'Kobra' starts this November

Megastar Mammootty had been a successful ally to director Renjith for quite some years, the union which resulted in some great movies including 'Pranchiyettan...' and 'Kaiyoppu' that came out in the last few years. But with no more immediate Renjith projects and due to a very dry season in the Box Office, the megastar is looking for fresher options to continue with his ruling streak in the Mollywood Business. And the latest news is that he has found a new business pal in actor, producer and director Lal. Together they are going to produce the new movie 'Kobra' which is all set to kick of the shoot by the fifth of this November.Mammootty's Playhouse will be the production associate of this movie together with Lal creations. Lal himself will script and direct Mammooty in this movie and will also appear in the role of the second hero in this humorous thriller. The duo were excellent in the previous hit movies together -'Thommanum Makkalum' and 'Best Actor'.

Lal and Mammootty has almost confirmed Lakshmi Rai and Mamtha Mohandas as the heroines of this movie, which is expected to be on theatres by the month of February.

Mammootty steps in for a remix

In the season of remixes, megastar Mammootty has also joint the bandwagon and has stepped in to be on one. The actor was seen a couple of days ago in Oooty, lending his lips for the remix version of the famous Jayan and Seema song from 'Angaadi' starting 'Kannum Kannum', 'Thammil Thammil'. Director Shafi was calling the shots for this song for his new movie 'Venicile Vyapari' destined to be on theaters as a Bakrid release on the fourth of November. The movie which tells a story based on the eighties, also have the megastar in a similar dress code with Blue bell bottom pants and jackets with long pointed collars.

Mammootty explains that it was the desire of the director Shafi to use a super hit song of the eighties in a dream scene of the film. And later they zeroed in on the song than going on for a heavy beat track.

'Venicile Vyaapari' which is almost complete is produced by Madhavan Nair of Murali films.

Actor Mohanlal under Indian Army scanner for uniform misuse

• Two years after feting him with honorary Lieutenant Colonel's rank, the Territorial Army has taken serious note of reports that Malayalam movie star Mohanlal had allegedly misused his uniform for commercial purposes in Kerala government advertisements to promote tourism. The actor has denied the allegation.
  
  Officers at the Army Headquarters here said they have received reports that Mohanlal, considered to be one of Kerala's topmost film actor, had passed off as a war hero in a television advertisement aired in December 2010 and January 2011 during the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival promoted by the state's tourism department.
  
  This, the officers said, was against the rules under which he was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2009. The honorary rank conferment rules stipulate that the uniform be worn only on ceremonial occasions, while on training with his Territorial Army unit, and at official functions.
  
  The honorary rank is conferred by the army on achievers to have them as role models and inspire the country's youth to join the armed forces.
  
  The army has in the recent years also conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel on India's leading sportspersons, including 1983 World Cup winning Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, 2011 World Cup winning cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra.
  
  The reports had suggested that Mohanlal had in a series of advertisements presented himself in army uniform, claiming to be a 1971 war hero, a National Security Guard (NSG) commando, a gallantry medal winner and a recipient of the army chief's commendation card.
  
  He was reportedly paid Rs.50 lakh for the advertisement shot by his own production house, Ashirwad Films.
  
  The advertisements were noticed by a retired army Brigadier, who is reported to have lodged a complaint with the army in this regard.
  
  Mohanlal, speaking to IANS, said the costume used in the advertisement for the Kerala tourism department was the one he had worn for his role in the Malayalam film "Kandahar". 
  
  "It's just like any film hoarding and it has got nothing to do with the Lt. Col. uniform in the Territorial Army. You should also see that the advertisement mentions my character in the film. In fact, I did this for the Kerala government and I have not collected any professional fees for it," said Mohanlal.

Mammootty unveils CCL jersey

In a colourful function held at Taj Malabar, megastar Mammootty unveiled the team jersey of 'Kerala Strikers'- the Mollywood team which will take part in the current edition of CCL scheduled to start on the 21st of January, 2012. Mammootty handed over the jersey to the vice captain of the team, actor Indrajith in the absence of its captain Super star Mohanlal who couldn't make it to the function due to viral fever.

The others of the 20 member team participating in the years Celebrity Cricket League includes Kunchako Boban, Prithviraj, Nivin Poly, Munna, Bineesh kodiyeri, Riyas Ahammed, Vivek Gopan, Saiju Kurup,Manikuttan, Unni Mukundan, Vinoo Mohan, Bala, Rejith Menon, Kalabhavan Prajod, and Asif Ali. 'Kerala Strickers' will have Lakshmi Rai and Bhavana as the team ambassadors while Mohanlal, Lissy Priyadarshan and Shaji are the joint owners of team, who have already spend two crores on them. Their coach is Pankaj Chandrasenan Nair while the team manager is Idavela Babu. The first match of Kerala team is at Bangalore on 2012 January 21 against Hyderabad.

Talking on the occasion, state minister and a member of film fraternity, K B Ganeshkumar said that this  CCL will provide a platform for Kerala actors to get into closer relations with members of other film industries. He also added that the state government will provide all possible support for the event. Indrajith who also spoke on the occasion said that it is a dream come true for himself and his team members to play cricket on the international stadiums, which featured ever green cricket matches won by the National team. As  he will be free on the entire month, he looks forward to play every match as a wicket keeper batsman. The captain of the team, Mohanlal will also bat though he will be noted more as a bowler.

Priyadarshan, Radhika Sharathkumar, Sohail Khan, Lissy Priyadharshan and Boney Kapoor also attended the function which was followed by the presentation of the team members in their Jerseys accompanied in the ramp by leading models.

Arabi Vs Vyaapari

fter a dull Onam for the reigning superstars of Mollywood, Mohanlal and Mammootty will go on for a direct duel at the Box Office with their new movies for this Bakrid season. Mammootty's 'Venicle Vyapari' and Mohanlal's 'Arabeem Ottakavum P Madhavan Niarum' which is alternatively titled as 'Oru Marubhhomikatha' will be the two movies which are almost confirmed to grace the theatres on the same day, that is the fourth of November.

'Venile Vyapari' coming from the director of super hits Shafi, has Mammootty in triple getups and the star is said  to have done a dificult role for the movie which is based on a story of the eighties by James Alber. While 'Arabeem......' will have Mohanlal once again uniting with his favourite director Priyadharsan after a gap of seven years. With lot of expectations on both the movies, the Box Office is sure to find a reasonably big fight for the ultimate winner of the season.