GRRR: This socio-horror-thriller comes from a director better known for his fondness for comedy. As the title suggests, a tiger plays the central character in Priyadarshan’s film. “I was deeply inspired by ‘Jaws’ and ‘Ghost and Darkness’ and decided to make a movie on those lines. As for whether it is spine-chilling horror, you have to wait for the film to see. I’ll say it has got all the tension of ‘Jaws’. My film is about the so-called man-eating tigers of Sunderbans and this old hunter who is on a mission to save them. It’s also an initiative for the ‘Save the Tiger’ project,’’ explains the Chennai-based director. Incidentally, Priyadarshan is currently in the scripting stage though it has been decided that Amitabh Bachchan will play the old hunter. ‘Grrr’ is tentatively scheduled to release in September next year.
Fright effect: Said to be along the lines of horror classics like ‘Jaws’, ‘Ghost and Darkness’
CHANDRAMUKHI 2: With a budget of Rs 80 crores, ‘Aptharakshaka’ was a huge hit in Kannada. It was superstar Vishnu Vardhan’s posthumous release and is now being remade in Telugu with Venkatesh. Incidentally, this is a sequel to the equally successful ‘Aapthamithra’, a remake of the Malayalam classic ‘Manichithrathazhu’, which was later remade into Tamil as ‘Chandramukhi’. The supernatural thriller will see Venkatesh playing triple roles, with ‘horror veteran’, Anushka as the heroine. Rumour has it that P Vasu wanted to remake the film in Tamil and approached his favourite actor, Rajnikanth, to act in it. But when the superstar declined the offer, Vasu reportedly decided to remake it in Telugu.
Scheduled to release in August this year.
Fright effect: This is a supernatural thriller against the backdrop of a spine-chilling romantic folklore
ANANTHAPURATHU VEEDU: Here’s yet another novel theme from director Shankar’s production house. Directed by Naga (horror on the telly like ‘Vidathu Karuppu’ and ‘Marma Desam’), the movie is said to be a “serial-killer horror thriller.” Hmmm. Nanda and Chaya Singh play the lead in this film that has been scheduled to release this October.
Fright effect: The plot is about a serial killer on the loose
FIRED: Ad-filmmaker Sajjit Warrier’s ‘Fired’ is already facing some heat from the Censor Board for its steamy and gory scenes. But Warrier, who claimed ‘Agyaath’ was his script, has no issues if the movie gets an ‘A’ certificate. Starring Rahul Bose, Militza Radmilovic and Dinesh Lamba, the movie’s posters are out and seem spine-chilling enough. “Fired’ is based on a true story and deals with the current global recession and chaos due to job losses and the repercussion of employees being fired,’’ says Warrier, about his 3D horror film. It has been shot extensively in London and is scheduled to release this October.
Fright effect: The 3D horror film comes with a lot of steamy and gory scenes
OR IRAVU: The title, which has been borrowed from the 1954 thriller and cult film (starring the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C N Annadurai) has been made in the digital format with no hero or heroine and is narrated from the camera’s point of view. “The entire story unfolds in one night and we shot it using a new technique called view-point, which enables the viewers to experience the film as though they are also a part of the flick,” says the director Hari Shankar. Scheduled to release in December.
Fright effect: Said to be the first ever digital horror film with no hero or heroine
KANCHANA: Following the success of the supernatural horror ‘Arundhathee’, Anushka seems to be the first choice among filmmakers when it comes to horror films. She is reportedly playing the central character in choreographer-turned-actor-turned-director Laurence’s horror film, which is a sequel to ‘Muni’ and will be simultaneously made in Tamil and Telugu. “It is more thrilling and scarier than the first part,” is all the director is willing to disclose. We hear that Anushka is playing a ghost in this one. Scheduled to release next year.
Fright effect: The beautiful Anushka resurfaces as a ghost after the spine-chilling ‘Arundhathee’
kochi@expressbuz.com