Down south, hero Saif Ali Khan is not as popular as his enchanting wife Kareena Kapoor. If not for ‘Love Aaj Kal’, Saif wouldn’t have got even that limited recognition. However the recent Court orders have bumped him into the spot light, and after seeing Kareena in Hyderabad for Singham Returns promotions we couldn’t get thoughts off Saif.

Recently a Mumbai court ordered to frame charges on Saif Ali Khan under section 325 IPC, in connection with a brawl at a five star hotel in 2012. A South African businessman of Indian origin accused that Saif thrashed him allegedly when the former asked him to not make heavy noise in the dining hall. This led to a speculation that Saif will be stripped of his Padma Sri award that is conferred in 2010. Anyway, Home Ministry sources have confirmed today that are no such plans.

‘Government has due discretion whether a Padma Award should be stripped of a person even if he is convicted. How a minor scuffle would be fair enough to strip an award that recognizes the outstanding achievements of him in the field of entertainment’, a Home Ministry source commented. Seems like Kareena Kapoor’s husband is safe with his award.

August month’s movie marathon will mesmerize Telugu audiences like never before. After the super successful start of the month with Run Raja Run, films like Maya, Gaalipatam and Nuvvila Nenala followed. Some made sense, some failed to leave impact. Here is another entertainment installment that will be available in theaters from today.

Kona Venkat’s Geethanjali that features Anjali and Srinivas Reddy in the leads is slated for today’s release. Buzz from last night’s premiere show is quite positive as the film got ample dose of comedy in trademark Kona style. Anjali’s performance as an entertaining ghost and Srinivas Reddy, Madhu, Rajesh and Jabardasth Shankar’s funny acts will enthrall movie lovers.

Also some interesting screenplay locks give some speechless moments, they say. Also there is heavy talk about actor Rao Ramesh’s performance. Watch these columns for our review!

Declaring that Govindudu Andarivadele is all about rekindling those forgotten family values and traditions, director Krishna Vamsi sounded bold and confident the other day. What we call like a short-thunders before the actual storm, his revelations energized mega fans. Regardless of what he said, split opinions are being heard about the possibilities of Govindudu becoming a landmark movie as claimed by the film’s crew.

‘Govindudu is not about shattering records and chasing box office figures. The film stands epitome for the next 50 years in the journey of Telugu cinema. It is a classic in the making’, said Krishna Vamsi. Film critics however feel that making classics is impossible these days as audiences are forgetting even super hit films in no time. Magadheera, Attarintiki Daredi and recently Race Gurram have entertained and left, but none left significant mark on audiences, say critics. With KV not in form from a while and Charan charging up the brigade of family-drama for the first time, they say, the probability of hitting bull’s eye is exactly equal to its opposite.

By hook or crook, Krishna Vamsi is expected to deliver a hit this time despite of what the content is. With Charan in the lead, it is likely to turn a big hit because of this staggering stardom that could make even an average fare run like a watch-worthy treat. All these days KV missed the target due to wrong casting also and for Govindudu there is no such issue. Mega fans opined that there is blockbuster written all over for this colorful family .

With reigning star Nitin, jacking up his remuneration from 3.5 crore to 4.5 crore, after average grosser “Heart Attack”, two leading production houses PVP cinema and Bhagwan-Pulla Rao’s production have reportedly dropped their plans to make film with Ishq star. They believed that the 1 crore hike was unnessary since the market has expanded much after “heart attack” since the hike looked unreasonable. PVP were repotedly willing shell out upto 4 crores, but the actor wasn’t willing to reduce, so they are looking for an alternative hero.

Even Bhagwan and Pulla Rao team readied a script and hoping that Nitin would charge them old price of 3, but he shocked them with his revised pay cheque and the producers of Rebel are also moved out of his camp. Usually, stars hike their pay cheques after a blockbuster, but Nitin had other plans and lost two leading production houses. Only time will tell, whether the decision he made was right or wrong?

Compelled to retreat from the August 15 war, Young Tiger NTR’s Rabhasa will be taking on Raviteja’s Power on Vinayaka Chavithi. Both these mass-action flicks are heading to theatres for August 29 release. If we have to discuss about the advantages and disadvantages these movies are having, we have to say that odds are even.

Dammu and Ramayya Vastavayya tanked big time for NTR, though Baadshah cloaked him with satisfaction of delivering hit in the middle. We have to attribute the dismal performance of those two super flops to poor stories and uninteresting dialogues. To our surprise, even Rabhasa is looking like a similar cookie if we have to say anything by the trailer. That doesn’t mean NTR is ruled out as the youngster has earlier shown his potential with such regular movies.

Coming to Raviteja’s Power, we are habituated to watch Ravi Teja in such action roles very often. As it is coming from a debutant director now, chances are unlikely for experimentation and some routine stuff is expected. What matters is how powerfully, logically and innovatively his character and story are created, as routine plots are getting rejected by audiences these days.

Setting his sight on romance and passionate love making, Mega director Sampath Nandi has once again come up with a contemporary theme. Forget Racha and Gabbar Singh 2, both being star studded movies, and look at what is our director’s real love. Indeed, he has an intriguing towards these bold scenes.

Sampath’s debut movie Yemaindi Ee Vela was termed slightly erotic because of the bold romance between Varun Sandesh and Nisha Agarwal. A girl taking slight advantage on the sheets and the couple heading for a passionate sex was shot aesthetically for that flick. Even now, Gaalipatam looks pretty same when it comes to love-making scenes and lip kisses, making us feel the tinge of Sampath Nandi. Since he provided story and dialogues for the movie, should we say that he is smitten by sex scenes?

Despite Tollywood being a celebrated tinsel town after Hindi cinema, we have low levels of reception for steamy romance scenes in main-stream flicks. Slightest ever eroticism is considered an unorthodox thing here. We have to see how people like Sampath Nandi who wants to be bold with their content get a long run.

Many onscreen pairs are branded hit pair in the industry and whenever there is a film with a hit pair, it becomes the major USP of the film. Kajal-Ram Charan Tej, Samanta-Mahesh Babu, Prabhas-Kajal, Prabhas-Anushka, Nagarjuna-Shreya, Naga Chaitanya-Samanta…are only a few hit pairs. And all these pairs are young actors who are ruling the film industry at present. Coming to senior hit pair who are still in great demand are Prakash Raj and Jayasudha.

From ‘Bommarillu’, ‘Kotha Bangaru Lokam’, ‘Seetamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu’ to ‘Govindudu Andarivaadele’, the duo seem to be made for each other as husband and wife onscreen. The perfect chemistry that strikes between them adds to the overall feel of the movie. That is why Praksh Raj was brought back to Cherry’s movie replacing another Tamil actor who was first chosen to do the role in GAV.

The latest teaser of GAV has a refreshing feel and gave the audience glimpses of these senior pair adding an aura of sacredness. The sight of Prakash Raj-Jayasudha pair itself adds positivity for any movie. Prakash Raj and Jayasudha always strike right chords because unlike many others they are natural actors who live their characters. Undoubtedly, the duo as an onscreen pair have no replacement.

Paapanaashanam’ is one of the places of visit on the holy hills of Tirumala Tirupati. It is a holy waterfall and people who go for pilgrimage to Tirupati don’t miss out to bathe under the holy waterfalls ‘Paapanaashanam’. Devotees consider, these holy waters of the waterfall wash away their sins and make them pious. ‘Drushyam’ is all about fighting against sin and finally getting oneself purified by washing away the sin by accepting guilt.

This might seem to be like some ‘Satsanga’ classes but Tamil remake of ‘Drushyam’ is reportedly going for a title change. As per the latest news, Kamal Haasan’s movie is going to be titled ‘Paapanaasham’. After the competion of ‘Uttama Villian’, this movie will go on sets. Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada versions of the movie have almost the same titles and the makers might have felt that the title has become too familiar and lost its sheen and shocking factor which is essential for a thriller.

Amongst the dusky heroines in South, milky beauties Hansika, Tamanna and Shruti Haasan look like fairies who came to earth from heaven. Their milky while complexion and flawless skin tone is their USP down South. But in Bollywood, as most of the heroines are fair skinned and only a few like Bipasha Basu are dusky beauties, Tamanna and Shruti’s milky white skin isn’t anything special for them. South audiences go gaga over their skin color besides their natural beauty.

Three films old in Bollywood, Tamanna is still struggling. Her third film with Akshay Kumar is released on 8th August and is receiving mixed response from critics. Since Tamanna’s character hasn’t much in the performance front, some of the critics have attacked her milky white complexion. They compared it to bloodless whiteness. And some even advised her to retire from Bollywood movies and go to South movies where she can justify her name Tamanna. Three films in a row with big heroes, but all faced the same fate leaving Tamanna where she has started. Poor thing!

Only recently senior actor Mohan Babu and star comedian Brahmanandam were dragged into a legal tussle because of the alleged misuse of their Padma titles. Court even went to the extent of cancelling their titles and restricted them using the Padma title for commercial gain hereafter. One more top Bollywood hero is currently facing the same regarding his Padma title. A complaint was lodged by an RTI activist Subhash Agarwal, asking the Home Ministry to take back the actor Saif Ali Khan Padma Shri conferred on him in 2010.

Agarwal’s complaint says, “I had filed a complaint in the Ministry of Home Affairs when a Mumbai court had framed charges against him. I had demanded that the Padma award must be taken back from him. This is not the first time that I’ve filed this complaint.” But according to the government stand, those charges made by Mumbai Court on Saif Ali Khan over a restaurant brawl with an NRI, were made after he was conferred the Padma award. Hence it is unlikely that the government is going to strip off the title from the actor.

Nandamuri Balakrishna is presently shooting for his upcoming movie in Hyderabad. Some action sequences for the movie directed by Satya Deva are being shot on the outer ring road. The director is filming the bike racing sequences for the movie when suddenly Balayya Babu’s leg got injured during the shoot by accident. Immediately he was rushed to Kamineni Hospital in Hyderabad.

According to the latest reports, Balakrishna’s health condition is stable and there is no need to worry. Balayya Babu is presently busy shooting for his film ‘Godse’, Trisha playing the main female lead. Recently after the Rajamundri schedule, the film’s unit returned to Hyderabad and resumed shooting here in Hyd. His injury news came as a shock to his fans and they are praying for a quick recovery.

Kannada Superstar Sudeep is a happy man these days, with remakes of Telugu blockbuster doing him wonders at Kannada box office. Earlier he remade Prabhas-Koratal Siva’s Mirchi as Maanikya and the film witnessed phenomenal success at box office. Here comes another big Telugu project in his kitty, for which Sudeep started shooting already.

Pawan Kalyan’s latest hit under Trivikram’s direction, Attarintiki Daredi is being remade in Kannada now. Sudeep is playing the larger-than-life kind of Gowtham Nanda role, while Kannada beauty Hari Priya is reprising Bapu Bomma Praneetha’s role. Telugu fans who are eager to see how Sudeep looks in Pawan’s shoes aren’t happy beings at the moment.

After looking at alternate versions of Pawan-Praneetha, in Sudeep and Hari Priya, Power Star’s fans are peeved a little. A rich brat’s arrogance is missing in Sudeep’s look and that cute little mommy’s girl kind of innocence isn’t reproduced by Hari Priya. Do you feel the same after looking at that picture from AD Kannada version shooting spot folks?

Heart Attack beauty Adah Sharma seems to be in limelight. Not long ago, she has bagged a Kannada film which has Punith Rajkumar in the lead. Going by latest reports, she signed her second Telugu film. Adah will be romancing none other than Manchu Manoj in yet-to-be-titled film.

Unit sources say that after scrutinizing four to five names, finally Adah has been zeroed in on for the film. Makers believe that Adah fits the bill aptly as she perfectly balances acting and glam quotient. First-timer Sagar will wield the megaphone. Presently, Manchu Maoj is working on Current Teega which fetaures Rakul Preet Singh and Sunny Leone.

One flick of huge magnanimity, which satisfied all quarters with its rich content, is none other than Magadheera. Of course, the concept of re-births is not a new one, but the way three characters and their back stories in a different life are etched with perfection. Since then, many big stars are awaiting to become part of one such magical movie in their careers.

Looks like even universal hero Kamal Haasan too got infatuated by Ram Charan and Rajamouli’s magnum opus. His upcoming movie ‘Uttama Villain’ is all about a two persons, played by Kamal, one in a past life ane one in present life. In the previous birth, the lead character happens to be a theatre artist of 9th century and he happens to be a superstar actor in the present birth.

The connection between these two births is all the story is about. Magadheera has dealt with love and revenge in the age of kings and in concrete jungles. Had Kamal too jotted pen on similar lines? Uttama Villain is written by Kamal himself while his colleague and friend Ramesh Aravind is wielding the mega phone.

Contrary to wide reports that Kajal Aggarwal has walked out of Jr NTR-Puri Jagannadh’s project, the Singham star is very much part of the film, if the latest reports are anything to go by. Producer Bandla Ganesh has clarified that Kajal has resolved all her dates issues and joining the team shortly.

Kajal initially suffered with dates issues but later she has adjusted them and came onto the board. After Brindavanam and Baadshah, this will be her third film with NTR. Tentatively titled as Nenorakam, the movie will go onto floors soon and will be released on January 9, 2015 i.e., on the eve of Sankranthi. Meanwhile, the film has ‘Shadow’ beauty Madhurima playing second fiddle.

Mega Powerstar Ram Charan bowled out everyone with his handsome looks and polished yet honest talk the other day. Motivated by the speeches of his colleagues, especially director Krishna Vamsi, Cherry shared his inside at Govindudu Andarivadele teaser launch the other day.

Before the launching of GAV’s colorful teaser, Charan thought that he would not speak a word as he feels that the film itself should speak volumes on October 1, after its release. ‘As I wanted my film to speak, I thought of finishing with the line Andariki Namaskaram today. But Krishna Vamsi’s honest emotional speech made me open mouth’, says Charan. In a lucid tone, he stresses, ‘After bumping into Krishna Vamsi incessantly for four years to make a family-drama with me, finally I got a chance in the form of GAV. It is not that I okayed his project in minutes, it is that I’m waiting for it from years’

Earlier KV turned emotional saying that at a time no one is daring to look at his face even, Charan has given him a golden opportunity. Krishna Vamsi’s hard work and Charan’s dedication are surely going to pay off, and that is what the trailer reads.

Commenting on Telangana government’s latest proposal to set up a Film City in whopping 2000 acres, director-producer Tammareddy Bharadwaj outrightly says that “it’s not sufficient and there needs to be done more for the development of film industry”

Expressing satisfaction over government’s move, Tammareddy, former Film Chamber president, on other hand raises alarm bell for reforms that need to be implemented in filmdom. Tammareddy points out, “Ticketing system should be computerised only then the taxes will reach the government.” Tammareddy says that it’s a Herculean task to get police permissions for the film shootings in and around Hyderabad which he wants to be loosen up. He also requested government to act against existing “monopoly”, “highhandedness” in distribution system. Tammareddy says government should offer SOPs to small producers for their survival.

Spicy seductresses always look fond of each other in front of camera, but off the record they are really jealous. Many doesn’t want to appear alongside their competitors, though they hug them with warmth at awards functions. But eliminate the name of Shruti Haasan from that list.

Unlike limiting her vocal talents for her own songs and flicks, beautiful belle Shruti Haasan is lending her voice for others too. She had a sung a romantic song the other day for upcoming Hindi flick ‘Tevar’, for the song where Sonakshi Sinha will be dancing in ecstasy. Finding Shruti’s sweet voice fresh and magnetic, music director duo Sajid-Wajid convinced her to croon.

We also heard that talented composer Anirudh made Shruti sing for a melody for upcoming Vijay’s film. This song will be filmed on Samantha, surprisingly. For two hot sirens, a hottest lady is lending voice then, proving that she is more warm and friendly for her colleagues. Who else could do such feat if not Shruti Haasan?

Finally after entertaining family audiences by taking them through an emotional journey for weeks, curtains were pulled down on Nagarjuna’s Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu. In the presence of Megastar Chiru, the first season of MEK was ended last night, upsetting family audiences.

From housewives to youngsters, family audiences glued to MEK to watch Nag’s travel into the lives of others. From a school master who wanted to help his sister by winning a crore to a HIV positive patient who expressed confidence of getting life changed forever by winning some thousands, Nag experienced their pain and projected it in his own eyes. His wise advices always made a point to learn, while his simplicity is a rule youngsters should follow. Such emotional journey got disconnected from last night, as the Second Season of MEK will begin only sometime later.

‘At a time when monotony is reining game shows, Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu has proved a point and made everyone tune into the show’, Chiru praised, after sitting in hot-seat for the final episode. ‘This game show has to continue, this last episode is just an interval; there should be no end for this show’, he concluded. That is what even all the family audiences felt.