mahadevan\htmls\1997 highlights

TAMIL CINEMA I997-- YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

**Contents of this page**
1.	NO. OF FILMS RELEASED IN 1997
2.	AWARDS
3.	DINAKARAN AWARD
4.	NO. OF FILMS ACTED BY TOP CINE STARS
5.	SUPER HIT FILMS
6.	MORNING SHOW
7.	QUEEN AT KAMAL SHOOTING
8.	C.M DISSOLVES CINEMA DISPUTE
9.	MARRIAGES ARE MADE IN KODAMBAKKAM
10.	ACCIDENTS
11.	DEPARTED SOULS FALLEN FLOWER

NO OF FILMS:

Total Number of Films Released In The Year 1997 Is 111.
Direct Films 76.
Dubbed Films 35.

Direct Films:

1) Arunaachalam
2) Abimanyu
3) Aravidan
4) Adimaichangili
5) Adraa Chakkai Adraa Chakkai
6) Arasial
7) Aahaa
8) Ahaa Yenna Poruththam
9) Bharathi kannamma
10) Devathai
11) Dharma Chakkaram
12) Ganga Gowri
13) Iruvar
14) Jaanagiraman
15) Kaathali
16) Kaathal Palli
17) Kaaththiruntha Kaathal
18) Kadavul
19) Kaalamellaam Kaathal Vaazhga
20) Kaalamellaam Kaaththiruppen
21) Kaathalukku Mariyaathai
22) Love To-day.
23) Mannavaa
24) Maappillai Kaunder
25) My India
26) Minsaara Kanavu
27) Naerukku Naer
28) Nalla Manasukkaaran
29) Nandhini
30) Naattuppura Naayagan
31) Naesam
32) Onecemore
33) Paasamulla Paandiyarae
34) Paththini

AWARDS
45 artistes including producer A.SE. Ibrahim Rauvther, Raajkiran, Urvasi, Director Shankar were awarded "Kalai Maamani" award!

President Awards for the year 1997 were announced last May.
Of these Tamil films got 10 awards! The details are below :

Best actor	Kamalhaasan ( Indian )
Best Playback Singer	S.B. Balasubramaniam ( Minsaara Kanavu )
Best Playback Singer	Chitra ( Minsaara Kanavu )
Best Musician	A.R. Rahmaan ( Minsaara Kanavu )
Best Dancer	Prabu Deva ( Minsaara Kanavu )
Best Screen-Play	Agaththian ( Kaathal Kottai )
Best Direction	Agaththian ( Kaathal Kottai )
Best Regional Language Film	Kaathal Kottai ( Producer Sivasakthi Pandian)
Best Artwork	Thotta Tharani ( Indian )
Special Effects	Venky ( Iindian )

"Kalai Selvam Award" was presented by Cinema Artists Association to Director Sridhar, Producers S. Thaanu, A.SE. Ibrahim Rauther, Kripa Sankar and actress Sukanya on 19-8-1997. Honourable Minister Arcot Veerasamy distributed the awards.

**Tamil Nadu Government State Awards** **for the year 1995 were announced.**
Best Actor	Rajini Kaanth ( Muththu )
Best Actress	Kushboo ( Kolangal )
Best Actor Special Award	Vijaya Kumar (Anthi Manthaarai)
Best Actress Special Award	Rathika (Pasumpon, Rani Maharaani )
Best Musician	Deva ( Aasai, Vanmathy )
Best Lyricist	Vairamuththu : ( Bombaai, Muththu )
Best Picture	1st Prize--Anthi Manthaarai. 2nd Prize--Kolangal. 3rd Prize--Avathaaram.
	And films like Indra, Naan Beththa Mahanae got awards. ( March 12 )

PALKHE AWARD

The highest Cinema Award of Indian Central Government, "Dhadha Saahib Paalkhae Award" was given to Sivaji Ganesan on July 15, 1997 in recognition of his achievements for more than 40 years in Cinema!

**DINAKARAN AWARD**

**"Dinakaran" readers chose the best artistes from the films released in the year 1996.**
Best Actor	Kamalhaasan (Indian).
Best Actress	Meena (Avvai Shanmughi).
Best Producer	R.B.Southri.
Best Film	Indian (Produced by A.M.Ratnam).
Best Director	Shankar (Indian).
Best Music Director	Deva (Kaathal Kottai, Avvai Shanmughi).
Best Playback Singer	Chitra (Kaathal Kottai).
Best Lyricist	Kavingnar Vairamuththu (Indian).
Best New-Face Actress	Sruti (Kalki)
Best Comedian	Manivannan
Best Comedy Actresas	Kovai Sarala (Kaalam Maarippotchi).
Best Charactor Artist	Vijaya Kumar (Anthi Manthaarai).
Best Lady Charactor Artist	Kushboo (Naattuppurappaattu).
Best Villain	Prakashraj
Best Dialogue-Writer	Pandia Rajan (Kopala Kopala).
Best Stunt Master	Kanal Kannan (Selva).
Best Child Artist	Baby Aany (Avvai Shanmughi).
Best Editor	Lenin, Vijayan (Indian).

This Award Function was held on 20th July, 1997.
Best Achievers Awards were awarded to Sivaji Ganesan, K.Balachander and Panchu Arunaachalam. Of all the Daily News Papers "Dinakaran" is the only Paper which is presenting Cinema Awards to Actors, Actresses and Technicians!

**WHO HAVE ACTED IN HOW MANY** **NUMBER OF FILMS IN 1997**
Actor Ramki	7
Actrss Ramba	6
Sivaji Ganesan	2
Rajnikaanth	1
Vijayakaanth	1
Sarath Kumar	3
Prabu	3
Sathyaraj	3
Kaarthik	2
Ramarajan	2
Prabu Deva	2
Parthiban	2
Murali	3
Vijai	5
Pandiarajan	2
Vignesh	4
Ajith Kumar	5
Roja	5
Manthra	5
Meena	4
Nagma	4
Devayaani	4
Sangeetha	4
Sangavi	4
Urvasi	3
Kushboo	3
Simran	3
Suvalatsumi	3

**HIT FILMS**
Kaathal Kottai	215 days.
Kaalamellaam Kaathal Vaazhha	206 days.
Minsaara Kanavu	175 days.
Surya Vamsam	200 days.
V.I.P.	100 days
Onesmore	100 days
Avvai Shanmughi	100 days
Kogulaththil Seethai	100 days
Bharathi Kannamma	100 days
Yettuppatti Raasaa	100 days
Kalki	100 days
Love Today	100 days
Arunaachalam	100 days
Pistha	100 days
Alexander	100 days
Iruvar	100 days
Kopala Kopala	100 days

**MORNING SHOW**
Minsaara kanavu	216 days.
Arunaachalam	204 days
Avvai Shanmughi	175 days
Yettuppatti Raasaa	175 days

QUEEN AT KAMAL SHOOTING The inauguration of the shooting of the film "Maruthanayagam", being produced, acted and directed by Kamalhaasan took place in Chennai. England Queen Elizabeth took part in this function as Chief Guest. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi switched on the camera and G.K.Mooppanar did the clapping for the first shot. Rajnikaanth and so many other artists attended the function.

C.M.SOLVES CINEMA DISPUTE The dispute and clash between the cinema federation body Fefsi and the group representing the Creators affected Film Shooting for some time. Chief Minister Karunanidhi intervened and brought an end to this problem by amicably solving the dispute. The solution putforth by him stressed the non-interference of one group in the shooting work of other! Welcoming C.M.'s well-judged solvation, a thanks-giving press statement was released by the popular cinema directors!

MARRIAGES ARE MADE IN KODAMBAAKKAM 1. The marriage of Actor Livingston with Jesintha took place in Chennai at a local Church.

2. Actress Sivaranjini married Telugu Actor Srikanth.

3. The marriage between Actor Vijaya Kumar's daughter Anitha and A. Kogula Krishnan was conducted in Chennai.

4. Actress Sri Devi married Hindi Film Producer Boni Kapoor, brother of Hindi filmfield leading hero Anil Kapoor!

5. "Chinnaththaayi", "Chellakkannu" films fame Vignesh married college student Uma at Thiruppathy (March 6).

6. Actress 'Kodai Mazhai' Vidya married American groom Sridhar (April 4).

7. "Chellakkannu", "Sakthi" fame actress Yuvarani married Malasian business man Ravichandran!

8. Glamour actress Sharmily was given in marriage to Mohammed Imamudin who is doing business in Australia (June 22).

9. Actor Abbaas married his relative girl Er Rum Usain at Bangalore (September 10).

10. The marriage between actress Rekha and Kerala business man Jose took place at Kozhikode in Kerala

ACCIDENTS Actor Mansoor Alikhan met with an accident near Thindivanam while on his way to choose location for the shooting of the film "Vettu Onnu Thundu Rendu".
Veteran actress Pandariboi lost a part of her hand in an road accident near Natrampalli. Court ordered that Rupees 4 lacs should be given to her as compensation!

DEPARTED SOULS FALLEN FLOWERS "Panakkaaran", "Ilaignarany" films fame Navarasam G.K.S. died on February 17. He was 57.

The popular playback singer Sahul Hameed, who has sung such songs as "Usilampatti penkutty Muththuppechi", died in a car accident. He was 35.(March 4).

Cinema Producer Pollachi Ratnam passed away (April 16).

Producer Kutraalingam who has produced such films as "Ponnoonjal", "Avan Oru Sariththiram" expired. He was 75.(April19).

Producer of such famous films as "Koondukkili"(in which M.G.R. and Sivaji had acted), T.R.Raamanna passed away(May22).

Actress Padmapriya died of heart attack (November 17).