Amisha Patel heads south

Another Hindi film heroine [after the likes of Jyothika and Sonali Bendre] has gone South.

Amisha Patel is in Chennai shooting for a Tamil film. She plays a Malayali Christian girl opposite Vijay in Geethai. The film also stars Meera Jasmine.

Incidentally, Jasmine's first Malayalam film Soothradharan opposite Dileep did not make waves in Kerala. Instead, she found success in Tamil Nadu after the hit film Run opposite Madhavan. Now, she has become one of the most sought after heroines in the Tamil film industry. Apparently, Mani Ratnam wants to cast her in his next film.

Oru CBI Diary Kuripu was a path-breaking Malayalam film in the 1980s. A murder mystery without any songs, it was a huge success. Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer, a CBI officer, gave an excellent performance. The success of Oru CBI Diary Kuripu prompted the director K Madhu to make the sequel Jaagratha, which also was a success, though not as big as the first.

Now, the same team is making a second sequel, Sethurama Iyer vs Sethurama Iyer.

Mohanlal is trying to wriggle out of his superstar image. And the man who is helping him is filmmaker and loyal friend Priyadarshan.

After a long time, Mohanlal will be seen as an ordinary man in Priyadarshan's Kilichundan Maambazham. The duo has decided to release the film during the Vishu festival and hopes to re-create the magic of films like Poochakkoru Mookuthi, Chitram and Kilukkam.

The film will also star Soundarya, who produced the Kannada film Dweepa last year. After the success of Sathayan Anthikadu's Yaathrakkaruday Sradhakku, Soundarya has decided to act in several Malayalam films, where she believes she gets meaningful roles.

Actor Ajit, who is test driving in Malaysia for the Formula BMW Asia, has confirmed his participation in the seven-round series, which kicks off this month as a support race for the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

Ajit will also visit Thailand, South Korea, Japan and China throughout the season.

He will join other Asian competitors from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea and Japan.

"I am really excited at the prospect of competing in the Formula BMW Asia Series," Ajit said. "It is a dream come true. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel at the first round. The competition is going to be fierce."

Ajit hopes he can be as successful on the race track as he is on screen. "Motor-racing requires skill and talent, just like acting. Formula BMW will give me the opportunity to become a professional racer."