Post-release, Kamal visited Hyderabad and Kochi to meet the press and promote Dasavathaaram. Accompanied by KS Ravikumar at both locations, Kamal provided interesting insights.
Last week, Kamal found time to release the audio of Kodaikanal. Bharathiraaja, with whom he had several successful colloborations including Padhinaaru Vayadhinile and Sigappu Rojakkal, received it.
The highlights of the function were the camaraderie between them and Kamal’s decrial of Oscar awards. On the latter subject, Kamal went a little further this time, saying that he would like to see India honouring American movies with awards.
A news item on NDTV featured prominent fans, Muscat Kannan and Dr. Chandrasekar. The latter was featured in an article in The Hindu too. This piece also had a photo of Gautami celebrating the release with fans.
IndiaGlitz put up a videos of audience responses from Chennai, Hyderabad and Kerala (Thiruvanathapuram?). In Hyderabad, most of the coverage was at Prasad’s Multiplex. Some of the people who spoke seem to be VIPs. For Chennai, the action was at Mayajaal. The verdict is almost unanimous — “Adipoli“, “Chaala baagundhi“, “Super”!
Box-office results are also coming in slowly. The response has been superlative from Chennai ( Webdunia | Yahoo | Sify.com ) to UK and Malaysia to USA — basically everywhere (The Economic Times | Behindwoods). A report from Box Office Mojo seems to indicate that Dasavathaaram even made it to the top 10 movies in terms of overseas collections all over the world. Below is the weekly box-office report from CNN-IBN, which confirms the above.
There was also a report on KollywoodToday.com of many industry insiders being disappointed by the success of the movie.
Here’s a wonderful music video sent in by Arif, dedicated to Kamal on the occasion of Dasavathaaram. It features a fine mash-up of Kamal’s on-screen avatars, the editing being the highlight. Kudos to Arif and team! I’m sure, as fans, you’ll all join me in thanking and congratulating them.
I will summarise the two years of working on Dasavathaaram as going to study in the world’s best university.
Kamal Sir in ten characters! How was I going to match his talent? That was my worry. Then I started planning. I planned every minute detail about each character. I prepared a story board for the entire film.
…there were many foreigners working for the film. And when they started appreciating our work, I realised that what we are doing was as good as Hollywood.
For that one shot we spent Rs 1,50,000! And for that one song we spent Rs 20 lakhs. Throughout all this, the producer never once questioned me about the expenses.
The first day of shooting was inside a cave at the MGM amusement park in Chennai. Except for a small lamp, there was no other source of light inside the cave.
Kamal Sir would get up at 3.30 in the morning for make-up and by the time he was ready, it would be 7.30. We generally started shooting by 8.30am. By then I’d have the set ready with the correct lighting needed for that day’s make-up.
Meanwhile, we have reports on the audio release function still pouring in. How about getting first-hand accounts? Jackie Chan and Amitabh Bachchan have blogged about the function and the portions of the movie they got to watch! Here are excerpts:
The movie, Dasavatharam, is truly a sight to behold. The story, directing, acting, camera work, special effects, everything about it is amazing. It really opened my eyes to modern Indian cinema. Of course I had seen Indian films before; I admire many of the actors, and really like the music and dancing. But this movie is really something else. Every element was amazing to me; and all the elements together just made a perfect and incredible movie! I won’t spoil anyone’s surprise by revealing the story now, since I think everyone should watch this movie. But I will say two things: watch for the environmental message, and all you directors in Hong Kong and China, watch this movie and start working harder than ever, because very soon now, Indian cinema will overtake us in the eyes of the international audience!
Its Kamal Hassan’s film ‘Dasavataram’ and its music release and he has asked me over to attend the function to commemorate the occasion. There’s Jackie Chan, and the Chief Minister of TamilNadu and several colleagues of Kamal. Its a warm friendly event. The few minutes of the promo seen looks awesome. He has played 10 different roles in the film, and all seem so difficult t identify !! Marvelous !!
Here’s the whole load of Dasavathaaram info that has spread like wildfire, starting with the trailer. Then, we have the ‘making’ videos. We have one here and there’s more at Sify.com.
We have heard that the movie has been censored with a ‘U’ certificate and is 2 hours 45 minutes long. It is said to be releasing in the next few weeks. Read a report from Sify.com.
We have another interview of Asin, where she talks about her experiences. One piece talks about KS Ravikumar’s commitment to Dasavathaaram.
Behindwoods reported a few days ago that the Mayajaal multiplex in Chennai is planning 45 shows a day!
Kamal joined fellow industrymen for a fast for the Cauvery-Hogenakkal issue. Among rhetoric and angry speeches, Kamal shone with his restrained and sensible approach. Thatstamil has full details. IndiaGlitz has a report featuring audio of Kamal’s speech and as usual, a wide array of photos. There is a video of the full speech too; but you need to have patience to wade through a lot of preceding trash. The Hindu too carried a report.
Aamir Khan has been widely appreciated for Taare Zameen Par, a movie which marked his directorial debut. Kamal too joined in, when he announced the national-level Best Debutant Director Award on behalf of the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation. He was accompanied at the press conference by long-time friends Gollapudi Maruthi Rao and Singeetham Sreenivasa Rao.
Maruthi Rao, readers would recollect, featured in many Kamal movies including Hey Ram, Indrudu Chandrudu (Indran Chandran) and Swathi Muthyam (Sippikkul Muthu). This award is instituted in memory of his son, Srinivas, who died under tragic circumstances. This incident was used by Kamal in Anbe Sivam, with a reference to ‘tsunami’.
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