Kamal in Drishyam Remake

Kamal To Star In Drishyam Tamil Remake

It is now an incontestable fact that Drishyam is the most popular movie to have come out of Malayalam in the last two decades or so. The movie is running to packed houses six weeks after its release and countless reviews, both praising and taking apart the movie, inundates the various social media platforms. The news of remakes in other languages were in the air and no official confirmations were made. Many actors from Tamil, including Rajnikanth, Vikram and Vijay had watched the movie and had expressed their interest in doing a Tamil remake. It was reported earlier that Vikram would be starring in the Tamil version. The latest news is that, Kamal Haasan, who has almost completed the work on his directorial venture Viswaroopam 2, would essay the role played by Mohanlal in Drishyam. Jeethu Joseph, who will be directing the Tamil version too, said that with many stars including Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan and Vikram expressing their interest to act in the movie, the decision to cast Kamal Haasan was a tough one. The movie would start shooting from June, 2014.  

Kamal Awarded Padma Bhushan

Kamal Haasan: 

The Quintessential Performer

Saumesh Thimbath

One line that you are likely to come across if you spend time with the Kamal rasikar or Kamal Haasan fans in Tamil Nadu is that thalaivar mattum americavil poranthirunthal ippo entha levelukk poyiruppaar? (Had Kamal been born in the USA what heights he would have reached by now?) One might feel the urge, as the writer has felt many times, to tell them that Paramakudi in Tamil Nadu, where the actor was born, is the best place Kamal Haasan could have been born in the entire world. Because the kind of artist Kamal is, a cinematic counterpart of the academic polymath, someone who straddles different departments of cinema, could only have flourished to his fullest potential in Indian Cinema. Where else would he have the chance to do 200-odd movies, in 5-6 languages; to direct, to produce, to write scripts and lyrics, to sing, to choreograph dance and stunts, not once, but many times over?

Winning his first recognition, President's Gold Medal, at the age of four for the performance in his debut feature, Kalathur Kannamma in 1959, Kamal had decided early on in his life to be 'an artist'. With talents spread over a wide spectrum, it appears that Kamal did not stop to ponder as to what that one medium where he can channelize all his creative urge could be. He decided to do it all, with a passion that welled up tears in the audience. He has been successfully doing this for many decades now, which is still a dream to many a creators. This could have been the primary reason why the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Kamal Haasan this year. Padma Bhushan this time had the fortune of reaching one of the most deserving cinematic artists of our time. Hats off to Kamal Haasan. 

Watch a photo slideshow of the ten best performances of Kamal Haasan.

The Week That Was

Saumesh Thimbath

Film'fair' Awards 2014

Bhaag Milka Bhaag was back in the limelight when the Filmfare Awards 2014 was announced today. Farhan Akthar won Best Actor, Rakesh Om Prakash Mishra won Best Director while the movie was adjudged the Best Movie of the Year. Prasoon Joshi bagged the Best Lyricist award for the song 'Zinda', Dolly Ahluwalia took home Best Costume Designer award and Acropolis Design won Best Production Design award taking the tally to a total of six awards. Deepika Padukone, in all fairness, was selected the Best Actress for her role in Goliyon Ka Rasaleela Ramleela. The Lunchbox came second to Bhaag Milka Bhaag in terms of number of awards,  winning Best Film (Critics), Best Debut Director for Ritesh Batra and Best Supporting Actor award for Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

End of an Era

Tollywood wore a pall of grief over the death of one of the industry's stalwarts, Akkineni Nageshwar Rao on 22 January. Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, ANR as he is fondly called, has a history of over 70 years in Telugu film industry. ANR, along with NTR, formed the backbone of the industry for over three decades. He was the recipient of Dada Saheb Phalke Award and Padma Vibhushan. The film industry closed down for a day on 23 January, the day of his cremation.

The Return of the Queen

The news of Aishwarya Rai's return to films after childbirth was the biggest news in Kollywood this week. It has been reported that Aishwarya would make her comeback in a Tamil film to be directed by Mani Ratnam. Though no official confirmation of the news is yet to come from the actress or the director, many news portals have carried the news. Aishwarya made her film debut with Mani Ratnam's Iruvar in 1997. She has subsequently acted in Mani's Guru and Raavan. Aishwarya and her husband Abhishek Bachchan are known to be very close to the director from South who has chipped in earlier to save their careers, which gives credence to the news.