M S Vishwanathan, the singer who in his heyday was given the sobriquet of Mellisai Mannar (King of Pop, loosely translated) comes out of hibernation. And it took A R Rahman to lure him back into the recording studio.
MSV, thus, sings a number for Sangamam, directed by Suresh Krishna and starring ARR's brother-in-law, the Malayalam actor Rehman alongside newcomer Vindhya. The film has an interesting premise -- a love story between two dancers. The story deals with how their passion for their art comes in the way of their passion for each other.
Preethi scores down south
Meanwhile, the changing of the guard seems to be well and truly on, in Tamil cinema. K S Ravikumar, who helmed Padayappa, is to direct Minsaara Kanna -- with Chinna Rajni Vijay, in the lead.
The Tamil industry appears to have installed Vijay as heir apparent to the Rajnikanth mantle, showering him with sobriquets of the order of Chinna Rajni and Ilaya Dalapathi.
To underline the point, this latest movie takes its name from the first line of a song picturised on Rajnikanth himself, and sung by Srinivas and Nityashree, in Padayappa.
Apparently KSR, and producer K R G, who returns to the field after a period of hibernation, approached Rajnikanth for permission to use that particular movie title for the Vijay vehicle, and got instant approval. The film, incidentally, has Rambha heading the female credits.
K S Ravikumar, meanwhile, is on a huge high. Padayappa is a megahit in Tamil, its Telugu avtaar, Narasimha is doing equally well, and he also has Snehakosam, the remake of Natpukkaga, with Chiranjeevi in the lead, busting the turnstiles over in AP.
Making a name
Simran's oomph and dancing prowess was what wowed the Tamil audiences till Vaali, co-starring Ajit, came along. Now it is her acting prowess that has both critics and fans in ecstasies.
While Vaali is a box office smash in TN and Kerala, audiences in the latter state
are also queueing up big time at cinema halls featuring her other recent hit, Thullatha Manamum Thullum.
Riding the crest for all she's worth, Simran has now signed for a Malayalam film -- Savanthavadiyil Ninaiyum Kaathu which co-stars Kunchako Boban. Story and direction is credited to debutant Leo Baby Petta. And -- more Bollywood migration -- the music score will be by Jatin-Lalit.
