KollywoodThe trailer suggests that the film is a faithful remake of 'Tumhari Sulu'.Tnm StaffYoutube ScreengrabThe official teaser of Jyothika’s Kaatrin Mozhi was released on Thursday. The one-minute teaser begins with the actor practising a deep-throated modulation of “hello”. The rest of the teaser tries to capture Jyothika’s character and her relationship with her co-stars. Actor Vidarth plays her husband and Lakshmi Manchu her boss at the FM station. Kaatrin Mozhi is the Tamil remake of the Bollywood flick Tumhari Sulu, starring Vidya Balan in the lead. Therefore, the teaser has stayed in line with the original’s teaser wherein Vidya Balan does the sexy-version of “hello”. The superhero cape and quirky expressions have been retained from the original. The teaser also reveals her name in the film - Vijayalakshmi. Kaatrin Mozhi is being directed by Radha Mohan who had previously collaborated with Jyothika in Mozhi...
- 9/20/2018
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
KollywoodHave you ever wondered what life's like for the people who dance behind the hero or appear in scores of films as part of a crowd scene? Sowmya RajendranImage for representation onlyHe has acted in Sketch, Kaala and a number of blockbusters over the last several years. But chances are, if you meet him, you'll never recognise him. 29-year-old Ashok is a junior artiste like scores of others in the Tamil film industry. These are the people who appear in the background or may do small roles that go unnoticed in films. "I've mostly acted in crowd scenes or as part of the background," says Ashok. "I've acted as the house-help in Siddharth's upcoming film Shaitan Ka Bachcha." Ashok, who has been in Kollywood for the past five years, continues to work as a junior artiste but has also become a "kind of" agent for them. It is the agents who work as the bridge between the artistes and the filmmakers. "If someone needs junior artistes for a film, they contact the agent and the agent gets them the people they need," he says. "I'm not exactly an agent. I have friends who've studied but don't have a job. I coordinate among them and organise them for shoots. I have agents above me in the hierarchy." The agent takes home a sizable chunk as commission from the meagre pay - a few hundreds - that junior artistes get. Of dreams and abuse Ashok sounds disillusioned with the film industry. He came from Madurai to Chennai in search of a job and ended up in Kollywood. "You can never hope to become a star by doing these roles," he says. "People treat us so badly. There are some directors like Shankar who are reasonably good to work with but others shout at us and abuse us." Naming a prominent young director who has made blockbuster films, Ashok says that he is very short-tempered and uses abusive language with junior artistes like him. He also recounts an instance when a junior artiste was slapped on the sets, but the director of a big banner film didn't react when he heard about it. "I don't know if he'll remember the incident now. It became an issue then but when we went to complain to him, he didn't even have the time to listen to us," says Ashok. "They discriminate even in the food. The light manager will get one kind of food, we'll get another. It's sometimes insufficient. When we have to travel for shoots, we are put up in wedding halls and have to sleep there," he adds. 20-year-old Kishore, another junior artiste who has worked in a handful of films, agrees with Ashok. He's a second year B.Com college student who came into the field only to see stars in real life. "They don't even give us the respect that they give to people who've come for auditions," he says. "It's worse for the women." Kishore has tried his hand at auditions for small roles in Endhiran and 2.O. But he has bigger dreams of playing the hero's friend, or doing a comedy role in future. 'Adjustment' culture Cp Ranisri has been working in the Tamil film industry for the past two years. She has done small roles in many films, including Magalir Mattum and Aramm. "I'm not a junior artiste. I've done small roles and have even had dialogues," she said. "In Magalir Mattum, I'd acted as a 'terror' warden – they made me look dark for that role – and I even had dialogues for which I did dubbing, but they cut all that from the film. It's okay, they can only keep what they needed, right?" Ranisri is 37 and came into Kollywood with the idea that she could raise money for social work through the contacts she makes. She works with a charitable trust for women but says she does not make any money through it. "I get paid Rs 2,500 for indoor (shoots) per call sheet. For outdoor, I get as much as Rs 4,000," she says. A call sheet is a schedule which has the details of where and when artistes should report for a day of filming. Asked about how the smaller artistes are treated on sets, Ranisri says, "I've never got a scolding. If we do our job properly, why will they shout at us? If we're on the phone all the time or if we don't do what they ask us to do, it can happen. They want to get the job done and if we do it, there's no problem." Ranisri acknowledges that there is an "adjustment" culture in the Tamil film industry, where women artistes are asked to provide sexual favours in exchange for work. "People on the outside think poorly of the film industry. I've acted in ten films but only two have released so far. All these are big banner films with big artistes. In all these films, nobody has misbehaved with me. I've been to outdoor shoots for Magalir Mattum and Aramm but faced no problems," she says. However, Rani goes on to add: "There are many who think they can earn money quickly and do character roles if they 'adjust'. This is a wrong idea, but it has unfortunately become common. In the smaller companies I've been to, people have asked me also, but I'd rather stay at home and do nothing." Ranisri looks forward to playing bigger roles in future; "Who doesn't dream?" she asks. Dancing their way to the hero 27-year-old Humai, who currently works as an assistant choreographer, has worked as a dancer for the past 10 years. He has worked in films like Mersal and a number of other big budget flicks over the years. "You have to become a member of the Tamil Nadu Film, Television Dancers and Dance Directors Union. The price of the card is Rs 3 lakh. They select around 20 members a year based on your dance audition. We then work with different dance masters and are called to work in films through them," he says. Humai says that the competition among dancers is to keep moving ahead in the lines for the group dance and finally make it to the coveted positions – to the right or left of the hero in the song. He points out that since the dancers go as a team, they don't face too many problems. "For smaller films, yes, there have been times when the food is not good and we've made it into an issue, but for the bigger banners, it's usually smooth," he says. The biggest problem confronting dancers in the Tamil film industry is that unlike earlier times when they could also work in other industries, they're now restricted to Kollywood. "It is difficult to make back the 3 lakhs you spend on the card. It was possible earlier but it's difficult now. We used to work in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and even Hindi but now we're doing only Tamil. Because dance choreographers have come up in all these industries and they're barring people from outside," he says. A background dancer – man or woman – makes around Rs 2,400-2,600 per call sheet. Other than the restrictions on working in other industries, the kind of films the Tamil industry makes has changed. "They don't make films with dance songs that much now. This has affected our work. The crew working in other departments remain unaffected but in our homes, if there has to be food on the table, there should be dance in the film. Earlier, there will be at least three dance songs in a film but now it's only one song," he says.
- 1/11/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe film marks the first time collaboration of Bala and Jyothika, whose role in the film is said to be the biggest highlight of the story.Digital NativeNational award-winning filmmaker Bala’s next film Naachiyaar has been confirmed to hit the screens worldwide on February 9. The film stars Jyothika as a foul-mouthed and ruthless cop, and composer-actor Gv Prakash Kumar as a petty thief. On Wednesday, the makers confirmed the film’s release date, which means it will release alongside another woman-centric film, Karu, the horror-thriller starring Sai Pallavi. Naachiyaar marks the first time collaboration of Bala and Jyothika, whose role in the film is said to be the biggest highlight of the story. In the teaser, Bala gave audiences a glimpse of Jyothika’s character – swearing and torturing people – and it drew mixed response. Prakash has crooned a number to Ilayaraja’s music in the film and he’s thrilled about it. This is the first time he has sung in the maestro’s composition and it’s definitely a proud moment in his career. Apparently, the song is said to come at an important juncture in the film and it was Bala who suggested Prakash should sing it. In Naachiyaar, Prakash plays a role that’s unlike anything he’s essayed so far in his career. He looked totally unrecognisable in the film’s teaser. After impressing everyone with her performance as a documentary filmmaker in Magalir Mattum, Jyothika’s role in Naachiyaar is eagerly awaited. According to industry sources, she took special lessons to get the Tamil accent of her character right as it’s not the usual slang. Bala insisted that Jyothika dub for her character and his idea seems to have made quite an impact, thanks to Jyothika’s cussing in the end of the teaser. Produced by Bala’s B Studios, the film is a thriller set in Chennai and Tanjore. Content provided by Digital Native.
- 1/11/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
Cinema Revathy has consistently defied the rigidity and prejudices of the film industry, making a place for herself as one of its most versatile actors. Anjana ShekarScreenshot - Power PandiThere are only a handful of actors who have been game changers during their time on screen and just a notable few have been able to sustain and evolve over time. Born Asha Kelunni Nair, actor Revathy is a familiar face in the Indian film industry and has enthralled many with her performances. Not to be tagged as an actor from the eighties, Revathy did more than just run-of-the-mill, girl-next-door characters. From the eighties through the nineties to now she has had a number of substantial roles to her credit. From the demure looking, simple-minded Muthupechi in Mann Vasanai (1983) to the bold and gutsy Sathya in Magalir Mattum (1994), Revathy has had a dynamic career, spanning across Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industries. The beginning of stardom Revathy’s first role, the one that fetched her the Filmfare Special Award - South in 1983, was that of a young girl from a village, Muthupechi. Directed by P Bharatiraja, Revathy was just 17 when she made her first debut. The very same year, her second film in Malayalam, Kattathe Kilikkoodu by director Bharatan, was a great success in Kerala that won several awards. After her third in Telugu, Seethamma Pelli by director Bapu, Revathy went on to play a blind, rape-survivor Seetha in Tamil in J Mahendran’s Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984). Revathy and Pandian in Mann Vasanai (1983) - Screenshot 1984 was an important year in Revathy’s career that helped her gain a reputation for playing undaunted, vivid women characters who were capable of fending for themselves. This was also the time when directors like Balu Mahendra, K Balachander and Mahendran were breaking stereotypes with their women-centric storylines with strong female leads and Revathy seamlessly fit into those roles. Following Kai Kodukkum Kai, Revathy went on to play Seetha in Pudhumai Penn directed by Bharathiraja. Seetha, just like her mythological namesake, is distraught when her husband doubts her chastity and Revathy does a commendable job as someone who defies the expectations of a male hegemonic society. Drawing inspiration from writer Subramania Bharati’s Pudhumai Penn poem, the climax shows her leaving her undeserving husband, an idea that veered away from conventional endings. The same year she also did Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal, directed by R Sundarrajan, playing a young, lonely widow who lives with her alcoholic father. An accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, her performance in the song Azhagu Malar Aada was highly appreciated by many. The film was a great success and was later remade in Telugu and Kannada. As an actor Revathy didn’t just win hearts. She was versatile in her choice of roles and often played strong, relatable women characters. Her big break, the one that put her name high on the charts, was her portrayal of Divya, a very spirited and headstrong girl who transforms into a woman through the course of the movie, in Mani Rathnam’s Mouna Ragam (1986). The film explored several themes like the complexity of arranged marriages, how a woman copes in a new environment, especially after marriage and the topic of divorce that was then a very taboo topic. It remains one of Revathy’s best performances to date. Following Mouna Ragam was Punnagai Mannan, K Balachandar’s 25th film, where she played the chirpy Sinhalese girl, Malini who tries to woo the once-scorned-in-love Kamal Haasan. A brilliant dancer herself, the film gave her ample opportunity to display her talents. Revathy and Mohan in Mouna Ragam (1986) - Screenshot By the late eighties, Revathi was juggling both Tamil and Malayalam films simultaneously. In 1988, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam for her performance in a women-centric film (with no male leads), Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal. As a mischievous, gypsy vagabond she personified free spirit and played the outsider perfectly. In just five years since her debut, Revathi proved her mettle to portray complex and fluid characters, giving herself a distinct edge in the industry. Peak of her career The nineties brought several notable roles her way and she lapped them all up, sometimes even steering the focus away from the male lead. Playing the multi-layered and reticent Thayamma in Kizhaku Vaasal (1990) brought home the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. Portraying a character such a Thayamma, a vulnerable, single woman who had to keep herself safe from the prying hands of an influential village chief, was as complex as roles could get. With very less dialogues, the character was her most expressive one yet. As a pained and helpless mother, Revathy made a mark for herself in Anjali (1990) directed by Mani Rathnam. Now here’s an actress who chose to play the mother at the peak of her career. Winning several awards, the film was pivotal in nurturing Revathy as an actor. In 1991, Revathy forayed into Hindi cinema with Love, a remake of her Telugu film Prema (1989). Her second film Muskurat in 1992 was also a remake of her 1991 Malayalam comedy blockbuster Kilukkam. The early nineties saw Revathy at her peak, straddling roles in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam cinema. This period also saw several notable performances coming from Revathy. In spite of being part of several star cast movies, often male-centric, Revathy managed to carve a niche for herself with her performances. For instance, as Panchavarnam, a naive and doting wife to a village chieftain's son in 1992’s Thevar Magan, she won several accolades including National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. Revathy in Thevar Magan (1992) - Screenshot The following year in 1993, Revathy again won the Filmfare for playing Thulasi in Balu Mahendra’s Marupadiyum. As a woman caught in a failing marriage, Revathy portrays anguish, acceptance and eventually poise as a headstrong, independent woman. The film, a remake of Mahesh Bhatt's 1982 Hindi film Arth, was Tamil cinema’s coming-of-age depiction of a strong woman characters. The cherry on the cake really is her portrayal of Sathya in 1994 Magalir Mattum. The film was lauded during its days for addressing sensitive topics like workplace harassment and the hardships faced by working woman. Her most recent Malayalam film, Molly Aunty Rocks! (2012) gave her a great platform after a long time for which she was nominated in Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam. Directorial venture Revathy’s directorial venture happened in the year 2002. Encouraged greatly by her husband Suresh Chandra Menon who was also its producer, Revathy directed Mitr, my friend, an English film written by V Priya with screenplay by Sudha Kongara Prasad. The film won Best Feature Film in English, Best Actress (Shobhana) and Best Editing (Beena Paul) at the 49th National Film Awards. The film was also special for having an all-women crew. Her second film, Phir Milenge (2004), though not a commercial success explored the topic of AIDS and its actors, Shilpa Shetty and Abhishek Bachchan, received acclaim for their performances. Her last directorial venture was Red Building Where The Sun Sets (2011), a short film on the kind of emotional damage a child undergoes due to his/her parents fighting all the time. The short film won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare. Revathy was also one of the very few actors who forayed into television serials during the peak of her career. Penn (1991), a mini television series, directed by Suhasini Maniratnam had a stellar cast and Revathy was part of the first episode that discussed mother-daughter relationship. She also did a few other serials, including Boom Boom Shakalakka (2000), a TV series for children, where she played a liliput with magical powers. One of the most versatile and transformational actors in the industry, Revathy is a constant presence on screen working on films like 2 states (2014), Margarita With A Straw (2015), Amma Kanakku (2016), to name a few. After Pa Pandi in 2017 (Tamil) she is currently filming Azhiyatha Kolangal and Gulebakavali in Tamil that are slated for release in 2018. Revathy also hosted Malayalee House (Malayalam equivalent of the reality show Big Boss) in 2013 on Surya TV. She is now part of Azhagu, a Tamil television soap that is currently on air.
- 1/8/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe poster for 'Maratha Samugam' says the film will be based on the 'love which was not accepted in Udumalaipet'. Tnm Staff sankar-and-kausalya.jpgThree days ago, a Tiruppur court convicted six out of the 11 accused in the gruesome murder of Sankar, a Dalit man, who had married Kausalya, a woman belonging to the dominant Thevar community. On the heels of the verdict comes the announcement that a film about the crime titled Maratha Samugam or 'Society that hasn't changed' will be made. The poster of the film which has been released says, 'The love which was not accepted in Udumalaipet, as a story'. Sankar had been murdered in Udumalaipet on March 13, 2016. Kausalya was also grievously injured but survived the attack. From being a depressed and suicidal woman, she went on to become a strong voice against caste. It was her will to fight the legal battle that has led to the conviction of the accused. Director Pankaj S Balaji is said to be making the film. There have been Tamil films in the past about 'honour' killings, notably Balaji Sakthivel's Kaadhal. Radha Mohan's Gouravam is another such film. Trisha's upcoming Garjanai, which is the Tamil remake of Nh 10, will also be on the same theme. The Sankar-Kausalya case has already made its way to popular culture. In Jyothika's Magalir Mattum, her character performs inter-caste marriages and one of the couples who get married are called Sankar and Kausalya. Tamil films on real life cases have been made earlier. Like this highly publicised case, Kollywood has also been interested in making a film based on the Swathi murder case which shook the state. However, the family had raised objections to the film. Kausalya has said that she will fight further until everyone, including her mother, is convicted in the case. She has also said that she will not rest until a law that specially deals with 'honour' killings comes into existence. While Kausalya's efforts have won her praise and support from several, many casteist people have also resorted to abusing her for her actions. #MarathaSamugam Movie Poster On https://t.co/8CCSZ98yLH pic.twitter.com/KAxCsrPGGR — Nikkil (@onlynikil) December 13, 2017 Enanble Notification: NoTNM Marquee: No...
- 12/15/2017
- by Editor
- The News Minute
Jyothika is riding high on the success of Magalir Mattum, her second film since her comeback to cinema.
At the recent Jfw Awards, Jyothika gave a charged up speech on the women in her life and also thanked her female fans who have stood by her and come to see her films in large numbers.
At the recent Jfw Awards, Jyothika gave a charged up speech on the women in her life and also thanked her female fans who have stood by her and come to see her films in large numbers.
- 11/8/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
For years, Tamil cinema has made it a point to hit out at women showing even the slightest independent streak. So, a song from Magalir Mattum, Jyothika's new film releasing this Friday, comes as a breath of fresh air.
Called 'Adi vaadi thimira', the song features ordinary women and girls going about their everyday lives. Diya – Suriya and Jyothika's daughter – is also part of the video and can be seen running on an athletic track.
Called 'Adi vaadi thimira', the song features ordinary women and girls going about their everyday lives. Diya – Suriya and Jyothika's daughter – is also part of the video and can be seen running on an athletic track.
- 9/13/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
By Haricharan Pudipeddi
Actor Jyothika, who will be seen playing a documentary filmmaker in forthcoming Tamil drama Magalir Mattum, says it's a challenge to make female-centric films with the hope of earning profits in a male-dominated industry.
Having made a smashing comeback to acting with the 2015 Tamil drama 36 Vayadhinile, Jyothika is eagerly looking forward to the release of Magalir Mattum.
Actor Jyothika, who will be seen playing a documentary filmmaker in forthcoming Tamil drama Magalir Mattum, says it's a challenge to make female-centric films with the hope of earning profits in a male-dominated industry.
Having made a smashing comeback to acting with the 2015 Tamil drama 36 Vayadhinile, Jyothika is eagerly looking forward to the release of Magalir Mattum.
- 9/12/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
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