South Indian actress Asin

Film on Rajiv Gandhi assassination wins battle against censors

By Chitra Prakash, Indo-Asian News Service

Chennai, Dec 2 (IANS) The makers of Tamil film 'Kutrapathrikai' (Charge sheet)', which has late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and Sri Lankan civil war as its backdrop, have won a major battle with the censors.

In a landmark judgement, the Madras High Court has dismissed a petition filed on behalf of the Central Board of Censors against an earlier verdict by the court, allowing the screening of the film with an 'A' certificate after certain cuts.

The film's director, R.K. Selvamani hailed the judgement as a successful 'end to a struggle of 13 years'.

According to Selvamani, the film will be released as soon as the certificate is issued.

The court has directed the board to award the 'A' certificate within four weeks.

The petition had alleged that the film supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Sections of the Tamil Nadu Congress had also taken exception to some scenes in the film.

Chief Justice of Madras High Court A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru viewed the film and found nothing objectionable in it.

According to Selvamani the court has actually said there is no need to delete the portions, which the earlier verdict wanted to be cut.

The scenes, which the censors wanted to cut, included Tigers' training and police officers fleeing the venue, where Gandhi was assassinated.

This is the second Tamil film, dealing with the Sri Lankan civil war, to win a battle against the censors.

'Katrukku Enna Vaeli' was the first film of the same theme, directed by Pugazhendhi Thangaraj and featuring Khushboo, which was released in November 2001 after an 18-month struggle with the censors.

The release of 'Katrukku Enna Vaeli' came after a Madras High Court verdict.

The next year witnessed the release of another Tamil film titled 'Kannathil Mutthamittal' which also had a Sri Lankan theme.

It featured R. Madhavan, Simran and Nandita Das and won a National Award for director Mani Ratnam.

Pictures of South Indian actress Ileana

Ileana and Mahesh Babu in Telugu movie Pokiri

Pictures of beautiful actress Asin

Aksharaa Haasan and Subhalakshmi open 6 year old's painting exhibition

The Hindu, 14 Nov 06

Aksharaa Haasan, Subhalakshmi, Varuna and Surya at the painting exhibition venue.

Chennai: Kamal Haasan's daughter Aksharaa Haasan and Subhalakshmi, daughter of actress Gowthami opened a painting exhibition organised by six year old S.Varuna at the Presidency Club in Egmore on Tuesday evening.

Varuna has taken to painting from age two and half, in the footsteps of her father, Ap Sreethar. She took up a live painting project at the exhibition venue, cheered by several noted personalities including actor Suriya.

Sreethar said he followed the semi-abstract style of painting and had conducted nearly 30 shows, some of them abroad, while Varuna had completed 700 paintings. A selection of 100 paintings that she had done were on displayed at the Club.

Pictures of gorgeous looking Namitha

Beautiful Tamanna

Director Prem of ‘Jogi’ (Kannada movie) fame was dreaming of casting Kollywood’s (Tamil Cinema) current hot actress Tamanna in his next film ‘Preethi Eke Bhoomi Melidhe’ where he is playing the lead role but this dream has turned into a nightmare. The actress is said to have politely said “No” on hearing the script from the director cum actor.

Tamanna has become a demanded actress following her good performance in ‘Kedi’. Now, she has bagged two new Tamil films, which has young actors as her heroes. However, she has turned down the offer from hat trick director Prem. Consolation news for movie lovers is that Prem has got Bollywood bombshell Mallika Sherawat to do an item number in the film. She is said to have been paid a whooping amount for the number.