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As the director of the 2008 National Award winning Tamil film, Kanchivaram and many other classics, Priyadarshan needs no introduction nor to be questioned if he can sparkle up the screen. But not everyone remembers this and time is what it is. Although not nearly as breathtaking, Rangrezz would probably fall into the same category of films he directed as Aakrosh and Tezz, showing the serious/realistic cinema side of him. A remake from Tamil, it stars Jackky Bhagnani, Priya Anand, Vijay Verma and Amitosh Nagpal in lead roles. The original film, Naadodigal, has been remade into 4 other languages since its release in 2009. But the key here is whether Rangrezz will see the same success.

Now, we have seen our fair share of movies in Hindi cinema that depict love birds and the selfless friends that help them succeed in their love story. Yet, have we ever seen what happens to...

Maverick director Priyadarshan and Percept Picture Company share a very special relationship, and one just cannot forget their multiple award winning Kanchivaram. Naturally, when the two once again collaborated with Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal, expectations are bound to be high, and not unfounded! Right from the very first promo of Percept's Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal it was quite clear that director Priyadarshan is in vintage form. What was also evident was the fact that the film wa...

The highest civilian awards of India—The Padma awards 2012 were announced on Wednesday. Bhupen Hazarika has been posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan for Vocal Music.

Padma Bhushan has been conferred on actress Shabana Azmi, director Mira Nair and actor Dharmendra. Filmmaker Priyadarshan has been bestowed the Padma Shri award 2012.

Shabana Azmi, a well-known Indian actress has won the National Award for Best Actress five times in her career for Ankur (1975), Arth (1983), Khandahar (1984), Paar (1985) and Godmother (1989).

Mira Nair is a noted filmmaker who has made films like Salaam Bombay! (1988), Monsoon Wedding (2001) and The Namesake (2006).

Dharmendra is a popular Indian actor who has acted in over 270 Hindi films in his career some of which include Sholay (1975), Phool aur Patthar (1967), Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1972) and Yaadon ki Baarat (1974).

Priyadarshan in an Indian director, producer screenwriter who has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Kanchivaram (2008), Hera Pheri (2000), Virasat (1997) and Hungama (2003).

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 22: Social causes top filmmaker Priyadarshan's priority list and his next three movie projects -- 'Kanchivaram' part two, a movie on HIV-aids and a film about girl child -- will highlight serious issues.

One of the most successful directors down south, Priyadarshan has also made many commercial Hindi entertainers, but now he has turned his attention to meaningful movies.

In a chat with Ians, while on a trip to his hometown here, the 54-year-old said: 'I will be doing a second part of the 2009 national award winning best film 'Kanchivaram' (Tamil), then.

The Titanic-Avatar's director James Cameron is planning a film based in India. In Abu Dhabi earlier this week, for a media summit, Cameron suddenly landed up on location to watch Priyadarshan shoot a Malayalam film with Mohanlal. Cameron spent a good two hours with Priyan and his leading man. "He didn't know anyone from the Indian film industry except Vidhu Vinod Chopra. He didn't know me or my work. But had an insatiable curiosity about what I was doing and where I came from. He is going to watch my Kanchivaram," says Priyadarshan proudly. When James Cameron suddenly dropped in on location at Abu Dhabi to meet Priyadarshan, the Avatar director only knew he was going to meet a prolific South Indian filmmaker. When Cameron heard Priyadarshan's output he was shocked. Cameron, who has directed barely 32 films in 33 years of his career, thought he had heard wrongly.

The Titanic-Avatar's director James Cameron is planning a film based in India. In Abu Dhabi earlier this week, for a media summit, Cameron suddenly landed up on location to watch Priyadarshan shoot a Malayalam film with Mohanlal. Cameron spent a good two hours with Priyan and his leading man. "He didn't know anyone from the Indian film industry except Vidhu Vinod Chopra. He didn't know me or my work. But had an insatiable curiosity about what I was doing and where I came from. He is going to watch my Kanchivaram," says Priyadarshan proudly. When James Cameron suddenly dropped in on location at Abu Dhabi to meet Priyadarshan, the Avatar director only knew he was going to meet a prolific South Indian filmmaker. When Cameron heard Priyadarshan's output he was shocked. Cameron, who has directed barely 32 films in 33 years of his career, thought he had heard wrongly.

August 18, 2010: Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai has signed reputed director Priyadarshan to direct his next venture. He will launch this latest production on the 32nd anniversary of his production house Mukta Arts Ltd. on 24th October of this year.

Speaking about this alliance, Ghai said that Priyadarshan is one of the most versatile and talented directors of today, who has won National Award for two movies, one being Kanchivaram. His movies Hera Pheri and Virasat were big hits and he has a good grasp on commercial movies too, Ghai added. According to Ghai, ‘Priyan’ is a man of commitment and he.

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai will launch his next production on the 32nd anniversary of his banner Mukta Arts Ltd Oct 24 and he has signed popular director Priyadarshan to helm it. "Priyan is one of the most versatile director of today... National Award winner for two films including Kanchivaram. He has given hits like Hera Pheri and Virasat and has a command on commercial cinema too. I am glad to produce a movie under his direction. He is a man of commitment," Ghai told Ians. According to a source, the cast and credits of the film are being finalised currently and will be ...

New Delhi, Aug 18 – Filmmaker Subhash Ghai will launch his next production on the 32nd anniversary of his banner Mukta Arts Ltd Oct 24 and he has signed popular director Priyadarshan to helm it.

“Priyan is one of the most versatile director of today… National Award winner for two films including ‘Kanchivaram’. He has given hits like ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Virasat’ and has a command on commercial cinema too. I am glad to produce a movie under his direction. He is a man of commitment,” Ghai told Ians.

According to a source, the cast and credits of the film are being finalised.

Launched with much fanfare exactly two years back with a budget pegged at 25 crores, Raftaar 24X7 was one of those couple of dozen films which came into existence when the industry was at it's peak. The term recession had not yet made its presence felt and every reputed production house and actor was more than glad to make huge announcements. There was widespread excitement around the film since a 25 crore budget allocated by Percept Picture Company meant that Raftaar 24X7 was all set to be Emraan Hashmi's biggest venture till date. All seemed to be quite well during the earlier schedules of the film as first time filmmaker Shamim Desai joined the principal cast of Raftaar 24X7 in Maldives for a 'test shoot'. This was one of its kinds experiments as the week long trip worth Rs. 1.5 crore was planned to get the cast and the crew familiar with each other.

The Spring Film Festival season continues to accelerate with the final leg of the antipodean Bollywood & Beyond Festival which now crosses the Tasman to Auckland, New Zealand from April 14th-21st. Amongst the more well-known movies on display in the rugby capital of the world, we have Paa - the opening night showcase; New York, Dil Bole Hadippa, Love Aaj Kal, Dostana, Ghajini and Three Idiots.

Festival favourite and Oscar entry Harishchandrachi Factory will be showing, together with Rituparno Ghosh's Shob Charitro Kalponik with Bipasha Basu. The magnificent Tamil movie about exploitation and corruption in the dying days of the Raj, Kanchivaram, should also leave a mark on the festival. Starring Prakash Raj and Shriya Reddy, it was probably the most significant movie of last year. Meanwhile, Rajendra Prasad demonstrates his versatility in Mee Sreyobhilashi, possibly the most unusual film ever about suicide and derived from the Japanese film Ikinai.

India's leading production house Percept Picture Company and prolific filmmaker Priyadarshan have signed a three-film deal after giving hits like Malamaal Weekly, Dhol and the critically acclaimed Kanchivaram. The deal was signed last week and the films are called AIDS, Grrr... and a sequel to his 2006 release Malamaal Weekly. Priyan and Percept have a long standing relationship. Apart from that, the next in the pipeline is Bumm Bumm Bole... with Darsheel Safary, Atul Kulkar...

Filmmaker Priyadarshan has signed a three-film deal with Percept Picture Company (Ppc) that has produced movies like Jail and Jannat. The deal was signed last week and the films that Priyadarhsan will be directing are AIDS, horror movie Grrr and a sequel to his 2006 laugh riot Malamaal Weekly, said a press release from the production house. Apart from Malamaal Weekly, Priyadarshan has also made critically acclaimed Tamil film Kanchivaram for Ppc in the past. He is also currently directing Bumm Bumm Bole for the company. The movie features child actor Darsheel Safary, Atul Kulkarni and Rituparna Sen Gupta. ...

Rani Mukherjee collected her trophy last night at the V Shantaram Awards ceremony held in honour of the late great film-maker, responsible for many significant films of the golden era of the 1950s including the classic Do Aankhen Barah Haath. Rani's award was in recognition of her performance in Dil Bole Hadippa. "This feels great because getting a V. Shantaram award means a lot to me," she said, "We all know that we are the unfortunate ones who were not born in his era and didn't get an opportunity to work with him."

Prakash Raj won the Best Male Actor Award for his role in Kanchivaram, a gripping tale of poverty in India near the end of British colonial rule and the political forces that will help to shape India's destiny. The film was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008 and has gone on to win several awards.

Priyadarshan was recently presented with an offer to remake his National Award winning Tamil film Kanchivaram. However, the ace film maker, who has made a career in Bollywood by mostly remaking his own films into Hindi, didn't quite bite the bait. He declined the offer stating that a film like Kanchivaram can be made only once. "Yes, I have remade quite a few of my films in Hindi but I am not willing to do so for Kanchivaram. Such films can't be remade and should be best left u...

Priyadarshan has declined the offer to remake Malayalam film Kanchivaram. The director, who is known for doing Hindi remakes of Malayalam films, refused to remake the movie because he said some pictures should only be made once. "I have remade quite a few of my films in Hindi but I am not willing to do so for Kanchivaram. Such films can't be remade and should be best (more)...

After the warm reception to his just released 'De Dana Dan', Priyadarshan plans to make a film on AIDS with Aamir Khan in a way that's palatable to the public.'And why not? Films are meant to generate a mass reaction. No point in making a film with one of the biggest stars of the country which only a handful of people want to watch,' Priyadarshan told Ians.He wants to make films for the masses. Even if it's about the construction mafia 'Khatta Meetha' with Akshay Kumar and Trisha or the stigma attached to inter-caste marriages in a film with Ajay Devgn, Bipasha Basu and Akshaye Khanna, he will speak in the language of the common man.'De Dana Dan' is a big hit even in Pakistan where it's running to packed houses in a theatre with shows from 9 a.m. to 2 a.

Director Priyadarshan’s much acclaimed Tamil film Kanchivaram has won the best feature film award at the 55th National Film Awards 2007. Actor Prakash Raj won the best actor’s award for the same film.

Priyadarshan, known for his number of hits in Bollywood and other south-Indian languages was elated with the news and said, “This one is for myself. It is made for self-satisfaction. I am proud to say it is one of the best films made this year in India. It is a truly deserving one. In the few months Kanchivaram has created ripples wherever it was screened. At the Toronto film festival, the film got a 20-minute standing ovation. I was thrilled. Eminent filmmakers like Shyam Benegal and Adoor Gopalakrishan appreciated the film..

The results of the 55th National Awards for the year 2007 were announced yesterday and like always there were quite a few surprises in store. It was the cinema of South India that bagged all the top four honours with the Priyadarshan directed Tamil film Kanchivaram bagging the award for Best Feature Film and also fetching Prakash Raj the Best Actor Award. Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan won the Best Director award for the Malayalam film Nallu Pennungal while Umashree was adjudged Best Actress for her portrayal in the Kannada film Gulabi Talkies. While Bollywood failed to bag the top four honours, it did quite make up in the other categories. Leading the pack was Anil Kapoor's maiden production Gandhi My Father which bagged three awards for Best Screenplay (Feroz Abbas Khan), Best Supporting Actor (Darshan Jariwala) and even won the Special Jury award. Even Aamir Khan's directorial debut Taare Zameen Par...

The results of the 55th National Awards for the year 2007 were announced yesterday and like always there were quite a few surprises in store. It was the cinema of South India that bagged all the top four honours with the Priyadarshan directed Tamil film Kanchivaram bagging the award for Best Feature Film and also fetching Prakash Raj the Best Actor Award. Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan won the Best Director award for the Malayalam film Nallu Pennungal while Umashree was adjudged Best Actress for her portrayal in the Kannada film Gulabi Talkies. While Bollywood failed to bag the top four honours, it did quite make up in the other categories. Leading the pack was Anil Kapoor's maiden production Gandhi My Father which bagged three awards for Best Screenplay (Feroz Abbas Khan), Best Supporting Actor (Darshan Jariwala) and even won the Special Jury award. Even Aamir Khan's directorial debut Taare Zameen Par...

Priyadarshan, who's shooting in distant Karaikudi, cannot believe his Tamil film Kanchivaram has won the National Award for best film. "Can you believe, in my career of 25 years as film director, this is the first time my film won an award. And that I've won it for Kanchivaram is a very special event for me. This film is very close to my heart," says the director emotionally, even as he prepares for the release of his next masala film De Dana Dan. "Now when the critics see De Dana Dan, they'll say Priyan is back to his old tricks," chuckles the prolific director. "But I am proud of my masala films as well. It's very important for a film to get an audience. And my comedies are big successes. I can't fight success. I will continue to make the massy comedies," says the director whose films have often been accused...

Priyadarshan, who's shooting in distant Karaikudi, cannot believe his Tamil film Kanchivaram has won the National Award for best film. "Can you believe, in my career of 25 years as film director, this is the first time my film won an award. And that I've won it for Kanchivaram is a very special event for me. This film is very close to my heart," says the director emotionally, even as he prepares for the release of his next masala film De Dana Dan. "Now when the critics see De Dana Dan, they'll say Priyan is back to his old tricks," chuckles the prolific director. "But I am proud of my masala films as well. It's very important for a film to get an audience. And my comedies are big successes. I can't fight success. I will continue to make the massy comedies," says the director whose films have often been accused...

Priyadarshan who’s shooting in distant Karaikudi cannot believe his Tamil film Kanchivaram has won the National award for best film.

“This isn’t just my first National award it’s my first award ever Can you believe, in my career of 25 years as film director this is the first time I’ve won an award. And that I’ve won it for Kanchivaram is a very special thing for me. This film is very close to my heart.” Says the director emotionally, even as he prepares for the release of his next masala film De Dana Dan.

“Now when the critics see De Dana Dan they’ll say Priyan is back.

It was the South Indian film industry that dominated the 55th National Film Awards for 2007. Priyadarshan's Tamil film Kanchivaram, a period drama about silk weavers of the south, was chosen as the best movie at the 55th National Film Awards. On the other hand, Tamil actor Prakash Raj was declared the Best Actor for his role in the film Kanchivaram thus beating off competition from Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Raj had earlier won the Best Supporting Actor award for Iruvar in 1998 and also a special Jury Award in 2003.Adoor Gopalakrishnan bagged ...

The 55th annual National Award winner's list has been announced. Established in 1954, this prestigious award is given to outstanding work in film not only in Hindi cinema but in all the film industries in India. The awards cover not only the typical categories but also recognize work in categories like Best First film for a director, Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Best Feature Film on National Integration to name just a few. The big winner of the night was Priyadarsan's Tamil film Kanchivaram, which won the Best Film Prize. "For presenting a rare portrayal of Kanchi's silk weaver community, and the internal struggle of a weaver caught between his ideals and personal dreams. A vibrant story and technical excellence blend to create a total cinematic experience." Priyadasan told Subhash K Jha, "Can you believe, in my career of 25 years as film director this is the first time I've won an award?...

There has been a lot of hush-hush as who will win the best actor national award. Finally, the name of the winner was declared and south actor Prakash Raj walked away with the best actor award beating Bollywood top stars Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Prakash Raj won the award for his brilliant performance in Tamil film 'Kanchivaram'.While Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ won the Best Family Welfare Film and Shankar Mahadevan bagged the Best Playback Singer for the song, Maa. Prasoon Joshi bagged the Best Lyrics award for the same song. While ‘Chak De India’ received the award for Best Film in overall entertainme...

Priyadarshan, currently shooting in Karaikudi, cannot believe his Tamil film 'Kanchivaram' has won the National Award for Best Film. 'This isn't just my first National Award, it's my first award ever!' he exclaims.'Can you believe, in my career of 25 years as film director this is the first time I've won an award? And that I've won it for 'Kanchivaram' is a very special thing for me. This film is very close to my heart,' says the director emotionally, even as he prepares for the release of his next masala film 'De Dana Dan'.He was reacting soon after the 55th National Film Awards for 2007 were announced in New Delhi Monday.'Now when the critics see 'De Dana Dan' they'll say Priyan is back to his old tricks,' chuckles the prolific director.'But I am proud of my masala films as well. It's...

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Tamil character actor Prakash Raj are front runners for the best actor award while Aamir Khan for the best director for his `Taare Zameen Par` in national film awards for 2007 which are likely to be announced on Monday.While Shah Rukh is in race for his role in "Chak de India" Prakash Raj is a strong contender for his performance in "Kanchivaram directed by Priyadarshan."Chak de India" is also a strong contender for the best film providing wholesome entertainment.

Bangkok -- Adding another prize to his growing collection for "Tulpan," Sergei Dvortsevoy took home the Golden Peacock best film prize at the closing ceremonies of the 39th annual International Film Festival of India, organizers said Wednesday.

After a minute of silence, the Kazakh writer and first-time director thanked the audience in Panaji, Goa, where the fest, which began Nov. 22, continued despite last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Dvortsevoy, whose film about a shepherd in training who wants to marry a girl who thinks he has big ears, said that while films cannot change the world, they can change people.

The closing ceremony's guest of honor, actor Shri Kamal Hasan, said that despite setbacks and dark moments, life must go on as normal. He congratulated the festival and its director, Shri S.M. Khan, for its rich collection of movies.

Khan told the audience that the festival condemns terrorism, and...