Yuvan Shankar Raja started composing For ‘Mankatha’

No he’s not exactly playing the ‘inside-outside’ game but Yuvan Shankar Raja has started composing tunes for his Cousin Venkat Prabhu’s ambitious project ‘Mankatha’.

Yuvan’s compositions for Venkat Prabhu movies so far have been chart toppers right from Chennai-28 till Goa, so rest assured ‘Mankatha’ that has Ajith as the trump card will be no exception. And did you people have a look at the ‘Mankatha’ posters, one sight and that gets you into retro mode!

Ajith is in focus and is accessorized with sunglasses, while aiming a gun and below him is the logo of the movie that has the four symbols of the playing cards! Creatively designed, we should agree! Recall, Venkat Prabhu’s previous movie logos, ‘Chennai-28’ was like blocks in an inland-letter envelope, while ‘Saroja’ was like a name board and ‘Goa’ with a bottle and wine glass hidden within. Going by the ‘Mankatha’ poster, Ajith fans would be delighted to see the lower-right corner where it says the movie is coming in Summer 2011! Are we hearing the ‘thalai’ screams already?

As the director says, the movie will be a fun ride, and with Ajith in it you can expect it to be a roller-coaster ride! ‘Mankatha’ is produced by Dhayanidhi Alagiri for Cloud Nine Movies.

Baana Kaathadi Movie Review

Starring: Atharva, Samantha
Direction: Badri Venkatesh
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Production: Sathyajyothi films

Director Badri Venkatesh's maiden venture Baana Kaathadi was released today with some amount of expectation in the Kollywood film circle. The film has Atharva, veteran actor Murali's son, and Samantha, who was the heroine in Telugu VTV, as the lead pair. Prasanna, Karunas and Manobala are in supporting roles and music is by Yuvan Shankar Raja. So what is Baana Kaathadi all about?Baana Kaathadi


The hero is a school student living in the crowded slum of North Chennai. He falls in love with a college going Fashion Technology student while chasing kites with his friends. The hero gets caught by the police in an unexpected situation which happens to change his life forever. What happens to the hero? Does he manage to marry the girl he fell in love with? Watch Baana Kathaadi if you want to find the answer to these questions.

Atharva is a school student whose hobby is to fly kites. It just happens that one day he bumps, quite literally, into Samantha. In the ensuing events, Samantha's pen-drive finds its way into Atharva's pocket. This makes Samantha go behind Atharva for two days as she has her college project in that pen-drive. Atharva's mother manages to find it while washing clothes and he gives it back to Samantha. Thrilled by getting the pen-drive back, she decides to throw a party to Atharva and his friends. Love looms between the two. Now if you are wondering about the age disparity between the two, here is a clarification. Atharva is not a bright student at school and so he spends two or three years in every standard he studies. Good.

The hero decides to express his love and when the two meet in a beach, Atharva spills a pack of condoms, which he accidentally and unknowingly picks up from Karunas' pocket. This infuriates Samantha who decides to dump his love. Meanwhile, Atharva happens to be a witness to a murder of an ex-MLA committed by Prasanna who lives in the same area. A sudden change of events lands Atharva behind the bars. What happens to Atharva, Prasanna and Samantha is the rest of the story.

The first half of Baana Kaathadi drags itself forward with high points here and there. It makes you wonder how a fashion technology student can fall in love with a school student (though an explanation is given). Maybe you excuse the director as he is allowed to use his cinematic freedom but the expression on Samantha's face when the pack of condoms gets spilled is certainly questionable. We also wonder why Atharva does not make an attempt to hide it or give an explanation. In fact, the only scene in the movie which demands attention is when Prasanna kills the ex-MLA. The story shines in bits but falls flat in many places.

Atharva does a good job as the protagonist. He looks quite real as the school boy in the slums of North Chennai. But he does seem to have a lot more in him and has a lot of potential to make it big in Kollywood. Samantha does not have a lot of scope and has done a very ordinary job as the heroine. After her brilliant performance in Ye Maaya Chesave, it is quite natural to expect more from her. But she disappoints. Karunas and others have played their parts. Some of the comedy scenes do evoke laughter in the audience.

Director Badri Venkatesh could have handled the script a lot better. With a powerful production house and lots of talent at his disposal, he could easily have given much more powerful presentation. The screenplay does not demand attention at all and hence it is hard to hide a feeling of saturation when you are watching the movie. Even the romantic sequences between the two seem so artificial. Though the song numbers by Yuvan are fairly enjoyable it does not add strength to the otherwise ordinary movie. Same applies to the cinematography which is handled by Richard Maria Nathan. There is nothing more in the movie that is really worth mentioning.

With no other movies releasing this weekend and a dry Friday last week, this movie had all the potential to make it big. Unfortunately, poor handling of the script and actors is a major letdown in this movie. Atharva seems qualified to do better roles in the future. The movie has his moments but it is not enough to hold the movie-goer's attention for long periods of time.

Bollywood Bug Bites Yuvan & Harris

Wondering what this is all about? We are aware that Yuvan Shankar Raja is scoring the music for director Ameer's Aadhi Bhagavan. The duo, along with lyricist Snehan, were in Singapore to compose the songs. We now learn that Yuvan has roped in Hindi singer Mohit Chouhan, of Masakali fame, to sing a song in Aadhi Bhagavan. If this is not news enough, reports suggest that the lyrics of this song are completely in Hindi. Yuvan is also doing the background score for the Hindi movie "Aakrosh", directed by Priyadarshan.

“To add to this” Harris Jeyaraj is already stepping his way into Bollywood. Harris is composing the music for the Hindi remake of the Tamil blockbuster "Kaakha Kaakha" which is directed by Nishikant Kamat. Harris was the music director of the original in Tamil as well.

‘Mangaatha’ For Piggyback Ride With ‘Naan Mahan Alla’

Ajith Kumar’s 50th film ‘Mangaatha – Ulle Veliye’ took off this morning with a photo-shoot session in a studio near AVM. The entire technical crew of this film – Venkat Prabhu, Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan was present. Ajith Kumar was present in a sleek black silky shirt.The costume used during photo shoot itself was revealing that Ajith Kumar wouldn’t be spotted in clichéd costumes of blazers, which are considered as timeworn factors.Producer Dayanidhi Azhagiri of Cloud Nine Productions  has decided to screen first look teasers of ‘Mangaatha’ during the intermission of ‘Naan Mahan Alla’. Since, both the films are produced by the same banner; the producers have decided to create sensation with such factors.Recently, Vijay’s ‘Velayudham’ had a teaser like photo shoot before the launch itself and has been telecasted in kalagnar TV. Before years, Vikram’s ‘Kanthaswamy’ had the teasers shot exotically and raised everyone’s expectations.

Anushka and Simbhu in new tamil Movie "Vaanam" | "Vaanam" Movie Review | Vaanam Movie Gallery

Proving media reports true that Simbu would replace Allu Arjun in the Tamil remake of Telugu hit 'Vedam', an official annoucement has been made today that the film has been titled 'Vaanam'. Anushka is playing the female lead in this movie.

'Cable Raja on duty from today', the advertisements said, giving a clue on the role that is going to be played by the actor. To be directed by Krish and produced by B Ramesh and ‘VTV’ Ganesh, the film will have music by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

The Telugu original, which is a cocktail of five different interwoven stories, too was directed by Krish with Allu Arjun, Manoj Manchu, Anushka, Manoj Bajpai, Lekha Washington and others playing the lead roles. The film released on June 4, 2010 to positive reviews.

Thillalangadi Movie Review | Thillalangadi Movie Poster | Thillalangadi Movie Wallpaper

Banner: Sun Pictures, Jeyam Company
Production: Editor Mohan, Kalanidhi Maaran
Direction: Jeyam Raja

Starcasts: Jeyam Ravi, Thamannah, Shyam, Vadivelu, Santhanam, Mansoor Ali Khan, Prabhu, Livingstone, Thyagu, Sathyan, Mayilsamy, Deepu, Suhasini, Nalini, Lakshmi, Latha Rao, Chandra Lakshman, John Vijay, Balaji, Jayaprakash and Raja
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Lyrics: Vaali, Na.Muthukumar, Vivega
Cinematography: Rajashekar
Art: Milan
Action: Rocky Rajesh

About the Movie Thillalangadi

To start off with, it’s yet another remake from the duo Raja-Ravi as their previous films of the same kind proved to be black horses at box office. Obviously, their previous films’ original versions were top-class entertainers while ‘Kick’ was just a passable show and doubtlessly its replication reproduces the same results.

Let’s not get along with comparisons and hitting straight onto the point of verdict, ‘Thillalangadi’ is an average entertainer that is 170mins of show time. However, the narrative aspects with enjoyable and gripping moments make it worth watching.

Jeyam Ravi’s experimental role in ‘Peranmai’ won him incredible laurels and this imitation job does land him on appreciative grounds. Raja’s ethical traits continue in this film as every shot goes the same way on narration and technical aspects.

The film opens in Malaysia with Nisha (Thamannah) unwillingly accepts to meet Krishna Kumar (Shaam), whom their parents want to them married. What starts as a conversation turns into unexpected twist as they share a commonality with the same person. Uh! The story shifts to flashback as Nisha shares about acerbate past life with her ex-boyfriend Krishna (Ravi). His very nature of being rigidly unique of wanting ‘Kick’ and ‘Risk’ in very acts makes her annoyed. Krishna’s attribute of hop-skipping jobs very often splits them up. When it’s his turn to uncover about a person, who has been making him restless, Krishna Kumar reveals that his mission is about hunting down a vicious thief in Chennai, who has flown down to Malaysia now. For a greater surprise, the smartest thief is none other than the same Krishna.

Guess what’s gonna happen next? The second half is all about the hide-and-seek games laced with humor, romance and unconditional sentiments with reasons behind Krishna’s new avatar.

Ravi as a cool chap-later- a challenging man attempts to score bigger over screen space. Of course, at few parts, he entertains the audiences with his funny liners and mannerisms. But he has to change his dancing style. Thamannah looks cherubic at places, but her overactive mannerisms make it quite odder. The prototyped costumes turn comical after certain extent. Vadivelu with his comedy oriented parts keeps the first half going with right momentum while Santhanam has been wasted. Prabhu’s performance is at his best while Suhasini doesn’t appear for more than 3 scenes. She has to choose some good roles as she deserves yet more challenging roles. Mansoor Ali Khan as a risible cop often troubled by Vadivelu tickles funny bones. Shaam need special mention for his astounding performance and it’s really appreciable if he chooses for certain roles to get himself over the top.

The songs aren’t really convincing as Yuvan Shankar Raja loses his best standards. Even the background score doesn’t enhances the visual quality and raciness in screenplay. Thanks to Thaman’s original background score as it has been reestablished finely over here. Cinematography is average and so is editing.

If there could be few reasons to mention about Raja – it is his casting of actors and dialogues. Of course, the basic plot, screenplay has its credits for Surendar Reddy. If Raja had trimmed the duration in second half, the film would have been yet more entertaining.

What works: Shaam, last 30mins and climax, Vadivelu

What doesn’t work: Longer duration, Music, Camera, performances…

Verdict: Passable show

Bala's "Avan Ivan" would be completed within 5 months

Awards and appreciations are eccentrically essential for a film, but when it’s all about business, its word of assurance that keeps producers on the safer side.In spite of winning several awards for his critically acclaimed ‘Naan Kadavul’, most of the producers had kept themselves away from Bala’s call and it was AGS Entertainment that picked his offer. 

Ensuring that ‘Avan Ivan’ would be completed within short span of time within 5 months, the project took so late than the fixed time. According to producers’ plans, the film was supposed to be completed by July and get released in August.Needless to mention, Bala has gone ahead carrying his clichéd process of canceling the shooting schedules now and then. 

Ultimately, it has resulted in the delayed processing of project and the release maybe postponed to couple of months later.The film features Aarya and Vishal in lead roles with Yuvan Shankar Raja scoring music.

Naan Mahan Alla Movie Review, Stills, Wallpaper

Tamil Movie Naan Mahaan Alla 

Cast : Karthik Sivakumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Neelima 

Director: Susindhran 

Producer: K E GnanavelMusic 

Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja 

SYNOPSIS 

Naan Mahaan Alla is a thriller which revolves around the relationship between a rich father and his son. Karthik Sivakumar and Kajal Aggarwal in lead.