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.

RAJNIKANTH GIVES HIS FAN THE BEST DAY OF HIS LIFE

Naveen Jain, a Rajnikanth fan, bumped into the superstar while travelling to Chennai. And casually requested him to pose for a photograph. And the superstar made his day by posing for a dozen of them.

'He (Rajnikanth) is a very, very humble and down-to-earth person,' says an overjoyed Jain . 'The best part was when he took my newborn son in his lap.'

SALMAN WANTS TO WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF RAJNIKANTH

Rajnikanth has not only taken the world by storm with the release of his new film Sivaji: the boss, he has also set the Bollywood actors on an introspection mode. Look who's taking inspiration from Rajnikanth, now? Govinda's partner in crime Salman Khan. The Pathan can't stop to be adoring the superstar of south India. So much so that he wants to follow in his footsteps.

Says Salman, “I have a certain sense of contentment today. I want to do what Rajnikanth is doing. Whatever he earns, he gives back to the people.”

Way to go, Salman. We know that you have already given the money that you make from your paintings to charity. This will add another feather to your cap.

HAS MAHESH BABU SIGNED A THREE-FILM DEAL WITH UTV FOR RS 15 CRORE?

Looks like there is too much money and too few avenues of investment in India. Which is why the big business houses have entered the entertainment segment like never before. And this has not only benefitted the audiences but also boosted the revenues of actors. Today, we hear that UTV has signed a three-film deal with Mahesh Babu, the star who is raising eyebrows in the Telugu film industry with the rollicking success of Pokiri. With this Mahesh Babu becomes the first actor in the south to sign a mega deal and the highest paid actor.

For starters, UTV has produced films like Rang De Basanti, Life in a... Metro, Khosla Ka Ghosla and has a major stake in television channels like Hungama, Disney's kids channel.

After its successful entry into the entertainment sector, especially in Bollywood, it is ready to spread its wings to the south. What more, with the kind of global response Rajnikanth starrer Sivaji: the boss has received, it has reinforced their resolve to take the long journey to the South Indian film industries like Tamil and Telugu sooner than later. Already Adlabs has made films in Tamil, and has announced plans to invest in Tollywood. Do we hear the young directors sing, Happy Days Are Here Again?

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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

CONGRESSMAN FILES DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST SIVAJI FOR TARNISHING THE IMAGE OF SONIA GANDHI AND MANMOHAN SINGH

A defamation suit seeking Rs 50 crore damages and a ban on the screening of Tamil Superstar Rajnikanth's latest blockbuster Sivaji: The Boss was filed in Madras High Court on Monday.

In his petition, M Sathiyamoorthy of the Congress contended the film was defamatory in nature, and aimed at tarnishing the image of AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The film dealt with the exploitation of education system by private institutions which collected capitation fees.

Fifteen minutes into the film, hero Rajnikanth, who plays the role of a US-returned software engineer, visits the place of Adikesavan, the villain and head of a private university, who is shown standing between the laminated photographs of Ms Gandhi and Dr Singh.

By portraying the senior Congress leaders with the villain, the image of the senior party leaders was tarnished, Sathiyamoorthy contended and sought Rs 50 crore in damages and a ban on screening the film.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Censor Board (Chennai), actor Rajnikanth, Film Producer AVM Saravanan, Director Shankar, and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu were cited as respondents.

The petition was likely to be taken up for hearing on Monday.

RAJNIKANTH FEVER HAS GRIPPED AHMEDABAD TOO

The Thalaivar (as Rajnikanth is fondly known in Tamil, meaning Leader) fever has now spread to Vadodara. The latest Rajnikanth flick Sivaji: the boss came a tad later from the South, but, we saw and he conquered an almost full house at a multiplex in Vadodara on Friday, with even a sizeable Gujarati crowd thoroughly enjoying the three-hour South Indian extravaganza. The movie even had the usually conservative Gujarati crowd shaking a leg and hooting with every death-defying stunt and song sequence like the other fans from the South.

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RAJNIKANTH IS NOT JUST THE BOSS, HE'S ALSO THE SULTAN OF ANIMATION

Megastar Rajnikanth’s Sivaji: the boss might have been a super-hit in south India. But for those who don’t understand Tamil, you can watch a substitute called Sultan in English, Telugu or even Japanese. Only this will be an animated film, produced by Anil Ambani’s Adlabs Films at an extravagant budget of Rs 40 crore.

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RAJNI'S COOOOOOOOOOL STYLE BECOMES A RAGE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!

Rajnikanth in his latest Tamil flick Sivaji: The Boss sports a stylish pair of sunglasses, Amitabh Bacchchan plays a bespectacled 64-year-old cook in Cheeni Kum, and the major cast of Metro -- Irfaan Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Konkona SenSharma -- all sport zero power spectacles.

"No wonder 75 per cent of the people do not follow the optical store salesman's suggestion. They are influenced by movies and various magazines, newspapers and printed matter. Market trends keep fluctuating and things are much different than a few years ago when where one particular trend used to dominate for years. Today, fashion is changing very fast and the hot designs keep changing rapidly," says Tarun Sachdeva, of Eye Essentials, which deals in vision correcting aids, spectacle frames etc.

With more and more actors wearing glasses on screen, the common man is following suit and becoming choosy about the frames and quality of glasses. Multi-coloured and broad-sized frames are 'hot'. "Sunglasses and frames are available for Rs 1,000 and Rs 60,000," says Lalit Kalra, Director, Dayal Opticals. Also, with increasing brand consciousness people are aware of the varieties of frames and sunglasses available.

"They have fixed ideas about the type of brand they want," says Manoj Soni, Laurence and Mayo, Connaught Place. He says, "Earlier people might have been vaguely aware of some sunglass brands but nowadays due to huge advertisments in the media there is a growing awareness in the market about the wide variety of choice available to them."

Manoj Soni adds, "While customers may demand specific brands for frames awareness about lenses is still insufficient in the market." Vogue Prada, Versace, Bovigare, Gucci are the most popular brands. The latest trend is that of titanium metal because they are very flexible and strong and almost impossible to break," he says.

THE TITANS OF INDIAN CINEMA, RAJNIKANTH AND KAMAL HAASAN, CHATTING UP THEIR GOOD OLD DAYS

They are the titans of Indian cinema. They set the trend and others follow. While Rajnikanth is the virtual emperor of the masses, Kamal Haasan has carved a niche for himself as the actor's actor. When it comes to excellling in any role, no one can come anywhere near him. While Rajnikanth showed who the boss of Indian cinema was with the release of his latest film Sivaji, Kamal is set to prove to the Bolywood biggies who the best actor in India is with his portrayal of 10 roles in Dasavataram.

The two of them recently met at the 800-odd function of Chandramukhi. And the discoveries of K Balachander, who have done many a film together during their heydays, can't seem to be recalling their good old days.

ASIN IS FLYING HIGH IN BOLLYWOOD, GETS READY TO DO AN ENGLISH FILM TOO

Asin is one heroine who has done exceptionally well in Tollywood and moved on to other industries, not because she doesn't have the acting talent or the good looks, only because she has done too many films, and the audience expects beautiful belles to dance around with the aged heroes. So, she has been busy in Tamil and Malayalam. And doing some great films there too.

Now that she has prove her mettle down south, she is slowly inching her way into Bollywood and also paving her way to act in cross-cultural cinema. The kind that directors like Nagesh Kukunoor makes. She is acting in an English film, which will be based on a short story by renowned Malayalam writer, M T Vasudevan Nair. There are huge plans of roping in Kamal Haasan to do the lead role, and if that happens it would be the right shot in the arm for Asin. In case Kamal turns down the offer, Mohanlal may be taken to play the lead. Either way, it is going to be a great break for Asin. And not without reason. The film, we are told, may star some renowned Hollywood actors too. And if that happens, all the attention would be on this Mallu Kutty.

She is already hogging the limelight for her role in the Hindi remake of Ghazni, and she is acting with none other than Aamir Khan. What more, she is also being tipped as the heroine for the Hindi remake of Pokiri, starring Salman Khan in Mahesh Babu's role, and being directed by the boneless wonder Prabhu Deva.

Her next big film in Tamil is Dasavataram, the Kamal Haasan starrer, which is tipped to be the next best thing to happen to Tamil film industry after Sivaji: The Boss.

Good going Asin, may all your ventures yield you tonnes and tonnes of money and admiration.

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.

RAJNIKANTH GIVES THE BIG GUYS OF BOLLYWOOD A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY

# RAJNIKANTH RAPS THE BIG BROTHERS OF BOLLYWOOD ON THE KNUCKLES IN HALF-YEARLY EXAMS, SHOWS THEM WHO IS THE BOSS
Star appeal, big budgets and swanky foreign locations have all failed to bring cheer to Bollywood as the world's biggest film industry struggled to make a profit in the first half of 2007.

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# WHAT MAKES RAJNIKANTH SUCH A PHENOMENON ACROSS THE WORLD?In South India, Rajnikanth is a part of everybody's family. If there's a family of four - father, mother and two kids - Ranjikanth is the fifth member. And it'll automatically be called a family of five.

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# SIVAJI FOLLOWS THE SUCCESSFUL FORMULA OF THE STAR'S CAPERS THAT MADE HIM A SUPER STAR
Sivaji: The Boss is a colourful spectacle, awash with the razzmatazz of whirling song and dance sequences and comic acts, says a BBC report

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# SHIVAJI RUNS INTO LEGAL TANGLE
The superstar Rajnikanth-starrer Sivaji: The Boss, which has been declared a universal hit has run into a legal battle over its script. Assistant director Sudalai K Jayarajadevan has moved the case into court, claiming he wrote the story and narrated it to the film's director S Shankar in 2005, but Shankar has made the
film without giving him the credit.

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IS CHIRUTHA BREAKING ALL RECORDS IN THE TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY? IT'S DOING BUSINESS OF RS 30 CRORE AND ABOVE

There is no denying the fact that Ram Charan Teja's debut is the most awaited debut of the decade. For two reasons. One, it is for the first time that a son of the '80s actor, who went on to become a legend, Chiranjeevi, is becoming a hero. And two, it has the best director of the day, Puri Jagannadh, direting it. And this has naturally hpyed the craze for the film. And now, with the frenzy over Sivaji: The Boss settling down, all eyes are on this Chirutha. Everyday there are rumours floating around how the film is breaking every possible record established by the superstars in the industry. First it was the audio rights, which it was claimed went for a cool Rs 1 crore. While it was the hot topic under circulation, comes the news that the film has been doing business to the tune of Rs 30 crore and above. Wow, even Chiranjeevi's films weren't discussed so much. The last time we heard was Pawan Kalyan's startling rise to fame with Badri and the films that followed and next it was Mahesh Babu's turn to hit such a high. But this young cub, Ram Charan Teja, seems to have gone ahead and beaten them hollow in the race. Will he be able to repeat the magic on screen?

RAJNIKANTH IS THE BOSS OF THE INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY, AND NEITHER BIG B NOR ANY OF THE KHANS COME ANYWHERE NEAR

Neither Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood’s highest paid actor, nor anyone in the Khan trio of Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman, gets paid over Rs 15 crore per film as Rajni does.

Bachchan gets up to Rs 6 crore per film. The fees of the Khan trio range between Rs 3 crore and Rs 5 crore per film. But then Bachchan does about half a dozen films every year while Rajni’s average now is about one film every two years.

Even in technological inputs, Rajni’s films are often ahead of their Hindi counterparts. Sivaji: The Boss, for instance, was made in Super 35 cinemascope format with the latest processing and scanning skills, and with a very high-pixel resolution.

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IS CHIRUTHA AUDIO UP FOR GRABS FOR A COOL RS 1 CRORE? YOU BET IT IS!!

Now that the engagement of Balakrishna's daughter Brahmani to Nara Chandrababu Naidu's son Lokesh has been solemnised, all eyes are back on the film industry. And with every passing day, Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan Teja seem to become jittery. Will it? Won't it? That is will his first film Chirutha create a storm in the industry? Not just Chiranjeevi and his son, all and everyone is closely waiting with bated breath for the completion of the film. The film is currently underway in Bangkok, if I am not mistaken, and has raked in quite an expectation. If I may say so, the expectation for Chirutha in Andhra Pradesh can be comparable to Sivaji: The Boss in Tamil Nadu. It is just the degree of difference. Even Shankardada Zindabad hasn't generated so much hype. Meanwhile, we hear the audio is up for grabs for a cool Rs 1 crore. Might be true. Because the kind of attention it has been receiving is not only unique but also mindboggling. Must say that the celebrity culture has taken India by storm after the liberalisation of the Indian economy. What say you?

WILL SHANKARDADA DO A SIVAJI? EXPECTATIONS SOAR FOR SHANKARDADA ZINDABAD

With the super success of Rajnikanth's film, Sivaji: The Boss, all eyes are on Shankardada Zindabad, in which Chiranjeevi plays a 'goon-turned-Gandhian'. Chiranjeevi, we hear, is taking all possible efforts to ensure that there are no flaws in the film, technical or otherwise. And he has been monitoring every shot and scene of the film, especially after the not-so-impressive showing of Shankardada MBBS.

Though Munnabhai MBBS was a roaring hit in Bollywood and touched the heartstrings of the people in India, director Jayanth quite couldn't catch the pulse of the film, and the result was that Shankardada MBBS, which would have been a chartbuster for Chiranjeevi couldn't fare as expected. Predictably, Jayanth was blamed for the film's poor showing, and Prabhu Deva roped in to direct the sequel.

But, more than Shankardada MBBS, Shankardada Zindabad needs a very sensitive handling of the film, which is why the filmmakers wanted to retain the entire cast from the Hindi version. But except for Dilip Prabhavalkar, who played Gandhi, the others were not too willing to act in a remake. So, out go Vidya Balan, who was the lynchpin of the entire film after Gandhi, Dia Mirza and Boman Irani. Of course, Srikanth, who played Arshad Warsi, was the favourite of Shankardada MBBS, and the audiences are looking forward to see how he fares in the sequel. One thing we can expect, however, from Prabhu Deva is the technical finesse and the amazing choreography, two things that are vital in a Chiranjeevi film today. Because if the songs catch on, it is half the victory. And, even if they manage to capture 50 per cent of the essence of Lago Rahe Munnabhai, the filmmakers would go laughing all the way to the bank.

Right now, the songs are being picturised on Chiranjeevi and Karishma Kotak in the picturesque locales of Australia. Except for that everything is complete. And the film is sceheduled for release in exactly a month from now -- on July 24.

THE KING AND THE EMPEROR OF INDIAN CINEMA -- AMITABH BACHCHAN AND RAJNIKANTH -- TO ACT TOGETHER IN A TAMIL FILM

It will take a while for the legends of Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth to decide who is the King and who is the Emperor of Indian Cinema. But, before that both of them have decided to act together in a Tamil film. Says Amitabh Bachchan, "The producer of Sivaji bought the rights of a film of mine that had closed shop due to financial constraints. In return, I was required to work as a guest in the film being made with Rajnikanth. That's how it happened. And, thank God it did."

Explaining how he had done a guest role in one of Rajnikanth's Hindi films, Amitabh recalls, "I remember Rajni starred in the Hindi film Andha Kanoon which had me in one of the most dynamic guest appearances of my life."

Wow! Good times are ahead for Indian cinema. And what should the director name the film? KING EMPEROR?

AMITABH'S VERDICT: RAJNIKANTH IS THE LARGEST,THE BIGGEST AND TRULY THE BOSS OF INDIAN CINEMA

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan says that if at all there is an Emperor of Indian Cinema, that Rajnikanth trule deserves the title. "He is the largest, the best and truly the boss," says Rajnikanth.

Amitabh says he is no match for Rajnikanth, the legendary actor from South India, whose film Sivaji: The Boss opened to a rousing reception all over the world, and, consequently, breaking all records. The film has evoked so much curiosity in recent times that whoever was worth their salt was interviewed by all the mainstream television channels and the print media in the country and abroad. Especially in South East Asian nations like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and Japan, it has generated a debate that is hitherto unknown in the Indian film industry.

Not naturally, Amitabh Bachchan relegates himself and crowns Rajnikanth as the ONLY EMPEROR OF INDIAN CINEMA. In an exclusive interview to The Times of India, Amitabh said, "Rajni is phenomenal. The largest, the best and truly the boss. It is ridiculous to compare me to him. His following outside of Tamil Nadu is incomparable. Don't believe a word of this King and Emperor thing (Rajni has told NDTV on the eve of the release of Sivaji, that 'If I am King, Amitabh Bachchan is the Emperor'.) We all know that he is the Emperor. I abhor epithets, but for him I will make an exception, for he is truly exceptional."

Showering praises on Rajnikant, Bachchan said, "His modesty is legendary. His simplicity in his existence and in his demeanour is also legendary. "

And Bachchan doesnt't stop at that. He says, "Look where he came from and what he has become. Sheer hard work, talent and the belief that he could do it… and he did! Such a fantastic example for any youth in any part of the world. Despite his extraordinary career he has remained the simple down–to-earth person that he was when he started off. All his people around him are friends who were with him when he was a nobody."

Amitabh recalls the fond memories he had with the legendary star from Tamil Nadu, Rajnikanth, "Do you know, a Fiat he had bought when he attained his early success still remains with him and he only uses that car to date? He's a humble human being and a caring and considerate co-star. Rajni is terrific company on the sets and a fine gentleman. He's religious, traditional and charitable. And most importantly, he and his equally modest wife have brought up their two daughters well. His daughters are a reflection of him. For me, the way your offspring have turned out are the truest reflection of your achievements."

Well said, Amitabhji, we truly love your humility too.

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.