Nine Japanese acting in "Kuselan"

Every one knows that the inimitable charm of Superstar Rajinikanth has
even mesmerized Japanese people. His magical charisma over the people
of Japan started ever since the advent of `Muthu', which was released
in the country with the title `Dancing Maharaja'.

The passionate relationship with Rajini films and Japan continues till
the date and it is evident from the fact that `Kuselan' has roped in
nine Japanese actors in to the film. It is learnt that there is even a
punch dialogue by Rajini in Japanese language!

The sources close to the `Kuselan' team reveal that the whole
atmosphere during the scene involving Japanese actors and Rajini was
fun filled and exciting. It was full of vibrancy, they inform. It is
worth recalling that `Baba' too had a Japanese girl appearing in a scene.

`Kuselan', growing fast with a lot of interesting developments, is
shaping up as an exciting fare.

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/37522.html

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Rajinikanth, SRK & Yash Raj films clash!

As interesting as the headline is the story itself. If reports smoking
out of Bollywood are to be believed then we can witness the clash of
Titans, we mean with regards to the film industry.

Red Chillies VFX, Yash Raj FIlms and Rajinikanth's daughter
Soundarya's Ocher Studios will be vying with each other in the
National Association of Broadcasters show to be held in Las Vegas on
April 15.

The three production houses will also be making their presentations.
Reports suggest that the production houses will also extend their
service to not just desi but foreign films as well. The highest
billing among these three production houses has been given to given to
SRK's Red Chillies VFX. Not to mention that SRK's production has
ventured into making animation films as well.

Rajinikanth's Ocher Studios has ventured in to the production and
making of the animated film 'Sultan - The warrior', with a whooping
budget of 70 crore rupees. Reports indicate that there is tough
competition existing between Red Chillies VFX and Ocher Studios. And
with Yash Raj films too coming out with an animation film titled
'Roadside Romeo' the competition is getting stiffer.

Now the best we can do is just wait till the calender turns April 15th
and watch who gets picked as the best!

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/37561.html

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Film stars now delivering hits at bookshops too

He has trumped Bollywood repeatedly at the box office. Now, Rajnikanth, the south Indian superstar with the slick moves, can claim victory even at the bookstore.

A biography released earlier this month, The Name is Rajnikanth, sold more than 20,000 copies in the first week, making it among the top-selling non-fiction books in the Indian entertainment industry. It also leaves Shah Rukh Khan, and last summer’s much-hyped biography on him, in the shade. Still, Anupama Chopra’s King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema, sold a respectable 6,000 copies in its first week and 22,000 copies since it was published in August.

Written by Gayathri Srikanth, an ophthalmologist from Chennai, The Name is Rajnikanth reflects a nascent boom in publishing books about film, as growing global interest in Indian cinema and the rise of the multiplex fuel a demand for in-depth information on celebrities. The business of non-fiction entertainment publishing, in English, is now estimated to be worth about Rs10 crore in India, with the entire non-fiction publishing market tipped at 25 or 30 times that, according to Penguin India.

Om Books, which published The Name is Rajnikanth and distributed King of Bollywood in Indiaâ€"it is published internationally by Wa-rner Booksâ€" is expecting one-third of its total turnover this year to come from the non-fiction entertainment sector.

Box office to books: Copies of the biographies of Shah Rukh Khan and Rajnikanth on display at a bookshop in Mumbai. (Abhijit Bhatlekar / Mint)

And the printing house has 10 more titles scheduled for publication in 2008, up from three last year and two in 2006, the first year in which it began experimenting with such books. Titles in the pipeline for this year include Shah Rukh Can, another biography of the actor, by Mushtaq Sheikh, as well as two biographies of Amitabh Bachchan, the first titled The Small World of Big B by Rauf Ahmed due in May, and the other, The Bachchans, by S.M.M. Ausaga. Om Books wants to release the latter on the actor’s birthday, 11 October. There are also plans for a hardcover book on film posters, also by Ausaga, titled Bollywood: Poster by Poster.

“Audiences used to be shady and cinema halls decrepit,” says Ajay Mago, publisher at Om Books, which agreed to publish The Name is Rajnikanth after just one look. “With the rise of multiplexes, more people go to the movies, and in order to buy books about the movies, you have to go to the movies. People now have the information they need to want to buy a book.”

 

p://www.livemint.com/2008/03/29010245/Publishing-phenomenon-film-st.html

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Nostalgia : Superstar's secret Girivalam

Superstar is very much fond of spiritual sojourn and that too in disguise burying his status and identity. He mingles with common man and seeks the divine blessings. This happened a lot and still happening. Only a few accounts are coming out for our knowledge. Unknown is an ocean in this regard.

This came in Ananda Vikatan, during the year 2003 when Superstar went to Thiruvannamalai temple in a secret visit for Girivalam.

The crowd identified him and he had tough time escaping from their clutches. Then he went to temple.

You all know that lots of fans or people who meet Superstar fell at his feet seeking blessings. But he always feels uncomfortable towards it. It is only in wedding ceremonies, Superstar agrees to it.

But his fans or his followers, who keep him in a status of demi god fell at his feet for blessings. During one such incident, he became furious and that makes this series of Flash from the Past.

A person identified him and fell at his feet where Superstar became furious. Read the scanned attachment uploaded in the following link:

 

Source : http://www.onlysuperstar.blogspot.com/

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'Kucheludu': Five heroines to dance with Rajini

'Kucheludu' throws up many surprises as the making of the movie is progressing in a rapid speed on a special set errected at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. The latest buzz about the film is that Superstar Rajinikanth will be romancing with five heroines for a song.

The smiling beauty Sneha is the latest addition to the already glittering list of heroines that includes the names of Nayantara and Mamta Mohandas roped in for the song. Hunt for the other heroines are on.

The film, directed by P Vasu, is shot simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu. In Tamil, Pasupathi is playing the hair dresser?s role while Telugu will have Jagapathi Babu playing the same. Meena will act as the wife of the hair dresser in both the languages. Nayantara will be paired with the Superstar. Prabhu plays a very vital role done by Mukesh in the original ?Katha Parayumbol?.

The music is scored by G.V. Prakash Kumar.

A rumour making rounds in the industry is that many leading stars including Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Vijay, Vikram, Madhavan, Tabu and Namitha have been approached to be part of a song in the movie.

'Kucheludu', which is getting bigger day by day, will be shifted to Pollachi and Kodaikkaanal soon. Vasu is planning to shoot some scenes involving Rajini in these locations as well.

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/37464.html

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AVM shares profit with its employees - Indian Express

Like Superstar in real life, his movie Sivaji too faced lots of hurdles and negative propaganda (by a section of media) and finally hit the bulls eye.

Records and more records

If my collection of papers and news cuttings of Sivaji records, were piled - it will go up to a two storey building. So, whenever i read something negative about Sivaji or its success i become tensed than AVM or director Shankar. (even some of you too would have experienced this)

Life before and after Sivaji

Each and every theatres and distributors made umpteen times of profit to their investment on Sivaji. Many theatres renovated, repaired DTS and aircons and witnessed Houseful boards after two years gap. A small example: Employees of a theatre in Chennai who looked depressed earlier - sported looks with minor chains and bracelets later, after Sivaji's release!!

Congrats AVM

Eversince i heard about this Sivaji bonus news - i was looking for a printed evidence from a leading Media house. Thanks to New Indian Express for providing the same. Today Indian Express (Indulge) has said that AVM is to pay its employees a hefty pack of bonus because of Sivaji's super success. Congrats AVM and its employees.

* Click the newspaper image to ZOOM

- Sundar

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A handicapped fan’s minutes with Superstar

Millions of fans yearn take a snap with Thalaivar and it is their life-time goal too (apart from professional goals). But only a few of them turn lucky enough get that golden opportunity. If you happen to listen their moments with Superstar, you would be pleased much more and Superstar would raise one step up in your heart.

Herewith I explain one such experience of a handicapped fan who met Superstar and took a photograph with him.

This January, Superstar met fans from various parts of the city in Raghavendra Mandapam - after a long gap.

When the news broke out that he’s meeting fans â€" it became a tough job to control the thronging fans on the same day and even in subsequent days. So, the photo session was temporarily shelved.

Interesting and heartwarming accounts

Anyway, those who went there to take photo with Superstar shared many interesting and heartwarming incidents.

This fan friend is a handicapped boy who is working in a Tailoring unit in Ambattur. I just interpret here what he said to me:

“Though I am an ardent fan of Superstar for the past two decades, I didn’t get the opportunity to take a snap with him and I never thought I could get that opportunity one day in my life. Any how I was affirmative.

Thousands of other fans were waiting…

When I heard through my friends that thalaivar would be taking snaps on a particular day, I went to Raghavendra Mandapam by 8.30 a.m. Guess what? Already there were thousands of other fans waiting to take snaps with Superstar. The crowd was increasing as clock started rolling. Additional police personnel were deployed to control the crowd.

Initially fans took snaps with thalaivar in singles. Later it was changed to doubles (two persons) as queue was seen unending. For each minute, nearly three pairs took photos.

Yogis and siddhas

The photo session was held in his Mandapam Office room. The room (a very small hall) was very simple but soulful with various Yogis and Siddhas pictures decorating the wall. (Superstar has a private room here where he meets his friends and others.)

We all were standing in a neat queue controlled by mandapam staff. We were allowed in doubles for the shoot.

Unexpected gift

When my term came â€" I limped towards Superstar (I am handicapped and substituted with artificial leg). Thalaivar saw me and understood at once about me. He asked the other person who came as my pair to remain there and asked me to come ALONE and then embraced me for a while and posed for single straight snap. When I fell at his feet for ashirvad, he said not to do that and made me comfortable to stand with him and also flew his arm around my back and gave pose to snap and ensured that it has come well and also he is satisfied.

Thalaivaa…..what a noble man you are. My friends were jealous on me and now I am a hero in my street and locality.”

Spot report from other fans who were there that time:

1) The whole area become jammed and extra police were deployed.

2) The photo studios did roaring business during the days when snaps taken.

3) The shop owners in and around mandapam had excellent business and their goods sold out.

4) Bypassers wondered what’s cooking there since the crowd is huge. When heard about photo session â€" they too joined it.

5) Some auto drivers who passed the place by that time â€" simply left there autos and they too joined the session.

6) Some fans who already took photos â€"came there consecutively. Superstar identified such a few fans and warned them not to waste his time or others’ time.

7) All fans were made to wait inside mandapam.

The subsequent photo sessions were cancelled later since many other district and rural fans started thronging in cabs and van to mandapam for photo shoot.

Note: To see the press coverage of the above photo session happenings, pls click the below link. You can see the newspaper image of Maalai Malar.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/onlysuperstar/Vasu_MMalar.jpg

- Sundar

 

http://onlysuperstar.blogspot.com/2008/03/handicapped-fans-minutes-with-superstar.html

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Rajini cruises back to Telugu cinema after 13 years

Hyderabad: Superstar Rajinikanth is making a comeback to Telugu films after nearly 13 years. Shooting for the Telugu remake of his Tamil movie Kuselan began on Sunday. While Rajini retains his role in the remake, Telugu actors will help add that local flavour to the movie.

 

“It is a very special movie and I’m playing a very interesting role in it,” Rajini says.

 

Kuselan is a remake of the Malayalam movie Kadha Parayumbol. Telugu actor Jagapathy Babu will play the other lead in the unnamed Telugu version.

 

“Role demands that the two heroes don't know each other. In real life Jagapathy Babu has never met Rajini. I wanted to bring that freshness to the film,” Kuselan’s director P Vasu explains.

 

Meena and Nayantara will play the female leads. Incidentally Meena played the lead in both the Malayalam and Tamil versions. The producers are betting high on the success of the remakes.

 

“The Tamil and the Telugu version put together, we're going to be spending more than 60 crores rupees,” MD Seven Arts International G P Vijay Kumar says.

 

Incidentally it’s the first time Rajini is acting in a Telugu flick after Peddarayudu in 1995. And the excitement is evident.

 

“I've worked with N T Rama Rao way back. My dream is fulfilled, now that I’m working with the superstar,” the film’s producer, Ashwini Dutt, says.

 

The movie is being shot at Ramoji Film City and is slated for release in September.

 

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/rajini-cruises-back-to-telugu-cinema-after-13-years/61341-8.html

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ரஜினி திடீர் வருகை ; 'குசேலன்' குழு திகைப்பு

பாம்குரோவ் ஓட்டலுக்கு ரஜினி வந்து 25 வருடங்கள் ஆகிவிட்டதாம். திடீரென்று அங்கே அவர் வர, அமளி துமளியாகிவிட்டது மொத்த ஓட்டலும். குசேலன் படத்தின் பாடல் கம்போசிங் அங்குதான் நடந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இசையமைப்பாளர் ஜி.வி.பிரகாஷ் ட்யூன்களை போட்டுக் கொண்டேயிருக்கிறார். அதில் பல மாற்றங்களை சொல்லி சொல்லி மெருகேற்றிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார் பி.வாசு.   இந்த நிலையில்தான் ரஜினியிடமிருந்து எதார்த்தமாக போன் வர, கம்போசிங்கில் இருக்கேன் என்றாராம் வாசு. அடுத்த அரை மணி நேரத்தில் அறிவிக்காமலேயே வந்துவிட்டாராம் ரஜினி. பிறகுதான் நாம் மேலே சொன்ன அமளி துமளி. ரஜினியின் இந்த வரவில் ஒரு விசேஷம் இருக்கிறது. பாம்குரோவ் ஓட்டலுக்கு பக்கத்தில்தான் இருக்கிறது அருணாச்சலா கெஸ்ட் ஹவுஸ். ரஜினிக்கு சொந்தமான இந்த கெஸ்ட் ஹவுசில்தான் பாபா படத்தின் டிஸ்கஷன் நடந்தது. அப்போது கூட, பாம்குரோவ் காபியை ருசி பார்க்க உள்ளே நுழைந்ததில்லை ரஜினி. இப்போது வந்திருக்கிறார் என்றால் படத்தின் மேல் அவருக்குள்ள ஈடுபாடுதான் என்கிறது குசேலன் தரப்பு. பத்து நாட்கள்தான் அவர் கால்ஷீட் கொடுத்திருப்பதாக ஊரெல்லாம் பேச்சிருக்க, ரஜினிக்காக ஒரு பாடல் காட்சி வச்சிருக்கோம். அந்த ஒரு பாடலை மட்டும் எட்டு நாள் எடுக்க போகிறோம் என்று புதிர் போடுகிறார் வாசு.

Prabhu joins Rajini's Kuselan

Every day superstar Rajini's Kuselan is getting bigger and broader shape than its original Kadha Parayumbol. Unlike in the Malayalam original, Rajini has accepted to do the enlarged version of Mammootty's role throughout the film and will be seen singing two duets with Nayanthara and feature in two action sequences to add the commercial weight to the film.

Now, Prabhu, one of the actors close to the superstar also joins the cast of Kuselan. He will play the vital role as Mukesh did in the original version. Prabhu accepted to do the role on the personal and invitation from Rajini. So far Prabhu and Rajini have appeared in three movies.

His last movie with Rajini was Chandramukhi, a historical blockbuster of the superstar produced by Prabhu. It is also being said that action king Arjun has will appear with Rajini in few scenes in Kuselan.

 

http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/2008/prabhu-in-kuselan-150308.html

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A.R. Rahman talks about Rajini

Rahman is looking forward to his next venture with Rajinikanth Robot
and is currently working on the superstar's animation film Sultan.
Besides this he's also scoring music for the Hindi version of Ghajini
and Dilli 6. But he's most excited about working with Rajinikanth again.

"He is an icon, and he's got his own zing and so it's real fun to be
working with him," he says.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/a-r-rahman-classic-training-young-
musicians/61152-8.html

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Vasu vs Priyadarshan

A mad race is on between Kollywood director P Vasu and Bollywood
director Priyadarsan over who will first complete their versions of
Katha Parayumbol in Tamil and Hindi respectively.

P Vasu and Priyan are not known to be the best of friends. Last year,
P Vasu sent a legal notice to Priyadarsan, claiming the director was
trying to copy his Chandramukhi scene-by-scene into Hindi as Bhool
Bhulaiya!

Priyan hit back saying that his film is based on the Malayalam
original Manichitrathazhu, which was ripped off as Aaptamitra in
Kannada, and remade in Tamil by Vasu as Chandramukhi! Anyway, Priyan's
Bhool Bhulaiya turned out to be a blockbuster hit and he had the last
laugh.

When writer, actor and producer Sreenivasan showed Priyadarsan, his
close buddy, the first cut of Katha Parayumbol even before it released
in Kerala, the director's first reaction was: "I will remake it in
Hindi with Shah Rukh Khan playing the superstar's role, done by
Mammootty."

After the film became a hit in Kerala, P Vasu wanted to remake it with
Rajinikanth as Kuselan and held a show for him. The superstar agreed
to do it and now the battle between Vasu and Priyan is over which
version will turn out to be a bigger hit.

Both the directors have reworked the original to suit their respective
market conditions. Now Vasu and Priyan are saying the role of the
"superstar character in the film" has been expanded and they will have
more screen space to include an additional "two songs and two fights".

Vasu and Priyan may probably release the film on the same day - August 15.

http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14622206

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ரஜினியை முதல்வராக்க நினைத்த நரசிம்ம ராவ்

 

சென்னை: சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த்தை, காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியின் சார்பில் முதல்வர் பதவியில் அமர்த்த மறைந்த முன்னாள் பிரதமர் நரசிம்ம ராவ் திட்டமிட்டிருந்ததாகவும், அதை ரஜினி ஏற்கவில்லை என்றும் ரஜினி குறித்து சென்னை பெண் டாக்டர் காயத்ரி ஸ்ரீகாந்த் எழுதியுள்ள நூலில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னையைச் சேர்ந்த டாக்டர் காயத்ரி ஸ்ரீகாந்த், தி நேம் இஸ் ரஜினிகாந்த் என்ற பெயரில் ஒரு நூலை எழுதியுள்ளார். அதில் ரஜினி குறித்த பல்வேறு தகவல்கள் குவிந்துள்ளன.

இதில் ரஜினியைத் தேடி முதல்வர் பதவி வந்ததாக ஒரு தகவல் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளது.

அது 1995. அப்போது ஜெயலலிதாவுடன் கடும் மோதல் போக்கில் இருந்தார் ரஜினிகாந்த். ஜெயலலிதா ஆட்சியில் வெடிகுண்டுக் கலாச்சாரம் பெருகி விட்டதாக கடுமையாக குற்றம் சாட்டினார்.

இந்த நிலையில்தான் ரஜினிக்கு அப்போதைய பிரதமர் நரசிம்மராவிடமிருந்து போன் வந்தது. காங்கிரஸ் கட்சிக்கு ஆதரவாக செயல்படுவதற்காக ரஜினிக்கு, ராவ் நன்றி கூறினார். பின்னர் காங்கிரஸ் சார்பில் தேர்தலில் போட்டியிட விருப்பம் தெரிவித்தால் உங்களை முதல்வர் பதவியில் அமர்த்த விரும்புகிறேன் என்று கூறியுள்ளார் ராவ்.

இதைக் கேட்ட ரஜினிகாந்த், யோசித்துச் சொல்வதாக தெரிவித்தார். பின்னர் தான் சென்னைக்கு வரவுள்ளதாகவும், அப்போது நேரில் சந்தித்து முடிவெடுக்கலாம் எனவும் ராவ் கூறியுள்ளார்.

அதன்படி நரசிம்மராவ் சென்னைக்கு வந்தபோது, சத்தியமூர்த்தி பவனில் வைத்து ராவ் - ரஜினி சந்திப்பு நடந்தது. இந்த சந்திப்பின்போது, தனக்கு முதல்வர் பதவி வேண்டாம் என கூறி விட்டார் ரஜினி. மேலும், முதல்வர் பதவிக்குப் பொருத்தமானவர் மூப்பனார்தான். எனவே அவரையே முதல்வராக்குங்கள் என்றும் கூறியுள்ளார் ரஜினி.

அத்தோடு நில்லாமல், காங்கிரஸ் கட்சி திமுக கூட்டணியில் இடம் பெற வேண்டும் என நான் நினைக்கிறேன் (அப்போது அதிமுக கூட்டணியில் காங்கிரஸ் இருந்தது). திமுகவுக்கு நாம் ஒரு வாய்ப்பு அளிக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் ராவிடம் கூறினார் ரஜினி.

ஆனால் இதை ராவ் விரும்பவில்லை. ரஜினி நேரடியாகப் போட்டியிட்டால் காங்கிரஸ் கட்சிக்கு அறுதிப் பெரும்பான்மை கிடைக்கும். சொந்தக் காலில் ஆட்சி அமைக்க முடியும். அதேசமயம், திமுகவுக்கு வாய்ப்பளிக்க அவர் விரும்பவில்லை. மேலும் மூப்பனாரை முதல்வராக்கவும் அவர் விரும்பவில்லை.

இது ரஜினிக்கும் புரிய வந்தது. திமுக, காங்கிரஸ் கூட்டணிக்கு வாய்ப்பில்லை என்ற முடிவுக்கு அவர் வந்தார்.

அவர் எதிர்பார்த்தபடியே அதிமுகவுடன் கூட்டணி தொடரும் என நரசிம்ம ராவ் அறிவித்தார். காங்கிரஸ் உடைந்தது. மூப்பனார் தலைையில் தமிழ் மாநில காங்கிரஸ் உதயமானது. திமுகவுடன் கூட்டணி வைத்தது. ரஜினி ஆதரவு அளித்தார். திமுக கூட்டணி அமோக வெற்றி பெற்று ஆட்சியைப் பிடித்தது. அதிமுக-காங்கிரஸ் கூட்டணி படு தோல்வியைச் சந்தித்தது. ஜெயலலிதாவும் தோல்வியைச் சந்திக்க நேரிட்டது என்று காயத்ரியின் நூலில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
 

 

http://thatstamil.oneindia.in/news/2008/03/11/tn-narasima-rao-planned-to-make-rajini-as-cm.html

Interview with Gayathri Srikanth

Read all about the two women in Rajini's early love life: the woman he loved once and the fair complexioned woman who rejected him. Find out about his father's childhood, and Rajini's brother who died early. Learn all about the Superstar's future aspirations outside cinema. All revealed now for the first time in this exclusive Behindwoods interview with Dr. Gayathri Srikanth, author of "The Name is Rajinikanth", which is being released today by Kamal Hassan in Chennai.

BW: We'll get straight to the point: what can you tell us that you have not shared with any other media about what is in your book?
Gayathri: Rajini's early love life. I even met one of the women. She's married now, and even her husband was present (laughs) when I interviewed her.

BW: Give us a little preview…
Gayathri: There were at least two women. One of them was when he was a bus conductor in Bangalore. He liked this woman very much.-.I have not named her, that was our ladies agreement- and was hopeful of marrying her. But it flitted away with time, the way infatuations do. The second woman was a proposal that was brought to him. Her family lived a little away from Bangalore city –possibly Somanahalli. But once he went there, the woman rejected him, saying, "he is too dark and looks like a thug." Since then- and this is my feeling- Rajini became determined to pursue someone fair complexioned and marry her. And he did – as we all know.

BW: What did his wife say to this?
Gayathri: Nothing –because Rajinkanth made it clear to me that he and his family did not wish to participate in the interview process.

BW: As his biographer what do you feel Rajinikanth's next step is going to be? He is 58 but still wanting to do ambitious projects like Robot, the most expensive Indian movie under production. But what is his next move as a man going to be?
Gayathri: He remains silent on it. But I spoke to some sources very close to him – I won't reveal who- and all of them say that his desire is to live a quiet life in pursuit of spiritual things. As his biographer I feel personally that he should enter politics. He would make a tremendous difference to the system, to Tamilnadu.

BW: What impressions did you form about the way he feels about his stardom? Did you get the feeling that he felt trapped as his star-image?
Gayathri: Definitely. You can see his restlessness with playing the same role again and again. He is yearning to play the kind of roles he did in the 70s. In fact, without exception, all his fellow stars said Rajini must once again return to being the actor he once was in movies such as Aarilirnthu Aravathu Varai.

BW: What else can you tell us that most people may not know about the Superstar?
Gayathri: My book has gone deeply into not just his childhood but also his father's childhood. How his grandfather abandoned the family, and Rajini's father had to struggle to bring up the family. As a result he became a strict disciplinarian.

BW: What sort of approach/attitude have you taken to telling Rajinikanth' story?
Gayathri: A balanced one. I have not adulated him. I have looked at his positive and negative side.

BW: What negative side, for instance?

Gayathri: All his numerous vices from the past: smoking drinking, a few failures, you know…

BW: Nothing now, though.
Gayathri: Absolutely not.

BW: Did you have to leave out anything from the book?
Gayathri: Sadly, the parts about Rajini's brother, Nageshwar Rao, who died early. My editors felt it was making the book too long. My heart broke to leave that out because I researched that extensively. I'm hoping it will still get into the second edition!

BW: What did the Superstar tell you about the changes sweeping Tamil cinema – all the innovation and offbeat themes?
Gayathri: He is full of praise. Very open about praising young actors. He was the first star to openly recognize movies such as Paruthiveeran and Kalloori as new achievements in cinema.

BW: You spoke to the other stars. Did anyone say anything provocative?
Gayathri: No, all of them had only wonderful things to say about him. Well…perhaps SriPriya said something about how at one point in their platonic relationship there had been some tension, some disagreements. But they sorted it out.

BW: Every journalist must have wanted to write Rajini's biography. How did you – an ophthalmologist by profession- beat them all to it?
Gayathri: I was feeling burnt out in my profession and wanted a change. Writing has always been a passion, so I knew I wanted to write a book but I didn't yet know what it would be about. In March 2007 I was one of the contestants in the hot seats on the KBC show with Shahrukh Khan hosting. I didn't make it to the final but something about writing a bio of SRK came up. That's when I thought: why not write a biography of Kamal or Rajini? I was-am- a fan of both.

BW: Why Rajini and not Kamal?
Gayathri: To be honest, my first idea was to write on Kamal. That didn't work out for various reasons. That's when I thought it would be perhaps more interesting to write Rajini's life story.

BW: And how did the project begin? How did you get access to the Superstar, and what did he have to say about you writing a book on his life?
Gayathri: Once I returned to Chennai from the KBC show I tried to meet Rajinikanth right away. But he was abroad shooting, and I met his wife instead. When I told her about my project she was happy that someone was writing her husband's story.

BW: What did the Superstar finally say when you met him?
Gayathri: He had no problems about my writing his life but he made it clear that he did not want to participate in it because then it would become autobiography.

BW: So this is an unauthorized biography?
Gayathri: In the sense that Rajinikanth's presence and participation is zero in the making of the book, yes.

BW: So he doesn't actually talk in the book – that is, there are no interviews with him?
Gayathri: No. He did not want to talk. He did give me a few letters of his that I could quote from.

BW: But you met him quite a few times…what did you'll talk about?
Gayathri: We spoke always off the record. So none of that went into the book.

BW: The book doesn't tell his side of the story in his words, then?
Gayathri: That was the point of my book. This had to be not Rajini's point of view, nor mine but a third person's objective narration.

BW: But don't you find that the biographer invariably shapes the material, and so it does become your point of view?
Gayathri: That's the process, but I've used only facts. There are no conjectures here.

BW: So if the Superstar himself did not tell you his story, how did you gather all your information?

Gayathri: I knew nothing about Rajinikanth before I began. I spent a year researching and writing the book. I traveled to Bangalore and Mumbai interviewing his friends and family.

BW: Such as?
Gayathri: The ones who were bus conductors with him in Bangalore, for instance.

BW: How did you get hold of all these people after so many years?
Gayathri: I did. Somehow I found them. Luck and persistence. And they were glad to speak to me.

BW: And how did you get so many important people to participate in the book? People such as the CM, Kamal Hassan, AVM Sarvanan and K.Balachander, to name a few.
Gayathri: Oh, they were glad to speak to me. Everyone asks me that – how did you get all those big people to write and talk in your book. The answer is simple: because it is about the Superstar – everyone is happy to talk about Rajini.

BW: Can we expect a lot of trivia about his film days?
Gayathri: I've avoided trivia. When people heard I was writing his story, a lot of industry trivia and stories came my way. First I put it in, then took it out. I did this because all that information was slowing down the pace of the book. I see Rajini as someone fast – talks fast, acts fast. The book also had to be fast – like him. So I've conceived it more like a screenplay than a book: always cutting to the chase.

BW: Have you spoken to his fans clubs?
Gayathri: Oh my God, they love him. They will give their lives for him. They had so much to say about what he meant to them.

BW: What next? The life of Kamal?
Gayathri: Perhaps.

BW: What was the most challenging thing about writing the book?
Gayathri: The writing. The actual process of telling the story of someone who is larger than life, a mythic figure, a legend. How do you capture it in words? There are so many sides to him: who he was, who he is, his failures, his deeply spiritual side…it was like a jigsaw puzzle that I had to put together.

BW: The life story of Rajinikanth was long overdue. And you have made it happen, Dr. Gayathri. Our congratulations to you and our best wishes to the successes of the book.
Gayathri: Thanks

 

Source :Behindwoods.com

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The cinematographer for 'Robot'

Director Shankar’s 'Robot', starring superstar Rajinikanth, will have a new cinematographer. Shankar has to look beyond his trusted ally K.V. Anand due to some unavoidable reasons.

The ace cinematographer, who has been an integral part of Shankar’s films right from 'Mudhalvan', has now committed for AVM’s new film starring Suriya and Tamanna. Shankar feels that it won’t be nice to call him at this juncture.

 

Then the leading director, who was impressed by Nirav Shaw’s work in 'Billa', has approached the cinematographer for 'Robot'. Unfortunately Shaw could not oblige, as he is already committed to ‘Sarvam’, directed by Vishnuvardhan.

 

Left with very little choice, Shankar has now opted for Thiru, who impressed everyone with his fine work in Ajith â€" Trisha starrer ‘Kireedom’.

 

Keep watching IndiaGlitz for the latest on 'Robot'.

 

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/37019.html

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Response for Hindi Version of Chandramukhi

Before start reading this report, you should keep in mind that Chandramukhi has already released in Hindi as Bhool Bulaiya with Akshay Kumar in the lead.

I already spoke to Mumbai friends and they have assured that they will give the report soon. Meanwhile our friend Mumbai Chakra said the first day reponse is mind boggling and many theatres including Maratha Mandir was Houseful yesterday. Malayala Manorama has reported that the movie has been released nearly in 100 theatres in many parts of North India including Mumbai.

Our member Balamurugan from Bhuj reports that (earth quake region), the movie has been released 4 shows in Modern theatres here and last night's show was Houseful and the response was thundering. What a major hiccup is they have chopped off Devuda Devuda and Kokku Para para songs. Without Devuda we couldn't imagine watching Chandramukhi. But our friends feel that they must have been chopped the songs to keep the length in minimal.

 

Reports added that the whole theatre witnessed pin drop silence at the climax hours. Ra ra song was in Hindi.  Everybody came out from the theatre saying `Laka Laka.' Particularly Kids. If the impact is this, then do I need to say about its success? Superstar has captured North once again through Chandramukhi Hindi version after Sivaji.

 

Moreover this is first time a movie dubbed from Tamil to Hindi releasing here. Even Jodha Akbar ran in this theatre for one week only. So even if the Hindi version completed a few days run with average seating ? it would reap a great profits to the Hindi distributor.

 

Photos to follow soon??

 

Sundar

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