Confusion ... only in name

THE MALAYALAM film, "Meesai Madhavan" with Dileep in the lead did roaring business. So now you have "Meesai Madhavan" entering the Tamil fray. But strangely the Tamil version is not a remake of the Malayalam film of the same name. But it's still a remake. "Kabuliwalla," in Malayalam, made a decade ago, had Vineeth as its hero. The Tamil "Meesai Madhavan" is "Kabuliwalla" remade.

The director, S. Ramu, enters armed with the experience he has had as S. A. Chandrasekhar's assistant. The makers wanted Vivek and Vadivelu to play the comic parts.

It didn't work out and the platter has now been given to Thangaraj and Ilavarasu. `Kutty' Radhika who has had very little to do in Tamil after "Iyarkai" and "Varnajaalam," is the heroine.

The hero, Ramana, is actor Vijay Babu's son. It is his first Tamil film though he's already been working in Telugu. Since the story is more a comedy involving the happenings in a circus, the makers would naturally want it released this holiday season.

Sivasakthi Pandian's "Ramakrishna" has director Agathian returning after quite a while. After the super hit film "Kadhal Kottai" that catapulted Devyani to fame, Agathian made a couple of Tamil films including "Gokulathil Seethai" before he got busy with the Hindi version of his "Kadhal ... "

At a time when violence seems to rule the roost in cinema, "Ramakrishna" is set in a village where human relationships and values matter most. Jai Akash is a popular name in Telugu films. Heroine Sridevika is a debutant.

The success team of "Kadhal Kottai" — Sivasakthi Pandian, Agathiyan and composer Deva — comes together in "Ramakrishna." Whether the team will make it to the winning post once again, we'll soon know.

Cinematographer Ravivarman who won international recognition for his Malayalam film, "Santham" and who went on to do 16 films including the Amitabh Bachchan - Anil Kapoor film, "Armaan" is now all set to turn director. "Dhanam" (in Tamil) will be produced by Dhanu.

"I have known producer Dhanu for long. And when I met him at the airport one day he asked me if I had any idea of getting into direction. And that's how it all began," says Ravivarman.

Even in "Five Star," his first Tamil film as cameraman, Ravivarman revealed an urge to be different.

You see the same drive in this young man when he talks about direction.

"Giving a significant message in a commercial format, is my aim," says Ravi, who has also written the story, screenplay and dialogue.

He plans to take in a whole lot of new faces. That's mainly because we plan to go about it in a systematic way," he explains.

Beginning August a whole month will be dedicated to rehearsals so that time, money and film will not be wasted at the time of the actual shoot. And naturally only new faces can devote that much time for preparatory work.

"Dhanu has given me full freedom. I've worked on the script over and over again and polished it. I want to show that without the usual song and dance routine, a hero who is full of heroism or a heroine in the normally understood sense, you can make an entertainer that's gripping," Ravivarman winds up.