The celluloid classic was a part of the T20 of Indian films at a contest arranged by the IFFI. Sources confirmed that ‘Nayagan’ was the only Tamil film to get placed among the top 20 ranks. And guess what? There were about 1.9 million entries and it’s a real pleasure for us to know that Mani Ratnam’s classic made it. Six persons from different parts of the country were announced winners of the first ever “T20 of Indian Cinema” competition launched by the Entertainment Society of Goa.

Mother India, Anand, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Charulata, Sholay, Do Bhiga Zamin, Guide, Mughal-e-Azam, Pyasa, Bhuvan Shome, Garam Hawa, Ghatashraddha, Elipathayam, Kagaz Ke Phool, Pather Panchali, Sant Tukaram, Madhumati, Jane Bhi Do Yaro, and Nayagan were the final 20 contestants of this mega contest. It’s worthy to mention here that ‘Nayagan’ also holds the glory for being told as one of the best Indian movies of the century by the ‘Time’ magazine.

The Malluwood actress celebrated her special day on the sets of NTR’s ‘Adurs’ in Hyderabad. Last night, her friends had arranged for a get-together where she cut the cake.

And what more? She has another get-together later tonight, where she will be spending time with some ’special friends’.

“I am on cloud nine. It’s a sheer pleasure to receive calls from friends who remember me wherever they are. My phone has not stopped ringing since last night,” she says.

Apart from ‘Adurs’, Nayanthara has signed two more films- one in Malayalam with director Shyamaprasad and a Tamil movie tiled ‘Boss Engira Bhaskaran’ opposite Arya.

To be directed by Rajesh of ‘Siva Manasula Sakthi’ fame and produced by Srinivasan of Vasan Visuals Ventures, the film will go on floors this weekend.

Nayan, whose original name was Diana Mariam Kurian, started her journey in films after she won a model competition in Kerala. Her first film was ‘Manasinakkare’ (2003), for which she won the Best Female Newface of the Year Award from a popular television channel.

She entered Tamil cinema with ‘Ayya’, the Sarathkumar starrer, directed by Hari. The break of her life came in the form of Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Chandramukhi’. The film directed by P Vasu took her to the masses. Then came Simbu’s ‘Vallavan’. And the rest is, as they say, ‘history’.

The audio CD of Kanagavel Kaakka was launched by Padma Shri Dr Kamal Haasan at a gala event. The movie has been produced by Akarshani Theatres, which has Karan playing the lead role. Some of the prominent personalities that were present at the event were actor Karan, producer R Saravanan, director Kavinbala, music director Vijay Antony, assistant director Kishore and cinematographer Shaji.

The whole team of Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’ was in Rajalakshmi College, Madhuravoil from 10th of November to 12th.

A risky stunt sequence choreographed by stunt master Peter Haynes was shot on a magnificent set. A scene in which robot Rajini’s car being burnt was also shot inside the college campus.

Director Shankar happened to see an over bridge that is under construction in Maduravoil ring road near Mugappair. That is the Chennai High Speed Circular Transportation Corridor, an urban road transit in the form of elevated concentric beltway planned for Chennai. This particular over bridge is being designed so well that it looks like some foreign location. So the director had planned to shoot the car chase of ‘Endhiran’ in this location.

The shoot of the car chasing is being canned there from yesterday. We hear that many of Superstar’s fans who reside in nearby areas got to know about this and crowded the shooting spot. Looks like the crowd created a traffic jam in the bypass road causing difficulties. Moreover many fans tried to take pictures of Rajinikanth with the cameras in their cell phones. The private security guards who were there tried to stop it, but in vain.

The shoot will go on there for few more days and the next schedule is planned in the beautiful East Coast Road.

Called Muriyadi, the movie is directed by Selva and tells the story of how one man’s good deed sets off a chain reaction of events, good and bad. While Sathyaraj plays that man, Ganesh Venkatram plays a young man who is intent on annihilating corrupt men and Ramya Nambisan plays a highly motivated and daring television journalist. Shooting begins on 16th November and will take place at one stretch, wrapping up in a little over a month.

Kushboo Stills

Kushboo has been elected as the president of Tamil Nadu Small Screen Producers Association, the apex body of producers of mega serials and other content to television channels in the State.

She was elected unopposed to the post at the general council meeting of the association, held Sunday at the Film Chamber in Chennai. Sujatha Vijayakumar and S V Solairaja were elected vice presidents, J K of Abinaya Creations as secretary and E Ramadoss and Kutti Padmini as deputy secretaries.

Expressing gratitude for being elevated to the post, Kushboo said, “I would work for the welfare of members of the association. Producers should make proper agreements before commencing a programme or serial to enable the association to step in to protect them in case of problems.”

Various resolutions were passed at the meeting including the one to start a separate board for the welfare of those associated to television industry. Producers Sathyajothi Thyagarajan, Azhagan Thamizhmani among others took part.

Meanwhile, Kushboo and other new office bearers of the association called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence and sought his greetings.

Kamal Hassan Birthday Greetings

He is a man who does never-thought-never-dreamt-before kinda roles. Starting from his first National award as a child artist in his debut venture, the fire of ambition that burns inside his eyes has not subsided till date and how do you wanna call him? Actor-cum-singer-cum-director cum-everything…

And today, Kamal fans have four reasons to celebrate the day. Their matinee idol’s birthday. This is his 50th year in cinema. This year he has achieved hat trick victory with ‘Unnaipol Oruvan’. And last but not least – his daughter Shruthi made her debut in films, both as an actress and a music composer.

Though the ‘Ulaga Nayagan’ says it is just like a dream and he feels as if he had just started journey, his fans are apparently not ready to listen to his words. They have planned grand celebrations, say sources, adding that the day will be marked by various welfare activities by Kamal Mandrams.

Tracing back the journey of ‘Kalaignani’, it all started in 1959 when a six-year-old boy going by the name Kamal Haasan stepped into AVM Studio and stood in front of camera for ‘Kalathur Kannamma’.

Having acted in over 150 films in various Indian languages, Kamal managed to win rare distinctions including the coveted Padmashri besides 4 National awards and 18 Filmfare awards.

On his journey which was filled with roses and thorns, the versatile actor says, “I am happy with the fact that people have been kind to me, including my teachers, my technicians and even my critics. I consider myself as being fortunate and lucky.”

Kamal, who holds the distinction of being the actor with most number of films submitted by India for the Oscars in Best Foreign Language Film category, remains a down-to-earth person, it can be said.

Describing him as a ’scientist’ in Tamil cinema, veteran director Muthuraman, who directed 10 Kamal starrers says, “I am happy that he started his journey from the illustrious AVM Studios with whom I am associated with for decades.” Actor-director Ramesh Arvind, who has worked with Kamal in films like ‘Sathi Leelavathi’, ‘Panchathanthiram’, says, “If there is one multilingual talent in the Indian film industry, it is only Kamal”.

Kollywoodtiger salutes the ‘Ulaga Nayagan’ and greets his fans on the great day.

Prasanna was the cynosure of all eyes at a grand get-to-gather as part of the audio launch of ‘Naanayam’ in Chennai on 6th Nov 09.

‘Naanayam’ is a suspense thriller based on a bank robbery. Produced by S P B Charan for his Capital Film Works, the movie is directed by Sakthi K Rajan, a former associate of Mysskin.

Sibiraj, after attempting in vain to establish himself as a hero ventures to do the role of a baddie. Prasanna plays the lead alongside Ragini and newcomer Yasmin. James Vasanthan has scored the music.

“Naanayam is a sequence of events that take place before and after a huge bank in Chennai is robbed. It has thrilling moments,” said the director.

Speaking on the occasion, Prasanna said, “I thank my costume designer Vasuki Bhaskar for giving me an image make-over with trendy costumes”.

The actor expressed confidence that the movie would go on to become a hit and that Sakthi K Rajan is a bundle of talent and would make it big in future.