Moser Baer acquires rights over Pazhassi Raja home video

Producer G. Dhananjayan of Moser Baer Entertainment has made an official confirmation over the acquisition of Home Video rights (DVD, VCD, Blu-Ray and other formats) of Malayalam Blockbuster Film PAZHASSI RAJA.


Featuring Mamootty, Sarath Kumar, Suman, Manoj K Jayan, Padmapriya, Kaniha in lead roles, the film is Produced by Gokulam Films. Apart from winning rave reviews and big collections in Kerala box office, the Tamil version too has been witnessing extraordinary results at box office.

Says Dhananjayan, Moser Baer Entertainment will be bringing out the film in all formats of Home Video and also in Blu-Ray format for the first time in Malayalam film industry in April 2010 across the World. Moser Baer is proud to have acquired the rights at the highest ever price in home video rights, considering the importance of this title in the history of Malayalam film industry.

Paleri Manikkam postponed!

Mammootty's eagerly awaited Paleri Manikkam, directed by Ranjit which was to be the star’s Bakrid release (November 27) has been postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances” by a week to December 5.

The period crime thriller of a CBI officer who investigates a case which happened in the late 50's in which Mammootty is having two different looks was one of the eagerly awaited films of the year. The buzz on this Ranjith directed film is very good.

Meanwhile the postponement of the release of Paleri Manikkam has worked to the advantage of Neelathamara, which will now get a solo Bakrid release.

Mammootty to play Marthanda Varma!

Mammootty, who stars in the lead in the period movie 'Pazhassi Raja', has been offered the lead role in a movie on King Marthanada Varma, it is reported.


The grapevine has it that Mammootty was approached by a Chennai-based producer with the project for a bilngual, in Malayalam and Tamil, to be produced at a budget of Rs 40 crore. It is heard that the superstar gave his consent immediately and the project would take off in early 2012.

Marthanda Varma, who ruled Travancore from 1729 to 1758, could be described as the architect of modern Travancore. He extended the boundaries of the small princely state to Kochi through a number of wars and treaties and made Travancore the strongest state in Kerala.

Mammootty In A Short Film For Kerala RTC

KSRTC is planning to make a short film on the road accidents in Kerala. Super Star Mammootty might very well act in a short film made by the KSRTC.

Mammootty had met up with the Transport Minister Jose Thettayil last dayand had apparently agreed to become a part of the project. He said that he was just serving his duty as a responsible citizen, by being a part of the film.

Mammootty, While studying in Low College, Jose Thettayil was his senior student and he was the leader of a cultural club. Mammooty said.

Dhrona renamed

Director Shaji Kailas has renamed his upcoming movie from Dhrona to Dhrona 2010. This is because two films, Hindi and Telugu with the name Dhrona, have both flopped. He definitely doesn’t want the same fate for his film. The film stars Mammootty in the lead. His role is that of a “sanyasi’ with mystical powers. The movie will release around February next year.

Mammootty chief guest at IFFI closing ceremony

Mammootty would be the chief guest at the concluding session of the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

It is another feather on Mammooka’s cap, as normally only Bollywood stars are given the honor by the organisers to be present at the valedictory function.

It also shows the growing influence of Malayalam films at the national level.

Mammootty is on a roll as two of his finest movies are getting screened at IFFI starting on November 23.

His Kutty Sranku will be premièred for the first time in India at the Indian Panorama section and the stars critically acclaimed box-office hit Pazhassi Raja will only be screened at the festival.

Paleri Manikyam release on November 27

Director : Ranjith

Crew : Mammootty, Sidhique, Mukesh, Vijayaraghavan, Salim Kumar, Lal Jose Rajiv Anchal, Jayaraj, Kalpana

Genre : Investigative Story, Thriller

Producer : A.V.A Productions and Varnachithra Big Screen

Inspired By : Novel by T.P Rajeevan called “Paleri Manikyam - Oru Pathira Kolapathaka Katha”

Releasing Date : 2009 November 27

Kavya may star opposite Mammootty

Actress Kavya Madhavan is returning to Malayalam films with Christian Brothers is old news. According to sources, she has also been signed on for the film, Pramaani by director B Unnikrishnan, opposite Mammootty. The film will have Mammootty playing a corrupt Panchayat leader whose few good qualities are seen by the female lead. The news is yet to be confirmed.

Mammootty in Geethu Mohandas Marriage Photo

Geethu mohandas Wedding photos More wedding photos will be available after some hours.Geethu mohandas and Rajiv ravi marraige photos.Mallu actress Geethu Mohandass got married with cinematographer Rajiv Ravi at Cochin kadavanthra indoor stadium at 7.30 pm on Nov 14 2009.

Pazhassi Raja (Tamil) trimmed!

Gokulam Gopalan’s Hariharan directed Mammootty- Sarath Kumar- Manoj K Jayan- Kaniha- Padmapriya epic drama Pazhassi Raja with music by Ilayaraja in Tamil is confirmed to release on November 20, all over Tamil Nadu.

Pazhassi Raja in Malayalam has turned out to be a super hit in Kerala and is reported to have collected more revenue in its first three weeks than the all time super hit Twenty:20 released in 2008.

Meanwhile the Tamil version of the film has been trimmed by 30 minutes and cut down from the original 3 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours and 45 minutes, making it even more slicker and racy.

Kanika opposite Mammootty in Dhrona

Kanika is the new star in the Malayalam film industry. After the tremendous success of Bhagyadevatha and the latest super hit movie Pazhassi Raja, there has been no looking back for the actress. The actress has virtually breathed life into the role of Kaitheri Makkam in Pazhassi Raja.

After that scintillating performance the actress has been roped in to perform another vital role in the upcoming Malayalam movie Droner by director Shaji Kailas, opposite Mammootty. Shwetha Vijay who had made her debut opposite Sureshgopi in the movie Kadaksham is also making her appearance onscreen as another heroine opposite Mammootty.


Apart from Mammootty, Kanika and Shwetha Vijay, the movie also features Thilakan and Manoj K Jayan in prominent roles. A K Sajan handles the script of this movie which is being produced by Aroma. The shooting has already begun in Ottappalam, Kerala.

Dhrona to start rolling from November 5

The movie is Shaji Kilas 's fifth directorial venture with mammootty, after the super hits like Valliatten,The King, The Trouth. In 'Drona' Mammootty playing the role of Vasthu Shilpi named vaishakan Namboothiri for this Myth-Action Movie,scripted by A.K.Sajan. Vijayaraghavan, Manoj K Jayan is also part of the movie.

The shooting of the film start by November 5th at Ottappalam, produced by Aroma Mani in the banner of Aroma films will hit the screen on February 18.

Kerala Cafe - Review

Movie
Kerala Cafe
Director
10 directors
Producer
Renjith
Cast
Mammootty, Dileep, Suresh Gopi, Pritviraj, Jagathy, Salim Kumar


Kerala Cafe has ten directors at the helm, each of them making a film of their own on a single theme called yathra or journey.
Kerala Cafe, for your info, is in fact a modest tea stall at a railway station and certain characters from each of the films are somehow connected to it. It's a nice concept, perhaps inspired by movies like Paris, je t'aime for instance, but the best thing about it is that the directors have held it together with some excellent ones and some okay efforts.

Among the ten films, it is perhaps Anjali Menon's Happy Journey that stands out with its intelligent use of the allotted time. A heartening, simple tale has been well told by the director. The film is set inside a bus with an insurance surveyor (Jagathy Sreekumar) with a roving eye, trying to make advances on a pretty girl (Nithya Menon) sitting next to him. But she turns out to be really smart for the man to handle.

Director Anwar Rasheed's Bridge talks about two parallel tracks, the first one involving a young boy and his pet kitten. The other story has a son (Salim Kumar), who lives in poor surroundings, deciding to leave his ailing mother (Shanthadevi) in the street. With amazing technical brilliance, the director takes things to an altogether different level and stamps his presence quite effectively.

Makal, directed by Revathy, is about the flesh trade which is happening under the guise of adoption. Sona Nair and Sreenath have done the main roles. Some of its situations are predictable, yes, but it has its moments and that hugely works to the film's advantage.

Puram Kazhchakal, directed by Lal Jose, is based on C V Sreeraman's book and narrates a bus journey where people of different mindsets, purpose and nature go along for a while. Mammootty and Sreenivasan play the main characters in it. Mammootty looks quite subtle and different from his normal self and as it happens, surprises everyone with the final shot. We start a journey back from then on in our own minds and that is exactly what the film intends to convey.

The main attraction about director Uday Ananthan's Mrityunjayam could be its genre, horror. It has some mystery surrounding an old illam and despite the warnings of the tirumeni (Thilakan), a young journalist (Fahadh Faasil) comes there for an investigative story. Anoop Menon, Meera Nandan and Rima Kallingal are also part of the proceedings. There are some loose ends but here is a film that looks different from the rest and catches the viewers' attention quite easily.

Nostalgia, directed by M.Padmakumar and based on R Venugopal's poem Nattuvazhikal, zooms in on a typical NRI. Johny (Dileep) is all nostalgic about his motherland when he is in Dubai but once he reaches Kerala, he is an altogether different man, cribbing for virtually everything that comes his way and that sadly includes his parents as well. Navya Nair plays his wife. One gets the feeling that the director has gone for a conventional format to narrate the story here, without going for some cinematic experiments.

Debutant director Shankar Ramakrishnan's Island Express looks again at the real-life Perumon tragedy involving the train that happened in 1988, but still remains as a scar in the minds of every Malayali. Prithviraj, Jayasurya,Rahman, Maniyanpillai Raju and Sukumari include the film's cast. The story meanders along in some strange ways initially but the director manages to get his act together towards the end.

Shaji Kailas' Lalitham Hiranmayam is about the angst of a married man played by Suresh Gopi, who falls in love with another girl. Jyothirmayee does the role of his wife while Dhanya Mary is the other woman in question. This is a simple tale, narrated with a lot of style, in true Shaji Kailas style.

Shyamaprasad's Off Season has been made to be seen on a lighter vein and has Suraj Venjarammood in the lead, as a tourist guide in Kovalam. He reminisces about the tryst with a Portuguese couple, who had not much money with them to spend during a vacation. The film gives a lot of promise in the beginning, but things are not happening in a great way, from then on.

B Unnikrishnan's Aviramam is about a couple, played by Siddique and Swetha Menon, who loves each other so dearly. But their lives take a drastic turn after recession hits the existence of his IT Company pretty badly. Though it has been made pretty well, the problem with the story is that it looks pretentious at times.

With a motley mix of stories, Kerala Café manages to stitch them together as an absorbing watch. There are shortcomings but here is one experiment done with some honesty, which is to be seen there on the screen. Among the highlights of the film are its technical brilliance, music quality and not to forget, the pace that never really allows the viewer to take their attention anywhere else. If there is a price to be given for the best short film of the lot, Anjali Menon’s Happy Journey is undoubtedly the pick of the lot followed by Anwar Rasheed's Bridge

The performances too help the film immensely with some sincere acting from the veterans in the business and some of the young faces, like the pretty Nithya Menon, Fahadh Faasil and Rima Kallingal. Watch out for some spectacular moments with Salim Kumar and Shanthadevi in Bridge, Jagathy Sreekumar in Happy Journey, Mammootty and Sreenivasan in Puram Kazhchakal, Jyothirmayee in Lalitham Hiranmayam, Sona Nair in Makal and Suraj Venjarammood in Off Season among others.

Get some popcorn and head straight for Kerala Café, which incidentally has been conceived and anchored by director Ranjith. It is a new experiment and not an easy one to execute as well. But those involved in its making have done a nice job and needs a pat on their back for just that. Go for it and you may not regret the idea for sure.

Verdict: Good

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.