SHRIYA IS ON A ROLL AGAIN, IN AN ITEM NUMBER FOR TULASI

Sivaji: the boss may have been a smash hit across the country, but it did little to revive the fortunes of Shriya in Tollywood. Though she managed to bag a couple of roles in Tamil, she couldn't manage even one creditable assignment in the Telugu film industry. And so she is forced to settle down for item numbers hoping that someone would notice her and give her back her due again. So, after swinging with Prabhas in Munna, she is getting ready to do a sizzling number with Venkatesh in Tulasi.

Hope she gets to get a larger-than-expected recognition in the film.

IS RAJNIKANTH A GOD IN HUMAN FORM? OR A HUMAN GOD? CHECK OUT THE ADORATION

History was made on the second Friday of June when the Rajnikanth starrer Sivaji: The Boss was released all over the country. Fans went into a frenzy finding new ways and means to express their devotion to their maverick superstar. Sacrificial offerings were made to the Gods, heads were tonsured, processions taken out, and crackers bursted. The adoration can only be seen to be believed. Check them out.



Rajnikanth fans doing pooja to the posters of their leader



Performing abhishekham to their demi-god idol with milk



A piece of prasaad for the good success of their god



And the celebrations commence with the bursting of the crackers



And more and more crackers light up the festive spirit



Fans tonsure their heads for the glorious success of the film



Jumbo ways of showing their diehard devotion to Rajnikanth



They are willing to give their leader a place anywhere on their body



The huge serpentine queues to get a glimpse of their hero



And they dig into religion too to find ways to attract the attention



And the jubilations don't stop



And the women painted the town yellow

SHRIYA IS BASKING IN THE LIMELIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS SUCCESS OF SIVAJI: THE BOSS

While Sivaji is the reigning boss of the country, one person who has reaped the most mileage from the film is Shriya. She has been virtually on the sidelines in both Tamil and Telugu. But with the resounding success of Sivaji, she is glowing in all the attention. Literally. Producers from the Tamil film industry are queuing up before her house for callsheets. And, we hear, it's not just one, but a lot many of them. So much so that she has a chance to pick and choose not only the films, but also the heroes she wants to work with. Part of the credit for her demand goes to the new look Shankar gave her in Sivaji. She was at her ravishing best, we must say. And quite bubbly too to command a following among the filmmakers.

What more, her debut film in Bollywood, Awarapan, which was released last Friday, has been receiving rave reviews. And this is like a double bonanza for her. Says the actress who is on cloud nine. "I accepted Awarapan because I was convinced of its strong storyline, the director and the reputed production house. They have a history of making sensitive films that have become hits. Their female characters are well etched. After the success of my films in the South, I needed a film that could parallel my position there. I think I have made the right decision".

Even before Awarapan has been released, she has been booked opposite Bobby Deol in Sangeet Sivan's Ek -The Power of One . Besides, she has two films lined up in Tamil with the reigning superstars Vikram and Vijay.

We also hear that some of the Tollywood filmmakers are planninig to cast her.

It surely makes a whole lot of difference to a heroine when she acts in a Rajnikanth film. Make the most of it Shriya. You deserve it.

SHREYA REAPS A WINDFALL OF OFFERS FROM THE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS OF SIVAJI: THE BOSS

If at all anyone is reaping a windfall from the success of Sivaji: The Boss, it is Shreya. She is hogging all the limelight from the filmmakers in South India. Till now, she hardly had any films on hand in the south, none whatsoever in Telugu. But, now this babe is surrounded with offers left, right and centre we hear. And she has a problem of plenty thanks to her mod look in Sivaji, which has done wonders for her image. She should thank Aishwarya and Rani Mukerji for her newfound popularity in Sivaji. Because the roles initially went to them, and only after they rejected that Shreya was cast opposite Rajnikant. And what a way to step into the shoes of the Bollywood babes. All the best Shreya. You now have the option of demanding your pound of flesh. And a fat one at that.

RAJNIKANT'S SIVAJI: THE BOSS GETS THE BEST EVER RATING FROM THE PRINT MEDIA

They broke pumpkins to ward off evil eyes, lit camphor to perform aarti and bathed gigantic cut-outs of Rajnikant with hundreds of litres of milk. As crackers burst incessantly, the Tamil superstar's fans exhibited their joy by distributing sweets.

Film buffs in Tamil Nadu gave a rousing yet traditional welcome to "the boss's" latest avatar as Sivaji, the one-man demolition squad against black money, in his newest offering, Sivaji: The Boss, which had a global release on Friday.

"It was great to watch Rajni. I enjoyed Sivaji thoroughly. Though it's long (3 hours and 6 minutes), it never bored me even for a second," said Chennai Corporation mayor M Subramanian.

For the most expensive film ever made (Rs 95 crore) in the history of Indian cinema, Sivaji's first two days' bookings in just Chennai crossed Rs 3 crore. "It's a smash hit. With such response, it'll have a long run. Our investment will bring back good returns," said C T Valliapan, owner of Kamala Theatre. In Chennai, the film had a 16-screen opening. "We're housefull for the next 14 days," he said.

As is the case with every Rajni film, Sivaji's story too is not thick plot. It goes like this: Sivaji (Rajnikant) is a US-based software professional who returns to India to work in his native land. A socialist and do-gooder, he tries to establish a university and hospital with his own money. His aim is not to profit; but, give free education, treatment and employment opportunities to the poor.

The Indian Robinhood, in turn, uses the entire money for the welfare of the poor and needy. Rajni fan Valliappan is certain the actor has replicated his old magic yet again. "It has the production standards of a Hollywood film in terms of grandeur and technical value," he said.

R Pandirajan, a call centre employee, who is not a Rajini fan, said he wasn't disappointed. "It has all the ingredients — comedy, action, punch, dialogue, all Rajni style." But, who will fight the touts selling tickets for Rs 1,000?

(Courtesy: The Times of India)

RAJNIKANTH FANS TO SHAVE THEIR HEADS TODAY AS A MARK OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE RELEASE OF SIVAJI: THE BOSS

Die-hard fans of Tamil superstar Rajnikanth said they would tonsure their heads as a symbolic gesture to celebrate the successful release of his latest film Sivaji: The Boss across Karnataka.
"We will be holding a six-hour function on Sunday, where fans from across the state could come and shave their heads as a symbolic gesture," said Guna, a small time businessman and a die-hard Rajnikanth fan. "We have arranged for five barbers to conduct the tonsuring ceremony and we expect over 100 fans to come and participate in the event," he said.
"We are Rajnikanth's die-hard fans but we are quite poor and cannot afford to throw a lavish party to celebrate the event. Hence, we have decided to offer our thanksgiving in this symbolic fashion," he said, while referring to the fact that Rajnikanth.
Guna said he had managed Rs 35,000 from his personal savings, and spent it on preparing a 125-feet hoarding, which is currently hoisted in Ulsoor. The poster carries some scenes from the film.
The film, which was released in 13 theatres across Karnataka, was off to an eventful start with fans holding a procession and pouring milk over the posters of the actor.
At Inox theatre in the city, fans spilled outside the theatre singing Vaji Vaji, Sivaji, a song from the film. A fan, who came to the theatre at 3.30 am to get a ticket, said, "It was worth all the wait."

RAJNIKANTH AND NAYANATARA SING AND DANCE THEIR WAY TO GLORY IN SIVAJI: THE BOSS

TAKE A DEKKO AT SOME OF THE FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPHS FROM SIVAJI: THE BOSS

A COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPHS FROM SIVAJI: THE BOSS. SIT BACK AND ENJOY

SHRIYA IS RAVISHING IN SIVAJI: THE BOSS

It was a double bonanza for Shriya Saran in Sivaji: The Boss. For, she gets instant recognition in Tamil film industry, where she is relatively new and also revives her flagging fortunes in the Telugu film industry. Shriya plays the role of a good-hearted village belle in the film. And she plays it to perfection. And she has some livewire scenes with Rajnikanth, where not only comedy but also pathos is revealed. What more, the film has some of the best songs and Shriya being the heroine, gets to hog the limelight in all of them barring one, where Nayanatara gets to swing her hips with Rajnikanth. And Shriya, we must say, is absolutely ravishing in the film. She gets to wear different costumes, display different body languages, and simple wows the audiences with all of them. What adds charm to her role is the way Shriya matches step for step a la Sridevi in the songs: Aaku chatu pinde tadise (from Vetagadu), Nee kallu chebutunnayi nanu preminchanani (Premabhishekam), and Abbabee tiyyanee debba (Jagadeka Veerudu, Atiloka Sundari) which were recreated for fun effect in Sivaji. While Rajnikanth stole the limelight in these songs, Shriya didn't lag behind either. The theatres were inundated with whistles when the duo stepped in tune to the songs.

Hope her career which is taking a nosedive will look up to the skies with Sivaji.

YOU CAN'T STOP THE RAJNI JUGGERNAUT! SIVAJI ROLLS ON MAJESTICALLY INTO THE AUDIENCES' HEARTS

If wishes were horses, Rajnikanth would ride off to the Himalayas and take sanyas. Seriously. We're not joking. For the expectations from him are so mindbogglingly huge, that even if gives the best of the best hits, it is not enough. The discriminating audience and the critics want even more. A superlative verdict. A perfect work of art. But, sadly, only plastic things are perfect, while living things look good with their little imperfections.

Take, for example, Sivaji: The Boss, which was released with much fanfare today. It has all the ingredients, and in the right doses, to call it a superhit. But, no, the critics, say, the first half is a little slow, the dialogues are a little drab, A R Rahman's background music is unimpressive, and there is no punch in Rajni's dialogue delivery. What crap! These are the same guys who will have names for a perfect piece of art like the Taj Mahal, too.

Like all his earlier films, Rajnikanth seeks to play the good samaritan to the core. And so, this NRI, who earns loads and loads of money, Rs 250 crore to be precise, wants to spend it on charity by constructing hospitals and educational institutions to offer quality education to the poor and the needy -- all for free.

But will the education mafia allow him to do that? Definitely, not. Because it will deal a deathly blow to their money making institutions. So headed by Suman, the godfather of the education mafia, they gang up to ensure that his plan is nipped in the bud. And how do they do it? With the help of politicians and the bureaucracy. Director Shankar, in his own unique style, exposes the corruption that is eating away the innards of our political system and lays bare the politician-bureaucrat nexus.

Shankar paints a realistic picture of how anyone who wants to do good in the society, however big or mighty he might be, without whetting the appetites of the ruling class, is bound to end up like paupers. It is only the blood-sucking, power-hungry, money-minded people who survive in the country. And this explains why the politician-bureaucrats-contractors nexus still rules the country. So, Rajnikanth too loses his all in his attempt to provide social infrastructure. Predictably, the interval follows.

How Rajnikanth picks up the gauntlet and gives the bad guys a taste of their own medicine is the crux of the remaining part of the story. And, once the curtains go up after the interval, the film picks up momentum with the Rajni's trademark quips, witty dialogues and his unique mannerisms. And director Shankar rivets our attention with gusto. And only a director of his calibre could have been able to pull off an impossible coup as Sivaji: The Boss.

The film has the right mix of entertainment with Shreya oozing the much-needed oomph to make the audiences go bonkers. She looks great and exudes an aura that will be remembered in the South Indian film circles for some time to come.

Like all his films, Rajnikanth has a too has a cool dialogue in Sivaji, too. And that is COOL. And when he says it in his typically naughty way to taunt the baddies, it is a sight to watch. The way Rajni plays on the chewing gum is hilarious and drives the fans crazy.

Rahman delivers a classy concoction and some of the songs, especially the one starring Nayanatara is bound to be popular.

A COOL movie to the core, if it sags in its enthusiasm, it is only because you are watching it with blinkers on: that is the expectations, I've been talking ablout. And if you go to watch Sivaji with such an attitude, you are bound to make it a miserable experience. Otherwise, it is a wonderful film by all standards. Don't miss it for anything in the world.

That guy Vivek will have you in splits. And when he is in Rajni's company, which he always is throughout the movie, it is a double treat. And for the critics, I have only one advice. Go take a walk!!

If you haven't watched Sivaji, watch the trailer at least, it is fun

RAJNIKANTH'S SIVAJI CREATES TRAFFIC JAMS A WEEK BEFORE ITS RELEASE

It was an occasion to celebrate for Tamil superstar Rajnikanth's die-hard fans who flocked cinema halls here since early hours as the advance booking for the AVM Production's mega budget movie Sivaji opened on Saturday.
Tickets for the first fortnight were sold out in several theatres in just a couple of hours, film industry sources said.
Serpentine queues of youngsters, including girls, were seen outside 17 theatres in the city, including Abhirami, Sathyam and Udhayam complexes, where the film was set to be released on June 15. Traffic snarls were reported at various places.
Some chose to spend the night in front of the theatres in order to book their tickets early.
The Rajni-Shankar-Rahman combination has created a lot of expectations among movie buffs particularly among the superstar's fans. Doe-eyed Shriya is the leading lady of the movie, which took 19 months for completion.
Sources said the movie might turn out to be the most expensive film ever made in the country.
Enthusiastic fans performed "milk abhishekam"(pouring milk over as a form of worship) on Rajni banners and cut outs and broke coconuts to ward off evil forces.
Rajni's previous film Chandramukhi is still running continuously for 800 days, creating a record in the Tamil film history.

(Courtesy: CNN-IBN)