A-Rating films ruled Tollywood-2009

Out of 125 films released and handful turned out to be hits. Magadheera became the biggest grosser in the history of Telugu cinema bettering the Rs 60 crore mark set by Mahesh Babu’s Pokkiri in 2005. Ram Charan was easily the star of the year Kajal Agarwal became the most promising actress in Tollywood. Anushka made a fantastic comeback with Arundhanthi as she carried the entire film on her shoulders. The incredible success of the film made her hot not only in Andhra but also in Tamil as all top stars wanted to be cast opposite her.

Gone were the days when the Tollywood boasted of the sugar coated family entertainers. Now, the industry is busy racing towards violence and bloodshed territory.

Bolder and wilder than ever, all the big Tollywood movies in 2009 had a generous amount of blood and gore, earning them an A certificate. The Telugu film industry has created a record of sorts by releasing 30 A certified movies in 2009. And surprisingly, all of them were box office successes.

Some of the A-Listers in 2009: Arundhati, Magadheera, Billa, Aanjaneyulu, Drona, Sankham, Rechipo, Ek Niranjan, Kurradu, Amaravati, Siddham and Kasko. The A-films producers claim that a wind of change gripped Tollywood. Shyam Prasad Reddy, producer of Arundhati, which raked up sensation among the audience with its violent subject, said that violence was an emotion and if the story demanded it, there was nothing wrong in incorporating it with a judicious dose. “The audiences want stories with a different treatment. Arundhati would have been a futile attempt sans violence,” he maintained. “I went ahead with taking A certificate rather than deletion of violent scenes.”

Another big producer Suresh Babu, said that many horror films and thrillers released in 2009 were good grosser and even blockbusters. “This is a testimony to the fact that the audiences don’t really care about the certifications. At the end of the day, it’s an individual decision. More important, it is the content that matters.”

The A certification has become a crowd puller of sorts, observed some of the film criticis. The Censor Board members too agreed that the A certificate has become an added advantage. The young audiences expect to see bolder content now. Moreover, the filmmakers put up graphic hoardings to publicize the films even before they send it for certification. So, by then the film generates a buzz and an A certificate adds to it.

Censor board officials also claimed that adult certification will affect the satellite rights of the film. Generally, the TV channels prefer to stay away from getting A certified films because of its violent and explicit content. If the filmmakers want to sell their movies for a better price, they have to delete objectionable scenes to get a ‘U’ Certification.

ANUSHKA Marriage Next Year »

Is it now wedding bells for the sexy yoga teacher turned heroine Anushka? Well, some reports say this. Anushka has now a couple of films in hand. But it is said that she is now ready to get the knot tied sometime next year.

The name of the groom has not yet been announced. But Film Nagar sources are mentioning the name of a cinematographer in this regard. The man in question is the dark and

Shriya Saran disappointed with the failure of Mission Istanbul »

Actress Shriya Saran’s Mission Istanbul has bombed at the box office, but she is happy with the way her career is shaping up.

From music videos to Tollywood to the Hindi film industry and now Hollywood, she has been climbing the ladder of success.

Back in the city for the shooting of a Tamil film Kandaswami, Shriya says, “Hyderabad is like home to me and it feels great to be here. I was at the Poison launch party and met up with all my old friends after such a long time.”

Disappointed with the failure of Mission Istanbul?

“When a film doesn’t do well, it is natural that you will feel bad. But the important thing is I have given it my 100 per cent and have worked very hard for the film,” she says.

When asked what she felt went wrong with the film, she replied, “It’s not right for me to comment on this. A film is a by-product of the energies and efforts of a lot of people. On hindsight, you can point out many mistakes, but you can never be sure about the fate of a movie from before it releases.”

Talking about her recent Tamil film, Shriya says that though it is a commercial movie, it has a poignant social message. “The film is about the economic disparity in the country — how the rich are getting richer while the poor are becoming poorer. Sushi Ganeshan is the director while Vikram is my co-actor. I had a good time doing the film. It’s a commercial film but at the same time deals with a topic that is so true of India.”

Kajal’s Speaks about her Magadheera?

Cute baby Kajal got hight popularity with latest south blockbuster Maghadeera.Like all the other girls Kajal is also having lot of expectation for her dream boy.She has some expectations when it comes to her prince charming. She says looks are important to her but what is more important is a good heart. She also expects the guy to have a good sense of humor and make her laugh and also adds that he should be definitely taller than her. Wonder if she has already found one? Well, if she has not then the eligible bachelors who are reading this now know what this saucy seductress wants.

Tolly wood heroes in chill out mood

The social calendar in the Hyderabad is chock-ablock with taash parties, pre Diwali bashes and shopping festivals. And with the sporting season here, pubs and sports bars too are brimming with activity.

Allu Arjun, Sharvanand and Rana were spotted having a blast at Touch. Actor Tarun was the surprise guest at Spoil on Wednesday. While he had a good time unwinding to DJ Ajay’s mixes, ot.hers sniggered that he’s only there to check competition.

Is venkatesh called jr.Ntr ?

Jr NTR, who have lot of following among masses and he proved him self with his block buster movies.Now every one knows that he is busy with his latest venture ADURS and this is getting to release on December 15th.Nandamuri fans are eagarly waiting for this movie because there is a long gap for Jr NTR movies due to politics and Accident.As per the sources Hero Venkatesh has called up Junior NTR and requested him to either prepone or postpone the release of “Adurs” as it may end up in a clash with his brother son Rana’s “Leader” which is expecting to release on December 24.But Jr NTR gave the diplomatic answer, that is due to the fans situation and anxiety i can’t do anything.

Siddharth turns director

Siddharth son of the greatest ever directors in Malayalam the late Bharathan and KPAC Lalitha, is now turning director withMitram.

The film is presented by David Kachapally veteran producer who has made many Bharathan classic likeOrmakayi

In fact it was David who discovered Siddharth and made him an actor with that fine campus entertainer Nammal directed by Kamal.

But after a few films, Siddharth lost interest in acting as his mind was always on becoming a great director like his dad. Siddharth became assistant to Priyadarshan and has worked under him for six films.

Says David Kachapally: “ Mithram is a romantic thriller and features Asif (Rithu fame) as hero, new girl Sruthi and Kalabhavan Mani in a pivotal role. It has four lovely melodies tuned by Mohan Sithara. Siddharthan as a director will make all of us proud.”

Mohanlal is Mathukuttychayan!

Mohanlal is playing a traditional Kanjirapally Syrian Christian farmer Matthew in Roshan Andrews directed Aashirwad Cinemas new untitled film produced by Antony Perumbavoor.

The script of the film is by James Albert (Classmatesfame) and is said to be a realistic look at the decay that has set in Kerala’s farm lands. Thilakan is playing Mohanlal’s dad, nearly 10 years after that blockbuster Narasimamham, a film produced by Antony.

Mohanlal’s two favourite screen mother’s Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Sukumari are playing his mother and aunt in this family entertainer set against a Christian milieu. The story is about deep love between a father and son, as they try to stop a land mafia from taking over their farmland and converting it into another resort.

There are three heroines in the film an advocate played by Lakshmi Rai, Priyanka plays a investigative news reporter and Lakshmi Gopalasamy is a corporate manager. The film has Mohanlal wearing Mundu and designer shirts throughout the film.

This untitled film will be Mohanlal’s big Christmas release. Please note Mohanlal’s Achayan, characters have always worked big at the box-office.

Source: xboard

Dileep and Joshy to roar the Lion again

Filmmaker Joshy after his Robinhood with Prithviraj, Jayasurya and Narain is planning to do a sequel to the Malayalam movie Lion which featured Dileep in the lead role. This time round Dileep will be essaying the powerful role of Home Minister.

This movie with its script by Uday Krishna and Sibi K Thomas is said to rope in either Kavya Madhavan who has had many hit movies with Dileep in the past or Navya Nair who has also had her share of success with Dileep. Joshy is also planning a sequel to the Dileep starrer Runway. The sequel is to be named as Vaalayaar Paramashivam. Kavya Madhavan woule play the lead heroine in this movie as well.

I'm proud of having acted with Mammootty: Sarath Kumar

Veteran Tamil actor Sarath
Kumar, who had acted with Mammootty in
Hariharan's 'Pazhassi Raja' says that he's proud
of having been given the opportunity.
Mammootty is a wonderful artist. He
doesn't have any starry airs around him. I
consider myself lucky to have been able to act
with this amazing actor," says Sarath Kumar.
Sarath plays Edachena Kunkan, Pazhassi's
army chief in the historical film.


'Pazhassi Raja' is expected to make it
to the theatres on Diwali.

Lohithadas' sons turn director and actor

Lohithadas, the eminent filmmaker has left the stage, but his spirit is to live on for generations. His younger son Vijayshankar is to take the mantle of a director with a new Tamil movie. Lohithadas’ wife Sindhu and son Vijayshankar announced the launch of the upcoming movie yesterday at a press meet. A NRI, Shiyas based in Kodungalloor will produce this movie.

The movie focusing on the close relation between a father and his son has Prithviraj as the hero. Sathyaraj, Bhavana and Khushboo also essay pivotal roles in the film. Once the Tamil venture is complete Vijayshankar will try his luck in an Arab movie. So too the late filmmaker’s eldest son will make his debut as hero in a movie by director Vinod Guruvayoor. The sons definitely plan to transform their father's unpublished stories into wholesome movie screenplays.

Arjun walks out of 'Harischandra ghat'!

Arjun, hero in BP Srinivas's 'Harischandra Ghat' has walked out of the film. The actor said that he did not want to be identified with a person like Srinivas.

Srinivas is having the worst time in his career and life. He debuted as a director recently with 'Mussanje Gelathi', a miserable flop at the box-office. Then an arrest warrant was issued against him for not paying off an old debt. It was followed by allegations of cheating people to the tune of crores of rupees.

Arjun says, "I was not aware of these allegations involving Srinivas earlier. After signing the film, I came across only negative news about him. I don't want to associate myself with a person like him. I had not charged any remuneration for acting in 'Harischandra Ghat' nor have I taken an advance from him. As of now I have told him that I won't be acting in his film," says Arjun.

The film commenced on August 15th, the birthday of Srinivas. Three days of shooting was held after the muhurath.

Rajni impressed with 'Eeram'

A special screening of 'Eeram', produced by director Shankar's S Pictures, was held in Chennai for Rajnikanth. The film, a horror thriller, has been directed by Shankar's former assistant Arivazhagan.

The superstar liked the film, conceptualized and shot in a novel way, very much. He said that the film would attract women audiences as in the case of 'Chandramukhi' and 'Arundhati'.

Shankar, director Arivazhagan, music director Thaman and Aadhi were among the film crew present on the occasion. The film, already a superhit in amil Nadu, stars Aadhi, Nandha and Sindhu Menon in the lead.

Prithviraj in Rafi-Mecartin film

Prithviraj, basking in the glow of back to back hits in 'Puthiya Mugham' and 'Robinhood', is all set to try comedy for the first time in his career. He will soon be acting in a film by Rafi-Mecartin.

The director duo has given a series of superhits including 'Thenkasi Pattanam', 'Chathikkatha Chandu' and 'Hallo'. But their latest offering, Mammootty starrer 'Love in Singapore', failed miserably at the B.O.

Prithviraj is finally coming into his own as a bankable star. He has scored a big hit in Tamil with 'Ninaithale Inikkum', a remake of his Malyalam hit 'Classmates'. His forthcoming Tamil release is Mani Ratnam's 'Raavan'. He is now busy with 'Rahupathy Raghava Rajaram' by Shaji Kailas, 'Anwar' by Amal Neerad and a Lal Jose film.

'Aadhavan' fetches record sum in Kerala

Suriya starrer 'Aadhavan' has been sold for a whopping Rs 1.25 crore for Kerala territory, it is reported.

This is the highest amount fetched by a Suriya film in Kerala. His last release, KV Anand's 'Ayan' was sold for Rs 80 lakh and the film did business exceeding Rs 1.35 crore, our sources in Kollywood say.

If the film, directed by KS Ravikumar, becomes successful, Suriya will overtake Vijay as the No 1 Tamil hero in Kerala.

The film, starring Malayali actress Nayantara in the female lead, will be released across 85 screens in Kerala.

Swathi to pair up with Vikram

Colours Swathy, who hit the limelight with her brilliant performance in 'Subrahmanyapuram', has bagged the biggest role in her career to date, says our source.

She will be playing the female lead opposite Chiyaan Vikram in the untitled film to be directed by Selvaraghavan. The film will be produced by Kanakaratna Ramesh.

Swathy entered showbiz through the Telugu TV programme, titled 'Colours'. It was Selvaraghavan who gave her first break in 'Adavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule', which was later remade into Tamil as 'Yaaradi Nee Mohini'.

Post 'Subrahmanyapuram', Swathy has been getting many offers in the lead, but the intelligent actress is being very choosy about them.

Ravi Teja as Don Seenu

After Dubai Seenu, Ravi Teja is going to do another Seenu titled film 'Don Seenu'. This film will be produced by Venkat who produced Kick with Ravi Teja in the past. Anushka plays female lead. Srihari dons a vital role. This film will be launched in this month. Gopichand Malineni makes his debut as director with this movie.

Month gap between Nag and Chaitanya movies?

Nagarjuna is current doing Rummy (title is yet to be officially announced) in the direction of debutant Kiran Kumar. And this film is supposed to be released in the second half of December. Naga Chaitanya is currently shooting for Gowtam Menon's latest Telugu movie in Chennai. This film will also be ready for the release by December. As per the sources of Xboard Tollywood, there is going to be a comfortable gap of 30 days between the release of Nagarjuna's film and Naga Chaitanya's movie.