Sathya Sai Baba died today

Sathya Sai Baba is pronounced dead today (Sunday 24th April), at the age of 84, much to the shock of many of his devotes and worshipers around the world.

His real name is Sathyanarayana Raju who was born in Puttabarthi on November 23rd 1926. At the age of 14 he claimed himself to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, after having stung by a Scorpio in 1940, when he started singing Sanksrit verses which he had no knowledge of before.

Sathya Sai Baba who was considered a 'demi god' by many devotees has done a lot of services to the people and his worshipers are present in India and even abroad..

Sai Baba, whom his devotees worshiped as god, was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction. He breathed his last at the Sathya Sai super-specialty hospital, where he was admitted March 28 with cardiac problems.

According to the statement released by Sathya Sai Central Trust, the body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall at 6 p.m. Sunday. The body will lie there Monday and Tuesday.

The trust is silent about the last rites but it is likely to be performed Wednesday at Prashanti Nilayam with full state honours.

The trust has appealed to devotees not to rush to the hospital and have a last glimpse of Baba in an orderly manner.

It was at Prashanti Nilayam that Baba has been giving darshan and blessing his devotees all these years.

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Mani ratnam’s next film with Yuvan Shankar Raja!

Mani ratnam’s journey with A.R Rahman has been stupendous for the past couple of decades that started off with ‘Roja’ till ‘Ravanan’. The duo has shared a magnificent connection that kept vibrating between them resulting in colossal outputs. But now it looks like A.R. Rahman wouldn’t be working for Mani ratnam’s next film ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ that is touted to be a period film based on the novel with same name.

According to the sources, Manirathnam wanted to work with Maestro Ilayaraja since he could be the only apt musician for period movies that has more war sequences. But reportedly things didn’t work out at best and buzzes are that Yuvan Shankar Raja has been signed for the project.

A.R Rahman is too busy now working on 3 international projects and talks are going on with Hollywood producers for new projects.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that Yuvan Shankar Raja might score music for Selvaraghavan’s untitled film with Kamal Haasan.

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Govt honoured Ilayaraja

On a day when A R Rahman missed the Golden Globe, there was an announcement that provided some solace to music buffs, that too from the hometown of the Mozart of Madras.

For, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced that maestro Ilayaraja will be honoured with an award named after legendary Carnatic music exponent M S Subbulakshmi.

According to an official release, ace writer Jayakanthan and danseuse Padma Subramaniam will also be honoured along with Ilayaraja. While Bharathi award will be presented to the Sahitya Academy Award winner, the Bharathanatyam guru will be given with Balasaraswathi award.

The award carries a purse of Rs one lakh each, the release added. The State government, while moving the demand for grants for Tamil Nadu Tourism and Culture department for the year 2008-09, had announced that eminent literary scholars and artists would be honoured with awards on the lines of ‘Kalaimamani’ award. Accordingly, the awards were announced on Monday.

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K. Bhagyaraj and Poornima brand ambassadors for cooking oil!

It was anticipated for many years and finally happened now. The star couple of K. Bhagyaraj and Poornima have been roped in to be the brand ambassadors for a major cooking oil brand.

The celebrity couple avoided the camera for advertisements for many ears. In fact Poornima did not face the film camera for almost 25 years.

The situation in the advertisement is of course about Poornima and Bhagyaraj cooking a family favourite dish using the brand of oil. And you know what the major ingredient of the dish cooked is? The vegetable Bhagyaraj made famous in his film ‘Mundhanai Mudichu’. That is murungakai (drumstick).

So after this commercial goes on air, the demand for murungaikai is going to rise. Keep your stock ready!

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Hat trick for Ramanarayanan and team

It was a fantastic win for Ramanarayanan and his team in elections for Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC), for third time in a row. The team gets to govern TFPC for another two years, 2010 to 2012.

The ever smiling Ramanarayanan who has done a lot for the industry in the last two years won the Presidents post with 428 votes, a clear lead of 281 votes over his rival K.Rajagopal (KRG) who managed to poll only 147 votes.

Producers SA Chandrasekhar (391 votes) and Anbalaya Prabhakaran (432 votes) were re-elected Vice-Presidents. K Muralidharan (350 votes) and Sivasakthi Pandian (360 votes) were also re-elected as General Secretaries. Khaja Moideen (398 votes) was also elected for another term as Treasurer.

Among the opposition candidates only producer PL Thenappan could give an impressive fight when he polled 291 votes in a stiff fight for the Vice-President’s post but lost out.

 

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LINGUSAMY’S NEXT FILM WITH POPULAR HERO’S SON

Lingusamy is planning to make his directorial debut in the Malayalam film industry soon. And, sources report that he would be doing it in style by signing up the son of Malayalam mega star Mammootty. The actor’s son Dulquar Salman has shown keen interest to follow his dad’s footsteps and his wishes are now being fulfilled by the doting father.

We hear that Dulquar Salman would soon undergo a name change that would suit the film industry.

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Vijay Antony going to work with Shankar

 

The acting bug finally seems to have bitten musician Vijay Antony as well. Antony will be see in a movie titled Naan, directed by late Jeeva's erstwhile Assistant Shankar. Vijay will have Roopa as his female lead from the movie Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru.

 

The movie will go on floors on the 9th of April. It's not yet clear as to whether Vijay will also score for the movie or the movie will have a self-glorifying title song. Either way, we wish him all the best.

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Dhayanidhi Alagiri love affair with Anusha!

The ‘Thamizh Padam’ producer’s love affair with Anusha, with whom he got engaged recently, has got close similarities to a typical Tamil film, as the couple had to face some “interesting situations” in their love life.

Says Anusha, “He became my friend through one of my pals. One fine morning, I got 100 SMSes from him, all with just one line- ‘I Love You’. I was thoroughly surprised and responded positively.”

“He is no inferior to anyone in giving surprises,” the Chennai girl says and adds: “One day, he suddenly invited to his house where I was showered with affection by his parents. Two days before our engagement, he gifted me a cute puppy which I am preserving as a treasure.”

On his part, Dhayanidhi Alagiri says, “Anusha is so chirpy and this made me fall in love with her. Unlike other lovers, we hardly met each other. I am happy that elders in both families happily accepted our relationship.”

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Wedding Bells for Dayanidhi Alagiri

Dayanidhi Alagiri, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi’s grandson and son of Union Minister Alagiri is getting engaged to Anusha a lawyer on March 18 in Chennai.

Dayanidhi is one of most successful distributors of Tamil cinema. His ‘Cloud Nine’ banner produced first film Tamil Padam is a blockbuster and he will also be producing the next Ajith film with Gautham Menon directing it.

Dorai as her is known among family members and friends, was seeing Anusha for the past few years and the wedding will be held by end of the year. The buzz is that only close family members will be participating in the engagement.

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Tamil Padam leads advance booking!

Guess, which film is most talked about, among this Friday (Jan 29) releases? It is Cloud Nine Dhayanidhi Alagiri’s Tamil Padam.

It is getting a big star like opening throughout Tamil Nadu! In Chennai city the film is leading the advance booking race, and is ahead of its rival Goa!

Says a manager of a popular multiplex: “We never expected this kind of craze for Tamil Padam, it has been sold out for the weekend while Goa tickets are available. There is a lot of inquiry on this spoof film and its songs are very popular with the masses.

Tamil Padam is likely to take a super opening in Tamil Nadu where it is releasing in nearly 175 screens. All Tamil superstars have asked the producers to hold special shows of the film for them, due to the great buzz around this spoof.

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Amitabh Bachchan in Chennai for Illayaraja

  Bollywood welcomed Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Paa’ with opened hands. The film, which is based on a child affected with progeria, released worldwide yesterday.

‘Paa’ is directed by Balki and has Big B playing the role of the child, with Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan as his parents. The film’s music is done by our Isaignani Illayaraja and cinematography by PC Sreeram. No doubt the film’s music became successful there! And now it seems Amitabh Bachchan will be coming down to the city to thank the talented composer.

The music maestro was not able to attend the premier on Thursday in Mumbai. And so the legendary actor is said to have organised a special screening of ‘Paa’ for Raja sir in Sathyam Cinemas today. The cinema hall is said to be booked by Bachchan. “Amitji will sit with Raja sir, Balki, PC Sriram and other celebrities from Kollywood and watch ‘Paa’, after that he will fly back to Mumbai,” shared the sources.

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Amitabh Bachchan favorite actress is shalini ajith kumar

The doyen of Indian film industry is much excited over the impending release of his new film Paa directed by Balki. The film has created a lot of buzz over his new look and the reel role reversal of real dad-son. It is being said that Abhishek Bachchan who plays father to Amitabh is a politician in the film for which he is alleged to have taken the inspiration on looks from Sachin Pilot.

While on a brief visit to Chennai, Amitabh expressed his love for the city and its vibrant culture. He appreciated the work ethics and professionalism in Kollywood. To a poser on his favorite actress among the current generation, he said it is Shalini Ajithkumar who has proved her mettle as a fine actress and it is sad that she has discontinued acting after her marriage. Is Shalini listening?

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Kollywood upcoming movies

Vettaikaran

Vettaikaran’s shooting is progressing in the AVM studios after the fire accident that slightly disrupted the schedule.

 

Kandhakottai

The Nakul–Poorna starrer Kandhakottai is being shot in and around the Kilpauk area in Chennai.

 

Yogi

Yogi’s last leg shooting is being held in Thiruvottriyur at the famous Vadivudai Amman Koil.

 

Kutty

Pollachi is bustling with activity with the Dhanush–Shriya starrer Kutty team is stationed in the town.

 

Aadhavan

KSR is calling the shots in South Africa for the Suriya–Nayan starrer Aadhavan.

 

Milaga

Director Ravi Mariya’s latest movie Milaga which has Natarajan as hero is stationed in Madurai.

 

Thillalangadi

The Telugu hit Kick is being remade as Thillalangadi with Jayam Ravi in the lead, directed by Raja. The crew is busy shooting in Malaysia.

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Manirathinam’s ‘Raavana’ shelved for a day

A tiff between local tourist operators and members of Film Employees Federation of South Indian over renting vehicles shelved a day’s shooting of ‘Raavana’ in Ooty. Nearly for more than a hour, Mani Rathnam and his crew had to wait at Ooty. Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, stunt director Peter Hein, Cinematographer Mani Kandan and other crewmembers were present there. The tourist taxi operators blocked FEPSI vehicles and demanded that they be given an opportunity to operate their vehicles for the shooting. The Film Employees Federation of South India stand is that only FEPSI members could operate the taxis was unjust because Rs 1 lakh had to be paid for FEPSI membership.

Finally, the issues were settled down amicably and shooting resumed. However, talks would be happening between producers council and FEFSI Association by end of this month.

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Mani Rathnam got new authorization

Now Mani Ratnam will not have to go to the lush forests of Sri Lanka to recommence the shooting of his ambitious bilingual project having Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Southern super star Vikram in the lead roles.

The Kerala Forest Department has given new permission to continue the shooting inside the Malyatoor forest which can be reached after a two hour journey from the city of Cochin.Earlier the officials of the Forest Department had canceled the permission after it was found out that the crew had constructed small huts without consulting the officials in the highly sensitive terrain. The company producing the film had also built some shooting sets inside the forest.

The justification given by the production crew of the film was that the huts were made for protecting the highly expensive equipments used for the shooting from the rain.Some strict conditions accompany the new sanction given for the continuation of the shooting.

Earlier only Rs.1000 was the amount that was being charged by the Forest department for a period of 20 days to shoot inside the forest.Now the financier of the film will have to give Rs.10,000 for a single day of production work.

The numbers of vehicles used inside the forest have to be reduced and the crew also has to take care of not littering any materials made of plastic inside the jungle.

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Poornam Viswanathan Passes away

The actor who came to be identified a lot for playing ’good man’ roles for decades Poornam Viswanathan passed away at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on the 1st of October. According to reports the actor was ill for quite some time and the end came at about 3:30 pm.

A news reader for All India Radio from the year 1945, Poornam Viswanathan entered the film industry and immediately was noticed for unique way of speech. Moreover many filmmakers cast him in roles that needed a lot of sympathy. Some of the evergreen roles he has performed in include the performance of a doctor in the film ’Thillu Mullu’. His portrayal of a desperate companion to Kamal Haasan in the quest to rescue his daughter in the film ’Mahanadhi’ will be remembered for a long time to come.

A role that brought out his talents in a big way was in the film ’Aasai’. Caught between a menacing son-in-law who had murdered his daughter and a protective instinct towards his second daughter, Poornam Viswanathan had etched out a performance with loads of realism in it.

Poornam Viswanathan has also been part of several films that include Anjali, Puthu Puthu Arthangal, Keladi Kanmani, Aasai, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Moondram Pirai and Aann Paavam.

The actor’s unique way of speaking has been immortalized by scores of mimics over the years. May his soul rest in peace!

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In Madurai 'Kadhalil Vizhunthen' free VCDs!

A rather startling news surfaced from Madurai recently. According to the report free illegal VCDs of the film ’Kadhalil Vizhunthen’ were being distributed in Madurai in order to squash its good run at the box office.

Reacting to this S. P Rajeshwari of the anti-piracy division stated that the police are leaving no stone unturned to curb any unauthorized duplication and circulation of the film as they do for every other film.

There have been 1140 cases against people who have indulged themselves in owning and distributing films through illegal VCDs and DVDs. Six people in Chennai and 10 from other parts of Tamilnadu have been charged under the Goondas Act so far.S. P. Rajeshwari also stated clearly that the police are taking all steps to banish piracy from society.

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Krish denies marriage rumours

Krish and his ’secret marriage’ to actress Sangeetha that has been printed in many newspapers. The talented singer has vehemently denied the news. He said that he had not gotten married secretly and had no reason to do so. It was up to his parents to decide about his marriage. He was deeply hurt by the news and hoped to convey to all his fans that he is not one who would resort to such acts.

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Leelai - A beautiful love story between two IT employees, working in HCL

Aascar Films is back with a film titled Leelai featuring new comers Shiv and Mansi in the lead.Tamil audience can sit up and watch some office romance as it is a love story that blossoms between two IT employees, working in HCL. A debutant young director Andrew Loius (an assistant of director S.J.Suryah) is being introduced with music by S Sathish Chakravarthy, a form assistant to AR Rahman.A debutant young director Andrew Loius (an assistant of director S.J.Suryah) is being introduced with music by S Sathish Chakravarthy, a form assistant to AR Rahman. Mansi is a model for HDFC and Sony Ericcson and Shiv Pandit the hero is also a model turned IPL cricket compere.Velraj is the cameraman and VT Vijayan is the editor.

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