Rakta Charitra Heroine Radhika Apte Photo Gallery

Mahesh Babu begins shoot in Hyd today

After a brief gap, Mahesh Babu has begun shooting for his current film again. The new schedule has commenced today (October 19th) in Hyderabad and it will continue till month end. And the unit will move on to Rajasthan and Vikarabad in November 1st week for a month long schedule. Meanwhile art director Anand Babu will design a village set in Rajasthan and Vikarabad.

Being directed by Trivikram Srinivas and produced by Singanamala Ramesh Babu, the film stars Anushka as heroine. Mani Sharma, has once again joined hands for this who also played a vital role for the success of the musical melodrama Athadu. Added to that is Sunil Patel’s unobtrusive camera work which will certainly be a visual treat.

Ravi Teja Krishna Vamshi New film ‘Kandireega’!

All is set for Ravi Teja and Krishnavamsi’s new film. Krishnavamsi announced his new film details in a TV interview. “Yes, I am doing my next film with Ravi Teja. He will be appearing as muni manavadu (successor) of Srikrishnadevaraya. This one will be partly fantasy flick,” Krishnavamis announced.

It is learnt that ‘Kandireega’ is the title being considered for the movie. To be produced by Bellamkodna Suresh, it will begin its regular shoot from late November. Other cast and crew are yet to be finalized.

Big stars in 'Takita Takita'

Bhumika’s maiden home production, Takita Takita is turning into big flick with several stars making guest appearances. Bhumika started this small budgeted film with newcomers in the direction of Srihari Naanu on her newly floated Down Town films banner. With her relations in the industry, she is able to rope in her several big stars to make a special songs/acts in her maiden production. Buzz is that she convinced Nagarjuna to do an extended guest role in the film. And he will join the shoot shortly. Also NTR is reportedly agreed to do a special song with heroine Anushka for the movie. NTR and Bhumika are good friends ever since they acted together in Simhadri. Anushka is disciple of Bhumika’s hubby Bharat Takur.

Anushka and NTR will be dancing together for the first time on screen. This song will be shot at Annapoorna Studios very soon.

The film is currently being shot in Hyderabad and is slated for release shortly. Senthil, of Magadheera and Arundhati fame, is handling the camera.

A.R.Rehman to make album with K V in Telugu

Music maestro A.R.Rehman is all set to make a music album in Telugu under the guidance of legendary director K Vishwanath. Talking to reporters in Hyderabad today (Monday, October 12, 2009), Rehman informed that he has spoken with K.V. “We agreed to work together and will begin work for it shortly. Other than that I am doing a film in Telugu after a long time for Pawan Kalyan’s Puli,” he added. Rehman will be performing live at a concert in Hyderabad on October 24th. The concert, which was a part of Rahman’s world tour, is to be conducted by GMR group and would be dedicated to late YSR and revenues would be given to flood victims.

“Telugu people have great taste for good music. In initial stage of my career I worked with Telugu music directors like Koti and others. And I am great fan of Mr.K.Vishwanth and his films. I am happy to inform you that I will be working with him for an album soon,” Rehman said.

Ileana’ Vishnu,s 'Salim' to release on Pongal!

Vishnu and Ileana’s Salim..Dummu Reputadu will be released on Sankranthi 2010. The film which was launched a year ago is in the final stages of shooting. YVS Chowdhary, who likes take his own sweet time in completing the shoot, is trying to give Vishnu a complete new image with this movie. Vishnu, on his part, also went for complete body makeover - lean looks, stubble, and funky hairstyle. Ileana who made debut in YVS’s Devadasu is playing pucca glamour role. Mohan Babu who produces it on his Sri Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures along with Big Pictures also plays the role of Don.

While Vishnu plays the title role of ‘Salim’, Ileana does the character of simple young girl named ‘Satya’. Sexy starlet Kaveri Jha (of Nagaram, Naa Girl Friend Baga Rich fame) plays the other woman named ‘Chitti’.

It has music by Sandeep Chowta. And audio will be made into market in December.

Ruthika photo gallery

Shankam - Movie Review

Film: Shankam
Cast: Gopichand, Trisha, Satya Raj, Kota Srinivas Rao, Chandramohan, Ali, Venumadhav, Krishna Baghavan, Srinivas Reddy, Supreet and others
Dialogues: Anil Ravipudi
Music: Taman S
Cinematography: Vetri
Editing: Gowtham Raju
Art: A M Vivek
Fights: Vijay and Ram-Lakshman
Produced by: J Baghavan and J Pullarao
Story, screenplay and directed by: Shiva
Release Date: Sep 11, 2009
CBFC Rating: U/A

What’s it about!
Chandu (Gopichand) leads happy life in Australia and stays with his uncle (Chandramohan). He falls in love with local Telugu girl Mahalakshmi (Trisha) at first sight. She runs an Indian restaurant there. Initially, she avoids his advances and love proposals but relents in after a couple of song and dance numbers. When she about to accept his love, she is taken away to India by her aunt to marry off her son. Now, hero lands in Cuddapah where Mahalakshmi’s father (Kota) waging war with his neighboring village lord Shivaiah (Satya Raj). On the insistence of Mahalakshmi’s father, Chandu takes on Shivaiah’s men and then he learns that Shivaiah is estranged father. Rest of the movie is all about father-son sentiment drama with a revenge angle in the end.

Analysis

At the very beginning of the film, one can notice that Shankam is just another formulaic faction drama. 30 minutes into the movie, you become restless as the mediocre and run-of-the mill scenes begin to unfold one after the other. There is no conflict in the flick to make the viewers glued to the screen, nor has it any interesting drama to sit and enjoy. With no good story to hold on, the writer-director Shiva drags on by focusing on masala scenes between Trisha and Gopichand. Much of the romance between the lead pair is filled with double meaning dialogues and gestures. Although first half is okay with some comedy by Ali, post interval the movie drags on and on.

The biggest flaw is that there is no strong villain for a hero to fight with and also the conflict in the story is lackluster. Shiva who directed Showryam with Gopichand earlier has faltered with this wafer-thin storyline.

Performances

Gopichand has tried hard to make the movie watchable with comedy but his characterization in the movie is not interesting. He is just okay. Trisha has done glam role comparatively her earlier movies in Telugu and there is lot of lewd dialogues involving her. Satyaraj as noble rayalaseema landlord has brought dignity to the character. The scene-stealer, of course, is Ali with his perfect comic timing. Also Venumadhav provides some good laughs. Kota Srinivas Rao is repeating the same histrionics that he has been doing for a long time. Rest of the cast is okay.

Music by Taman is its biggest drawback. Not a single song is hummable. His Background score is also substandard. Cinematography by Vetri is neat. Unlike in Gopichand’s films, the film has not much action stunts. Some of the dialouges by newcomer Anil are good.

Bottom-line!

Shankam is very formulaic. Second half is unbearable. With wafer-thin storyline, director drags on the movie for more than two and half hours. First half is the only saving grace.

quick gun murugan review

Quick Gun Murugan Is Pretty Good Fun

First, the story. The man who has composed Quick Gun Murugan is called Sagar Desai, and why this news is coming to you like a revelation is because Fox Studios and Sony Pictures have conveniently omitted his name from the credits of the Quick Gun Murugan soundtrack, now in stores. Apparently, they forgot -- to mention the composers name on the soundtrack. Wow. ('Naughty, naughty Fox,' you can picture Quick Gun saying, wagging his pistol censoriously)

So here's the official word that hasn't made it to the CDs: Music by Sagar Desai, except Murugan Superstar by Raghu Dixit, and Lyrics by Ankur Tiwari, except Ek Tha Murugan by Shellee. Do spread the word.

The album opens with a Dialogue Mix, and for all of us fond of Channel V's iconic bovine-lovin cowboy, we're in for a Murugan fix as the exaggerated yet alarmingly realistic Southern gunslinger is back in all his corny glory. It does go on a trifle long, though.

Murugan Superstar is a ridiculously happy Raghu Dixit composition, light and frothy. It's a song that keeps it simple, and while the singing leaves some stuff to be desired, the cheerleader-style chorus is great fun.

Mind It is described as a Tamil Bhangra, and it is with this song that the album really starts sounding innovative. It's a genuine bhangra track soaked in sambhar, and things only get more interesting with Kyoon Keeda Hai Aapko, a wittily written carnatic-cool track.

The sombrero is next doffed towards the legendary Ennio Morricone, the man who composed the greatest Western themes in history. This one's a bonafide theme song, a lovely track somewhat let down by its lyric -- but this is trueblue Western stuff, while familiar in spirit to legendary themes of yore, and deserves a hand.

Chat Mangni Lover starts off interestingly, a retro ballad that eventually sounds too predictable to be much fun -- but its 'little flower' chorus can sure make for great backdrop to fun visuals. Kuchi Kuchi Twist is breezy and more of the same, sambhar poured over standard songtypes, but things really shine with the spoofy yet sexy Mera Naam Mango Dolly, a breathy cabaret number that can hold its own against the best of 'em. Oh, and this is the one where the lyrics really are a blast.

Space Goddess is the Chat Mangni remix, outstripping the original for sure, after which comes the Mind It remix, a significantly annoying take on an originally good song. Another Chat Mangni remix is called Aunties On The Dance Floor, and it sounds like a perfect track to stumble drunkenly around to. Ragamuffin Mix pleasantly reworks Kuchi Kuchi Twist, but the need for these four remixes is most debatable.

All in all, this is a pretty amusing album, one that stays impressively true to its cheesy-spoofy theme. Some of the songs outstay their welcome and end up sounding like pleasant ad jingles -- fun but not memorable on first-listen -- but when this soundtrack hits its target, its all bullseye. Great fun.