NAMITHA TO TITILLATE IN 'MIDATHA'

Naming movies after insect species is the latest trend in Tollywood. First it was, Kandireega (Honey Bee), then Eega (House fly) and now, it's Midatha (Grass hopper). Southern siren Namitha is playing the lead in the movie which is a dubbed version of the Tamil film Indira Vizha. Produced by N Sairam, the movie is directed by K Rajeswar. Sriram is playing the lead and senior actor Nazzar will be seen in an important role. "Nazzer is playing a key role in the movie. He plays an affluent old man who is always thinking about sex and money. He marries Namitha and is very possessive about her", says the producer, who informs that some parts have been shot specifically keeping the Telugu audience in mind. The film makers are planning to have the audio launch next week. Ragasiya is also acting in the movie.

 

KATRINA'S CAMEO FOR ZOYA

Zoya Akthar is making a special documentary on the centenary of Indian cinema. The film will look back at the initial days of the film industry and trace its growth till date. Along with interesting trivia and facts about the film fraternity, Zoya has also managed to get a couple of celebrities to do special cameos. Among those are Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey, and her brother Farhan Akthar. A source reveals that though Katrina was busy with her shoot for Yash Chopra's film with Sharukh Khan, she made time for Zoya, with whom she worked in Zindagi Na Mile gi Dobarra. An insider says, "Zoya is really fond of Kat, and there might be a chance that she would feature in her next film as well." That's nice. All good deeds deserve a good payback.

KATRINA KAIF

FAHAD FAZIL, AS AN AUTO DRIVER IN 'FRIDAY'

Girls in Alappey missed what would have been probably the greatest chance of their lives. Had they stepped into the streets around noon, they might have gotten an auto ride, in an autorickshaw driven by none other than one of the hottest star in Malayalam, 'Fahad Fasil'. No, the actor wasn't part of any publicity gimmick, he was just driving home for lunch! Fahad plays an auto driver in Lijin Jose's 'Friday 11.11.11. Alappuzha', and was shooting for the film at a location in Alappey. During lunch break, Fahad found that his car, which was taken for servicing, was not ready. And there was the auto, his constant companion in the film. Without second thoughts, Fahad took off in the auto, in his costume as auto driver, through Alappey town to his own house. "I did it for the sake of convenience, nothing more. I'm very comfortable with the auto," Says Fahad. And did anyone recognize him? "No, but a few waved for the auto, since it was empty. Sadly, I was in a bit of a hurry as I was hungry. Otherwise I would surely have given them a ride," he says.

MALLU ACTRESS ANANYA INJURED

ACTRESS ANANYA FRACTURED HER WRIST BONE DURING THE SHOOT OF DIRECTOR VIJI THAMPY'S NADODIMANNAN IN AMBALAMUGAL ON SATURDAY, BUT CHOOSE TO CONTINUE SHOOTING. ANANYA SAYS, "WE WERE SHOOTING A SCENE WHERE IN THE CHARACTER I PLAY, MEERA, WAS BEING EVACUATED FROM HER HOME. ACTOR ABU SALIM WAS PUSHING ME AWAY AS HE MADE HIS WAY IN TO THE HOUSE WHEN I LOST BALANCE AND FELL DOWN. MY WRIST HIT HARD ON THE FLOOR AND I KNEW THERE WAS BOUND TO BE TROUBLE. I WAS TAKEN TO BE A NEARBY HOSPITAL WHERE A FRACTURE ON THE WRIST BONE WAS DETECTED."
                      HOWEVER THE ACTRESS HASN'T LET HER INJURY AFFECT THE FILM'S SCHEDULE, "THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE. RIGHT NOW, A BANDAGE HAS BEEN PUT ON AND I'M TRYING MY BEST NOT TO UPSET THE FILM'S SHOOT. IT WOULD BE UNFAIR, YOU KNOW, IF I LET MY PROBLEM UPSET THE CREW'S PLANS. WE'RE SHOOTING MY PORTIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE BANDAGE GOES UNNOTICED," SHE SAYS.

ANANYA

WHO IS MARTHANDA VARMA? MOHANLAL OR MAMMOOTY?

FILM MAKER K SREEKUMAR HAS A TOUGH TASK AT HAND. THERE ARE AS MANY AS FOUR OF MALAYALAM SUPERSTARS VYING FOR THE TITLE ROLE OF HIS FILM, MARTHANDA VARMA, A STORY BASED ON THE TRAVANCORE KING BY THE SAME NAME. WHILE SOME OF THE POSTERS OF THE SOON-TO-BE-MADE FILM ALREADY FEATURE MAMMOOTY AS THE CHOSEN ONE, SOURCES INFORM US THAT THE LEAD CAST IS YET TO BE FINALISED. MALAYALAM ACTORS MOHANLAL, SURESH GOPI AS WELL AS PRITHVIRAJ ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE SAME.
                 MOHANLAL WAS THE DIRECTOR'S FIRST CHOICE. BUT THE STAR APPARENTLY WAS UNABLE TO TAKE IT UP DUE TO THE DATE CLASHES. THE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATES THEN SUGGESTED MAMMOOTY. BUT DUE TO A PREVIOUS UNSETTLED DISPUTE BETWEEN THE FILM MAKER AND MAMMOOTY, THE TIE-UP SEEMS UNLIKELY. THE NEXT PERSON ON THE LIST WAS SURESH GOPI. BUT THE ACTOR APPARENTLY HAS HIKED HIS REMUNERATION EVER SINCE HE BEGAN SHOOTING FOR A GAME SHOW ON THE SMALL SCREEN. THE LATEST ON THE LIST WAS PRITHVIRAJ, BUT THEN AGAIN, "PRITHVIRAJ'S PHYSIQUE IS NOT APT FOR THIS ROLE", INFORMS OUR SOURCE. HOW EVER THE TEAM IS NOT LOOKING BEYOND THESE FOUR ACTORS EITHER.

JAGATHY SHIFTED TO ROOM

Popular Malayalam actor Jagathy Sreekumar, who was undergoing treatment at Velloor Multi speciality hospital for the serious injuries sustained in a car accident on March 10, was shifted to a special room, hospital sources said. 'Jagathy Sreekumar is showing definite and steady signs of improvement day by day and he is responding to physiotherapy very well', they said. Jagathy has started interacting with his close relatives,they said. A three-member doctors' team from Vellore had assessed the condition of the veteran actor on Thursday. Doctors had also expressed satisfaction in his overall improvement and they have also accepted transfer of the patient to CMC hospital for better treatment. Jagathy was injured seriously when the car in which he was travelling hit a road divider at nearby Tenjipalam. Jagathy was on his way to Kodagu in Karnataka state for the shooting of a Malayalam film 'Idavapathy' directed by Lenin Rajendran. Sreekumar was admitted into the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospital in a serious condition along with the car driver. Jagathy Sreekumar also underwent three surgeries on his right arm, thigh and hip for correcting the fractures he had suffered.

JAGATHY SREEKUMAR

JOSE PRAKASH DEAD

An actor who redefined villain roles in Malayalam film industry, one and only Jose Prakash died here on Saturday. He was in 86. Doctors at a private hospital in Kakkanad where Jose Prakash was undergoing treatment for the last one week said he had been suffering from multiple age-related disorders and the end came at 2.30 p.m. following heart failure. Jose Prakash born on April 14, 1925 to K.J. Joseph and Eliamma Joseph, he had acted in over 350 films in a career spanning over five decades. A youngster who was passionate about music, Jose Prakash also worked in the Indian Army for nearly seven years before he entered the world of films and theatre, and after leaving the Indian Army in 1949, Jose Prakash reached Kottayam to start a business. But the singer in him could not hide his musical skills and he formed a troupe called ‘Kottayam Arts Club'. Mammootty, renowned actor, remembered Jose Prakash as an ‘aristocratic villain'. “He brought a different style to villain characters. The influence of English was there in his dialogue delivery,” Mommooty said. His movies were include CID Nazir , Panchathantram , Lisa , Eetta , Mamangam , Avano Atho Avalo , Puthiya Velicham , Manushyamrigam , Love in Singapore , Ahimsa , Raktham , Thrishna , Ethiri Neram Othiri Karyam , Ethu Njangalude Katha , Koodevide , Belt Mathai , Piriyalla Nam , Parannu Parannu Parannu , Nirakoottu , Ee Sabdham Ennathe Sabdham , Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku , Rajavinte Makan , Dinarathrangal , Atharvam , Kottayam Kunjachan , Devasuram , Akashdoothu , Vazhunnor , Pathram , and Ente Veedu Apponteyum . Traffic , penned by his nephews Sanjay and Bobby, was his last movie. Mr. Prakash also played a title role in the television serial Mikhailinte Santhathikaland got an award for his acting in this serial.

JOSE PRAKASH