The promises of 2010

The year 2009 may not have been the best of times for Kollywood, but it wasn���������t bad either. And there are plenty of things to look forward to in 2010.
A couple of big-budget superstar films and new multiplexes are on the anvil. The boom in production looks all set to continue and it seems like Tamil films will only get bigger.
But for that to happen, small budget films should keep within their budget, and the first copy should be made under Rs 4 crore.The directors who are successful making small films should stick to their core strength instead of chasing superstars. Directors of substance like Mysskin, Cheran, Susindran, Pandiraj and Arivazhagan must not be lured by the call of big budget films. They should have confidence in their scripts and continue to try out innovative and new themes within the commercial format.
Here���������s a look at what the year ahead has in store for Kollywood fans. The most eagerly-awaited movie of the year is Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan���������s Shankar-directed Endhiran. The film is believed to be made on a budget of Rs 120 crore and is said to have high-tech special effects that have never before been seen in Indian movies. The film was originally slated for April 2010, but shooting is yet to be completed and the post-production work is also likely to take time. This means the movie might only see a Diwali release.
Selvaraghavan���������s magnum opus Aayirathil Oruvan featuring Karthi, Reemma, Andrea and Parthepan is scheduled to release for Pongal. The film is said to be a first-of-its-kind in the action- adventure-fantasy genre and has been in the making for the last three years. Selva has used state-of-art special effects and graphics for this big budget entertainer which has been sold to distributors at a record price.
Ajith, who did not have a release in 2009, is betting big on Asal, in which he plays a stylish international don with Sameera Reddy, Bhavana and a host of villains for company. The film, directed by the actor���������s favourite filmmaker Saran, is slated for release on February 5. Another film which is making waves even before release is Gautham Menon���������s Simbu-Trisha musical Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa which has music scored by AR Rahman. The film is likely to release for the Valentine���������s weekend.
The big summer release of 2010 is going to be Suriya���������s Singam directed by Hari, where the actor once again dons the role of a fierce avenging cop, a la Dirty Harry in the company of Anushka. Then there���������s critically-acclaimed director Vetrimaran���������s Aadukalam set in the Madurai milieu with Dhanush in the lead.
Another big summer release is going to be Mani Ratnam���������s Raavan which is being made in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu. The Tamil and Telugu versions have Vikram playing the lead opposite Aishwarya Rai and also stars actors like Prithviraj, Priyamani, Prabhu and Karthik. Says Vikram, ���������It is one of the best films I have ever done in my life. Mani sir has made it the movie to watch out for and, personally, it is going to be important for me as I���������m being launched in Hindi cinema with this film.���������