Category — News stories

Rajini was the center of attraction in the Dasavatharam Special Premiere held for the VVIPs. He showered praises on Kamal after watching the movie.

The premiere was specially organizated for the VVIPs of tamil cinema. K.Balachander, Nagesh, Manorama, Sathyaraj, Radhika, Sarathkumar, Surya, Bharath, Jyothika, Prabhu, Ramkumar, Santhanabarathy, Krazy Mohan were some of the dignitaries present.

Dasavatharam is all set to release this Friday.

Finally some news from Kuselan camp. Songs are being canned at a frenzy pace in Hyderabad. Rajini’s introductory song starting Cinema, Cinemathaan was shot with over 1000 co-artistes taking part. This song will feature Rajini in a flying horse.

The Punjabi pop icon Daler Mahendi will be lending his voice for Rajini for another song “Perinba Pechukkaran”. This song will be shot at Allepey. Daler Mahendi is one of the most sought after singers in Bollywood. He is so famous that A.R.Rehman wanted to use his voice in few of his Tamil songs, which he kept refusing. G.V.Prakash somehow managed to cajole Daler to sing for Rajini.

Watch for G.V.Prakash & Daler recording for Rajini in the video panel.

Ameer is one of the few directors that I admire. I liked his work in Raam & Paruthi Veeran. However sometimes I am annoyed by his attitude. Whenever he opens his mouth for an interview he has the habit of criticizing someone. I never liked his attitude of always trying to judge others. I was pleasantly surprised when he actually chose to praise someone.

Recently he was interviewed by a TV channel and some tamil magazines in which he made some observations on the fast called by the Tamil Film artistes. Defending Rajini and attacking his detractors, some of the points that he made were quite interesting. This is what he had to say:

‘தமிழ்ப் பெண்ணை மணந்தவர்… தன் மகளை ஒரு தமிழனுக்கு மணமுடித்து வைத்தவர். உள்ளத்து அளவில் மட்டுமல்லாது வெளிப்படையாகவே ‘நான் தமிழ் மண்ணின் பக்கம்தான்’ என பட்டவர்த்தனப்படுத்தி யிருக்கிறார். இதற்கு மேல் ரஜினி தன் நெற்றியில் ‘நான் தமிழனுக்கு ஆதரவானவன்’ என்று பச்சை குத்திக்கவா முடியும்? உடனே, ‘ரஜினி கர்நாடகத்தில்தானே சொத்துக்களை வாங்கிக் குவித்திருக்கிறார்?’ என குற்றமழை பொழிகிறார்கள். ரஜினி மட்டும்தான் கர்நாடகத்தில் சொத்து வாங்கியிருக்கிறாரா? மொரீ ஷியஸ், சுவிட்சர்லாந்து… ஏன் செஷல்ஸ் தீவில்கூட சொத்துக்களை வாங்கிக் குவித்திருக்கும் தமிழர்களை எனக்குத் தெரியுமே..!

பாக்கு விளம்பரம் தொடங்கி தேர்தல் வரைக்கும் அத் தனைக்கும் நமக்குத் தேவைப்படுகிற ரஜினி, தண்ணீர்ப் பிரச்னை வரும்போது மட்டும் தள்ளிவைத்துப் பார்க்கப் படுவது என்ன நியாயம்? அவருடைய நம்பகத்தன்மையை ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் மேடை போட்டு சோதிப்பது வருத்தத்துக்குரிய விஷயம். முப்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக ரஜினி, தமிழ்த் தயாரிப்பாளர்களுக்கும் தமிழ் விநியோகஸ்தர்களுக்கும் படம் செய்து கொடுத்திருக் கிறார். அவர் சம்பாதித்ததைவிட அவரை வைத்து சம்பாதித்த தமிழ்த் தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் அதிகமல்லவா! ரஜினி ஆயிரம் இடங்களில் வீடு கட்டி வைத்திருக்கலாம். போய் வரலாம். ஆனால், மனைவி மக்களோடு வாழ்க்கையை நடத்துவது சென்னை வீட்டில்தானே..!

எல்லாவற்றையும் தாண்டி சிந்திப்போம்…ரஜினி சொன்னால் மட்டும் கர்நாடகாக்காரன்தண்ணீர் கொடுத்துவிடுவானா? நம்மையெல்லாம் நம்பி இந்த உண்ணாவிரதத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டு ஆவேசமாகப் பேசியதால் இன்று கர்நாடகத்தின் எதிரியாக அவர் சித்திரிக்கப்படுகிறார். இப்போதைக்குஅவர் யாருமற்ற நிராயுதபாணி என்கிற நிலை! அவர் தலையை இதற்கப்புறமும் உருட்டுவதை இனியாவது நிறுத்திக்கணும்.

Kudos to you, Ameer. You’ve made some interesting observations. Keep them coming!

“Rajinikant  is one of the rare persons who has been true to the culture of Maharashtra. This is because he has take the side of the state which has made him big”, said an article in Sivasena mouthpiece Saamna. Praising Rajini for openly supporting Tamil’s cause in the Hogenakkal issue, Saamna observed as above.

Sivasena has been severely critical that Amitabh Bachchan has not done enough to Maharashtra even though he made his name and fame in Mumbai. In their continuous attack on the Big B, they chose to draw a parallel between Big B and the Super Star. Rajini born in Maharashtra, grew up in Karnataka but eventually made it big (very big) in Tamilnadu, chose to side with Tamilnadu on important issues. Whereas Amitabh was born in Uttar Pradesh, but Mumbai is where he made his career. The article questioned how many actors in Mumbai would have the guts to agitate for a cause of Mumbai.

Although the article didn’t name Amitabh Bachchan by name, it was quite apparent that he was their prime target because of the ongoing war of words between Sivasena and Amitabh.

We don’t support the linguistic chauvinism in any way, particularly the violent brand that Sivasena and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike have been practicing. However we are always thrilled when someone points out the outstanding qualities of our Super Star!

Amid wide expectations, Super Star Rajini participated in the protest organized by the Tamil film artistes association in Chennai today.

He also spoke during the protest. He strongly condemned the violent attacks against tamils in Karnataka. He said that the political parties are playing a dangerous game for short term political mileage without giving due regard to the long term effects. His complete speech in tamil is below:

மிகவும் அதிகமாகப் பேசி புகழ் பெறுவதும் கஷ்டம், குறைவாகப் பேசி புகழ் பெறுவதும் கஷ்டம். இங்கே பேசியவர்கள் மிகவும் உணர்ச்சி வசப்பட்டார்கள். நியாயம்தான். நடந்துள்ள விஷயங்கள் அனைத்தும் மனதுக்கு மிகவும் வேதனையைத் தருவதாக உள்ளன.

குறிப்பாக கர்நாடகாவில் தமிழ் மக்கள் தாக்கப்பட்டதற்கு எனது கடுமையான கண்டனத்தைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன். தமிழ் மக்கள் மீதான வன்முறைக்குக் காரணமானவர்களைக் கண்டிக்கிறேன்.

பல ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பே ஓகேனக்கல்லின் ஒரு பகுதி கர்நாடகாவுக்கும், மறுபகுதி தமிழகத்துக்கும என ஒதுக்கப்பட்டது. தனக்காக ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட பகுதியிலிருந்து தண்ணீர் எடுத்துக்கொள்ள தமிழகத்தை எதிர்ப்பது எந்த விதத்தில் நியாயம்… உதைக்க வேண்டாமா, இதை எதிர்ப்பவர்களை.

நாடு எங்கே போய்க் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. அரசு, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் எல்லாம் இருக்கிறதா… மக்கள் யார் பேச்சைக் கேட்கிறார்கள்… யார் சொன்னால் கேட்பார்கள்… புரியவில்லை.
என்ன நடந்தாலும் கைகட்டி வேடிக்கைப் பார்க்க எதற்கு அரசாங்கம்? இந்த வட்டாள்… நாராயணகவுடாவை எல்லாம் விடுங்கள்.

கொஞ்சம் பெரிய தலைவர்கள் ரேஞ்சுக்குப் பேசுவோம். கர்நாடகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த நான் மிகவும் மதிக்கிற ஒரு தலைவர் அவர் (எதியூரப்பா). ஒரு பெரிய கட்சியின் சார்பில் முதல்வராகக் கூட இருந்தவர். சில தினங்களுக்கு முன் அவர் கர்நாடக மக்களைத் தூண்டிவிடும் வித்த்தில் பேசியிருக்கிறார். இதை அந்தக் கட்சி (பாஜக) சும்மா வேடிக்கைப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது.

காரணம் அங்கே விரைவில் வரப்போகிற சட்டசபைத் தேர்தல். அரசியல் ஆதாயத்துக்காக அப்படிச் செய்கிறார்கள். மக்கள் என்ன முட்டாள்களா.. அவர்களுக்கு ஒன்றுமே தெரியாதா…?

எல்லாவற்றையும் மேலிருந்து பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும் கடவுளுக்குச் சமமானவர்கள் மக்கள். அவர்களை யாரும் ஏமாற்ற முடியாது. உண்மையாகப் பேச வேண்டும். மனசாட்சிக்கு விரோதமில்லாமல் நடந்து கொள்ள வேண்டாம்.

மக்களுக்கு ஒரு நாள் நீங்கள் பதில் சொல்லியே தீர வேண்டும். நான் கர்நாடகத்திலிருக்கும் மதிப்புக்குரிய தேவ கெளவுடா, குமாரசாமி, எடியூரப்பா, சித்தராமையா போன்றவர்களுக்கு ஒன்று சொல்லிக் கொள்கிறேன். அரசியலுக்காக ஆட்டம் போடாதீர்கள்… அப்புறம் நீங்கள் இருக்க மாட்டீர்கள். அழிந்து போவீர்கள்.

இந்த பிரச்னைக்கு உடனடியாக தீர்வு காண வேண்டும். நகத்தால் கிள்ளி எறிய வேண்டிய இந்த பிரச்னைக்கு இப்ப‌ோது தீர்வு காணாவிட்டால், பிறகு கோடாலி கொண்டும் வெட்டி தீர்வு காண முடியாது.

இந்த அரசியல் விளையாட்டில் பாதிக்கப்படுவது மிகச் சாதாரண மக்கள் தான். இதனால் உண்மையைப் பேசுங்கள், அரசியல் லாபத்துக்காக எதையும் பேசாதீர்கள்.

Along with Rajini, many leading actors and actresses participated in this one day token fast. Some prominent personalities include Nadigar Sangam chief Sarath Kumar, DMDK chief Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Vijay, Ajith, Dhanush, Trisha, Nayanatara, Sneha, and Manorama.

Folks, it cannot get any better than this. Latest buzz in the filmi circles is that, none other than Kamalhassan will feature in Robot. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, sources close to Shankar’s camp said that Kamal was approached to lend his voice for Jeeno, the robotic puppy that is playing a pivotal role in the movie. Kamal enthusiastically agreed to play this role. He reportedly even went for a voice test that happened in Ramoji Rao Film City in Hyderabad last month, where he tried different modulations of his voice. Both Kamal and Shankar were quite happy with the results, we hear.

There is a trend in hollywood to use superstars’ voice for animated movies. Such movies turned out to be huge blockbusters. To name a few, Shrek, The Bee Movie, Finding Nemo, Shark Tale are such movies. Super stars such as Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro who lent their voices added life to the movie, so to speak. Shankar is introducing another hollywood phenomenon to Indian cinema. Hats off to him!

Jeeno the robotic dog, was an important character in Sujatha’s original ‘En Iniya Iyanthiraa’, a novel on which the Robot movie is based. This character reached such a cult status, that Sujatha named the sequel after the dog ‘Meedum Jeeno’. This character captured the readers’ imagination in that legendary novel. We have to wait and see if Shankar can recreate that magic in silver screen.

There is no better person to lend the voice for Jeeno than Kamal. I remember a hilarious scene in Punnagai Mannan where Kamal playing the role of Chaplin Chellappa, tries hard to pacify a crying child. He would mimic different animals like a dog, a rooster and a monkey, to make that kid smile. He amazed with me with the perfection that he brought to the not-so-important scene of the movie. Lets see if he can use his animal instincts to add depth to Jeeno’s character in Robot. Cant’ wait to see!!!

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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s cup of joy overfloweth! The gorgeous actress said that the main reason for her accepting the film Robot is none other than the Super Star himself.

While Ash had several offers in the past to work with Rajini, none worked out. “At every phase of my career I’ve been offered something with him. All those projects fell through. There was no way I was going to say no this time”, the actress said.

“I can proudly say I’ve worked with the stalwarts of North Indian and South Indian cinema - Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikant! What more could I ask for ?” said a visibly thrilled beauty queen.

The Telugu version of Kuselan was formally launched in a star studded function in Hyderabad. The function took place at Hyderabad’s opulent convention center Hitex. This event was well attended by who’s who of Telugu filmdom. Some prominent personalities that attended the function were Telugu Mega Star Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Ram Charan, Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Mr.ChandraBabu Naidu, Union Minister Mr.Dasari Narayana Rao.

This function turned out to be an spectacular extravaganza with formal sit-down dinner served complete with wine. Those who spoke on the occasion heaped praise on the producer of the movie and owner of Vyjayanthi movies Mr. Aswini Dutt. Though Aswini is popular in Hyderabad for organizing such trendy events and his marketing abilities, this particular one exceeded his own standards.

The Super Star was in quite a humorous mood, I would say. He seemed to enjoy the company and the attention he was getting. He recalled an incident where his friend Mohan Babu suggested that Rajini should stick to Tamil movies. Though he didn’t mention him by name but chose to refer him as his best friend, it was an easy guess for everyone that Rajini was talking about Mohan Babu. He said at a time when he was shuttling between Chennai and Hyderabad for acting in Tamil and Telugu movies simultaneously, Mohan Babu pointed out the ugly politics that is rampant in Telugu movie industry and he suggested it is better that Rajini concentrates on Tamil movies only. At one point, a prominent producer wanted to cast Rajini as a hero in a Telugu movie for which he was going to give 1.5 acres of land in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills area as his remuneration. That was several years ago and Mohan Babu said it was such a cheap place and that producer is cheating Rajini by giving him land in a worthless area. Recalling this incident, Rajini said, “I think my friend thought I would be a threat to his popularity in Telugu cinema, that he wanted to keep me away from Telugu movies!”. At once the entire audience burst into laughter. FYI, Jubilee Hills is Hyderabad’s most expensive neighborhood and an acre there costs several crores now.

The Telugu version of Katha Parayambol is directed by P.Vasu as well. The barber’s role goes to Jagapati Babu. Guess what is the title of the Telugu version? Thats right, it is ‘Kucheludu’.

Dr Gayathri Srikanth has made an interesting revelation in her book, on the Super Star saying `No’ to the CM post, when it came his way thro’ the then Prime Minister of India, Mr P V Narasimha Rao.

It happened in 1995, as has been penned in the biography of Rajini, titled The Name is Rajnikanth, when the then PM called Rajini over phone and expressed his desire to offer him the CM post n behalf of the Congress. It was the time when the Super Star was gaining support in his open attack on then CM Jayalalitha and was seen as a Congress sympathizer. Rajini, is believed to have sought for some time to think it over and decide upon it. Rao had suggested him to meet in person when he drops in Chennai to discuss further.

A meeting between the two happened in the Congress headquarters when Rajini said no to the offer. Super Star also opined that G K Moopanar would be an ideal choice for the CM post and also suggested an alliance with the DMK and give them another chance (Congress was in alliance with the ADMK then)

But Rao was not favoring those suggestions especially offering another chance to the DMK since it was almost 3 decades then the Congress was out of power in the State. While he was keen in getting the Congress to emerge as a power, which would be easy, should Rajini enter the fray directly,  he was not so keen in announcing GK Moopanar as the CM candidate.

Therefore he decided otherwise and the rest is history.

Now, Rajini’s refusal is boon or bane for him ?

The much awaited biography on Rajinikanth “The Name is Rajinikanth” was released in a colorful function at Taj Connemara yesterday. Veteran journalist & actor Cho Ramaswamy released the book and Rajini’s daughter Ms. Soundarya Rajinikanth received the book. The function was attended by many film personalities including AVM Saravanan, K.S.Ravikumar, K. Balachander & Sivakumar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Cho said, contrary to the popular misconception, he does not advise Rajini on political matters. Although Rajini consults many on politics he is capable of making his own decisions. Urging Rajini to enter active politics, he said when he enters politics he can become an able administrator like Narendra Modi of Gujarat. Through his efficient administration he can turn Tamilnadu into another Gujarat, Mr. Cho said.

Authored by Dr.Gayathri Srikanth and published by Om Books International, “The Name is Rajinikanth” has created a huge interest among Rajini’s fans and public in general.