Sathyaraj, Ameer release docu on Muthukumar

When the fighting for the Eezham Tamil cause by the Tamil community all over the world was at its peak in January 2009, there were voices from the film fraternity also. There were agitations and hunger strikes. While that was happening one incident jolted all. That was the self-immolation of Muthukumar.

A journalist and assistant director by profession Muthukumar immolated himself for the Eezham cause. The 4-page statement he distributed before his death is part of modern Tamil folklore. His supreme sacrifice moved the Tamil film industry also and many from the industry hold him in high esteem.

Sathyaraj, Seeman, Ameer and many others still talks about the sacrifice of Muthukumar. Yesterday, August 29, Sathyaraj and Seeman released documentary on Muthukumar at the Film Chamber in Chennai. The documentary titled 'January 29' is directed by Pragatheeswaran.Nallathurai, Selvaraj Murugaiyan have produced it.

While speaking at the function Sathyaraj turned very emotional and said "I am speechless after seeing a movie of this kind. I thank the producers and director of the movie as one of the million brothers of Muthukumar".

Sathyaraj also said that Ameer as a director must take forward the struggle through his films because social changes can happen through films.

Directors Pughazhendhi Thangaraj, Sibichander, Lyricist Arivumadhi and Writer Balamurali Varma also were present.

Ameer searching heroin for Aadhi Bhagavan movie

Director Ameer will fly down to Bangkok to choose locations for his forthcoming film Aadhi Bhagavan. The movie will have Jayam Ravi playing the protagonist. Speaking about the leading lady in the film, the director has said that talks are on with three starlets and an established actress. The decision on who bagged the role will be out in a few days.

Yuvan Shankar Raja will score the music for this film and Gurudev will handle the camera. J Anbazhagan is the producer of Aadhi Bhagavan.

Mamta Mohandas in Aadhi Bhagavan

Sensational director Ameer has reportedly approached sultry beauty Mamta Mohandas to play a prominent role in his forthcoming flick Aadhi Bhagavan, starring Jayam Ravi. There are reports that Mamta will play the role of an NRI, a role which is instrumental to the turning points in the film.
The director is reportedly planning to make the film simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu. Tollywood's new sensation Rana Daggubati (of Leader fame) is expected to play the lead role in Telugu
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Sasikumar joins Gautham Menon's movie

There was a controversy towards the end of last year over some alleged comments made by Gautham Menon saying directors like Ameer and Sasikumar don’t treat cinema with respect and they make the kind of movies not suitable for today. How ever Gautham denied saying so and all controversies were put to rest.

Proving clean Gautham Menon has now signed Sasikumar to do a film for his home banner Photon Factory. Sasikumar will write and direct the film apart from playing the hero. Tamannah has been approached to play the heroine.

Meanwhile Gautham Menon is on a tour visiting theatres to promote ‘Vinnaithandi Varuvaya’. After that he will go on a holiday to Switzerland with his family. All work will start as soon as he returns.

Ameer joins Andrea in Kannabiraan

The box office performance of ‘Yogi’ has not dampened the sprit of the actor in Ameer. While we were all expecting Ameer to start his ‘Kannabiraan’ as a director he quietly agreed to act in a new film to be directed by Cheenu Ramasamy. Cheenu, whose last movie ‘Koodal Nagar’ starring Bharath and Sandhya didn’t fare well at the box-office. It is reported that the director who’s in search of that elusive break had approached most of the leading heroes. But he finally zeroed in on Ameer for his rustic looks.

In this new movie Ameer will be seen opposite the gorgeous Andrea. So when will ‘Kannabiraan’ start? ‘Jayam’ Ravi is also waiting just like we are.

Ameer goes to Bollywood

Ameer is heading to Bollywood, not as a direct resource however. His hit flick Ram is being remade in Hindi as Bolo Raam. Bolo Raam is produced by Goldy Bhutani and stars Rishi Bhutani in the lead, a role played by Jiiva in Tamil that catapulted him to stardom.

The film also has Naseeruddin Shah in a pivotal role, that of the police inspector played by Rahman. That apart the movie also has Ompuri, Padmini Kolhapure, Rajpal Yadav, Govind Namdev and Manoj Pahwa in other roles.

Swathi entered wedlock with US engineer

Swathi, who entered Kollywood with the Vijay-starrer Deva, went to work in several films including Selva, Vasantha Vasal and Vanmathi. Her latest venture is Ameer’s Yogi.

The actress entered wedlock with a US-based engineer in Hyderabad on November 22nd. On her sudden and secret wedding, Swathi says that it was an arranged marriage and only close family was invited for the wedding. She adds that the limited time frame set for the marriage made it impossible for her to invite her colleagues in the film industry.

Swathi also disclosed that Yogi would be her last film and she intends to settle down in the US.

Vincent Ashokan's role model is Prakash Raj

Vincent Ashokan, son of popular yesteryear villain Ashokan, talks about his experience working with Ameer in Yogi. The actor had starred in a number of films as villain and has also made a mark as hero in Sila Nerangalil. With Yogi, movie buffs will once again get to see Vincent as a baddie.

Speaking about his role reversal, the actor says that he intends to carve a niche for himself as a villain and then move on to other roles. He added that Prakash Raj is his inspiration and would work hard to reach the spot where the actor is now.

Jeeva speaks about joining Ameer

Jeeva though he is a producer’s son is a very simple person. Recently while speaking to the media about the Katcheri Arambam said,” The film Katcheri Arambam is nearing completion.
We have been shooting for this film for the last six months. Only two songs are remaining to be shot. One song is to be shot in the sets erected in Hyderabad and another song is to be shot in the beautiful locations of Jaipur and Delhi.
The shooting of these songs will commence on 10^th.” When asked him whether he will work with Ameer once again, he said,” Now he has also become a hero. Now he is go tmore responsibility than before. So I feel it is not right for me to disturb him.
It will take at least four months for him to decide his path. I don’t think that this is the appropriate time for me to talk about acting under his direction. I think I will not talk about this for some time.”

Karthi said Suriya didn't indicate director Ameer

Suriya in an earlier interview appreciated the efforts taken by Karthi in Paruthiveeran. He also said that he was in tears after seeing the pains and ill-treatment Karthi underwent to make the film a great success.

For this, the director of Paruthiveeran, Ameer retaliated by saying that as a director, he worked hard to bring the actor in Karthi and though the methods would have been disagreeable it has brought laurels to the star.

Karthi on explaining this said that the statement of his brother Suriya was misinterpreted. He did not mean to criticize director Ameer and only made a general statement unable to see the anguish his younger brother had gone through for the film.

Yogi, Naan Avan Illai-2 and Mathiya Chennai release on November 27

It is going to be a three day weekend as it is a public holiday on Friday due to Bakrid, and with the Chennai monsoon over, nice time to release films.

Three Tamil films have confirmed their release- Yogi, Naan Avan Illai-2 and Mathiya Chennai.

Yogi carries an ‘UA’ censor certificate has been long in the making and is writer and director Ameer’s launch pad as an actor. The film directed by Subramaniyashiva is based on a gangster’s life, a lone wolf in the mean streets of Chennai.

Ameer is looking in turning himself into an action hero. The film produced by Ameer’s Teamwork Production House on a budget of Rs 10 Crore (?), has one peppy mass number tuned by Yuvan Shankar Raja, and has enough stuff to attract the B & C audiences. All areas for the film in TN has been sold out and is opening in nearly 130 screens across the state, eight of them in Chennai city.

Naan Avan Illai- 2 produced by Hitesh Jhabak and directed by Selva carries an ‘A’ certificate and is the first ever sequel to a remake of a film by the same name which was released in the late 70’s. Can Jeevan repeat the success of part one? Jeevan will once again play the suave conman who tries trapping five sexy girls- Sangeetha, Lakshmi Rai, Hema Malini, Shwetha Menon and Rachna Maurya.

The glamour and glitz surrounding the film which has music by D Imman and shot in exotic foreign locations, will take an opening for sure as it is releasing big in 171 screens worldwide including a dozen screens in Chennai.

Mathiya Chennai carries a ‘U’ certificate. It is about the life and times of an assistant film director’s working in Kollywood, who is waiting for the big break. The premise of the film is that anyone with a positive outlook to life can never fail. The film has newcomer Jeyanth and Ramya Barna in lead with Prakash Raj playing a pivotal role and Ilayaraja providing music.

It is directed by Vivekanand and Veerasingam, the director duo who were former assistants to Parthiban and Bharathiraja respectively. V & V in their interviews have said that with their unusual script they are going to give a new meaning to Tamil cinema. The film is releasing in limited number of screens.

Yogi Vs Naan Avan Illai-2

It is a battle between two small films that promises to turn big at the box-office on Bakrid (November 27) day!

Ameer’s debut film Yogi is likely to be locked with Jeevan’s Naan Avan Illai-2, in a fierce battle as both the films are scheduled to release on that day.

Both the films are targeting the B & C audiences, and are in the action genre with lots of violence with Naan Avan Illai-2, having an edge due to five glam girls in the film.

The films are yet to be censored, so will know their violence and glamour meter only after they are cleared by the censors.

Meanwhile there is a buzz about both the films in the trade and some areas have been sold at high prices. Please note the winner will be the film that takes the better opening.

Directors’ grand Tamil New Year celebrations

The Directors Council members met the CM of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi to thank him for allotting land to the FEFSI. They also placed a few requests for consideration. The major among them is the request to celebrate the Tamil New Year’s Day in a grand manner, akin to the English and Chinese New Year. The Directors’ Council informed the CM that they intend to conduct a massive fireworks show and invited the CM to grace the occasion as the chief guest.

The directors also requested the CM to allow them to stage a historical drama show during the World Tamil Conference.

Directors RK Selvamani, Vikraman, Ameer, Lingusamy, Perarasu, Madesh and a host of others were present during the meeting.

Ameer raring to release his Yogi

Guess the hottest film in the trade? It is Ameer’s Team Work Productions Yogi, directed by Subramaniyam Shiva.

The buzz on the film is so good that at one time Sun Pictures were keen to buy it.

Now the latest we hear is three areas for Yogi theatrical rights in Tamil Nadu has been sold, at a decent price.

The film is now undergoing final mixing, and first copy should be ready by November 12, after which the film will be ready for censor.

As of now Ameer is planning to release his debut film as a hero on November 27. If he manages to get a solo release, the film will definitely take a good opening.

One of the songs in the film a mass number tuned by Yuvan is already a hit.