Meanwhile Radhika, who these days is heavily involved with the small screen, is producing, writing and starring in Siragugal -- a two-and-a-half hour telefilm shot fully in London with Manobala directing.

For Radhika, it is a return to a city where she was based during her teens, when she was studying in a London school before returning to India to debut, on the big screen, in Kizhake Pogum Rayile.

Starsong

Prakash Rai.

Anthapuram, while we are on the subject, is the Prakash Rai film directed by Krishnavamsi with a star cast headed by Prakash Rai (Raj, to Tamil audiences) and co-starring Soundarya and Jegapathi Babu.

The film was not only a commercial smash, it also went on to wow the critics, bagging several Nandi awards in various categories. Prakash Rai is now remaking the film in Tamil, the only change in line-up being Parthipan for Jegapathi.

The love bug

Before signing off, a quick look again at the silver screen, which appears to be attracting a lot of big names these days. K Balachander, of course, was one of the first of the big name directors to move telly-wards.

Now Bharatiraja, the man credited with taking the Tamil movie out of the sets and into the outdoors, will, under the banner of Manoj Creations, start making small screen serials -- the first of which is titled Mazhai.

True to its name, it has a storyline that takes place entirely in the rains.