State Anti-Drugs Campaign receives a boost through Mammootty

The Anti-Drugs campaign in the state has received a boost with the presence of Megastar Mammootty. The star would spearhead the Awareness Campaign that targets the youth in the state.

Mammootty who took part in the programmed organised by the State Excise Department at the Town Hall at Ernakulam on Sunday exhorted the young generation to stay away from drugs.

He talked of a man whom he had met in a jail five years back, who was undegoing punishment for having murdered his own son. Mammootty said that he was shocked on coming to know that the son, under the influence of drugs, had attempted to molest his own mother.

Mammootty also added, that the general assumption that only the use of alochohol makes an artist is wrong. That is no real art, he said.

The Excise Department is also planning a short film for the campuses that would have Mammootty carrying the campaign even further

All big stars ready for Onam

All the big stars of Malayalam, including the Big M's are getting ready with their movies for the biggest festival season of kerala, Onam. Megastar Mammootty will be ready with his 'King and the Commissioner' which will also have Sureshgopi in the title role. This Shaji kailas movie is expected to be on theatres by the 30th of August.

Mohanlal will  have his Blessy film 'Pranayam' which will also feature Jayapradha and Anupam Kher, for this Onam. The movie is expected to be on theatres by the 26th of August.

Dileep's Onam offering will be 'Mr Marumakan' with Sandhya Mohan. Featuring Sanusha for the first time as the heroine, this humorous flick will also have Tamil star Bhagyaraj and Poornima in important roles.

Prithviraj's Onam film will be 'Thejabhai and Family' directed by Deepu Karunakaran. Tamil star Vijay will also have his 'Velayudham' for this Onam, which will get to 90 centres. Plans are on to push the Jayaram movie 'Ulakam Chuttum Vaaliban' by Rajbabu for the season.

Pranchiyettan bags 3 Vellinakshatram Awards

Ranjith directed 'Pranchiyettan and the Saint' bagged three awards at the Vellinakshatram Film Awards for the year 2010.

The film bagged the Best Film award, as well as the Best Actor (Mammootty)and Best Director Award (Ranjith).

Kavya Madhavan was adjudged the Best actress for her role in 'Gaddama'. 'Malarvadi Arts Club' directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan is the Second Best Film.

The Best Music Director is M Jayachandran for his musical score in 'Shikar'.

Salim Kumar, Salim Ahmed, Padmapriya and R Sukumaran would be given special awards by the jury.

'Venicile Vyapari' to start in July

The shooting of 'Venicile Vyapari' would commence on the 10th of July. 'Venicile Vyapari' is Shafi's next film after the superhit 'Marykkundoru Kunjadu'.

'Venicile Vyapari' has Mammootty doing the title role. Kavya Madhavan is his heroine.

Earlier Shafi and Mammootty had come together for such superhits as 'Mayavi', 'Thommanum Makkalum' and 'Chattambi Nadu'.

Mammootty has had a disappointing 2011 as of now, and it remains to be seen if Shafi's directorial flair brings about a change in the star's fortunes. James Albert would script 'Venicile Vyapari'. The film would be produced by Madhavan Nair under the banner of Murali Films.

'The King and the Commissioner' starts at Kochi

Laying all speculations to rest, the Collector and Commissioner have joined hands at last.

Shoot of the film 'The King and the Commissioner' being directed by Shaji Kailas and scripted by Renji Panicker has started at Kochi.

Mammootty would don the role of Joseph Alex IAS, while Suresh Gopi would appear in the role of Bharath Chandran IPS.

Reema Sen is the heroine. Samvrutha Sunil would also be seen in a key role. Janardhanan, Jagathy Sreekumar and Vijayaraghavan would lend support.

Shaji Kailas and Renji Panicker have assured that the film in which two hotshot characters come together once again, would offer a double dose of entertainment. Fans of both the actors are equally excited as well.

Mammootty and Prithviraj in Amal Neerad's new film

Mammootty and Prithviraj were last seen together in the mega hit film 'Pokkiri Raja' in which they played brothers.

Now the duo is back together, but for a film to be directed by Amal Neerad.

Sankar Ramakrishnan who had scripted 'Urumi' would script the film that would tell a story that has been set against the backdrop of the 1950's. Mammootty would reportedly play the hero, while Prithvi would play the antihero in this film.

The film would be produced by Prithvi's own production company August Cinema, and would roll once Prithvi's Ranjith film 'Indian Rupee' is complete.

Amritha awards for Mammootty, Kavya and T D Dasan

Mammootty an Kavya Madhavan was adjudged the best in the acting departments in the Amrita Television and Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) film awards for 2010  announced, yesterday. While 'T.D. Dasan Standard VI D' has won the award for the best film and its director Mohan Raghavan has won the award for the best director.

Mammootty has been adjudged the best actor for his performance in 'Pranchiyettan and the Saint' while  Kavya Madhavan won the award for her role in 'Gaddama'. The Abhinaya Keerthi Puraskaram will be presented to Mohanlal. The lifetime achievement award will be presented to K.J. Jesudas, while the Yuva Keerthi Puraskaram will be presented to Kunjacko Bobban and popular hero award to Dileep

The year's national award winner Salim Kumar has won the special mention of the jury for his role in 'Adaminte Makan Abu'..

While Vikram is the best Tamil male actor and Amala Paul is named a  the best female Tamil actor.

The honours were decided by a 7 member jury panel of eminent personalities from various branches of the media , chaired by veteran director K.S Sethumadhavan. It is the first time that the Film Employees Federation is involved with a channel to announce their awards.

The awards will be presented in a colorful grand gala entertainment extravaganza at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kochi on June 4.

'Bombay, march12' for June 24

Ace scriptwriter Babu janardhanan will have his first movie as director 'Bombay, March12, released by the 24th of next month. Featuring Mammootty in multiple get ups, the movie is based on the real life riots and bombings that hit Mumbai on March 12, 1993. The film revolves around the effects of the blasts in the lives of three common men.

Babu Janardhanan who had in the past penned the scripts for some critically acclaimed movies like 'Achanurangatha Veedu', 'Vaasthavam' and 'Thalappavu' is said to have reserved one of his best writings for this movie which have a  mammoth cast. Shot at Rajastan, Coimbatore, Mumbai  and kerala by Vipin Mohan, the movie is one of the eagerly awaited flicks of the year.

Salman Khan would love to work with Mammootty

Bollywood star Salman Khan has expressed a desire to act in a Malayalam film, if it is with renowned actors like Mammootty.

Salman was speaking at the premiere show of his new film 'Ready' at Dubai.

The actor was also all praise for his Malayali co-star in the film , Asin. Salman said that she acts effortlessly, and assured that their new film together 'Ready' will be a hotshot entertainer like his last film 'Dabaang'.

Now it remains to be seen as to which film maker takes the cue and casts the Megastar of Malayalam cinema along with the Super action hero of Bollywood.