Monday, February 28, 2005

The Hindu : Asha again

Vidyasagar scores again with his new album for the film "Chandramukhi", in which Asha Bhonsle sings a romantic number


`Konjam Neram' with Asha and Vidyasagar

VIDYASAGAR DOES it every time. He has once again come up with what is sure to be a winner, the music album for the film "Chandramukhi". The album is to be launched on March 5. Those who have heard a preview of the six songs say it felt as if they had gone on a musical odyssey. Every song sparkles and Vidya has managed to pull off a coup this time with Asha Bhonsle singing along with Madhu Balakrishnan, the up-and-coming playback singer.

The song is picturised on Raknikanth and Nayantara. The romantic melody goes like this — "Konjam Neram, Konjam Neram... "

Dream fulfilled

Says Vidyasagar, "It was an honour and a dream-come-true for me to record a song with Ashaji, that too in the most important film in my career. I am grateful to God, Rajni sir and Sivaji Productions."

The song starts on a reflective note but the tempo soon builds up. It was producer Ramkumar's idea to have Ashaji sing a song for "Chandramukhi". Says Asha: "My association with Sivaji Productions dates back to the late 1950s with "Amardeep", in which I sang three songs. When I got this invitation, I thought it was a great time to come to Chennai and catch up with old friends. I recorded this lovely song and later visited Kamala Ganesan and spent some time with her."

Appealing tracks

According to Vidyasagar, the "Chandramukhi" album has six songs that would appeal to every listener. Of the six, two are melodies, two are peppy, one is a folk number and the other, semi-classical. Rajnikanth was extremely happy with the songs and is said to have complimented Vidya.

Vidyasagar has chosen S. P. Balasubramaniam to sing for

Rajnikanth again after a long time, besides roping in singers such as Karthik, Tippu, Madhu Balakrishnan and a new singer Binni Balakrishnan for the semi-classical number.

Ashaji will be the chief guest at the function to launch the audio. At a time when the music market is dull, the "Chandramukhi" audio rights have been purchased at a record price and it is expected that more than a lakh audio will sell on the day of the launch!

Friday, February 25, 2005

"I am 100 percent satisfied": Kala Master

Kala Master, the top choreographer in south Indian cinema has recently completed the climax song for Rajnikanth’s Chandramukhi with Jyothika and Vineeth at the Ramoji Rao studio in Hyderabad. In a quick chat, Kala shares her experiences to Sify.com

About Jyothika:
She is the most dedicated artist that we have today. I would say that she is the first actress to bring expression in dance movements. I have just completed the climax song for Chandramukhi, which is the most difficult and crucial scene in the whole film.

So you have choreographed this difficult dance number…
I was so happy and elevated when director P. Vasu sir called me up and said that only I could do this difficult song! It was very challenging for me, and I consider this particular song as a bench mark in my career. There are other dance masters also in the film and I have done only this particular song.

Can you elaborate a little more…I believe that in the Malayalam version, this song is a very slow number. In Kannada it is slightly fast but in Tamil, music director Vidyasagar has given a 5 minute racy fast number, sung by Binny Krishnakumar, a new singer and Tippu. This song which is also the theme music in the film is surely going to rock and be a chartbuster.

But there were reports that Jo could not get the steps right as she is not a trained classical dancer…
She may not be a trained classical dancer but no one can match her self confidence and determination. According to me, that’s enough for a person to make the impossible, possible. Jo worked hard and she took just 4 days to complete the song which any other artist would take more than 7 days. She is a kind of girl who will not sleep well until she is happy with her portion. That’s the kind of fiery determination that she has towards her work.

So are you happy the way the song has shaped out?
I am 100 percent satisfied. We had seen it at the editing table and even Rajnikanth sir was amazed by the way Jo has transformed herself into a typical south Indian classical dancer.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Indiaglitz : Chandramukhi is going places

Following a huge demand for Rajnikanth movies in Japan especially after the success of s Muthu and Padayappa in the country, Chandramukhi has been sold at a good price for release in Japan.

Anitha, an Indian settled in Japan has procured the release rights of Chandramukhi.

An office-bearer of Indo-Japan Confederation there, Anitha has close links with Tamil filmdom.

Her daughter acted as Kamal Haasan's young daughter in Avvai Shanmughi.

A whopping 33 prints of Chandramukhi will be released all over Japan on 14 April, simultaneous to its release here.

There has been a huge demand for Chandramukhi all over India too. It was only because of the unprecedented demand that the producers took the decision of making the film in Telugu too.

Meanwhile, Rajni is under different kind of pressure now. It is well known that he is now close to the BJP and also his relationship with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has also improved.

Reports say this development is worrying the DMK which had pinned lot of hopes on him. The recent IT survey at Rajni's house was said to be a pressure tactic from the DMK camp.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Sify - Chandramukhi` audio fetches Rs 1.10 Crore!

The audio rights of Rajnikanth's Chandramukhi have been sold to
Sanjay Wadhva, a financier and overseas distributor of Tamil films
for Rs 1.10 Crore! Now Sanjay's company `AnAK Audio' who has earlier
marketed the audio of Kamal Hassan's Virumaandi will now market
Chandramukhi.
At a time when Tamil audio market is at an all time low, the price
that Sanjay paid for India and overseas is attractive to Sivaji
Productions. Three years back, Rajnikanth's Baba audio was sold for
Rs 2 Crore and Padayyappa had gone for Rs 1,25 Crore six years back!

Asha Bhonsle was in Chennai to sing a song for Chandramukhi under
the baton of music director Vidyasagar for whom the film is a
prestigious project. There are six songs in the album and the music
is said to be "rocking".

The music launch of Chandramukhi would take place on March 5 in
Chennai and the overseas launch would be on March 6 in Malaysia.
Asha Bhonsle and Kamal Hassan will be present for the launch in
Chennai.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Sify : Chandramukhi-Fast progressing

Rajnikanth's Chandramukhi is progressing at rapid pace and will be completed by March 11. The talkie portion is almost complete and three songs are being canned.
Rajni, Jyothika, Prabhu, Nayantara and other members of the crew are in Hyderabad Ramaoji Rao Studio finishing two songs. For the first time only one song is picturised on Rajnikanth, he appears in two songs with others and the climax song is canned on Jyothika. The unit also plans to shoot one song in foreign location.

The Chandramukhi unit will be in Chennai from February 20 and will be shooting in Prasad studios. Says P.Vasu, the director: “We had originally planned to complete the entire film in120 days but it will now take only 78 days! Hats off, to Rajni sir and the rest of the cast”.

Meanwhile the dubbing for the film is going on simultaneously in Chennai and the music launch will take place on March 5, with Asha Bhonsle and Kamal Hassan tipped to be the chief guests.

Friday, February 11, 2005

Cinesouth : Chandramuki's Telugu version creates History

Rajini is one among very few actors who commands name and fame in other states also. If Kamal is famous in Kerala, so is Rajini is Andhra. His fame is no less than any other front line Telugu Heroes.

Director P. Vasu also had good name in the Telugu field. When he didn't have films to direct in Tamil, he moved over to Telugu field, and had given some hit movies. By doing this, he was able to keep his name in the list of 'hit' film directors. That name is paying dividends now.

'Chandramuki' had struck a biggest deal ever made in terms of trade than any other Tamil film so far. The amount of trade in Telugu alone is a whooping 30 crores. Audio rights are separate.

This trade had even stunned the front line heroes of Telugu film. This also made Income Tax department swung into action. They went to Rajini house to question Rajini in this regard.

But, the Chief Commission of that department Dr. Vinay Gupta refutes the information of raid in Rajini house.

"We wanted to question Rajinikanth about his Income Tax returns filed in the last 4 years. This questioning is an usual affair. This had no connection whatsoever with the film 'Chandramuki' in which he is acting now.

But one thing has become very clear. There is no pressure whatsoever either from state or Central governments in this regard.

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

விகடன் : டாடா இன்டிகாம் சந்திரமுகி விளம்பரம்

சந்திரமுகி படத்தின் பாடல் கேசட் சென்னையில் மார்ச் 5ம் தேதி வெளியிடப்படும் என்று தயாரிப்பாளர் ராம்குமார் தெரிவித்திருக்கிறார்.

தமிழ்த் திரையுலக ரசிகர்களால் பெரிதும் ஆவலுடன் எதிர்பார்க்கப்படும் ‘சந்திரமுகி’ திரைப்படத்தை செய்வதற்கு டாடா குழுமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த டாடா டெலிசர்வீசஸ் லிமிடெட் நிறுவனமும், சந்திரமுகி திரைப்படத்தை தயாரித்துவரும் சிவாஜி புரொடக்ஷன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும் கூட்டு சேர்ந்துள்ளன.



இனி இத்திரைப்படத்திற்கு ‘‘டாடா இன்டிகாம் மற்றும் சிவாஜி புரொடக்ஷன்ஸ் இணைந்து வழங்கும் சந்திரமுகி’’ என விளம்பரம் செய்யப்படும், இத்திரைப்படத்திற்கு மிகப்பெரிய அளவில் விளம்பரம் செய்வதற்கு என தமிழகம் முழுவதும் பிரம்மாண்டமான கட்அவுட்கள், விளம்பரப் பலகைகள், பேனர்கள் முதலியன வைக்கப்படும். இதற்கென டாடா இன்டிகாம் சந்தாதாரர்களுக்கு திரைப்படத்திலிருந்து துண்டு காட்சிகள் பிரத்யேகமாக கிடைக்கச் செய்யப்படுகிறது.

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‘சந்திரமுகி’ திரைப்படத் தயாரிப்பாளர் ராம்குமார் கூறுகையில், ‘‘இவ்வாறு கூட்டுச்சேர்வது, தமிழ்த்திரைப்படத்துறையில் புதிய முயற்சியாகும். இந்த உறவு இரு தரப்பினருக்கும் நன்மைபயப்பதாக இருக்கும், இந்திய வரலாற்றில் மிகவும் புகழ்வாய்ந்த நிறுவனத்துடன் கூட்டுச்சேர்வதில் பெருமகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறோம்.

சந்திரமுகி படத்தை தயாரிக்கும் தயாரிப்பாளர் ராம்குமார் டைரக்டர் பி.வாசு ஆகியோர் நிருபர்களிடம் கூறியதாவது,

சந்திரமுகி படம் முழுக்க முழுக்க சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் படம். டாட்டா இன்டிகாம் நிறுவனத்துடன் கூட்டு சேர்ந்திருப்பது விளம்பர விஷயத்தில் எங்களுக்கு பெரிய பக்கப்பலமாக இருக்கும். மார்ச் 5ம் தேதி சந்திரமுகி படத்தின் பாடல் கேசட்டுகள் வெளியிடப்படும். ரஜினி, பிரபு உள்ளிட்ட நடிகர்கள் விழாவில் கலந்துகொள்வார்கள்.

சிவாஜி புரொடக்ஷன் சார்பாக ரொம்ப வருஷங்களுக்கு முன்பு தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட அமர்தீப் படத்தில் ஆஷா போஸ்லே பாடினார். இப்போது சந்திரமுகி படத்தில் அவர் ஒரு பாடல் பாடியிருக்கிறார். அவரை வைத்துத்தான் சந்திரமுகி படத்தின் பாடல் கேசட் வெளியிடப்படுகிறது. படத்தில் சூழ்நிலைக்கு தகுந்த மாதிரிதான் பாடல்கள் இடம்பெற்றிருக்கின்றன. படத்திற்கு செலவழிக்கப்பட்ட தொகை எவ்வளவு என்பது இப்போது தெரியாது. இப்போதே தொகையை சொல்லிவிட்டால் பயந்துவிடுவீர்கள். ஏப்ரல் 14ல் தமிழ்ப்புத்தாண்டு அன்று சந்திரமுகி திரைக்கு வருகிறது. அப்போது படத்தின் பட்ஜெட் எவ்வளவு என்று சொல்கிறோம்.

சந்திரமுகி படத்தின் படப்பிடிப்பு பெரும்பாலும் முடிந்துவிட்டது. 3 பாடல்கள் மட்டுமே சூட்டிங் செய்ய வேண்டும். இந்த 3 பாடல்களையும் வெளிநாட்டில் படம்பிடிக்கலாமா என யோசனை செய்துகொண்டிருக்கிறோம். படத்தில் மொத்தம் 5 பாடல்கள். படப்பிடிப்பை 125 நாட்களுக்குள் முடிக்க திட்டமிட்டிருந்தோம். ஆனால் 75 நாட்களுக்குள்ளேயே படம் முடிந்துவிடும். சந்திரமுகி பற்றிய இன்னும் நிறைய தகவல்களை 16ம் தேதி பத்திரிகையாளர் சந்திப்பின்போது தெரிவிக்கிறோம்.