Srilankan Tamils are suffering under the onslaught of the Srilankan army and government. The politically-inclined Tamil film industry has geared up to protest against it. Similar to the Cauvery protests a few years ago, there has been much internal conflicts and confusion. Finally, the actors are set to stage a fast on November 1 in Chennai. Read reports from Behindwoods, Thatstamil, Dinathanthi and Dinamalar.

Kamal and Rajni are likely to participate. However, it is said that there will be no speeches this time (OneIndia). One would recall what happened at the last protest, for the Hogenakkal issue. Here’s more from Sify.com and IndiaGlitz.

The Srilankan Tamil problem was highlighted on the passing in Punnagai Mannan (1986), starring Kamal and directed by K Balachander, his mentor. There is also a rumour doing the rounds that Kamal once planned a full-fledged movie on the issue but was dissuaded from going ahead.

[With inputs from Ananth]

CV Sridhar, one of the directorial greats of Tamil movies, passed away on October 20. Kamal was among those who paid his last respects. Check out photos at IndiaGlitz and Behindwoods.

Sridhar directed Kamal, along with Rajnikanth, in the hit Illamai Oonjalaadugiradhu. He was also behind the nothing-great Naanum Oru Thozhilaali. Kamal recounted his experiences with the man, mentioning that, at 25, he was even offered to direct a movie for Sridhar’s production house, Chitralaya!

Also, Kamal’s close associate, Santhana Bharathi, apprenticed under Sridhar.

[Picture courtesy: BehindWoods]

Kamal launched the audio of A Aa E Ee (yes, that’s the name of the movie!), starring Navadeep, Monica, Aravindakash, Saranya Mohan, Prabhu and Manorama. The music is provided by Vijay Antony of “Naka Muka” fame. The movie is produced by AVM Kumaran and AVM K Shanmugam, while being directed by Sabapathy.

Check out more photos at Behindwoods and IndiaGlitz.

[With inputs from Ananth]

[Picture courtesy: BehindWoods]

Anbe Sivam is hailed as a classic by many today, though it didn’t receive sufficient appreciation at the box-office in 2003. Kamal chose to hold a preview screening for SAHMAT (Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust). Kamal declared that the inspiration for his character was Safdar Hashmi, a street-theatre artiste who was brutally murdered in 1989. (Interestingly, Hashmi was born in the same year as Kamal.)

At the screening in the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi, Kamal spoke about communism and his opposition to globalization among other things. Learn more from the report on the CPI(M)’s Web-site.

[Picture courtesy: BehindWoods]