Mammootty in Sri Lankan Political thriller - Madhu turns 91

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May you live for many more years – Madhu Saar.

FFI bets on Aamir Khan to get Oscars for Lapaataa Ladies

 Film Federation of India or North India ? . After selection of Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry for Oscars , the goings on in the jury deliberation shows that the name Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan as producers just did the expected. If you read the shitty citation that FFI jury Chairperson put out ( even jury is misspelt) , you spot from where the mistake that started. “ “Indian women are a strange mixture of submission and dominance. It shows that women can happily desire to be home makers as well as rebel”. Now Ravi Kottarakara President of FFI and represents South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce gives his view on why the film was chosen – The goonghat or the veil that the woman wears and because of this the problem starts according to Ravi is something that is peculiar to Indian woman. He also admits that two bigger films Vaazhai and Thangalaan that came to finals were `too big’ to handle.

So the jury found in LL  the Indianness and the story  is  of a man married to a child bride and her being lost . Coming to the plot, Anant Mahadevan way back in May 2024 said that  that the mix-up and the ghunghatwala (face covered with veil) photo in Laapataa Ladies are straight out of his 1999 film Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. The endings differ. In Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol, the two women correct the mix-up but realise they have feelings for the other’s partner. The four characters end their marriages, switch partners and tie the knot again.

The point that Jury deliberated was not about whether Payal Kapadia film that won Grand Prix in Cannes was not Indian enough or that Ullozhukku'. , Thangalaan ,Vaazha and Aatam were fit to be India’s entry.  Critic Rangan hit the nail - Submitting a film for the Oscars is not just about the film being good but also whether the producers have the funds / desire / know-how / contacts to mount the hugely expensive Oscar campaign.

Look at all the so called films from South and background of the Production companies. Suriya did an exception as the film Jai Bhim was produced by him and he put it up as a private entry. Now take Payal Kapadia’s film. It needed a Rana to get a theatre in Kochi and then fulfil the Oscar criteria. Beyond that what can Rana do ? The five production companies that are behind Kapadia film seem to have given up on it, at least when  it comes to Oscars. Business wise they have got real solid distributors across the globe. Rana is part of the RRR team and all that is fine but is he a  Aamir Khan ?

Track record of Aamir Khan who is co producer of the film. Earth, Lagaan, rang De Basanti, Tare Zameen Par, Peepli Live were all Iscar entry. Out of this Laagan made it to top 5 in Foreign Film Category. Khan hired a Hollywood promotion agency and took a serious shot at it.

Last year, RRR Producers with SSR- NTR jr- Ram Charan team that had the bucks to do Oscar campaign were overlooked for an arthouse film. It did not make it to final and we know what RRR got. In 2022 , Surya was prepared to spend on Jai Bhim if selected for Oscars but instead Koozhangal an arthouse film was selected. In 2023, we send Malayalam film 2018 and that too sank without a trace. Koozhangal was bought by Nayanthara’s banner and she and hubby did some ground work in USA. Even this year Payal Kapadia film that had Rana Daggubatti from D Rama Naidu family backing and a person who is part of S S Rajamouli team from Baahubali to RRR  , lost out to Aamir Khan.

 

Going by track record – jury decided to correct the mistake . It is why  a North Indian Production House and that too with a Bollywood Star backing  and experienced in handling Oscar ,comes with a film , it will just find it Indian enough for official entry. Oscars. If it is a South  banner with Tollywood  Stars , it will find Indianness in an art house film that too from Gujarat.. Three Cheers to Film Federation of India ( North). Also the jury spared the embarrassment of having to wish Payal a win at Oscars. Read l 

Director Shankar angry with Koratala Siva or Siruthai Siva ?

 

Is Director Shankar upset with Koratala Siva of Devara or Siruthai Siva of Kanguva ? In a tweet he threatens legal action against some recent films that have ben lifting profusely from the book written by Su Venatesan’s book Vel Paari. Shankar has bought the rights. Some say that Shankar is angry with Kanguva director for using many situations in the novel and some found their way in the trailor. Others say the timing of the post coming soon after Devara trailor shows that Koratala Siva has liberally used from the book. Only after release of Devara can we know  and the tweet by Shankar is to warn Siva from lifting more from the book for the second part.  Kanguva is a fictional character and a Tamil warrior and could this film be the culprit. Here again a sequel is on the cards.

One post said - Su Venkatesan is a Telugu person and his main agenda is to speak or write against Tamil history. Another felt - But Director Shankar loves to portray historic Tamil characters in negative light in all of his movies. Eg. Angavai Sangavai, Panjavan Paari vendhan etc. This is exactly why this director has chosen to make Velpaari novel, which denigrates a Tamil King, into a movie.

Paari Salaan writes; Do not use historical names from Tamil history in fictional stories, especially if intended to portray them negatively. The entire novel written by Su. Venketesh Naidu portrays the Tamil kings—Chera, Chola, and Pandya—in a negative light, which is historically inaccurate. It falsely accuses them of a genocide that never occurred.

Shankar post - Attention to all ! As the copyright holder of Su. Venkatesan’s iconic Tamil novel "Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Paari", I'm disturbed to see key scenes being ripped off & used without permission in many movies. Really upset to see important key scene from the novel in a recent movie trailer. Kindly refrain from using the scenes from the novel in movies, web series and any medium, Respect creators' rights! Refrain from Unauthorized adaptations of scenes, Refrain from infringement or face legal action! #VeeraYugaNayaganVelPaari #CopyrightProtection #FilmEthics

@SuVe4Madurai

 

Kamal off to USA - Jeyam Ravi gets back Instagram - Prithviraj profit share a loss

 

Kamal off to USA after Thug Life wrap-up party. Jeyam Ravi gets back his Instagram account and a film with Director brother. Sidique victim submits medical records of rape. Prithviraj charges only 21 % of total film profits.

Kamal Haasan has left for USA for the AI course that he enrolled. Though many reported that he was already in USA for past few weeks, we told you that he is busy wrapping Thug  Life in Chennai. He took part in a  wrap-up party and left for USA. Morning papers would have filled you with the details of his MNM party general body . They elected him Permanent President. It may seem silly as who could possibly take that post. We have seen developments in AIADMK post Jayalalithaa death when the General secretary post became so crucial for two groups trying to take control of the party. It was a far sighted clause in the party constitution that is causing pin pricks now.

On September 9 Kamal’s House of Khaddhat launched its new collection called Sutura at prestigious New York Fashion Week. Thug Life record breaking deal with Netflix is an old story.

Now that we told you about Jeyam Ravi and singer Kenishaa not having anything other a friendship, it seems now the entire family has closed ranks. Mohan Raja is going to direct his brother Ravi in an upcoming film and has taken an office in Chamiers Road Chennai. Next is that Jeyam Ravi has retrieved his Instagram account which was in his wife Aarti’s control. He wrote to #Meta and got it back as he needs to promote his films. Lastly it seems a social media influencer who roots for Aarti realized that Ravi was not at fault. TOI reports that Ravi and Kenishaa are to open a spiritual healing center. Kollywood does need one. A branch in Kochi could be of help to distressed victims who met the Justice Hema.

From Kochi we get a shocking news that medical reports of the victim who was `raped’ by Siddique at Mascot Hotel Trivandrum and eyewitness to the mental trauma and subsequent treatment for the victim has been recorded. Soon after this National women’s Commission is taking a case on it’s own and coming to Kochi to meet the victims.

 

If you think Prithviraj is rolling in wealth and that too after he bought a Rs 30 crore office space for his production company in Pali Hill of Mumbai, you are wrong. In fact the producers of the films are the ones that has got a bonanza. Now Prithviraj  works on a commission basis. So lets take what he took home from the share of two films – Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil and Goat Life . Both together earned Rs 250 crores. He took home only Rs 50 crore !. We are told that bulk of it came from Goat Life and as for Guruvayoor he did not get much as he quoted a lesser commission . Probably he did not expect it to collect Rs 90 crore.

 

Rajinikanth Kutty story sparks Thalapathy v/s Thalaivar war

 

Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan audio launch was marked by not one but two kutty stories and as usual it had Thalapathy fans overworked as some felt it was directed against their hero. Lost in the cross fire on social media between Thalaivan and Thalapathy fans is that the loudest claps came when Kaththi came on screen to show producer Lyca Productions journey and this cheering could come from Thalaivar fans inside the hall.

Rajinikanth said that a dhobi who used go to a river nearby with clothes on a donkey to wash was lost after the animal went missing. He went out of control and like a mad man he stood on a single foot and sported a huge beard. Seeing this crowds gathered and he became a big saint. He muttered something and that became words of wisdom. Millionaires to all celebs flocked around him.

One day he heard the donkey braying and he opened his eyes and was joyous that he had found what he was searching. He as then told that he cannot go back to be a dhobi and that he was now a SAINT. A Saint by default ? Who is her referring ?

Yet another kutty story. Rajini in his speech says that in today’s age of Shakuni, one has to be a Chanakya to achieve. This he summary of his life journey .  So who  is the Shakunni that he was referring ?

Rajinikanth’s praise for Fahad Faasil was another surprise. He tracked down the way that how he spoke to next film Director Lokesh to others to get a two months time for Fahadh to join the sets. Similarly, he was all praise for Manju Warrier. He said that when the Director said that he felt Manju would suit the role, he said okay. He had the image of an elderly lady from Asuran. From when he saw her, he was taken aback. In his words – looks like Thakali ( tommatoes). Manju spoke about the days when she wished that one day she would take a photo with Rajini.

Will Sangh Parivar scuttle Payal Kapadia shot at Oscars ?

 

Kerala’s Shenoy Theatre  Kochi and Rana Daggubatti Spirit Media are making it possible for Cannes Grand Prix winner All We Imagine as Light to enter the Oscars as an Indian entry. We had written about how an Indian film is going to be Oscar entry as France’s read https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2024/09/modi-stalin-vie-to-host-rajini-50th.html) and Kerala reactions to the Cannes win ( https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2024/05/kerala-story-of-indias-win-at-cannes.html ) . Now what we dread is the political play that will likely play out when the film comes before the FFI ( Film Federation of India ) jury.

The reason for the film  to need a release in India is  that Oscars rule says that film in Foreign Language category should have 7 days screening and as paid ones at a theater in a country of origin or another eligible country, provided it is not USA. It should also have a release before September 30^th. Now the film is releasing in France only in October first week and so it cannot be submitted from that country. Instead, France has presented Emilia Perez which won the Jury prize. As the film has Malayalam – Hindi dialogue and fulfill the condition that more than 50% of track should be non-English and that one of the Producer is an Indian, the film with a Malayalam title will get released on September 21 in Shenoys. It will fulfill the rule that the film should be released before September 30 this year.

To beat the deadline, the film was certified on September 10^th and now the iconic Kochi theatre has come forward. Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Azeez Nedumangad are the three Malayalee actors in the film.

Now fulfilling this condition is not enough. For 86^th Academy Award, we overlooked The Lunchbox which was nominated at BAFTA and send The Good Road. In 95^th Academy award we send The Last Show and bypassed SSR RRR which was already creating waves in the West. RRR came with Best Original Song.

As a twitterati Yellow stone Dragon posted - Imagine if after everything that's happened, the desi jury sends...say Article 370 instead of All We Imagine as Light as India's Oscar nominee. Coz we did send Jeans that one year. And, also Reshma Aur Sheera before that.

Distributors generally treat such films as one for niche audience and do not buy them and no production company comes forward to bankroll such films. However given that Payal in 2015 as student of Pune Film Institute had gone on a hunger strike over appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as President, she was suspended and the money that was due to her as scholarship was not given . She had to move the court to get it. The jury could go by this background and not the Cannes story.

After the Grand Prix win, PM Modi and including Gajendra ( not anymore in FTII) had praised Payal. Joining the chorus was Madhavan present FTII President. Wonder why commie friends in Kerala did not open up State owned theatres for this film ? Anyway as we can hope now= jahanbakshi on X posted this :

 

Jeyam Ravi seeks police help - Singer Kenisha in France

 

As singer Kenisha is said to be in France ,our trackers say that lawyer of Jeyam Ravi has sought police protection to remove his clients belongings from the flat in South Madras.  A signed list has been given to the lawyer. The address was used by wife Aarti to issue statements to the media. As you are aware that Aarti is said to be behind the photocopy of Goa traffic cops challan issued to the driver of the car Kenisha Francis for overspeeding and another one for adding extra sun film to the car. As the car is registered in aarti's name, the challan were able to be traced by her.

Though it is widely believed that Ravi and Kenisha met at the launch of the Actor Jiva's audio  label Deep Frog, and it all started with an launch party in Radio Room pub in Santhome, frim what we hear, Kenisha had met ravi through Jiva before. It was Ravi who took up the invitation from Kenisha to come over to Goa. She has sung in many pubs of Goa. The actor being spotted in Goa on his birthday led to Aarti removing all her photos from Insta account.

The counterattack on Aarti by releasing photos of her with Dhanush that was taken at a party and that Ravi was all along was used as milking cow by Aarti's mother Sujatha who  produced three films with him. All were duds.