'Gouravam' First Look

The first look poster of Allu Sirish - Yami Gautham (Vicky Donor fame)'s Tamil - Telugu bilingual 'Gouravam' has been unveiled. The rural entertainer has gone on floors in Mysore and is directed by Radha Mohan and is being produced under Prakash Raj's home banner, Duet Movies.

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Court order against 'Thupaki'

A Chennai Court has directed producers of Vijay's forthcoming film 'Thupaki' not to use the title in any form till July 16. The order was issued on a petition filed by the producer of an upcoming movie titled 'Kalla Thupaki'.

In his plea before Chennai City Civil Court, K C Ravidevan of North East Film Works Film Factory said he had registered the titled 'Kalla Thupakki' in Film Chamber in 2009 and started making a movie under the title.

"However, using the influence of Vijay's father S A Chandrasekhar, who was the president of Tamil Film Producers Council, the title Thupaki was registered. This has hurt the prospects of my movie," Ravidevan said.

He added that the act by 'Thupaki' makers was against the rules and regulations of the industry. When the petition came up for hearing, the Judge refrained the producers of the Vijay starrer from the using the title till July 16.

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Suriya, GVM, Lingu to unveil 'Mugamoodi' trailer & first look!

The first look and trailer launch event of Jiiva's 'Mugamoodi' is all set to take place in a grand scale tomorrow morning (June 29) at Sathyam Cinemas. The trailer will be launched by Suriya and received by director Lingusamy while the First Look will be released by Suriya and Gautham Vasudev Menon.

The event is touted to be graced by top producers, directors and those from the film industry.

Meanwhile it is said that the music album has some rocking numbers including a typical Mysskin style kuthu and a melody crooned by Chinmayee.

Produced by UTV Motion Pictures the film by Mysskin has Jiiva, Pooja Hegde and Narein in lead roles with music by K. It's a superhero flick, throwing light on the superhero within one's self.

The film is touted to grace worldwide screens on August.

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'Billa 2': Grand trailer launch on July 2

'Billa 2' is all set to see a massive trailer launch on July 2 at the sprawling auditorium in Anna Centenary Library in Chennai. The event will be graced by the film's lead ladies and the crew.

The first look and trailer will be unveiled at this grand event which will be followed by rigorous promotions by the makers for the film's release.

Directed by Chakri Toleti, 'Billa 2', a prequel to blockbuster 'Billa' is releasing simultaneously in Telugu on July 13 as 'David Billa'. The high voltage action thriller unravels the mysteries that led to David, an Eelam refugee becoming a dreaded don.

Boasting off an 'A' certificate the film is high on glam quotient and action scenes. Ajith has pulled off few daredevil stunts for this flick without a body double, including hanging from a flying helicopter for a fight scene!

Having gone on floors precisely a year back in mid July, 'Billa 2' will grace worldwide screens on July 13.

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'Ko' best film and Dhanush best actor and best singer

The first edition of South India International Movie Awards function held at Dubai on June 21 and 22 ended with the winners receiving the awards. A large number of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films participated and awards were presented under 19 categories

K.V.Anand's Jiiva-starrer 'Ko' was adjudged the best Tamil feature film.

Dhanush walked away with two awards _ one for the best actor (Aadukalam) and the other for the best male singer (Oda...Oda.. Dooramkurayila).

Vikram bagged a special award for the best actor (Deivathirumagal).

The best actress award went to Asin (Kaavalan) and the special award to Richcha Gangopadhyaya (Mayakkam Enna).

Vetrimaran won the best director award for 'Aadukalam'.

The winners under the other categories in Tamil are:
Best cinematographer: R. Velraj (Aadukalam)
Best character actor: R. Sarathkumar (Kanchana)
Best negative character: Ajmal (Ko)
Best music director: Na. Muthukumar
Best female singer: Chinmayi (Sara Sara Saara Kaathu)
Best comedian: Santhanam (Vaanam)
Best debutant actress: Hansika (Maappillai)
Best debutant actor: Sharvanand (Engeyum Eppodum)
Best debutant director: M. Saravanan (Engeyum Eppodum).

These awards were presented to winners under the 19 categories in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam also.

As part of the ceremony, a fashion show was held on the first day (June 21). During the show, Dhanush reportedly walked over to the other side of the ramp where Simbu was sitting, sat next to him and exchanged pleasantries. The next day, Dhanush, while receiving his award for the best singer, invited Simbu on stage to sing 'Kolaveri Di' with him and Simbu joined him. Inviting Simbu on stage, Dhanush said, "Here is a better dancer and a better singer than me... who else, he is our young supestar."

Simbu posted on his micro-blogging site, 'Back to Chennai!!!!. Had a grt time in Dubai with Dhanush, Manoj Manchu and all my industry friends."

Ths bonhomie between Simbu and Dhanush at Dubai set at rest the rumoiurs that the two were at loggerheads.

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Samantha drops out of Shankar's 'I' too

Actress Samantha has walked out of Shankar's latest project 'I' taking everyone by surprise. Only a fortnight ago, she had dropped out of ace Director Mani Ratnam's 'Kadal' citing date issues.

Samantha, who recently boasted that she was No.1 with eight releases lined up this year alone, has become enigmatic. She has not given any reason for her decision to withdraw from 'I'. No other sources are able to give any plausible reason for her quitting two projects in a row despite the fact that 'Kadal' is helmed by one of the best directors and 'I' is directed by a person who exemplifies modern cinema.
Samanatha was to play opposite Vikram in 'I'. The film, being produced by Ascar V. Ravichandran, will have music by A.R. Rahman. P.C. Sreeram is to handle the camera.

Samantha has now quit the project and returned the advance payment she had received from the makers.

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Shankar teams up with Vikram for film 'I'

After 'Anniyan', Vikram will be acting in director Shankar's latest film titled 'I', which will go on floors on July 15. 'Anniyan' produced by Ascar Ravichandran and directed by Shankar, was a mega-hit.

The same team is coming together again for 'I' which will be a romantic thriller.

What the Tamil alphabet 'I' connotes? It has several meanings. Some of them are beauty, king, guru, music, surprise, head of a family or workplace, vulnerability, fear, arrow and victory. Shankar will explore all these facets in the film.

The film will have A.R. Rahman as the music director. A song set to music by Rahman has already been recorded. Vijay Prakash has sung the number.

Shankar's hallmark is quality. He has enlisted ace cinematographer P.C. Sriram who will handle the camera.

Effervescent Samantha will play opposite Vikram. Malayalam actor Suresh will act as Vikram's friend and companion. After a gap of several years, Ramkumar Ganesan (Prabhu's brother) will be seen again in 'I'. He will play a key role. Santhanam also is part of this multi-starrer.

Mary Vogt who was the costume designer for Hollywood film 'Men in Black' will work for Shankar. Rising Sun Pictures of Australia, who worked on Harry Potter series will take charge of scenes with special effects. 'Anal' Arasu and Peter Ming of China will be stunt directors. Many other Hollywod technicians also will be associated with the project.

It should be noted that Shankar's film titles would end with ' an', like, for instance, Kadalan, Mudalvan, Indian, Genleman, Enthiran and Nanban, But he has departed from this norm for 'I'.

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Gautham - Suriya Combo Again

Director Gautham Vasudev Menon will be making a film with actor Suriya for a third time after an interregnum of four years. Their two earlier films were 'Kakha Kakha' and 'Vaaranam Aayiram', both were superhits. 

The third project on the cards is titled 'Thuppariyum Anandhan', a detective story. It is a period flick.

Gautham in a release said, "I am really excited Suriya has come on board to do Thuppariyum Anandhan with me. An action adventure, it is a period flick with a contemporary twist. All cliches associated with making a period film will be broken with this effort."

Gautham is currently busy working on 'Neethane En Ponvasantham'. Lined up next is Ilayathalapathy Vijay-starrer 'Yohan: Adhyayam Ondru'. Work on 'Thuppariyum Anandhan' will begin early next year after Gautham completes Yohan. He plans to make the film as a franchise.

It is said Kamal Haasan, who played a cop in 'Vettaiyadu Vilayaadu' and Ajith had been approached by Gautham to play the role of Anandhan, but both had not evinced interest in it.

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