Ajith Fans Club

Ajit
and Yuvanshankar Raja teamed up to render a musical hit in ‘Dheena’, a
few years ago. Now the duo has managed to create a new record with
‘Billa’.

The audio CDs and cassettes of Billa, released a
couple of days ago by Ayngaran International, are selling like
hotcakes. The movie is a remake of yesteryear blockbuster titled the
same and it features Ajit, Nayantara and Namitha in lead roles. Music
is by Yuvanshankar Raja and is directed by Vishnuvardhan.

Sources say, after Rajnikanth’s ‘Sivaji’, it was
Billa’s audio which is making waves in the industry this year. Songs
from the original movie – My Name is Billa and Vethalaya Pottendi - are
remixed for the new version and it has found favour with youngsters
immediately.

Expressing delight at the success of the audio,
director Vishuvardhan, says, “’Billa’ is a trendy and stylish film. No
major changes have been made to the original script. The success of
audio will vouch for the movie. Ajit is showcased in a different way.
We are confident of a big success”.

Source: www.indiaglitz.com

Ajit’s Billa audio has taken a dream opening. It hit the market on Monday (November 26) and nearly 22,000 CD’s and cassettes of the film were sold out by evening all over Tamilnadu !

According to music industry sources it is the best ever audio opening for an Ajit film and the second highest opening day sales recorded after Sivaji in 2007!

The king of theatrical opening has lived up to his reputation now in audio sales. Says a spokesperson of Ayngaran Music, who is marketing Billa audio: “We never expected such a fantastic audio opening at a time when generally audio sales are down. We are very happy and have immediately ordered for another 15,000 CD’s and cassettes.”

All leading music shops in Chennai have run out of Billa audio, which they hope the audio company will replenish by Thursday morning. Hats off to Ajit, and the great music combo of Vishnu-Yuvan, they simply rock!

Source: www.sify.com

Azhagam Perumal, one of director Mani Ratnam’s assistants, last seen in Kattrathu Tamil as the Tamil teacher is reverting to direction. He started his career playing a small role in Alaipayuthey as Madhavan’s Malayalee landlord and later went on to direct Dum Dum Dum for Mani’s production house.      

                                          

Azhagam Perumal grabbed the audiences’ attention big time with his performance in Selva Raghavan’s Pudupettai in which he plays a politician.

According to him, he prefers to act only when the roles interest him and it is not something that he is looking forward to. He is working on a script and plans to start his next venture soon for which he is eyeing two leading male stars. Whether it is Vikram and Surya or Ajith and Vijay - we will have to wait and watch.

Source: www.behindwoods.com

After his efforts with Rajini and Vijay met with success, the Union Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has now turned his attention to the next lot of stars like Simbu, Dhanush and Ajith. With Vikram and Surya agreeing to follow suit long before, he has now turning his attention to the other rising stars.      

                                          

But why did Ajith’s name crop up all of a sudden? Could it be because of the Billa? Being a yesteryear Rajini film remake, could it be the apprehension that there could be scenes glorifying smoking?

But then, the Hindi remake of Don had smoking scenes even in the promos that too at the time when the debate over blanket ban on smoking scenes in films was at its peak. The minister might as well make a request to the directors and actors to avoid such depictions in films instead of naming them one by one.

Source: www.behindwoods.com

‘Billa’
The very name immediately brings before our eyes the tall, dark, young
and handsome Rajinikanth with his typical ’style’. A movie to reckon
with in the history of Tamil cinema, Billa was a cult movie in the
early 1980s, which brought stardom to Rajinikanth.

After almost two and half decades, ‘Billa’ revisits
Kollywood. But this time in a different form. The blockbuster is remade
in Tamil cinema to suit the contemporary audience in the same title.
The handsome Ajith takes up the mantle from Rajinikanth to play the
amiable don  ‘Billa’.

A heady mix of commercial cocktail, the original
version of Billa won the admiration of everyone for the ‘Rajinikanth
magic’ worked well on screen. Hoping to recreate the magic is Ajith.
The latter reportedly called on Rajinikanth and sought his blessings
and advice on performing the roles before commencing the shooting.

Director
Vishnuvardhan, who wields the megaphone for the movie, says, "half the
battle was already won when we got the permission from Rajinikanth to
remake his ‘Billa’. But I was burdened with a responsibility to ensure
the remake version match the standards of the original. Hopefully we
would satisfy the fans".

Nayanthara dons the role enacted by Sri Priya in the
original, while Namitha has performed the character played by Praveena.
Prabhu plays a prominent role in the movie.

‘Billa’ was shot extensively in Malaysia. Says
Vishnuvardhan, "with a cream of talented technicians involved in the
making of ‘Billa’, the movie has come technically rich and trendy. We
have toiled hard to ensure that every frame appease the audience".

A stunt sequence in Malaysia and a couple chases have been canned well by Neerav Shah.

Yuvanshankar Raja has come up with catchy musical
score in ‘Billa’. It is stylish and class written all over it, says
Vishnuvardhan. The popular songs "My Name is Billa" has been retuned in
an excellent manner by Yuvan and captured well by Neerav Shah’s lens,
adds Vishnuvardhan.

Producer Ananda Suresh is all smiles talking about
his home production. "It is a trendy and chic film. Ajith is at his
best with all other characters giving him good company. Vishnuvardhan
has given a different colour to Billa, which we all are familiar with".

He says the movie has created a lot of expectations
among Tamil audience all around the globe. Plans are on to release the
movie worldwide next month with subtitles in English.

‘Billa’ is a movie that is sure to assert Ajith’s
dominance in the Tamil film industry. Already a mass hero, Ajith will
take a giant leap towards establishing himself a ‘numero uno star’ in
Kollywood.

Source: www.indiaglitz.com

Yuvanshankar
Raja had greater responsibility in his shoulders to deliver the best
for the remake of yesteryear blockbuster Billa. Obviously his work will
draw comparisons with the original. But a bundle of talent,
Yuvanshankar has managed to come up with a mix of a mass and class in
Billa with a couple of remixes from the original all set to appeal the
masses.

A right mix of hip-hop, melody and class, the new
version of Bill has songs which will top the audiocharts
straightaway.Though not mystifying, the songs are a delight to hear.
Groovy and trendy, the album has songs which will set the foot moving.

Groovy tracks complete with exotic interludes and orchestration makes up Billa.

Especially
the Billa Theme (Instrumental) takes us to a different world. With
guitars dominating, the theme song is a masterly work from young Yuvan.

My name is Billa (Naveen, Kay Kay)

It was the anthem of youngsters in early 1980s.
Yuvan was careful in getting the soul of the song and give it a
different color. Set in a racy tempo, the song has all ingredients to
make it big. Naveen and Kay Kay have tried to catch up with SPB, who
rendered the original. The rap and the guitar interludes deserve
appreciation.

Naan Meendum (Deepika)

Watch out for Deepika. The newcomer has rendered
this racy number to near perfection. Peppy and foot tapping, the song
has enough stringed instruments in the interludes to make it
mystifying. A right song for somber mind. Peppy and pacy.

Sei (Nithya Mahadevan)

Again
a racy number. The instruments seem to have overtaken the vocals. But
the pace at which progresses makes us forget about the vocals. A
typical Yuvanshankar song rendered in an Anglican accent. Watch it with
visuals, it may appeal to you.   

Seval Kodi (Vijay Yesudas)

A typical mass song. Interestingly the soft voice of
Vijay Yesudas has been roped in to sing this number. Peppy and filled
with brisk music, the Seval kodi is a perfect number for Ajith fans to
rejoice in cinema halls. The use of percussion and additional rhythm is
a delight to listen to.

Vethalaya Pottendi (Shankar Mahadevan)

Shankar Mahadevan instantly reminds us of energy.
His vocals not just add sheen to songs but also brisk energy. Vethalaya
Pottendi, a remix from the original Billa, is one such song from him.
It has undergone just a few minor changes to suit today’s audience. It
is a old wine in a new bottle.

Source: www.indiaglitz.com

Ajith’s fans were in for a double treat yesterday. With the music of the much-awaited Billa released and a surprise interview by Ajith on Kalaingar TV, the euphoria surrounding the film has grown manifold. The music of this remake of the superstar’s yesteryear smash hit is all over the place. Cassettes and CDs were flying off the shelf within hours of its release, sources say.      

                                          

The scene in similar in all centers. Even up market CD shops like Music World and Planet M have recorded sales up to 95 per cent on the day of the launch. Some of the smaller stores ran out of the CDs within a short span of time. Most of the shops in the city have ordered for a second set and are awaiting its delivery. Some stores lament that they could not handle enquiries pouring in from fans regarding the arrival of stock. This sort of reception is something Yuvan hasn’t seen before. Some shops have made use of this opportunity and are selling the CDs at Rs. 120, which is higher than the MRP Rs. 95. Shopkeepers and those who have bought the CD say that the song Seval Kodi, the remixes Vethalaya Pottendi and My Name is Billa and the theme are the hot favorites at the moment. All the buzz surrounding the movie is sure to add to the already big opening Ajith’s films usually receive.

Source: www.behindwoods.com

Since Ajith is acting in Rajini’s role in the remake of ‘Billa,’ there’s a great deal of expectation from the fans.

The audio release of ‘Billa’ has fuelled those expectations. The function took place yesterday morning and the songs were released by a happy Rajini himself.

In the evening, a press meet was held and present were producers Ananda L Suresh, London Karunaas, music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, director Vishnuvardhan, hero Ajith, actors Prabhu, Raghuman and Arun Pandian.

"Started during the time of Kalivanar, our production house has completed 60 years. Till now we were distributors. Now we have gone into production," said Ananda Pictures  L Suresh proudly as he listed their achievements. He also mentioned that the complete shooting of ‘Billa’ took place in Malaysia.

Ajith, Vishnuvardhan, Yuvan and Raghuman gave very brief comments but Prabhu’s speech was inspired.

"I am very happy that I have acted with Ajith in this film. Ajith is a man with a good heart. In fact, he is a child at heart and I understood this as we interacted with each other during the film shooting," said Prabhu and that put a smile on Ajith’s face!

Source: www.cinesouth.com

Ajith did manage to hit the normal public life of Chennai momentarily. Not that he appeared in the middle of the road during peak hours of traffic, but it was his interview telecast in a private television channel that did the trick. In an interview – first of its kind allowed to any television media in years – that lasted more than 2 hours, Ajith got candid and discussed      

                                          

many topics ranging from his much-awaited Billa, to his shutting off from the media and wife Shalini.

The channel started showing promos of the interview since noon and that’s when the phone lines of Chennai went awry and jammed with his fans going frenzy about the news communicating it with each other. If sources are to be believed, some of them even took off from work during the post-lunch session to be able to catch up with the interview.

Not to mention, the interview was stylishly shot and was packaged with no-nonsense questions adding to the excitement of the fans.

Source: www.behindwoods.com

The Billa audio was formally launched on Monday evening by the entire team of the film at Residency towers in Chennai. There were no lengthy speeches or glamorous television anchors to host the show.

The producer of Billa, L.Suresh of Ananda Pictures who hosted the show kept it short and sweet. What made it memorable and refreshing from the usual functions was the camaraderie among the unit members- Ajit, Prabhu, Rehman, Aditya, Vishnuvardhan and his lovely wife Anu Vardhan, Yuvan, L Suresh, ‘Ayngaran’ Karunamoorthy and others.

The picture of the private audio launch done earlier in the presence of Rajnikanth was given to the media (see pic). Later the unit members mingled with the media during the party and everybody had a good time.

Source: www.sify.com