"I don't care about rumours anymore"

Just when everyone thought he had bid goodbye to films and found his calling in the food business, Tollywood’s original lover boy Tarun came right back. And this time, he’s sporting a brand new look to suit his glam role in V.N. Aditya’s next film where he is paired opposite Vimla Raman.Is this new avatar minus a moustache an attempt to resurrect his sagging career?

“It’s just a coincidence,” he says, adding, “I have sported a moustache in all my movies so far. I recently shaved it off and all my friends liked it. Luckily, it suits my role in this flick where I play a chilled out VJ who works for a Telugu channel abroad.”

Tarun is quick to point out that he’s not reached a dead end in his career yet. “I may not have had major hits to boast of in the recent past, but that doesn’t mean my films were box office duds. In fact, my film Sashirekha Parinayam did well,” he quips. Justifying the thanda roles he’s been doing of late, Tarun says that the success of a film depends on the script. “no matter how choosy one is, the fate of a project just can’t be predicted sometimes. When you listen to the script, it sounds alright, but the end result may not turn out that way. There are some movies which we think will do well at the box office, but they bomb. There are other films which are not expected to do all that well, but they go on to become blockbusters. It’s all part of the game,” he adds philosophically.

While he may have given us memorable hits like Nuvve Kavali and Nuvve Nuvve, variety clearly isn’t Tarun’s forte. And he blames his cliched image in T’wood to these very hits. “It’s not that I don’t want to do different roles. These are the only scripts that are coming my way and I have to choose from what I get. I didn’t consciously make an effort to work on my romantic hero tag. The roles I did in my initial films were such big hits that directors who make romcoms think of me first. The good part however, is that anyone between six and 60 can enjoy my movies, so I’m not complaining.”

Celeb blogs have been writting about Aarti Agarwal's visit to Tarun's restraunt ON and that both of them are patching up. A few other Film nagar rumour mills are spreading news that he is gone underground. Ask him howhe reacts to all these rumours about his personal life?

"I used to party a lot before. Since the past 40 days I have not been in the town and was travelling for shooting. So, I was not seen. Perhaps, this is why they wrote saying I have gone underground. They have been writting about me and Aarti for a long time. Infact I was not even in the town when these blogs wrote that Aarti met me at 'ON'. There is no truth in those rumours. We have not been in touch for quite some time. When such rumours come up, it is very irritating. Fortunately, my parents have been in the industry for long and so they know none of those rumours are true.There has never been a bad scenario at home because of the rumours. It is a part ofthe profession I am in and I don't care about rumours anymore" he reveals.

Becoming an entrepreneur and launching his own nightclub were dreams he always nurtured. Unfortunately, people read too much into it, he says, adding, “I didn’t get into business because I lacked film offers. I am proud to have my own place to chill out at.”

Season of folk songs in Tollywood

Tired of anglicised lyrics and inane rap sequences, the local audiences are ditching ‘Tenglish’ songs. Instead, they are swaying to traditional folk songs that have become a norm in every Tollywood flick now. After the folk numbers like Gajuvaka Pilla and Maayadari Maisammo rocked the charts a few years ago, a series of folk tunes are back with a bang again. From Em Pillado Eldham Osthava from Magadheera to Enduke Ravanamma from the yet-to-be-released Bumper Offer, mana Hyderabadis can’t stop grooving to rural beats.



Puri Jagannath, the producer of Bumper Offer feels the USP of folk music is that it is “evergreen” and can make anyone break into a jig. “The ‘dappu’ beats, as they are called, are extremely catchy and foot-tapping. One can’t help but dance. Even if it is not strictly a folk song, a mix of both traditional and contemporary beats are a hit with the multiplex audience.”
Highlighting everything from recession and the price hikes to corruption and civic problems, the lyrics of these folk-style songs don’t just make you hum along, but also gives you food for thought.
Director Krishna Vamsi who has two folk songs in his latest release Mahatma, says, “Western music is like restaurant food. It is exotic and we can eat it once in a while. Folk music on the other hand is like home-cooked food, everyone relates to it.”

For the past few years, with lack of such catchy local songs, Hyderabadis have been dancing to hits like Appidi Podu and other Tamil folk songs. The current lot of songs has filled this gap, feels K.M. Radhakrishnan, a music director.

“If one song is a hit, other composers follow suit. After the success of Magadheera’s folksy music, songs that have simple yet powerful lyrics, coupled with fast-paced beats have become the norm. Folk music not just makes the audience tap their feet, but it forces them to stand up and dance.”


Filmmakers are also betting on the songs to draw the crowds to the theatres. Senior music director Chakri, says, “Movies become a hit only thanks to the mass audience. Even if movie sequences allow the introduction of a folk song, we can always include it as an ‘item number.”

Local locations win over Foreign streets

In Telugu movies, it just takes the hero and heroine to lock their eyes to go abroad and dance for on a duet. Call it new phase in Telugu cinema or changing taste of the audience, the number of movies shooting songs within the country are up on the rise. Directors now prefer making their actors run around trees in ' Konaseema' to dancing on random streets in snow drizzling European streets.

While a few film makers claim they want to shoot in Kerala, Coastal Andhra or anywhere in our own country because it is 'realistic' for the story, a few others claim shooting abroad is only to suffice the ego of the director orthe hero of the movie. There are a few movies where the hero who is supposedly poor in the movie and the heroine who is a daughter of a rich father and yet they dance abroad for a duet.
Film makers claim that the current lot of 'aware' audience don't take such unrealistic songs. "I shot the song 'Nilampuri Gajula' for ' Mahatma' in Allepy on a boat.It doesn't make sense for a story where a local goon turns noble, to go abroad and romance his girl. Most of the songs in the movies I make are shot within the country. We have a huge topological diversity to exploit. Besides, I am comfortable shooting within the country because I know the culture, the colours, the locations here. People will laugh atmy movie if I go abroad and shoot a song for a story which has nothing to do with a foreign country" says director Krishna Vamsi.


Interestingly, last year, two movies 'Astachamma' and 'Gamyam' which were shot with exotic locales of Coastal Andhra became added advantage to these movies. Mahi the producer of ' Village Lo Vinayakudu' a movie shot completely in East Godavari district says shooting a song abroad only shows lack of content in the cinema.
"I don't see any reason why the songs should be shot abroad unless the story is something like 'Pardes' or about NRI community living there. If there is no content in the movie or to satisify the ego of the hero or director, they go abroad, show the locations and try to make up for it. Maniratnam who is the star director never went abroad to shoot any song and yet managed to bag the most number of superhits in his career. My movie is all about village. To make the village a little more pleasant and poetic, we shot it at Rajolu in our own state" .

Senior film maker Aswini Dutt says the current trend is a part of the cycle. His movie 'Banam' which released recently was completely shot in Araku Valley and admist coconut trees of Kerala.

"A few years Telugu film makers shot in Ooty, then there was craze forMahabaleswar. When they were bored of it, they moved to Kulu-Manali. Since the past 10 years shooting abroad has become rampant.Perhaps now the trend is to shoot in our own locations and it will stay for sometime. For a story like 'Banam' which we produced, it looks weird for a hero with limited means of income to romance a heroine on foreign locations. Audience have become intelligent and we can't take them for granted. If it is a mass hero, then we will shoot abroad as their huge fans might still want to watch it. We can take liberty on locations when it comes to big heroes. But now saturation point has come fordancing on foreign streets" he claims.

Interestingly, producers say it costs them lesser to shoot abroad than within our own country because if it is here, the whole crew of about 60 people need to travel, where as if it is a song sequence abroad, three songs can be shot in ten days with lesser number of people.

MohanVadlapatla, producer of ' Kalavaramaye Madhilo' says though it costs lesser to shoot abroad than within our own country, cost of productionis very low if we shoot in our own state as it doesn't cost much for travel.He says the stories that are being filmed these days don't require a foriegn travel which is also the reason for avoiding foriegn shoots. His movie Kalavaramaye Madhilo had songs shot in Munnar.


"Shooting in Kerala is expensive than shooting abroad. It costs a bombfor shooting location in Munnar, Kodaikanal etc. Shooting in foreignlocation is cheaper because we take lesser crew with us, there are tourpackages and shooting location is free of cost. However, there seems tobe an increase in shooting within because, dancing on the roads ofother countries doesn't go well with the theme of the stories being filmed these days. Shooting within AP is cheaper again. No other country can boost of greenery like us. I am going to shoot my next movie completely in Coastal Andhra districts and other parts of the state." says Mohan.

Mahatma in storm of controversies

A case has been lodged against the producer of the Telugu movie Mahatma for not displaying the censor rating given by the Censor Board on the movie’s posters and promotions.The movie is directed by Krishna Vamsi and features actor Srikanth.On Thursday, Mr Hanumantha Rao, vice-president of an NGO, filed a case under cinematography Act 1952 at the Moghalpura Police station for not displaying the U/A rating given by the board on the movie’s posters and hoardings.


“Movies released recently don’t display the Censor Board’s rating as it is likely to discourage parents from taking their children to the movie. Not displaying the rating is a cognisable and non-bailable offence,” Mr Hanumantha Rao said.
Meanwhile, the Bajrang Dal staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma movie office at Filmnagar, demanding the director to delete a scene in the movie where the hero beats up Hindu activists for moral policing a couple at a park. Bajrang Dal issued a 24-hour deadline to the director to delete the scene as “ it hurts the sentiments of the Hindu community”.

Earlier, the film’s producer, Mr C.R. Manohar, had to deposit Rs 50,000 in the High Court this week after a writer, A. Lakshman, filed a case, claiming the song from his album, Neelampuri Gajulu, was used in the movie. The movie’s release was also delayed as the Censor Board had asked the director to delete the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the song, Indiramma Inti Peru Kadhu ra Gandhi.

The producer, Mr C.R. Manohar, said the scenes in the movie were not intended to hurt any community. He said he will hold talks with the people who have objections to scenes in the movie.

“Through the scene where the hero beats up activists who were moral policing a couple at a park, we are giving a message to youngsters to be in their limits,” he said. Mr Manohar also said he had bought the rights to the song in question by paying the writer a huge remuneration.

"Money doesn't matter to me"

Telugu audience who saw her in 'Amma Nana O Tamil Ammayi' and in 'Shivamani', surely must not have expected that the 'Kerala Kutty' with those innocent looks would one day become a contendor for the numero uno post among Bollywood divas. Asin Thottumkal whose career graph is on the upper trend with her Bollywood debut 'Ghazini' turning out to be one of the biggest hits ever, is now turning heads yet again for her upcoming movie 'London dreams' in which she is starring with Salman Khan and Ajay Devagan. Asin says she was referred to as 'Chennai express' by Salman in this movie and it brought back the memories of shooting for 'Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi' .

"Its been quite a journey I must say. Whenever Salman called me 'Chennai express' in London dreams, I got those flashes from Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi where Ravi Teja calls me 'Ae Chennai' says this actress with a nostalgic feeling ,who recently shot a commercial too with cricketer Dhoni. Asin who got to work with Amir Khan in her first movie has Salman to romance with in her second Bollywood movie. Is Sharukh going to be the next one from theKhandom to act with her?

"I also did a commercial with Saif Ali Khan. I don't know if I will get to work with Sharukh. I just hope so" she laughs adding that it was 'fun' working with Salman Khan and Ajay Devagan whom she says have come across to her as ' down to earth', 'friendly' and 'warm' actors.

" I think when we work with actors senior to us, the onus is on them to make us feel comfortable. While shooting for 'London dreams', I got to know Salman and Ajay Devagan personally and as friends. We used to have lunches and dinner together. They were not those actors who would retire themselves to their vantiy vans and come out only when they had their shot ready. They shared a few funny experiences of their career and made the whole atmosphere very lively." says Asin who will appear in her upcoming movie as a NRI girl.

Asin claims that she is not in the industry to make money out of her success but chooses movies which she is 'comfortable' with and likes to be a part of, which iswhy this long gap after Ghazini."I am not the type of actor who makes hay while Sun Shines. Just because my first movie is a hit, I don't chose any script that comes my way. I don't like to do toomany movies for the sake of making use of current success and then wait for mymovies to be successful. For me making money is not at all the criteria. I was waiting for a project I would love to be a part of. Ghazini was a remake of my ownSouth Indian movie. I wanted to do an out and out Bollywood movie which has a good combination of interesting script, my role, talented director, potential producer and professional star cast." she says.

With Bollywood going gaga over her and oppurtunities pouring in, Tollywood which gave her career a facelift is of the impression that she will not act in Telugu any more. But Asin rubbishes them as 'misconceptions'."It is a wrong conception that I will not act in Telugu anymore. Language has never been a criteria for me. If I get the interesting combination of all the parameters I look out for in choosing a cinema, I will take it up irrespective of which language it is. I never blocked of any industry. Just because I am doing Hindi, I don't give up Telugu and if something intersting comes my way, I will take it up for sure" she quips diplomatically.

Asin says since she is the first Mallu girl to become a star in Bollywood, she is being looked upon as a 'pioneer' in South India and her home state. She says her first movie turning out to be a blockbuster has sort of created hysteria in South more so because her success has come after a long time only after Sridevi.

"Its been a while after Sridevi who is established as South Indian went to northand earned success. I feel like I stepped on moon like Niel Armstrong. Its a fabulous feeling and I am sure I have the support of South Indians and their prayers are with me." says Asin who 'misses ' South India.

"I really miss South India. Its home and an atmosphere which I am familiar with.Its been a while I could even travel to Hyderabad. I will grab any oppurtunity that comes my way to come to the city. In South, I feel lot more closer to our people"While she is basking in the glory of success, controversies too have been a part of her success package. Mumbai press has been writing in that the actress import screw from Kerala to assist her and that her dad over interferes in her career.However the actress terms these allegations as the brainchild of crazy north Indian press.

"When I used to work in South Indian films, I never had this problem. There is an iota of truth in what media writes in South Indian states. But in Mumbai, people just sit in their office and write whatever they feel like about me and then ask me to clarify on that. Its just crazy and I am yet to understand the way media functions in Bollywood. I never got any crew from Kerala. I always relied on the staff my director provides me. Those who worked with me know these facts. When I was doing South Indian films, my dad was doubling up as my manager since there aren't many PR managers to handle your affairs there. But in Mumbai there are alot of PR agencies and hence now my dad is relieved on this burden of handling my career. Bollywood media writes whatever they like without even making an effort to get in touch with me" says the actress who finds no difference in the way any film industry works.

Observors can't get over the fact that the actress has changed her look as she went north and now looks more stylish. Asin laughs it off and claims it is just progression and learning in course of time.

"I was just 14 years old when I signed my first movie. I don't have a film background .Unlike many who go to grooming classes and come out as finished products, I have learnt it all myself. As movies progress, I learnt and perhaps when I see myself an year from now, I might cringe at what I did. As the number of movies increase, I understood my profession better.I think thats a good thing and it shows growth" she signs off with Asin mark smile.

Branding saves Tollywood big bucks

While product placements and branding in films is an old trend in Bollywood, Tollywood is soon catching up in a big way . Telugu film industry trade pundits estimate that over 20 per cent of the movies made in the industry have either in-film branding or post film branding that saves the producers any where between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 70 lakh on a movie's budget .


In fact, its no more just a strategic placement of brand in movie scenes, but whole movies are being funded by brands and many producers don't spend a penny on production. A classic example to this trend is the upcoming film 'Village Lo Vinayakudu' which is one of the lowest budget films made with Rs 1.39 crore. The film makers roped in about 12 brands to be a part of this film. While a retail store took care of the costumes, AP Tourism department managed the locations, an FM radio station and a private news channel to take care of promotions, a telecom service provider to provide hoardings, print adverts, standees, posters and are even giving away a free sim card with every audio CD, an animation studio gave free 3D animationfor the movie there by saving huge money for the producer. The producer claims that he has not spent a single pie from his pocket for the movie.

"We got around 12 brands, the primary objective is to leverage on each other strengths and create value addition for both the parties. I sold the overseas rights of the movie well in advance that gave me some cash to pay remuneration to the star cast. The rest of the movie is all taken care of by our brand partners. In all, our movie saved about Rs 60 lakhs due to branding without compromising on the quality of the film" says Mahi, the producer of Village Lo Vinayakudu.


While a few film makers include dialogues and songs with the mention of brands,a few of them show the stores or brands in the movie. Interestingly, a few automobile firms also supply their vehicles to be used in chasing scenes, a few TVchannels pay huge money to the film makers to ensure the hero works for their channel in the movie, a few telecom service providers will offer free download of movie ring tones in exchange to the heroine visiting their store in the movie. It is now a trend in Tollywood to have a partner for everything that goes into making a film be it costumes, promotions and locations.


Sreedhar Reddy, the director of upcoming movie Snehageetham says he saved Rs 30 lakh on his movie, thanks to branding. " A retail store sponsored us costumes, an animation firm managed graphics, a telecom operator and an electronic goods retail store tied up with us for sharing hoarding space and a film web site, radio station and a private entertainment channel to handle the promotions of the movie. In all I could save about Rs 30 lakh on the movie. We included two dialogues which has the mention of the brand that sponsored us costumes. This kind of branding which is mutually beneficial is soon catching up in the industry." Reddy says.

Ravi Kumar Panasa, the executive producer of the upcoming movie 'Fruits Salad' in which there is a song which mentions the name of a retail stores agrees that, in-film branding is gradually catching up and that the business community is interested in branding films of top actors like Ram Charan, Prabhas, Ravi Teja ,Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and Allu Arjun. A few brands give cash to the producer forusing their brands while a few others give their products to be used in the movie. In turn, the film makers are choosing to release their audio at the brand stores oractors to go for luck draw and other business promotional events at the stores.

"Corporate houses certainly know the importance of branding in films, especially those in which big actors are cast. If its a movie of a big star, then the producer can easily save about Rs 50 lakh due to branding in the movie" he says.

Sravanti Ravikishore, a senior film maker claims that producers can save huge amount due to in-film branding than that of post film branding."We had a tie up with a mobile retail store and a telecom operator who shared ourhoarding space. We got about 40 hoardings free of cost due to this across the state.This is post film release branding. But we can save a lot of money with in-filmbranding. If its a huge budget movie, producer can even save Rs 1 crore due tobranding in the movies" Ravikishore claims.

'Stylists' the new entrants in Tollywood titles

Gone are the Tollywood days of garish costumes, sidey hairdos and pathetic make-up. Thanks to the influx of professional stylists in the film industry, tinseltown stars have bid their final goodbyes to their bad hair days and fashion faux pas. From picking the right costumes and accessories to suggesting the right look for the film, actors are finally hiring stylists to do the job and no one is complaining.

Ashwin Mawle, the stylist for Allu Arjun’s Arya-2, says, “Telugu movies are popular not just in the state, but are now fast being remade into Hindi. Filmmakers are emphasising a lot on the the actors’ look and the clothing budget of films have doubled. They are even ready to shop for the actors’ costumes abroad, there is no compromise now.”

Kim Anand, a “character stylist” who is responsible for the stylish look of the cast of Gamyam, couldn’t agree more. “We are not like costume designers who just get clothes and alter them to suit the star. We keep in mind the actor’s personality, body language, character and image before styling him/her. In Gamyam, I made Sharwanand sport kohl under his eyes, which gave him a raw, earthy look and it became very popular.”


These stylists don’t just work their magic onscreen. Before heading out for film functions and public events or even local pubs, stars consult their stylists. Deepa Chander, who styled Anushka in Arundhati and Junior NTR in Kantri and is now working on three films, says,


“There was not much respect for stylists in the industry earlier, but now, filmmakers have realised the importance of hiring someone professional to style their actors. Since we shape the image of the stars, we are now an integral part of script narrating sessions too. We help bring the director’s vision to reality.”
Actors who swear by their stylists, even take them along when they head out shopping. Actor Shraddha Das says, “Be it at shoots or outside, I don’t step out without consulting my stylist. Anyone who watches my next movie will know what the world of difference a professional stylist can do to your image.” Actor Sanjana agrees heartily.

“When I go shopping, I end up buying just jeans and a few shirts and stick to my comfort zone. But my stylist helps me break all such notions and experiment more. In fact, stylists from Mumbai do all my shopping for me.

Charmee was easy fodder for gossip: Krishna Vamsi

No stranger to controversy, director Krishna Vamsi has always made news for all the wrong reasons. Many of his hard-hitting movies on sensitive subjects have caused communal conflicts in parts of AP as well. The director has managed to rouse the rabble once again with his latest flick Mahatma, for its song Indiramma inti peru kadhu ra Gandhi. The lyrics of the song, based on the Mahatma’s principles, imply that Gandhi is not just the name of Indira Gandhi’s household.


The censor board, which has objected to the lyrics, has instructed Krishna Vamsi to remove the reference to the former Prime Minister from the song. While critics insist that this is just a publicity stunt, the director feels otherwise. “I don’t think controversies help my movies. I don’t need publicity. I make movies to entertain and educate. I ensure that all my movies have a message. In the song in Mahatma, I wanted to convey that Gandhi is not just the surname of Indira Gandhi or the name of a street. It is the name of the great leader whom we’ve forgotten. The censor board felt that people with vested interests might interpret it wrongly. So, I have removed the reference,” he clarifies.


The director is also receiving flak from producers for throwing starry airs. It is alleged that he demands more money than a Tollywood actor. To this Vamsi says, “When directors are responsible for the fate of films, why shouldn’t they be paid well? Moreover, producers are not stupid. They give directors remuneration only according to their worth.”

Controversies continue to hound Krishna Vamsi even in his personal life. A lot has been written about the director’s alleged affair with actress Charmee and his failed marriage with actress Ramyakrishna. Krishna Vamsi, however says he has stopped taking these rumours seriously.

“I can only laugh at them. Some have even used the fact that Charmee stars in most of my films as a testimony to our affair! It’s ridiculous. I also cast Prakash Raj, Lakshmi and Uttej, apart from Charmee. But since Charmee is easy fodder for gossip, she became the convenient target,” he says adding that he and his wife have stopped paying attention to such speculations.“ Ramya loves and trusts me and since she is from the industry, she is used to such rumours. We both are very happy with each other,” he adds.

I get bored very soon:Ram

Unlike the usual Tollywood releases surrounded by hype, Ram’s debut was a relatively silent affair. There was no fan-fare, no extravagant audio launches and no promotional gimmicks.

Yet, Ram, who stands out in the crowd of Tollywood star kids, managed to win critical acclaim with his very first film. Five films later, the young lad who is content with the response his film Ganesh has been getting, is a hit with the youngsters. But critics are not that kind and feel the actor is already stuck in a rut, with his last three films being romantic comedies.


“While Ready was a family entertainer with 40 characters, Maska is a love story. My second film Jagadam was an offbeat film and it won me much acclaim. I ensure that every role I play gives me scope to perform as an actor,” justifies Ram who is all set to play a “different” role in Dil Raju’s next film.“In Rama Rama Krishna Krishna, I am playing a lad from rural background, something I haven’t done before. I get bored fast and I would like to take up scripts that challenge me. I don’t belong to any particular camp nor do I have a Godfather here to watch my back. I attribute all my success to hard work,” says Ram.


The 21-year-old however, reveals that Telugu films were not always on his agenda. “I wanted to enter the Tamil film industry first as I’m am fluent in the language. But my uncle who is a Telugu filmmaker, insisted that I debut in a Telugu film. If things go well, I soon plan to act in Tamil movies and multilinguals,” he says.


Known for his slick dressing sense, Ram is one actor who gives his Tollywood counterparts, who are not exactly known for their sartorial sense, a run for their money. Both onscreen and off it, he has made many style statements. “I am particular about what I wear and how I look when I make public appearances. I don’t hire stylists to put my look together as I enjoy shopping for my own costumes for the movies I do. I’m also involved in all my photoshoots too,” he says.