Indian Regional Cinema

Transformed almost overnight from an obscure policeman to the latest icon of the Nepali-speaking diaspora, thanks to Sony TV's reality singing contest, "Indian Idol" finalist Prashant Tamang now has offers of playback singing pouring in from Nepal. The young man from Darjeeling, who won the hearts of the Nepali diaspora by making it to the final round of the popular show despite no formal training in music, could make his playback singing debut in a Hindi film to be made by a Nepali director trying to find a foothold in Bollywood.

Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar's "Mathadu Mathadu Mallige", about a farmer's struggle to bust the corporate-bureaucrat nexus, has influenced over a hundred farmers of in a Karnataka town, who have decided to oppose a plan to build a thermal power plant on their land.

Music director R.P. Patnaik, who is popular among viewers of both Kannada and Telugu films, is now making his debut as film director with "Andhamaina Manasulo".

Rajnikant and Kamal Haasan, two titans of Tamil cinema, have been named best actors for the years 2005 and 2006 respectively for the annual state film awards announced here. Kamal Haasan has been honoured for his portrayal of a police officer in "Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu" and Rajnikant for playing a psychiatrist "Chandramukhi".

Malayalam superstar Mammootty's phone rang non-stop Friday with well-wishers greeting him on his birthday, but for the veteran actor it was work as usual.

Actor and MP Sarath Kumar has resigned as president of the South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA). In a late night statement to the association Thursday, Sarath Kumar said he was "unable to continue as president of the Nadigar Sangam (SIAA)" due to his "election" to the post of president of his political party, the AISMK, floated this week.

"Cheluvina Chiththaara" faces no challenge at the box office from any other Kannada film for the present and is top film of the fortnight.

Due to the bomb blasts here, no major films were released barring "Raghavan", the dubbed Telugu version of Goutham Menon's "Vettaiyadu Vilayadu". "Yamadonga" continues to be on the top.

It was his role as a police officer that made him a Malayalam film superstar. And now Mammootty is all set to don the cop's uniform for the 25th time in an acting career spanning more than 25 years. For this role, Mammootty is joining hands with filmmaker Renji Panicker. Shooting for the film began Wednesday.

Onam came and went without creating any buzz at the box office. Director Shyamaprasad's offbeat "Ore Kadal" made it to the top position.

First time director Kaushik Roy's "Apna Asmaan", about the trauma an autistic child and his parents undergo, releases Friday after being screened at several international film fests and winning The German Star of India at the Stuttgart Festival.