"Let me do this, as well" - Taking up a new role

Now the latest in the bandwagon is Jothika.

Don't be mislead that she is going to do an item number in 'Sivaji'. Definitely she is not going to scare us with such a move and Shankar may not take such a drastic decision.

She is jumping into the truck load of Actors/Actresses who turned to production for good or bad. The latest buzz news of the week is that she is co-producing a tamil thriller, along with Ram Gopal Varma. Surya might be roped in to do the lead role. What is she trying to prove here? That, she is a versatile person with a lot of other abilities!!! Aasai yaara vittadhu...

However, actresses cannot be underestimated in this area of donning a new role. There were so many actresses equalling the actors abilities in producing movies. Since the Financiers are ready to finance movies based on 'kandhu' vatti (abnormal interests), our artistes don't bother about the new role which they try to play. However, the past records show that only some have clicked in their new role as producers. Most of them realise the mistake only after burning their fingers.

I am not going too much into yester year artistes, who had produced couple of movies.

MGR was rumoured to be behind RM.Veerappan's Satya Movies for a long time. I am not sure about the facts behind it. Still he produced couple of movies under his own banner 'MGR Pictures' like 'Nadodi Mannan', 'Ulagum Sutrum Vaaliban' etc., (incidentally both were directed by him). His touch is always a magical 'Midas' touch. Everybody knows.

Sivaji's own production house survived several crisis thru out its existence. I couldn't recall his own earlier movies, eventhough I could follow the trail from 'Vetri Vizha'-'Mannan' -'Rajakumaran' to 'Chandramukhi'. With 'CM' the fortunes have been revived recently for the production house. Whether they will sustain this revival or not, is a big question? It depends on the heirs.

Surprisingly, Savithiri had also ventured into her own production 'Prabtham' which didn't click very well inspite of a sentimental story.

Kamal is one of the established player in this producer's role, with a lots of hits and wounds on him. After the commercial failures of his own ventures like 'Raja Parvai' & 'Vikram', the risk which he took with 'Apoorva Sagotharargal' was enormous.

However, that success has definitely lead to several quality (few flop) movies from his production house 'Rajkamal International' - like 'Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu' 'Devar Magan' 'Sathi Leelavathi' 'Magalir Mattum' 'Nala Dhamayanthi' 'Hey Raam' 'Virumaandi' 'Mumbai Express' etc., But this role as a producer has really put him in a fix in his family life, which everybody is aware of. Still a real fighter....



Rajinikanth has not experimented much in this role - inspite of his multiple talents from a villain to a super star. The movies where he directly got involved as a producer didn't run well - like 'Maaveeran' (the remake of Amitabh's 'Mard'), 'Valli' and 'Baba'. With these 3 movies, he might have learnt the business trick and I feel that he may not venture into this role again.

For a long time, Vijaykanth's movies were produced by his long-time associate Ibrahim Ravoothar - with several production company names - like 'Tamilannai Cine creations' 'Captain Cine creations' etc., Vijaykanth was said to be a partner as well. Several hits and misses were delivered by this combo like 'Pulan Visaranai' 'Captain Prabhakaran' 'Poonthoota Kavaalkaran' etc.,

He was rumoured to be behind the investments in Kaja Mohaideen's 'Perarasu' too, which is still struggling to come out. Now he is openly coming out with his own 'Sudheshi'. Whether he will get what he is investing, is a big question!!! Anyhow, now he is cleverly (or otherwise) moving into production of COMEDY MOVIES IN POLITICS. Will he reap the benefits there? Am not sure.

'Sangili' Murugan - was one of the Villain-turned-Character artistes who turned to be a successful Producer for sometime with most of his movies running in packed houses of 'B'&'C' centres - To name a few 'Enga Oru Pattukaaran' 'Paandi Naatu Thangam' 'Kumbakarai thangaiyyaa'. The names itself suggest, why he is not continuing the producer role today? Wise decision to stay away from this riskier role.

When Arjun didn't have much movies in his pocket, he started donning the role of the producer and had made couple of movies since then - like 'Jaihind', 'Prathap' 'Vedham' etc., Still our man is unfazed and is most likely to churn out some more as a producer, targetting the 'B' & 'C' centre audience. As far as I know, he lost the 'A' center audience already.

Prakashraj is an exceptional personality who got himself associated with the strange movies like 'Andhapuram' (got the tamil rights of this movie with Soundharya), 'Dhaya' (Lead role with Meena), a strange 5-friends story 'Naam', 'Azhagiya Theeye' directed by RadhaMohan and upcoming release 'Kanda Naal Mudhal' by Mani's assistant Priya.

Always he seem to be trying new formula with different stories. As everybody is aware, his next movie after 'K.. N.. M..' is 'Poi' being directed by his mentor KB. Hope this movie also offers some different stuff.



As I had mentioned earlier, actresses are also unfazed by the failures of their male counterparts in the producer's roles.

Roja found herself in troubles with bounced cheque issues, after her involvement as a producer of 'Athiradi Padai'. That was one of the biggest bombs of 90's. She realised it after that and had not ventured into the role again.

Ramba didn't get the lesson from her predecessor and ventured into '3 roses' and failed miserably. She is said to have been chased by financiers to recoup their investments. Devayani too failed with her venture 'Kaadhaludan' directed by her husband Rajakumaran. The same with Muntaz who was supposed to be behind 'Thathi Thaavudhu Manasu' as a producer.

Kushboo and Radhika are trying to be different as 'pucca' business women.

After her successful production venture 'Giri' (Arjun) directed by her husband Sundar.C, Kushboo is planning to venture into her next movie. Once again Sundar.C is likely to be the director with Madhavan in the lead role. Will she continue in this role? Need to wait and watch.




Radhika's association with 'Jai Ram' (directed by Teja with 'Arinthum Ariyaamlum' Navdeep in the lead) was not a 100% tamil movie & failed miserably. However, her 'Radaan movies' next venture 'Jithan' (remake of RGV product 'Gaayab') did survive in the Box office. This might have inspired the film couple, to go for Sarath's 100th movie from their production house itself. It is rumoured to be called 'Sportsman' from director Teja. Will the 'Sportsman' win the race for 'Radaan'??

I also vaguely remember some other film personalities like MR.Radha, Chandrababu, Mansoor Ali Khan, Mohan (Uruvam) who were into production.

Now the latest fishes in the 'producers' pond' are

Meera Jasmine - is said to be behind the tamil movie 'Kasturi Maan' as a producer, which is being directed by her mentor Lohitadass. The movie is yet to be released and is still plagued with several financial problems. To save her interest cost, she need to release it soon. Otherwise, her fate would be like those troubled actresses.




Vindhiya - She is also jumping into a new venture. This is likely to be an action movie (what action!!) for the front benchers like Muntaz's 'TTM'. That's what I expect.




With Jothika also joining the race, there is a more possibility that the Financiers will have good bright days ahead. Anyhow their cash tills are getting filled with money.....

[I have excluded a set of Director/Actor-turned-Producers purposefully, since this post itself has gone longer. You can expect a different post sooner or later]

Pic Courtesy: Indiaglitz, Thenisai.com
Report Courtesy: Our DBI Team

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