However the script penned by A K Sajan, had got sturdier recently, and that was why the film has been announced now, adds the director.

The film would tell the story of village boy who rises to international fame through the game and how he lands in trouble with the match fixing mess. However the film would end positively, says the makers. The cast and crew of the film are being finalized.

‘Ginger’ is Shaji Kaias’ second film in succession with Jayaram after ‘Madirasi’, and is expected to be a comic caper.

Rajesh Jayaraman would script the film that will have Muktha George playing the female lead.

Jayaram says that ‘Madirasi’ was a film that was profitable for the producers even before the dubbing of the film was completed. And this is exactly why the producer had decided to shoot another film ‘Ginger’ with the same team, adds Jayaram.

‘Madirasi’ that was directed by Shaji Kailas, however had managed to earn negative reviews all over, and had not made much of an impact on the audience either.

Nowrunning says that perhaps Kailas should not have reinvented himself: “I had always felt that Shaji Kailas needed to rediscover himself, especially after those recent action potboilers of his that had made us root for cable TV. But now, after ‘Madirasi’, I seriously have doubts and second thoughts about the reinvention idea.”

Rediff terms it as stale: “Rajesh Jayaraman’s script is weird; it does not give the actors any chance to do anything fresh. It has much in common with the M Padmakumar directed Thiruambady Thamban, with Jayaram in the lead, released just a few months ago.

Sify calls it below average: “Madirasi is perhaps not meant to be taken too seriously, even as a film. Go for a walk and it could be a more useful effort than going for this farcical exercise.”

]]> http://www.balconybeats.com/2012/malayalam-films/madirasi-2012-malayalam-movie-review-aggregator/feed 0 http://www.balconybeats.com/2012/actors/no-plans-to-make-a-narasimham-again-shaji-kailas http://www.balconybeats.com/2012/actors/no-plans-to-make-a-narasimham-again-shaji-kailas#comments Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:15:27 +0000 balconybeats http://www.balconybeats.com/?p=13899 Director Shaji Kailas is a changed man these days. The action film director who had created such gigantic hits like ‘Narasimham’ and ‘Aaraam Thamburan’ just to mention a few feels that he would not be making films like those any more.

Shaji Kailas says that several people approach him to recreate such films again, but adds that he is simply not interested. He would like to experiment with a different kind of a cinema now.

The director has been going through a lean patch lately, especially after several of his recent films bombed at the box office. His latest film ‘Madirasi’ starring Jayaram in the lead role, is ready for release.

The film was expected to grace the screens by October 2012, but the release has been postponed since the film has run into legal trouble. The light-camera unit of the film, has approached the court reportedly, citing payment issues.

‘Madirasi’ stars Jayaram, Meghna Raj and Meera Nandan in the lead roles. Shaji Kailas however has brushed aside the rumors, and says that the film will be out by the end of this month.

Apparently, Jayaram was so much impressed by Shaji Kailas’s comic flair in ‘Madirasi’, that the actor had readily agreed to star in ‘Ginger’ as well. ‘Ginger’ would be scripted by Rajesh Jayaraman.

Shaji Kailas, who is going through the leanest patch in his career as yet, with almost all his films in the past few years turning out to be duds at the box office, has pinned his hopes on ‘Madirasi’. The film would make it to the theatres pretty soon.

This film is an action thriller and will have major actresses doing the lead roles. Renji Panicker is currently busy scripting the film.

Shaji Kailas revealed that the pre-production work of ‘Penn’ would start soon, once the shoot of his new film ‘Madirasi’ is complete. ‘Madirasi’ has Jayaram in the lead role, along with Meera Nandan and Meghna Raj.

Aishwarya Devan

BB: At the outset, a word of appreciation is due to you Aishwarya! I’d seen ‘Simhasanam’ in the theatres yesterday, and I should say you have done a good job! Congratulations!

Aishwarya: Thank you so much!

BB: Where are you basically from? Are you a Malayali, by any chance?

Aishwarya: Yes! I’m basically a Malayali, but have been settled in Bangalore for a very long time. My mom hails from Shornur, and my dad’s from Bangalore.

BB: How did films happen to you?

Aishwarya: I was busy pursuing my studies, when I was offered my first film. I was in the twelfth grade, to be precise.

BB: As much as this one happens to be a clichéd question, let me ask you this. Have you been fascinated by films all the while?

Aishwarya: Oh yes! I have always wanted to be in films, and have been quite attracted towards modeling and movies, right from the start. I should say I have been quite fortunate that I find myself today where I have always wanted to be!

BB: Which was your first movie? Could you tell us a little bit about it?

Aishwarya: I made my debut through a Telugu movie ‘Keratam’. I was paired with Siddharth Rajkumar, who was also being launched into films through this movie. It was directed by Gautham Patnaik, brother of music director RP Patnaik. The film made it to the theatres last year.

BB: We also heard that you have done a couple of Tamil films already! Now that is quite an achievement!

Aishwarya: Yes! My first Tamil film was of course ‘Yuvan’, which was the Tamil remake of the Kannada film ‘Josh’. I am also doing another film ‘Kandupidi Kandupidi’ that has been directed by Rama Subburaman. It’s a crime thriller that has Seeman, Murali and Tharun Kshatriya in key roles.

BB: How did the ‘Simhasanam’ offer come your way?

Aishwarya: Diphan Sir, renowned Malayalam film director, happens to be a very good friend of mine. He happened to see my pictures on Facebook, and was impressed. It was him, who introduced me to Shaji Kailas, who was on the lookout for a heroine for ‘Simhasanam’.

BB: ‘Simhasanam’, from the looks and sound of it, must have struck you as a film that is bound to be all about muscles and clout. Were you comfortable with the thought of doing a female lead in a male-dominated scenario as this?

Aishwarya: I do accept that it’s an action film, but I was glad that there was ample scope for the women characters to perform in it. Being a high voltage action film, I’m delighted that I could do what I have done in ‘Simhasanam’.

BB: The Malayali audience got to see you first in the ‘Omaya Omaya’ song that has turned out to be a hit. Tell us about your experience of working with Prithviraj.

Aishwarya: It was absolutely fantastic! Prithvi is very friendly and downright cooperative. He never even for a moment, made me feel that I was working with such a big star! He was very helpful, and I should say that I had a great time working with him.

BB: At the moment, you are busy with the Tamil version of the Malayalam film ‘Traffic’. Have you seen the original film? Which is the role that you would be playing in the Tamil film?

Aishwarya: Oh yes! I have watched the Malayalam film, and really loved it. I play the character that was played by Roma in the Malayalam version. I’m greatly excited to be a part of ‘Naangu Vazhi Salai’.

BB: I’d say you are extremely lucky to have been able to work in three major film industries down South – Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. As an actor, what are the major differences that you have observed between the three?

Aishwarya: I’d say there are no differences as such between these three industries. I guess it all depends on one’s outlook; the way you look at them. As for me, I have barely started out, and I should say that I am very fortunate to have been able to work with such huge names in the industry, be it stars like Prithviraj or directors like Shaji Kailas. In ‘Naangu Vazhi Salai’, I get to be in a film that has such great actors as Sarath Kumar and Prakash Raj in it. Great film makers, actors and scripts; I’m tremendously privileged to be working with them.

BB: Tell me the actor whom you are dying to work with!

Aishwarya: (laughs) I was dying to work with Prithviraj, and I did get to work with him in ‘Simhasanam’! And yes, I’d love to work with Mammootty, Mohanlal and Jayaram!

 BB: Who is it that you have in your mind that you would like to model your work and career on?

Aishwarya: I admire Shobhana maam a lot, and I adore the way she lends life to the characters that she plays on screen. I’d really like to leave a mark in the film industry, like she has done!

BB: If I asked you to describe the kind of person that you are in a couple of sentences, what would you tell me?

Aishwarya: I am absolutely passionate about acting. Every day I find myself willing to explore my potentials as an actress. I have wanted to act and be in films for as long as I can remember. I feel I have finally come to the right place; I belong here.

 BB: Thanks much Aishwarya! It was a pleasure talking to you!

Aishwarya: Thank You!

Nowrunning says that this rehash is a bit too difficult to digest: “Half way through the film, on seeing Madhavan’s entire entourage coming up his driveway, Ramanunni sighs and shakes his head! “The same old story…,” he mutters. Yes Sir, we are all in agreement with you there! It’s the very same old story, and it bores us to death.”

Sify calls it below average: “The film doesn’t work because it’s hard to empathize with any of the characters and the lead actors fail to rise above the flawed script. When DVDs of old blockbusters are available and when those classic scenes and dialogues are being aired on TV, do we need a hotchpotch of it all? It’s a mystery how films like this get made.”

The release of the film was postponed once earlier. The film was expected to release in July, but was postponed to August due to the non-availability of theatres.

Aishwarya Devan and Vandana Menon play the female leads in the film that has been scripted by the director himself. The film is expected to put an end to the rough patch that Shaji Kailas has been going though for a while.