Ajith gets Rs 150 cr for Adhvik film -Prithviraj in Rajini film and Vijay Sethupathi - Katrina and Sheela in news

 

 If reports are true, Tollywood sources say that the producer Mythiri Movie makers who stepped in to make the film with Ajith under Adhvik Ravichandran has struck a deal with the actor for Rs 150 crores. Not only that Ajith will also another film for the same producer and the director is  Gopichand Mallineni. He directed the Balakrishna blockbuster Veera Simha Reddy.

Latest addition to Thalaivar 171 is that Prithviraj Sukumaran is likely to be on board.  Sometime in late October, Lokesh had approached Prithviraj and talks were on. Shooting starts from April 2024. The Salaar trailor shows that Prithviraj is playing a meaty role in it. Prithviraj Aadu Jeevitham has got a release date – April 10 2024

The much-awaited trailer of Prabhas starrer Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire has arrived with a whole lot of thrill, action, and rage. Giving a wider glimpse into the action-studded world of Prashanth Neel, the trailer has truly surpassed way beyond what we as an audience have ever imagined. The trailer presented Prabhas back in what he was always known for, action and massiness. The trailer says it all that Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire is going to be the massiest film of the year.

The trailer is a testament to a kind of cinematic spectacle that comes out when the biggest action director Prashanth Neel and the biggest action superstar Prabhas come together. Moreover, the Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire also marks the first collaboration of the KGF director Prashanth Neel and Baahubali star Prabhas.

Hombale Films, Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire will star Prabhas along with Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, and Jagapathi Babu. Made under the direction of Prashanth Neel, the film is produced by  Vijay Kiragandur

Merry Christmas starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif is not a Hindi film dubbed in to Tamil. The Tamil version and Hindi version have the main lead and a child actor in common and the actors are different in each version. Katrina said that for he Tamil version she had to mouth her dialogues in Tamil apart from Hindi and English. Film Director Sriram Raghavan said that being a Tamilian, he wanted to direct a Tamil film and now his wish has come true. Sriram directed Andhadhun which is being remade by Thyagarajan with his son Prasanth in the lead. The film is coming in January 2024.

Sheela Rajkumar who acted in Mandela , Namma Veetu film , Draupadi and blockbuster film in Malayalam Kunbhalangi Nights has announced his breakup with her hubby.

Salman Khan- Prabhu Deva - Pooja Hegde for Veeram remake - Priety Zinta to produce Mahesh Narayanan film

Salman Khan and Prabhu  Deva are coming back with the remake of Veeram , the Tamil film starring Thala Ajith.  Pooja Hegde is tipped to be the heroine. In yet another development , Priety Zinta is to produce a Hindi film with Malayalam director Mahesh Narayanan whose Malik - C U  Soon  was released on OTT and were hits.  

Sources say that Prabhu Deva after giving a dud with Radhe, had packed his bags and come back to Chennai. He immersed himself in completing some Tamil films and signed a new one. He is said to have told his friends that his innings in Bollywood was over after Radhe. To his surprise, he got a call from Salman Khan office to come and meet him. Khan asked Prabhu Deva to get over Radhe and direct Tamil film Veeram in Hindi, Sajid Nadiadwala who holds the rights too agreed to Salman's suggestion. Sajid is already remaking Tamil film Jigarthanda in Hindi with Akshay Kumar. Veeram is about four brothers and has a Hindu- Muslim  angle to it. The trust that Salman has reposed in the choreographer- director is something rare in filmdom. This will be the fourth time that the duo is teaming up.

Priety Zinta who has produced Talwar, Razi and Badai Ho is to produce a film based on a screenplay by award winning investigative Journalist Josy Joseph and Mahesh Narayanan. The film is an expose of the health sector in India. Mahesh Narayanan is to direct a Tamil film with screenplay by Kamal Haasan ( who will also act in it). He was to remake Take Off ( Fahad Fazil- Parvathy) in Hindi. The dubbed version is available on OTT.

The remake plan was dropped after many scenes and incidents had similarities in Salman Khan's Tiger Zinda Hai.  Take Off's Hindi version was to be produced by Jet Airways. Ironically, Josy Joseph ( who is collaborating with Mahesh) was sued for Rs 1000  crores by Jet Airways for writing  that Naresh Goyal ( founder) had links with Dawood Ibrahim in his book Feast of Vultures.

SPB Charan peeved with Thala Ajith

 

Chennai, September 29:  Looks like SPB Charan is quite peeved with the fact that Thala Ajith did not convey his condolence or attend the funeral of his father. The issue gained traction on the social media after Thalapathi Vijay fans went berserk as their idol turned up at the farm house on the city outskirts to pay his last respects. This was used as an example of how sensitive their idol is to happening around him. A photo and a video went viral which showed Vijay picking up a slipper of a fan lying on the ground and handing it over to him. There was a melee as Vijay was leaving the funeral venue.

SPB Charan at the press meet to clear the air on the story doing the social media rounds that it was not the SPB fans in Andhra or Tamil Nadu and those abroad that paid for the final pending dues at the hospital but it was Vice President Venkiah Naidu who settled it. The details are given in another report filed in this blog. read ;https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2020/09/after-state-honours-venkiah-naidu.html

Did Thala Ajith phone SPB Charan ?

At the press conference, SPB Charan was asked several questions about Ajith’s silence. Charan had this to say – “Let Ajith mourn from his house. So what?  There is no need for him to come and give his last respects? He is a friend of mine and so also of my Dad. Let him pay his condolences from anywhere. Is it a big issue? Why should Ajith phone me and convey his wishes? Please do not spread rumors. What if he felt sad while at home and phoned me? To me and my family, SPB is no more. It is a great loss for us. We need some time to be alone,”. At the end of the press meet, a visibly drained Charan said that his outbursts were not meant against anyone but generally an expression of grief.

SPB praised Ajith for his reclusive behavior

At a reality show in Star Vijay, SPB as judge said “"One quality that I like about Ajith is that he never gives interview for magazines or TV, He does not post comments on social media and create unnecessary controversy”. SPB who introduced Ajith in a Telugu film produced by him also spoke about the actor and his son Charan being friends “ Charan  and Ajith were class mates. They did their matriculation in Andhra. In his initial days, Ajith used to wear Charan's shirts and shoes for ad shoots over sentimental reasons," he revealed.

For and against Ajith’s behavior

Sports Commentator, quiz show host and participant in TV debates, Sumanth C Raman had without mentioning names tweeted -  "When those who benefited a lot more from #SPB songs than @actorvijay chose to stay away this was a heartwarming gesture by Vijay. Respect indeed. ??". The tweet saw director Venkat Prabhu (who had directed Ajith and close friend of SPB Charan) offering his pranam. Ajith fans had raised their voice against this tweet. To this Raman tweeted – “There is no disrespect meant to anyone. It is their choice to go or not especially with Covid around. I am just pointing out a fact. But why are only fans of one particular star getting agitated and abusive?? So many didn't go."

Ajith has no social media handles and only lately he announced that his manager Suresh Chandra is his official spokesperson. Nayanthara , like Ajith keeps away from film promotions and the media. However she has a SM handle and all her outings with her BF Vignesh Shivn gets covered in full detail with photos (posted by the couple or the paparazzi). She too posted a condolence message. Kamal Haasan made it to the hospital on the evening before the death of SPB. All others issued condolences. Bharathiraaja ,the veteran director on the funeral day and previous night was present with singer Mano.Chennai, September 29:  Looks like SPB Charan is quite peeved with the fact that Thala Ajith did not convey his condolence or attend the funeral of his father. The issue gained traction on the social media after Thalapathi Vijay fans went berserk as their idol turned up at the farm house on the city outskirts to pay his last respects. This was used as an example of how sensitive their idol is to happening around him. A photo and a video went viral which showed Vijay picking up a slipper of a fan lying on the ground and handing it over to him. There was a melee as Vijay was leaving the funeral venue.

Did Thala Ajith phone SPB Charan ?

At the press conference, SPB Charan was asked several questions about Ajith’s silence. Charan had this to say – “Let Ajith mourn from his house. So what?  There is no need for him to come and give his last respects? He is a friend of mine and so also of my Dad. Let him pay his condolences from anywhere. Is it a big issue? Why should Ajith phone me and convey his wishes? Please do not spread rumors. What if he felt sad while at home and phoned me? To me and my family, SPB is no more. It is a great loss for us. We need some time to be alone,”. At the end of the press meet, a visibly drained Charan said that his outbursts were not meant against anyone but generally an expression of grief.

SPB praised Ajith for his reclusive behavior

At a reality show in Star Vijay, SPB as judge said “"One quality that I like about Ajith is that he never gives interview for magazines or TV, He does not post comments on social media and create unnecessary controversy”. SPB who introduced Ajith in a Telugu film produced by him also spoke about the actor and his son Charan being friends “ Charan  and Ajith were class mates. They did their matriculation in Andhra. In his initial days, Ajith used to wear Charan's shirts and shoes for ad shoots over sentimental reasons," he revealed.

Chennai, September 29:  Looks like SPB Charan is quite peeved with the fact that Thala Ajith did not convey his condolence or attend the funeral of his father. The issue gained traction on the social media after Thalapathi Vijay fans went berserk as their idol turned up at the farm house on the city outskirts to pay his last respects. This was used as an example of how sensitive their idol is to happening around him. A photo and a video went viral which showed Vijay picking up a slipper of a fan lying on the ground and handing it over to him. There was a melee as Vijay was leaving the funeral venue.

SPB Charan at the press meet to clear the air on the story doing the social media rounds that it was not the SPB fans in Andhra or Tamil Nadu and those abroad that paid for the final pending dues at the hospital but it was Vice President Venkiah Naidu who settled it. The details are given in another report filed in this blog.

Did Thala Ajith phone SPB Charan ?

At the press conference, SPB Charan was asked several questions about Ajith’s silence. Charan had this to say – “Let Ajith mourn from his house. So what?  There is no need for him to come and give his last respects? He is a friend of mine and so also of my Dad. Let him pay his condolences from anywhere. Is it a big issue? Why should Ajith phone me and convey his wishes? Please do not spread rumors. What if he felt sad while at home and phoned me? To me and my family, SPB is no more. It is a great loss for us. We need some time to be alone,”. At the end of the press meet, a visibly drained Charan said that his outbursts were not meant against anyone but generally an expression of grief.

SPB praised Ajith for his reclusive behavior

At a reality show in Star Vijay, SPB as judge said “"One quality that I like about Ajith is that he never gives interview for magazines or TV, He does not post comments on social media and create unnecessary controversy”. SPB who introduced Ajith in a Telugu film produced by him also spoke about the actor and his son Charan being friends “ Charan  and Ajith were class mates. They did their matriculation in Andhra. In his initial days, Ajith used to wear Charan's shirts and shoes for ad shoots over sentimental reasons," he revealed.

For and against Ajith’s behavior

Sports Commentator, quiz show host and participant in TV debates, Sumanth C Raman had without mentioning names tweeted -  "When those who benefited a lot more from #SPB songs than @actorvijay chose to stay away this was a heartwarming gesture by Vijay. Respect indeed. ??". The tweet saw director Venkat Prabhu (who had directed Ajith and close friend of SPB Charan) offering his pranam. Ajith fans had raised their voice against this tweet. To this Raman tweeted – “There is no disrespect meant to anyone. It is their choice to go or not especially with Covid around. I am just pointing out a fact. But why are only fans of one particular star getting agitated and abusive?? So many didn't go."

Ajith has no social media handles and only lately he announced that his manager Suresh Chandra is his official spokesperson. Nayanthara , like Ajith keeps away from film promotions and the media. However she has a SM handle and all her outings with her BF Vignesh Shivn gets covered in full detail with photos (posted by the couple or the paparazzi). She too posted a condolence message. Kamal Haasan made it to the hospital on the evening before the death of SPB. All others issued condolences. Bharathiraaja ,the veteran director on the funeral day and previous night was present with singer Mano.

Thala Ajith - Vijay Devarakonda public warnings and Managers

 

As Bollywood is rocked by activities of Star Managers, Kollywood saw for the first time a top notch Star Ajith in a legal notice stating the name of his manager as  the only official link to him. In Tollywood, youth icon Vijay Devarakonda like a corporate entity had to issue a statement that only his official social media handles is taken as confirmation of his projects. In the South, previously it was the family members that took care of the talks with producers - directors. It later shifted to a manager after the advent of Mumbai based heroines into the South. They had no idea of the industry or the language. A Hindi speaking guy with film background based in Chennai would serve as the manager. Later as these Mumbai gals started getting offers from Telugu films, they appointed a manager in Hyderabad too.  Still the heroes l had no such categories. They had only a guy to collect the cheque and take care of schedules with production houses. This was because the heroes were all Tamil speaking guys. All they had  was a PRO.

Taking a cue from casting agencies that linked models with advertising agencies, the start of a casting manager started.  These guys acted as a link between the models and the filmdom. They tied up with Mumbai agencies to arrange for a dekho and audition of aspirants for directors coming to the metro.  Kamal  Haasan had a manager DNS who did what was told by his boss. Rajinikanth had no such person fixed . Nor did he have any steady PRO . Sathyaraj and Karthik had managers. Prabhu’s brother took care of his dates. Kushboo had a manager but the final call was hers. The scene changed when non Tamil speaking Abbas made it big in Tamil. He put a manager and the rest is history, Vikram had  Giri as his manager. Ajith at that stage did all the dealings himself and Suresh Chandra did the legwork. Prashanth’s Star Dad Thiagarajan did all the talking.  

Things changed when the dividing line between PRO and Manager became thin. Some like Nayanthara, Suriya, Dhanush had a combo of a manager and a PRO to handle their affairs. Now there is a lot of ambiguity regarding with whom to initiate talks about a project that involves a Star.  Many novices turn to Film Directory filled with outdated numbers of managers.

In Bollywood, this problem is solved to a great extent as there is a system called Casting managers. The plus is that they get  you appointments. On the downside, these guys can be also be playing favourites and mostly their ranking is linked to the banners- directors and Stars that they are close to. For a newcomer or an over the hill actor, these managers are GOD. Down South, no banner- director has entrusted anybody to do this job. Even the job of a PRO in Tamil is linked to the hero. The banner usually   gives the PRO job to the guy who works for the hero. In the South, for the first time a professionally run Talent management agency called KWAN was setup in Hyderabad. It was owned by Rana Daggubatti of the Rama Naidu clan. It has reportedly Trisha, Nayanthara and many others in the South and from Mumbai as clients. Salman Khan’s lawyer has refuted the news that his client has a majority stake in KWAN. An employee, Jaya of KWAN, phone conversations with actorsabout drug deals is with NCB.

In the case of Ajith, the rounds doing is that an ex-producer was going around saying that he was given an offer to do a film as a gesture to bail him out. The Film Financiers – Theater – distributor – Digital providers have formed a Federation by which no such deal can come through. Yet another story is that a fixer  is going around claiming that he was the go between the actor and the  director to arrange a story sitting and is the new link to the Star. Ajith has now set the record straight – If it is from Suresh Chandra then everything about me is OFFICIAL.  

Next in the rankings is Thalapathy Vijay. He had a magazine publisher- small time producer P T Selvakumar as his manager. He was working from the days when Vijay’s father SAC used to direct him. After almost a decade, Selvakumar was made a producer of a film titled Puli in which Vijay acted and had Sreedevi in a pivotal role. Whether PTS gained financial stability with this movie is doubtful, a new guy Jagadish became his manager. This guy was very active and also worked for Keerthy Suresh. He is the executive producer of Vijay’s upcoming film – Master. Now Jagadish is working for actor Jeyam Ravi. Though the buzz is that he had a fallout with Vijay, those in the know say that Editor Mohan who is family friend of SAC and Vijay would not appoint someone who has bad blood with Vijay for his son Ravi.

News had come out that Vijay Devarakonda signed a Tamil film.  The actor's team had to ask the producers to deny the news, as it became sensational. Actually, producers from Dusky Entertainments approached Vijay Devarakonda and the actor turned down their offer. Producers clarified that they did not sign the actor and expressed interest to work with him in future. They have lodged a complaint on those people who spread false news. “Any project Vijay Deverakonda is associated with shall be formally announced by him and his producers. Official confirmation can also be verified on VDs official SM handles. While we take action against these perpetrators, We request all to be alert and double check any information in their personal best interests." posted Team Vijay Devarakonda.

 

 

Thala Ajith next Hindi film is by Karan Johar

In a latest, we heard that Karan Johar is to produce Thala Ajith’s Hindi film. Director Vishnuvardhan is said to have got the approval of Thala Ajith and Karan is in talks with him. Karan Johar stands accused of being in a way responsible for the suicide of Sushanth as he is part of the Aditya Chopra- Salman Khan gang. Boney who is producing his second film with Ajith in Tamil has acquired the copyright of two films -Vaali and Vaaralaaru, both acted by Ajith and produced by Nic Arts Chakravarthy. A newspaper notification inviting objections, if any, to acquiring the rights was published. At one time S S Chakravarthy was the central point in Ajith’s life. From the struggling times of Raasi flop,SS decided on what subject should Ajith hear and the dates and remuneration was handled by him. Even if the director told Ajith, the story, a second rendition had to be told to Chakrvarthy. `Vaali’ produced by Chakravarthy and directed by S J Suryah was going on in fits and starts due to cash crunch. Ajith pooled in his earnings from each film to keep the production going. Finally, the film which had Ajith in a dual role was a blockbuster hit. Ajith left everything to NIC Arts. Vaaralaru, a NIC Arts film, was another film that was caught in a financial crunch and finally when it was released, it was a hit. Ajith slowly found that his box-office was slipping and Chakravarthy had let many good projects slip by for reasons best known to him. Ajith finally decided to part ways and take his own decision. The two films that Boney is to produce were suggested by Ajith. Thala Ajith is said to have told Boney to give Rs 1 crore each as copyright fees. Chakravarthy had in the meanwhile turned producer of Simbhu film Vaalu and all his past debts came to haunt him. Added to this the erratic behavior of Simbhu after his breakup with the heroine Hansika added to the misery. Chakravarthy was also producing a film Vettai Mannan with Simbhu and Hansika. Finally TR had to pay up the creditors to get Vaallu released as it was holding up releases of Simbhu’s films. The Rs 2 crore as royalty would be music to old pal Chakravarthy. Though Boney Kapoor had a three film deal with Thala Ajith, it has been limited to two. Vaali might star Arjun Kapoor ( son of Boney) in the lead. Veteran producer K Rajan had questioned the logic of Thala Ajith giving dates to Boney Kapoor when his first producer Chozha Ponurangam was is in distress. So Thala Ajith accused of nepotism is joining hands with Karan Johar `gang’. S J Suryah meanwhile reminded Boney that he deserves a part of copyright fees as he is the director. Ajith made his Hindi debut with Asoka the Shah Rukh Khan film.

Thala Ajith appoints biker Alisha , AR Rahman steals Tamil film tech, Mohanlal daughter to assist Dad and Shakeela opens website to show her films

Thala Ajith recommended biker Alisha Abdullah for State President of a Central Government  organization. A R Rahman’s Le Musk is a plagiarized version of a Tamil film. Mohanlal’s daughter to be AD to Dad, Ex porn Queen Shakeela starts her own website to stream her own film. Too much hot news to post them separately.

Now Thala Ajith who is a doting family man had a surprise visitor. Alisha Abdullah, a biker who shares a common interest with Thala Ajith about sports bikes was appointed Tamil Nadu State Women President of National Human Rights Anti Crime and Anti Corruption Bureau. Now my search shows that it is an NGO and one Mohit is the National President. Alisha with the appointment order fell at the feet of Thala and told him that this new posting could not have been possible without you. Even before thanking the National President, Alisha went to Ajith house!!!. She said in a video that because Ajith got mobbed badly that he does not go to public functions. So having committed such acts and untold disclosures, is there anything brewing ( other than tea or coffee) asks the anchor of YouTUbe channel. Alisha is furious. She tweeted - “I will not tolerate such nonsense.” Alisha had acted in a Tamil film opposite Atharva as a baddie.

As the anchor made it appear that it was a Central Government appointment, I thought of adding my angle of how Thala is a silent mole of BJP. My hopes were dashed. I googled and found that it was an NGO. Meera Mithun of ex Bigg Boss show was heading a similar organization that claimed to be having judicial powers. She threatened to put entire EPS cabinet in jail and make India into corruption free and rich country - if Modiji made her CM. Today’s news is that Mithun posted a selfie with Udhaynidhi Stalin and urged him to further do more `hard work’. Radha Ravi who spoke badly about heroines was kicked out of DMK and joined BJP. Now BJP’s State working committee has been revamped and filled with Namitha, Gayathri Raghuram, Kutty Padmini onwards. Probably he might ask Vijaykanth to accommodate him.

Next is something that the World media should have lapped it up by now. Tamil film director Babu Ganesh in 2000  made a film titled 'Kadal Pura' in which he reportedly created the effect of smell inside the theaters in accordance with scenes on the screen. The film was screened at a preview theater and we had the entire place engulfed in smoke emitted by machines. The doors were thrown open. We had to take a walk till the smoke cleared. Anyway Babu says Rahman has allegedly copied the concept used in 'Kadal Pura' and used it in his directorial debut movie 'Le Musk'. Ganesh has stated that he tried to contact the Oscar winner through email, music directors association and has also sent a legal notice but he has got no reply. The loss runs into crores , claims Ganesh.

Mohanlal's daughter Vismaya's debut in movies is as assistant director of Dad in his first directorial venture `Berroz’. International stars Raphael Amargo and Paz Vega are expected to star in the film that has music by child musical prodigy Lydian Nadhaswaram. The ambitious project backed by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas. Barroz is scripted by Jijo who directed My dear Kuttichatthan 3D. It revolves around the story of Barroz, a mythical figure who was the guardian of Vasco da Gama’s valuable treasures for 400 years. Son Pranav assisted Jeethu Joseph in the Tamil remake of Drishyam with Kamal Haasan. He played the lead in the hit film  Aadhi and Irupathiyonnam noothandu and is doing Hridyam directed by Vineeth Srinivasan.

 I read Nithya Menen of Malayalam cinema whose Mission Mangal was her big Bollywood debut ,for which she received immense praise , that  her digital debut with Breathe Into The Shadows, the second season will be seen in a lip  lock with a lady actress and also stripping to suggest lesbianism in play. Next I read was Andrea Jermiah (remember her opposite Fahad in  Annayum Rasoolum ? ) is to go nude for a web series in Hindi. As I was wondering about whether this OTT platforms were taking us to Shakeela days. Comes the announcement that this retired queen of soft porn is coming out with a film `Ladies not allowed ‘ ( Telugu). Produced by her, she says pay Rs 50 per view (means per screening) to her website by the same name. She says it is ATT and not over the top (OTT) site and censors banned her film because she did not pay the bribe. Though she wanted an Adult certificate, the censors felt the content deserves to be banned. Reminds me of a short film Shakeela, uploaded in YouTube. It tells of a young Malayali girl, whose name makes her the butt of jokes, causes her to be leered at, and also comes in the way of her getting married. The film takes places 20 years after the end of Shakeela wave. The name still evokes a stirring in God’s Own Country.