Saturday, June 27, 2009

Poda Podi only after Vaaliban.


With so many rumours flying around about whether the Simbu-Varalaxmi Sarathkumar-starrer Podi Podi has been shelved, Simbu himself finally announced that it has NOT been struck off his projects list. The movie has been put on the back burner for a while, though, as Simbu is focussed on completing Vinnathaandi Varuvaayaa with Gautham and then Valiban; only then will he move on to Poda Podi.

When asked if Varalaxmi is peeved at her very first project facing such a delay, Simbu said that understandably the debutante must be upset about this, but also understands that the movie WILL happen soon and meanwhile, she could also consider other scripts.

Friday, June 26, 2009

RIP >>>> MICHAEL JACKSON "MJ"

Thalaivan LSS Silambarasan and his fans are shocked to hear that MJ is No more.

Thalaivans Word :

MJ I LUV U MAN ...u live in r hearts .... u r a genius .....

Simbucentral on regards of the entire Fans team pays homage to the Genius.

RIP MJ.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Discovering Malta.



Bollywood - or better still, Kollywood - has come to Malta for the first time and could set the ball rolling for other Indian cinema productions to be shot on the island.

"We're not exactly Bollywood," specifies director, scriptwriter and producer Gautham Vasudev Menon. "The Tamil film industry in the south of India actually makes more films than Bollywood in Bombay." And India has the largest film industry in the world.

Best known for his action films, Mr Vasudev Menon has just shot parts of his latest, Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya, in Malta, breaking the mould in terms of locations for Indian movies. In fact, even before filming in Malta started, his unprecedented move to Malta attracted the Chennei media, where the director comes from, generating publicity.

Many articles were published, asking whether it would open up a new location for other producers, who always go to Switzerland and New Zealand and whether it would be their next stop, he said.

The Chennai Times of India reported "the fierce competition among Kollywood directors to shoot in never-seen-before locations". Mr Vasudev Menon was reported to have "discovered the beautiful islands", making the headlines as the "first director from South India to shoot a film in Malta".

Mr Vasudev Menon believes other directors are likely to follow suit. He too plans to return in December to shoot an entire action feature film, complete with water chases.

"I have wanted to come to Malta for the past five years. When I shot my second movie, we wanted to film a song against a background of lots of water and old buildings but, at the time, we did not have the budget."

A Maltese friend, married to an Indian, kept on encouraging the director and, this time round, being the producer, he had the money...

"I've shot extensively in the US, Durban and Dubai, so this landscape and these colours are totally different," he said, explaining why he chose to shoot two out of six songs - a vital element of Indian movies, together with dance sequences - in Malta.

"We needed lots of churches, water and caves, so what better place to go than Malta?

"It has been quite an experience... except for the weather, which is too similar to Chennai in terms of heat. We expected it to be cooler. "But the locations are fantastic. Wherever you turn, there's a frame!"

The movie was shot everywhere, including Valletta, Mdina, Gozo and Comino, in lanes and alleys, about eight churches and even at a village feast, taking Maltese tradition to India.

"The girl in the movie, traditionally referred to as the heroine, is a Christian, and the boy, the hero, a Hindu. Where I come from, people love these inter-caste sorts of stories," he explained.

The romantic comedy, in the Tamil language, is "another feel-good love story, which is big in Chennai. The only difference is I am working more on the fun element of the screenplay".

Mr Vasudev Menon brought a 26-strong crew over, assisted by 10 locals, and the production company, Producer's Creative Partnership.

Although PCP has come across many attempts from illegal immigrants to obtain entry visas to Europe by posing as film makers, it quickly established the legitimacy of the production and expressed its gratitude towards the Malta Film Commission and the Malta High Commission in New Delhi, who helped process the required documents.

Shot over 10 days, the movie is estimated to have spent about €90,000 in Malta and featured renowned Indian actors, who were asked for autographs by Indian tourists while in Malta.

Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya is being scored by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire fame. "Thanks to this movie, the world is noticing Indian film makers. A.R. Rahman has been around for 15 years and we all knew he was capable of good stuff. Now, suddenly, he is recognised by the world!

"But that is the only way it has helped us. It has not portrayed the India we know. Yes, that India exists in pockets, but there is also a very urban, modern and scientifically-advanced India."

At 37, Mr Vasudev Menon already has eight movies under his belt, having started at 29. It has been quite a journey, he says, pointing out that it was the first time he was also producing a movie.

"Malta has so much to offer, lots more than we could do in 10 days. If I am thinking of shooting an entire feature film here, that means there is loads more!"

In fact, he has extended his stay and flown his wife and three little boys over. "We've been driving around," he said, wearing the hat of the relaxing tourist but keeping his director's eye and continuing to view Malta through an imaginary camera lens nonetheless.

Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya should be released in India in September and later also to international audiences, with the possibility of making it to Malta too.

First Indian Movie Shot in Malta.

The first Indian "Bollywood" cinema production ever to film in Malta completed shooting last weekend.

The musical dance sequences of this romantic story, titled "Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya" (Will you come from the Sky?), were filmed in various localities in Malta and Gozo, namely Mdina, Valletta, Ghaxaq, Floriana, Kalkara, Birgu, San Lawrenz, Salina, Msida, Ghar Lapsi, Comino, Anchor’s Bay, Mellieha and Dingli.

Bollywood productions are movies produced out of India and are typical for their love stories mixed with dance sequences with a unique Bollywood style. India statistically has the largest film industry in the world and Indians are known to flock in large numbers to watch their love stories and romantic songs being danced in their signature way.


"Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya” is directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, best known for his numerous successfull action films. Two of his last eight movies have been shot in the United States. The music score is by Oscar winning music director A.R.Rahman ("Slumdog Millionaire").

The film-makers are based in Southern India where the "Bollywood" slang is actually dubbed as "Kollywood". The company specializes in slick Tamil movies with an international flair, giving a lot of importance to technical excellence.

The film stars two of the most sought after Indian actors in South India, Trisha Krishnan and Tesingu Rajendar Silambarasan. In Indian cinema the stars are traditionally referred as the “heroine” and “hero”. During their work in Malta they were often asked for autographs by Indian tourists who immediately recognized their "heros".

The film shooting in Malta had hardly started when the Indian press began generating substantial publicity about Malta. The Chennai Times of India reported about “the fierce competition amongst Kollywood directors to shoot in never-seen-before locations”. Getting entry visas is often a problem but director Gautham Menon is reported to have “discovered a new location – the beautiful islands of Malta”. Gautham has now made headlines in India movie news as the “first director from South India to shoot a film in Malta”.


The Times of India reported about how Indian producers are desperately trying to get visas for their team to travel to exotic

overseas locations. Malta is reported to be somewhat “easier to get visas” because it is a small country and such countries are reported as “bending backwards with offers of visa on arrival and location subsidies to Kollywood”.

The PCP, representing the Indian film-makers, showed appreciation towards the Malta Film Commission and the Malta High Commission in New Delhi who have helped tremendously in processing the visas in a speedy manner.

The decision to film in Malta was made barely 10 days prior and the short-notice was mainly due to the availability of the two main stars. The director therefore made a very rough pre-selection of Maltese locations using photographs sent via the internet.

The producers’ initial reaction upon landing in Malta was that the island was too small to offer the variety of locations they were after, but a recce around Malta and Gozo immediately convinced them not only to forego the consideration of including other countries in their shoot, but to extend their original filming schedule on the island by three days. In total the crew filmed for eight days.

Picturesque locations have been chosen for the song sequences and great efforts have been made to showcase Malta and Gozo in a very recognizable manner. The film will be released in India this September and will later also reach international audiences in various countries with large Indian communities.

Dancers and choreographer were brought in from London and although there was no time for local casting two Maltese dancers were found at very short notice. Maltese dancer Melvin Monreal was highly praised by the British film choreographers.

Director Gautham intends to return to Malta next year to shoot entirely his upcoming Action film.

The producers and the PCP would like to publicly thank the following entities for making the last minute preparations of this filming possible.

The Armed Forces of Malta for providing a helicopter at short notice for filming high screen-value shots over Comino.

The Malta High Commission in New Delhi and the Malta Film Commission for their processing of all visas and related permissions.

The various councils of Malta and Gozo, particularly the mayors of Valletta and Mdina who have shown their 100% unconditional support to very extensive filming in their localities.


Thanks : Times of Malta.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Simbucentral Wishes Ilaya Thalapathy.


Simbucentral wishes Ilaya Thalapathy Vijay the very best for the years to come and more importantly for his vettaikaran and his landmark 50th film. Happy Birthday Vijay.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

It is Ileana with Lss for Valiban.

If our sources are sound, Charming Ileana will pair opposite Lss Thalaivan Silambarasan for Valiban , to be directed by Thalaivan with Nic Arts Chakravathy production and a yuvan Music score.

The movie will start shortly.