Surya buys Audi Q7
Surya, to celebrate the success of his Vaaranam Aayiram, purchased an Ice Silver colored spanking new Audi Q7, before he left on his US vacation.
The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) produced by German automaker Audi and was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006.
The Q7 is a luxurious SUV that leaves its rivals far behind and equipped with highly enhanced features and state of the art technology. The Q7 costs approximately Rs 70 lakhs on Indian roads.
The buzz is that Surya has purchased the Audi Q7 on the recommendation of Gautham Menon, who was one of the first person in Chennai city to drive around in a black Audi- A4 car. Surya’s Q7 has been picked from the Bangalore showroom of Audi, as it has a Karnataka registration.
Meanwhile Surya’s lucky heroine (Ghajani and Vel) Asin had informed us that she too has picked a brand new Phantom Black Audi Q7, which her dad brought her on her birthday in Mumbai.
T:20 International opening
The mega blockbuster Twenty: 20 is releasing today (Nov 21) in 11 screens in UAE and three screens in US. Added to that it is having a big release in Tamilnadu- Chennai four and Coimbatore three screens.
Dileep who is distributing the film through his Grand Productions is a happy man. The film has taken a record whopping share of Rs 5.72 crore as distributor share from Kerala in two weeks from approximately 120 screens. The film is definitely the biggest blockbuster in the history of Malayalam films.
T:20 is now going to rock in Indian domestic and International market. It is for the first time a Malayalam film is opening in 11 screens in UAE and 4 screens in Chennai. Next week it is likely to open in 10 screens in Mumbai and suburbs through Shringar films.
Review: Dostana
Recall the ‘Kantaben’ episode in Karan Johar’s Kal Ho Naa Ho? The episode is alive even today, in skits, on stage, amongst friends. That was a mere trailer. Picture abhi baaki hain. Dostana takes ‘Kantaben’ episode to another level altogether.
Dostana is no Brokeback Mountain. It’s not a serious take on homosexuality either. On the contrary, it’s a madcap comedy where two straight men pretend to be gays. Although Dostana is a mainstream commercial film, it dares to push the envelope in its own way. It brings homosexuality out of the closet, gives it respect and dignity and doesn’t treat gays as ‘abnormal’
Love triangles in Hindi movies often centre around two guys falling in love with the same girl, or two girls choosing to love the same guy. But Dostana is a first. It’s the first Hindi film that, at the core, is a rectangle [three men loving the same woman], but two of them, guys in this case, pretend to be a couple.
Sure, Dostana has ample shock-value since what has been witnessed in its promos is barely a fraction of what you’d get to watch in the movie. But more than shock-value, the film offers loads of fun-n-laughter and dollops of entertainment in those 14 reels.
A word of appreciation! It requires courage to fund a project like Dostana. 
Karan Johar, the producer, deserves to be lauded for treading the untrodden path. It requires courage and conviction to swim against the tide in your directorial debut. Tarun Mansukhani, the debutante, deserves a few brownie points extra for not thinking straight. It requires courage for two A-list actors to go all out and risk their professional [and personal] lives. Abhishek and John deserve an ovation for not only agreeing to play these characters, but also infusing life in them, without making a mockery of the gay community.
To cut a long story short, Dostana is not to be missed. Dharma Productions, the late Yash Johar and Karan Johar’s film production outfit, has produced several significant films in the past. Add Dostana to the list!
Miami is the setting for Dostana. When Sameer [Abhishek Bachchan] and Kunal [John Abraham] are turned down for an apartment because the landlady [Sushmita Mukherjee] doesn’t want two strapping young men to corrupt her young sexy niece Neha [Priyanka Chopra], they hatch a plan: they pretend to be gay to secure the apartment.
Over a period of time, Sameer, Kunal and Neha become buddies. When Neha’s boss Abhimanyu [Bobby Deol] enters the fray as the third contender for her affections, it gets even hotter…
Dostana shocks you all the while and that is its biggest USP. Don’t expect stereotypical situations or characters all through this film. Watch Abhishek cook up a romantic story between John and him in Venice. Watch Boman Irani’s interaction with Abhishek and John. Watch Kirron Kher’s dramatic entry at this point. Howlarious scenes all, they’re sure to bring the house down.
If the first hour is laced with crackling chemistry between the guys and terrific humour, things get serious towards the second half since there’s one more person vying for Priyanka’s attention — Bobby Deol. There’s humour in this hour too, but the focus is mainly on who’d get Priyanka in the end.
The length is a slight deterrent in the second half and the editor could’ve easily cut the unwanted flab to make the narration in shape. But the film works as a package! Also, the film has a shocking end and people are bound to raise eyebrows. It would have its share of advocates and adversaries. A debatable culmination, for sure!
Director Tarun Mansukhani is here to stay. He deserves kudos for choosing an offbeat story, then making a foolproof screenplay and most importantly, executing it with flourish. Dostana merges form and content beautifully, since the film is, technically speaking, sound. Ayananka Bose’s cinematography is top notch. The locales of Miami are a feast for your eyes. Costumes and styling are very upmarket.
Vishal-Shekhar’s music goes well with the mood of the film. It’s young, peppy and energetic. ‘Desi Girl’ and ‘Maa Da Laadla Bigad Gaya’ are foot-tapping compositions. The latter is bound to be a rage!
Both Abhishek and John are fantabulous! Abhishek pulls out all the stops and delivers one of the finest performances of his career. His comic timing is superb! John will make guys and girls drool over his amazing physique. But, most importantly, people will sit up and notice how fine an actor John is. Both Abhishek and John compliment each other so well. In fact, had the chemistry and camaraderie been missing, the story would’ve failed to look convincing. Two thumbs up for these two guys!
Priyanka looks stunning and delivers a first-rate performance. First Fashion, now Dostana, Priyanka is back with a bang. Bobby Deol lends the required class to his role. No other actor would’ve looked so real while 
underplaying this character.
Boman Irani is sure to bring the house down, the auditorium is sure to resonate with laughter in his sequences. Kirron Kher is superb as the Punjabi mom. Watch her throw a fit when she learns that her son [Abhishek] is gay and much later, when she accepts John as family. She’s remarkable! Sushmita Mukherjee, as Priyanka’s aunt, is fantastic. She’s so, so funny. Shilpa Shetty sizzles in the opening track.
On the whole, Dostana is a winner all the way. In terms of content, it might just prove to be a trendsetter. In terms of business, the film holds tremendous appeal for the youth. The 16 to 25 age-group would go into raptures and bonkers over this film. Its business at multiplexes mainly will be amazing. In Overseas too, the film should emerge amongst the biggest draws of 2008. Dostana rocks… have a blast!
And I will give a 4 out of 5 for this filim
Review : Vaaranam Aayiram
The film is clearly meant for niche audiences, and not for mass viewing. It is a tribute to the director’s dad, who passed away last year. The treatment and narration are purely autobiographical with most of it taken from real life incidents laced with cinematic liberties.
In a nutshell, the film is personal and deals with the deep bonding between a loving and devoted father and his son who is trying to discover himself. Menon’s life story may be woefully long and meandering ( 2 hours 55 minutes) with a great first half, but post Interval, it lags. Still it works and grabs us where it matters and leaves a lump in your throat.
The movie opens with an army officer Surya receiving the news of his dad’s death while on a mission. Flashback- Right from his birth, for Surya (Surya) his dad Krishnan (Surya), a middle-class central government employee is more of a friend and a role model than a disciplinarian father. He dotes on his dad more than his mom Malini (Simran) and sister Shriya, and they live a happy life. Surya is influenced by his dad’s stories of how he romanced his mother and won her. As Malini nostalgically tells him- “He just swept me off my feet”!
Surya goes to an Engineering college in Tiruchi, after his father borrows money to pay his capitation fees, but ends up watching movies than attending classes. After his last semester exams, on the way back to Chennai he meets the beautiful Meghana (Sameera Reddy) on train and it is love at first sight. Being a guy who has never looked at a girl, he pulls out his guitar and sings En iniyia pon nilaave!
Meghana and Surya are like chalk and cheese; she has graduated from the prestigious REC, Tiruchi a studious type and a topper who is going to do her MS at Berkley University in California! But somehow Surya who says he has been hit by a “thunderbolt” tells her-” I will come into your life and sweep you off your feet”. How his father sticks with him through thick and thin and helps him to attain his goal against all odds, forms rest of this bio pic.
Gautham simply wrings you dry with his overplay of emotions in the father-son bonding. The climax is heart wrenching and heartwarming as Surya’s breakdown and tears roll down his cheek which looks real. The best part of the film is the first half, especially the wispy romance between Surya and Sameera Reddy, with the scene where Surya falls for her in the train is hilarious and romantic. And when Sameera says finally – “I’m in love”, with Surya playing around with a toy helicopter at Fort Point, which offers the best view of the Golden Bridge in San Francisco, the romance tugs at your heart. Only Gautham, a romantic can make such scenes work.
Technically the film is state of art. Rajeevan’s art work captures the ethos and milieu of the 60’s feel in the beginning effectively. For a change Antony does not do any gimmicks, and you should understand that its not an easy job to edit an autobiographical.
Ratnavel’s camera is eye-catching as it pans California, Dehradun, Delhi, Rameswaram and other locations and gives the film richness. Surya’s make-up, his six pack look and old man get-up is very good.
The music of Harris Jayaraj is first rate and tangy, with meaningful lyrics of Thamarai. This is Harris- Gautham’s last film together and the combo is simply terrific. Four of the songs before interval are shot beautifully like a music video, with Adiye Kolluthe… and Nenjukkul Peidhidum.. being the pick of lot, while two songs post interval mars the tempo. However the music of the film and its picturisation will remain the USP of the film.
The power-packed performer award belongs to Surya, who is outstanding
in a dual role as father and son. Shorn off any artifice, his anguish, pains and joy look real. The female star cast is simply too good, whether it is Simran playing Surya’s mother, Sameera Reddy pure eye candy and brings an uninhibited joie to her role as Meghana. Divya is outstanding, investing her character with sensitivity a far cry from her Kuthu days.
On the downside, the film is excruciatingly slow, and in the second half plods as the director has no story to say. All of a sudden why did he make his hero larger than life? The Delhi kidnapping and the hero solving it has been done to bring out his heroism, which sticks out like a sore thumb. Is there not a cut-off age to join the army? Surya’s character is far too simplistic. The thing about a father backing his son to go to America and win over his lady love just doesn’t wash. An ordinary middle class, Tamil family speaking so fluently in English does not gel with viewers.
The film demands great patience to sit through and is an overdose of emotions. If the film holds on, it is because of its music and superb performance of Surya. On the whole, the film is optimistic, fresh and emotionally honest. But how mature are our audiences, is the million dollar question?
And if you ask me I would say it is a watch able movie and I would give 3 out os 5
Ford Endeavour Thunder stills,reviews,specifications
October 12, 2008 by abyvettoor
Filed under Automobile, Cars, News, Reviews, Technology
The SUVs are not meant for city or highway driving but truly make its sense in off-road.Right now Endeavour is the only true SUV available in the market. Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V diluted the crossover of the concept. The bold and tough styling of the new Ford Endeavour gives it a commanding presence on the road. With the overall length of 4,998mm the Thunder+ makes a Mercedes M class shorter and could rightly be called the biggest SUV around.
In thee transformation to CRDi more than 70% changes are included in the new edition.The changes include new 3000cc four cylinder, 154bhp part time four wheel drive and many more ford-endeavour-thunder-3-engine.A new strong look is added to the vehicle by the distinctive chrome front grille, prominent wheel arches, extra 
large wing mirrors with in-built indicators and puddle light and a dominant power dome on the hood. The toughness is more than skin deep.The engine is 3 liters with a larger bore.
The staggering 380Nm of torque is produced at a maximum rpm of 2,500 and 156bhp of power developed at a maximum rpm of 3,200. The engine reaches from zero to hundred at a short time.The new five-speed automatic transmission system features an innovative Transmission Control Module (TCM) that can automatically detect and quickly adjust to the changing engine speed and driving condition. 
It has as much as seven cup holders, leather steering, and a gear knob as well. It got two-sunglass holders with easily tilt able steering in it. It comprises of the tachometer, which lets you know the engine power as well as the footrest for the clutch. The seats of the car folded easily and split for the convenience of the user. It got a back pockets for the front seat as well as the door map seats for all the doors in the car.
It keeps the transmission system always at its peak power band, thus making the vehicle more responsive. The new endeavour’s 4WD transmission system is equipped with the world renowned Borg Warner transfer system and electronic Active Shift-on-the-Fly, allowing a driver to shift the driving mode from 2WD to 4WD at high driving speeds of up to 100 km/h. There are number of attractive features in the car, it got a dual air conditioner, which is environmental friendly.It price is about 19.37 Lakhs.
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