Kamal Haasan recalls seeing 6 fan theories predicting under-production Virumaandi's story
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Kamal Haasan isn't affected by numbers game, that's a nouveau riche problem': Shruti Haasan on Thug Life disaster
Actor Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam reunited after nearly four decades recently. They worked together on the crime epic Thug Life, which debuted to massive anticipation but tanked at the box office. In fact, it's one of the biggest flops of the year. In an interview, Kamal Haasan's daughter, actor-musician Shruti Haasan, was asked if she has spoken to him about the film's box office underperformance. She said that he is above money matters. Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter India, Shruti said that she considers her father to be the sun that casts a shadow more than the shadow itself. She admitted that when she was starting out, people had presumptions about what sort of person she'd be, and already had ideas about how she should behave. She said, 'In the beginning, I was really trying to find my feet in three industries. The Telugu industry was very helpful, and very lucrative financially, but most of all, they gave me my first taste of acceptance and the freedom to grow as an artist,' she said. Also read – Thug Life: They murdered the wrong character at the end of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's ghastly gangster drama; why in the world did they do that? She continued, 'People had perceptions about what this gentleman's daughter should dress like, sound like, look like, act like, behave like, and I very categorically decided that I will do what's right for my stride.' Shruti said that the general public doesn't know that she has been paying her own bills and making a space for herself, independently of her father's influence. She said that they barely even discuss work, and that she had no idea what Thug Life was about until she watched it as a fan. Asked if she has spoken to her father about the film's disastrous performance at the box office, she said, 'Normal people commenting on numbers wasn't a conversation even 10 years ago. It was not something that I ever thought of as an actress. I never thought about if I am in a Rs 200 crore film or a Rs 300 crore film. I just wanted my last installment of payment and leave. Now, the audiences are speaking that way. My dad comes from a time and a mindset where he put all of his own money back into cinema. He didn't spend it on a second property or a third car, it all went back into cinema. I don't think that numbers game affects him in the way that people perceive. It's more of a nouveau riche problem.' Also starring Silambarasan and Trisha Krishnan, Thug Life reportedly cost around Rs 300 crore. It made less than Rs 100 crore worldwide, marking a major setback for both Kamal Haasan, who was coming off of the hit film Vikram, and Mani Ratnam, who had last directed the epic two-part Ponniyin Selvan movies. The movie was embroiled in a controversy prior to its release.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Madras Day 2025: AVM studios in Chennai, the muse for South Indian film industry
: Below the arc lights and behind the camera's gaze, AVM Studios has been the eternal muse of Tamil cinema. Long before CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and green screens entered the scene, AVM Studios was the ultimate fantasy factory that has churned out vintage classics like Vedhala Ulagam to newer, high-octane hits like Sivaji: The Boss. In its heyday, the studio provided everything a filmmaker wanted — from bus stands, and houses to temple sets — all within its premises. 'Till the 1990s, the studio floors were always full. We had nine floors, with shooting taking place on all of them, as well as outdoors.' M.S. Guhan, Managing Partner of AVM Productions, said. 'We are the oldest surviving film studio in the country today, and also the oldest production house that is still active,' he said. Recalling some of the memorable shooting moments at the studio, Mr. Guhan said that for the film Samsaram Adhu Minsaram (1986), AVM decided to build a real house rather than use a temporary set. The house was constructed on the site where Kauvery Hospital stands today. 'The house you see in the film was built in three months. Many other films were also shot there. It was pulled down when the property was sold,' he said. Vedhala Ulagam (1948), produced under the AVM banner, was the first movie to be filmed at AVM Studios. For the film Manithan (1987), two streets were specially created on the studio premises. The climax fight sequence in Sakalakala Vallavan (1982) featuring a dramatic building-on-fire scene, a few scenes from Bharathiraja's Pudhumai Penn, and portions of the fight sequences in Sivaji: The Boss were also shot here. 'A set was created for the music shop scene in the film [Sivaji: The Boss],' said Mr. Guhan, to whom belonged all the cars and bikes featured in the song Athiradee. Songs from the film Minsara Kanavu, starring Arvind Swamy, Prabhu Deva, and Kajol, were filmed here. Several memorable sequences from the film came alive within the studio premises — from the romantic number Thanga Thamarai Magale, filmed against a specially-constructed artificial waterfall, to the lilting Vennilave Vennilave and the vibrant Mana Madurai, which was shot in the studio's outdoor spaces. Reduced activity At present, activity at the studio has declined, and much of the space has been converted for real estate development. 'Once or twice a month, we host ad film shoots, and occasionally, a film promo shoot. For example, the Thug Life (2025) team filmed a promo featuring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan here,' Mr. Guhan said. The space also continues to attract ad productions, though not always on a large scale. Celebrities such as M.S. Dhoni, who endorse multiple brands, shoot here. If the walls at AVM Studios could talk, they'd whisper stories of Sivaji Ganesan's gravitas, Rajinikanth's swagger, and Kamal Haasan's brilliance. And let's not forget that iconic spinning globe, the unofficial co-star of Tamil cinema, that we saw in the opening credits of every film like an auspicious 'Suprabhatam' to a typical South Indian morning.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- The Hindu
Madras Week 2025: Chennai Valluvar Kottam, an iconic shooting spot that lends grandeur to Tamil cinema
In the heart of Chennai, the towering stone chariot that houses the ancient Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar's statue in Valluvar Kottam has been a silent witness to countless public gatherings and cultural events and occasionally, to the magic of cinema unfolding beneath its shadow. Just as the iconic landmark has long been a familiar backdrop for political rallies and protest meetings, the monument's sprawling premises — with its giant chariot, massive carved wheels, and mirror-sheen flooring — has set the tone for soft-paced movie song sequences filmed under the night lights. One of the most memorable on-screen moments shot at Valluvar Kottam is the one from the timeless song Mounamana Neram in the Tamil film Salangai Oli, starring Kamal Haasan and Jaya Prada. The sequence opens with the granite wheels and its intricate textures dominating the frame and creating a calm ambience in sync with the song's gentle melody. The glossy flooring, mirroring the actors' silhouettes in a few shots, lends a perfect visual cue in harmony with the song's lyrics and mood. The grandeur of the Valluvar Kottam has been featured in several other Tamil films since 1980s. In yet another popular duet Seer Kondu Vaa from the film Naan Paadum Paadal, featuring actors Sivakumar and Ambika, the majestic granite elephants at the base of the chariot and the pillars along the corridor draped in grey and black hues form the regal backdrop that complements the lead pair's charm. Spread over five acres, Valluvar Kottam was constructed between 1974 and 1976 as a memorial monument for Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar. Its spectacular architecture was designed by architect V. Ganapati Stapathi. It also featured in the comedy scenes from Coimbatore Mappillai, featuring actors Vijay and Goundamani as unemployed characters idling away at a public place. Jayanthi Kannappan of ALS Productions and daughter-in-law of veteran producer A.L. Srinivasan recalled memories of Ponnar Shankar, a Tamil historical drama film starring Prasanth. Many scenes in the film, which was based on the former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's novel, were shot in Valluvar Kottam. 'I used to visit the massive set that recreated an ancient town in stunning detail, complete with traditional houses and warriors carrying swords and bows. It used to transport me to a bygone era and some scenes were filmed in the main hall. The set remained for three or four months. Kalaignar often visited the shooting spot,' she said. Recently, the monument received a major facelift at a cost of ₹80 crore.
