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February 12, 2005

Surya and Murugadas join hands for Gajini

Nope, that’s not Van Damme. Surya. Our Kakkha Kakkha Surya. Looks classy right. One more example that tamil cinema has come off age. Gajini to be directed by Murugadas is being starred by Surya and Asin(Hasin). Surya, the latest household name of Tamilnadu and Asin, the offlate dreambaby of Kollywood, is just a lovely combination for Murugadas to capture in Gajini.

From thursday, the city has been decorated with huge poster’s of Surya in a black winter cap, shot in three angles. Near panagal park, the huge banner displays Surya smoking with his hardboots, just like a cowboy action movie. Will defintely click it tomorow on my digicam.

This is Murugadoss’s third venture. Infact fourth, including the dropped venture of Mirattal (*ing Ajit). I loved his first flick, Dheena. Though Ramana, his second flick was impressive, was a little over-rated. Still, Murugadas is one of my beliefs in Kollywood and I firmly believe this dude is one of future pillars of Kollywood. I just couldn’t believe that Dheena was his first flick. Though it had a little slips in screenplay, was mostly engrossing, especially the romance between Ajith and Laila was well told, on-screen. If only he could make Gajini with the same class of Dheena and also Ramana, it would take him to heights.

[Pic : Vikatan.com]

Vikatan reports, that Gajini is an action movie with Surya as Sanjay Ramaswamy, one of the top 5 rich people in the world. There is more story told in the report. I have no clue why would they reveal so much of a movie even when it is pre-production stage. But then, it does increase the curiosity levels in the kollywood. Before Gajini releases we will have few flicks where the protagonist is one of the top 5 businessmen in the world, 1 of the top 5 beggars in the world, 1 of top 5 nutcracks in the world and so on. Murugadas will be astonished to see such co-incidence with his contemporaries. All due to this story leak even before the movie is shot. Follow, the Mani Ratnam stlye dudes. Make people wait for storyline and see the hype during the movie release.

Anyway, here’s wishing all the very best for the Gajini team.
February 12, 2005

Finally lazygeek.com

Bought lazygeek.com, finally, I mean finally, after a long long wait. Intially when I was looking for a domain two years back, lazygeek.com was booked by someone so I had to settle down with kirukkal.com. Then the domain got released but was locked by the registrar. I had to talk with the registrar and bought it for an inflated price. Thanks to enom for that.

If only IE never had a control+enter shortcut key for .com domains, .com would never be felt as the lovable single child of internet domains. Other domains are now made to look as orphans. I am prey to that shortcut key.

For time being, I’m planning to re-direct lazygeek.com to the current site [kirukkal.com] itself. You don’t have change bookmarks from your blog at all. To do a permanent switch, I am searching for tools that can change the links on this blog and repoint appropriately to lazygeek.com. Do let me know if you are aware of such tools.
February 12, 2005

Blogging, Mark Jen and Termination

With all the hungama swirling around, Mark Jen chose to talk yesterday about his termination from Google. Mark Jen’s termination came from his blog posts relating to Google’s financial information and future products. Though he took them out when he realised it was classified, it was all over.

From Mark’s entry on his blog, Ninenty Nine Zeros,

i was just too excited. i felt like i was joining a small start-up family; i thought i was going to start new initiatives and improve existing ones; i thought i could jump in the deep end and immerse myself in the revolutionary development environment; i thought i could make connections to real people in the outside world and get first hand feedback; i thought google would love it. i thought wrong.

Personally, I think Google should have given him a chance but then their recent IPO and their quarter offerings have made analysts sensitive to any information about them. And Google probably wanted to show their stand on blogging-about-work policy. It’s definetly shocking for this news came from a company that promotes the number one blogging software, Blogger.

After all, didn’t some one say, Google after the IPO isn’t the same venture capitalists funded company run by a couple of young dudes who love technology, as it was a couple of years back. Now, they are answerable to their share holders and those who have stakes in them. We are getting to see that coming right.
February 11, 2005

Ashokamitran – 50 years with the pen

[Pic : SALRP]

Ashokamitran, the writer’s writer, has a simple elegant style of writing. Be it a social novel, a movie review or a commentary on various contemporary issues, he writes without any pretence or exaggerations. So if you are reading a Ashokamitran article you can be rest assured that there are no play of words.

Being with Kannayazhi magazine for a long time, Ashokamitran’s contributions to the tamil literary world is higher than what’s known. Now after 50 years, since he started his invaluable writing career, Kadavu Literary circle and Kizhakku Pathippagam are celebrating it as a gala festival, tomorrow [12th Feb 2005]. Kizhakku Pathippagam recent released compilations of Ashokamitran’s Shortstories and Columns during the recent Chennai Book Fair.

Ashokamitran 50 happens at Film Chamber hall, Anna Salai. Time – 6:30 pm on 12th February 2005.

Sundara Ramaswamy talks about the short stories of Ashokamitran, Gnana Koothan on Ashokamitran columns, I.Ra. Venkatachalapathy on the novels and Paal Sakkariya about the translations of Ashokamitran. There is also a screening of Amshan Kumar’s short film on Ashokamitran. Check out Badri‘s tamil weblog for more.

Being a big time fan of Ashokamitran‘s writings, I love to be there. It is for sure that I may not be able to make it. Blame my friend to have his marriage tomorrow at the same time. I am sure Chenthil and Ramnath, fellow bloggers and fans of Ashokamitran would be there to give me an update.
February 8, 2005

Anniyan’ji’, Where is Mumbai Xpress ?

Tata Telefilms ties up with Sivaji Films on the Chandramukhi marketing. The similar effort by Pepsi for Rajini’s BABA which costed nearly 25 lakhs(?). 75,000 Sq Ft of hoarding space in Chennai alone. I never heard anything like this. the biggest effort until now was for Kamal Hassan‘s Aalavandan. Pity the Chennai traffic.

Did watch Lingusaamy-Ajith’s Ji trailer on the cable. Gripping and ofcourse there is Trisha. But we need to wait and see if Lingusaamy can strike hatrick. If he can it might prove to be a moral booster for Ajith. Pray Ajith Pray.

Kollywood’s summer releases are set to be out by April 14th. There is illayraja [Mumbai Xpress], Harris Jayaraj [Anniyan] and Vidyasagar [Chandramukhi]. None except Chandrmukhi have announced music release dates. End of February would be right time to release soundtrack and allow the music to sink in. Are they listening ?

Watch Anniyan while it’s still on the sets.

Mayaavi is set to release on 25th Feb. Produced by Bala’s B Studios and starred by Surya-Jothika, it could possibly keep theatres enagaged until the summer release films. If only proves to be a laugh riot, nothing like it.

Page 3 people on the premiere of Bhansali’s Black.

Surya and Murugadas join hands for Gajini

Finally lazygeek.com

Blogging, Mark Jen and Termination

Ashokamitran – 50 years with the pen

Anniyan’ji’, Where is Mumbai Xpress ?