New Yorker interview with "RRR" director - S.S. Rajamouli

'The Man Behind India’s Controversial Global Blockbuster “RRR”' https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/the-man-behind-indias-controversial-global-blockbuster-rrr-s-s-rajamouli

Veteran Telugu filmmaker K. Viswanath passes away at 92

Padma Shri awardee, filmmaker K Vishwanath has died. He was 92. Read more here

హ్యాపీ డేస్ (Happy Days) is now a comic

They are here, there, everywhere. Now, the latest development for the హ్యాపీ డేస్ (Happy Days) family is that their film will now be made into a comic book by Panel Animation Studio.

The studio has just launched its animation branch and will henceforth publish comics under Panel Comix series. So, Shekhar Kammula’s 'Happy Days' will be made into a series too.

In fact, it will be the first. Since it revolves around the lives of eight college students and since college days make an interesting read, apparently, the company has decided to take the initiative and cash in on the film’s popularity.

The comics will be made in the popular Japanese ‘Manga’ style. Another highlight is that it will released in both Telugu and English languages.

We hear one Mr Shekhar Kammula is smiling ear to ear.

Courtesy: IndiaGlitz

Goldstone Tech acquires Vijaya Vauhini movie library

Hyderabad: Goldstone Technologies Limited (GTL) has acquired the world negative rights of all the 14 feature films produced by Chennai-based Vijaya Vauhini Pictures Ltd for an undisclosed amount.

The Hyderabad-based GTL, which is an emerging player in industry of colourisation of old classics, has already acquired the rights of 15 Telugu feature films. It is also in the process of colourising Dev Anand’s classic Hum Dono, Rajkumar’s Kannada movie Satya Harischandra, etc.

The pact also includes such evergreen hits as Maya Bazaar, Pathala Bhairavi, Missamma, Gundamma Katha, Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club, Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, Appu Chesi Pappukudu , etc.

GTL, a software solutions, IPTV and media solutions provider, has shifted its operations to a new premise in city and is ramping up its colourisation and restoration team to about 350 from the current 100.

According to Jagan Mohan, business unit head, Media Division, “The acquisition gives the company the best black and white classics ever produced in the history of Telugu cinema, especially Maya Bazaar, which has a cult movie status.”

There are plans are to colourise all of them for the new generation, he said in a press release. Recently, GTL forged a partnership with the US-based Legend Films to jointly market colourisation services worldwide. Legend Films patented restoration and colourisation technology is considered among the latest. GTL plans to release Hum Dono and Satya Harishchandra in January 2008 and a Telugu movie in March 2008, the release added.

Courtesy: Sify

అతిథి tops Chennai box office

Chennai Box office - October 19th - 21st, 2007

"Mahesh Babu has once again proved that he is the king of opening, as his Athithi took an awesome four day opening and is the number one for the Dassera weekend, netting nearly Rs 21 Lakhs from four Chennai screens. At number two is Yash Raj's Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, at three is Bhool Bhulaiyaa. In the fourth position is Malaikottai, which is steady and in the fifth place is Katrathu Tamizh."

*****

The Prince is back!

Mahesh Babu, (known as `Prince` among his fans) the Telugu superstar is the king at Chennai Box-Office, among other language stars in the city. No Bollywood hero has been able to break Mahesh's, Pokkiri record of Rs 43 lakhs distributors share from Chennai city!

The man's opening in Chennai is awesome, as he has a phenomenal reach among not only Telugus, but also among Tamil youth. Remember Mahesh son of Telugu actor Krishna, grew up in Chennai and was a decent opening batsman for St Bede's school, in Mylapore.

They simply love his action, dancing and soft romantic scenes, which are a major highlight in all his films. Recently all his Telugu films have been dubbed into Tamil. Our Ilayathalapathy has made the maximum number of Mahesh remakes into Tamil. A lot of top actors and directors in Kollywood are planning to watch Athithi late tonight at a sneak preview!

Tomorrow Mahesh's Athithi, is releasing in five Chennai screens including theatre like Abhirami in Puraswakkam area, a traditional Tamil area, where no Telugu film has released before! And believe it or not some theatres in Chennai have paid attractive MGs to screen the film!

Athithi has Amrita Rao in the female lead, with Malaika Arora Khan doing an item number, and Sameera Reddy doing a cameo, with rocking songs by Mani Sharma. The film directed by Surendar Reddy and produced by Ramesh Babu (Mahesh's brother) is releasing worldwide in 712 screens, distributed by UTV. It will be the biggest ever south Indian film release after Sivaji.

Courtesy: Sify



athidi athidhi atidhi atidi atithi

అతిధి

Saw the above at an Indian store in Mountain View today

UTV plans big release for Telugu film Athidhi

By ROHINI BHANDARI
1 October 2007, 07:49 PM

MUMBAI: UTV Motion Pictures' maiden Telugu co-production venture with Krishna Production - Athidhi -will be released on the 18 October on occasion of Dussehra.

To hit the right notes in Tollywood, UTV is planning the widest ever release for this Mahesh Babu starrer with approximately 400 prints worldwide. In addition to this the promotion and marketing spends for the movie are close to Rs 35 - 40 million (Rs 3.5 - 4 crores).

Moreover, cashing in on Mahesh Babu's new look in the movie, three vinyl posters of Athidhi were recently put up at Prasad multiplex in Hyderabad. Since the multiplex is situated at a prime location, UTV's associate vice president India distribution Suniel Wadhwa, claims that close to six lakh people may have already set their eyes on these posters within just a few days. Also this is the first of its kind promotion for a Telugu film.

Mahesh Babu endorsed Thums Up has been roped in for a Rs 15 million (Rs 1.5 crore) marketing campaign. In addition to this, BIG FM and Kingfisher too will have marketing spends amounting to Rs 5 million (Rs 50 lakhs) and Rs 8 million (Rs 80 lakhs) respectively. Further UTV too is shelling out Rs 10 million (Rs 1 crore) for the promotional materials and activities.

Mahesh Babu's previous blockbuster Pokiri had released with approximately 220 prints in its first week and the number kept increasing gradually as the movie picked up. His fans are predicting that Athidhi would also be a big hit and definitely complete 100 days again on the lines of Pokiri.

Wadhwa adds, "UTV is planning a simultaneous release of the movie, but the details will be clear only closer to the release date." While UTV will be distributing the movie in Nizam, Krishna, Vellor and Ceaded through their offices in Hyderabad and Vijaywada; Pyramid Saimira will distribute the movie in Vizag, East Godavari, West Godavari and Guntur. A total of 300 prints will be released in Andhra Pradesh only.

Approximately 40 prints have been kept aside for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and North India (Bombay, Pune, Delhi, Solapur, Kolhapur, Satara etc.). While Kaveri Cinema will distribute the movie in Karnataka the distributor for Tamil Nadu is yet to be finalised. Prawasi Movies will release the movie in overseas with approximately 60 prints with US being the major market.

Athidhi has been made on a budget of Rs 185 million (Rs 18.5 crores). Amrita Rao stars alongside Mahesh Babu in the movie. The film is an action – drama and its action sequences have been shot in a stylized fashion and will form a major highlight of the film.

Courtesy: BusinessofCinema.com

Big Apple's date with Tollywood

A US college's plans to send its students on a Tollywood tour, indicates that India's second-largest film industry is gaining global popularity.

Here's another feather in Tollywood's cap. The Lakeland Community College in Ohio, US, is planning to send its students to India, on a study tour to learn about Bollywood and Tollywood.

The two industries are among the largest producers of films in the world. Bollywood releases about 800 films, every year, and Tollywood produces about more than 200 films, annually. On a 13-day excursion, the students will visit Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, in January, 2008.

A university in Ohio has planned the study plan. Activities during the tour include daily film viewing, location visits, lectures by industry workers and experts. The college will charge $2,500 per student for the trip. Just as the students, Tollywood is quite excited about hosting the tour.

"It shows that Tollywood is gaining international recognition," says producer Ashwini Dutt. Industry big wigs feel that it will be a good exposure for students and the film fraternity.

"There will be healthy exchange of ideas. While the students will get to know about the ways of the Telugu film industry, we can get an understanding of how they perceive our films.

Interactions with technicians and artists will give them an insight into our style of filmmaking," observes noted producer Shyam Prasad Reddy.

Director Shekar Kamula adds, "In terms of numbers, we are the second largest industry in the country, after Bollywood. It makes sense for the students to critically compare Telugu cinema with Western films."

Courtesy: TOI

Tollywood is the largest film industry in India

Telugu banners produced 245 films in 2006, as against 223 in Hindi and 162 in Tamil.

Article in Hindustan Times