Director slams actresses!

Cinematographer turned filmmaker Thankar Bachchan (Azhagi) got into much trouble while speaking to a journalist recently. The result? A standstill of all film shootings in Tamil Nadu.

Apparently, while talking about his latest film Chidambarathil Oru Apasamy, Bachchan abused all heroines who refused to act in the film. It is another matter that he has also been criticised for lifting the story off Srinivasan's award winning film, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala.

When things went out of control, the director agreed to apologise to the South Indian Artists Association (SIAA). He made the members of the association, including Rajya Sabha MP Sarat Kumar, wait for over two hours before making an appearance. Then, although he apologised, he blamed the media. He said he was misquoted, not knowing the journalist had taped the interview.

His brief appearance and shorter apology did not pacify the actresses. Senior actresses like Manorama, Khushboo and Srividya complained to SIAA President Vijayakanth. Manorama even threatened to take the issue to Chief Minister Jayalalitha, who was once an actress. Taking the interest of the industry as a whole, SIAA decided to commence shooting from Monday afternoon.

Kavya Madhavan in Santosh Sivan's Anathabhadram

Kavya's role in Kamal's Perumazhakalam was one she had never attempted before. There were no funny hairdos, and no dancing around trees. Instead, she played a young widow. It fetched her her first Kerala State award as best actress.

Now, she has bagged an even more interesting role -- she will play Bhadra in Santosh Sivan's Ananthabhadram (and, of course, get a chance to work with 'Santosh uncle'). The film is so titled as it is the story of Ananthan and Bhadra. Santosh Sivan has confessed that no English film gives the same pleasure as making a film in one's mother tongue, that too an unusual film that blends mythology and the puranas. The plot is like a fairy tale -- it has magic, the supernatural and mystic elements in it. Ananthan is played by Prithviraj.

Bharat Chandran IPS breaks all records

After four years in hibernation, when Suresh Gopi returned gun in hand, everybody waited with bated breath to see if Kerala's youngsters would accept him.

The catch line of the prequel to Bharat Chandran IPS, Commissioner was Ormayundo ee mukham? (Remember this face). It had been used ad nauseam by mimicry artists throughout Kerala. The makers of Bharat Chandran decided to use it to publicise the film. Posters with the caption appeared across Kerala.

It seems everybody remembers the face.

Bharat Chandran IPS had a bumper opening, and is now breaking records. Naturally, more sequels of Suresh Gopi's earlier films are expected.

Kana Kandein completes 100 days

Cinematographer KV Anand's debut film Kana Kandein received fantastic reviews, but the film couldn't pull audiences initially. It was only later, through word of mouth publicity, that it ran for 100 days, much to the relief of the director and hero, Srikanth. There was a huge function to celebrate the occasion.

Oru Naal Oru Kanavu released

This one's an important film, not just for Srikanth, but for Fazil as well.

The latter may have made films for the last 25 years but, of late, his magic has not been working at the box office. Though the film received favourable reviews, audiences have been slow to accept it.

Lead pair Srikanth and Sonia Agarwal have been promoting it aggressively though, interacting with youngsters at book stores and plazas, signing autographs, and so on. It seems their work has been effective. Collections of the film are now picking up.