Kochi Film-Entertainment-Media Industry

[mohammedirshad06]

For years, Kochi is fastly emerging as a media hub with several entertainment/leisure centers and Malayalam Movie industry firmly gaining its roots in Kochi. This thread is to discuss the developments happening in Kochi in field of Movie, media, entertainment and leisure. Kindly update with pics, videos, news and information.

[mohammedirshad06]

Cross-posting from Cochin Lifestyle, as it suits here more better
___________________________________________________________

It seems, Kochi has become permanent address on most of Malluwood actors’s ration cards. I am translating a cover story that came 2 weeks back Vanitha Veedu, a popular Malayalam Home magazine. Report courtesy:- R Ajithkumar

Critics call its Mosquito’s own land…. However Kochi has an answer to it. Its now home to almost all major actors and actress that rules the Malluwoods. This report goes through how each actor settled down in land of Queen of Arabian Sea.

The first to start the flow was Malayalam MEGASTAR Mamootty. Mammotty shifted his permanent address from Chennai to Kochi in 2006 when he brought 2 apartments and a posh villa from Skyline and settled in Gandhi-Nagar. Mammotty attempted to shift his address to Kochi in 1994 when he built an ultra posh home in Panampilly Nagar. However that time, it was Chennai that ruled Malluwoods, forcing our Mammuka to Kodampakkam shores. However since 2000s, Malluwoods started depending heavily on Kochi and its allied infrastructure, once again bringing back Mammukka to his hometown, where spend its college days and all those associated fun.


Mohanlal in front of his house Vishmayam

Its always M&M that rules the roost of Malluwoods. If Mammukka moves to Kochi, how can Mohanlal avoid Kochi. Malayalam’s superstar Mohanlal has a strange habit of shifting residences once in every decade. From the warm arms of native home-town Trivandrum where he lived till 1990s, Mohanlal soon made Madras has his hometown like any other actor. Unlike other actors, he made his Madras residence famous by commissioning the services of Kerala’s celebrated artist Nampoothiri and Kanazhi to decorate his home with famous Kerala murals and large chundan vellam sculptures. The monotony for being in Madras for 10 long years, forced Mohanlal to shift his residence to Dubai Marina, after disposing his residence in Madras in early 2000, when the Dubai Real estate boom struck its gold. But how long can our Lalettan can ignore Kochi’s call. Lalettan did that in style. Disposing his ultra-posh residence, Mohanlal shifted his home to picturesque banks of Thevera’s backwaters in 2010, to craft his Vismayam, our lalettan’s dream home. His creative mind, helped him to identify a piece of plot that is surrounded by water on all its 3 sides, providing him sense of absolute privacy, something that most of actors consider as utmost luxury. Apart from this, Mohanlal has a luxurious sea-facing apartment in Marine Plaza and Bay Pride Apartments in Marine Drive.

If Big M&M starts liking Kochi, how can the Junior brigade avoid it. The fastly rising superstar, Prithiviraj felt his love with Kochi right from 2007, when he brought his first flat. For young super-star, it seems real-estate and cars caught his post-teen fancies. Prithiviraj has one of the largest numbers of cars among Malayalam stars, equally in terms of number of houses. Though he built his grand residence in his home-town Trivandrum, he was equally fascinated with Kochi. In 2009, Prithiviraj brought his second flat in Thammam. As his secret love was growing, he decided to settle in Kochi forever. As a marriage gift, he brought the ultra-luxurious flat in Maradu, Kochi’s fastest growing suburb where he moved with his wife on their wedding day, 3 weeks back. Apart from Kochi, Raju has homes in Chennai and Mumbai.

Perhaps no other actor had such a strong love to Kochi, as Kunchacko Boban had. The scion of one of Alapuzha’s premier family, Chackochan’s heritage home “Mallikal Udaya” in Alapuzha’s Convent Square has a brand value in its own right. It was a chain of dramatic events that brought our Chackochan to Kochi. In 2006, when fortunes of Malayalam chocolate boy started dwindling fast, Chachochan decided to pursue his dream, a MBA Degree from CUSAT. As preparations for joining, he started hunting for a new residence, which slowly turned him a leading real-estate broker of Kochi’s growing real estate market. Instead of pursing MBA, Chackochan made a windfall in the Kochi Real estate boom of 2006-2009. He first settled in the heart of Kochi, at Windsor Apartments in Church Landing road (near Medical Trust), then shifted to his first purchased home at Jomer Residences in Durbar Hall road. A dream-like come back for Chackochan, made him to become a neighbor of Mammotty, when he purchased luxurious Abad Silver-crest apartments in Jawahar Nagar, where he is currently residing. In addition, Chackochan has a posh apartment in Thevera, facing backwaters.

For Malayalam’s most popular actor- Dileep, Kochi is his own hometown. His love for Kochi is so well known that, he uses the word Kochirajavu (a name of his movie) as a brand for some of his properties and houseboats. Being born in Aluva and grown in laps of Kochi’s backwaters, Dileep’s love for Kochi is manifested through various forms of investments he made in the city. Dileep’s main residence Padmasarovaram is in his hometown Aluva, on shores of Periyar River, named his parents in VIP road, Aluva. His second home opposite Desom Hanuman temple near Kochi Airport, is almost like a fortess spread across 3.5 acres. Dileep has a backwater facing villa in Thevera and an apartment in Pioneer towers in Marine Drive. Dileep has made significant investment, with Graand Productions, Dlip’s Hotels and Resorts which manages a posh café in Fort Kochi and a charitable organization- GP Foundation.

It was an utterance of a word that forced Kochi born actor Jayaram to flee from his famous Chennai residence to secure warm laps of mother town. For actor Jayaram, Chennai was his home for past 2 decades. However in 2010, he shifted his residence to a posh villa in Kakkanad, when his Chennai residence was attacked a Tamil mob, after his controversial statement which alleged to be insult to tamil women. It was a bit hard decision for Jayaram to move out Chennai, but as the actor has a strong market in Malayalam and Kochi becoming a major cinema production hub, it was decided to settle down in Kochi. Jayaram’s hometown is Perumbavoor in Ernakulam.

For Jayasurya, Kochi was his own playground. Born in the city, it was a natural decision for the actor to settle down. After a slew of successful films, Jayasurya established himself as a strong contender for top hero positions. Year 2010 was a memorable year for Jayan, with all successful movies and a new address. Jayasurya built his twin villas facing Thevera Backwaters, one for himself and one for his parents. Jayan’s wife Saritha is also a Kochinite and has an own apartment in Panampilly nagar. Jayasurya also has an apartment in Panampilly Nagar and in Thripunithara.



For Indrajith, Kochi has been his home since 2005. Indrajith proved himself as a role-model for his younger brother Prithiviraj to make Maradu has home, by constructing his own dream villa, Parthana. Indrajith’s wife Poornima Mohan, a Kochinite herself, helped Indrajith to realize the Kochi will have a strong effect in his life. Indrajith’s Prathana is a carefully designed artistic home designed by Poornima’s younger sister Priya Mohan. The home was once featured in Manorama Veedu Magazine as best interior house. Apart from Prathana, Indrajith owns a villa in Kakkanad and one in Marine Drive as well as a budget apartment in Layam road in Kochi.

Among heroines, Kavya Madhavan’s residence in Kochi is much talked about. Kavya’s Thammam’s residence was designed as per her own likings and specifications. Kavya came to Kochi in 2005, when she decided to shift from her home-town, Nileshwaram in Kasargod. Her entire family relocated to Kochi, where Kavya’s father started a new business and Kavya all set to become one of top heroines of Malayalam industry. Kavya initially resided in rented house in Elamkulam Choice Park and later shifted to Neptune’s Sapphire villas in Palachodu (Kakkanad). The new house, Madhavam, features more than 200 sqft sized Kerala murals and heavy wood works, is often talked about in Cine industry.

Thrissur’s own Bhavana, Rima Kallingal, Bhama etc are other major actress who has shifted their residences to Kochi due to their work schedules. Most them have rented or purchased posh flats mainly in Marine Drive and Panampally Nagar. Kannur’s Samvarutha Sunil also have made SRM Road in North, as her home.

Other prominent actors include Mukesh who constructed his own residence in Vytilla though he stay more commonly in his hometown Kollam. Sreenivasan was another popular Malayalam actor, shifted his residence from Chennai to cosy Giri Nagar, where he brought a house. However his son and popular singer cum actor Vineeth Sreenivasan prefer to settle back his father’s flat in T Nagar. For National Award winner Salim Kumar, Kochi was his own playground. Born in Paravur, he made Kochi as his base. When cash flew in, Salim Kumar decided to settle down in his home town Paravur by constructing a luxurious villa, the Laughing Villa which was often featured in various programs and magazines.

The recent mover to Kochi City, is Anoop Menon, who made a slow and steady progression from serial industry to one of the top actors of Malluwoods. Anoop decided to settle in Kochi, during the shooting of his movie- Cocktail. He brought a posh Skyline flat that overlooks Kochi Backwaters in Thevera. Bala, the upcoming actor from Chennai, soon found his place in Malayalam industry, decided to make Kochi as his home, after his marriage with Idea Star Singer finalist Amrutha. He built a luxurious palatial house on banks of Kadamakuddy- Paravur and also has another house in Edapally.

Its not only actors alone. The mother of Malluwoods, Kaviyoor Ponnamma has chosen Kochi as her home for past 15 years. She settled herself in Aluva, in one of the posh colonies. If Malluwoods Mother settled, so then the comedy queen Kalpana and her family resides in a common family plot in Thripunithara. She lives next to her sister, Kalaranjini as well as her ex-brother-in-law Manoj .K Jayan together in separate houses.

Kochi has its own galaxy of stars, born in its own laps. This includes popular actor Siddique, Lal (director), Arun, Nadir Shah, Ajmal Amir, Ananya (actress), Anil Murali, Babu Raj (Vani Vishwanath’s Husband), Bindhu Panicker, Capt.Raju, Geethu Mohandas, Harishree Ashokan, Jyothirmayi, Krishna, Lalu Alex, Meera Nandhan, Mitra Kurian, Remya Nambisan, who live in many parts of Kochi.

Truly, it represents, Kochi, the real Malluwoods of Kerala, with stars glittering in all parts of city!!!

[mohammedirshad06]

I think, we can showcase some of the leading Cineplexes of Kochi

To start with, the youngest multiplex of Kochi is Q Cinemas, located in Gold Souk Grande'-Vytilla, one of the most modern and luxury multiplex in the city.

[mohammedirshad06]

Year 2011 is very special for Kochi. As we complete 6 months by today, Kochi has a special reason to cheer. Out of 30 Malayalam movies released till today, 11 movies have Kochi or any of its institution as main theme of movie content, making 1/3rd of total movies produced till now



To start with Traffic released in Jan showcased lives of 4 unrelated Kochinites interconnected thro' a road journey starting from Kochi's Lakeshore Hospital to Palakkad Ahalia Hospital. The movie was the first major block-buster and considered one of the most authentic scripts.

The next to follow was Kudambashree Travels which again has Kochi has a major theme, when the groom party from a rural village proceeds to Kochi for marriage, making lot of hilarious situations while in the city and urban life. The movie also features a popular song- "Kochikandal Achi venda", based on popular saying about Kochi.

The third was The Metro, which itself has Kochi coming up in titular role, featuring two parallel stories based in darkness of Kochi city. The movie features one of the longest shots of Ernakulam City starting from Vytilla Junction to Convent Junction and Broadway as part of its Climax scene.



The most important film, where Kochi became a prime character was Arjunan Sakshi, which explores the growth of City as a metro and center of crimes thro' the eyes of protagonist- Prithiviraj. The heart of the script lies in delays of Kochi Metro and the lobbying activities of Kochi's businessmen who lies as hurdles for Kochi's growth.

Payyans, a light comedy crapper having Jayasurya as lead hero, features Kochi in its traditional laid-back attitude with Fort Kochi and its colonial houses forming prime location. The hero exhibits typical laid-back touristy attitude of Fort Kochinites and also features Kochi's FM industry.



City of God, a multi-star movie again brings Kochi into prominent role. The story features Kochi as a city of 4 different strata and how each strata looks into its growth and how the city plays its role in their lives. The movie is an excellent showcase the brings a slice of city into reels, with the Goonda culture of Kochi, the migration of labourers into City's construction sector, the movie industry and business relations.

Another movie where Kochi remains silent, yet its location indicates the city is Melvilasom. The experimental movie showcases court marital proceedings of Armed Forces Tribunal of Kochi, the sole AFT of Kerala region. The movie full shot inside 4 walls of a court room, ensures Kochi's military presence in subtle way.



This year's mega blockbuster Seniors, have very reason to make Kochinites proud, with Kochi's famed Maharaja's College becoming the central theme of the movie. The story which features return of 4 ex-students into Maharajas and showcases typical Maharajas campus related issues (the traditional rivalry between Maharajas and Law college, the college hostel, Kochi bus vs students etc), along with a thrilling suspense climax.

After Melavilasom, its Janapriyan, where Kochi is referred in subtle manner, with prime locations of city becoming main shooting areas.

Shankaranum Mohanum is another release where Kochi and its suburbs play an important role in the story, where the hero feels his hallicinations. The movie also shows the typical rising Urban culture of Kochi in sharp contrast to traditional Kerala culture, particularly in Malabar.

And the latest release- Violin, has every reason for a Fort Kochi and its colonial past showcased as part of Heroine's culture and the issues which the hero faces as a newcomer to the city.

More movies are on its way to theatre, which again features Kochi. Good Going Kochi!!!

[Malayaali]

Shooting of Vijay film in Cochin

Even as his fans are wondering who would be directing Vijay in his next film after Jayam Raja's Velayudham, the latest buzz is that Ilayathalapathy is keen on meeting Bollywood director Abhinav Kashyap, who directed Dabangg.

However, sources close to the actor says Vijay is not toying with any such idea. A source says, "Vijay is currently shooting the climax of Velayudham in a cricket stadium in Cochin with 50,000 extras. The shoot will continue for 15 days and once the film is ready for release, he will start shooting with Murugadoss. He might either start Seeman's film simultaneously or after he finishes his film with Murugadoss."

TOI

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Year 2011 is very special for Kochi. As we complete 6 months by today, Kochi has a special reason to cheer. Out of 30 Malayalam movies released till today, 11 movies have Kochi or any of its institution as main theme of movie content, making 1/3rd of total movies produced till now

Not only 2011, Malayalam filmdom in the last decade has been in and around Cochin. Moreover Cochin has always been a lucky place to film makers as chunk of the superhit film were located in Cochin.

Some of the latest hit flicks from Cochin:
Seniors
Cocktail
Best Actor
Traffic
Makeup man
Happy Husbands
Puthiya Mugham
Pokkiri Raja
Apoorvaragam
Anwar

[Malayaali]

Padma Cinemas - MG Road

One of the oldest cinemas in the city, part of city based Shenoys Cinemas. Renovated few years back. Had an excellent cafe, which was recently taken space for 2nd screen. Shows Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil & English films.


cc: Babish VB


cc: Wikipedia

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Not only 2011, Malayalam filmdom in the last decade has been in and around Cochin. Moreover Cochin has always been a lucky place to film makers as chunk of the superhit film were located in Cochin.

Some of the latest hit flicks from Cochin:
Seniors
Cocktail
Best Actor
Traffic
Makeup man
Happy Husbands
Puthiya Mugham
Pokkiri Raja
Apoorvaragam
Anwar

Yes in past there were several Malayalam movies made in Cochin. But its only a recent trend, movies with Kochi urbansphere becoming content or main theme of the movie, which we used to see in Bollywoods....

For example- Arjunan Sakshi was a movie with theme of Kochi Metro or City of God as viewing city in 4 different angle etc or traffic etc

Out of the list, I must say Make-up Man is primarily shot in Trivandrum and Hyderabad. Puthiya Mugham though they says character moves to Kochi, the prime location were Palakkad and Irjinalakuda Christ College, though some scenes were shot in Kochi.

[Malayaali]

SHENOYS Vistarama - MG Road

Shenoys is one of the famous cinemas in Kochi. First theatre in Kerala to start Cube Digital Projection and also 1st Theatre in Asia with VISTARAMA Screen.
The theatre is equipped with 2 screens. The smaller screen is locally known as Little Shenoys.

cc: Wikipedia

[Malayaali]

Sarita Savita Sangeetha - Banerjee Road

The first multi-screen cinema in the city. Equipped with three screens. Shows Malayalam & Tamil

A rare picture of all the three houses full during the preview of Pazhashiraja.


cc: Wikipedia, snehasallapam

[mohammedirshad06]

Videos of Tamil superstar making climax scenes of upcoming movie Velayutham at Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium!!!

[e_arunsid]

chappa kurishu...another upcoming movie set in kochi

Video

Some really good shots of the city

[Malayaali]

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by e_arunsid

chappa kurishu...another upcoming movie set in kochi

Video

Some really good shots of the city

For past 2 or 3 years, a Kochi theme is slowly evolving in Film Industry, much similar to Dilli Theme seen in quite number of movies like Oh!Lucky!Ohye or Dilli Belly etc.

Movies like Chappa Kurishu brings the urban feel mixed with Kochi typical laid-back attitude in reels and clearly giving a new direction towards achieving an unique theme in our industry. Perhaps we must say, Daddy Cool was extremely successful in making this Kochi feel into prominence.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

For past 2 or 3 years, a Kochi theme is slowly evolving in Film Industry, much similar to Dilli Theme seen in quite number of movies like Oh!Lucky!Ohye or Dilli Belly etc.

Movies like Chappa Kurishu brings the urban feel mixed with Kochi typical laid-back attitude in reels and clearly giving a new direction towards achieving an unique theme in our industry. Perhaps we must say, Daddy Cool was extremely successful in making this Kochi feel into prominence.

There are many movies which feature Kochi as one character in it.
Big B, Chota Mumbai, Best Actor etc has the real Kochi essence in them!

[mohammedirshad06]

National Multiplex Major- Cinemax was the first to introduce Multiplex culture to Kerala, by opening its state-of-the-art Multiplex facility at Kochi's Oberon Mall. The 4 screen facility has an excellent food corner and a mini-cine gallery.

[manukarukail]

Which of the two do you guys like most - Q Cinemas or Cinemax? I like Q cinemas. Its ambience is awesome!!!

[DileepKS]

I like Q over cinemax.

1. The screen is farther. Oberon have a wider hall, with less 'depth'. I have vision problem, so the closer screen is a problem.

2. Ambiance is better. The waiting area is class, with nice sofas etc. Snacks is good as well

3. Morning show is cheaper

However, seats are better in Oberon, simply because it is slide forward. The lean back seats is a problem when people try to pass across.

[mohammedirshad06]

Wowww!!! Good news, Multiplex effect seen in Kochi. Now Shenoys is also going into Multiplex!!!!

Even as multiplexes are eating into traditional cinema halls across the country and spelling out a new code for the youth, a number of prominent cinema houses in Kerala are getting their act together and rolling out a new strategy, as if in concert though they say it is being done at an individual level.

'Small is big' is the new strategy that they have adopted and the results will become visible ahead of the crucial Onam season that is just a month away.

A good number of large capacity theatres in various cities will go for multiple screens soon _ leading the list would be Padma in Ernakulam which has added one small screen to the existing one.To follow suit will be Shenoys, another big capacity theatre in Kochi, which will be converted into three separate screens after the renovation works that will begin by December.The new trend will not only be an advantage to the viewers who will get more choice and new movie viewing experience but will also be a breather to the offbeat and parallel films that are struggling to find screens to release their movies."The addition of more theatres will help in offering choices to the viewers.

Apart from that, we will be able to screen more number of movies, thereby offering more space to all categories of films. I do not think that setting up huge theatres is a feasible idea nowadays," says Suresh Shenoy, owner of Padma theatre.There have been such initiatives in Palakkad and Thrissur last year. First, the Priyadarsini theatre complex at Palakkad added one more screen Priyathama by cutting down on the space of the existing one.Recently, the Ramdas theatre in Thrissur has also added a mini theatre Ravikrishna to it.

The movie Pranchiyettan and the Saint, which ran for more than 100 days in Ramdas, was later shifted to Ravikrishna . This helped the movie in getting a tremendous run of more than 170 days in Thrissur, which is a rare phenomenon these days."Of course, the addition of mini theatres will help in movies getting a long run."Unlike multiplexes, where the ticket prices vary for each shows, these mini theatres offer luxurious facilities at a comparatively lower price," says Siyad Koker, Film Chamber president. He said the structure of the cinemas in the state would see a drastic change in the next five years. "Even Minister for Cinema K B Ganeshkumar has hinted about ambitious projects to convert the government owned theatres to multiple screens," Koker says.While the Palakkad and Thrissur experiments were not well documented, the twin initiative in Ernakulam, at Padma and Shenoys, will surely get a number of other traditional theatreowners in cities like Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode interested.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/theatres-...29-60-122.html

[mohammedirshad06]