Pattanathil Bootham : Mammootty as Genie

Johny Antony is an above average commercial director Malayalam has produced. He has given us major comedy hits like CID Moosa, Thuruppugulan and hits with dileep like Kochi Raajavu, also not to forget the flop Inspector Garud.

With his new film Pattanathil Bootham he is giving more expectation than ever before. Megastar Mammootty act as a ghost which helps children and fight against social injustice. Mammootty's last film Love in Singapore was a flop. Fans are hoping he will do a comeback with this Johny Antony film.



Mammootty plays the role of Jimmy, an adventurous bike rider in circus who gets supernatural powers. Mammootty will attempt some daredevil bike racing acts in this film.

After her marriage Pattanathil Bhootham will be the first film Kavya Madhavan appears on screen. She has appeared in six films with Mammootty, but not as his heroine. This will be the first film in which Kavya dons the heroine role opposite Mammootty. Will this be her last film is the question fans are thinking about.

The actress was recently seen as heroine to superstar Mohanlal in the hit film 'Madambi'.

Pattanathil Bhootham is a fantasy-filled roller coaster adventure, aiming at kids who love Superman and Spiderman.

Innocent, Jagathy Sreekumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar are also acting in this film.

Its shooting was postponed to December because it needed a lot of set works and pre-production activities.

The film has plenty of graphics and special effects which hallmark Johny Antony's style.

Pattanathil bhootham is written by the most sought after and highest paid writers in Malayalam film industry Sibi K. Thomas and Udayakrishnan. The film is produced by Benjamin under the banner of High Bright Movie Makers. Cinematography is done by Sanjeev Shankar and art by Saloo K. George.

This film is expected to bring kids and family back to theatres. Johny Antony knows how to make the movie enjoyable for all. Pattanathil bhootham will no doubt will entertain the masses and will be remembered long.

Pattanathil Bhootham will hit theatres during Vishnu 2009.

Sagar eElias Jackie - Reloded

Malayalam Superstar Mohanlal has confirmed that he is going to do a sequel to his 1987 blockbuster Irupatham Noottandu. The sequel will be directed by Amal Neerad and produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Ashirvad films.

Irupatham Nootandu was made at a cost of Rs. 16 lakhs and went on to make a whooping profit of Rs. 1.60 crore those days for its producer Aroma Mani. It also paved the way for Mohanlal’s stardom.

The original version, written by S.N. Swamy, was a racy entertainer about Sagar alias Jackie (Mohanlal), a smuggler who runs a clandestine gold smuggling business for State Chief Minister’s son Shekharankutty (Suresh Gopi).

S.N. Swamy has written a new script for the sequel named Sagar Elias Jackie, in which after shooting dead the Chief Minister’s son, Jackie escapes from India and arrives in Dubai where he slowly becomes a don. New international problems crop up for Jackie, who still controls Kerala politics sitting in Dubai.

Mohanlal confirmed that he is starting the film from January 1, 2009. The others in the cast are being worked out. Says Antony Perumbavoor, the producer of the film: ” It will be a very stylish movie, with lots of spectacular action scenes. We are planning to shoot the film in Dubai, and I’m sure Amal Neerad will make it racy and entertaining. The film will be Lal sir’s Vishu 2009 release.”

Twenty:20 completes 100 days

Malayalam's biggest ever multi-starrer Twenty:20, directed by veteran Joshi and produced by actor Dileep's Grand Production on behalf of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) as part of a fund-raising drive, will complete its 100 day run this week. Released on November 5, 2008 with approximately 25 prints, including 4 prints in the USA, 11 prints in the UAE, and 7 prints in Tamil Nadu, the film is still running successfully in more than ten centres in the state.

According to reports, Twenty:20, referred to as “the mother of all multi-starrers of Malayalam cinema”, has already made around 20 crores from its 13 week run. The film broke the collection record in the first day with Rs. 2.6 crores gross and collected over 10 crores in the first week itself.

The first week's distributors' share of collecgtins was Rs. 5.72 crores, making it the highest grossing Malayalam film in the opening week. The film managed to secure third position in the Top 5 list of Tamil Nadu box office in the opening week, a rare feat for a Malayalam film.

Twenty:20 has an elaborate line up of 65 stars that includes Madhu, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Dileep, Prithviraj, Mukesh, Manoj K. Jayan, Balachandra Menon, Kalabhavan Mani, Indrajith, Jayasuriya, Jagathy, Innocent, Harisri Asokhan, Salim Kumar, Cochin Haneefa, Manian Pillai Raju, Indrans, Captain Raju, Rahman, Siddique, Lal, Sai Kumar, Biju Menon, Kaviyoor Ponamma, Sukumari, Meera Jasmine, Kavya Madhavan, Navya Nair, Padmapriya, Bhavana, Samvrutha, Vimala Raman and Kalpana.

Dileep is the body guard of Nayantara

A year ago, Mammootty had made a notable performance on screen for the movie ‘Big B' playing a Mumbai based bodyguard of biggies.

After a year from this film, Dileep is likely to repeat the act in a new film. Of course with Dileep, the tone of the movie will definitely differ, from the best of the thrillers to a hilarious comic ride.

Dileep is playing the central character in the new film directed by ace director Siddhique, titled 'Body Guard'. This is the first time Dileep is teaming up with Siddhique who is rightly considered as the king of quality comedies.

To be produced by Johnny Sagariga, this movie will have its pooja this week at Ernakulam.

The shoot of ‘Body Guard’ is planned from the midst of August and the movie will be a November release.

To Harihar Nagar on March 26

Actor-producer Lal of director duo Siddique-Lal debuts as an independent director with his upcoming To Harihar Nagar (Malayalam), a sequel to yesteryear blockbuster In Harihar Nagar (1990). According to sources, To Harihar Nagar, which started rolling in Kochi last month, is almost complete and is getting ready for release on March 26, 2009.

Produced by Lal Creations and PNV Associates, To Harihar Nagar will be an out-and-out comedy entertainer, depicting the story of four intimate friends Mahadevan (Mukesh), Govindan Kutty (Siddique), Appukuttan (Jagadeesh), and Thomas Kutty (Asokan) who all live in different places after their marriages. Coincidentally, they all are back in Harihar Nagar after some years.

The plot picks up when heroine Lakshmi Rai comes to stay in Harihar Nagar. The film revolves around the never-abandoned mischievous behaviour of the four heroes even after marriage. Rohini dons the role of an engineer (Mukesh's wife), Lena plays a financial adviser in Dubai (Siddique's wife), Fabi plays a doctor (Jagadeesh's wife) and Rakhi plays a housewife (Asokan's wife).

"Though they have become older, their basic instincts and characters remain the same. In the sequel, the four-member gang runs into trouble when they try to woo their beautiful neighbour,” said director Lal, who also handles the script. Cinematography is by Venu and music by Alex Paul. To Harihar Nagar is expected to be a huge money-spinner in 2009.

Mammootty In Kannada?

Noted Kannada director Abhay Simha, who had made his debut with much-acclaimed offbeat film Gubbachchigalu (Sparrows), will have Malayalam superstar Mammootty in the lead role in his second venture Shikari. Mammootty is said to be greatly impressed by the script, penned by the director himself. If this happens, Shikari will be Mammootty's debut film in Kannada.

Another rumour is that top Bollywood actress Konkona Sen Sharma is being considered as the lead lady of this Kannada film and she is likely to accept the offer, her first role in a Kannada film. However, official confirmation on the participation of Mammootty and Konkona Sen Sharma is awaited.

Shikari, which deals with the pre- and post-independence conditions in India, will feature music by Anmol Bhave and cinematography by Vikram Shrivastava. Produced by N.R. Shetty, the maker of the Shivadhwaj starrer Shubham, Shikari is going on the floors in March this year. Shikari will possibly be dubbed in Malayalam.

Meanwhile, some sources indicated that Mammootty has agreed to act in a Malayalam film to be directed by Oscar-nominated Kerala sound technician Resul Pookutty. This untitled film, which marks the directorial debut of Pookutty, is based on literary giant Anand's famous novel "Govardhanante Yathrakal", which won the prestigious Odakkuzhal award in 1996.

Arya - Mohanlal team in Casanova

Popular Tamil actor Arya (a Malayalee from Kasargod) is now pinning his hopes on the much-anticipated Tamil magnum opus Naan Kadavul (I am God) by director Bala. He is also to make his first appearance in Malayalam in Casanova, a Rosshan Andrews film with superstar Mohanlal in the lead.

The pooja of Casanova took place on Saturday (January 24) at Confidante Cascade, Bangalore, a resort run by the producer Dr. Roy C.J. It was attended by Jagathy Sreekumar, Lalu Alex, Lakshmi Rai, Priyanka, Priyadarshan, Joshy, Sibi Malayil, producers Suresh Kumar, P.V Gangadharan and Antony Perumbavoor.

Rosshan Andrews, maker of super hits Udayananu Tharam (remade in Tamil as Vellithira) and Notebook, has been working on this script for the last two years along with its writers Sanjay and Bobby. "After reading the script, Arya was very eager to do the film with Mohanlal. This action, romantic thriller revolves around a Casanova (Mohanlal) who believes that love can cure crime," Rosshan Andrews was quoted as saying. Arya has given 40 days call sheet to shoot the film in April and May.

The film has five heroines including Lakshmi Rai. Major portions will be shot in Vienna and other European locations from April 10. R. Divakaran wields the camera while Alex Paul sets music. The action scenes will be choreographed by Hollywood's stunt coordinator Franz Spilhaus of Flight in Phoneix, King Soloman's Mines, Avenger, Singh is Kinng and Drona fame. Produced under the banner of Confident Entertainment (India) Ltd. with a budjetof Rs. 10 crore, Casanova will be Mohanlal's big 2009 Onam release on September 2.