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Said to be a modern version of the Indian epic, Ramayana, Mani Ratnam’s bilingual (Asokavanam in Tamil and Ravanan Hindi) is being predominantly shot in forests of India.

The first schedule of the film was shot in the forests of Kerala and later in Ooty. And now after a small break, the unit is all set to shoot in the forests in Madhya Pradesh for the next one month.

Mani is reported to have completed nearly 60 percent of the bilingual, which is truly amazing. Remember Mani sir is one of the few directors in Indian cinema who works with a bounded script.

Shoot for the Vikram-starrer Kathasamy is almost complete. The film directed by Susi Ganesan, is said to have a lot of post production work, which is going on simultaneously.

The film produced by Kalaipuli Dhanu has lot of special emphasis on computer graphics. It is now said that the movie will have solid post production work that will go on till March.

This high budget movie, shot extensively in Mexico, is said to have many Mexican women to dance to Devi Sri Prasad’s Mexican beats, and the costumes alone of those women are said to have cost over Rs 1 crore.

Meanwhile the audio is likely to get released early in January.

Susi Ganesan is directing ‘Kanthasamy’ produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu. Vikram has given extra call sheet for this film and that speaks for its quality. Vikram comes in different appearances, especially the female role in which it is difficult to even recognize him.

One expected it to be released for Deepavali, then for Pongal. Why this delay, we asked Susi Ganesan.

“There is no hurry to do the shooting or a hurry to release it post haste. The film should be of good quality. That’s reason for the delay. Only the producer, Vikram and I know the reason for the delay in release. Vikram has worked very hard for this film. When I see some frames, even I am stunned.

Vikram’s earlier film went for Kerala rights of 15 crores, whereas ‘Kanthasamy’ has gone for 3 crores. The channel rights for Vikram’s earlier film was a record for 3 crores, but this film has gone for 4 crores. This proof of how well the film is shaping up. I will be the Number One director of 2009. This may sound arrogant, but I’ve full confidence in the film.”

Whether to believe Susi Ganesan or not, we will know when the film gets released. The earlier film of Vikram’s that he refers to is ‘Anniyan.’

Vikram’s super hero film Kanthasamy, produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu and directed by Susi Ganesan will now release only in the summer of 2009 (April to June).

Remember that the film was launched with a lot of fanfare including a trailer more than a year back? At that time they said the film will release on April 14, 2008, then it became Diwali, still no sign of the film.

In an interview, Susi Ganesan has said: “Kanthasamy is a superman like story with a logical twist. Fantasy and realism are mixed in the story to make it a commercial entertainer.”

The shoot of the film has been going on for a year. Susi Ganesan says the delay was due to the time taken for the shoot of the film and now its post production work as a lot of special effects are involved.

Added Susi Ganesan: ” It is definitely going to be 2009’s biggest movie. The post production work is going on in full swing. All that remains is a flashback scene and a song that will be shot in Italy.”

The audio of the film which has music by Devi Sri Prasad, is being launched in January. Kanthasamy is sure going to be Kollywood’s next big thing.

We all know what a method actor Vikram is. In fact, Vikram and Suriya are two actors of the current generation who come very close to Kamal Haasan when it comes to method acting.

Vikram’s artistic longing never gets satiated. He loves to challenge himself with the impossible and come out successfully. His Sethu, Kasi and Pithamagan are perfect examples of pure love for acting and his penchant to overcome the impossible. Not driven by motives of vanity, he does it because of his sheer love for acting and showmanship – a real showman would always come up with something new, exciting and challenging just to thrill his audience. His satisfaction comes from the thrill and merriment of his audience. And that is what Vikram is aiming to do now – thrill audiences with yet another stellar performance.

There is a rumour in Kollywood that Vikram is following the life of a deaf-mute! Well, six years ago, when he followed the lifestyle of a few visually-challenged people, Kasi happened (2003)! It is also heard that Vikram is holding many discussions with script writers about such roles! So we might soon get to see Vikram appearing in a seemingly impossible role, just like his exact portrayal of a blind man in Kasi or a mentally-disturbed man in Sethu.

Vikram goes an extra mile even for his “commercial roles”. At present, he is dedicated to Kanthasamy (which is almost done) and Mani Rathnam’s Ashokavanam. And going by these rumours, soon we can see this wonderful actor come up with a stupendous performance as a deaf-mute.

Mani’s Ashokavanam is up and running and looks like the actors are going through makeovers of sorts to fit into the roles Mani crafted for them. Vikram attended the one-day fast organized by Nadigar Sangam recently in his skull cap suggesting that his hairstyle has undergone a drastic change and that he is keeping it away from the prying eyes of the media. Our guess is that Vikram is going in for the close-cut look, while enacting the legendary evil man Ravana.

Prabhu, on the other hand, is seen with thick beard in the same event. It could be remembered that Mani has roped in Prabhu for Ravana after their association in Agni Natchatrham. We also hear Aishwarya rai is playing an accomplished Karnatic singer and is stretching her vocal chords in the name of practice.

While speculations are rife about Mani Ratnam’s next venture Ravana, the director is busy calling the shots for his epic-inspired tale in the dense jungles of Malayatoor in Kerala. Besides, his recent face off with the forest officials, for not abiding by their regulations while shooting, has also been ironed off with the officials reworking on the fee details for using the forest.
Latest scoop is that Mani’s Ravana will portray the epic villain of Ramayana, Ravana, in a different light. Although Mani has taken cue from Kambaramayana, unlike the epic, Ravana, the ruler of Lanka who fancied Rama’s wife Seetha, is the lead of his story. The story, as per sources, culminates into Seetha taking the side of Ravana instead of Rama who suspected her chastity for having been abducted by Ravana. It is also speculated that Vikram plays Ravana in the Tamil version and takes the role of Rama in the Hindi version. Abhishek will play Ravana in Hindi while Prithviraj plays Rama’s role in Tamil. Ash plays Seetha in both the versions with Priyamani playing Ravana’s sister Soorpanak.

Heroine Priyamani now plays the sister. The news might raise frowns but she doesn’t play the usual teary sister who seeks solace from her brother. Vikram is the hunky brother of Priyamani who plays Ravana in Mani Rathnam’s movie. Plausibly, the heroine was expected to be tapping foot with Vijay, Suriya or Vikram after ‘Paruthi Veeran’. But what made the actress accept this offer to play the sister; is one name – Mani Rathnam.

Be it an upcoming heroine or an acclaimed heroine, it’s a dream that prevails commonly among every player to make a presence on screen, in the films made by this seasoned director. It is not surprising to know that Priyamani signed the dotted line to play sister, when she is among the cream of top heroines. It’s the privilege to work under the director that matters and not the role offered.

It was how Karnan’s life was envisaged into Dhalapathi; Ramayana had become Ashokavanam. Vikram does the demeanor of Ravana and Seeta is now a Brahmin girl emoted by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Abishek Bachchan is in the lead in the Hindi version of the same flick. Surpanagai is Ravana’s sister in the epic and if Priyamani plays the sister! It’s not a literal remake of the epic and Mani Rathnam might sculpt the National award winning actress to deliver apt performance.

After the sudden stop in the filming after he violated an agreement with the Kerala Forest Department, Mani Rathnam is back to shooting in the Malayatoor forest for his multilingual film “Ravana” starring Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Prithviraj and Priyamani.

Mani was asked to stop shooting on Friday evening because it was found that he had constructed temporary huts in prohibited areas in the forest. As per the rules, they are not supposed to erect any structures in such areas but it was found out that they had constructed three huts.

On tuesday a fresh sanction was given to continue shooting but with stiff conditions. The case registered by the forest department will continue. The crew has been asked to remit a fee of Rs.10,000 per day of shooting, whereas prior to the violation all what they were charged was a mere Rs.1,000 for the entire duration of the shooting. The number of vehicles that would be allowed inside the forest also has been drastically reduced.

Kanthasamy, the upcoming film of Vikram and Shreya being directed by Susi Ganesan and produced by Kalaipuli Thanu is getting ready at a rapid pace. The film has been shot at exotic locales inside India and overseas spots. Kollywood sources aver that the film is almost complete but for a song sequence.

It is a known fact that Cheeyan has donned a woman’s role in this film and there is a song in which he will be seen gyrating to the peppy tunes of Devi Sri Prasad. For this specific piece the choreography is being done by Shanthi who shot to fame with her title number in the famous tele serial Metti Oli which was appreciated by one and all. It is anticipated that this song will be the highlight of Kanthasamy.