Rajinikanth's Shivaji

Shankar's secret hide-out!

2005-09-03T09:38:00.000-04:00

Shankar is now writing the story of his new Rajnikanth film Sivaji in a resort near Thekkady, the tourist paradise in Kerala. He is also rumored to have taken a suite room in a Munnar resort to keep his Thekkady hide out as a top secret!

The reason is that no one will know whether he is in Munnar or Thekkady which is 80 kilometers away. He is also getting the help of Sujatha, his favourite script writer. But the major problem is that the story has to suit Rajnikanth's larger-than-life image. The demands are so high that Shankar has to frequently make changes in the story.

Added to that, Shankar is under tremendous pressure from all quarters to make-up with A.R.Rahman purely for commercial reasons as Rajni- Rahman-Shankar combo under AVM banner is sure to fetch a high price for the audio rights.
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Courtesy of sify

Rajini sets the tone for Sivaji

2005-09-02T10:04:00.000-04:00

Rajinikanth is back from his Himalayan sojourn and started preparation for Sivaji. He has discussed his preferences for the film with the director Shankar. Two of his important requests are, there should absolutely be no political comments in the dialogues and Aishwarya Rai should be the heroine. Shankar is known to be a director who can create fantasies. His films have a large canvas. Therefore, expectations are high this time as well. Rajinikanth would like an action-packed comedy after the somewhat serious Chandramukhi.
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Courtesy of behindwoods

Rani Mukherjee as heroine?

2005-09-01T11:33:00.000-04:00

After the grand success of Chandramukhi, it was speculated as to what Rajini’s next film will be and who will direct his film. Now the news is that AVM will be producing Rajini’s next film and it is titled Sivaji. Shankar is the director of this film. There was confusion as to who would be Rajini’s pair and the other artists of this film.

Rumours spread that Ash would be pairing up with Rajini, but her schedules did not match and hence she was ruled out from the heroines’ list. Now it is stated that Rani Mukherjee will be the heroine and her salary - 2 crore rupees. A.R. Rehman is the music director for this film. As this film is titled in Rajini’s original name, it appears that true incidents from Rajini’s life will form a major part of this film’s plot. It is also well known now that Super star will don seven distinct characters in this mega movie.
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Courtesy of galatta

Rajinikanth's Shivaji takes off

2005-08-27T20:24:00.000-04:00

Rajini's films are a Diwali delight to fans, theatre owners, distributors and several others in the industry.

Saravanan is the latest in the list to enjoy this happiness. With the media raking their brains, trying to collect information about Sivaji, Saravanan has revealed details.

While on the topic of Rajini & his new film Sivaji, even the mild Saravanan seemed to have borrowed some of the Super Star's dynamism.

"Rajini had come to enquire after my health recently. Though I had the secret wish to make another film with him, I did not openly say so. When I asked if he had any other commitment, he just came out with a one word reply NO."

"Later, when I called Rajini to inform him about the new film starring Ajith, he congratulated me and gave me a further pleasant shock. He wished to meet me at our studio. During that meeting, I put forth my wish to do a film with him. Rajini immediately said an OK. We then decided that Shankar would direct the film. Rajini was impressed with the one line story that Shankar had in mind. It was Shankar who came up with the title Sivaji. Rajini was thrilled with this title".

Saravanan was jubilant and said to think of that moment 'Nianithaale Inikirathu' - Wow, A Rajini film title used to celebrate the joy of Rajini's new film.
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Courtesy of cinesouth

Shankar ropes in A.R. Rahman

2005-08-27T13:51:00.000-04:00

Shankar and A.R. Rahman have been a potent combination giving wonderful music for great films. All their seven projects together have been box office hits. In the recent Anniyan, Harris Jayaraj was the composer. Although the songs did well, the background score did not jell well with the movie and was not much appreciated by the audience. Therefore, Shankar is interested in bringing Rahman back with the Rajini film, Sivaji. Rahman has already scored music for Rajini’s Muthu, Padayappa and Baba. Since the songs of these films were chart toppers, Rajini is also keen that Rahman should compose the music for Sivaji.
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Courtesy of behindwoods

Highest paid actor in India today

2005-08-25T15:40:00.000-04:00

Aamir Khan may have registered himself as the costliest Bollywood actor with his Rs 7 crore bill for The Rising. And Shah Rukh may be King Khan for his reported Rs 4 to 5 crore rate card. But it's the 56-year-old Rajnikanth who still rules the pecking order of star salaries in Indian cinema. The actor has reportedly charged Rs 15 crore for his next film, tentatively titled Sivaji, to open in theatres around November, 2006.

While the actor's associates refused to confirm the figure, they corroborate that Rajnikanth's rate per film is in any case 'at least Rs 10 crore'. Also, the film launched by Chennai's biggest banner AVM productions is being touted as the country's most expensive venture. The rights of the film have been sold at Rs 50 crore, according to industry sources, which includes satellite, audio, overseas, dubbing and distribution rights of the film for southern states. It is rumoured in the Chennai film industry that Aishwarya Rai is being roped in for the project as well.

The reason for the steep pricing of the film is the tie-up of the three big names AVM Productions, one of Chennai film industry's most-sought-after director Shankar, and of course Rajnikanth. However, the astronomical figure for Sivaji has not really shocked the film industry. Incidentally, Rajnikanth's last film Chandramukhi has already done business worth Rs 45 to 65 crore, and is still going strong.

The star's net profit: a neat Rs 20 crores. Which is not his individual remuneration, clarify industry sources. The producer and the actor shared the profit â€“ an equation that will apply to Sivaji as well. But, what makes Rajnikanth so big? What makes southern stars better earners than their Bollywood counterparts?

Says Kandaswamy Bharathan, associate of Kavitalayaa, a well-known production house in Chennai, 'Rajnikanth's films are big grossers definitely. He is a one-man industry both in terms of volume as well as guarantee of business.' Bharathan's father-in-law K Balachander had launched Rajnikanth in the film industry 30 years ago. He says that while none of Rajnikanth's films in the past 10 years have flopped, no Bollywood star can hold such promise. Moreover, in the south, the number of saleable stars are few and the number of production houses vying for them far too many. This has also resulted in inflated remuneration packages.
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Courtesy of daijiworld

Shankar sticks with 'N' sentiment

2005-08-25T07:28:00.000-04:00

Shankar will be the director of Rajini’s next film, Sivaji. Since he is known as the big ticket director, he carries the burden of high expectations. Shankar’s hit films have had titles ending with ‘N’ – Gentleman, Kadhalan, Mudhalvan, Indian and Anniyan. His other films like Jeans or Boyz did not do well. So, Shankar would prefer to have his lucky title. Therefore, we could soon have a new name for Sivaji.
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Courtesy of behindwoods

Rajini and Aishwarya Rai in Shivaji

2005-08-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

Now that we have the formal announcement that Rajini’s next film will be Sivaji under the AVM banner, interesting bits of news about the film keep cropping up. Within two days of the launch, the film did business worth Rupees Seventy crores. It has been decided that Rajini will receive twenty crores out of it.

Besides, talks are on to romp in Aishwarya Rai as the heroine of the film. She had been approached for Baba, but could not do the film because of lack of dates. She has also evinced keen interest to act in a Tamil film after a gap of so many years. She could say yes quite soon. Watch out for more developments.
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Courtesy of behindwoods

Rajini offers prayers at Tirupathy

2005-08-22T19:42:00.000-04:00

Rajnikanth had a darshan at Tirupati temple on Sunday morning. A sort of ‘thanksgiving’ to Lord Balaji for the stupendous success of Chandramukhi and the announcement of his new film Sivaji for AVM productions.

Later the superstar drove down from Tirupati to Bangalore where he will be camping for a few days. He likes the Bangalore weather and would like to chill out till Shankar is ready with his script.

Meanwhile a few weeks back, Shankar had gone in for a master check-up and doctors said that he is perfectly fit. The elusive writer-director will be leaving Chennai along with his assistants this week to an unknown destination to write the working script of Sivaji.
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Courtesy of sify

Rajni & Shankar team up for 'Shivaji'

2005-08-21T03:08:00.000-04:00

Chennai, Aug 19: Rajnikath's next movie "Shivaji" will be produced by AVM under the direction of Shankar, it was formally announced on Friday (Aug.19).

This will be AVM's 168th venture. "Shivaji" will be the ninth AVM's film in which Rajnikanth will be acting. This is also the first film from AVM to be directed by Shankar whose latest film "Anniyan" featuring Vikram, has proved a big hit. In short, the trio of Rajni, AVM and Shankar are coming together for the first time.

Incidentally it will also be Shankar's ninth directorial venture - a fact Rajni considers as significant as the superstar's lucky number is also said to be 'nine'. Rajini is reported to have told Shankar that 'Nine" would prove lucky for both of them.

AVM's announcement came around 2 p.m. on Friday, ending lots of speculation about Rajni's next project. According to rumors in film circles, K.S. Ravikumar or P. Vaasu would direct his next movie.

What gave rise to these speculative stories was that Rajni had been silent about his next plan even three months after the release of "Chandramukhi". And Vaasu's name came to be repeatedly mentioned in film circles as "Chandramukhi" directed by Vaasu, was a phenomenal success. It has completed 130 days and is still running to full house in many places.

Why was the film titled "Shivaji"? Thespian Sivaji Ganesan made his debut in ''Parasakthi'' which was produced by AVM. So, AVM's 68th film has been named as "Shivaji" in honor of his memory. Interestingly, the real name of Rajni is Shivaji Rao.

Shankar is now busy doing the screenplay for the movie. He nor the producers, AVM'' have not yet announced the names of the actress playing opposite Rajni and the rest of the cast, and technicians
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Courtesy of nowrunning