Sreenivasan and Dileep play key roles in Passenger, a film directed by debutante Ranjith Shankar and produced by S.C. Pillai under the banner of Vijay Combines.

Mamtha Mohandas and Lakshmi Sharma play the leading ladies in the film, which also has in the cast Jagathy Sreekumar, Innocent, Harisri Ashokan, Nedumudi Venu, Anoop Chandran etc.

Cinematography by P. Sukumar, editing by Sreekar Prasad, lyrics by Anil Panachooran and music by Bijibal are among the highlights of Passenger, which reportedly is an entertainer. The 'Pooja' ceremony for the film was held recently in Kochi and the film will be shot at locations in Kochi, Guruvayoor and Shornur. More details are awaited.

Surjith Girish

Popular Tamil actor Prabhu, whose earlier ventures in Malayalam included Priyadarshan's Kalapani, Rajasenan's Malayali Mamanu Vanakkam, Vinayan's War and Love and a guest role in Sunderdas' Kanninum Kannadikkum, is once again doing a role in a Malayalam movie.

This time the Tamil star is acting in Meghatheertham, a film directed by debutante director Unni. Others in the cast include Mukesh, Saikumar, Manikuttan, Bhama, Padmapriya, Muktha etc. Unni also does the script for the film.

Produced by T.P. Salim and Shaji Natesan under the banner of Green Advertising and Bravo Film, Meghatheertham also has in the cast many other prominent artists including Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Yavanika Gopalakrishnan etc. While Utpal V. Nayanar cranks the camera for the film, songs penned by Gireesh Puthencherry are being set to tune by Sharath. The film has already started rolling in and around Alathoor, near Palakkad.

Surjith Girish

The last time we saw Kalabhavan Mani playing hero was in Kabadi Kabadi, after which he appeared in supporting roles in films like Parthan Kanda Paralokam, Maya Bazaar etc.

And now, Mani is all set to play the lead once again in Malayali, to be directed by V.S. Sudhesh. The 'pooja' ceremony for the film was recently held at Lal Media in Ernakulam.

Malayali, to be produced under the banner of Real Cinema, will introduce new face Niya as the heroine, while the rest of the cast is yet to be decided. J. Pallasserry will pen the screenplay and dialogues, based on story by director Sudhesh himself.

The film will have as prime locations Palani, Vadakkancherry and Palakkad. Details about the theme and other things are yet to be divulged.

Surjith Girish

Director Satyan Anthicaud and actor Jayaram have teamed up many times in the past to give some really enjoyable movies such as Ponmuttayidunna Tharaavu, Mazhavilkavadi Manassinakkare, and Yathrakkarude Shradhdhaykku.

Now after a gap, the two are all set to stage a comeback as a team. It is learnt that Satyan Anthicaud, who is also scripting the movie is busy with the script-work and once that is over, he will decide on the heroine, most probably a new face.

Illayaraja, who has been composing music for Satyan Anthicaud films for the past few years regularly, will be in charge of the music direction for this film too. The film is expected to start rolling early in 2009 and may get released in the first half of the year itself. More details about the project are yet to be divulged.

Surjith Girish

After a very dull Onam (the dullest in the past many years) and a rather dull Ramzan (with just one of the Eid releases likely to turn a big hit), it's now Christmas that the Malayalam film industry is looking forward to. And to cash in on the Christmas season, it's heard that four films are getting ready.

While Mammootty and Mohanlal will clash once again during Christmas at the box office, there is also a Dileep starrer in the offing plus Shafi's youthful flick Lollypop. Mammootty will have for this Christmas the bilingual Vande Matharam (Aruvadai in Tamil), in which he co-stars with Tamil star 'Action King' Arjun and with Sneha as the heroine. Mohanlal will have for his Christmas release the Shaji Kailas-directed murder mystery Red Chillies, scripted by A.K.Sajan.

Dileep, who hasn't had a release for quite some time, will most likely have one this Christmas in the Deepu Karunakaran-directed Crazy Rascals (that seems to be the name that the makers have finalized at last, after announcing almost half-a-dozen other titles). The Shafi-directed youthful Lollypop, with Prithviraj, Jayasurya and Kunchacko Boban in lead roles, will also hit screens during Christmas and given Shafi's track record, which comprises of hits only, this film is likely to turn a hit too.

In addition to these four films, some other smaller ones too may find their way to the theatres during or immediately before the Christmas season. AMMA's prestigious multi-starrer Twenty Twenty may probably get released this month itself, while a couple of Suresh Gopi films (Bullet and Boss) too are awaiting release. Another Suresh Gopi film Violet, which is in the making, may also make it to the theatres during the Christmas season. Well, there's still lot of time for the final picture to emerge.

Surjith Girish

They are dad and son in real life. Now they get ready to play dad and son in reel life too. Of course this may not be news as many others have already done it before. But since it concerns Sreenivasan and his son Vineeth, both popular in Malayalam Cinema in different capacities, it's news indeed.

Sreenivasan is popular not just as an actor, but as a wonderfully talented scenarist and director as well, while Vineeth Sreenivasan began his career in films as a singer and after singing some hit numbers, turned actor with 'Cycle'. Vineeth's popularity as a singer rests mainly on songs like Ente khalbile..., Karale Karalinte Karale... etc. As an actor he managed to win over hearts though he has worked in just one film, especially because his body language and mannerisms are just like that of his father whose acting style is much liked by people all over Kerala.

So now, Sreenivasan and Vineeth are set to act together in a film to be directed by V.M. Vinu, the director of movies like Balettan, Pallavoor Devanarayanan, Vesham etc. The film, to be produced by Seven Arts, will commence shoot next month. More details are awaited.

Surjith Girish.

Chennai, Sep 29 (IANS) Film technicians are fighting with one another, producers and exhibitors are at loggerheads - differences of opinion between various film bodies have cast a shadow over the Malayalam film industry. And if the problems persist, movies worth Rs.1.8 billion will get stuck, say industry watchers.

"Former Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) president Vinayan and three other office-bearers were declared persona non grata by the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) following his allegations suggesting backdoor machinations by the body," a MACTA official told IANS.

FEFSI president S.Vijayan postponed the MACTA elections in August, alleging that Vinayan had made a faulty voters' list. Vinayan obtained a precautionary court stay against the poll.

"Several leading lights of the Malayalam industry called MACTA as the personal fiefdom of Vinayan - following his autocratic handling of director Siddique who had attempted to discipline errant actors and have deserted it," a FEFSI official said.

Said producer-director-actor Balachandra Menon: "No creative person can be fettered by trade unions as every creator is an entity unto himself. Yet, there is a discernible trend to form groups and clash with similar entities in the industry - a totally strange phenomenon."

While these attempts at one-upmanship may upset shooting schedules, producer-exhibitor skirmishes add to the problem.

Demands by a body of exhibitors in Kerala to stagger fresh releases - screening them in major cities first and bringing the same prints to rural areas later - has met with stiff opposition from producers who think that the move will only benefit DVD pirates.


SURJITH GIRISH :icon_question:

ozhikode, Sep 24 (IANS) The Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF), an organisation of movie theatres, has decided to fund film producers who are ready to make small budget Malayalam films. The decision was taken at a federation meeting Wednesday evening.

"We are going ahead with a project to fund those producers who are ready to make film at a budget of less than Rs.15 million. For this purpose we are ready to mobilise around Rs.9 million from our members," KFEF president M. Mohammed Ansar said.

The KFEF decision follows a fall in film production in Kerala.

Under this scheme, KFEF intends to produce at least ten films a year.

"We have fixed assets in theatres. If we have no films to show in the theatre, we will run into losses," said Ansar.

The KFEF said it is the steep rise in the production cost that resulted in the fall in the number of films. The federation members said it is possible to produce good films with small budget.

"At present Kerala has a situation where there is a problem of a large number of theatres with small number of films," said Issac Francis, a member of the federation.

The federation has also decided to ask film producers to provide a list of theatres where they intend to release their films. The KFEF said this decision was taken as producers often release movies in theatres located close to each other, which results in sharp drop in revenue.

"We pay huge advances to book films in the belief that we are premiering the movie. But usually it is on the release day we come to know that the movie is being released in nearby theatres also. This badly hits us and we even fail to realise the advance paid for the movie," Francis said.

Kochi, Sep 9 : Veteran Malayalam filmmaker P.N. Menon died Tuesday at a private hospital here. He was 82.

He has left behind some masterpieces like "Olavum Theeravum", "Chembarathi", "Kuttiyedathi", "Mappusakshi" and "Malamukalile Daivam".

In his four decade career, Menon directed 23 films. He debuted as director in the sixties with "Rosie" (1965). His last directorial venture was "Nerkkuneru", which he made in 2004.

After completing his studies at Trichur School of Art, Menon did various small jobs in the film industry in Chennai like painting sets, and working as visual artist and poster designer.

He has also won both state and national honours for his films.

His first major film "Olavum Theeravum", released in 1969, heralded the new wave of movies in the 60s and 70s in Malayalam cinema.

Surjith Girish

Veteran Actor Thilakan has been the news all through the year, but for wrong reasons. He was there in interviews lambasting AMMA, the artists association and one of his co actors Nedumudi Venu for, unethically grabbing his roles.

The actor, who is said to be facing an unofficial boycott from major commercial ventures, will be back in the lead in the new film by popular mini screen director Sohanlal.

The movie titled 'Orkkuka Vallapozhum' will be scripted by the director himself and will feature debutante Shilpa Balan as the heroine.

Produced by Vinu Y S in the banner of God's own movies, the movie will have Thilakan as a seventy five year old Sethumadhavan, who tracks back his life to the age of innocence.

Last year Thilakan appeared in the lead in one movie titled 'Ekantham', which went on to bag the national award. The actor was even considered for the award for the best actor in the national level, for the performance in this movie.

Surjith Girish :icon_question:

Shaji N Karun’s latest film “kuttysrank” tells the story of the protagonist in three differing viewpoints of three women. This is Shaji’s fourth Malayalam Film after the much acclaimed ‘Piravi’, ‘Swaham’ and Vanaprastham’.
The movie is produced by Reliance Entertainment under the banner of Big Motion Pictures, the first ever Malayalam production by Anil Ambani’s newly launched entertainment concern.
The film is set in the early 60’s and is about a boat driver who runs a parcel service between Kodungaloor and kollam, through the back waters of Kerala. He has no home and no religion. He has three concubines in three different Islands on his route, and each has got a different type of relationship with him. The women meet for the first time only after the death of the protagonist when they are called on to identify his body.
With such a surrealistic story line, the supreme star of Mollywood Mammotty is getting a chance to portray three types of characters in three varying get ups in a single movie.


Surjith Girish.

The 13th Trivandrum International Film Festival got off to a start on the 1st august at kalabhavan.

Organized by the chalachitra Film Society, the TIFF has been the cynosure of public attention for the last several years, owing to the variegated cinematic geners that it brings to light for film enthusuasts in kerala. The 13th edition of TIFF focuses on World Cinema and Asian Cinema.

The spotlight would be on Srilankan Cinema that would dwell on sixty years of film making in that country. There would also be a Retro on Dan Wolman, the Celebrated Israeli director with eight of his renowned films being screened.

TIFF was inaugrated by the prominent Malayalam director Shaji N Karun.
The festival Book was released on the occasion by the Chalachithra Academy Chairman- K R Mohanan
Additional Chief Secretary to the govt, Jayakumar IAS And Dan Wolman Were Present.


Surjith Girish

Arjun is a well known name in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films.

He is now playing the role of a hero for the first time in a Malayalam film.

The film has been titled as Vande Mataram and Aravind is the director.

Mammootty is playing a prominent character in the film.

Arjun is playing the role of an army officer in the film.
With this, Arjun becomes the first hero in south India to play hero in all the four south Indian language films.

Surjith Girish

Dileep who has not been able to make his mark at the box office with his recent releases is all set to appear in a new film and this time he will be donning the role of a blind man.

The film which has been titled 'Colours' will be seeing Dileep as a blind man who is out on a revenge against a group of policemen.

He is being paired up with the ravishing beauty Roma while the makers are also looking at a second female lead.

Surjith Girish

Vasundhara Das in 'Boss'

Vasundhara Das, famous singer and actress is making a comeback to Mollywood by appearing as the heroine in the latest Malayalam Movie ‘Boss'.

The actress joined the sets of the movie in Kochi, this week.

She will don the character of Pooja, a super actress of South Indian cinema, who by certain peculiar circumstances is forced to enter the life of the biggest goonda of the region, called by the nickname 'Boss'.

Suresh Gopi will play the title character of this movie, directed by veteran Nizar.

Vasundhara who hit big time with the A R Rahman song 'Shakalaka Baby', then devoted much of her time for singing assignments than of her acting career.

She considers music as her profession and is busy with her music troupe that she runs with drummer Robert Narain.

Vasundhara also has brought out a couple of albums like 'Meri jaan' which was an instant hit.

She is also in the final stages of her first Malayalam album, with lyrical support from Gireesh Puliyoor.

Vasundhara considers acting in Mollywood as something that promises great satisfaction for the actress in her.
She acknowledges her role in Ravanaprabhu as one of her career best.

Surjith Girish

'Ore Kadal’ (The Same Sea), Shyamaprasad’s latest Malayalam film, won the audience award at “Bollywood and Beyond”, Germany's only festival of Indian cinema.

Shyamaprasad received a trophy and a cash prize of 1,000 euros from Shobha De, author and celebrity socialite, on the concluding midnight ceremony.

The festival screened 20 feature films, 23 documentaries and 13 short films, over a period of five days.

Manish Acharya's "Loins of Punjab", Umesh Kulkarni's "Valu, The Wild Bull" and Jag Mundhra's slick, new film "Shoot at Sight" were the other important films that were competing with ‘Ore Kadal’ for the awards.


‘Ore Kadal’, featuring Mammootty and Meera Jasmine, based on the Bengali novel ‘Heerak Deepthy' was applauded widely in the festival circuits, where ever it was screened.

Surjith Girish

In this era of growing trends and media, one can choose any media to express his own self. It can be through poetry, stories, paintings, or any other form of art. Here, Nithin, a boy of 18, doing his graduation in Law, has taken direction and visual media as the medium to express his own self. Nithin who has been inclined to the performance media since his early childhood, is right now busy with the shooting of his first feature film, “Apoorva- Rare school days”. He used to be a regular participant in the drama and stage arts that were held at school and considers his Sir, Shri Sreekantan as an inspiration for his entry into the visual media.
Nithin does not consider his age as a problem and says that he is getting all the love and support from his elder crew members for doing the film. That is according to him a very important factor in movie making. Nithin says that he right now considers film as his medium to express his views and also adds that it will be according to the response of the audience that his career would mould up.
The latest film “Apoorva- Rare School Days” focuses on the positive colours of school life. The director says that the other films based on school that have come out, have mainly focused on the negative side of school life, which indeed has hurt him. This led the director to tell a story that focuses on the positives and the innocence of school life.
Nithin, at the age of 18 has succeeded in making 7 short films and has grabbed two National Awards. The National Public Awareness Advertisement Award for the short film named “Open Speech in the Organisation” and a Special Mention award for a 57 seconds short film named “Amrithavarshini- A Drop of Warmth”.
The director says that his family has been very supportive and without them he would have not ended up in this position. His aim is films and also adds that the acceptance of the audience is surely a big factor for the survival of any person in the media field. Moreover, Nithin is already ready with the script for his next film. He leaves the part of his survival in the field to God, Almighty.

Vimala Raman, tamil actor Senthil, Kalpana, Kalabhavan Mani, and a few school students don the lead roles of the film. Vimala Raman has an important role in the movie. “Though the story is taken forward by Vimala Raman, the students are the main characters in the film”, says Nithin.
This is Senthil’s first Malayalam movie.

The film has a whole bunch of freshers backing the crew. The script being penned by the director himself, the film has camera done by debutant Jithu Palakkad, the associate of Azhakappan, Art Direction by debutant Koya, Stills by Mahadevan Thampy, Music by Shri Vidhyadharan and Editing by debutant Srixian.

Let us all wait for the film by the budding director which will reach our theatres soon.



Reporter:-Winnie J.Panicker
Stills: Mahadevan Thampy

East Coast Vijayan, the noted organizer is finally turning to movie direction. Having produced a series of super hit albums in Malayalam, EC Vijayan would be directing the upcoming movie 'Novel' (Script: J.Palassery). Jayaram, Sada, Innocent, Jagathy play the lead roles. Lyrics, EC Vijayan himself and three music directors, M.Jayachandran, Balabhaskar and the popular Ghazal singer Umbayee.

AMMA and MACTA postpone an array of movies due to issues relating to the 'star value'. It turns out that the lead actors have unpredictable ego problems which has caused conflicts resulting in the postponing of an array of movies.

Unsung hero Ayyappan Pillai Madhavan Nair, who fought India’s British rules from Japan, will be portrayed by Mohanlal in a movie based on his life.

“This will be a co-production between Japan and India. Japan’s Pal Entertainment Production will produce it with an Indian producer”, directed by Albert.

Leading Japanese actress Shunsuken Matosuoka will star opposite Mohanlal in he film that will depict the era between 1920 and 1970, Albert said on the International Film Festival of India in Goa.

“The film will be made in three languages-Malayalam, Japanese and English – depending on the scenes. We don’t want to lose the essence of the story on the language issue. We are producing a realistic film; it’s not fiction, “Said Albert, who has won awards like the Aravindan Puraskaram and Padmarajan Special Jury Award.

Nair, popularly known as Nairsan, hailed from Kerala and worked in Japan. Rubbing shoulders with freedom fighters like Rash Behari Bose, one of the founders of the Indian National Army (INA).

“Nairsan lived in Japan for over half a century and spent several years in Manchuria. There, he was an unofficial advisor to the Manchukuo Government and the Kwangtung Army. He also conducted an anti colonial Movement against British imperialism in India and other parts of Asia, “said Albert, who is finalizing the Indian producer for the venture.

The film will be short in Japan, Sri Lanka, T.V.Puram, Vaikom, the Himalayan region and a few other places where Nairsan had lived.

“This is a real – life film and a tribute to the great soul who was part of the Indian Independence League in Japan and chief link between the Indian freedom movement and the Japanese Government”.

The first India-UK co-produced feature film set in Kerala is slated for release this October. Shot over two schedules on locations in any round Kovalam, Trivandrum and Alleppey, the film has mix of cast from India and UK.

The story unfolds through Linda, a university student who travels to Kerala for her study on tourism along with her boyfriend Krishna Srinivas alias Kris, son of South Indian Brahmin settled in UK and his English wife.

As the story moves forward, a hot of characters-Jenniffer (Madamma Amma), Devu (Her adopted Daughter), Sasi (the orphan boy), Fabian (the pedophile tourist), Madhava Menon (Gandhian). Gowtham (his tour guide son) and others, lent colour and soul to the film’s narrative.

Produced by SS Bhattal and Dolly Kular for Naithik Vision, India and MI Global Media, Ltd, UK, the English film is scripted and directed by Sunil K Bhaskar. The principle cast includes Leanna Wiggeinton, Akash Deep, Fabian K, Jane Jolin, Ann Smith and Sopanam Sreekumar.

KP Kottarakkara ceases existence. Famous script writer and film producer KP Kottarakkara passed away on 19th of November enduring pulmonary diseases. The renowned personality subsided at a hospital in Chennai. He was 84 years old

Kottarakkara Kaippallil kuttan Pillai, known KP Kottarakkara adjourned after donating a bunch of desirable movies to Malayalam industry. KP Kottarakkara was the man who gave a chance of advancement to a number of ever-persisting stars.

Beyond being an, actor, writer, director, and producer, KP Kottarakkara played a serious part as a freedom fighter and was confined by the British government.

KP Kottarakkara was brought to the film industry by Merry Land Subrhamaniam during 1949; before as he started his life as a clerk at Punalur paper mills and after being a militant.

Celebrites like MGR, MT Ramarao, Sivaji Ganeshan, Dileep Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Gurudath, Kamalhassan, Sathyan, Prem Naseer, Madhu, Mammootty, Rajkumar, Nageshwararao, Vijayakanth, Prabhu, Vaheed Rehman, Rekha, Jayaram, Dileep, Suresh Gopi etc had done excellent in his movies.

He is the rarefied to have done movies starting from Sathyan to Dileep. He had written stories for around 87 movies including malayalam, telugu, kannada, tamil and had produced 59 movies in these languages.

Pasamalar written by KP Kottarakkara was the first Indian movie which was remade into eight different languages. His last movie was Zamindar directed by Haridas in which Suresh Gopi played the hero.

Wife: Sarada.

Sons: Producer KP Ganesh, and Producer Ravi Kottarakkara.

In-laws: Mona and Yamuna.

His important movies were Penmakkal, Kanatha veshangal, Vidhyarthi, Love in Kerela, Rahasyam, Rakthapushpam, Sambhavami yuge yuge, Lankadahanam, Pachanottukal, Ajjnjathavasam, Amma, Aval kanda lokam, Yudham, manase ninakku mangalam, Ee shabdam innathe shabdam, Adyathe kanmani, mazhathullikilukkam

30 October 2006 - The executive committee of the producers association has decided to inform all members that, hereafter to include Mr.Jadaeesh in Malayalam movies should should get the prior consent of the association. Any violation of this will be seriously dealt with.

After three successive hits, Johny Antony's fourth venture and Sibi Udayan's twenty fifth movie, Inspector Garud's pooja (inaugural) has been set to take place at 10:30AM, October 23rd at Hotel Highway Garden, Cochin.

Thousands of fans, filmstars and cultural personalities on Friday bade a tearful adieu to leading South Indian actress Srividya, who died on Thursday night after a long battle with cancer. Srividya has acted in over 900 movies including 200 Malayalam ones. The mortal remains of the departed artiste were consigned to flames at the Brahmin Samajam crematorium in Thiruvananthapuram with full state honours. The pyre was lit by her brother Sanakararaman. Earlier in the day, thousands drawn from different walks of life paid their last respects to the actress, whose body was kept at the VJT Hall in the city for the public to pay homage. Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, his cabinet colleagues and top filmstars were among those who paid homage to Srividya. (c) Hindustan Times