[Ifroham4]

Trailer -

Radhamohan has finally moved away from his comfort zone?! Feb 11 release.

Thx for the link, looking forward to this film..

[Fegasderty]

Will go see it. For me, Radhamohan is a minimum guarantee director. With him I can be sure the movie is above some minimum threshold of quality.

[radikal]

Will go see it. For me, Radhamohan is a minimum guarantee director. With him I can be sure the movie is above some minimum threshold of quality.

but he has to live up to it. pressure pressure....

[Fegasderty]

Radha mohan one of my fav. dir. I like his characterisation in his movies best examples are Begger in abhiyum naanum, Mentally retarded person in Mozhi... promising director shows gud changes in story plot in his each film now total change in genre too... waiting for release...

[MannoFr]

Skyward Ho!
MALATHI RANGARAJAN

What makes Payanam unique? Director Radha Mohan tells Malathi Rangarajan that it's a tense and thrilling ride, yet one that has its lighter moments.

Be it Azhagiya Theeyae, Mozhi or Abhiyum Naanum, each Radha Mohan film has been different from the other. Now, Payanam, which is to roll out of the Prakash Raj stable soon, is again on a subject Radha hasn't handled before, viz., airline hijack. “It isn't planned. The plot develops in my mind and soon finds a genre for itself,” he laughs. The film also marks the re-entry of Nagarjuna in Tamil after a decade and more.

The Radha Mohan-Prakash Raj combo has carved a niche for itself as a provider of healthy entertainers. You hardly see Radha joining hands with anyone else. “Prakash's production house is a hassle-free zone. The comfort level is complete and creative freedom, absolute. To top it all, he's a good friend,” he smiles. “For instance, Payanam doesn't have formulaic song sequences because I felt it could impede the intensity of the drama. With others it may have taken a lot of convincing from my side. But Prakash understood my point implicitly.”

Healthy comedy is Radha's forte. All his ventures have an undercurrent of spontaneous humour that adds flavour to the narration. Still comedy in a skyjack drama is intriguing. He explains: “Levity is essential even in a tense tale — a gamut of emotions should help hold viewers' interest till the very end. So, amidst the trauma, we show a flip side — but the humour element is very much part of the story. It's a challenge and I hope viewers accept this rare genre — a thriller with an appropriate dose of fun.”

Payanam has been simultaneously shot in Telugu as Gaganam. His earlier film, Abhiyum Naanum, was dubbed into Telugu (Aakashamantha), after some of the scenes were re-shot with Jagapathy Babu in the role of Prithviraj. “Aakashamantha's success has been a morale booster and is one of the reasons for us to go bi-lingual this time. Payanam's theme is universal and once Nagarjuna came on board we knew it would suit both audiences,” says Radha.

It is a compliment to Radha Mohan's capability that Nagarjuna has chosen Payanam as his re-launch vehicle in Tamil. “He liked my work in Aakashamantha and told Prakash Raj that he was interested in the kind of films we make. When ‘Dil' Raju, the producer of the Telugu version, suggested Nagarjuna, I knew he was spot on. Initially I wasn't sure whether Nag would accept the role because Payanam has no grand opening song, romance or duets. But when he heard the script his immediate response was, ‘I love it. I'm in,'” Radha recalls. But all said and done, Nagarjuna is comparatively less known in Tamil. “He's really big in Telugu and quite a familiar face in Tamil. And that Prakash Raj's films are synonymous with quality is a factor in our favour,” contends Radha. It's also true that Prakash Raj and Radha Mohan have built a strong audience base in the South and overseas market.

Nag plays a commando chief and Prakash Raj, a bureaucrat. Besides them, Payanam has nearly 100 known and not-too-known actors, including Radha camp constants M. S. Bhaskar and Kumaravel. “I needed bulk dates from the cast. I mean, even if the shot involved only the passenger sitting in the first row of the plane everyone had to be on board throughout. So they had to stay put in Hyderabad. Also zeroing in on suitable faces that would jell in a bilingual was quite a task,” he smiles.

Kulu Manali, Hyderabad and Tirupati are the locations. “Art director Kadhir's replica of the Tirupati airport is phenomenal. And no other film of mine has had CG work of such huge proportions,” Radha Mohan is very satisfied with the technical expertise of Payanam. “Lensman Guhan is an asset. His use of the Red One camera has yielded stupendous results. Rajasekar's stunt choreography and Gnanavel's dialogue are other ingenious features,” he affirms.

Doesn't it bother him that a recent Malayalam film had a similar theme? Radha is unfazed. “Not at all, my story and treatment are entirely different. In fact, earlier when I met Major Ravi for a few clarifications on the subject of commando operations, he told me about Kandahar, which he was planning then.”

So how does the director sum up the Payanam experience? “A challenging journey, but one that's been absolutely jerk-free for me as a maker. Much research has gone into making Payanam an authentic experience for viewers. The reel will be thrillingly real,” he laughs.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/...?homepage=true

[Ifroham4]

Saw PAYANAM today, "shining star" rocks! Gud comedy in a serious film! Congratz 2 Prakashraj sir, Radhamohan sir , nagarjun sir and the whole team !
udhay stalin tweets

[Fegasderty]

when is it releasing?

[brraverishhh]

FEB 11 This FRIDAY......

[Fegasderty]

most likely only in Indian owned cinemas here

[Beerinkol]

mahen, shall we watch on thursday and post the first reviews?

[radikal]

#Payanam is a perfect mixture of thrill and humour. Loved every bit of it.
Brilliant performance by @SricharanR in #Payanam. He had me and the entire theatre in splits for over 15 minutes
karky tweets

[TorryJens]

"Payanam" title song montage video. Music::Pravin Mani

[HedgeYourBets]

nalla irukku.... from very reliable source who watched preview yesterday..

[MannoFr]

Prakash Raj is here in Malaysia to promote the film!
Tune in to Sun Music at 4.30 pm (Malaysia only) to have live chat with him.

[Lt_Apple]

Gaganam - Movie Review
Feb 8, 2011 - 3:38:51 PM


Film: Gaganam
Cast: Nagarjuna, Prakash Raj, Bharat Reddy, Brahmanandam, Ravi, Poonam Kaur, Sana Khan, Talaivasal Vijay, Melkote and others
Dialogue: Umarjee Anuradha
Cinematography: K V Guhan
Produced by: Dil Raju
Banner: Matinee Entertainments
Story, screenplay and direction: Radha Mohan

What’s it about!

A terrorist group hijacks a star-jet airplane from Chennai. The plane, with 75 passengers and crew, is brought to Tirupati airport on an emergency landing. A minister, a leading actor, a doctor, a father, a small kid and her family from Pakistan and a father are among its passengers. The terrorists demand their important leader Yosuf Khan be released from the prison. Home secretary Vishwanath (Prakash Raju), National Security adviser and other top bosses also come down to Tirupati to negotiate with the terrorists. National Security Guards officer Ravi (Nagarjuna) is also brought in. But government refuses to take commando operation immediately although Ravi insists on doing. Succumbing to terrorists’ demands, the government releases Yousuf Khan but he gets killed in a road accident when he is being brought. Now the drama starts, how do Ravi and his team accomplish their mission and frees the passengers from hijackers?

Analysis

This is the first time that a Telugu movie is completely focused on a Hijack drama from first frame to the end. Not just that, Gaganam is different in many ways and moreover a very racy movie. Although the movie stars Nagarjuna, it doesn’t have songs, nor does it have physical fights for the star. It is content driven, screenplay based movie. Genre specific movie.

Director Radha Mohan (who won appreciation for his earlier movie, Akashamantha) puts together a tight narrative and does not give in to the temptation of stuffing the film with either songs, or separate comedy track. At the run time of about 2 hours, the movie doesn’t slack at anytime. Though it starts off rather unenthusiastically but it hooks you to the story as the movie progresses. Second half is riveting.

The movie takes inspiration from Kandhar hijack episode, and several Hindi movies including Zameen (2003), yet the director has presented in novel way. The interval twist, the drama in the second half, climax sequences and a satire on our ‘shining stars’ are best segments of the movie.

On the down side, it has unnecessary track between Sana Khan and a newcomer, and some superficial dialogues.

Performances

Nagarjuna in the role of a NSG commando is pillar to the movie. His stellar performance and dignified looks have brought authenticity to the role. He also looks lean and charming.

Prakash Raj has not much lengthy role but he brings his experience to the character. Bharat Reddy as assistant to Nag, Ravi as pilot, Poonam Kaur as air hostess and Harsha Vardhan as reporter are good and perfect to their characters. Vijay as Colonel plays vital role. Sana Khan has little to do in the movie. Scenes involving Brahmanandam as film director evoke some laughs. Pridhvi as film actor okay but his character is best satire on our real life film stars.

K V Guhan should be showered praises for imaginatively putting the camera as the story revolves either in interiors of plane or an office room. Shot on digital Red Camera, Guhan has come up with some innovative angles. Most part of the story runs in the inside environs of a plane or in the office of airport. So it is tough job for a cameraman to show variation. Guhan comes as winner. The other technician who should be commended for his work is art director. The set of airplane (erected at Ramoji Film City) is almost like real. Background score is alright. Dialogues by Anuradha are okay.

Director Radha Mohan scores in direction and screenplay. He handles the dramatic sequences with ease and maintains the curiosity throughout the movie, not sidestepping from the main plot. Production values are on superior range although it is low budgeted movie.

Bottom-line

Gaganam is different movie and is racy hijack drama. Nagarjuna’s charming performance, director’s narration in the second half, and short run time are its strength. It may cater to niche audiences, but all those who crave for good cinema would definitely appreciate it.

TC Rating: 3.5/5

[9mm_fan]

padathirku thadai,,,

[brraverishhh]

padathirku thadai,,,

Ippo thaane sat show book pannaen .

[Lillie_Steins]

Naan thaidaiyai Kadai ennu vaasichudan

[Drugmachine]

Ippo thaane sat show book pannaen .

enna kekama book pannengala.....venum,.,,lol

[LottiFurmann]

Prakash Raj and Radhamohan full swing on promotions today:

12.00 - Minnal
4.30 - Sun Music
6.00 - THR Raaga
8.30 - Astro Vellithirai

Confirmed date of release on 11th Feb 2010