Kochi Film-Entertainment-Media Industry

[vu3nnn]

came across an interesting piece of information recently....
actress NEHA DHUPIA was born in Cochin, and did her primary schooling at Naval Public School, Willingdon Island before her father was transferred and she shifted base to New Delhi!

[vu3nnn]

came across an interesting piece of information recently....
actress NEHA DHUPIA was born in Cochin, and did her primary schooling at Naval Public School, Willingdon Island before her father was transferred and she shifted base to New Delhi!

[Malayaali]

I think the info is not new here

[Malayaali]

Shweta Menon's 'director act'

After Nalacharitham Nalam Divasam and Venal Maram, director Mohana Krishnan is ready with his next project titled Actress which will see Shweta Menon in a powerful role.

She will play a director in the movie which has Metro fame Bhagath Manuel in an exceptional role. Mohana Krishnan who is known for his varied approach to cinema promises a visual treat through Actress. It is the story of a youngster who hopes to make it big as an actor in tinseltown but ultimately becomes an actress!

The pooja for the movie was held in Kochi the other day. "It's a story were the real and reel merges in an individual's life," says the director. The movie also stars Janardhanan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kottayam Nazir and Sarayu among others.

Samjad Narayanan (Achante Makan) has written the screenplay and Ratheesh Vega (Cocktail) has scored the music. The shooting will commence in October in Kochi.

TOI

[Malayaali]

Cocktail stars team up for Beautiful

Director VK Prakash's next venture Beautiful with Jayasurya and Anoop Menon in the lead is all set to begin filming on August 25.

Prakash says it is a "feel good" movie about one person who has everything but cannot enjoy life and another who has nothing but lives his life to the fullest.

Jayasurya, who is recovering from his knee surgery, will play a paraplegic who enjoys the beautiful things in life. Padmapriya plays the female lead in the movie, which will begin shooting in Kochi.

Anoop, who has also written its script, says the film is about people who think that the grass is greener on the other side. "We always go in search of greener pastures ignoring the beautiful moments of life that are right beneath of our nose," he adds.

The Cocktail stars will also be seen together in Ratheesh Ravi's Ardhanareeswaran, which deals with transgenderism.

TOI

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by DileepKS

Surya is operating a big space in Heavenly Plaza, above Reliance Super. It is not known what amount of operations shifted here.

[Arunz]

Urumi (Telgu version) releasing tomorrow,
Nice to see Mallu movies getting nation wide attention again !

http://telugu.16reels.com/news/Movie...-Tomorrow.aspx

[mohammedirshad06]

Mollywood stars have drawn a line of demarcation between their hobbies and professions.

Apart from acting, most Malayalam actors are deeply devoted to their hobbies.

Actor Sarayu Mohan, who recently won the short-story writing award at the cinema-TV serial and literary awards organised by the Jaycee Foundation, says writing was more than a hobby for her. “I always carry my papers and pen even before carrying my make-up kit,” says Sarayu.

The collection of her short stories will soon be published by Rainbow Books.

Unni Mukundan, who made his debut in Bombay March 12, loves playing cricket. In Class VII, the Ahmedabad-based Malayali, wanted to play for the Mumbai cricket team, but had to drop the idea as he did not get support from his family and teachers.

“I used to play cricket on the sets of Bombay March 12 too. My co-star Mammootty also accompanied me,” reveals Mukundan. The actor hopes to make it big through the Celebrity Cricket League.

Although these actors have a busy schedule, they allot some time for their hobbies too. Model-turned-actress Aditi Chibber is a freelance jewellery designer. She was into sketching and painting during her school days.

“Whenever I get an idea, I paint. I plan to have a painting exhibition soon,” says Aditi.

For Krishna Mohan, acting has become a hobby and cooking his passion. “I cook food when I get time. Although the results are not always positive, I do not give up, I like to experiment with new recipes,” says Krishna. He has also started a multi-cuisine restaurant, Tandoor, on MG Road in Kochi.

Malayalam comedy star Kottayam Naseer is also an established painter. The actor has obtained a diploma certificate in painting.

“When I’m free, I paint. At home, I have a separate room, which is full of canvases, colours and brushes.” The actor plans to organise a worldwide painting exhibition to display all his paintings.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tablo...ecret-role-822

[mohammedirshad06]

Mithun Chakraborty to act in malayalam movie directed by Jayaraj, Mithun Chakraborty came to kochi to act in an Ad film.

[mohammedirshad06]

Daniel Balaji, the versatile Tamil actor, was in Kochi recently for the pooja of his forthcoming movie 'Crime Story'. Directed by Anil Thomas, he plays a cop in the movie.

"Cinematographer Kamal is my friend and when he asked me to do a role in the movie I immediately agreed," says the actor. So, why does he always portray negative roles? "I love playing the bad guy. It's boring to play the good guy all the time," says Daniel and is quick to add that the good guys never change. "They always move in the same pattern."

This regular villain of South India cinema believes that there is a dark persona lurking beneath every good guy. "Though I play the bad guy, there are always variations to those characters. It was never the same," says Daniel.

He finds it easy to get into another character and considers it his strength. Crime Story is his fifth movie in Mollywood.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/e...ow/9662269.cms

[mohammedirshad06]

Telugu Superstar Venktesh in Kochi

[mohammedirshad06]

http://www.aussiemalayalam.com/inner...5CFdfCI31JrNTe

Just happened to see this link.... I was bit shocked to see this newspaper says Asianet shifted its HQ to Kochi? When it happened? I didn't knew about it? They have opened a new studio complex in NH Byepass at Padivattom, which I believed was part of expanded News Bureau. But now this paper claims it is HQ....

Don't know the reality? Is it true? Anyone knows anything abt it? Anyway sad to see our beloved channel is getting unionized!!! One positive factor, there is no much Bal Thackery loving people in Kochi as now!!! Hope that never happens!!!

[DileepKS]

MI it says "കേരളത്തിലെ സ്റ്റുഡിയോ ആസ്ഥാനമാകട്ടെ തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തുനിന്ന് കൊച്ചിയിലേക്കു മാറ്റുകയുമാണ്. " Looks like a future plan.

When it begun, TV studios had to be in TVM, because doordarshan was there. But as the business grew, naturally Kochi became home to much of the production facilities. Of course much of the news content, ie govt and politics, comes from the capital, so a good news production setup must be locally present.

That is why we see the split. Channels are moving main operations to Kochi, but retains a full fledged news setup at TVM. Makes business sense.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by DileepKS

MI it says "കേരളത്തിലെ സ്റ്റുഡിയോ ആസ്ഥാനമാകട്ടെ തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തുനിന്ന് കൊച്ചിയിലേക്കു മാറ്റുകയുമാണ്. " Looks like a future plan.

[mohammedirshad06]

Onscreen he is invariably the baddie, the tough ''foreign'' looking guy who gets beaten up by the hero at the end.

Offscreen, Jiya Irani is a soft spoken youngster who wouldn't hurt a fly, whose interests lie in modelling, watching movies, hanging out with friends and going around town in vintage cars. The Fort Kochi native has no qualms in donning the villain role, however, and says one of his all-time favourite characters has been that of Gawon in Padmarajan's 1989 movie 'Season.' Jiyad's August release - Bangkok Summer, where he plays a Thai, saw a good collection in the opening week. 'Mullaserry Madhavankutty' will release the first week of September while work is on for 'Asuravithu'and 'Ananthabhadrasanam.' In each of his movies he creates a new look for himself. In 'Mullassery,' they had to give him a 'make-down,' in fact, as his character was not supposed to be so fair skinned.

A total movie freak, he has a huge collection of movies (all originals, he hates buying pirated stuff) at home where he has set up a home theatre. "I can't go to sleep without watching a movie a day," he says. However, he doesn't ever want to let go of modelling. The highest paid male model in Kerala, he was invited to be part of the Kochi Fashion Week but couldn't attend owing to his movie schedule. "It's a fact that male models are badly paid in Kerala, although they are on par with models from the North. There is a very obvious discrimination," says Jiyad who is readying to walk the ramp for the Hyderabad Fashion Week next.

And no, when he is not acting or modelling, Jiyad doesn't sit around at home doing nothing. He is a real foodie, he says, though he works out regularly at the gym to maintain his well-toned physique. "I make no compromises when it comes to eating. In fact me and my friends drive as far as Bangalore just to eat at a new place!"

[mohammedirshad06]

If things work out well, Kerala will soon get a News television channel, part of Pan India News network. Yes friends, one of Kerala's celebrated News Journalist- M.V Nikesh Kumar's brain child- Reporter TV is planning to get into TV 18 Network soon. The Kochi based channel is part of India's premier News gathering agency- IANS. However there are reports of IANS exiting from the company owing to few disputes in operations. Its in this context, the channel is in talks with Network 18.

The channel has already signed up strategic tie up with Network 18 for few content sharing. Its in this context, the Reporter TV's website is off from air, which is planned to relaunched after finalization of future plans.

If the deal goes, it will see Malayalam channel getting into a National network.

Currently Asianet Entertainment channels and Surya are only channels part of a national network; Star Group and Sun Network respectively, however no News channel been into national agency. There were reports earlier for NDTV and Sun Network to launch Malayalam News channel, which didn't take off.

Hope atleast this take off, so that it creates a news channel with national standards....

[mohammedirshad06]

Appukuttan (Jagathy) from Yodha, faking fatigue while practicing chess with his father, swallowing down his milk in one gulp and complaining ‘kalangille’ — this scenario is played out in the window displays of several showrooms in Kerala.

This scene from an evergreen Malayalam comedy film and several others like it are from movies which every Malayali has enjoyed watching over and over again.

Those who said that youngsters have no love for their mother tongue must be in dilemma now for without loving the language and embracing Malayalam films how could this spectacle evolve to be a fashion?

So, what first struck the Salt N’ Pepper team when they paved the way for this trend? “The Malayalam quotes on T-shirts were done as a tribute to the classic comedy scenes in Malayalam which live in the hearts of all Malayali movie buffs.

We knew the trend would catch up and be a style soon,” says Ashik Abu, the director of Salt N’ Pepper, who also adds that without Avial, accepting the idea and making it a trend wouldn’t have happened.

Be it blending rock music with Malayalam lyrics or out of the box themes or unconventional videos, Avial has always dared to experiment and has been loved by all audiences. They are seen wearing these T-shirts on their latest track, Aana kallan.

“People have started enquiring about the T-shirts and we are in fact planning to popularise them even more by merchandising them,” says Tony the lead singer of the band.

Red, purple, blue, green… you can spot the T-shirts in various bright colours with the quotes written on them using different fonts. Starting from a price range of Rs 300, the shirts are available in every trendy store.

“These are fast moving items with the young crowd coming in and asking for new collections. The ones with the dialogue from Nadodikaattu, ‘sadhnam kailundo’ sold like hot cakes,” says Anoop Antony who works in a shop called Style For You, in Pachalam, Kochi.

What began as a tribute to Malayalam comedy films has now progressed to be a fashion statement amongst youngsters. The majority of the youth were a little reluctant to accept the trend at first but with it catching on today, we see boys sporting these T-shirts in every nook and corner of the city.

Most trends travel a little slowly to the laid back city, Thiruvananthapuram, Arun Karthikeyan, a final year engineering student has searched several shops for such T-shirts and ultimately found them in one shop in Kumarapuram.

“I’ve always loved the one liner T-shirts and since these have my favourite Malayalam dialogues on them, they are definitely a must in a guy's wardrobe,” adds Arun.

Have you got one in your wardrobe yet?

[mohammedirshad06]

Film buffs will get an opportunity to enjoy a feast of its kind before the Onam feast. The Metro Film Society in association with Kerala Chalachithra Academy and Federation of Film Societies India is organising a two-day documentary film festival from Saturday.

Film-maker John Paul will inaugurate the programme at Renewal Centre, Kaloor at 5 pm. The screening of the films will start at 2 pm with the screening of ‘A Pestering Journey’ by K R Manoj. The film which portrays the tragedy caused by pesticides like endosulphan has already won the state government’s best documentary film award and the national award for the best investigative film of the year.

‘Ottayal,’ the film by Shiny Jacob which narrates the story of a nun who worked for the poor and downtrodden will also be screened. ‘Ottayal’ also has received many accolades. Another attraction of the film festival is ‘Dams-The Lethal Water Bombs’ by Sohan Roy. The film unravels the fate of people of four districts in case the Mullaperiyar dam breaks. ‘Punarjani’, by Madhu Iravankara, which narrates the story of resurrection of Kodunkarapalam river in Attappadi. The film has won many awards. The documentary on Sukumar Azhikode by Sreekumar Aroorkkutty will also be screened as part of the film festival.

‘Mega Cities’ from Russia, ‘Before Flying’ and ‘Back to The Earth’ from Germany, ‘The Cell’ from Lithuania and Bengali film ‘Kohinoor’ and Kannada film ‘Kaveri’ are the other prominent films screened in the festival. The entry will be free for the festival which conclude on Sunday. On Sunday, the screening of the films will be started at 10 am.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/docu-fest...35-60-122.html

[mohammedirshad06]

EVM HAS RECENTLY TOOK OVER Fort Kochi theater, to rebrand and revamp as EVM Kochi. They have recently made it stylish, a trend seen for past one year in the city...

[e_arunsid]

Good to see SUI getting renovated. Ppl from west kochi only know how good this theatre was...