and sharing of revenue among a few families called archakaras. I stayed in a seedy lodge and with a tout gathered all evidence of a underworld operating from the free room facility for pilgrims to national level flesh trade. Later, taking my iD as reporter of The Onlooker and I met the TTD Executive officer, He made me the TTD Guest and gave me a royal suite with staff and I could walk straight to deity without any queue   My next was to meet NTR who as CM and Tirupati MLA had decided to take on the crime syndicate in the temple town. I went to CM’s office and gave a letter asking for an interview. In no time, a team came and asked me to give the questions as he answered only after seeing the questions and answers were in written form. No recorders were allowed when he answered supplementary. I was told that Illustrated Weekly took an interview of his in English and published it ad verbatim to show him as a clown. Appointment time was 4 AM. Car comes to hotel and takes me to a cottage that looked like a set where the hermits lived. Trees and landscaped with creeks etc. I sat on the floor. (No chairs around). Before NTR came, a plate full of fruits came. It was carried by men and not women.

As he entered, I froze. Should I fall at his feet or just do a namaste? Fresh as ever ,with many precious stones on him, silk kurta and dhoti. I had read the answers and asked a few supplementary. He conversed in broken English. A few minutes later  he waved me off saying, -Before you reach Bombay, everything will be changed. It did. The whole temple was taken over. How can you protest when the GOD NTR who has played Shiva- Vishnu etc takes over the abode?

Karunanidhi-Jayalalithaa and Bangarappa :

Jayalalithaa is one person that I have not interacted. The only time I got to see her close was to go on stage during a function organized by FEFSI to celebrate her becoming CM. I was part of the office bearers of South Indian Film Journalists Association run by Filmnews Anandan and Cinema Express Ramamurthy. In case of Karunanidhi, it wa a case where I could meet him anytime I wished. But it never happened. Right from Murasoli Selvam to Amritham to Cochin Haneefa ( dear friend) and all at Murasoli Movies were great buddies but never did I come across Karunanidhi on the sets. He usually turns up late night on sets, I was told. The time I saw him close was at the wedding of Priyadarshan with Lizzy at Taj.

The other CM whom I saw and interviewed was then Karnataka CM Bangarappa. His son Kumar Bangarappa was acting in a Kannada film produced by Kottarakara ( a family friend). He just took me past the security and put me in front of Yedurappa. As I was a film journalist, I asked him about how he planned to make Bangalore into a film makers dream.

Balakrishna and Wills :As I had mentioned about NTR, I think, I should talk about his son Balakrishna. We used to meet often in Chennai and he later started spending more time in Hyderabad. He asked me to fly over to Hyderabad to do a promotion of his film. I was put up in Banjara Hills Hotel. He said that he would meet me by the pool-side. I went to the pool side and saw that opposite to the lawn was a hall filled with Congressmen. Hordes of cops  at entrance. Balakrishna is in TDP ( not MLA) and how will he cross these cops and sit by the pool to have a drink ?. He came and I saw the cops salute him. He walked towards the pool and pulled up a chair. What will you have he asked. Rum and water, I said. I added a packet of Wills please. He smiled and told the waiter- same here. His drink and smoke was the same. He said that he carried Wills when he went abroad. From there, he drove the car to a busy narrow street which was full of pungent chicken masala. He got out and like any guy ordered two plates and sat on the stool at the roadside and ate. I asked him if he did not feel nervous that the CM( of Congress) was in a hall by the pool side and now eating here on the roadside without any bodyguard. He laughed and said- “ If you have people who love you, they will take care of you. As for CM, We the NTR clan are here for generations. They do not see us as politicians.”

Remembering KKKK

Kandukondain Kandukondain, the Rajiv Menon directed film was released 20 years ago. There was lot of write-ups about this iconic film and Rajiv talking about it. I was wondering what producer Kalaipuli Dhanu had to say about it as I was inadvertently a party to a payment settlement feud between the former and Rajiv. Later I found Dhanu’s talk on KKKK in OneIndia Tamil. He spoke about how for the  Royalty agreed to give their Palace in Karaikudi for the first time and the shooting of a song abroad when there was a terrorist attack. He also spoke about Aishwarya Rai telling Rajiv that she would not shoot on the final day if Dhanu did not join her for lunch. No mention of the bad blood.

It all started with an interview in Screen weekly ( I was the South Chief). The assigned person was Girija Sudheendharan , known to Rajiv and his mother Kalyani. Usually, as a policy, We do not carry any allegations as we were a trade paper. A single line in the interview let hell break loose. Rajiv said – “I have not been paid a single penny for my work for past two years of work”. Dhanu and I had a meeting. He had taken the matter with the Film Chamber. He wanted us to give his version of the story. He gave me hotel and phone bills , outdoor unit bills to show how the budget had far exceeded the estimate and along with it some photos of Rajiv partying with Tabu and Aishwarya in the pool etc to show time was wasted. I carried the expense side of the story as that was the charge and the partying and frolicking was not our lookout. Later the issues were sorted out.

I remember the audio launch. Right from Rajiv to all of cast came wearing white kurta- dhoti attire. Rahman came in his usual attire. The dhoti was a Kerala style zari one and there was talk of a Malayali touch to it. The facts given  was that Rajiv got 60% share of the business t as he would bring in the ensemble cast including Rahman on board and also his direction fee. As part of the deal, Rajiv took Madras city (considered the biggest box office earning territory), Overseas distribution and Bombay rights.

I then heard that the posters of KKKK in Bombay had no mention of Dhanu. Later this iconic movie’s screenplay was released in book form. Here too the name of Dhanu was missing. Apart from missing out on credits as a producer, Dhanu lost a huge chunk of money as outside of Madras, it was a bomb. To keep the prestige of the banner, Dhanu pulled the film to 50 days and saw that it reached 100^th day in Madras to keep his banner name. The surprise is that Mammooty who was part of the film could not bring the crowds in Kerala.

There were some interesting tit bits that were doing the rounds. One was that Prasanth flush with success of Jeans was approached to play Ajith’s role. He wanted to be paired opposite Aishwarya and Rajiv is said to have asked “Are they the RK- Nargis pair ? “

It was said that Rahman had taken a break to work with Andrew Lyold Webber and so the composition for KKKK did not come on time. Aishwarya who gave two hits Taal and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in Hindi after signing KKKK got busy and had no dates. There was no formal agreement with her and so one had to just wait.

OTT =Ola/ Uber cabs and Theaters = auto stands

 With debates on OTT v/s theater in the film industry,as a man who has seen changing service platforms to public, let me draw a parallel to the auto stand service and the apps based auto service. I might not be able to fathom the feelings of theater owners who say that they were ones responsible to building a STAR and in the same breath ask for fees to be reduced and yanking off films after a weekend as popcorn sales dropped but insisting that no producer should go to a OTT without showing his film in the theater.
A decade back, one can get auto in Chennai only if the neighbourhood stand is empty. You cannot flag off a passing auto just because you feel the stand auto guy in charging too much. Any passing auto stops despite this stops , there is  stand guys yelling at him. So I walked back and took my scooter out and rode away or walked far away from the stand and picked up a  passing auto or a standalone auto parked away from the stand. The guys realized that they were losing money and stopped haggling over rates. Meters were then and now also ornamental. Yet another rule was that if the stand is empty, no outside auto can park and pick up service. Reason is that all stand guys are honest guys and certified by local police station.
Now if you go to a star hotel and ask the stand guy to wait in the parking lot, the security says sorry no auto allowed to park. Fine. You go park at the entrance. Guys parked outside say buzz off. Which means you have to hire an auto parked outside the hotel. If you are going in private taxis ( not yellow (cabs) to hotels, there is no problem. Then came  Fast track,a spoilsport. This guy had umpteen cars parked in various parts of the city with one toll free number. You call him and the car comes and drops you and goes off. Before you start out from hotel you give a call and the cab comes to pick you up. The rates were on meters and tariffs. Only thing was that the car was garishly painted Fast Track.
So Fast track after making a study of booking patterns had cars parked near star hotels for quick service. The auto drivers and those who had car rental agreement service with hotels bashed the Fast track guys. So for certain hotels, we were told that to call only after we came to the foyer.
Slowly Hotel car rental and Fast track took a back seat with app based cab/ auto services. Now the auto stand guys ( most of the youngsters having moved over to Ola and Uber) now make a different pitch. They are like the Kirana stores. They know the address of the people you visit , they wait and even carry bags to the doorstep. They also pick stuff on the way when they are on another errand. So no meters but  customers  are happy . So are the young customers as they get a last minute booze bottle picked up from TASMAC). So stand guys reinvented themselves.
Ola/ Uber are here to stay. All those guys who had taken contracts in Chennai airport is losing out to apps guys. The apps guys were not allowed to be parked inside but it has changed. Now only the MGR Central Station is still the bastion of the old haggling auto and yellow cabs and their set of red scarf coolies. Soon things may change,
So like the stand auto guys and local grocery shops ( who rebuild their customer base due to Covid 19 and got on to home delivery apps without paying anything), so called multiplexes will have to reinvent to strike a chord with the customers. By merely saying if you give to OTP, then your entire family will be banned is foolish. Will Bollywood ban Kanganan Raut for acting in a film meant for OTP?  If you have taken money from distributor or theater saying you are making  a film for big screen  and then shift to OTP, you are in the wrong. The distributor and theater lobby came out with a clause that if no money is outstanding to them, you can sell satellite telecast rights for immediate release. Why a change of heart for OTP ?
You made VHS cassettes a monster and later ran to sell video rights. You made satellite TV another monster and now you run to sell TV rights ? Now you make OTP a monster. Do you know that Hindi digital and dubbing rights are a major source of money to producers ?
Now I understand why Sivaji clan decided to have no theater in the Shanti complex.