No one has probably waited for the Boss as much as the people of Tamil Nadu and countless fans elsewhere have. His arrival was to be on April 14 but was postponed to May 17. Now the final date is supposed to be May 26. Yes, I’m talking about Rajnikant in and as “Sivaji”. Last heard there was still a lot of computer graphics pending and then there’s the maverick, Rahman who takes his own sweet time for re-recording. But the fanatics are not worried b ecause they expect delectable fare thanks to the chefs involved. They know that director Shanker is a meticulous man and will not release the film till it meets his stringent standards. In fact Shanker reportedly had a showdown with producer AVM Saravanan for jumping the gun and announcing April 14th as the release date even though the film was incomplete. There are rumours that tickets will cost a fortune in the first couple of weeks because of the exorbitant price paid by distributors.
The story is a well guarded secret and you can take your guess whether “thalaivar” plays a vigilante or a messiah.
The music is a big hit with every second cell phone in Chennai playing “Sivaji” caller tunes. Shanker has never written a great script but you can rest assured that the packaging will more than make up for the loose holes in the plot. Gangaraju who’s bought the distribution rights for Karnataka must be a jittery man with the Kannada Rakshana Vedike threatening to stop screenings in Bangalore. Saravanan has confessed that the superstar has accepted only 1001 rupees till now. “Let it make money first,” Rajni reportedly said. Easily the most humble star that I’ve met after Raj Kumar, Rajni rarely disappoints, on-screen and off it.***
Love is in the air, again. With the stupendous success of “Mungaaru Maley” the “macchus” will rust and gather dust for some time. Production activity has increased and films are being announced like cinema will go out of fashion. The titles are predictable like “Hani Hani”, “Gunavantha” and “Ninnusire Nannusiru”. The onus is back on newcomers and music and understandably Mano Murthy is much in demand. The more mature filmmakers confess that successes like “Mungaaru Maley” can’t be made. They just happen. There are a million reasons being bandied for the film’s success but the director himself confesses he will not be able to replicate it. S.Narayan is remaking the Tamil super hit “Kaadhal” with Golden Star Ganesh and Sanjana.
A sensitively told tale based on a real story “Kaadhal” was brilliant. One hopes Narayan succeeds in retaining the basic essence. Of course the Santa’s and the Banta’s with blood smeared on them are being made but with reluctance. It’s all a cycle.
Just one more “Jogi” will turn love to hatred and the silver screens now drenched in rain will be bathed in blood, again.
S. SHIVA KUMAR
sshivu@yahoo.com
