Mammootty changes priority

Mammootty who had earlier announced that his Martin Prakkat film Best Actor, would be his Ramzan (September 10) release, has now pushed it to October 15.

However the actor will have a Ramzan release and it will be Ranjith’s Pranchiyettan and the Saint.

Ranjith and Mammootty team has always come out with something different. Now after the critically acclaimed Palery Manickyam, the pair is back. Mammootty would play a rice merchant Francis (Pranchiyettan) from Trichur, while Innocent will appear as the Saint.

Ranjith’s Pranchiyettan and the Saint is said to be a film with lot of black humor and a satire. The shoot of the film planned as a “quickie” would start in the first week of July in Trichur and completed in a single schedule.

Mammootty’s Play House is distributing both Pranchiyettan and the Saintreleasing on September 10 and Best Actor scheduled for release on October 15. 

Priyamani is Mammootty’s heroine

National award winning actress Priyamani after her sterling performance as Vikram’s sister in Raavanan, is all set to be Mammootty’s heroine in Ranjith directed Pranchiyettan and the Saint, a Malayalam black comedy.

Ranjith is an off- beat director who has made some of the recent best Malayalam films like Paleri Manickam, Kaioppu,Thirakatha and produced the highly appreciated Kerala Café.

Priyamani almost got her second National Award for her outstanding performance in Ranjith’s Thirakatha, a film based on the life and times of late actress Srividya.

In Ranjith’s new Pranchiyettan and the Saint. she is pitted against another National Award winning actor Mammootty, and has also Innocent a top character playing an important role. The film is a satire and has Mammootty doing the role of an unscrupulous rice merchant based in Thrissur market.

Priyamani has given 18 days call sheet for the film for which shooting starts in the first week of July in Thrissur and will be completed under a month. For Priyamani it is another feather on her cap, and it will be treat to see her competing with Mammootty.

Pazhassi Raja in Blu –Ray

The classic Hariharan directedPazhassi Rajahas become the first film in Malayalam to be available on the Blu-Ray format.

Moserbaer, the market leader in DVD and CD’s have come out with the first Blu Ray in Malayalam and a function was held at Gokulam Park in Cochin on Thursday (June 17) evening.

Mammootty , Sabu Cherian President of Kerala Film Producers Association and G Dhananjayan of Moserbaer were present on the occasion. Due to Kerala’s Gulf connection there are more Blu-Ray players in the state than all the other southern states put together.

Pazhassi Raja on Blu-Ray is going to be hit which will start a craze for Malayalam films in that format.

It is another feather on Mammootty’s cap. Mammookka is a technology freak and has always brought the latest gizmos to Kerala and popularised it among the masses. 

Mammootty becomes ‘Best Actor’

Mammootty is giving breaks to a lot of new directors “who have ideas that can make a hit”. His new director is Martin Prakkat, fashion photographer who does great portfolios for the leading women magazine ‘Vanitha’.

During one of his journalistic assignments he met Mammootty and struck a friendship with the actor which led to him becoming director of a Mammootty film. The star was impressed by his script about a UP school teacher who wants to be a film actor!

So Mammootty asked his right hand man Anto Joseph and Naushad, to produce Martin’s film which has been titled Best Actor. The film is said to be an emotional at the same time rocking comedy entertainer. Kannada actress Sruthi Ramakrishnan is Mammootty heroine in the film.

Along with Mammootty there is strong supporting cast headed by Lal, Nedumudi Venu, Salim Kumar, Vinayagan and a special cameo by the comedy king Suraj Venjaranmoodu!

Old timer Ajay Vincent is the cameraman, Don Max the editor, and Bijibal provides music. The film is produced by Anto Joseph and Naushad under the banner of Big Screen, which last produced the hit Chattambinadu. Best Actorwill be distributed by Play House and will be Mammootty’s Ramzan release.

Kutty Srank To Hit Theaters On July 23

The Malayalam film Kutty Srank, starring superstar Mammootty, is going to have a great release by the Reliance Big Pictures on July 23.

Kutty Srank has already been screened at various film festivals all over the world. In October 2009, the film was screened at Pusan International Film Festival and at the Mumbai film festival. Montreal World Film Festival screened the movie in September 2009 and again in November 2009, it was screened at the International Film Festival.

This is the first film where Mammootty has worked with Shaji N Karun, who started his career as a cinematographer. Later, Shaji turned director with the film Piravi in 1988, which went on to win the esteemed Camera d’Or - Mention d’honneur at the 1989 Cannes film festival.

Speaking on the release, Shaji said, “Numerous emotions and shades are layered in Kutti Srank. And, these can be transformed into acting only by a superstar like Mammootty. I hope movie lovers all over the world appreciate this creative work.”

Sanjeev Lamba, CEO Reliance BIG Pictures added, “We have always felt proud to be associated with meaningful cinema. We hope the gripping performance of Mammootty and the beautiful story of Kutty Srank, can manage to mesmerize the viewers.”

Mammootty plays the male lead and the film has the renowned actresses Padmapriya, Meena Kumari and Kamalini in the female leads. Isaac Thomas has scored music for the film.

This is also a remarkable film in terms of the cinematography. It is the first time that a female cinematographer Anjuli Shukla, has shot for a Malayalam film. Shukla has earlier worked in films like Rarambh and Tahaan as the first Camera Assistant.

The films story deals with an unidentified body on the beach, which is claimed by three ladies.

Although the storyline seems to be interesting, the fate of the film will be decided only after July 23.

Sandalwood gives a warm welcome to Mammootty

Megastar Mammootty received a grand and warm welcome at Bengaluru, when he arrived there to act in his debut Kannada film. He was welcomed with sandalwood garland and the traditional Mysore crown.

Mammootty will be acting inShikari, directed by young director Abhayasimha. Veteran director Rajendra Singh Babu recalled that he had approached Mammootty on several earlier occasions to act in Kannada films, but did not materialise.

He said that he was overwhelmed as Abhaya, who is like his son, was able to bring Mammooty to Kannada. Choreographer Chinni Prakash, actress Tara, actors Adarsh and Mohan too praised Mammootty.

Amidst loud cheers and applause, Mammootty said that he has watched several Kannada films. He also said that he would learn Kannada by the time he finishes the film. However, Mammootty will be dubbing for the film in Kannada.

Mammootty also recalled his association with Dr Raj Kumar and Vishnuvardan and expressed his regret that they were not there to share his joy.

He expressed his happiness to associate with young directors like Abhaya. This film Shikari will be made in Malayalam too. 

Mammootty stays connected!

Mammootty has become the first actor in south to buy the new ipad , after his recent trip to the US.

Says Mammootty: “I’m a gadget geek and technology fascinates me. It’s a passion of mine to own every new device for technological advancement in the visual medium.”

Remember more than a decade back, Mammookka was the first actor in south India to make his own web site, when internet had just come in to India. He has the latest fully loaded gadgets and also knows to use them.

Mammootty is one actor who is constantly browsing the net and picking up vital information which allows him to stay ahead. As the star himself confessed : “ I use technology to stay connected with the people and the world.”