Actor Ashok Selvan has finally married his long time fiancee, actress Keerthi Pandian. The famed Tamil actors donned white attires and took part in a traditional Tamil pooja to cement their vows. Immediately, after their wedding, the actor took to social media and shared pictures.
Sharing the pictures on Instagram, he captioned the post in Tamil.
Roughly translated, it means: “Like the hues of crimson water, my heart is adorned with the blossom of love.”
Keerthi’s sister Ramya Pandian, who is also an actress shared some pictures from the ceremony on her X (formerly known as Twitter) account and wrote: “Happy married life my dear Kanmani @iKeerthiPandian and welcome to our family our dearest Maapilai @AshokSelvan ”
Actor Mahar Raghavendra wrote: “Happy married life brother! Wishing you guys all the best!”
Aishwarya Rajesh also congratulated the couple.
‘Ponniyin Selvan’ star Aishwarya Lekshmi congratulated the couple, and wrote: “Congratulations both of youuuu.
Sharing the pictures on Instagram, he captioned the post in Tamil.
Roughly translated, it means: “Like the hues of crimson water, my heart is adorned with the blossom of love.”
Keerthi’s sister Ramya Pandian, who is also an actress shared some pictures from the ceremony on her X (formerly known as Twitter) account and wrote: “Happy married life my dear Kanmani @iKeerthiPandian and welcome to our family our dearest Maapilai @AshokSelvan ”
Actor Mahar Raghavendra wrote: “Happy married life brother! Wishing you guys all the best!”
Aishwarya Rajesh also congratulated the couple.
‘Ponniyin Selvan’ star Aishwarya Lekshmi congratulated the couple, and wrote: “Congratulations both of youuuu.
- 9/13/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
OpinionBoth Ajith and Vijay have managed to stay at the top year after year. Their fans will not abandon them no matter how many terrible films they deliver. But is mediocrity the legacy they want to leave behind?Sowmya RajendranScreengrabsThe release of Ajith’s Thunivu and Vijay’s Varisu for Pongal was a highly anticipated box-office battle. The last time the two stars went against each other was for Pongal 2014, and everything from the trailer views to the advance booking and first day collections, was closely monitored, duly exaggerated, and predictably celebrated. But are these films the best these stars can deliver at this stage in their career? Ajith and Vijay are undoubtedly the biggest stars of their generation and they’ve worked hard to get where they are. It’s not easy to maintain your stronghold over the audience across decades, but both of them have managed to stay...
- 1/17/2023
- by MariaR
- The News Minute
ReviewThe tagline of the film is ‘No guts, no glory’. What we get is all guns and some glory, courtesy Ajith Kumar. Sowmya RajendranVenkat Prabhu’s 2011 heist film Mankatha had an unforgettable Ajith in a white suit, sniffing a pile of cash and exclaiming, “Money, money, money, money!” If it was Rs 500 crore at stake in that film, the figure is much higher in H Vinoth’s Thunivu. Here too, Ajith’s character is out to loot a bank; he’s wearing white but his character is all grey. Not that we know much about this character. Even his name is a mystery. Ajith is a riot as a nameless gangster who uses Michael Jackson’s voice to talk to the police and moonwalks on the bank floor ever so coolly. That’s star power for you. He doesn’t speak much but when he does, it’s witty one-liners that land well.
- 1/11/2023
- by AditiKumar
- The News Minute
ObituaryThulasi, who made his debut with Tamil film ‘Ungalil Oruthi’ in 1976, was best known for his comical performances in various Tamil movies and serials. Tnm StaffScreengrab/ Madras MeterVeteran actor Thulasi, known as 'Joker' Thulasi, who predominantly worked in Tamil films and television serials passed away on Sunday (May 09) in Chennai after contracting the coronavirus. The news came to light after his colleagues from the industry tweeted about his passing on Monday. The actor made his debut in the 1976 Tamil film Ungalil Oruthi which was helmed by Mohan. Apart from working in a number of films, he appeared in supporting roles in many TV serials. Prior to his silver screen debut, the actor was active among theatre artists. His co-stars and friends from the industry took to social media to pay tribute to him and express their condolences. Radikaa Sarathkumar, who worked along with Thulasi in the television soap Vani Rani,...
- 5/11/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Death The late singer frequently appeared on reality TV shows across languages, often encouraging budding singers to follow their dreams. Tnm StaffSP Balasubrahmanyam, among the most prolific Indian singers of all time, is no more. The singer passed away at the MGM Hospital in Chennai on Friday afternoon upon being diagnosed with Covid-19 earlier in August. The sad demise of the multifaceted personality who took the music industry by storm for decades has plunged millions of fans into sorrow. The 74-year-old, however, is being remembered fondly by music lovers spanning across generations. Over his five-decade-long career in music, Spb — as he is known to fans and contemporaries alike — has appeared in several television programmes. He has even hosted reality television shows, egging on young talents who wished to pursue music. In Tamil, Spb has hosted Ennodu Paatu Paadungal on Jaya TV, Vaanampaadi on Kalaignar TV and appeared as a judge on Vijay TV's Super Singer.
- 9/26/2020
- by Luke
- The News Minute
TributeAnd like a big wave that approaches towards the shore, gaining momentum as it does, Spb draws his breath and sings...Anjana ShekarInstagram/Radikaa SarathkumarThe song ‘Mannil indha kaadhal indri’, composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1990 romantic drama Keladi Kanmani became an immediate sensation when it released. It was director Vasanth’s debut film and starred Sp Balasubrahmanyam along with Radikaa. Ilaiyaraaja’s brother and Spb’s good friend Gangai Amaran wrote the lines. And the amazing Spb delivered a portion of it in what appeared to be a single breath. Speaking to Tnm about the song which was nothing short of a super hit when it released, the director of Keladi Kanmani, Vasanth, says, “There’s no one like him for bhavam (emotion/expression). There is no one who’s as humble as him. In my first film, which was one of his busiest times, he agreed to be a...
- 9/25/2020
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
EntertainmentWith the Tamil Nadu government allowing TV serials to resume shooting, the shows are back with new stars, new content and new plot twists galore.Anjana ShekarThose who follow Tamil television serials can hardly wait for next week when new episodes will finally begin airing on channels. With the entry of actor Yashika Anand, what awaits Roja and Arjun in Sun TV’s hit soap Roja? Will Yashika’s character bring in a change in the lives of Roja (Priyanka Nalkari) and Arjun (Sibbu Suryan)? The TV show became so popular that its duration has now been increased. The serial will now play from 7.00 to 8.00 pm from Monday to Saturday on the channel. First aired in 2018, Roja has completed close to 600 episodes. What will the new couple – actors Krishna and Nakshatra Nagesh – bring to Sun TV’s Nayaki? What awaits viewers on Zee Tamil’s Sembaruthi? These are some of...
- 7/23/2020
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe song, which is available for streaming on Jio Saavn, sets the mood for a performance that precedes a gathering.Tnm Staff'Thumbi Thullal' from Vikram’s Cobra, composed by Ar Rahman and performed by Shreya Ghoshal and Nakul Abhayankar, is here to make your Monday better. While the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic has halted all film processes, Cobra’s team has decided to launch the audio of this song from the film’s album. Here's what's going to rule your playlists for a while! #ThumbiThullal from #Cobra out now https://t.co/N9YHiwJCUv#ChiyaanVikram @AjayGnanamuthu @arrahman @Lalit_SevenScr @7screenstudio @JioSaavn @shreyaghoshal @NakulAbhyankar @Lyricist_Vivek #Jithin#CobraOnJioSaavn pic.twitter.com/ctxDWTxj9a — Sony Music South (@SonyMusicSouth) June 29, 2020 The song, which is available for streaming on Jio Saavn, sets the mood for a performance that precedes a gathering. From the promotional images already shared, it can be inferred that...
- 6/29/2020
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
CinemaApart from acting in over 350 films and producing 27 films, Anjali Devi was elected the first woman president of the Nadigar Sangam in 1959.B JeevasundariKavitha GajendranThe recent election to the South Indian Film Artistes’ Association, popularly known as the Nadigar Sangam, was clouded with a lot of controversy from the beginning to the end with results that went unannounced. Amidst the hullabaloo, the history that got buried was that actor Anjali Devi, who had contributed greatly to the south Indian film industry for half a century with a phenomenal acting and production career, was the first woman president of the Sangam. Elected in 1959, she also designed the logo that the Sangam carries till date. Anjali Devi sauntered through life and a male dominant film industry. From her dance career at a young age to diversifying into acting, producing and presiding over the Nadigar Sangam, she lived through a progressive path. Anjali...
- 6/30/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
EntertainmentThe Oscar winning music composer Ar Rahman took to Twitter to post a video with the caption – “Can you recognise him ?”Digital NativeSony Music had launched a new program called 7Up Madras Gig on their YouTube channel last year. The objective of this program is to promote independent music. While in the first season, musicians from South India including Oorka and Sajith Sathya and film music composers like Santhosh Dhayanidhi, D Imman, Leon James and Vivek-Mervin were part of it, the second series will have Dharan Kumar, Sean Roldan, Keba Jeremiah, Ghibran, Darbuka Siva and Ar Ameen. The Oscar winning music composer Ar Rahman took to Twitter to post a video with the caption – “Can you recognise him ?” Can you recognise him ? pic.twitter.com/5UiSRMFLT3 — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) June 13, 2019 Well, it was none other than the legend’s son! Ar Ameen has already sung for Rahman's compositions in 2.0 and Ok Kanmani.
- 6/15/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe actor-politician is reportedly singing a Goan-type song for the film which, apart from actor Manikandan Pattambi, will also have Mukesh’s nephew Divyadarshan in an important role.Digital NativeFor the first time ever, actor-politician Mukesh will turn playback singer for a film! The actor will be rendering a song in the upcoming film Rameshan Oru Peralla. In his career spanning well over four decades, he had never done playback singing until now. This is touted to be a Goan-type song which has been composed by Gemini Unnikrishnan. Directed by Sujith Vigneshwar, Rameshan Oru Peralla will have Manikandan Pattambi playing the title role. He will be appearing as a taxi driver, report sources. We hear that the film will be a suspense thriller. Reportedly, the film will be about the flaws in the legal system of our country. Besides Manikandan Pattambi, the film also has Mukesh’s nephew Divyadarshan in an important role.
- 3/8/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
InterviewEka, who started her film journey in the 2010-flick 'Raavan' is now Mani Ratnam's go to costume designer, all at the age of 32. Megha KaveriBe it Tara (Ok Kanmani) or Dr Leela (Kaatru Veliyidai), the one aspect that stood out in these films is their costumes, which the audience related to very well. Their dresses were simple but elegant, highlighting their strong and independent personalities. 32-year-old Eka Lakhani is the woman behind these costumes that have etched these characters in our memories. After an undergrad degree in fashion design from Sndt University, Mumbai, and a stint in Fashion Institute of Technology, Eka was deliberating on working in a magazine, writing about high fashion. That was when she got a call from someone, who said popular designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee was looking for an assistant to work on a project. “It was a film involving Mani Ratnam with Aishwarya...
- 3/8/2019
- by Meghak
- The News Minute
ReviewBefore the "kalacharam" watchers have an aneurysm, please be warned that this is an 'A' certified film.Sowmya RajendranOviya's 90Ml is likely to give several "kalacharam" watchers in Tamil Nadu an aneurysm. Probably the same people who turned up believing it would be an Iruttu Arayil Murattu Kuthu kind of film. So, before we go any further, let me just say that this is an 'A' certified film. Also, nobody in the film claims to be a feminist or talks about women's empowerment or pretends they have the answer to the problems faced by all women. 90Ml is simply about a bunch of women who get together once in a while, get high, and find temporary relief from their life problems. That is its limited ambition and frankly, after the number of sanctimonious films we've had with "farmer" messaging and what not, 90Ml is refreshing in its disinterest to talk...
- 3/1/2019
- by Ragamalika
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe film also stars Kalyani Priyadarshan and Kriti Kharbhanda as the other leads.Digital NativeDigital NativeDulquer Salmaan undoubtedly enjoys a huge popularity among the Tamil film buffs. The star has been signing deals to star in Tamil films at regular intervals and has been successful at the box office as well. He is currently busy with his fourth Tamil project, directed by debutant Ra. Karthik. Titled Vaan, the film is a travel-based script. The film is being shot in multiple locations and the latest is that Priya Bhavani Shankar, who was last seen in Karthi's Kadai Kutty Singam has been roped in to play Dulquer’s romantic interest in the film. It also stars Kalyani Priyadarshan and Kriti Kharbhanda as the other leads. The news anchor turned actor made her debut in Tamil with Karthik Subbaraj’s production venture, Meyaadha Maan. She is busy with movies like Kuruthi Aattam with Atharva,...
- 2/16/2019
- by Luke
- The News Minute
MollywoodDirector Vk Prakash succeeds in bringing out an engaging film with just one actor in it, with a spine-chilling first half.CrisIf Vk Prakash is trying to scare the wits out of you, through Praana, he succeeds, to an extent. He has successfully decoded that what really sends chills down your spine is the anticipation of something horrible about to happen, more than the happening itself. So with Nithya Menen, the sole actor in the film - except for a few blurred or unfocused faces in a crowd and the presence of a television - we wait for it to happen. The background is established in those first few safe scenes that mostly every horror movie has – scenes you hold on to preciously for you know any moment now, the music would change and the eeriness would creep in. Those are the scenes in which you learn about Thara – also...
- 1/18/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
InterviewNithya Menen, whose supernatural thriller ‘Praana’ is set to release on Friday, speaks to Tnm about the unplanned break she’s had, her upcoming films including two Hindi projects, and more.CrisYou would think with a film about to release and quite a few others in the making, Nithya Menen might sound over-the-top excited. But she is calm, thoughtful and very, very clear about what she wants to do. Malayalam cinema had missed the presence of this actor who is a mix of beauty and brains. She was last seen in Malayalam more than three years ago, with Dulquer Salmaan, in a cute romantic comedy about old and new love, 100 Days of Love. It was around the same time the two of them came together for Mani Ratnam’s Ok Kanmani. After that, Nithya has been absent, and her absence noticed, for she has been asked a lot why she...
- 1/16/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe film will be a travel-based script.Digital NativeMalayalam heartthrob Dulquer Salmaan is all set to return to take Tamil filmdom by storm. Last seen playing Gemini Ganesan in Savitri biopic, Mahanati, he has bagged his fourth Tamil project, to be directed by debutant Ra Karthik. Titled Vaan, the film, a travel-based script, was launched in a customary puja ceremony earlier today in Chennai. The film will feature three heroines and it has already been revealed that Kriti Kharbhanda and Kalyani Priyadarshan have been signed as the leading ladies. The third heroine is yet to be finalised. Not long ago, it was revealed that Nivetha Pethuraj is also part of the project. However, her name was eventually ruled out. “It is a travel movie and we are in the process of finalising the four heroines for the flick. People have a misconception that if there are four heroines in a film,...
- 12/5/2018
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
CinemaNithya has always looked the part she’s playing, whether that’s a princess from ancient times or a political leader in ours. Tnm StaffFacebook/Nithya MenenNithya Menen as Jayalalithaa in the upcoming biopic on the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has got everyone raving about the resemblance. Directed by A Priyadarshini, The Iron Lady is among other films planned on Jayalalithaa’s eventful and often tragic life. While the others are yet to announce the actor who will play Jayalalithaa, Nithya’s presence in this project alone is enough to make it the most anticipated among the biopics. The first look poster was unveiled on Wednesday to coincide with Jayalalithaa's death anniversary. The south Indian film industry has several talented women actors but there are few who can compete with Nithya when it comes to dedication to her craft. A few days ago, Nithya was seen as Savitri in...
- 12/5/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe biopic on the late Cm of Tamil Nadu is coming from director Priyadarshini.Digital NativeEver since the demise of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, there have been attempts by various filmmakers to make a biopic on her. Finally, it is coming from director Priyadarshini, who has revealed the title logo of her upcoming film, The Iron Lady. Priyadarshani has announced that actor Nithya Menen will be playing Jayalalithaa in the biopic and the rest of the star cast and crew will be announced at the earliest. The title logo was unveiled by noted director and producer Ar Murugadoss on his Twitter handle. He wrote: “Extremely happy and excited to launch the Title poster of #Jayalalithaabiopic #Theironlady I wish @priyadhaarshini and team for a grand success..” The film will concentrate on Jayalalithaa’s political journey and the challenges she underwent during her tenures as the Cm. It...
- 9/22/2018
- by Cris
- The News Minute
CinemaThe story is about an ad agency executive, Zoya Singh Solanki, getting to meet the Indian cricket team and turning out to be their lucky mascot.Digital NativeDulquer Salmaan’s Bollywood debut with Karwaan turned out to be successful and the star is now ready to move on to his next, The Zoya Factor. The shooting for this film is all set to begin and Sonam Kapoor, who plays the title role, had tweeted: “Super excited to shoot for “The Zoya Factor” with Dulquer Salmaan. Can’t wait to share more updates with you all! @dulQuer.” Super excited to shoot for “The Zoya Factor” with Dulquer Salmaan. Can't wait to share more updates with you all! @dulQuer pic.twitter.com/7byNwpIZie — Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) August 26, 2018 Earlier in an interview, Sonam was quoted as saying, “Dulquer is really cute and such a good actor. I have seen his film Ok...
- 8/28/2018
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe film is a travelogue and Dulquer will be playing multiple roles in it.Tnm StaffOn Friday, actor Dulquer Salmaan tweeted the first look poster of his upcoming Tamil film called Vaan, which marks the debut of director Ra. Karthik. Vaan is being produced by Selva Kumar J under the banner of Kenanya Films. The director of photography is George C Williams and the music is being composed by a newbie in the industry, Dheena Dhayalan. The editing department will be handled by National Award winner A Sreekar Prasad. The movie will be a travelogue. We also heard that Dulquer will be playing multiple characters with four different heroines. Nivetha Pethuraj has been signed to play one of the four female leads. The travelogue will be shot all across India, in locations like Chennai, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and Nainital. “We are also scouting for another hill station. The movie predominantly features North India. It would be a colourful action film with a lot of emotions too, woven in,” director Karthik told Times of India. The director has decided that it will be a Tamil film for now, but if they take the bilingual road, the team would opt for Telugu. The film is expected to release in the first week of December this year. Dq, who became the darling of the Tamil industry with Ok Kanmani, is a popular star in the Malayalam industry. He has become a well-known face in the Telugu industry after the success of Mahanati. He also has two Bollywood flicks coming up, Karwaan and a film based on Anuja Chauhan's novel The Zoya Factor, in which he will star with Sonam Kapoor. In Tamil, his upcoming film is the romantic flick Kannum Kannum Kollai Adithaal with Ritu Varma. Also read: Mahesh Babu's 25th film delayed due to tussle between producers...
- 6/15/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
MollywoodThere’s a story worth telling somewhere in 'Abhiyude' but the film does everything to distract you from it. Sowmya RajendranSomewhere in Br Vijayalakshmi’s bilingual Abhiyude Kadha Anuvinteyum, there is a story worth telling. But the film does everything to distract you from it. The heroine, Anu, is introduced to us as an enterprising young woman who calms an angry elephant down by giving it a bunch of bananas (the man who sells it just happens to come by). This is so she can take a goat to the hospital for delivery and prance around like a five-year-old later. The hero, Abhimanyu (Tovino Thomas) who watches the whole thing on Facebook, falls in love… but not before he discovers that ‘Anu’ stands for ‘Awareness Near U’. This is just a sample of the inanity that passes for ‘cute’ and ‘romance’ in the film. It’s painful to watch Tovino in Abhiyude after the intensity he brought to every frame in Mayaanadhi. But this isn’t his fault – Pia Bajaj is so thoroughly out of place in this film that she reminded me of that Thanksgiving dessert with a layer of sautéed beef, onions and peas that Rachel makes in an episode of Friends. The off sync dubbing doesn’t help and the result is far from enjoyable. Anu, in the first half of Abhiyude, is the ‘bubbly girl’ who doesn’t exist in real life but we’re forced to meet in film after film. She shaves her head (and super unconvincing it is) because she wants to make wigs for kids with cancer, she gaslights the guy she has been flirting with into thinking she isn’t interested in him, she is so spirited all the time that I wished someone would write the woman a prescription to help her calm down. But all that changes in the second half. The film doesn’t get better though. There is a complicated story here about surrogacy, incest, relationships, marriage – but it’s all so shallow that you cannot begin to care about any of the characters. Abhi’s parents are always busy with their ‘business’. What business is this? We don’t know. Abhi is working in a company that has ‘projects’. What project is he working on? We don’t know. Anu’s ‘Awareness Near U’ goes for a toss after she meets Abhi. Why? We don’t know. As in Ok Kanmani, Suhasini and Prabhu play an older couple inspiring a younger couple to invest more in their marriage. But their characters too are written with very little depth. Suhasini is unnaturally cheery while Prabhu looks out of sorts pretending to speak in a mix of Malayalam and Tamil. Rohini, as Anu’s mom, does her best with what she’s given but that’s all. There are also a few insensitive dialogues about surrogacy and motherhood which really didn’t need to be there, especially since the filmmaker stresses on the need to be sensitive in other scenes.The last ‘fact’ presented to us made me wonder what the fuss was all about in the first place. Akilan’s cinematography is possibly the one thing that makes Abhiyude watchable. Though the content in the film is decidedly B grade, it looks good. Should you watch this film? A review is just Awareness Near U. You’ve been warned. Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither Tnm nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
- 5/25/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
TollywoodThe sets for the new season have been built in Hyderabad, unlike the first season which was shot in Lonavala.Digital NativeDigital NativeBigg Boss, the reality show, modeled on the Big Brother show, has turned out to be a huge hit in India as well. The first season of Bigg Boss Telugu was hosted by Jr Ntr and its TRPs simply skyrocketed indicating its huge success. With reports about season 2 commencing, fans were expecting an announcement about who would host the show this time around. Well, it has been officially confirmed that Nani will be stepping in place of Jr Ntr and the official word regarding it is out. According to reports, Jr Ntr is too busy with the acting assignments following which the offer went to Nani. It may be mentioned here that Jr Ntr is currently busy with the Trivikram Srinivas directorial which hasn’t been titled yet and will be then moving over to Rrr, a multi starrer in which he will be sharing the screen space with Ram Charan Teja. SS Rajamouli will be helming the project as its director. The sets for the new season have been built in Hyderabad, unlike the first season which was shot in Lonavala. The Bigg Boss house has been constructed at the popular Annapurna Studios where the contestants will stay during the entire course of the show. The first season of Bigg Boss Telugu was launched on 16 July 2017 on Star Maa last year with Jr Ntr hosting the show that had 14 contestants with 2 wild card entries later on. The show also had its share of celebs making their presence and they include Taapsee Pannu, Rana Daggubati and Vijay Devarakonda. The winner of the show was Shiva Balaji with Aadarsh being declared the runner-up. It may be mentioned here that the Tamil version of Bigg Boss also went on air around the same time as the Telugu version. Season 1 was hosted by Kamal Haasan and recently it was officially confirmed that he would take up the mantle for the second season as well. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also Read: Dulquer was fabulous in ‘Ok Kanmani’: Sonam on ‘The Zoya Factor’ co-star...
- 5/23/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
InterviewShaasha says that she channelised the pain in the song from the tremendous losses she has gone through in her own life.Priyanka Thirumurthy For National Award winning singer Shaasha Tirupati, language was no barrier when it came to feeling the pain that Ar Rahman's 'Vaan varuvan' induced. The song from Kaatru Veliyidai is unforgettable for this singer and not only because it has bagged one of the country's most prestigious awards. Shaasha has sung three dozen songs for various composers in 12 languages but till date, 'Vaan varuvan' remains the melody she has found most challenging. "I didn't understand the lyrics completely and was given an idea of what the song meant. But the melody was just too haunting. It hit me really hard and even till date I sing the song with a heavy heart," she explain to Tnm. "There is just so much pain and heartbreak in the way the song flows. When I sing 'garvam konaal kalaai uraivan' and then move on to the resolution which goes 'kaadhal', it is simply divine," she adds. Shaasha recalls sitting with her mentor Ar Rahman even as the song and its melody was created and says it was a beautiful experience. One that left her in tears at the end of it. "We recorded three different versions of it before Rahman sir was satisfied with the output. He is very self-critical and tweaks and changes his own music constantly," she explains. "After we finished recording though, I really broke down in my hotel room. It was a very emotional experience for me," she says, her voice soft. Anybody who listens to 'Vaan', can feel their heart break a little for the heroine trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship. But from where did Shaasha channel this pain into the song? "Heartbreak plays a major role in any artist," she says candidly. "It could be losing a close friend or member of your family and the hurt you experienced because of them. When that emotion is inside you and you connect to a melody, it immediately taps into the pain. I've been through tremendous loss and pain in my life and I think that at some level I define pain," she adds. And despite this tremendous journey she went through with this song, Shaasha could hardly believe that she had won the National Award for 'Vaan'. 'I was asleep' It was around 12.30 in the afternoon when Shaasha began getting phone calls. Her phone was buzzing but she was fast asleep. "When I finally picked up and they told me I had won, I was just really confused," she giggles. "I was like what the hell are they saying? I really thought it was some kind of a mistake or prank," she laughs. And by the time the news sunk in, she was howling, "I am a National Award winner" to her shocked mother on the phone and the singer was crying in happiness. The Tirupati household then proceeded to churn out ladoos out of joy and offered prayers to God. "When I called Rahman sir with the good news, he said it was a reward for my hard work and perseverance. But honestly, it was only because of his faith in me that I have achieved this," she says. "A lot of composers look for a singer with branding and existing position in the industry. But Rahman sir just looks at talent, even if you are a newcomer," she adds. Rahman's favourite singer? Well in Shasha's case, the musical genius sure did look at talent. In Ok Kanmani alone, she has crooned three songs - 'Naane Varugiren', 'Kaara Aatakara' and 'Parandhu Selava'. All of them, to her credit were different genres of music. She has also sung in Kochadiyaan, Lingaa and Mariyaan for Rahman in Tamil. So, would she consider herself his favourite singer. "I would love to believe I am his favourite," laughs Shaasha. "You would die to hear that from the person you've worshiped for 12 years. If he were ever to say that to me I would die happily at that point. He has ensured I don't get typecast as a singer," she declares. Shaasha'a association with Rahman began in 2012 when she began singing on MTV's Coke Studio. One day in July, Rahman apparently asked who Shaasha was among the group of singers present there. She identified herself and then immediately decided it was because she had done something wrong. "I couldn't sleep all night and thought I'd really messed something up. So, the next day I mustered the courage to go ask him why he asked for me and he said that it was because he thought that my voice sounded like the duk duk (a wind instrument). One of his assistants had made him listen to some of my work. I was so thrilled," she reveals. But Shasha's ambitions don't end with winning the National Award. She looks forward to singing for various other composers and is also writing and composing songs herself. And one of them is about the rape culture in the country. Exploring other avenues "After the Nirbhaya incident, I penned a song but it has been in cold storage because the musicians I want to collaborate with for the project were not available. But I plan to finish it now and the time is right for it," she says. "It pays homage to rape survivors across the country," she adds. In addition to this, she has joined theatre and is acting as well now. Shaasha received her National Award on May 3, but her association with the song that has catapulted her to national fame is not over yet. "I want to adopt a girl child by 2020. I want to ensure that there is another strong woman out there in the world and I have decided to name her Vaan," says Shaasha. "After all, the sky is the limit." ...
- 5/14/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
InterviewIn this exclusive interview, Sarjun speaks about the backlash he received for 'Lakshmi', his interest in women-centric films and more. Sowmya RajendranFacebook/Sarjun KMAt 31, Sarjun is among the Tamil film industry’s most exciting young directors. His first feature film Echcharikkai is yet to hit the screens but he’s already a familiar name, thanks to his much talked about short films Lakshmi and Maa. The first is about a woman who has an extramarital fling while the second is on teenage pregnancy. The director has just signed a film with Nayanthara in the lead role. To be produced by Kjr Studios, which gave us Aramm last year and the Pongal release Gulebagavali, the film is expected to be a horror flick. Speaking to Tnm, Sarjun shares his journey in the Tamil film industry, the controversy surrounding Lakshmi, and his desire to continue doing short films even as he steps into the big league. From what we’ve seen of your work so far, we have high expectations about what you’ll bring to the table with the Nayanthara film. So can we expect something different within the horror genre? Definitely. It will be a horror film with emotions. It won’t just be scary. It’s an out and out horror film but with emotions. How did this project happen? Rajesh, the producer, called me and said he liked Maa very much and asked if I had any story to narrate. I asked him what genre he had in mind and he said it’s fine if it’s a horror film. So I took some time and pitched a line to him. He really liked it and told me that he’d get me a sitting with Nayanthara. I gave an hour’s narration to Nayanthara and she liked it very much. She liked Maa also very much and she spoke about it. It’s not the usual horror film, so she gave the go ahead. How did you get into the film industry? I’m an engineering graduate but I later studied cinematography in Mindscreen under Rajiv Menon Sir. Just as I was finishing, Mani Ratnam Sir was in need of an assistant director for Ponniyin Selvan. So I joined him, but for some reason that project didn’t take off. I continued working with him in Kadal. I finished Kadal and I did a couple of independent projects like music videos. Then I worked with Murugadoss on Kaththi. I joined only after the first schedule of the film was done. When that got over, I worked on the post-production for Mani Sir’s Ok Kanmani. That’s the last work I did for anyone else. After that, I’ve been trying to pitch scripts – which ended with me doing Echcharikkai. The film is over and is set for release in March. Both your short films, Lakshmi and Maa, revolve around women protagonists. What draws you towards such stories? Probably it’s the influence of women from my own life – both good and bad. I don’t know how far it’s possible to do it in a feature film here. There are many restrictions in mainstream films. Short films give you that freedom to think whatever you want. My first feature film is not women-centric, it’s a proper thriller. So I have broken out of that... but yes, the second will center around Nayanthara’s character. So when you have the freedom to think, you are drawn to telling the stories of women? My first influence is my mother. She’s a very independent woman. She’s a retired teacher now. My friends’ circle, the way I have been brought up, the environment around me – all of this I’d say is a little progressive from whatever I’ve seen. So I thought why not tell stories from here. When I made Lakshmi, I didn’t really think all that much. It just became big after I made it (laughs). I pitched Maa to Gautham Menon Sir and he really liked it. He told me that it’s a sensitive subject and that I should handle it properly. Are you worried about mainstream cinema limiting your creativity? The genre I’ve selected for the Nayanthara film is horror. There are a few templates for horror and we can’t break that. But within that, what better can I bring is the question. I can explore sub-genres within it. I’m coming with a prepared mind about how to go forward in the industry. How did you deal with the backlash that you received for Lakshmi? I took Gautham Sir’s advice to not open my mouth (laughs). He told me that it’s the best thing to do. Because if I say something and it gets twisted, it will be worse. But I have to say that though there was backlash, I also got many positive responses. It was equal. So I didn’t want to feed the backlash. Gautham Sir told me to speak about it after I do my next project. That’s why I decided to speak after Maa. What kind of feedback did you get for Maa? For Maa, nearly 95% of the responses I got were positive. About 5% was negative but I thought that was okay. Any work you do, there’s going to be negative stuff. It’s not necessary for everyone to accept it. Even if you make a classic, there will be people who like it and don’t like it. I’m also like that. There are many films which people have liked which I haven’t. And I’ve criticised those films, too. Did you do any research when you made Maa? Yes, a lot of research. I wanted to know how prevalent teenage pregnancy is. In fact, we had a press show for Maa in which we had statistics in the end. But we thought it might look like a “message” movie if we kept it, so we took it off in the YouTube version. So I did do research on the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, the consequences for women of that age and it was only after this that we started writing it. Did you feel constrained at any point when you were doing Maa because of the backlash you received with Lakshmi? Yes. I did feel constrained. When I got this idea, I did have doubts. I went and met the Ondraga team which has Venkat Sir and Reshma Ma’am. I told them that I didn’t want people to think since I made a controversial film, I wanted to make another one like that. I did ask them if I should do it. They told me not to be worried and that this film won’t be seen that way. It’s only after their encouragement that I told myself I could do it. Echcharikkai is releasing in March. Can you tell us more about it? It’s a kidnap thriller. Satyaraj Sir is doing the role of a retired cop. He has played a cop in many films so I wanted to ensure that this is different. That’s why I made him a retired cop who doesn’t wear a uniform at any point. The film has a lot of twists and turns, and ends with a very emotional climax. Some people have been saying that from the looks of the trailer, it seems to have been inspired by Taken? The thing is, we cut the trailer so it looks like Taken. But what you see in the trailer is not the film. In the trailer, it looks like Varalaxmi is Satyaraj Sir’s daughter but that’s not the case at all. The story is different but we cut the trailer so it has that similarity. Taken is a Very famous film. I don’t think I can take from Taken and do it (laughs). How hard is it to make it big in cinema? The struggle is very big. We only see the names of people who’ve made films. But there are hundreds of people who find it difficult to get someone to even listen to their story. If you ask why, it’s because the number of quality films that release are less, the number of artists is also less, but the number of people who want to become directors is big. So that competition is there. It’s a huge task to get a producer or artist to listen to your story. And after that, if the film goes on the floor, it’s a big achievement, given the current situation. On top of this, if the film runs, it’s a miracle. Apart from the creative side, there are many more aspects to this struggle. Now there are more platforms, like YouTube for example, and filmmakers should realise that you’re not a filmmaker only if your film releases in a theatre. Then they can continue to tell their stories. Does this mean you’ll continue to make short films? 100% yes. I watched Anurag Kashyap’s short film (The Day After Every Day) and I was thinking how someone who’s made 5-6 mainstream films has made a short film. For a person who has done a feature film and is coming back to do short films, the approach will be different. From the shots to the thinking, it will be different. It will be much better and more people will watch it. You can explore genres – people here don’t do it but I will.
- 2/6/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
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