Sumptuous fare for film-goers

TAMIL New Year's day is an auspicious occasion for film releases. This year there is ``Vallarasu'' for Vijayakanth. Director Mani Ratnam is coming up with ``Alai Payuthey'' and Rajeev Menon who is releasing his ``Kandukondain Kandukondain''. For Parthibhan and Prabhu Deva it is ``James Bond''.

The most awaited film of Mani Ratnam is ``Alai Payuthey'', which has no violence.

Madhavan, a computer engineer meets a medical college student Shalini at a suburban railway station and falls in love with her.

This film which relates the intricacies of love in Mani Ratnam style has a couple of firsts to its credit. For the first time film shooting was allowed in suburban (Beach and Fort) railway stations and the crew cranked a song in the Andaman and nearby islands.

They also shot in Kashmir when the Kargil conflict was on.

Madhavan, Shalini, Jayasudha, Swarnamalya, Vivek, Natrajan, KPSC Latha and Sukumari have acted in the film.

The music is by A. R. Rahman, cinematography is by P. C. Sriram, lyrics are by Vairamuthu and the story is by R. Selvaraj and Mani Ratnam.

The film is directed by Mani Ratnam and produced by G. Srinivasan for Madras Talkies.

Two beautiful girls and three young men. Their sorrows, joys and dreams are told in an enjoyable way in ``Kandukondain Kandukondain''.

All the popular names in the industry are in this film. Ajit, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Abbas, Manivannan, Raghuvaran, Srividya, Shamli, `Nizhalgal' Ravi, Pooja Batra and Anita Ratnam. Produced by Thanu for Kalaipuli International, the film is cranked by Ravi K. Chandran. Music is by A. R. Rahman and the lyrics are written by Vairamuthu. Story, screenplay and direction are handled by Rajeev Menon.

``Vallarasu'' opens with Vijayakanth, who lives happily with his charming wife Devayani and their two kids.

The hero is a police officer who takes his work very seriously. The problems he faces are different from the usual ones, says the director.

The climax with 200 buses and a lorry chase was shot for more than 20 days. Director P. Vasu has acted as one of the main villains in this film. Raghuvaran, Livingston, Charlie, Mansoor Ali Khan, Ambika, Charulatha and Thyagu are also in the cast. Cinematography is by S. Saravanan and the music is scored by Deva. The film is produced by L. K. Sudeesh for Captain Cine Creation. Story, screenplay, dialogue and direction are taken care of by N. Maharajan.

Pushpa Kandasamy is producing ``Rajakali Amman'', under the new banner, Aathibhagavan films.

This religious movie revolving round goddess Kali and her powers has ample graphic shots.

The goddess is Ramya Krishnan who has the support of Kausalya, Karan, Charan Raj and `Nizhalgal' Ravi. N. K. Viswananthan has handled the camera, S. A. Rajkumar has scored the music and the story, screenplay and direction are by Rama Narayanan.

Both of them are porters. They have their own gangs. They fight in the beginning but join hands later.

How they face the world is told with laughter all through in ``James Bond''. Prabhu Deva is James and Parthibhan is Bond. Prabhu Deva is paired with the new find Renu and the other heroine is Kausalya.

Vivek, Manobala, Balu Anand and Anju are also in the cast. Cinematography is by Thanker Bachan, music is by S. A. Raj Kumar and the dialogues are written by Murthy and Nagulan Ponnusamy. Produced by V. Sunder, the screenplay and direction are by Selva.

Roja Combines ``Santhitha Velai'' has Karthik in the lead role of a motor car rallyist. There are two heroines - Roja and Kausalya. The progatonist dies in a car crash. What happens is to be seen on screen says director Ravichandran, who has earlier directed ``Kannedhire Thondrinal''.

Karthik, Manivannan, Vivek, Chinni Jayanth and Sujatha comprise the cast. Camera is by Jayanan Vincent and the music is by Deva.

Produced by Kaja Moideen, the story, screenplay, dialogue and direction are by Ravichandran.

Sri Rajarajeswari combines ``Kannal Pesava'' has Arun Kumar, Suvalakshmi, Goundamani, Senthil, Ananda Raj, Manorama and Mansoor Ali Khan.

It is a love story between a music teacher and a young man from the village. The lovers face a lot of problems and how they get united in the end is told in a different way.

Camera is handled by the new camera woman Vijaya Shree. Music is by Deva and the film is produced by P. R. C. Gopal.

The story , screenplay, dialogue and direction are by Raj Khanna.

S. R. ASHOK KUMAR

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