Pride Of Indian Cinema - Kamal Hassan

If Dilip Kumar is termed as 'God of Acting' and Amitabh Bachchan 'Star of Millennium', then Kamal Haasan can indisputably be termed as 'The Pride of Indian Cinema' because the actor with his versatility and his daring to experiment with unconventional roles has taken Indian Cinema to dizzying heights. The actor turns 59 on November 7, 2013. Glamsham.Com wishes him a long life so that he keeps exploring new vistas in Indian Cinema. 

Always carving for innovation Kamal Haasan has the distinction of winning maximum National Awards and Filmfare awards! He has won 4 National Awards and 19 Filmfare awards. Like Lata Mangeshkar, Kamal Haasan too has sidelined himself from the Filmfare Awards letting other newcomers deserve the honor.

Kamal Haasan proved his mettle as an actor par excellence with his debut film KALATHUR KANNAMMA (1960) made in Tamil in which he stole thunder opposite the legendary South actor Gemini Ganesan at the young age of just 6 years by winning the Best Child Artist National Award!

Readers would be surprised to know that though the National Award for Best Child actor was initiated in 1968 yet Kamal Haasan's performance was such mesmerizing in the movie that he won him rave reviews and was given a special President's Gold Medal for his brilliant performance in the movie.

KALATHUR KANNAMMA was produced by AVM and was later remade in Hindi as MAIN CHUP RAHUNGI (1962) starring Meena Kumari and Sunil Dutt. In the Hindi version Master Babloo played the role essayed by Kamal Haasan in the original but today nobody remembers Babloo while Kamal Haasan has become a loving legend!  

Aarambam for Ajith Fans

Director Vishnuvardhan’s magnum opus Aarambam, starring Ajith Kumar, released in theatres worldwide a couple of days ahead of Diwali, to give it a valuable two-day advantage over the other Diwali releases.
The film opened to packed houses with some theatres even screening 50 shows a day. Expectations are high for this multi-starrer, which boasts of popular stars Arya, Nayanthara and Taapsee Pannu.

The film also features Kishore, Suman Ranganathan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Atul Kulkarni and Telugu actor Rana Daggubati, who makes a special appearance.

Vishnuvardhan’s penchant for repeating his actors seems to extend to his music as well. Yuvan Shankar Raja composes the music yet again.

Unfortunately, this time, the duo fails to create their old magic. Though the songs have been well picturised, neither the lyrics nor the music is memorable, except perhaps the peppy En Fuse Pochu number. Even the background score is average.
The film is set in the backdrop of the 26/11 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. In the opening shot, Ashok (Ajith) plants bombs in strategic locations around the city.


Though the bombs go off as planned, no one is hurt, as he very helpfully informs the police, who manage to clear the crowds in time.

The scene then shifts to Chennai Airport. Arjun (Arya) is on his way to Mumbai for a job interview. Maya (Nayanthara) is travelling on the same flight. They are college mates and the surprise meeting helps them catch up on old times and old friends.

However, once they reach Mumbai, everything changes. Arjun belatedly realises that Maya has trapped him into playing a deadly game orchestrated by Ashok.

Arjun is the best hacker in the state and Ashok requires his expertise to infiltrate the computer systems of certain organisations. Arjun initially refuses to co-operate, but relents when they threaten to kill his girl friend and TV host, Anitha (Taapsee Pannu).

Angered by the death and destruction caused by Ashok, Arjun secretly informs Prakash (Kishore), an honest police officer, who is investigating the bomb blast.

The first half of the film is dangerously fast, loaded with action and excitement, and keeps you guessing. Unfortunately, the director loses his zeal and enthusiasm at this point. The film degenerates into an ordinary revenge drama, with the mandatory corrupt politician, crooked police officer and cliché-ridden flashback.

Sleek editing by Sreekar Prasad, stunning action sequences choreographed by Lee Whitaker, and the impressive visuals of Mumbai and Dubai captured by cinematographer P S Vinod are some of the highlights of the film.

The performance of the lead actors and the supporting cast is consistent. Ajith’s magnetic screen presence is enhanced by his popular salt and pepper look of Mankatha, but he does look a little tired and even overweight in some of the scenes.

Arya and Taapsee share a great chemistry. Nayanthara looks gorgeous and does full justice to her role. The dependable Kishore has once again proved that he is a natural.

Director Vishnuvardhan’s Aarambam is an action-packed film that will delight Ajith’s fans.

Simbu has no dates to commit himself to star in new film(s)

Simbu has said that he has no dates whatsoever to commit himself to starring in new films in the near future. Getting branded often as a brat, Simbu and controversies are no far from each other for a long time. Despite his success as a hero and a film-maker, Simbu has always found himself at the centre of one controversy or the other.

Even now, he is reported to be in love with Hansika and is also said to have become 'very close' to ravishing playback-singer-turned-actress Andrea Jeremiah, his co-star in VTV Ganesh's Inga Enna Solludhu. To a query as to when his Vaalu would be releasing, Simbu said that he has completed the shoot of the film and added that it would be releasing sometime early next year.

Simbu is paired opposite Hansika in Vaalu and Vettai Mannan even as the sections of the press reported that Vettai Mannan is as good as abandoned. It is also reported that Simbu might star in the Tamil remake of the Kannada hit Govinda Namaha and that the film would be directed by a Kollywood film-maker as Pawan, who made the Kannada hit film, is busy with some other projects.

"I haven't even seen the film (Govinda Namaha)...I don't know where from these rumors emanate....in fact, I don't even have dates to allot to starring in new film," said Simbu and said that the audio of Vaalu would be launched soon and added that the film would be releasing solo either towards end-December or early-January.