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“The story is an edifice of strong characters. Mammootty is an IB official, Arjun, a police officer, Sneha plays a pilot and a new face (who’s yet to be decided upon) will don the role of an ornithologist,” says producer Henry, who has made worthy films such as ‘Bharati Kannamma.’ His new project is ‘Aruvadai.’ Though Mammootty and Sneha have been paired earlier in Malayalam (‘Thuruppugulan’), ‘Aruvadai’ will be their first film together in Tamil. “As a pair they look natural on screen, as though they are made for each other,” laughs Henry. “Much of the shooting is over. But the search for a heroine for Arjun is still on,” he adds.

Welcome change?

ELK, the production house whose films include the recently released ‘Puli Varudhu’ and the now-under-production, ‘Thenavettu,’ has announced its next project with Jeevan in the lead. Named ‘Payanigal Gavanithirku,’ it should be the hero’s next release after ‘Thotta.’ First time director, S.A.Vijayakumar, who had apprenticed under Selva, will head the team. The heroine is yet to be finalised, and from what you gather, for a change, ‘Payanigal …’ will have Jeevan in the role of a ‘likeable’ hero. Probably the character’s negative shades will be less. Actors Vivek and Pratap Pothen join Jeevan for the film which is envisaged as a big-budget bonanza.

Knowing Vijayakanth’s penchant for the name ‘Andal Azhagar,’ you could assume it is the actor-politician’s project. It isn’t. ‘Andal …’ is being produced, written and directed by debut filmmaker, Mahadurai with Vishwa as the lead player. Vishwa’s first film is ‘Kaasu Irukkanum’ that also had Bagyaraj doing an important role. In ‘Kaasu …’ Vishwa played a hero with negative streaks in him, but in ‘Andal Azhagar’ he will appear shy and soft-spoken. Neepa, daughter of dance choreographers Vaman-Malini, plays a significant role along with new find Sriranjani, while Vishwa’s real life dad, G.R., is part of the comedy track comprising Mayilsamy and ‘Vennira Adai’ Murthy.

Surprise in store

The publicity team says it is simultaneously being made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Jackie Shroff plays a pivotal role, with Raghuvaran, Abbas and Rahul Dev. ‘Vangi’ (Bank) promises edge of the seat action. It is a story of bank robbery on a large scale. Shooting and dubbing for ‘Vangi’ are over, and interestingly Shroff is said to have dubbed his part in Tamil, himself! It is a maiden effort from Arun Kumar, a film institute product. The young man hasn’t worked as a director’s assistant at all, you hear!

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