Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

FOUR FRAMES

Boom time

For the first time in history, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) exceeded $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales for the year 2006. In India, SPE crossed Rs. 116 crore in gross box-office sales for the third consecutive year. It distributed the year's biggest Hollywood hits in India — "Casino Royale", "Pirates of the Caribbean-2" and "Da Vinci Code". In fact, the Bond movie has become the second highest grosser ever after "Titanic" in the country. Says Uday Singh, Managing Director of SPE India operations: "This inspired performance has been due to a fabulous line-up of movies and dedicated marketing and distribution across India." In 2007, SPE has three potential blockbusters, including "Spiderman-3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean-3". It will also be the first Hollywood studio to produce a Hindi film — Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya".

New heroine

Muktha George, rechristened Bhanu, is the new girl from Kerala who is being introduced in Tamil by director Hari in "Thamirabarani". Bhanu is the spitting image of Hari's earlier discovery Nayanthara, who has turned out to be one of the top heroines in the South. Bhanu, who has done an offbeat film for which she got a lot of critical acclaim and some television soaps in Malayalam, is looking forward to the release of "Thamirabarani". And if the film becomes a hit, it will be her ticket to stardom. Says Bhanu: "I felt comfortable as Hari sir and Vishal were very helpful." Hari is all praise for his heroine and feels that Bhanu has screen presence and can emote well.

Rahman scores

Mani Ratnam's "Guru", featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, is being dubbed into Tamil and released for Pongal with other Tamil biggies. Surya has dubbed for Abhishek in "Guru" and Mallika Sherawat is doing a sizzling number for the film. Madhavan plays a small but pivotal role of a reporter. The Mani-A. R. Rahman combo has come out with yet another winner as the songs from "Guru" have already turned out to be chartbusters. The sensuous song "Maaya Mayaa... " sung by Mayyum Toller has a strong Arabic flavour and is the pick of the album.

Blessy is back

Blessy, the director who shot to fame and became a household name with "Kazhcha" and "Thanmatra", is back with his third film Palunku" ("Crystal"), featuring Mammootty and a new girl Lakshmi Sharma in the lead. The film, released in Kerala last week, is receiving critical acclaim for its touching story and technical finesse. The film exposes the trappings of consumerism and how city life changes the perspective and priorities of an ordinary farmer brilliantly enacted by Mammootty. Santhosh Thundiyil's eye-catching camera and crisp editing of Raja Mohammed are the other highlights.

SREEDHAR PILLAI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail