Kamal recently launched the audio of Kanagavel Kaakka starring Karan. We all remember Karan’s rocking debut in Nammavar, don’t we?

The video here, from Behindwoods, covers the audio launch and also crew members talking about the movie. It also includes an endorsement from Kamal. Check out more photos from Behindwoods, IndiaGlitz and Chennai365. IndiaGlitz too has the same video. Thenaali.com carried a short report.

[With inputs from Ananth]

[Video, picture courtesy: Behindwoods]

With Unnaipol Oruvan and Eenadu on their final leg in theatres, let us have a round-up of the release and response over the past few weeks.

Rajnikanth, as usual, praised Kamal’s effort, as reported by IndiaGlitz and Thatstamil. He was among the several special invitees who watched Unnaipol Oruvan. In addition to the below video from Behindwoods, check out the video from IndiaGlitz too.

OneIndia published photos of film reel boxes arriving in USA. IndiaGlitz featured first-day-first-show celebrations. Check out the collection of old posters put up on the occasion.

Initial reports on the response came in from OneIndia and Webdunia. After topping the Tamil box-office charts for 4 weeks (before Diwali), Unnaipol Oruvan is said to have garnered terrific profits. Check out other reports from Webdunia (1 | 2) and IndiaGlitz. There was a record in the Mayajaal multiplex in the Chennai area too. Eenadu is said to have had a decent run too.

[With inputs from Ananth]

Behindwoods.com conducted a contest for Unnaipol Oruvan, for which the grand prize was a meeting with Kamal. He met with all the winners on Monday at his office on Eldams Road.

In addition to the video above, you can read the experience of one of the winners and a short report. Kamal talks about the importance of time and a way in which it could be spent usefully.

More photos are available on Behindwoods.com.

[With inputs from Ananth]

[Video, picture courtesy: Behindwoods]

The Golden Jubilee celebrations organised by Vijay TV with the fans’ association came to a close on September 28, Monday. Though the valedictory function was not as big as originally envisioned, it provided many memorable moments nevertheless. While we wait to watch it on Vijay TV by the weekend, here are updates and photos from the media.

Rajnikanth, Sarojadevi, K Balachander, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Venkatesh, Sarathkumar and others spoke at the function. Here are details from Dinamani, Nakkheeran and Maalaimalar (1 | 2). Illaiyaraaja and AR Rahman too wished Kamal on the occasion.

Rajni’s frank and generous speech was covered separately by Nakkheeran,. His camaraderie with Kamal was reported by Sify.com and Behindwoods.

Kamal gave an emotional response. Check it out at Dinamani and Nakkheeran.

Several of Kamal’s leading ladies including Radhika, Gautami, Urvashi and Jayachitra shared their experiences. Read about it on Maalaimalar.

It seems like the same set of photos were distributed by Vijay TV to the press. You can check it out on Behindwoods, IndiaGlitz, Chennai365 (1 | 2), CelluloidTamil, or SivajiTV.com. The Hindu though carried a slideshow of their own photos.

Read other reports from Sify.com, Thatstamil, The Times of India, NDTV, Express Buzz, Dinathanthi and Maalaisudar.

Prior to this function, Kamal and others went to the Marina Beach on the Kamal Express, where he garlanded Sivaji Ganesan’s statue.

[With inputs from Ananth]

[Picture courtesy: BehindWoods]

What one imagined to be a minor irritant caused some tension in the eleventh hour. However, decks have been cleared for Unnaipol Oruvan / Eenadu to release on September 18 as planned. Here is the sequence of events related to Pyramid Saimira’s allegations against Kamal.

• It started last week with Pyramid Saimira issuing a legal notice to Kamal asking him to repay advance paid towards Marmayogi and then going to town about it. Many news outlets including The Times of India, Express Buzz, Sify.com, Thatstamil, Behindwoods, Galatta.com, and Dinamalar lapped it up.
• Kamal gave a fitting response by revealing details of the legal notice he had to sent to Pyramid Saimira way back in April.The full press release can be seen at Chennai365. Details can be browsed at Sify.com, Behindwoods, Galatta.com or Dinamalar. 1-0 to Kamal.
• After this, Pyramid Saimira went ahead and filed a case on Monday requesting a stay on the release on Unnaipol Oruvan and Eenadu. The court ordered “status quo”, which was interpreted in different ways by different sections of the media. Read more from ChennaiOnline, Dinamani, IndiaGlitz, SivajiTV.com and Dinathanthi. While it is a well-known fact that Marmayogi was shelved due to lack of funds from Pyramid Saimira, they put the blame on Kamal citing lack of co-operation. It was obvious that this was an attempt to extract money in the eleventh hour.
• Raajkamal Productions filed an initial response on Tuesday. Check out Thatstamil, Galatta.com, Dinamani, Dinathanthi, Dinamalar and Maalaisudar for more.
• Kamal was said to have been calm during this time. He held preview shows for select audience. Some details are available from Thenaali.com.
• The complete response was heard today (September 17) and the request for stay was rejected! The case is not over though, with the court asking Kamal to deposit Rs. 4 crores by the end of the month. Details can be found at The Hindu, Thatstamil, IndiaGlitz (1 | 2), Galatta.com, SivajiTV.com, Webdunia and Thenaali.com. 2-0 to Kamal!

As fans, while we are happy to hear that the release of the movie(s) is in no trouble, we are also eager to witness the knock-out punch to Pyramid Saimira!

An interesting aside to these events is that Kamal and Sridevi were in Chennai High Court today, the latter too for a similar case!

[With inputs from Ananth]

As the day of release nears, newspapers of South India are flooded daily with ads of Unnaipol Oruvan and Eenadu. Here are some of them, courtesy of Kamal Haasan Orkut community again!

Unnaipol Oruvan’s audio released happened today at Sathyam Cinemas at 9 a.m. While we wait to collect news, photos and videos of the same, let’s take a look at the ads in the run-up to the release. You can see that Kamal propped up Shruti’s name as a proud father.

As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations organized by Vijay TV, “Kamal Express” rolled out of Chennai on August 24, as per plan.

The bus left from AVM Studios and was flagged off by AVM Saravanan. It is apt that the bus originated from here since Kamal’s first movie Kalathur Kannammaa was shot here. Others present included Aksharaa Haasan, Subbulakshmi, Rama Narayanan and VC Guhanathan. Read more from The Hindu and Behindwoods.

IndiaGlitz has a video and photos for a peek into the bus, speeches by the guests and more. Also, check out Galatta.com, Behindwoods and Chennai365 (1 | 2 | 3).

Several members of the Kamal Haasan Orkut community were there, including Shankar ‘Ulagam’. Check out their celebrations and posters in these photos.

The bus was also sighted at Puducherry (Pondicherry). Did you catch the bus anywhere? Let us know your experiences in the Comments section!

[With inputs from Ananth and photos via Shankar ‘Ulagam’]

When Kamal stepped into his Golden Jubilee year on August 12, there were several who wished him. Kamal celebrated the occasion with a few close associates and well-wishers.

There were quite a few who put out ads in newspapers, while partially seeking publicity for themselves. Here are some of them.

Unlike some earlier occasions including Dasavathaaram, the media did justice this time.

• NDTV, CNN-IBN and Times Now carried interview snippets. The first two videos are featured above. Watch Kamal talk about his childhood acting experiences, “sibling” relationship with Sridevi, about Mani Ratnam and acting with Mohanlal among other things. He also mentions for the first time about not going ahead with 19 Steps (or The 19th Step?).
• Thenaali.com featured a long tribute from Prakashraj (aka Prakash Rai).
• Deccan Chronicle carried a short interview, where Kamal underplays the significance of the milestone.
• Nighazhuvugal.com came up with a piece that included a list of all his movies.
• The Times of India came up with a good photo gallery.
• Vikatan.com came up with a list of 50 tidbits.
• Read other reports from The Hindu, Sify.com, The Times of India, Thatstamil, Chennai365, Galatta.com, India Today, SivajiTV.com, Behindwoods, and Dinamani and Maalaisudar. Sify.com now also has a separate page for Kamal-related news and other stuff.

[With inputs from Ananth]

After a long wait, this week, details of the Golden Jubilee celebrations emerged. The series of events titled “Ulaganayagan Kamal Aimbathu – Oru Thodarum Sarithiram” (Universal Hero Kamal 50 — A Continuing Legacy) is arranged by Vijay TV, as mentioned earlier, with support from the Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Film Artistes Association).

We fans are in for a treat! Below are the phases of the celebrations. Check out more details from The Hindu, Chennai365 and Behindwoods.

Sarath Kumar, A.R. Murugadoss, Khushboo, Myshkin, S.P.B. Charan, Yugi Sethu, Cheran and Ravi K. Chandran are the core team working with Vijay TV. The plans for celebrations were announced in a press meet involving them.

IndiaGlitz and SivajiTV have videos covering almost the entire event. Don’t miss the emotional outpourings of Murugadoss and Cheran, and also a bit where Sarath mimics Kamal.

News reports are available from Thatstamil, Dinathanthi, Sify.com, ChennaiOnline.com, News Today, Nighazhvugal.com, ExpressBuzz (1 | 2), The Times of India, IndiaGlitz and Galatta.com.

During this press-meet, they also played a video message from Kamal, expressing his gratitude. Check out his humility and motivation when you read the message at Galatta.com, Dinamani or Chennai365.

Vijay TV telecast an introductory programme yesterday, including highlights of the press meet, Kamal’s message and all the above details.