Starry move

It seems Chennai’s loss will be Coimbatore’s gain. The Tamil film industry is currently abuzz with rumours that its most famous face, Rajinikanth, might soon move from Chennai’s Poes Garden to Anaikatti, an area near Coimbatore, where he is said to be building a palatial house. Rajini, who is recovering from a long bout of illness which took him to Singapore for treatment last year, has reportedly had enough of the hustle and bustle of city life and wants some “peace” in the less frenetic environs of Coimbatore. So are diehard Rajini fans in Chennai distraught? Well, maybe not. After all, they’d probably be quick to point out that no matter where the superstar resides his star appeal will shine as brightly as ever.

Robot rage

In other news on Rajinikanth, Japan can’t seem to have enough of the actor. When Endhiran (Robot), his superhero vehicle, hit the screens there first, it was cut down to a two-hour long film to match local taste. It went on to become such a smash hit that the film, with Japanese subtitles, has now been re-released in its original three-hour format. And guess what? It’s a monster hit this time around too! So much so that it’s going head-to-head with two mainstream Japanese movies. That’s not all. Two songs from the film have become quite the rage among young people in Japan. Looks like brand Rajini knows no borders.

Evening raga

When Grammy award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and his son Salil Bhatt get together, innovation and creativity get a new meaning. The father-son duo is now out with a new album called Strings of Freedom by Mystica Music. The album’s USP: It will showcase a new raga composed by the duo called Vishwa Kauns. “This raga is being offered to new age listeners and marks 50 golden years of my father Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt’s musical journey,” says Bhatt Junior. “Raga Vishwa Kauns envelops the sentiments of romance and celebration and it’s ideal for late evening listening,” he says. From raga to musical riches, shall we say?

Super funny

After Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan, it’s now Saif Ali Khan’s turn to don the cape of a superhero in Milan Luthria and Bhushan Kumar’s next film. But hold your horses. From what we hear, Khan won’t do a traditional superhero act in the film. Of course, director Luthria doesn’t want to reveal too many details about the project just yet. “Ours is a masala entertainer with a twist — that’s all I’ll say at this point,” he says. But a little bird tells us that the film would be a funny take on the superhero genre. So instead of marvelling at Khan flying in to save the world, you may end up laughing at his superhuman hi jinks. Well, as long as it’s a super show, we don’t mind anything.

Spanish serenade

Remember that lovely foot-tapping number Senorita in the film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara? Well, the woman who sang it — Carlyta Maria Mouhini — is all set to come out with some more España magic. Mouhini, who is a Brazilian national and at present lives in Mumbai, has been signed up for Arbaaz Khan’s Dabangg 2. “This time it will be a Latin-Uttar Pradesh folk song. The Latin part of the song, like all my other songs, will be written by me,” she says. Mouhini, who also has the Latin-Hindi fusion number Le le le le maza le (Wanted) to her credit, says that the Khan brothers — Arbaaz and Salman — were very keen to blend Spanish with an Indian folk song. With composer duo Sajid-Wajid working on the music and Mouhini lending her rich voice to it, this one promises to be a scorcher.