Chennai, June 8 (IANS) Sarath Kumar, president of the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA), has asked all non-member Tamil movie performers to either enrol before June 30 or face total non-cooperation from the film industry.

To shore up SIAA finances, its general body passed a unanimous resolution necessitating the donation of 2.5 percent of all top stars' emoluments to the organisation, Kumar said Saturday.

"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, a personal friend ...

Ace director Bharatiraja was elected unopposed president of the South Indian Directors Association at an executive committee meeting on June 8. The meeting was held at the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.

"The election was peaceful and I was elected unopposed after incumbent president S.A. Chandrasekhar and director K.S. Ravikumar proposed and seconded my nomination,"' Bharatiraja said.

The election, which was originally scheduled for May 11 had to be postponed witho...

Chennai, June 9 (IANS) Actor-turned politician M. Karthik floated a new political outfit, All India Parliamentary People's Party, here Monday.

"Though my support base amongst the Thevar community is very strong, I hope to broaden my base by attempting to solve all hitherto unsolved problems of the masses," Karthik told reporters after unfurling his tricolour - red, white and yellow - flag.

Eased out of the All India Forward Bloc last month after a two-year term as its regio...

Chennai, June 10 (IANS) Tamil actress Priyamani was Tuesday thrilled at getting the National Best Actress Award for her role in Tamil film "Paruthi Veeran", and credited director Ameer Sulthan and the team of technicians for creating her role.

"I never expected an award - leave alone a national one. All credit goes to director Ameer for his faith and the technicians who etched my role despite it being totally deglamourised. The entire team deserves ample praise," Priyamani told IANS.<...

Director Gautham Menon and actor Ajit are teaming up for a film to be produced by Sivaji Productions, one of the prestigious banners in the South.

This new venture of Sivaji Productions comes three years after Rajini-Jothika-starrer "Chandramukhi" which was a smashing hit.

Ram Kumar and his actor brother Prabhu Ganesan have signed up 'ultimate star' Ajit to do the film with Director Gautham Menon. It will be Ajit's next film after Raju Sundaram's film for Ayangaran Interna...

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday cleared the decks for the release of Kamal Haasan's magnum opus "Dasavathaaram", dismissing pleas by a Hindu sect that the film would hurt religious sentiments of some.

The court dismissed all cases against the Rs.1.3 billion film, in which Kamal Haasan plays 10 roles. The court asked the petitioner to watch the movie first and said if they found anything against Hindu beliefs they could approach the court again.

The fil...

Director Vasanthabalan's "Veyil", which was produced by Shankar, has been selected as the best feature film in Tamil for 2006.

The winners of the 54th National Film Awards for 2006 were announced on June 10 with Priya Mani taking pride of place bagging the best actress award for her stunning performance in "Paruthiveeran" as Muthazhagu, a rustic village girl, playing opposite debutant Karthi, son of actor Shiva Kumar.

"Paruthiveeran" also has won the award for best editing...

Only a few hours are to go for the much awaited "Dasavatharam" to hit the screens with 1,000 prints. So much has been written and talked about the film ever since the launch of the film that it has created a great sense of expectation not only among the public but also in the film world. What is known till now is that the film features Kamal Haasan in ten different roles. The storyline has been kept a closely guarded secret. Even court proceedings have not shed any light on what "Dasavatharam" b...

Chennai, June 12 (IANS) Tamil film "Dasavathaaram", starring superstar Kamal Haasan and made on a whopping budget of Rs.1.3 billion, - the costliest Indian film ever made, is set to hit screens across the globe in two languages Friday.

About 1,000 prints of the film in Tamil and Telugu are being released. The apex court Thursday cleared the decks for its release by dismissing a plea by a Hindu sect that it would hurt the religious sentiments of some.

The film features the v...

Chennai, June 14 (IANS) The Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) election next month is set to be fought on party lines again, with the main contestants making clear their alliances with the state's ruling DMK and main opposition AIADMK.

The council's present president Ramanarayanan is leading a team of contestants who have called themselves Tamil Pada Thayarippalargal Munnetra Anee (Tamil Film Producers' Progressive Group), more or less an open admission of its being yet another DMK ...

Chennai, June 13 (IANS) Alcohol, milk, coconuts and fruits were offered to self-professed atheist screen god Kamal Haasan here Friday by thousands of crazy fans as Tamil movie "Dasavathaaram", reputedly the costliest film to be made in India, opened in over 1000 screens.

To the accompaniment of folk, traditional and Western types of music, Kamal's faithful flock burst crackers and prostrated before pictures as well as carboard cut-outs of the acclaimed actor in obeisance.

...

Producer and director Ramgopal Varma is working on a big project to make a film on the life of forest brigand Veerappan who met his end while being captured by a special team of the Tamil Nadu police a few years ago.

Veerappan's wife Muthulakshmi flew down to Mumbai recently and met Varma and his team and they reportedly discussed the storyline of the film.

According to reports, during the discussions, Muthulakshmi provided valuable inputs, including about her first meeting...

Chennai, June 14 (IANS) The row between the Karunanidhi family and their close relatives the Marans over Tamil Nadu's lucrative cable television services market took a new turn Saturday.

Days after Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's son M.K. Azhagiri prevented the Maran brothers from meeting the 84-year-old patriarch on his birthday, the ball is now in the Maran's court with the Telephone Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) Saturday asking Azhagiri's Royal Cable Vision (R...

Chennai/Rajapalayam, June 17 (IANS) A small temple in Tamil Nadu's Rajapalayam town saw an unusual crowd last week - a gathering of diehard Rajnikanth fans who prayed fervently that their icon decides to enter politics.

The members of the Rajnikanth Fans Association also sacrificed 10 goats at the Pechiamman temple in Rajapalayam, about 100 km from Madurai, to appease the deity, hoping that their wish is fulfilled.

After the huge success of "Sivaji: The Boss", Rajnikanth is...

Two days after the release of "Dasavatharam", its hero Kamal Haasan said it is a success.

Mediapersons met him after the function at Vani Mahal, T.Nagar, Chennai, where the "Kodaikanal" audio was released by him on June 15.

Replying to their queries, Kamal said "Dasavatharam" has been well received by the audiences all over. "I am not the only one responsible for the success. The other actors and actresses and the technicians should share the credit. The fans also are one o...

Chennai, June 17 (IANS) Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, whose latest release "Dasavatharam" is making waves across the country, says Indian film awards will soon overtake the globally famed Oscars.

"The day when Hollywood would yearn for awards from India rather than (us) running behind the Oscars is not far off going by the improving quality of our films," Kamal said while releasing the audio of the forthcoming film "Kodaikanal" Monday.

"Dasavatharam", which has Kamal playin...

Rajinikanth's latest film "Kuselan" is ready and its audio cassette will be launched on June 30, Director P. Vasu told mediapersons in Chennai. The film is slated for release by the end of next month.

Vasu said the film has been shot in a record 82 days. The dubbing work also has been completed. Mixing and re-recording of songs will begin on June 23.

One song in celebration of the 75-year history of Tamil cinema remains to be filmed. Along with Rajini, Vijay, Ajit, Vikram, ...

Chennai, June 19 (IANS) Kayaar and A.M. Rathinam, two film producers based here but who have Telugu as their mother tongue, have alleged that the state's ruling party DMK is attempting to control the Tamil Film Producers Council by keeping non-Tamils out of a forthcoming poll contest.

Kayaar and Rathinam say that Sun TV backed candidate Raadhika Sarath Kumar, who heads a body of TV producers, was planning to contest for the presidentship of Tamil Film Producers Council, but a change o...