Noted lyricist and filmmaker P Bhaskaran is no more. He died at the age of 83 on February 25. Malayalis continue to sing his songs, which were known for its poetic elegance. 

Born on April 21, 1924 at Kodungallur, Bhaskaran was actively involved in the freedom movement. His poem Vayalar Garjikkunnu chronicles the Punnapra-Vayalar struggle and is regarded as one of the finest voices against feudal oppression and the ruling class.

Before becoming a part of the film fraternity, Bhaskaran was a journalist and had also worked for the All India Radio. S S Vasan, the owner of Gemini Studios, gave him the first break as a lyricist in his film Apoorvasahodararkal (1949). He had contributed certain lines in Malayalam for the multi-lingual song and has written his first full-length song for the film Chandrika (1954).

The late lyricist has around 3,000 songs to his credit during his distinguished career. He has written 23 songs for Unniyarcha, 12 for Laila Majnu and 10 songs for Mudiyanaya Puthran.

'Bhaskaran master', as he was popularly known has also directed nearly 50 films. Neelakkuyil (1954), which he directed with Ramu Kariat, won the President's Silver medal. He has won national recognitions for films like Aadyakiranangal (1965), Iruttinte Aathmavu (1967), Thurakkatha Vathil (1971) among others.

Not content to remain behind the scenes, Bhaskaran also acted in quite a number of films. He won the Kerala Sahitya Academy award for his collection of poems Ottakampiyulla thampuru in 1982. The state honoured him with the J C Daniel lifetime achievement award in 1994.

Genelia in a Kannada film 

The pooja of Sathya In Love featuring Shivaraj Kumar and Genelia, by debutant director Raghava Loki was a grand affair organised in the open grounds of the Government Arts College, Bangalore.

The heroine for the film was chosen after an elaborate publicity campaign asking filmgoers to vote for their choice from a list of five given by the producer. The five were Trisha, Nayantara, Asin, Bhoomika and Genelia. Genelia was finally chosen. But the producers had to try for ten months to get the green signal from the actress.   

At the launch, the actress said that she was very proud of her Karnataka roots (her ancestral house is in Mangalore).  "My relatives stay in Bangalore and Mangalore. I belong to a Konkani Christian family. I am happy to be part of the Kannada film industry and would like to do best roles."

Upendra in a Telugu film

Kannada superstar Upendra will be seen in a new role in the Telugu film Toss... Bomma Borusa. The film, directed by Ram Reddy (popularly known as Priyadarshini Ram who made Manodu), sees Upendra experimenting with shades of grey.

Upendra is also slated to do a negative role in a Tamil film shortly.

Toss, which also stars Raja, Priyamani and Kamna Jethmalani, is an action film which looks at both the good and the bad aspects of at man.

The film has been shot mostly in Hyderabad.

Gautham Menon on his new film

After receiving rave reviews for his film Pachaikili Muthucharam, Gautham Menon is getting ready with his new project, a 'very young film' unlike Pachaikili where the hero was a middle-aged man.

The film titled Vaaranam Aayiram (a thousand elephants) has Surya essaying the role of a 16-year old. Inspired by the Hollywood actor Tom Hanks in his film Forrest Gump, Surya has prepared for the role by working on his look.

"I feel Surya, at 33, can play a 16 year old. He has lost a lot of weight and we are working on his look," Menon says.

Menon said he casted Surya as a 16-year old because he had to essay a character whose life span range from 16 to 33 years. "I am sure Surya can do justice to the role," he adds.

He was also planning a trilogy on the cop's life after Kaakha Kakha and Vettayadu Vilyadau but has decided to shelf his plans. "I think I have made too many cop films. I will think about the trilogy only after I make at least a couple more films," he adds.