There is always a positive and negative side for any happening and that is happening with Ram Gopal Varma right now. He is coming up with “God, Sex and Truth”, a documentary like a film featuring an adult actress. And here is an interesting discussion about him going in film circles.

Apparently, some leaked pics of RGV’s behind-the-scenes pictures with Mia Malkova are doing rounds on WhatsApp now and everyone is busy sharing them privately. While general answer coming from GST insiders is that someone has leaked the pictures of RGV intentionally, cinema lovers are complaining that Varma himself might have intentionally leaked those pics for the sake of extra publicity.

Needless to say, Varma is an expert in getting free publicity and he knows how to tweak the minds of audiences to the tunes of his music. That is the reason naturally a belief comes that he might have leaked those pictures intentionally. Whatever it may be, almost every WhatsApp user in Tollywood and other tinsel towns is by chance looking at those pictures and developing a fetish to watch GST.

Also, if any guy makes a film that features his leading lady cloth-less, one would call him a b-grade filmmaker. But Varma is too intelligent that he projected this as an aesthetic work with a sublime message. But in reality, this film will bring all the attention but not any glory to one’s filmmaking skills, isn’t it?

Going into details, for two of her acquisitions – a luxury watch worth Rs 40 lakhs and a Toyota Prius car worth Rs 27 lakhs, PC hasn’t been paying taxes for the past four years. When she got scrutinized by the IT sleuths in this regard, she reportedly claimed that the aforementioned possessions were ‘gifts’ presented by the respected manufacturers out of love and respect for endorsing their products. Stating that she did not buy them with her income, she argued that the items were not taxable.

When the issue reached the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), the body disagreed with PC’s explanation and said, “A company is an artificial person and therefore does not have any emotional feeling of love and affection which is the cardinal factors for treating any transaction as gift.”

And, the ITAT ruled that both items would be treated as taxable perquisites, and directed the ‘Baywatch’ actress to pay taxes.

Shekhar Kammula’s Happy Days is one of the most memorable movies for all the college students and many Telugu audiences. 2007 released hit also introduced some talented actors to the industry. Milky beauty Tamanna marked her first success with this film and never looked back, while Varun Sandesh and Nikhil emerged as new age heroes.

However, Varun Sandesh who played the main lead is going through a rough patch now. Immediately after Happy Days, he scored another blockbuster with Kotha Bangaru Lokam. Despite gaining two hits, the actor failed to gain stardom. He has been facing consecutive flops and disasters at the box office, except the likes of Yemaindi Ee Vela, there is no other hit to boast about.

Looks like Varun is working on his comeback, not on silver screens this time but on mobile screens. Varun Sandesh will be seen as a lead man in web series titled ‘Hey Krishna’, whose story is based on an engineering graduate, who decides to woo a girl but after some incidents realize that Lord Krishna is the root cause of all sufferings.

Directed by Lakshmikanth Chenna, will this 12 episode long web series revives the Happy Days actor’s career? If this series scores a brownie, no doubt Varun Sandesh will be back on track. Hope for the best.

“I’ve realized four years ago that a hero is not replaceable in a film but a heroine is. I got tagged as an iron-leg for the flops but not the hero. Since then I’ve decided to change my path” said Taapsee Pannu, at the recently concluded India Today conclave. Listening to her speech, some social media folks are coming up with interesting answers.

Trolls are always targeting Taapsee for targeting Tollywood in this way, but those feminists who are supporting her are seen making some interesting comments on social media. Especially one post is doing rounds where they are asking why mega hero Sai Dharam Tej is not called as an Iron Leg when it comes to the fate of heroines.

“From Rey to Jawan, there are many heroines including Sayami Kher, Shraddha Das, Regina Cassandra, Larissa Bonesi, who have not even got another big ticket film after working with Sai Dharam Tej. While Winner heroine Rakul has no Telugu films in hand now, Raashi Khanna is struggling post Supreme movie to become a big heroine. Same is the case with Mehreen Kaur, who lost her lucky-charm post Jawan. So, should Sai Dharam Tej not deserves to be called as an Iron Leg now? If heroines are Iron Legs, what about Heroes??” a post on Facebook read!!

Well, in the first case, a film will do well if the content is good, director does well, producer releases it with perfect planning and promotions. This has nothing to do with iron legs of heroines or heroes. All legs are made of flesh and blood only, but it’s the minds and heart that make the difference.

If that has come from someone among the mega heroes it would have looked in a different way, but young hero Naga Shourya has other day made some sensational comments on No 1 position in Tollywood. In the presence of Megastar Chiranjeevi, the young hero exaggerated his love about the matinee idol resulting in a fire-cracking speech.

“When Megastar is in the race earlier, there used to be 1, 2, 3, 4 like chairs (read positions) in Tollywood. But after he left, those chairs have gone. Everyone is just standing here. But when he has come back, he brought his chair himself. He has sat there. The chair itself has born for him, no one can sit there” said Naga Shourya, at the pre-release event of “Chalo” movie last night.

For the kind of 100 crores share blockbuster Megastar Chiranjeevi scored with his re-entry this may sound true, but why did Naga Shourya make such an open comment is being discussed now. More than that, the whole family of this young hero, including his father and brother touched feet of Megastar and gifted him a bronze idol. Needless to say, everyone at the event showcased their unadulterated love for Chiranjeevi.

With Shourya being a close relative of Jr NTR’s father-in-law Narne Srinivas Rao, many didn’t expect him to shower such adulation on another legend, but not Chiranjeevi. But the young actor’s mega racha on No 1 position and his oath, “Even in another birth, I want to be born as a son to my parents and as a fan of Megastar Chiranjeevi only” are truly shocking. Yes, hero-worship and fans are across all the lines: no caste, no religion, no creed, no race!!

The iconic film Shiva that came out in the powerful combo of Akkineni Nagarjuna and Ram Gopal Varma is undoubtedly a game changer. After a long time, this duo is collaborating to come up with another cult film.

Ever since the announcement of this project, fans are going crazy over each and every update about the flick. Recently, the buzz came out that Nag and Varma locked the title ‘Sapatham’ for this film, however that is not amusing anyone. Wonder why?

Keeping the title aside, Varma these days is staying extremely busy with his upcoming short film about sex titled as God, Sex and Truth. He is too busy making that adult flick and bragging about it a lot. With the way he has been promoting his short film vigorously, isn’t it giving a feeling that he’s ignoring Nag’s upcoming flick to the core?

Fans are feeling that Nagarjuna has given a chance to this director who is in flops, but the director is not living up to it. They are having doubts about the output of the film and thinking whether he will be wasting Nagarjuna’s time on this unwanted project.

Well, this is one of the highly anticipated films in the industry and Nag carved six-pack looks for this project. As the film is scheduled for summer release, maybe Varma is dillydallying this way, but frankly speaking, why would Nagarjuna keep quiet if the director is ignoring the project? So wait for the best to come out.

Young filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who has hit a goldmine last year by making his directorial debut with ‘Arjun Reddy’, has found himself in a strange dilemma concerning the film’s Hindi remake.

Narrating his ordeal to a leading national media house, Sandeep reportedly said that he approached Shahid Kapoor after his first choice, Ranveer Singh refused to act in the remake. ‘I met Shahid Kapoor and discussed the project in detail. He was very interested and I thought I found my hero for Bollywood remake.

All of a sudden, the film’s remake rights changed hands, and now I’ve been asked to make the film with Arjun Kapoor in lead. I am not sure if it’s right to direct the film with another actor after I’ve discussed the film with Shahid Kapoor. I am in an embarrassing situation now,” Sandeep revealed.

The director added that if at all he has to direct Arjun Kapoor in the Bollywood remake, he has laid a condition, ‘Arjun Kapoor should lose 20 kgs to play the protagonist’. Sandeep clearly stated that either he wants Shahid or his condition to be fulfilled (Arjun should lose 20 kgs), otherwise he expressed his willingness to quit the remake.

Arjun Kapoor may not agree to shed so much weight. Let’s see who compromise in the end.

These are the days where each news channel has to compete with its rival to gain more TRPs such that they will get more ratings, thereby revenues. In this process, every news channel is trying to present news different by adding all the spice and masala to even a routine content. There came some ‘debate’ specialists at this juncture to give TRPs easily.

If Karni Sena torched an ambulance in Haryana, that is only a 30-minute news even though how many times our news channels play it. So what to do? Bring in some panellists to discuss it, flare up the tempers, rake the egos and extend the debate for 2 hours. Done!! A controversial news item turns into a full-length movie. This is just an example.

Now if the debate is related to Gods, astrology, castes and science, then bringing in rationalist Babu Gogineni is the biggest option. Whether it is nailing it celebrity astrologer Venu Swamy or firing on the makers of Kamma Anthem, Babu Gogineni became a top-notch weapon for all the Telugu news channels.

In other news, we have Pawan Kalyan bringing huge TRPs all the time, so if his moves and steps are countered, ratings will be doubled. Bah!! Bring in Mahesh Kaththi to talk about him then. With his terrific voracious ability, being a Mass Communication graduate and an avid reader, MK makes sure that the ratings never fall and thermometers always touch the max.

And the third biggest star after Babu Gogineni and Mahesh Kathi is one tight spot. Because the likes of Women’s Rights Activist Sandhya and few others are vying for this position. But these days Ram Gopal Varma is walking with all the honours. Always he comes up with some sort of film, a tweet or an announcement and becomes a debatable topic himself. For all those debates he himself attends as a guest, thereby giving two hours of flared up TRPs for channels.

One wonders, what happens to our TV channels in this competitive world when Babu Gogineni, Mahesh Kaththi and Varma take a break all at a time? Well, that’s the reason channel management are not giving a chance for these TRP specialists to take a holiday!

Rumours were rife that Keerthy Suresh-starrer Mahanati would be postponed. Interestingly, these rumours started circulating after Ram Charan’s Rangasthalam teaser is released which confirmed its release for March 30.

However, producers of Mahanati quashes the rumours as baseless and maintain that the film would be released on March 29 in both Telugu, Tamil (called as Nadigaiyar Thilagam in Tamil) simultaneously. When contacted, producers laughed at rumours and said that they’re arriving as per their scheduled date.

Biopic of legendary actress Savitri, Mahanati chronicles the illustrious career of veteran actress, her rise and fall and her untimely demise at the early age of 45.

The story would be narrated from the perspective of a lady journo – essayed by Samantha Akkineni. The film’s ensemble cast include Vijay Devarakonda, Prakash Raj as filmmaker Aluri Chakrapani, Mohan Babu as SV Ranga Rao, directors Krish, Tarun Bhascker and many others. Nag Ashwin, of Yevade Subramanyam, is wielding the megaphone.

Move over from Spyder, Mahesh Babu is back as Bharath Ane Nenu. Commemorating Republic Day, the makers of BAN have unveiled the first oath of Mahesh from the film. In an audio clip of 1 minute 4 seconds, Mahesh, who plays Bharath, mouths a long oath where he takes over the reigns of Andhra Pradesh.

He reads, “Bharath Ane Nenu Sasanam Dwara Nirmitamyina Bharatha Rajyangam Patla Nijamaina Viswasam Videyatha Chuputhanani Bharatha Saarva Bowmadhikaranni, Samagratanu kapadatanani…Andhra Pradesh Rashtra Mukhyamantriga Na Karthavyalanu Sradha Tho Anthakarana Sudhitho Nirvahistanani…Bhayamga Gani, Pakshapathamga Gani, Ragadveshalugani Lekunda…Rajyanganni Sasanalanu Anusarinchi Prajalandariki Nyayam Chekurastanani Daiva Sakshi Ga Pramanam Chesthunnanu!”

Against Devi Sri Prasad’s background score and Koratala’s writing, directorial guidance, Mahesh delivers the oath in the film which is said to be a fictional political drama set in the undivided Andhra Pradesh (Samaikyandhra).

Looks like, Mahesh has taken an oath to deliver a hit to all his fans with BAN. Let’s wait and see.

The Centre on Thursday announced the list of Padma awardees for 2018. Bringing a joy to all the music lovers of South film industry, music maestro Ilayaraja has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award, the second highest civilian award in India. Congratulatory messages are pouring in for the maestro from celebs as well as fans both on social media and in person.

Ilayaraja has composed more than 6500 songs and provided film scores for more than 1000 films in his career spanning more than four decades. Among the numerous awards and honors he has been bestowed with, are 5 National Film Awards and the Padma Bhushan (awarded in 2010).

Established in 1954, Padma awards are announced on Republic Day every year. They are given in different fields and disciplines such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry.

Padmaavat fever has not just limited to the North, but it proved its mania down the South as the film opened to massive openings across major cities in the South.

The advance bookings of the film were so high that the tickets have been sold like hot cakes. With holiday season (Friday being Republic Day, Saturday and Sunday being weekend), the advance bookings were so full.

In Hyderabad, the film’s tickets in prominent multiplexes have been sold out already. After a long gap, local exhibitors are said to be seeing full enthusiasm among film lovers to watch a film. With Sankranthi films too turned out to be disappointment, Padmaavat is now compensating the taste buds of the film lovers and wiping out the bad memory of Sankranthi releases such as Agnyaathavaasi.

Thumbs Down For Controversy, Thumbs Up for Movie

Released amidst controversies and threats, audiences who have watched the film are opining that ‘Thumbs Down’ for the controversy as the film’s content is no where demeaning Rajput community or their sentiments. In fact, the dialogues of Maharawal Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor) about Rajputs and their ethics are clap-worthy.

Despite having its own shortcomings, Padmaavat got thumbs up from movie lovers cutting across the regions. This is a welcome move. On the whole, audiences say thumbs down for the controversy and thumbs up for the movie.