Shah Rukh Khan dubs for Pazhassi Raja!

Malayalam film 'Pazhassi Raja' has super star Mammootty playing the title role and Sarath Kumar playing his deputy.

The film is a historical on 'Pazhassi Raja', played by Mammootty, a native king of Wynad in Malabar area of Kerala. He is said to be one of the first freedom fighters who started a guerilla war against the British.

'Pazhassi Raja' is being dubbed into three other Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

While Kamal Haasan has dubbed a prologue for Mammootty in Tamil, it is Bollywood's global super star Shah Rukh Khan, who has dubbed for the Hindi version. The voice over for the Malayalam original has been done by Mohanlal.

Kamal Hassan dubs for Pazhassi Raja!

Kamal Hassan has dubbed a prologue for Mammootty's MT Vasudevan Nair written Hariharan directed magnum opus Pazhassi Raja in Tamil and Shah Rukh Khan has dubbed for it in Hindi.

The film is a historical on Pazhassi Raja played by Mammootty, a native king of Wynad in Malabar area of Kerala. He is said to be one of the first freedom fighters who started a guerilla war against the British.

Tamil actor Sarath Kumar makes his Malayalam debut playing Edachena Kunkan, Pazhassi Raja's 'Thalapathy' (Commander in Chief).

Remember it was Mohanlal who introduces Pazhassi Raja to the audiences through a 45 second prologue in the Malayalam original.

In the Tamil version Kamal Hassan did the prologue while Shah Rukh Khan does it in Hindi.

Says one of the producers of the film Gokulam Praveen: ' Kamal sir knew the subject and he is a fan of MT Vasudevan Nair one of the greatest writers in India. In the Tamil version Jayamohan the famous Tamil writer is translating MT's dialogues. Kamal sir went out of his way to accommodate us when we requested him to dub the prologue. His introductory voice over has made the film richer.'

Mammootty-Sureshgopi comes up with Droner

Mammootty is back with filmmaker Shaji Kailas after a considerable gap of nearly 5 years or so with yet another thriller Malayalam movie Droner. Currently he is busy with the shooting of the movie Chattambinadu. The movie which is to be produced by Aroma Movies will have its script by A K Sajan. The shooting would progress in areas of Ottappalam, Chavakkadu, Guruvayoor, and Chennai.

Mammootty and Shaji Kailas team has churned out hit movies like The Truth and The King in the past. Shaji Kailas who is presently engaged with the work of the Malayalam movie Rahgupathy Raghava Rajaram with Prithviraj in the lead would begin the shooting of the Mammootty starrer Droner by early November.

‘Droner’ is Mammootty’s next

After half a decade from their last movie together, Mammootty and director Shaji Kailas are coming up once again with a thriller. Titled ‘Droner’, this will be the next project to take off after ‘Chattambinaadu’, which is currently on sets.

To be produced by Aroma movie, ‘Droner’ will be in the scripts of A K Saajan. Expected to kickoff its shoot by the first of November, the movie will be shot in and around Ottappalam, Chavakkad, Guruvayoor, and Chennai.

Shaji Kailas is presently busy, giving final touches to his first movie with Prithviraj titled ‘Ragupathy Raghava Rajaram’. The movie featuring the young star in the three title roles is expected to grace the theatres by the mid of November.

Pazhassi Raja audio launched in Kochi

The audio of Hariharan- MT Vasudevan Nair epic Pazhassi Raja was launched at the auditorioum of Gokulam Park in Kochi on Sunday (Sep 20) evening.

It was one of the best conducted events in Kochi recently.

The audio was launched when Mammootty handed over an a CD of the music of the film to Tamil superstar Sarath Kumar, who is also featuring in the film.

Ilayaraja the music director of the film could not attend the function as he was away on a foreign tour.

Mammootty said he was proud to be associated with the movie on Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the legendary king and freedom fighter in Kerala's Malabar region, who fought the first war of independence against the British men.

The other important guest at the function was Oscar winning sound mixer Resul Pookutty who said he was very fortunate to have been associated with the film in which legends like writer M T Vasudevan Nair, maestro Ilayaraaja, Hariharan and superstar Mammootty are involved.

Pazhassi Raja postponed to October 16

Malayalam's first world class movie Pazhassi Raja by M T Vasudevan and Hariharan featuring Mammootty in the title role is to be delayed again. Gokulam Films, the producers of the film had planned to release the film on October 2nd, the day of Gandhi Jayanti and they had announced the same as well. But now it seems that the movie would release only on October 16.

Pazhassi Raja would be releasing in most of the major languages like Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in as many as 560 theatres. Another highlight is that Mammootty has rendered voice for his title character Pazhassi Raja in all the languages. The dubbing process for other languages excluding Malayalam and Tamil has not been completed and this happens to be the major obstacle in the worldwide release of Pazhassi Raja. In America itself Pazhassi Raja would release in as many as 20 theatres and that is indeed a welcome sign.

Loud Speaker is very good

One of the fast vanishing qualities in human beings living in the rural India these days is simplicity, what with rapid urbanisation and materialistic approach towards life.

Everyone is becoming an island of sorts, protecting his own space without caring for others. What happens if in such a scenario a person lands oozing rustic charm and keeping the old values intact? That is what the National award-winning director Jayaraj tries to explore in his latest Malayalam film Loud Speaker starring Mammootty and Sashi Kumar (former Chairman of Asianet and the director of Kaya Tharan).

The idea may be old but the way he presents it floors us. The charm of human bonding and staying one with nature without malice towards anyone forms the crux of this film.

Mike Philipose (Mammootty), a person with a loud booming voice from the rustic hinterland lands up in an apartment building (a symbolic representation of city life) as an organ donor for an old expatriate scientist Menon (Shashi Kumar). How he changes the lifestyle of the inhabitants of that building forms the story.

The story is laced with humour. So, the underlying pathos of the situation is glazed over by it. The area of conflict initially is the sophistication of city dwellers versus the uncouth ways of a rural migrant. The tug of war between the two forms the major chunk of the first half of the film. The building being the microcosm wealthy society: a kindergarten attending children with unbridled mischief to college students who do not have the courtesy or respect, a man who tends to a dog while the wife works in a foreign country, a warring middle-aged couple who even cook their food separately, old aged parents abandoned after they have distributed their wealth among their children.

These characters are portrayed well. Jagathy Sreekumar, the secretary of the housing society is the husband who tends to a German shepherd. Kalapana and Bheeman Raghu are the warring couple and Janardhanan is the anguished father, who has filed a case against his children to get back his property.

And, to fill the place of a leading lady, Gracy Singh is cast as a nurse attending to Menon at his home.

The first half moves breezily with mirth. The second half becomes sentimentally heavy as Menon revisits his childhood, the place from where he had run away as teenager for having an illicit affair with his cousin. This part of the narrative is a bit too slow but, considering the overall package, this can be termed as a minor glitch, and can be overlooked.

Mammootty excels in handling both humour and seriousness with elan. His performance in this film proves that he does not require to do kiddie stuff to establish his comic credentials. Here he shoulders the responsibility of entertaining a section of the audience while keeping the serious undercurrent intact.

Shashi Kumar as the vulnerable but sure-footed man needing urgent kidney transplant is believable. His voice modulation is soft but firm in contrast with that of Mike, showing off his exposure to the aristocratic world.

With Loud Speaker, Jayaraj gets back into his groove.

Loud speaker postponed to Sep 20!

At the last minute, director Jayaraj and Time Ads the producer and distributor of Mammootty's eagerly awaited Loudspeaker has postponed it from Friday(Sep 18) to Sunday(Sep 20).

The reason given out is technical due to delay in DI work, though the grapevine has it that there is some financial issues to be sorted out.

Anyway, after all release ads were published in Friday morning newspapers and posters were pasted, the decision was taken in the night to postpone it.

The theatres in Kerala which had chartered the Mammootty film are running around trying to screen Kamal Hassan- Mohanlal biggie Unnaipol Oruvan for two days.

It's a win-win situation for the Tamil film which will now open big without any opposition.

First look: Mammootty's Pazhassi Raja

When Jnanapith award winner, M T Vasudevan Nair, director Hariharan and actor Mammootty came together last in Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha (1989), they created magic on celluloid.

Now they are ready with another Malayalam magnum opus, on the life of King Pazhassi Raja titled Pazhassi Raja.

Pazhassi Raja belonged to the Kottayam Royal family in Thalassery. He had helped the British in their fight against Tipu Sulthan. But after the British imposed heavy taxes directly on the rulers, Pazhassi Raja turned against them during the mid 1790s. Pazhassi Raja waged a guerrilla war against the British from Wynad, with a group of Nairs and Kurichiyas in the early 1800s.

With the appointment of the young British officer, Thomas Harvey Baber as the sub-collector of Thalassery in 1804, the going became tough for Pazhassi Raja and as per certain history books; he died swallowing his ring in 1805. But the grapevine has it that the end of Pazhassi Raja, as mentioned in the some history books, has been proven wrong in the film. As Thomas Harvey Baber later said, "He was our enemy, but he was a great man, a great warrior."

In Oru Vadakkan Veera Gadha, M T Vasudevan Nair made the character Chandu played by Mammootty a hero though in the folklores, he was called Chathiyan Chandu (Chandu who cheated). The writer also wrote Randamoozham, (Mahabharatam retold) from the perspective of Bhima. Similarly, in all probability, viewers can expect a story of Pazhassi Raja, hitherto unknown to all of us, in the film.

Pazhassi Raja, produced by Gokulam Gopalan, took some time in the making but has been eagerly awaited ever since the project was announced.

Mammootty plays Pazhassi Raja, while Kaniha is doing the role of his wife, Kaitheri Makkom. The star cast also includes Sarath Kumar, Suman, Padmapriya, Thilakan, Jagathy Sreekumar and a few foreign actors.

Hariharan and M T has teamed up earlier to make some of the finest films in Malayalam; other than Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, Parinayam, Panchagni, Nakhakshathangal, Amrutham Gamaya, Aranyakam, Idavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha and Valarthu Mrugangal. The two had contemplated making a few other stories this time but finally decided to make the film on Pazhassi Raja. Legendary producer-director Kunchacko of Udaya Studios had earlier made a film on Pazhassi Raja in 1964.

Pazhassi Raja, without doubt the most eagerly awaited film during recent years, has a prologue on the ruler by Mohanlal. Oscar award winner Resul Pookkutty has done the sound designing of Pazhassi Raja. Music maestro Illayaraja is the music director.

Pazhassi Raja, as the legendary ruler was, would be a cut above the rest.

Mammoootty at Pazhassi Raja website launch

Sri Gokulam Movies, historical film Pazhassi Raja which is being made in five languages, has now launched a website.

The event was marked by the presence of Mega Star Mammootty who plays the Prince in the title role. Supreme Star Sarath Kumar was the other invitee who is playing the role of his Thalapathy in the film.

Talking about the film, Mammootty said: "The film is about one of the first freedom fighters who fought against the British. He suffered many losses due to this war. Not only did he lose his throne and palace but also his unborn child. But he was a special Prince who brought every strata of society together to fight this war of freedom. The support of his people was his biggest strength. The film will have every emotion and sentiment possible from patriotism and heroism to human relationships. The film will remind us what it's like to live without freedom and of how precious it is."



In answer to questions, Mammootty said he was open to acting in Tamil films and agreed that Tamil films were doing extremely well in Kerala.

Sarath Kumar added, "We have used no computer graphics and the shots of the war scenes etc are all shot realistically. I am very happy to be working with Mamootty for the first time in a Tamil film. Such associations bring our hidden talents to the fore."

The film has two other heroes in Suresh Krishna and Manoj K Jayan. Suman plays the villain. Kaniha who plays a princess and Padmapriya who plays a tribal are doing the female lead.

The music is by Illayaraja who has done the recording in Hungary using the symphony orchestra there to get the desired effect.



The movie will be released on October 2nd.

Happy Birthday Mammootty

The megastar has planned to celebrate his 56th birthday on Monday in a quiet way. He says he has made no resolutions for the occasion either.

Mammotty, who is waiting for his son to arrive from Kochi and daughter from Bangalore, said he prefers to have a quiet birthday.

Chattambi Nadu Pooja Photos

Care and Share Onasadya with mammootty

Pazhassiraja postponed to October 2, Loudspeaker on September 18th

Mammootty's big Ramzan release due on September 18, Hariharan's epic Pazhassi Raja which got censored with an 'UA' certificate, has been postponed by two weeks!

The new date of release of the film is October 2, Gandhi Jayanthi- Pooja festival weekend.

The CG and DI work of the film has to be completed and it is taking time. The film was censored on August 31, so that it will be eligible for Panorama selection.

So now Mammootty, the smartest guy in showbiz is preponing the release of his Jayaraj directed Loud Speaker from October 2 to September 18.

The film too has been censored on August 31, with a clean 'U' certificate.

Most of the theatres which had booked Pazhassi Raja has been taken over by Loud Speaker distributors Time Ads, the film carries very good reports. It looks like Mammootty will get a solo release.

Lal Jose teams with Mammootty and Sreenivasan

Filmmaker Lal Jose is to make his debut as screenplay writer for his next Malayalam movie, which will feature none other than Mammootty and Sreenivasan. Lal Jose is directing this movie for Kerala Cafe. The movie centers around some events which take place inside a bus. Lal Jose has prepared the script based on C V Sreeraman's Puram Kazhchakal.

Mammootty was the hero in Lal Jose's debut directorial venture Oru Maravathoor Kanavu. Sreenivasan had penned the script for that movie. Coincidence or whatever it may be termed Lal Jose's next movie where he would be trying his luck in the script also will have both Mammootty and Sreenivasan.

Kana Kanmani audio released

Mammootty's Play House and Moser Baer Entertainment jointly organized an audio launch of their Onam film Kaana Kanmani at a star hotel in Kochi on Sunday (August 30) evening.

The audio has been released through Mathrubhumi Music.

It was launched when Oscar winner Resul Pookutty handed over the audio of the film to Union Minister K.V Thomas, the Ernakulam MP at the function in the presence of Mammootty and Jayaram.

Kana Kanmani stars Jayaram, Padmapriya, Biju Menon and Nedumudi Venu an is directed by Akku Akbar.

The film releasing on September 3 has been censored in Thiruvananthapuram.