Simbu all set to direct "Kettavan"

He's finished working with director Gautham Menon and the duo delivered a superhit in VTV. Currently, Simbu is working with commercial director Dharani on Osthi, the Tamil remake of Dabangg.

And the latest news is that the actor will turn director next year, perhaps in a bid to ensure that his dream project, Kettavan, shapes up the way he wants it to.

Confirming the news, the actor says, "I'm starting it next year, for sure. The cast and crew are yet to be finalized but just that I want to kickstart the film."

Many in the industry say that Kettavan is Simbu's dream project. Is that true? "Well, you could say that," he says, "It's been on my mind for quite a while now and I'm happy that I'm starting it now. It is not Manmadhan 2, but it will fall under that style of filmmaking and will be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi."

The actor feels that this would come across as a different film for audiences among the current crop of films that he has. "Everybody keeps asking me about Kettavan, even though they liked VTV and are eager to know about my current projects," he says, "I couldn't do it in the last few months as I was busy with my other projects but now, I'll seriously start work on it." Yuvan Shankar Raja will score music for the film.

"The Ennada Nadakuthu... number that we composed for this film sometime ago was leaked on the Internet and is already a hit," gushes Simbu. While Vosthi is likely to hit screens during Deepavali, Simbu's other projects - Podaa Podi and Vettai Mannan - will follow after which he'll start work on his dream project.

Nayan to replace Shriya in Osthi's item number

If sources are to be believed Nayantara will be seen doing the hot item song in south remake of Dabangg.

If you think Nayantara has decided to quit films after Shri Rama Rajyam then you will be surprised by this news. We heard the actress has been approached to do an item song in Osthi , the Tamil remake of Dabangg .

Reportedly before Nayantara, Shriya Saran was considered for the same item number. Though Nayan is yet to give her nod, the actress is certainly open to new offers. The hot item number which was done by Malaika Arora in Dabangg gained a lot of publicity and helped the film too. Osthi makers are looking for the same hot treatment to their item number.

Silambarasan aka Simbu has already started shooting with Richa Gangopadhyay who plays Sonakshi's role in the film. It seems director Dharani has to wait for Nayan's approval before making any announcement.

Osthi was officially launched in May and is scheduled to release end of this year.

Vettai Mannan: Teaser

Simbu's forthcoming film 'Vettai Mannan' is taking shape at a fast pace, and that's quite visible from the teaser trailer that is doing rounds now.

Vettai Mannan is the directorial debut of Nelson and features Simbu, Jai and Deeksha Seth in the lead roles. The tunes are set in by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

The video posted below is the teaser of the film that got out recently, and it truly seems to be an 'intense travel through the underworld' as the trailer showcases.

The approach of Simbu as Vettai Mannan asking people to e-mail details of whom to kill and asking them to transfer cash to his account is quite novel for a promo and Simbu seems to have carried off this gangster look with the right attitude and firm speech.

Don't forget to post in your feedback on the teaser of 'Vettai Mannan' letting us know your expectations on this action packed entertainer.

Bharath upset with STR about Vaanam

Bharath is one of the talented actors in Kollywood who started his career with the sensational film Boys more than eight years ago.

Although he was well received with Boys smashing several records, Bharath established himself as an actor with another film Kadhal that later on was declared to be a big hit.

In his recentl film Vaanam, Bharath had an important role to play and the actor has now made shocking revelations during the making of this film.

A source close to Bharath said that the actor felt that he was sidelined in the promotions of ‘Vaanam‘, and all the attention was given to Simbhu that had upset and angered Bharath.

Bharath himself said that, “Before accepting the offer, I was told that the cast of Vaanam has Simbhu, Anushka, Prakashraj and Sonia Agarwal alongside with equal importance given to everybody in the cast.

But to my shock, I realized that I was fooled only during the release of the film,” said the actor.

Bharath is however very confident that all his future films like Yuvan Yuvathi, Thiruthani and 555 will be good films and he would not have bitter experience again.

The source revealed that Bharath has been working very hard for the success of these films and to establish himself as a big star.

Simbu to flaunt a six pack in Osthi

Salman Khan's well-toned body is not only an inspiration for Bollywood actors but also down south. Tamil actor Simbu is inspired to get six pack abs like Salman. Well the reason is his film Osthi which is a Tamil remake of Dabangg.

Simbu who plays Salman's role of Chulbul Pandey from Dabangg has been working out since past few months. The actor was briefed by the director S Dharani to make his character look as powerful as Salman's in Dabangg.

Osthi will have a lot of action like Dabangg and Simbu is believed to be going shirtless in a climax scene. Simbu is gearing up to show his well shaped body in the film like Salman. Hopefully Osthi and Simbu will get the same success like Dabangg.

Osthi is scheduled for release in 2012.

Didnt approach Nayan: Simbu

Silambarasan has said that Nayanthara was never approached for an item number in Osthi.

Since this film is a remake of Dabangg, there were speculations on who would be roped in for the popular item number ‘Munni’. Then it was said that Nayan had been approached and she declined the offer.

When we enquired about this to STR, he clarified that the item song for the Tamil version has not been composed yet and therefore question of approaching Nayan does not arise now.

He said that only when the song is composed, he can zero in on the right actress for it.

Click here for more of her sizzling hot images..!!

Nayanthara refuses STR's offer

Nayanthara may have bid adieu to films but the film industry is reluctant to let her go. Recently STR and Dharani approached her with an offer for an item number in Osthi.

This will be a remake of the famous Munni Badnam Hui number which had diva Malaika Arora Khan in a scorching routine.They were willing to pay big bucks too as Nayan has a super successful track record for sizzling numbers.

Nayan however refused politely as she wants Sri Rama Rajyam in Telugu to be her last outing.

She plays Sita in the film and the role is very close to her heart as she found it very spiritually uplifting. It will be the perfect way to say goodbye to the big screen which she loves. So her answer was a firm no.

STR is not too upset however, and he asked Shriya Saran, who was more than happy to oblige.

Madhu signs a new film..

Madhushalini who played Arya's demure love interest in Avan Ivan has just been signed on for Osthi. Directed by Dharani the film is a remake of Dabangg and will have Silambarasan and Richa in the lead roles. Jithan Ramesh also has a crucial role and Madhushalini has been cast opposite him.

Mahie Gill did this role in the original. Madhushalini is happy about being part of this Dharani and Simbhu project and is confident that she will get noticed. She says that Avan Ivan was a great learning experience and she is looking forward to working on her second film which is entirely different offering her a chance to show off her acting skills.

Gowthams clarification..

Regarding the news that Gautham Menon will be making a sequel to Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya starting sometime in November with Silambarasan and Amy Jackson, the director has clarified that nothing is confirmed yet. He said that they had all talked about making a sequel to VTV but he himself remains undecided on the issue.

In the meantime, Gowtham and Silambarasan are talking about doing a film together in 2012. The script, cast, and crew are yet to be finalized though.

Gautam Menon said that he enjoyed working with STR as they make a good team and he would love to do another film with him. At present, they are both busy with other projects but in the future, it is expected that they will team up again.

STR's buddy in Osthi

Silambarasan and Producer Ganesh cme together while filming VTV. They continue to remain good buddies and VTV Ganesh did a hilarious cameo in Vaanam. In fact, he has become a lucky mascot for STR.

VTV Ganesh will also be seen in STR's next with Dharani, Osthi. He will play Richa's sozzled dad in the film. Mahesh Manjrekar did this part in Dabangg. The interactions between STR and VTV Ganesh's character is expected to make a great comedy track.

Shooting for Osthi is currently happening in Mysore. This is Dharani's comeback film of sorts in Tamil cinema. He wants to make a big bang with this Dabangg remake. His team is behind him 100 percent. Gopinath will handle the cinematography, Thaman will do the score, and screenplay is by Dileep Shukla.

Mambattiyan to evade soon..

Prashanth starrer, Mambattiyan will hit the screens on July 15. This film produced and directed by Thiagarajan is a remake of his own super hit Malayur Mambattiyan. Meera Jasmine is the heroine and Mumaith Khan plays the femme fatale with Prakash Raj, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Vadivelu, and Mano Bala forming the rest of the star cast.

Made on a budget of 25 crores, Mambattiyan was shot in Theni, Malaiyur, Kambam, Dindi, and forest regions all over South India.

Thaman's music, according to insiders, sounds very promising with the added attraction that Silambarasan has rendered one of the numbers.

Mambattiyan is a dream project for the father and son and they are very excited to see it materialize.

Sequel to VTV

Great news for all those who love to see romantic flicks; the team that gave us the sweet and lyrical Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya is coming together once again. And, the best part is that they are going to give us a sequel to VTV, one of the most lovable romantic musicals to come out in recent years. Its going to be Silambarasan and Gautham Menon joining hands one again with the core team that gave us VTV being retained. We are not yet sure how much of the team is being retained, but knowing the part that Rahman’s music played in taking VTV straight into our hearts, it is difficult to imagine a sequel to the superhit without the wizard’s compositions.

VTV came at a time when Silambarasan’s career was being perceived to be moving on an action/mass hero track. But, choosing to go subtly and delightfully romantic, in the classy way of Gautham Menon, Silambarsan broke all perceptions and images that had been associated with him. Yes, this actor had different dimensions and he had chosen the right time and team to exhibit that. The character of Karthik will be remembered even a decade from now as the one that put Silambarasan on the course that he was destined for. And, it is not surprising that he is eager to be Karthik once again. And, if we talk about Karthik, how can we forget Jessie. We are not yet sure whether Jessie will be a part of the sequel, but Jessie will be close to the hearts of movie lovers as the character which presented Trisha in her most classy persona as yet. And, can we overlook Ganesh? Gautham Menon’s casting masterstroke that was the most endearing character in the movie after Karthik and Jessie.

Yes, we know that you want to see them all again, but we are not sure how much of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya will be carried over to Vinnaithaandi Varuven – yes, that is the provisional title as of now. But, it is not going to be all like VTV-1. If that was a smooth, mellow and sweet love story that left you with a lump in your throat towards the end, the new one will have more color, more vigor and more energy. The energized version of VTV!

So, are Gautham Menon and Silambarsan getting to work on it immediately? No, Silambarasan is still busy with Vettaimannan and Gautham Menon is working on the Hindi version of VTV-1 and is also in talks with Jiiva for a Tamil film. So, VTV-2 will take off only after Vettaimannan and the Hindi VTV are done and a final decision is taken on the project with Jiiva.

Its Gautham Menon back to what he does best, romance. After the change of track in Nadunissi Naaygal, he is getting back to the endearing romantic ways that have made his films favorites with lots of viewers around the world; so get ready to fall in love all over again – hosanna.

Gowtham, Jiiva and A R Rahman

Gautham Menon’s next Tamil project will be with Jiiva and pairing up opposite him will be Samantha.

The director has decided to direct an action-romantic flick and has found Jiiva to be the most suitable for this. This venture will go on floors once Gautham is done with the Hindi version of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya that is currently shot in Chennai titled 'Premkatha' starring Prateik Babbar and Amy Jackson reprising the roles originally played by STR and Trisha.

Manoj Pramahamsa may wield the camera for this venture too while Gautham has decided to retain Rajeevan (art director) and Anthony (editing) for the production. The icing on the cake for this venture is the Oscar Winner A R Rahman, who has been roped in to score the music for this flick.

Lead Actresses opposite STR for Vettai Mannan

Silambarasan's next is with Nelson and is called Vettai Mannan. Deeksha Seth will play one of the female leads in this film. Apparently there are two more heroine spots that need to be filled. STR had suggested Asin but Nelson wants someone who is just two or three films old. Bubbly Piaa Bajpai who impressed in Ko is hot stuff at present and is in strong contention for one of the heroine roles.

The other role may go to Amrita Rao, the elder sister of Preetika, who was seen in Chikku Bukku with Arya. But Amrita is extremely choosy when it come to giving the green signal for South Indian projects. She has done only one Telugu film with Mahesh Babu which was a huge hit. She was flooded with offers after that but she is yet to sign anything in these parts. If she is not finalized for the role, others from Bollywood will be considered.

Silambarasan plays a killer in this film, which is being shot in Chennai and Brazil. Jai also has a good role in this film.

Poda Podi . . complete?

If sources are to be believed, Silambarasan has finally finished Poda Podi. The film, which commenced several months ago, was going slow because the lead star was busy with various other projects.

Directed by Vignesh Shiva, Poda Podi will have Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar debuting as the heroine. Dharan is scoring the music for Poda Podi and Silambarasan has rendered two songs.

Soon after this film is wrapped up, the star will move on to the Dabangg remake titled Osthi in Tamil. In this flick STR will sport a new look as he plays a cop.

Dhanush and G V Prakash Again ..

The Tamil film industry thrives on winning combinations. Silambarasan-Yuvan, Gautham Vasudev Menon-Harris Jayaraj and the like. Lately the hottest combo seems to be Dhanush and GV Prakash as the duo's Aadukalam and Polladhavan resulted in some great music which became quite the rage among Tamil audiences.

They are all set to recreate the magic for Selvaraghavan's Irandam Ulagam. GV Praksh has worked with Selva in Aayirathil Oruvan and the music was a hit. So it is expected that the trio's chemistry will work once again in Irandam Ulagam too. Let's wait and hear!

18 Yrs Connection with STR

Silambarasan is very passionate about music and dance. And if he likes a composer’s work he is more than happy to sing for him even if it is for someone else’s film. He had sung the Manasellam number for the film Kulir and the Thanni Karuthiruchi track for Manoj Manchu. Johnny of Renigunta fame is the next in this line.

Debutant music director, Charles will do the score for 18 Vayasu which is the second venture of the entire Renigunta team. STR will be singing a high-energy track for this film. The audio launch for 18 Vayasu will be held shortly.

Dance Guru in Poda Podi . .

Silambarasan’s Poda Podi is shaping up silently without much fanfare, say insiders. This project is taking a long time to complete, because of the hero’s commitments to other projects.

Poda Podi will mark the entry of Varalakshmi, daughter of Sarath Kumar, into the film industry. Varalakshmi is an accomplished singer and dancer and incidentally in this film her role is dance-oriented too.

Surprisingly, there is another heroine who will be seen in films after a long long time. It is none other than Shobana. Now, we all know that she is a danseuse par excellence and has given some astounding performances on stage. She will be playing Varalakshmi’s dance guru in Poda Podi.

Heroes waiting for Gowtham . .

Gautham Menon’s next project in Tamil is the hot topic for discussion in Kollywood as the director is very busy with 'Prem Katha' the Hindi remake of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya with Prateik Babbar and Amy Jackson playing roles that were originally played by Silambarasan and Trisha.

The Director's next project has become a hot topic as 'Prem Katha' is expected to be wrapped soon and his Tamil venture is now in question with all due respect to his films from Minnale to Nadunisi Naigal.

It is said that Gautham now has a wonderful action-based script and is looking for a suitable hero to play the lead role and Kollywood’s youngest heroes Arya, Karthi and Jiiva are vying with each other to lap up this role to boost their careers to the next level.

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya ?

Director Gautham Menon is busy shooting the Hindi version of Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya. The shooting of this film has been progressing in various localities in Mumbai and team will travel down to Kerala shortly and begin the second schedule there from May 23rd onwards.

Once the shooting in Kerala is over, the director and his team will fly down to the United States to can some important portions there. Gautham, it is said, has modified the script of VTV to suit the Bollywood audience.

VTV was a smash hit in Tamil and starred Silambarasan and Trisha in the lead roles. Sources close to Gautham say that the Hindi version is shaping up well and will turn out to be a bigger success than the Tamil version.