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All set to give her father Kamal Haasan a run for his money when it comes to versatility, actor, model and singer Shruti Hassan is all set to turn music director for his film Eenadu. The 23-year-old, who started singing at the age of six, says she enjoys juggling her many roles.“We have one life and I’ve got to make the most of it. I love dancing, painting, writing and in fact, anything that is creative and out of the box. At home, we don’t make a conscious effort to be something. Everyone in the family makes a personal and silent journey towards learning. Performance is my priority, be it singing or acting,” says the focused diva.Her Bollywood debut, Luck may have been a debacle, but Shruti is far from discouraged. “I have learnt to give my 100 per cent to whatever I am doing. I liked the movie, the story and the concept. It might not have done well, but I still stand by the film. All of us did our best. I don’t feel ashamed of my work. Movie making is almost like being experimental with food, it might go right or wrong. Art is not about being successful, it’s about being creative. Finally, we don’t have control over the box office collections or the reviews. None the less, Luck has taught me a lot,” says the highly individualistic and spunky actress who is in no rush to sign films.“I do like running around trees and dancing, but now the audience has become intelligent. We can’t take them for granted and movies have to be sensible. I have my music to keep me busy always, so I’m not desperate to do films,” says Shruti.The actress who is visiting Hyderabad after two years says she finds the city “awesome”. Ask her if she plans to do movies here and she says, “I did go through a few scripts but nothing has interested me so far. For now, my first venture in the South Indian film industry is only as a music director.”Shruti claims that her dad never interferes in her work. “Dad has never been a star at home. We discuss films, but he is not too big on advice. We do think on the same wavelength. When he told me about the album, he was very clear about what he wants. It made things easy for me,” she says.Interestingly, Eenadu is more of a family affair for her — Shruti’s younger sister Akshara has choreographed for the film, Gautami did the dubbing and Subbalakshmi, Gautami’s daughter has recorded a track for it.“Dad and I discussed the possibility of coming up with a video album for the film. And since dad is producing, he funded the album. I came up with the concept in three days and the album was recorded in one-and-a-half days. And everyone in the family participated in this film,” says Shruti.
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Actor Kamal Haasan and his family were the cynosure of all eyes. Proud dad Kamal was all praise for Shruti’s compositions. “She did her work independently and it was a pleasant surprise. We shot a promotional video and it has nothing to do with the film. It’s something like the song Madonna did to promote Quantum of Solace. Director Chakri has made a good commercial film and my co-star Venkatesh worked like a friend throughout the film,” said the thespian. Venkatesh gushed, “it was wonderful working with an ace actor like Kamal” and said that Shruti’s score for the film was “amazing”.The audience was spellbound by Shruti’s music video choreographed by her sister Akshara that also showcased Gouthami’s daughter Subbalakshmi’s singing talent. Shruti,of course, was the showstealer with everyone walking up to congratulate her work. The event was attended by bigwigs like K Raghavendra Rao, Paruchuri Gopala Krishna, Chakri and Atchi Reddy.

Telugu Desam Party official spokesperson and MLC Nannapaneni Rajakumari has taken strong exception to the outburst of Director General of Police S S P Yadav against media persons.
She said had the DGP been in any other country, he would have been hanged to death by this time. “The DGP’s behaviour is highly condemnable. How can he equate the death of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Redd in a helicopter crash with the death of 300 persons in terrorist attack on WTC in the USA?” she wondered.
She came down heavily on the DGP for cursing media persons that they would be infested with pests (purugulu padi pothaaru). She said media, too, should demand an apology from Yadav. The DGP fretted and fumed at the media for targeting him in the helicopter crash incident. He wanted to know why the media was blaming him for flying by helicopter to Idupulapaya estate, when the government itself had not sought any explanation.

The Telugu Desam party, is keenly watching the developments in the ruling Congress party in the State, following the demise of former Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy .The statement made by Mr Revanth Reddy, TDP legislator a few days back that there is every possibility of mid-term elections in the State, and the senior TDP leader, Mr Yerrabelli Dayakar Rao's observation on Saturday that groupism would come to the surface in the Congress now and it would be beneficial to the TDP, are clear indications of the thinking in a section of the TDP leaders on the issue.Mr Dayakar Rao stated that the demise of Dr Reddy was a great loss to the State and the next Chief Minister, whoever it might be, would not be able to carryon the functions of the government and the party as efficiently as Dr Reddy did. He also stated that either Mr Rosaiah, the present Chief Minister, or Mr Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, in favour of whom a vast majority of the legislators were pitching now, would not be able to prevent groupism within the ruling party, and it would benefit the TDP. Mr Rao added that groupism is very common in the Congress party and the party is sure to face groupism and in-fighting now.It is clear from these statements that some of the TDP leaders feel that there would be crisis in the Congress party and that would lead to mid-term elections. These leaders might be feeling that mid-term elections would benefit the TDP. Observers, however, feel that the thinking of the TDP leaders is totally devoid of reason, and there was no possibility of mid-term polls and even if mid-term polls become inevitable, the TDP would not benefit at all. On the other hand, the TDP would stand to lose further, as the good work done by Dr Rajasekhara Reddy, coupled with the sympathy factor, would work wonders in favour of the Congress party and it would definitely improve its strength.The high command is The Senior leaders of the party are fully aware that once a wrong step is taken, it would be difficult to retrace, and the party might face difficult times. The High Command is keen that the good work done by late YSR and the unity forged by him in the party were not undone in any manner. would have to pay a heavy price.All said and done, political analysts feel that the wishes of the TDP would not materialise and the Congress party would be able to complete the full term of five years.

An undertaking on Friday by film production unit owned by Sridevi to deposit Rs three crore in a court by September 16 has cleared the hurdle in the nationwide release of Salman Khan-starrer 'Wanted' on September 18.
When appeals by Sridevi, her husband Boney Kapoor and father-in-law Surendra Kapoor against a single judge's August 27 order, directing Sridevi Productions to deposit Rs nine crore in cash and security came up for hearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justices M Chockalingam and R Subbiah, the production firm gave an undertaking to deposit Rs three crore to the credit of the suit before the trial court.
On August 27, Justice G Rajasuriya had directed the firm to deposit Rs 3.6 crore in cash and furnish a surety of Rs 5.4 crore by September 16.
The interim order was passed on suits filed by Mumbai-based G G Photo Ltd, seeking recovery of Rs nine crore from the Kapoors towards financial assistance rendered and supply of raw film stock to Sridevi Productions. The Hindi movie, a remake of film 'Pokiri', directed by Prabhu Deva also has actors Vinod Khanna and Ayesha in it.

The Congress high command is all set to bring down curtains on the power transition issue after sending clear indications on Sunday that the choice for a long term successor in the state has been narrowed down to the issue of popularity versus seniority.Though none of the statements emanating from Delhi was official in nature, highly-placed sources within the AICC indicated that the high command was actively taking this line of argument by looking at a candidate's potential to lead the party to victory in all elections (including rural and urban local bodies) and at the same time run the administration with equal vigour."The party high command wants to assert itself at this hour of crisis as it could never do it in the past ten years because of YSR and his style of functioning. Though YSR deserves full credit for the party's reversal of fortunes in the past two elections despite a strong opposition, the high command wants to use the situation to send a message to all Congress leaders across the country that performance alone cannot be a measure and loyalty to the party and high command would be the single most important thing," the sources said.A senior Congress MP who did not want to be identified said the party high command was in fact surprised at the popularity of YSR. "The high command always had a soft corner for YSR, but never thought YSR was so popular. His untimely death made him even more popular. Now they want to regain the lost grip over state politics by installing a person who not only dances to their wishes, but also bluntly keeps the party in the forefront of all political activity," the MP said.The sources said that the party leadership had made it abundantly clear to political advisor K V P Ramachandra Rao yet again on Sunday that henceforth the high command would have a major say in issues of governance and power will not be vested in an individual like YSR. "That the Congress party will have a say in running the government has been made abundantly clear to KVP during his interaction with the AICC functionaries. The YSR style of functioning will not be encouraged and the party is supreme and not an individual," an AICC source said.The sources said though AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was keen on promoting young leaders in the country, the party high command wanted to make it certain, through proper checks and balances, that the Congress party's agenda always remained on top.With Union minister S Jaipal Reddy backing out of the race and PCC president D Srinivas and Rajya Sabha MP K Keshav Rao falling under their own weight, the political stalemate within the Congress is sure to end once chief minister K Rosaiah meets AICC chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti president, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, is planning to start a “Telangana TV” channel to highlight problems of Telangana and focus on its culture.Mr Rao visited some studios in Hyderabad and Mumbai to scout for a suitable low cost channel, TRS sources said.The TRS chief has been toying with the idea of starting a TV channel for quite some time now. He was encouraged after the launch of a newspaper and TV channel by ruling party members in Hyderabad.The TRS leader and former MP, Mr G. Vinod Kumar, who had accompanied the TRS chief in the search for a suitable TV channel, said that the channel would be based in the city. It will devote time for socio-economic problems of Telangana and hold discussions on a several topics pertaining to the area besides focusing on its art and culture, he explained.“We have undertaken a preliminary exercise and visited some channels including some religious ones which are functioning on moderate budgets to ascertain the cost and other details. A decision will be taken soon,” he said.While Mr Chandrasekhar Rao is in active politics, his daughter Ms Kavita is promoting Telangana culture and cuisine through her “Telangana Jagruti” organisation. Ms Kavita is presently organising Telangana sambaralu in New Delhi. She will also have a role in the TV programmes.According to Mr Vinod, Telangana culture has been gradually eroding and the channel would give a fillip to protect the same and also bring to light the great history of the region, its monuments, personalities and cuisine among others.
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stylish actor Arjun's Arya 2, which was expected to grace screens on September 19, has been reportedly re-scheduled for release on October 9. The shooting is almost over. Music, scored by Devi Sri Prasad, will be launched soon.A sequel to Telugu blockbuster Arya (2004) directed by actor-director Sukumar, Arya 2 is produced by Dil Raju and Aditya Babu under the banner of Sri Venkataramana Creations. Kajal Aggarwal is the heroine.The film stars Navdeep and Shraddha Das in major roles. Tamil actor Arya plays the villain. The film is a love story set in the backdrop of a murder mystery. Gundu Hanumanta Rao, Jenny, Tilak, Vinod, Junior Relangi, M. Shyamsundar, Annapurna and others are in the cast. Music is by Gorantla Krishna, while cinematography is by Muralikrishna.

Sticking to his stance, Superstar Rajinikanth said that he has no intention of entering into politics. While thanking the offer of All India Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi that the doors are always open for him in politics, Rajinikanth said he has not given any thought to that subject. "I will talk about it when the day happens," said Rajinikanth.Well, when Rajinikanth says something it is like saying it hundred times -- like the actor's famous one-liner in Baasha.It remains to be seen if Ilayathalapathy Vijay takes up Rahul Gandhi's offer or follows the Superstar's steps in this regard.

"Mounaragam is completely different from the Revathi starrer," says Madhurima whose film Toss (Hindi) released recently.She says, "I'm the leading lady, Suhasini plays second fiddle, the film is about the changes that happens in one's life and the relationships. It will release in October or November."About her Telugu she says, "The director explains the scene first, then a dialogue sheet is given to me, it is translated into English, I give it two or three readings and then I repeat as my producer prompts from a distance. Telugu has become easy now, I can understand the context."Madhurima describes Tanish her co-star as someone who is dedicated to his profession but the same time does mazaak, masti on the sets