Vijayakanth's GAJENDRA
Captain in smiles too! With ENGAL ANNA doing well at the box office, Vijaykant has launched his new project GAJENDRA. The film is a remake of telugu hit SIMMADHARI (Junior NTR peaked with this film). For the first time Suresh Krishna directs a Vijaykant starrer. The film is produced by V.A.Durai of Ever Green Movie International, who earlier gave Pithamagan. Deva scores music, while Liyagath Ali Khan who gave raging dialogues for many of Vijaykant’s earlier movies, makes a comeback. Telugu heroine Laya pairs with Captain. Captain has announced his plans of floating a political party and GAJENDRA is the right brand wagon (I saw the telugu version 5 times).

T Rajendar's starts VEERRASWAMY
TR is used to have a 9 tamil letter title and after a long time, here is a four letter title VEERASWAMY. TR is the hero. There is a second hero too who would be a new face. There would be three new heroines too. TR as always handles all the important portfolios. His son Kuralarasan acts in an important role. Shooting starts in March. The film would be a Diwali release. TR next plans to produce a film with Simbu as hero.

Kamal's KRISHNA LEELA
After a series of debacles, Kamal has given a solid hit. VIRUMAANDI is doing well in all the centres. The distributors have already made profits to the tune of 50 Lakhs. Kamal's next movie is a comedy film, Krishna Leela. Gouthami is acting opposite him! Kamal in a recent interview in one of the vernacular magazines has said that he is to unite with his children and that his daughters were keen to watch VIRUMAANDI with him. Kamal strongly believes that a husband and wife can get divorced but not a parent with their children. Kamal says that he is happy that his children are hereafter going to live with him and does not want to be reminded of the bitter past. Sarika who has come back to acting in Hindi films was the centre of attraction in the recent Screen weekly Awards function.

Vijay's New Film -MADHURAE
Vijay has completed the shooting of GILLI. The film is a remake of telugu hit, OKKADU. Trisha pairs with Vijay for the first time. Dharani of DIL and DHOOL fame, directs the film. For the first time Vijay is donning a different look for MADHURAE by Movie Magic Makers. The film is directed and produced by R.Madhesh , the co- producer of Mudhalvan and producer of CHOCOLATE. Vijay has two heroines. One of them is Sonia Aharwal and the other is Rakshitha (the “ Sanakya Girl” of DHUM). The selection of other artistes and technicians are in process. “This movie is an action entertainer with all commercial ingredients to attract all types of audience” said Madhesh . Shooting commences in March. Apart from the songs, some important scenes are planned to be shot abroad. “The audiences are going to see some special effects which have not been attempted before in Indian Cinema” claimed the director.

AVM Launches new film - Surya and Jyothika Pair Again
AVM launched their 166th film recently. Titled PERAZHAGAN, the film has Surya and Jothika acting in double roles. The mahurut took place at the AVM Studios 3rd floor which was attended by a host of film personalities. A remake of the Malayalam film KUNJIKOONAN, the film is directed by Sasi Shankar who made the original version. Manorama and Vivek play important roles. Yuvan Shankar Raja scores the music. Rathnavelu is the cameraman. Thotta Tharani is the art director.

Dhanush's SULLAN
Dhanush is diappointed with the result of PUTHUKOTTAYILIRUNTHU SARAVANAN. The recent court episodes involving his movie RAAGHAVA has tained his image as a "problem free hero". His next release is DEVATHAYAI KANDEN (heroine is Sri Devi) and then comes the Balumahendra film (Priyamani is the heroine). Dhanush is all set with his next film SULLAN directed by THIRUMALAI fame Ramana . Sindhu Tolani, one film old in Telugu (AITHE) has paired with Dhanush . Sullan in local Tamil means a street smart person who is talkative and gets provoked even for a small issue. Here Dhanush plays Sullan a slum dweller and son of a lorry driver ( Manivannan ). The whole film is happening in and around Chennai. “Though I live in a slum my language will be normal Tamil only” said Dhanush . Chandrasekhar, a distributor from Salem has turned a producer through SULLAN. A huge slum set has been erected at Prasads and shooting going on in full swing. Dhanush is in talks for Bala's new film!

Srikanth and Sneha Again
J.H.Murali who made AVVAI SHANMUGI with Kamal in Sri Mahlakshmi combines launched his second film BOSE with Srikanth doing the title role. Sneha who had a lull period after PARTHIBAN KANAVU is teaming up once again with Srikanth in the lead. Srikanth plays a commando for the first time. Yuvan Shankar Raja scores the music. Peter Hayne does action choreography. Vijay Milton cranks the camera. Senthil Kumar who gave Prakash Raj starrer Daya directs this film. “It's a love cum action film” says the director who also pens the story, screenplay and dialogues.

Teja Directs Tamil Film - Jayram
Radhika Sarathkumar who gave famous serials like Chitthi , Annamalai etc., for the first time producing a film JAYRAM. Teja , the popular director of Telugu films is being imported to Tamil . Teja writes the story and screenplay too. Teja's films like CHITRAM, NUUVU NENU and JEYAM were big hits in telugu. The lead pair is Navneet and Santhoshi . Other cast includes Pandiyarajan , Livingston, Nagesh , Manobala , Chittibabu , Madanbob , Abhinayasri etc. Radhika introduces 33 other new comers. The boxing scenes are said to be the highlight of the movie. For the first time there is going to be a 15 day shooting schedule in Pakistan with special permission from the Govt. of India. Anoop is introduced as a music director. Ravi Varman is the cinematographer. Radhika's second project will be JITTHAN.

M.Kumaran , Son of Mahalakshmi – Ravi 's next
Though JEYAM was a super hit and actor Ravi was flooded with offers he did not sign any film. He was waiting for a good script. Now after a long hunt finally he has signed for a film under their home banner ‘ Jeyam Company', titled differently as M.KUMARAN, SON OF MAHALAKSHMI. His brother Jeyam M.Raja directs this film too. Nadhiya , the heart throb of 80's is making a come back and plays the role of Mahalakshmi , mother of Ravi in the film. Prakashraj plays a boxer in the film. Music is not scored by R.P.Patnayak who gave hits songs in their earlier venture since Patnayak has become an actor himself.

KAAKHA KAAKHA goes to Hollywood
KAAKHA KAAKHA, the blockbuster of 2003 is going to Hollywood . Tentatively titled Guarding On , the Hollywood version will be based on a Russian cop who specializes in encounters. And it's taking director Gautham Menon and producer S. Thanu with it. They have started the company Malibu Tigers, which would produce the movie. When the duo approached the Hollywood producers for its remake in English, four of them – one of them being Ryan John son (executive producer of The Score starring Edward Norton and Robert de Nero) – liked the movie and asked them to get the script ready. Thanu and the American producers will be jointly producing this.

Simbu on MANMADHAN
Simbu celebrated his 21st birthday and distributed lunch for the children of Deaf and Dumb school at Chennai. Reacting to a question about the rumour that Jothika walked out of his next project MANMADHAN, he said, “I don't know who spreads such rumours . We just completed the first schedule of shooting in Chennai Fashion College amidst 2000 students”.
For the first time he has penned the story and screenplay. This film is the third venture of Indian Theatre Productions, S.K.Krishnakanth after Thiruda Thirudi and Putukottaiyilirunthu Saravanan . T.P. Gajendran , Amuda Durairaj and Muthukaalai are the supporting cast. 12 leading models from Mumbai have an important role to play in MANMADHAN. Dance sequences are to be shot abroad. A.J. Murugan debuts as a director . While Yuvan Shankar Raja composes the music, R.D.Rajshekar will crank the camera. KUTTHU is yet another project in which he is teaming up with Divya Bhandanas .

Parthiban the singer
Parthiban is on a high. KAADHAL KIRUKKAN did reasonable well and there is positive reports on THENDRAL. He is waiting for two more songs from Rehman to restart his YELELO. The actor –director - producer and has also authored a book containing poems, has taken a new avatar. He is singing a song in his forthcoming film KANNADI POOKAL, a remake of the Malayalam Jayaram starrer Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal. The song I Love You Chella Daddy is set to tunes by S A Rajkumar. Pa. Vijay is the lyricist. The other lead artistes are Kaveri, Sarath Babu, Nizhalgal Ravi and Thalaivasal Vijay.

BHOOT in Tamil as Prashanth's SHOCK
After JAI, Thiagarajan's Lakshmi Shanthi Movies is all set to produce a thriller film SHOCK which is the remake of the silver jubilee Hindi movie BHOOT . Prashanth is playing the lead along with Laila and Asin. After AANAZHAGAN, Thiagarajan is directing Prashanth in this movie. Apart from taking care of the direction, screen play and dialogues, Thiagarajan also acts as a strict police officer. Sarita comes in an important role. Kushboo, Ramya Krishna Vamsi, Sarath Babu, Raghuvaran, Sarada M.P., Virumaandi fame Pasupathy are among others cast in the movie. The story is jointly written by Shamir Sharma and Lalit Marthe. The music is scored by Saleem Sulaiman and lyrics are by Pa. Vijay. The background music which will send a chill down the spine of the viewer is being recorded in London. Cinematography is by M.V. Paneerselvam and the choreography is taken care of by Remo, Brinda and Rajasekhar. The art director is Yogamagi and editing is done by Sai Suresh. Stunt director Thalapathi Dinesh has given a new aspect to the stunt sequences. Shock is being shot with a new technology such that it cannot be reproduced on pirated VCD and if attempted only portions of the movie would be recorded