Tamil Cine News Online

Vikram's 'Thaandavam' villain: Jagapathi Babu!

Say hello to the second hero-cum-villain in Vikram's next, 'Thaandavam' - Jagapathi Babu! This film will release simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu and Jagapathi Babu is one of the popular heroes in Telugu cinema.

Jagapathi Babu who recently completed his 100th film is bringing a change in his career by accepting a powerful second hero-cum-villain role in 'Thaandavam'. The film commences with a test shoot on November 30 in Chennai and the full fledged shooting begins in January 2012. The film will be shot in many locations of USA, Delhi and Chennai.

'Thaandavam' has the principal star cast of Chiyaan Vikram, Anushka, Amy Jackson, Jagapathi Babu, Santhanam, Nasser and many others. The film has music by GV Prakash Kumar, lyrics by Na Muthukumar, editing by Anthony and art direction by Nagu. The film is written and directed by AL Vijay and will be released big by UTV Motion Pictures.

'Thaandavam' will be a 2012 summer release.

Vijay - AR Murugadoss venture is reportedly titled 'Thupaki' and features Kajal Aggarwal as the female lead. The film will release simultaneously in Telugu bearing the same title but it now looks like there's a title clash in Telugu.

Jinka Harish Babu registered the title 'Thupaki' with the Telugu Films Chamber and wanted to direct and produce this venture which will focus on terrorism. He expressed that he came to know the title of this ARM - Vijay venture only through media reports and his film is already taking good shape and he hasn't given his title to any one.

'Thupaki' will go on floors shortly. We'll get back to you shortly with more on this front...

Karthika, who has bagged a meaty role in Bharathiraja's upcoming film 'Annakodiyum Kodiveeranum', will be seen in four stages of life in this film where she plays the titular role. "I play four stages in her (Annakodi) life, I will be seen as a kid, teenager, a woman and an old lady", says the 'Ko' girl.

Looks like, the director who initially seems to have had some qualms about casting Karthika in an out-and-out village-based role, got convinced about the actress' potential for this particular role post a photo shoot. The actress on her part is being absolutely thrilled to be associated with this film, more so because of the director, who was responsible for introducing Mommy Radha into the film industry.

In 'Annakodiyum Kodiveeranum' Karthika will be seen essaying a full-fledged village girl. The shooting for this rustic film has already flagged off in Theni district. This will be Bharathiraja's comeback film, and for the audience to see if the ace film director is able to repeat history, this time with Radha Jr.

In her Tamil debut 'Ko', Karthika pulled off well the role of a strong woman journalist, we'll have to wait to know if she can repeat the magic with the contrast avatar of an immature village girl as well.

Grapevine has it that the Badshah of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan will play the lead role in the Hindi remake of 'Kanchana'. It is also said that choreographer-director-actor Lawrence, a popular face in the south who directed the original, will be directing the remake as well.

If all goes well, Lawrence will be directing the King Khan in his B-town debut! It can't get bigger for this multi-faceted film personality from the south. It was earlier said that Lawrence will be directing this film in Hindi with Salman Khan as the hero, but it now looks like his arch rival SRK will be seen in the lead.

However as rumour mills had earlier, Sanjay Dutt will be seen in the role of 'Kanchana' itself, a role reprised by Sarath Kumar in the original.

'Kanchana' is a horror flick in Tamil which made waves due to the script which had a good dosage of comic elements and had a reach with audience of all age groups. The film had a strong social message intertwined with it in a non-preachy manner.

An official confirmation is expected shortly.

Kamal Haasan at FICCI Press Meet

Versatile actor Kamal Haasan who is also the Chairman of industry body FICCI Media and Entertainment Business Conclave, arranged for a press conference. During the conference, he announced, the third edition of the FICCI Media and Entertainment Business Conclave 2011 scheduled for December 1 and 2, will focus on the theme ‘Embracing the Digital World’.

He also pitched for reduction in entertainment tax levied on films, saying there should be no second thoughts about it in order to keep the industry healthy. “It should be reduced..there is no second thoughts about it. People like me who do not have any political lineage and those who want the industry to thrive will ask for the same…”