Mammootty endorses Volleyball!

Megastar Mammootty is going all out to endorse Volleyball in Kerala.

The star, a former Volleyball player is going to be the brand ambassador of the Kerala Volleyball League (KVL), to be held in Kozhikode from February 20-28, 2010.

KVL is on the same lines as IPL is to cricket. Franchise teams along with foreign Volleyball players will be part of the tournament. The Mumbai based sports management company, SportzConsult, will run the tournament.

KVL will have six franchised district teams participating in a round robin format, while the two top teams will play the finals. Bidding for the franchisee teams will take place in November in Kochi.

Mammootty says: “I was once a volleyball player during my college days. Volleyball is extremely popular, visually appealing and attracts crowds. Moreover, Indian volleyball standards are quite high. Sports and entertainment always go hand in hand and KVL will definitely become the next big blockbuster of Kerala”

CM watches Pazhassi Raja!

Producer Gokulam Gopalan arranged a special screening of his mega blockbuster Pazhassi Raja at Four Frames preview theatre for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi.

The Tamil version of the film was screened and the CM was said to have loved the film.

The film directed by veteran Hariharan features Mammootty, Sarath Kumar, Manoj K Jayan, Suman, Kaniha and Padmapriya.

Sarath Kumar who was present on the occasion gifted a shawl to the CM. In fact Kalingar was all praise for the way the film was conceptualized by Hariharan and for the outstanding performance of Mammootty and Sarath.

Gokulam Praveen the executive producer of the film confirmed that Pazhassi Raja will release in Tamil Nadu on November 6.

Kerala Cafe confirmed on October 29

Ace director Renjith’s Kerala Café has been confirmed for release on Thursday October 29.

The film produced by Renjit’s Capital Theatre is distributed by a new company Backwater Media and Entertainments.

The film is Malayalam’s first anthology film, was premiered at the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi last week, where it received critical acclaim.

The film has 10 short films directed by 10 different directors with a binding concept of a Railway station cafeteria, which is thematically woven into the plot of all the 10 short stories. Renjit is the narrator for all ten episodes. The ten short films and their director’s are:

1. Nostalgia
Director- M Padmakumar
Cast- Dilip, Navya Nair, Babu Namboodiri

2. Island Express

Director- Shankar Ramakrishnan
Cast- Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Rahman, Kani

3. Lalitham Hiranmayum

Director- Shaji Kailas
Cast- Suresh Gopi. Jyothirmayi

4. Mrithunjayam

Director- Uday Ananthan
Cast- Fahad Fazil, Thilakan, Reema Kalungal

5. Bridge

Director- Anwar Rashid
Cast- Salim Kumar, Kalpana, Santhadevi

6. Aviramam

Director-B.Unnikrishnan
Cast- Siddique Shwetha Menon

7. Off Season

Director- Shyama Prasad
Cast- Sooraj Venjaranmoodu, Vindhyan

8. Makal

Director –Revathy
Cast- Srinath, Sona Nair, Archana

9. Happy Journey

Director- Anjali Menon
Cast- Jagathy Sreekumar, Nitya Menon

10.Puram Kazchakal

Director- Lal Jose
Cast- Mammootty, Sreenivasan

Mammootty confirms to star in Kannada movie

After the movie Pazhassi Raja, Malayalam Superstar Mammootty is ready to enter Kannada film industry. The actor has recently confirmed to star in director Abhaya Simha's Kannada movie Shikari. The director, who has got a degree from Pune Film Institute, has penned story and screenplay for the film.

Abhaya Simha has earlier directed the movie Gubbachchigalu and got rave reviews for his work. A year ago, he had contacted Mammootty with the story of Shikari that deals with the pre- and post-independence condition in India. But the movie was held up because producer NR Shetty suffered financial set back and the director could not get the actor's call sheet.

Director Abhaya Simha met Mammootty in Pollachi last Monday and got his confirmation to star in his next movie Shikari. The actor is now enjoying the big opening of his recently released film Pazhassi Raja in Kerala. Presently, he is busy with the shooting of Shaffi directed Malayalam movie. He might starting shooting Shikari at the end of this year.

However, Kannada movie Shikari is now produced by K Manju. Anmol Bhave will score the music, while Shrivatsa cranks the camera for the movie. The shooting of the movie will be done in Bangalore Karnataka. "We'll soon come out with all the details of casts, budget, date of shooting and other things," says producer K Manju.

Pazhassi Raja Tamil on Nov 6

Gokulam Gopalan’s Mammootty- Sarath Kumar epic in Malayalam Pazhassi Raja, directed by veteran Hariharan has turned out to be a mega hit in Malayalam.

The film which released on October 16 has grossed an amazing Rs 2.72 crore from 125 screens in Kerala during the Diwali weekend (Oct 16 to 18), a new box-office record.

It is also the highest ever three day opening collection for any film in Kerala.

Says Gokulam Praveen, the co-producer of the film: “It is truly amazing the way the film has opened and is being received by the public in Kerala. Everybody seems to like the film and the word of mouth is so good that it may turn out to be a mega blockbuster.”

The bi-lingual Tamil version of Pazhassi Raja will release on November 6 all over Tamil Nadu.

Pazhassiraja - Review

Hariharan, MT Vasudevan Nair and Mammootty’s exhilarating epic Pazhassi Raja is a monumental film, one that will be treasured for years to come. It is a gutsy and outstanding film from the masters, a movie that goes beyond the message.

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja narrates a truly fascinating epoch in India's history. It's a film that inspires us to be grateful for all those who gave their lives to make our country free. One that instils a sense of pride in viewers minds, for being born in this blessed land! The sincerity that has gone into the making of the film is evident in every frame of this 3 hours 20 minutes classic. No two ways about it; let's salute all those who have put in their efforts to make it happen.

Director Hariharan and writer M T Vasudevan Nair says about an important episode, which is Pazhassi Raja's war against the British that happened more than 50 years before the first war of Independence in 1857. Well, it is already known that the history books in general have not been too kind to the Raja by not mentioning much about his patriotism, valour or his role in India's freedom struggle.

The film begins during the time when the British had ordered to levy heavy taxes from the various kingdoms and Pazhassi Raja (Mammootty), who belonged to the Kottayam Royal family in Thalassery of Malabar region in Kerala, opposed this. After being forced to flee with his Queen Kaitheri Makkom(Kaniha), Lieutenant Edachena Kunkan (Sarathkumar) and Kaitheri Ambu (Suresh Krishna) to the forests, Pazhassi Raja started guerilla warfare against the British from the forests in Wayanad. He had the support of the tribal warriors like Thalackal Chanthu (Manoj K Jayan) and Neeli(Padmapriya).

After some initial successes, Pazhassi's army soon started facing setbacks as they found the going tough against the guns and modern machinery of the English soldiers. The brave Raja and his faithful gang of warriors were defeated by the army led by the young British sub-collector Thomas Baber, with the help of some traitors like Pazhayamveedan Chanthu(Suman).

Mammootty is grace personified and the perhaps the best thing about him as the mighty Pazhassi Raja is that it is virtually impossible to imagine anyone else in his place. Shorn of any artifice or nervous energy he is real. 20 years after Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, he still looks majestic and handsome. Without doubt, this is one of the best roles in his illustrious career.

The surprise packet is Sarath Kumar, who looks perfectly fit, heroic and absolutely invincible as Edachena Kunkan. Kaniha looks beautiful even without any make-up or jewellery and has the royal look that is required for her role as Kaitheri Makkom.

As the fierce tribal girl who fights like a cheetah, Padmapriya excels in her role as Neeli. Manoj K Jayan, Suresh Krishna and Suman have all done their job quite convincingly. The rest of the cast, which include the English actors like Linda Arsenio, also delivers an inspiring performance.

Hariharan and MT Vasudevan Nair have proved their brilliance when they team up several times before and once again, they underline their eminence, with a genuine effort. The technical aspects like Ramanath Shetty's cinematography, Ravi Dewan's action, Resul Pookkutty's sound and Sreekar Prasad's editing have also succeeded in taking to a different level.

Yes, there are aspects which one feels could have been better,like Ilayaraja’s music but the film as a whole is good enough that makes us forget those flaws. Critics might say that the film has taken some cinematic liberties and in fact it does but on the whole it is engaging and entertaining.

Pazhassi Raja has grossed an amazing record Rs 1.53 crore

Hariharan- MT Vasudevan Nair classic Pazhassi Raja produced by Gokulam Gopalan with Megastar Mammootty playing the title role has taken Kerala by storm.

The film has grossed an amazing record Rs 1.53 crore from 125 screens in Kerala on its opening day (October 16).

This is the highest ever opening day collection for any film in Kerala breaking the record of Twenty:20.

Says Gokulam Praveen, the Executive producer of the film: “We are very happy with the film and its gargantuan opening, which also justified our faith in the team.”

Early reports say that the film’s word-of-mouth is so good that it has potential to become a mega blockbuster.

Pazhassi Raja-Bumper advance booking

Gokulam Gopalan’s big budget Mammootty epic Pazhassi Raja, written by MT Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan releasing on Friday (Oct 16) in 125 screens across Kerala is creating a good buzz.

The film for which advance booking has started in many stations is very encouraging.

In places like Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode tickets in most screens have been sold out for the opening day, and fast filling up for Saturday and Sunday.

At Palakkad Priyadarshini, the Mammootty fans association has put up a 550 feet hoarding and they are planning to have Palabhisekam, Annadanam and Payasam supply on the opening day.

It is not just the fans but the family audiences who are queuing up at the advance booking windows. In most centers the fans association have snapped up tickets for the first two shows. The first show of the film will start all over Kerala at 9.09 AM.

The news is that Pazhassi Raja’s running time is 3 hours 20 minutes, making it the longest running Malayalam film in modern times. A special screening of the film was held at Thiruvananthapuram for select politicians, bureaucrats and a few intellectuals.

No ticket rise for Pazhassi Raja

The fans of the megastar will have a big sigh of relief as Gokulam films, the producers of magnum opus ‘Pazhassi Raja’ have decided not to pursue the demand for a ticket hike. The movie will now release on 16th as per the recent intimations. The fans associations of the star have been making all the grand arrangements to receive the biggest of Mammootty's movies. The movie is expected to open in 120 centres in the state of Kerala, for this Diwali.

The producers are going for saturation release, as every five kilometers there will be a screen in Kerala showing the mammoth epic picture. In Thiruvananthapuram the film is releasing in four screens (New, Sreekumar, Kripa and Dhanya) with a total capacity of nearly 4000!

In Ernakulam, it is releasing in three screens (Sarita, Savitha and Sangeetha), while in Kozhikode it is opening in three huge screens (Apsara, Kairali and Radha).

The idea seems to be to gross the maximum revenue in the first week. The buzz created around the film is huge, so it will take a gigantic opening. The MT Vasudevan Nair- Hariharan-Mammootty trio who last came together in the super hit Vadakkan Veeragatha, nearly two decades ago is back with another potential winner.

Mammootty, speaking on the sidelines of the FEFSI conference in Chennai told reporters: “ Pazhassi Raja will be a landmark movie that is sure going to create history. I’m very happy the way the film has shaped out.”

Pazhassi Raja will make it to 120 screens across Kerala from Friday October 16.

First Look: Mammootty in Paleri Manikyam

Mammootty dons a double role in director Ranjith's Malayalam movie Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Kadha.

The mopvie is based on writer T P Rajeevan's novel. Shooting for the film has been completed in Kozhikode.

The storyline goes like this: Haridas, a private detective, is investigating the murder of a young woman, Manikyam, which happened over 50 years back.

Manikyam was killed a few days after her marriage. Haridas is assisted by Sarayu Sharma, a criminologist, in the investigation. The investigation into the killing was stopped at that time, due to the lack of convincing evidences.

Mammootty plays Haridas while Gowri Munjal (earlier seen in the Telugu film Bunny with Allu Arjun) is Sarayu Sharma and debutante Mythili is doing the character, Manikyam.

The other role that Mammootty is playing in the film is that of Ahmad Haji, a rich landlord.

Produced by Varnachitra and AVA Productions, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Kadha will have a host of fresh faces in the cast, who have been trained by experts after some rehearsal sessions.

Ranjith had gone for fresh actors as he felt that the viewers would accept them without any set images. Also in the cast are Sreenivasan, Siddique, T Damodaran and Shwetha Menon.

Manoj Pillai is the cinematographer and Sharreth the music composer.

Ranjith has scripted Devasuram, Aram Thampuran and Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal before he put on the mantle as the director as well and made films like Nandanam, Mizhi Randilum, Ravana Prabhu, Kaiyoppu and Thirakkadha among others.

Right now, he is also busy as the producer of Kerala Cafe, which has ten short films by ten directors.

Shah Rukh does it free for Mammootty!

When the director of Pazhassi Raja, T Hariharan met Shah Rukh Khan to request him to do the prologue of the film, he was in for a pleasant surprise. The King Khan not only agreed to it immediately but also made it clear that he would not accept a dime for it! Shah Rukh was impressed by Pazhassi Raja’s story as he is considered to be one of the frontrunners that sought freedom from the British even before the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.

Interestingly, Mohanlal will do the prologue in the Malayalam version and Kamal Haasan will do it for the Tamil version.

Shah Rukh Khan dubs for Pazhassi Raja!

Malayalam film 'Pazhassi Raja' has super star Mammootty playing the title role and Sarath Kumar playing his deputy.

The film is a historical on 'Pazhassi Raja', played by Mammootty, a native king of Wynad in Malabar area of Kerala. He is said to be one of the first freedom fighters who started a guerilla war against the British.

'Pazhassi Raja' is being dubbed into three other Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

While Kamal Haasan has dubbed a prologue for Mammootty in Tamil, it is Bollywood's global super star Shah Rukh Khan, who has dubbed for the Hindi version. The voice over for the Malayalam original has been done by Mohanlal.

Kamal Hassan dubs for Pazhassi Raja!

Kamal Hassan has dubbed a prologue for Mammootty's MT Vasudevan Nair written Hariharan directed magnum opus Pazhassi Raja in Tamil and Shah Rukh Khan has dubbed for it in Hindi.

The film is a historical on Pazhassi Raja played by Mammootty, a native king of Wynad in Malabar area of Kerala. He is said to be one of the first freedom fighters who started a guerilla war against the British.

Tamil actor Sarath Kumar makes his Malayalam debut playing Edachena Kunkan, Pazhassi Raja's 'Thalapathy' (Commander in Chief).

Remember it was Mohanlal who introduces Pazhassi Raja to the audiences through a 45 second prologue in the Malayalam original.

In the Tamil version Kamal Hassan did the prologue while Shah Rukh Khan does it in Hindi.

Says one of the producers of the film Gokulam Praveen: ' Kamal sir knew the subject and he is a fan of MT Vasudevan Nair one of the greatest writers in India. In the Tamil version Jayamohan the famous Tamil writer is translating MT's dialogues. Kamal sir went out of his way to accommodate us when we requested him to dub the prologue. His introductory voice over has made the film richer.'

Mammootty-Sureshgopi comes up with Droner

Mammootty is back with filmmaker Shaji Kailas after a considerable gap of nearly 5 years or so with yet another thriller Malayalam movie Droner. Currently he is busy with the shooting of the movie Chattambinadu. The movie which is to be produced by Aroma Movies will have its script by A K Sajan. The shooting would progress in areas of Ottappalam, Chavakkadu, Guruvayoor, and Chennai.

Mammootty and Shaji Kailas team has churned out hit movies like The Truth and The King in the past. Shaji Kailas who is presently engaged with the work of the Malayalam movie Rahgupathy Raghava Rajaram with Prithviraj in the lead would begin the shooting of the Mammootty starrer Droner by early November.

‘Droner’ is Mammootty’s next

After half a decade from their last movie together, Mammootty and director Shaji Kailas are coming up once again with a thriller. Titled ‘Droner’, this will be the next project to take off after ‘Chattambinaadu’, which is currently on sets.

To be produced by Aroma movie, ‘Droner’ will be in the scripts of A K Saajan. Expected to kickoff its shoot by the first of November, the movie will be shot in and around Ottappalam, Chavakkad, Guruvayoor, and Chennai.

Shaji Kailas is presently busy, giving final touches to his first movie with Prithviraj titled ‘Ragupathy Raghava Rajaram’. The movie featuring the young star in the three title roles is expected to grace the theatres by the mid of November.

Pazhassi Raja audio launched in Kochi

The audio of Hariharan- MT Vasudevan Nair epic Pazhassi Raja was launched at the auditorioum of Gokulam Park in Kochi on Sunday (Sep 20) evening.

It was one of the best conducted events in Kochi recently.

The audio was launched when Mammootty handed over an a CD of the music of the film to Tamil superstar Sarath Kumar, who is also featuring in the film.

Ilayaraja the music director of the film could not attend the function as he was away on a foreign tour.

Mammootty said he was proud to be associated with the movie on Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the legendary king and freedom fighter in Kerala's Malabar region, who fought the first war of independence against the British men.

The other important guest at the function was Oscar winning sound mixer Resul Pookutty who said he was very fortunate to have been associated with the film in which legends like writer M T Vasudevan Nair, maestro Ilayaraaja, Hariharan and superstar Mammootty are involved.

Pazhassi Raja postponed to October 16

Malayalam's first world class movie Pazhassi Raja by M T Vasudevan and Hariharan featuring Mammootty in the title role is to be delayed again. Gokulam Films, the producers of the film had planned to release the film on October 2nd, the day of Gandhi Jayanti and they had announced the same as well. But now it seems that the movie would release only on October 16.

Pazhassi Raja would be releasing in most of the major languages like Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in as many as 560 theatres. Another highlight is that Mammootty has rendered voice for his title character Pazhassi Raja in all the languages. The dubbing process for other languages excluding Malayalam and Tamil has not been completed and this happens to be the major obstacle in the worldwide release of Pazhassi Raja. In America itself Pazhassi Raja would release in as many as 20 theatres and that is indeed a welcome sign.

Loud Speaker is very good

One of the fast vanishing qualities in human beings living in the rural India these days is simplicity, what with rapid urbanisation and materialistic approach towards life.

Everyone is becoming an island of sorts, protecting his own space without caring for others. What happens if in such a scenario a person lands oozing rustic charm and keeping the old values intact? That is what the National award-winning director Jayaraj tries to explore in his latest Malayalam film Loud Speaker starring Mammootty and Sashi Kumar (former Chairman of Asianet and the director of Kaya Tharan).

The idea may be old but the way he presents it floors us. The charm of human bonding and staying one with nature without malice towards anyone forms the crux of this film.

Mike Philipose (Mammootty), a person with a loud booming voice from the rustic hinterland lands up in an apartment building (a symbolic representation of city life) as an organ donor for an old expatriate scientist Menon (Shashi Kumar). How he changes the lifestyle of the inhabitants of that building forms the story.

The story is laced with humour. So, the underlying pathos of the situation is glazed over by it. The area of conflict initially is the sophistication of city dwellers versus the uncouth ways of a rural migrant. The tug of war between the two forms the major chunk of the first half of the film. The building being the microcosm wealthy society: a kindergarten attending children with unbridled mischief to college students who do not have the courtesy or respect, a man who tends to a dog while the wife works in a foreign country, a warring middle-aged couple who even cook their food separately, old aged parents abandoned after they have distributed their wealth among their children.

These characters are portrayed well. Jagathy Sreekumar, the secretary of the housing society is the husband who tends to a German shepherd. Kalapana and Bheeman Raghu are the warring couple and Janardhanan is the anguished father, who has filed a case against his children to get back his property.

And, to fill the place of a leading lady, Gracy Singh is cast as a nurse attending to Menon at his home.

The first half moves breezily with mirth. The second half becomes sentimentally heavy as Menon revisits his childhood, the place from where he had run away as teenager for having an illicit affair with his cousin. This part of the narrative is a bit too slow but, considering the overall package, this can be termed as a minor glitch, and can be overlooked.

Mammootty excels in handling both humour and seriousness with elan. His performance in this film proves that he does not require to do kiddie stuff to establish his comic credentials. Here he shoulders the responsibility of entertaining a section of the audience while keeping the serious undercurrent intact.

Shashi Kumar as the vulnerable but sure-footed man needing urgent kidney transplant is believable. His voice modulation is soft but firm in contrast with that of Mike, showing off his exposure to the aristocratic world.

With Loud Speaker, Jayaraj gets back into his groove.

Loud speaker postponed to Sep 20!

At the last minute, director Jayaraj and Time Ads the producer and distributor of Mammootty's eagerly awaited Loudspeaker has postponed it from Friday(Sep 18) to Sunday(Sep 20).

The reason given out is technical due to delay in DI work, though the grapevine has it that there is some financial issues to be sorted out.

Anyway, after all release ads were published in Friday morning newspapers and posters were pasted, the decision was taken in the night to postpone it.

The theatres in Kerala which had chartered the Mammootty film are running around trying to screen Kamal Hassan- Mohanlal biggie Unnaipol Oruvan for two days.

It's a win-win situation for the Tamil film which will now open big without any opposition.

First look: Mammootty's Pazhassi Raja

When Jnanapith award winner, M T Vasudevan Nair, director Hariharan and actor Mammootty came together last in Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha (1989), they created magic on celluloid.

Now they are ready with another Malayalam magnum opus, on the life of King Pazhassi Raja titled Pazhassi Raja.

Pazhassi Raja belonged to the Kottayam Royal family in Thalassery. He had helped the British in their fight against Tipu Sulthan. But after the British imposed heavy taxes directly on the rulers, Pazhassi Raja turned against them during the mid 1790s. Pazhassi Raja waged a guerrilla war against the British from Wynad, with a group of Nairs and Kurichiyas in the early 1800s.

With the appointment of the young British officer, Thomas Harvey Baber as the sub-collector of Thalassery in 1804, the going became tough for Pazhassi Raja and as per certain history books; he died swallowing his ring in 1805. But the grapevine has it that the end of Pazhassi Raja, as mentioned in the some history books, has been proven wrong in the film. As Thomas Harvey Baber later said, "He was our enemy, but he was a great man, a great warrior."

In Oru Vadakkan Veera Gadha, M T Vasudevan Nair made the character Chandu played by Mammootty a hero though in the folklores, he was called Chathiyan Chandu (Chandu who cheated). The writer also wrote Randamoozham, (Mahabharatam retold) from the perspective of Bhima. Similarly, in all probability, viewers can expect a story of Pazhassi Raja, hitherto unknown to all of us, in the film.

Pazhassi Raja, produced by Gokulam Gopalan, took some time in the making but has been eagerly awaited ever since the project was announced.

Mammootty plays Pazhassi Raja, while Kaniha is doing the role of his wife, Kaitheri Makkom. The star cast also includes Sarath Kumar, Suman, Padmapriya, Thilakan, Jagathy Sreekumar and a few foreign actors.

Hariharan and M T has teamed up earlier to make some of the finest films in Malayalam; other than Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, Parinayam, Panchagni, Nakhakshathangal, Amrutham Gamaya, Aranyakam, Idavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha and Valarthu Mrugangal. The two had contemplated making a few other stories this time but finally decided to make the film on Pazhassi Raja. Legendary producer-director Kunchacko of Udaya Studios had earlier made a film on Pazhassi Raja in 1964.

Pazhassi Raja, without doubt the most eagerly awaited film during recent years, has a prologue on the ruler by Mohanlal. Oscar award winner Resul Pookkutty has done the sound designing of Pazhassi Raja. Music maestro Illayaraja is the music director.

Pazhassi Raja, as the legendary ruler was, would be a cut above the rest.