Kochi Film-Entertainment-Media Industry

[Malayaali]

Avial to rock city today

Saturday turns musical with Avial, Kerala’s offering to the world of alternative rock, all set to hit the city.

Baiju Dharmarajan, popularly known as ‘the God of Small Strings’ will open the show at Casino Hotel at Willingdon island at 9 pm. He will showcase a few numbers from his next instrumental album.

Bhasi and Friends and Tuhin Goswami also feature in the opening act. Neha Nair will also be singing a few soulful melodies during the performance.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Avial Live & Loud – May 26 – Casino Hotel

Baiju Dharamajan, AVIAL, Kochi's favourite DJs Sekhar & Nash and more to rock the city tomorrow at Casino Hotel

[Malayaali]

Bringing the House down

The DJ scene in the country is waking up to a new dawn and Kochi doesn’t want to be left behind. For the first time, an international DJ rocked the city on May 26 at the Dreams hotel.

Dale Anderson, a British-Canadian DJ, who now lives in Mumbai, was keyed up before the event, “I have heard that the Cochin crowd loves energy. I hope to deliver that to them and it’s going to be wild.“ “I am not very familiar with the DJs here except DJ Savio but the Indian DJ scene is really evolving.”

He was a drummer for 10 years before moving on to DJing. “I wanted to have a more personal touch with the creative side of my work and DJing made sense,” he said. He rocked the floor with his trademark House and Techno music on Saturday night.

He has been in Mumbai for the last two years and is currently on a mission to familiarise the Indian audience to House and Techno music with Anil Chawla and the crew at Unmute.

“They are the only ones really trying to speak for this music in India. This is why I joined Chawla and Unmute,” he said.

“We (he and Chawla) came to India to get away from everything in London and sit in the studio every day, boring as it may sound, write music for our follow up album with Global Underground. It’s about 60 per cent finished and it’s going to be different from the other works.”

He is in love with India. “I just love the scene here- the music, the culture, the food. There are definitely some drawbacks like the traffic, pollution and the 12 at night regulations, but there is definitely something to India that I keep coming back here.”

“My first ever gig in India was in Hyderabad and it was one of the best shows I’ve done anywhere in the world. It was that good. There were other good shows like the Sunburn festival that I really enjoyed,” he added.

What bothers him is the way Mumbai police have been continuously raiding and shutting down night clubs. “I don’t think it’s police business to decide what is moral and immoral.

Just because girls wear short skirts, you can’t call them prostitutes. It’s really offensive to everybody. There is modernisation without being immoral.”

He was keen to explore Kerala scene, but could not stay back because of his Goa gig on Sunday. But he was determined to have a taste of Kerala cuisine.

“I love sea food and I hear Kerala has good sea food. I am keen on trying the fish biriyani and I hear it’s different from the Hyderabadi biriyani.”

[thanseem]

all halls in the city and suburbs r playing Malayalam movies, this week. including sridhar! a great come back by the industry..

[psanthosh]

Originally Posted by thanseem

all halls in the city and suburbs r playing Malayalam movies, this week. including sridhar! a great come back by the industry..

Yes even in Kollam all theatres are filled with Malayalam movies. It is a good return of Malayalam movies

[Malayaali]

No big ticket Bollywood, Kollywood movies playing right now. That's also a reason.

[Malayaali]

Dale Anderson rock Kochi

In Kochi part of 'Kingfisher Ultra Soul Flip' event


cc: Mathrubhumi

[Malayaali]

Foreigners in Kerala get an 'extra' holiday

Originally Posted by TiGeRcLaW88

KOCHI: Lonely Planet's section on Kerala awaits an urgent update: The option to upgrade one's acting skills and, more to the point, get paid for it. With Malayalam movies increasingly featuring foreigners as part of the plot, mostly as exotic props, white backpackers from Europe, North America and elsewhere can, with a bit of luck, now combine business with pleasure.

According to industry insiders, around 5,000 foreigners are on average picked up by scouts annually to act in films shot in various locales across the state and sometimes even in neighbouring states. Kochi is fast becoming the hub of this 'cinema tourism'.

"Every year an average of 5,000 foreign tourists who come to Kochi are handpicked for acting in films, mostly Malayalam films. There are eight major coordinators who supply foreigners for films. I myself supply around 500 foreigners a year,'' says Anson Assissi, a co-ordinator who provides junior artistes for films.

Any director who needs foreigners to be cast in his or her movie first approaches these co-ordinators. "The director would send us the details, including age of the character along with photographs of lookalikes. We go to homestays in Fort Kochi and Mattanchery and select them. We brief them about the character they have to do. Most of them would be initially dumbstruck. However, there are those who reject such offers as well,'' Anson explains.

Once chosen, as part of their extended holiday the foreigners are taken to locations like Alappuzha, Bakel Fort in Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Munnar as well as to various locations in Tamil Nadu like Angalakurichi near Coimbatore and Ootty.

During the filming of Neeko Njancha in Cherai beach recently, 15 foreign tourists got a chance to try out their acting prowess. ''If the locations are around Kochi, then they themselves would take care of the accommodation. In case of distant locations the accommodation will be provided by us,'' says Sandeep Senan, producer of Neeko Njancha.

"As it is quite expensive, we would go for casting foreigners only if the script requires it. Normally they are paid between Rs 2000 to 4000 a day,'' he reveals. Besides the remuneration, these tourists benefit from perks too. In case the tourists have to re-schedule their itinerary, they are provided train or flight tickets to their next destination. Now, that's some holidaying indeed.

[Malayaali]

The spirit of Bollywood

Shibani Kashyap

She touched a chord in people’s hearts when she sang ‘Sajana Abhi Ja’ from Shashanka Ghosh’s film Waisa Bhi Hota Hai – II.

Singer Shibani Kashyap will be in Kochi to render a live performance, ‘Northern Rhythms’ at the JTPac on June 2.

Her latest song is ‘Wrinkly Wrinkly Wrinkles’ for the film Love Wrinkle Free.

The B’town singer recently launched her album called My Free Spirit, in an attempt to save her independent music from being lost in the Bollywood brew.

[Malayaali]

JTPac presents Mohan Rakesh's Hindi play Aadhe Adhure (The Incomplete Ones), directed by Lillete Dubey.

[Malayaali]

JTPac presents writer-director Rahul da Cunha's Class of '84.

[Malayaali]

JTPac presents A. R. Gurney's Love Letters, directed by Rahul da Cunha.

[Malayaali]

[Malayaali]

Shibani Kashyap enthralls Kochi crowd


cc: Manorama

[Malayaali]

Northern Rhythms by Shibani Kashyap at JT Pac

[Malayaali]

Mishko M'ba performs at JT Pac


cc: Manorama

[Malayaali]

Over Dose at CLUB 11HUNDRED

[Malayaali]

Learn the art of DJing in Cochin

[Malayaali]

Age no bar for Jyoti Dev

Jyoti Dev.

Who said the modeling and entertainment worlds are just for the young? Those who feel ‘thirty and something’ is time to slowdown, Jyoti Dev comes in as a perfect answer.

The enthusiastic model who has around 50 popular ads to her kitty will soon be seen in a cameo in V.K. Prakash’s thriller, Trivandrum Lodge.

A Punjabi based at the Naval base in Kochi for the past five years with her Naval pilot husband Commander Rahul Dev, Jyoti is glad Kerala has opened to her a lot of opportunities ever since she came here.

“It was a dream come true,” says Jyoti as she reminisces how life transformed once she set foot in Kochi. Coming from a conservative Sikh family in Punjab, Jyoti says she did have dreams of entering the glam world but the opportunities were almost remote there.

“Being a Naval officer’s wife, I was lucky to get a glimpse of the various cultures across the country.” But a transfer to Kerala changed her life almost dramatically. The first TV ad she did for Everlast Roofing saw her turning into a busy model with many more offers coming her way.

“Chasing your dream and catching hold of them has nothing to do with age,” says the lady who worked with Shaji Kailas and Ranjith in King and Commisioner and Spirit respectively. Her big banner ads include Southern Jewelers, Urban Bank, Nestle Milo etc.

Currently staying in the Naval Area, she tells us how money was never the factor. “It is about a dream coming true, and a passion towards camera.”

Jyoti has loads to say of the industry which has given her a chance to show off her talents. “It’s amazing how everyone has his or her own importance on the sets.... Everyone is equally important.

Everyone is so friendly on the sets irrespective of who the person is, from the makeup man to director, and each and every one between is so cooperative, helpful and friendly.”

With a pleasant smile, she says, “I have come across a lot of people in this industry and have learnt immensely, Also I have made many friends to whom I am constantly in touch with,” says the charming lady who’s blessed with two kids.

[Malayaali]

Malayalam movies turn urban-centric

Moving away from their rural setting, Malayalam movies are increasingly becoming urban in their theme.

Until recently, most Malayalam films had rural themes portraying the essential goodness and unspoilt beauty of villages.

However, this is changing as most of the around 90 movies released last year were set in urban backgrounds.

Some movies that were received well in 2011 included Traffic, Indian Rupee, Salt and Pepper, Seniors, Beautiful and Chappa Kurish. They revolved around situations that happen in cities like the state's fast-developing commercial hub Kochi.

Though they did not turn out to be big box office hits, films like Arjunan Sakshi, Christian Brothers, China Town, City of God, The Train, Teja Bhai and Family, Doctor Love and Arabiyum Ottakavum Pinne Madhavan Nayarum also had an urban-orientation.

Industry sources say all successful movies released so far this year are city-centric with films like 22 Female Kottayam (22 FK), Diamond Necklace, Ee Adutha Kalath, Mayamohini still running to packed houses.

Popular director Sathyan Anthikkad, known for village-oriented family stories laced with subtle humour like Sandesham, Sanmanasullavarkku Samdhanam and Mazhavilkkavadi, says a new generation trend is reigning in Mollywood these days and such stories are the immediate result of that innovative change.

"Till some time back, the only focus in Mollywood was the actor or hero. Films known by the actors, directors and scriptwriters were largely ignored. But with the arrival of a handful of young film makers, movies have begun to return to the director's hands in Malayalam," Anthikkad said.

"Young talents experiment with many things in narration and theme selection. City-centric movies and elite class stories can be seen as part of their experimentations," he said.

Village-oriented films which reaped average success in 2011-12 were Sathyan Anthikkad-directed Snehaveedu, M Mohanan's Manikya Kallu, Bobon Samuel's Janapriyan and T K Rajeev Kumar's Rathinirvedam.

Perhaps the only exception among them is Sugeeth directed Ordinary, depicting the life of a scenic upland hamlet Gavi. The movie is still running to packed houses and has raked in more than Rs 10 crore so far, according to industry sources.

Citing the resounding success of Ordinary, Anthikkad said rural themes would always have takers in Malayalam if they are narrated with freshness and novelty.

"As the new film makers are quite young,they prefer to tell stories with which they are more familiar. It may be the reason they select urban settings and themes", he said.

"Not just that, in Kerala's context the distance between villages and cities is fast disappearing these days," Anthikkad said.

Whether set in rural or urban backgrounds, films should be the product of directors, he said, adding that the reason for deterioration of values in cinema are movies which concentrate only on the interest of heroes and audience.

Meanwhile, hitmaker Laljose feels changes in the lifestyle and attitude have brought in changes in themes and setting of movies.

"It is true that a parallel movie culture is gaining popularity in Mollywood. But it does not mean Malayalam cinema is becoming urban centric. Though my latest movie Diamond Necklace is mainly set in the backdrop of Dubai, its main story happens in a rural Kerala village," he said.

Laljose, who has blockbusters like Meeshamadhavan, Classmates and Oru Maravathur Kanavu to his credit, said the scenic villages were still ideal for narration of good stories concerning common people.

Diamond Necklace which tells the story of a spendthrift doctor in Dubai who leads a hi-fi life and the problems he had to face due to the abuse of 'plastic money' (credit cards) largely woos youngsters while 22 FK, dealing with the plight of a Malayali nurse working in metro like Bangalore, has won critical acclaim.

Meanwhile, Mayamohini, a hardcore commercial movie in which Dileep plays a full-length woman character, has turned out to be one of the biggest grossers this year.

The movie has collected more than Rs eight crore so far, unconfirmed reports from the industry said.