Friday, June 8, 2007

Revamped..

Thanks to my sis i have finally revamped my blog.. i think i need to make a few amendments here & there. I juz love the song thats playing rite now...happening man!:)

Shopping is tiring & fun. My feet are sore & aching after walking all over orchard?!! Uc thats y i hate goin there.. i havent gone deh since last dec i think.. so many changes man... e place is getting smaller & smaller due to all the constructions.The Sale wasnt so great.. maybe i started late?!ops!!I did buy a couple of stuffs.. anyways all my electronic stuffs are dyin on me...i really should make use of this sale n BUY something b4 the gst hikes :(!?

i cant believe i'll be working on a saturday(tomorrow)..hopefully it will all go well..wats more im goin to bring 2 of my UK colleagues to temple....hope they dun faint in all that smoke..hahahahh

Bollywood movie sitez

Couple of kool hindi movie sites that i stumble upon..

http://www.cheenikum.com/
*ring AB & tabu

http://www.yashrajfilms.com/Movies/MovieIndividual.aspx?MovieID=0eedf670-8cac-4a99-9fa4-73475e15ca23
*ring AB jr,preity,lara dutta,bobby

http://www.shootoutatlokhandwala.com/
*ring viviek oberoi,sanjay dutt

Transformers...

They are going to release the Transformers movie on e 4 of july. I grew up watching it but dun quite remember all the names now...kekekek..anyways i uploaded e transformers cartoon theme song.. it mite juz bring u back to the good old days..sigh...well it worked for me..

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Part 3 of Shankar exclusive interview!

For the first time, Shankar speaks on A.R Rahman, music of `Sivaji`,and about the technicians who assisted him.

A.R Rahman , and the music of `Sivaji`.
Tell us about A.R Rahman and why your combination with him has always produced chartbusters? What is your favourite album from the films you have done?

Rahman and me go back a long way, as we almost started our career together. 8 out of my 9 films have music by him. We have perfect understanding and rapport with each other .He understands my need and the tune the moment I explain to him the situation, and he will go on giving me new tunes if I’m not happy with the earlier one. And like me he tries experiment and always tries his best to come out with something fresh. My favourite is Kathalan and Jeans, though it looks like Sivaji will become our favourite!

How would you rate Sivaji music?
Even before the release, Sivaji songs have reached a new milestone, as Tamil and Telugu audio is rumoured to have sold more than any other film in south. When we met to discuss initially on the music, I told Rahman that I need extraordinary, out-of-the- world tunes, as expectations were very high with Rajni- Rahman- Shankar combination coming together for the first time. Rahman just smiled and over the months in spite of his busy international schedule he found time to do Sivaji and has churned out outstanding music.

Let us talk about the five songs in the film
Balellikka….

It is the first song in the film and shot in and around Wai a scenic village near Pune. It is a folk song sung by SPB and Rehana, Rahman's sister whose voice sounds different and appealing. Na.Muthukumar has written some meaningful lyrics which fits into my narration as the hero is coming home from abroad and he is overcome with nostalgia about the village he grew up.

Style….
My favourite number in the film! It was a challenge to do the song as it is entirely done in CG, and there were no gimmicks. We created a new software for it and let me tell you that I’m not boasting…. I don't think anybody has done a full length song in CG. `Indian Artist` did a good job, Pa Vijay's lyrics and Rahman's tunes were perfect. The CG work alone took nearly a year, and I’m sure after the film releases it will be the hit number!

Sahana….
Lot of my friends, say that this is their favourite. Everybody likes it as it is a melody; Rahman has made a sad and happy version. It is a dream song, in which Vairamuthu talks about seasons, so I asked Thotta Tharani the art director to create a Swarovski style glittering glass dome set depicting four seasons at Ramoji Rao studio and he did a wonderful job. It is going to be a major highlight of the film.

Vaaji…..
A lot of unit members say it is going to be the favourite song in the film. It is a fantasy song and the first we shot for the film. Neeta Lulla has done the costumes for this song, while the other four are done by Manish Malhotra . Rajni and Shriya come as a king and queen with over 100 dancers in the background and a Babylonian type palace designed by Thotta.

Athiradee….
It is a very exciting song and picturised in a very stylish way. We have used some CG for it. I’m told that the song has become very popular in discos in Mumbai and Delhi where Rahman who has sung the song has an audience.

Background Score
We took weeks over it, to compose the theme music and did the entire background score in Prague, where Rahman was familiar with. The background score of Sivaji itself can be made into an album, its fantastic.

On K.V Anand, the cinematographer
You have worked with the best cameramen in the business like Ravi.K.Chandran, Jeeva, Ravi Varman. What is your opinion about K.V Anand, Sivaji cameraman?

As good as the best, in the business. I have worked with him in Muthalvan and Naayak, and there is good understanding between us. In Sivaji his work is super, especially the song sequences his lighting is out of the world.

On Thotta Tarani, the art director
I have worked in a lot of films with him, here in Sivaji he has excelled in sets designing.

On Peter Haynes, the action choreographer.
Brilliant, he has exceeded my expectations. There are four action sequences in the film and the highlight is this car action fight in a open- air- drive in theatre. It was a huge set designed by Thotta and Anand lighted up with helium lights. We took nearly 20 days to shoot this scene which is just 3 minutes in the film. My hero and heroine are watching a film in an open air theatre, and the bad guys come and crash their cars. The car fight scenes have been choreographed in a thrilling fashion by Peter. Please note, there is no blood or gore in the film.

Finally… Will Sivaji be a hit?
(Smiles) No doubt about it. The film is going to be a blockbuster, as there will be repeat audience for the film.
What is the length of the film?
Sivaji's running time is 3 hours and 5 minutes( 3+5=8 !)

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Shankar speaks on 'Sivaji'!


After Karan Johar, Shankar is the most viewed Indian director, through his 7 Tamil and one Hindi film in a career spanning 14 years. Take a look at his impressive track record: Highest collecting Tamil film from a single screen, Anniyan- 2005, Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai. The highest collecting dubbed film in India, Aparachitudu, the Telugu version of Anniyan in Andhra. The highest collecting Tamil film in Bangalore city, Anniyan and also the highest grosser among other language movies in Kerala! And overseas he is simply the uncrowned king, who is a brand by himself.

Shankar is a major brand in Indian cinema, and perhaps one of the few directors who has an opening! Now Shankar for the first time in his life is coming together with a bigger brand- Rajnikanth, the real superstar and emperor of South cinema, living legend of commercial Indian cinema, and the second highest paid actor in Asia, after Jackie Chan.

Sivaji has the dream team- Rajnikanth, Shankar and the" Mozart of film music" A.R Rahman. It cannot get bigger than this! Taking time of his busy schedule, in his first ever major interview, Shankar spoke exclusively to sify.com on everything you always wanted to know about Sivaji.

Shankar who was in Cannes, had flown in to Chennai but within hours had taken a flight to Madurai, from where he had gone to Sivaganga to give "moral support and encouragement" to director Balaji Sakthivel who is making a film under his ‘S pictures’ banner. On his way back, he spoke to his media manager Nikhil Murugan, to arrange a meet with sify.com , as he had promised us the first ever interview on Sivaji.

Sitting in his posh new office in T.Nagar area of Chennai, designed by French architect Ananda of Pondicherry, Shankar opens up, in the longest interview he has ever done, 2 hours 20 minutes! The interview will appear in three parts.

Part-1

What is your present state of mind, on the eve of the release of Sivaji?
(Smiles) I'm relieved, happy, and contended. Sivaji has shaped out well, exactly the way I wanted it though it took me nearly 22 months from the day the idea was born and for it to be conceptualized into a full length feature film. The film has given me immense satisfaction, and I think it is my best work. Now I leave it to the public to judge my work.

Why is Sivaji not releasing on your lucky date- 8 ?
Who said 8 is my lucky date? I’m not superstitious or believe in lucky numbers. In fact 8 is supposed to be a very unlucky number in India, though in China it is a lucky and preferred number. Just for the heck of it, and to break superstitions around it I took 8, as my first car registration number. Soon people around me thought that my luck has turned around and said it is my lucky number! Last year sify.com did a story on how my films are all released on 8th or numbers adding up to 8, since then distributors are insisting that my production companies films also releases on 8. So now people think that I love the number 8.

But your new Toyota Land cruicer-Prado is also registered under 8?
(Laughs) I can't help it; my staff also thinks it is my lucky number! Anyway to once again break the hoodoo, I have now brought a Scorpio and insisted on any general number. The number on the registration reads- 5398, which does not add up to 8! As far as Sivaji release is concerned, I never had a particular date, though the producers initially kept May 31 an auspicious day as release date. I’m happy that it is now releasing on Friday June 15, as it will break the so-called "lucky number 8 sentiments of Shankar"!

The trailer of Sivaji rocks, as you have been able to convey the basic essence of the movie.
I was very clear that the trailer should act as an appetizer to the film, a sort of a sneak preview and what the audience can expect from a Rajnikanth- Shankar film. Editor Antony did a great job and made a sleek and stylish trailer with a lot of ramping and cut- to- cut pattern of editing with hardly any gimmicks. The idea of the teaser trailer was to give a sampling to the fans of why they should go for the film.

The most important question everybody wants to ask is how successful were you in blending Rajnikanth's larger-than- life screen image with the Shankar brand?
( Pauses) It was a tough act to follow. I was very particular that the image of superstar Rajnikanth, should not overtake the character Sivaji, he is playing in the film. For that, I needed my story to be strong, at the same time I should not ignore his image - this was the cardinal principle that we followed during the making of the film. My observation at the end of it is that, we have been able to follow a central path where the image has fitted well with the story and narration.

Shankar on Rajnikanth’s image, storyline and message
So, the story suits the image of Rajnikanth and the fans can expect the right mix of entertainment from your combination. Please comment.

Yes, as I said earlier the teaser trailer has showcased what the fans can expect from Sivaji. It was a tight rope walk throughout the making of the film, but in the final analysis I think the mixture of the superstar's larger-than-life image and my story and presentation will work with all concerned. The bottom line is that the coming together of Rajnikanth and Shankar will be fully justified by this rollicking family entertainer.


There has been so many rumours regarding the story of Sivaji. What is the story about?

Let the rumours remain as rumours till the release of the film! Is there any movie maker in the world who will tell you the story line of his film before release? Any way the basic thread is about a man Sivaji who wants to do something good for his Piranthu mannu (home land) and the ordinary folks in his village. Sivaji never gives up in the face of stiff obstacles in his path. The social reformer in him finds new methods to overcome his difficulties as he continues his one-man crusade to cleanse the system.


Like in your earlier films is there a message in the film?

Of course there is a message, for which you will have to see the film. All that I can say now is that it is a timely and topical message.
About Rajnikanth, and his look for `Sivaji`
Have you made Rajnikanth look appealing to his fans? What is the look you have given him? I think Rajni sir looks dashing and debonair, as he plays a middle aged man in his late 30's. For that I needed a different look. So before the shoot I thought like an ordinary filmgoer in Tamilnadu, the way they want me to project the superstar. I went through hundreds of his photos from his previous movies and selected two pictures for the new look, and then decided on the wigs that suited him. Along with Bhanu the wig and hair designer and cameraman K.V Anand I decided on the look and style. Rajni sir co-operated with us by doing a make-up test? Which superstar in India will patiently sit through a make-up to try a new look? He is genuinely humble and simple man; I have never met a star like him. Later the measurements were sent to New York, where they made the wigs that were used in the film. As far as the look and colour tone of the film is concerned, I have given it a colourful look as it is a family entertainer with comedy, romance, songs, sentiments and action.

How was it working with the superstar, and his performance in the film?

There is only one word to describe his performance in the film- R O C K I N G! Remember he is a superstar and people buy tickets just to see him, and he has done full justice to what has been assigned to him. Rajni sir is the complete professional, a man who does his homework well and still willing to learn, a director’s dream.


Did he compliment you on your work?

Rajni sir has not seen the completed first copy of the film, as he is out of town. He saw bits and parts of it during dubbing and editing of the film, at that time he told me –you are editing a super hit film! I may sound pompous, so I don't want to tell you anything further.


On Shriya, Vivek and Suman
Why did you choose Shriya to be the heroine of Sivaji?

I wanted a very homely girl to play the character of Tamilselvi, a girl who works in a shop selling music instruments, and she fits the bill. Shriya looks like a homely girl at the same time can be glamorous too, see the songs in the film!


In all your films, the heroine is the homely type like Nandini( Sada) of Anniyan.

It is sheer co-incidence that Shriya too is playing a homely girl in Sivaji. But Shriya here has a very sentimental role, the pivot around which the story moves and she has done a good job. In the songs especially Vaaji, Vaaji…. she is simply amazing!


During the last few years, comedy in a Rajnikanth film has become a must. How did the new combination of Rajni- Vivek work?

It is one of the highlights of the film. In the first half it is full of comedy as Vivek plays a character who is the young uncle of the hero! The comedy track goes with the storyline and I’m sure the audience will find it hilarious. The Rajni-Vivek comedy scenes had me in splits, they are really funny.


How has Suman shaped up as the bad guy in the film?

As you know I tried for a lot of actors to do this powerful villain character, bur somehow it did not work out. Finally I zeroed in on Suman, after seeing a photograph of his. I asked him to cut his hair, remove his moustache and change his wardrobe. In my film he plays a very rich man Adiseshan, a person who wears white throughout the film and is at war with the hero. After a long time you will find a polished villain in Tamil films. He has done a commendable job and stood up to Rajni's gigantic image and delivered.


So, you are satisfied with the casting of the film?

Yes, I’m happy with the casting which has a freshness about it, that will appeal to the audiences, even the supporting cast has done a great job and Nayantara in a special song appearance has made it lively.
To be continued…

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Latest Madhuri Dixit interview


Madhuri Dixit has completed Yash Raj Films AAJA NACHLE. Mads is settled in Denver since her wedding in October 1999. Her last film was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's DEVDAS in 2002. In an interview she talks about her comeback film, stay in Mumbai, husband, kids and future plans.

Describe your role in AAJA NACHLE?

I am sorry. I am not supposed to talk anything about it. But I must say that it has been a very satisfying experience to work in this film.

What is the extent of offers that have come your way since you came to Mumbai for AAJA NACHLE?

The extent is really very big. But I don't want to do every film. I want to do films and roles, which will satisfy my creative instincts and worthy of buying a ticket in a theatre. But my first priority will always be my family. I will always consider where the film is being shot and if it is convenient for me to shoot in that place. Frankly, I will work at my own pace.

Will you play a mom or a mother-in-law? Why not?

Why did you refuse Saroj Khan's film?

She has been your mentor... (Interrupts) I did not refuse her film because I was never offered that film. I don't know how these rumours started.

So there's no fall-out with Saroj Khan?

Sarojji is family to me.

But she is not doing the choreography of AAJA NACHLE, like she did in almost your films?

Well, Yash Raj Films has put everything in place. And I didn't want to interfere in that. Vaibhavi Merchant is doing the choreography and she is very good.

Me back...

Finally !!!! I actually got the time to sit n write something!!! unfortunatley even server wasnt on my side as it was down for quite a while...:(

hmmm... so where shall i begin? my cousin's wedding went on well last sun....i have to say that i looked great..kekeke.. guess its worth all the $$ i spent on it...i think it will be quite sometime be4 anyone gets hitched in my family...ops! how would i know.. even my bro mite get married..cannot trust nowadays bros..sigh..

We managed to click alot of pix..im thinking about posting it here......lets c..Too bad i missed out Vijay unkle movie " Dharmapuri".. it looked "hilarious" to me...kekekekek His movies are not like before.. it has got too many politics entwined dialogues..

Speaking of politics, my friend told me that tamilnadu CM celebrated his 85th bday...hmm...there was a HUGE crowd juz to c him... i wonder y?each were entitled to juz a few glances...Y would you wanna waste your time on such trivial activities. URGH!!! I m still wondering of what happened to the 3 innocent people who were burnt to death in dhinakaran office. Im trying to read up on it..its juz politics vs family!!!!I dint c anything about it in sun news.. speaking of sun tv.. im seeing so much lesser of it now. Vijay tv rulez but i still dun really get to c e shows that i wanna c..:(

Okie let me get back to the wedding..we went to the bride's house yesterday to bring her back to her new spouse house. What i experience i had... i dun think i will ever want to see them again!!!Unfortunately my sis was the almost the centre of atttractions... The dad-in-law went ard disclosing her age..kekekekekek.... lucky for me I escaped :)! Basically he was drunk and throwing his weight ard people!!! He pretty much went around Hugging (read as squeezing!), questioning (read as disturbing) unsusupecting ppl?!!I was told that he was very sociable & "over-friendly" but i dint quite expect what i experienced!! i have personally never met anyone like him! I mean even a caucasian are not like that?!!im juz lost for words....

Work... its just getting more confusing...period.