Keerthi Reddy.. Chennai-yai kalakkiya indraiya devadhai had just passed 12th grade, when her mother, fashion designer Akalya Reddy came to know of Nasar desperately looking for a heroine for Devadhai. Nasar had already chosen a heroine for his film but promised Keerthi a chance if she indeed look like the angel he was looking for. Akalya and Keerthi boarded the first train to Chennai and without a single make-up or video test, Nasar offered Keerthi the lead heroine role. Born into a bayangara wealthy family of Andhra M.P., Ganga Reddy (who is Keerthi's grand daddy), Keerthi claims that she did not come into the acting field for the money, but for her deep desire to become a successful actress in Hindi films. Even now, Keerthi says that her dream is to act in Hindi films. It was because she was told acting in tamil films would easily give her national recognition that she would need to make into Hindi films, that she even ventured to act in tamil films from the get go. Interestingly, Keerthi refused to do the role in the remake on Kaadhal Kottai in Telegu, as she prefers to be highly selective about her roles. Moreover, Keerthi does not even model for anybody else, except for the clothes that her mother designs, which are up for sale. Keerthi, who is an excellent classical dancer and singer, painter, swimmer and has plenty of other talents needed to be added to this list, is probably becoming a lot less selective than when she first began acting. She currently stars with Ajeethkumar in Vaali, with Vikram in Sethu and with Parthiban and Manthra in Kalyaana Sundharam. Hopefully, these films will stay in theaters a lot longer than her first two ventures, Devadhai and Nandhini.

Director Balasekaran.. By now, half of Chennai and at least part of the world would recognize the phrase: kaadhalai kattru mara, abagarichchu-fied nicely by Balasekaran, which took his maiden venture, Love Today, to great heights. Originally from Coimbatore, Dhanabalan or now known as Balasekaran, has become tremendously popular for propagating probably for the first time in tamil cinema, that one should walk away from love, if he/she felt the need to do so. After all, how more years can we have K.S.Ravikumar maadhiri-yo, K.R. maadhiri-yo, final scene-il, everybody stands together happily ever after, posing for a group photograph. Balasekaran may not see the future of tamil cinema head in that direction. With his second venture Sollaamale in the planning stages, Balasekaran has been signed to do a short term project Thulli Thirindha Kaalam, produced by Kavithalaya (K.Balachandar). The film is expected for release on Pongal day, 1998.

Kuzhandhai maadhiri jaaliyaa odum nadhi or that's what Reeva claims her name actually means or more aptly, river? Reeva started acting when she was bearly three or four years of age. By the time, Reeves finished school final and came into the real cine world, they told her that she was still too young looking to be trying to become a heroine. Evidence: Selva. Reeva debut heroine-na nadichchu (adhuvum double heroine subject) semma adi vaangina padam. She disappeared for a while into her homebase at Mumbai and started eating some real food and began dance lessons. Now, she is back with T.S.Jayamurugan's Roja Malare, alongside Murali and Arunpandian. She plays the kavarchi kanni whom Murali mistakes for his bride-to-be, in the forever famous photo mix-up scenario. Of course, Reevs indulges her audience in what she knows best: swim suits and muththa kaatchigal.. But then again, what else is new :-)

Divya Jesuval and Divya Dutt.. As the invasion of the Divyas continue, one of them is very.. very UPSET with Director Chiththu and Producer Dharamchand Loongat for having spoiled all her dreams about tamil cinema. It appears Ms. Jesuval was promised a main role in Kaadhali and was brought from Mumbai only with that clause attached. Only after the film was released did she realize that Devayani took all the spotlight, leaving her with absolutely nothing. Paavam nondhu poyi, padam-um theater-ai vittu gidu gidu-yena odi vida, Divya Jesuval might have already packed her bags to Mumbai. On the other hand, Divya Dutt, makes a strong entrance in tamil cinema with Karthik in Koottaalli. Dutt seems to have fared well in the Northie world with Train to Pakistan and Ram Shyam (with Govinda). Director John Amritaraj did not bat an eyelid in hesistancy before signing her. After all, neither Eeshwari Rao nor Heera were good enough for the kavarchi dancer role that Divya Dutt will play in the film. With three jodis, Karthik-Divya, Oorvasi-Vinodh and Manoj K. Jayan-Rajshree, Divya might have to be a little concerned about eventually getting side-lined like Ms. Jesuval.

Welcome the youngest entry into the newcomers rat race this year: Jeevitha Sharma. Born and raised in Delhi, Jeevitha is the kadai kutti of her family. An excellent student at school, Jeevitha was first noticed by producer 'Sivashakthi' Pandian, in his search for a new and fresh looking heroine for his film, Kaadhale Nimmadhi. Soon afterwards, they approached her family with the heroine offer and went about videotaping Jeevitha's daily life: going to school, dancing, shopping etc. Within a few weeks, she was notified that she was selected for the film. Jeevitha wants to act as well as continue her education, as she wishes to fulfill her father's dream of her becoming a doctor someday. An interesting sidenote, a few weeks ago, a contest was held in Kumudham magazine to re-name Jeevitha to suit tamil tastes and traditions. The rules of the potti were that the name should begin with the letter "Ka" and should definitely be a tamil name. The fifteen year old Jeevitha has enough reason to be happy as she stars with Surya (who seems to have rocked Chennai with his good looks!) in Kaadhale Nimmadhi produced by so-far vetri pada producer 'Sivashakthi' Pandian and directed by newcomer Indhiran.

Neena.. Agathiyan could not asked for a better heroine, or so it seems. After all, Neena showed tremendous promise of becoming a good heroine in the future, as early as her child artist days in films like Keladi Kanmani. It is unavoidable to mention Keladi Kanmani in so many different instances, as this film has really stood as strong evidence for her acting capability. Though Neena had many chances to make a comeback, she seems to have waited for a golden opportunity which came through Director Agathiyan and Producer/Director K. Balachandar through their film Vidukadhai. The film released to both critics and audiences lauding the film and Neena's and Prakashraj's acting. All in all, Neena could not have asked for anything better.

Surya.. The hero who has had women running around him all over the place, ever since they set eyes on him in Nerukku Ner. (Abbas, ippo kavalai pada vendiyadhu dhaan!) Director Vasanth had an interest in introducing Saravannan, (Surya's original name), as early as when he was directing Aasai. When he spoke to Sivakumar about his intentions, Sivakumar said that his son Saravannan had just graduated out of college and begun a new job for an export company. He felt that Saravannan needed more maturity before he entered the cine world and asked Vasanth to try for his next film. Obviously, Vasanth kept all of this in mind and came back hunting for Saravannan, who he renamed Surya for Nerukku Ner. Ippo yennadaana, Surya has fans in the hundreds, after just one film. Surya has a few things going for him: some like his father and others not quite. Unlike his father, Surya is rather tall, but like his father shows an interest and involvement in acting. Several magazines commented that maybe Sivakumar was present during many shooting sessions, as Surya showed signs of nervousness and edginess in his acting. Only his next film, Kaadhale Nimmadhi will show if he could improve his acting and overall style.

Sulekha.. So, what's the relationship between the Aahaa heroine Tejali (aka Sulekha) and Super Star Rajinikanth (aka Sivaji Rao)?.. The answer is rather obvious as both Sulekha and Rajini are Marathis by birth. After running around every bush trying to find a homely looking heroine, Producer R. Mohan and Director Suresh Krishna finally laid their eyes on the yennai-yum, vervai-yum vazhiyum mugam of Sulekha at some vizha. They immediately signed her for their film Aahaa and brought her straight to Chennai. Luckily, Sulekha might be staying in Chennai a bit longer than other Northie heroines as her debut film is currently creating wonders at the box office. Playing the daughter of a samayalkaarar has its perks for sure!..

Rajeev Krishna.. The new hero who made his mark in Aahaa this Deepavali, is all smiles now. Everyone who sees him on the street recognizes him and has quite a lot of praise for his work in Aahaa. RK's new ventures are still unknown, as he probably wants to enjoy the fame currently available to him. An interesting side note, Rajeev Krishna is Suresh Menon's elder sister's son. No wonder he was thrilled when both Suresh 'mama' and Revathi 'athai' praised him for his role in his debut film Aahaa.

Vishnu.. Oscar Movies' Bhaskar initially signed Vishnu (actress Sheila's son!) to debut in his production, Kaadhal Rojave. According to the deal signed, Vishnu was not supposed to act in any other film until Kaadhal Rojave had been completed and released. But Vishnu could not wait and starred in a Malayalam film, while KR was still shooting. Producer Bhaskar was terribly upset with Vishnu's actions. With that aside, neither Vishnu nor Kaadhal Rojave have stirred up any great emotions amongst the filmgoers in Chennai and abroad. Even though Sheila has given interviews where she stated that her son has an excellent face and features that would lead him to success soon, the majority of tamil cinema fans might not concur with that opinion. For the most part, Vishnu's career kadavul vitta vazhi dhaan!..

Pooja Kumar.. Among the scarier thoughts for 1997 was just knowing that they had found a heroine for Vishnu for the film Kaadhal Rojave. Director K.R.'s films have never been known for heroes and heroines with stunning looks anyway. As far as Pooja is concerned, the only qualification she brought into shooting with her was her "Miss India-USA" pattam that she had won in a competition of Indhiya azhagigal in the U.S. Her family is entirely based in Lucknow, even though she was born and raised in the U.S. Paavam Pooja, due to her bad luck, the cinema strike completely ruined her chances of making it big in Kodambakkam. As she was offered no big movie roles, she had decided to pack her bags back to the modelling field.

Krishnatchi Sharma.. aka Kunthala.. aka Haripriya.. aka Maanu.. Ivalavu peyirum Maanu-vukku undu. Yet, Director Charan picked Maanu, her actual chella peyir, for the silver screen. Maanu who has been deeply interested in the dance forms of India since the tender age of five, has learned Kathakkali, Kuchipudi etc. To finish off her post graduate work in dance, Maanu came to learn Bharatanatyam at Kalakshetra, Chennai. It was during one of her dance items that Associate Director Vivek (aama, comedy actor Vivek dhaan!), had a chance to see her. He was looking for a new face for their film, Kaadhal Mannan, to be directed by K.Balachandar shishyan, Charan. After a lot of convincing, begging and pleading, Maanu agreed to act. Adding to the nadamaadum India trend, Maanu is Assamese by birth. If not anything else, you can expect some fine dances by Maanu in her debut film.

Shalini.. Our latest arrival from the "kuzhandai to kumaari" realm, similar to Neena. Only difference here is that nobody had ever forgotten Shalini, since her films, Bandham, Pillai Nila and many others have stayed in our memories for so long. Even after her sister Shamili had given an excellent performance in Anjali, people were only reminded more of Shalini. Today, Shalini returns to the silver screen as a young woman who had concentrated on her studies, but also enjoyed the perks of life while participating in azhagi pottis and taking up modelling assignments. After quite a long stint, wishing and praying to act her first tamil film as a heroine with Super Star Rajinikanth, Shalini eventually gave up. (Obviously, our thalaivar has to act more often :-) Director Fazil, who introduced Shalini to the cine world, had taken a Malayalam film, Anyaththi Piraavu, with Shalini in the lead heroine role. The film broke all kinds of records in Kerala, that Tamil film producer Sangili Murugan had bought rights to the film, even before it was completed in Malayalam. The tamil re-make of that film, Kaadhalukku Mariyadhai, has already been completed and awaits release soon. Shalini becomes a worthy contender amongst the young ones in 1998.

Eeshwari Rao.. Raaman Abdhulla's success put a big feather in Eeswari's cap. Moreover, her interesting features, even though she has a very moderate complexion, have had many critics place her on a high pedestal, assuring her of a very promising career in the near future. But let us not forget that Eeshwari got herself tossed out of Koottaali, as she did not want to do such a glamorous role. Then again, it is the same Eeshwari who is currently doing a nice kavarchi job for Director Bharathiraja's shishyan Manoj Kumar's film, Gurupaarvai. Eeshwari has also bagged a role in Bharathiraja's Siragugal Murivadhilai with Napolean. Obviously, the industry would like her to make a decision soon about kavarchi, or else, kadhai kandhal dhaan!..

Sonali Bendre.. The youngster brought to change the very meaning of love for thamizhargal in 1998. Of course, she is hard to miss as Director Kadhir himself admits. If the T.V. commercials do not stir your memory, surely her dance with Nagendra Prasad for Humma Humma in Bombay surely would. Well, she is back to kalakku kalakku-fy tamil cinema for the first time in a full length heroine role in Kaadhalar Dhinam. In his long and hard search for a heroine for his new venture, Director Kadhir earned himself a reputation that any beautiful woman walking on the road was bound to be asked if she would like to act in his film. Kadhir went around in circles until he saw Sonali in a T.V. commercial. Inspiration udichchu.. udane sign panni vittaar!..

Roshni.. Seems everyone including her own sister Nagma had written off Roshni's chances after her somewhat boring and uninteresting debut in Shishya. After all, peyir sollum badiyaa yedhum illai. Moreover, Roshni was not interested in doing kavarchi roles like her sister and was not prepared to do crappy roles just to become popular. Just at the time, every producer and director had turned their faces in the direction of more attractive and popular actresses of the 'no-kavarchi' genre like Suvalakshmi, Devayani and Sangita, Roshni managed to hit a big jackpot with K.Balachandar production Thulli Thirindha Kaalam. Interestingly, Manthra was initially offered the role, but she laughed in the face of K.B., telling him that she pays more salary to her manager than what he had offered to her for the film. So, out went Manthra and in came Roshni. Pongal 98 will tell Roshni what the future holds for her, as Thulli Thirindha Kaalam enters theaters.

Venkat Prabhu, S.P.B.Charan and Yugendran.. Sadly, Venkat Prabhu has not had half the luck that his father, Gangai Amaran or uncle Ilaiyaraja have had in the industry. Or maybe, he does not have the talents to become a big shot in tamil cinema yet. His debut film, Poonjolai has encountered some major problems (either in production or with the censors.) even though it was directed his own father. Now, both Gangai Amaran and S.P.Balasubramaniam have ventured to introduce their sons together in a joint venture, Wanted. S.P.B.Charan actually has nothing at stake in this film, considering his melodious voice will definitely take him to bigger and better places soon. Enter newcomer Premji, Gangai Amaran's oldest son, who will take the reins of directing Wanted, with Yuvan Shankar Raja composing music. Meantime, Malaysia Vasudevan's son, Yugendran has found other ways of making it in the tamil cinema industry. His father had once left Malaysia hoping to become a big actor, but eventually ended up being a great playback singer. Yugi aspired to become a good music director and Vasudevan aided him in reaching that goal as much as possible. But Yugi's luck and good looks took him straight into acting in Ayudhapadai, to be directed by Aravindharaj. Yugendran will play the second hero in the film.

Director Mu. Kalanjiyam's directorial debut, Poomani, was commended by audiences and critics alike that he won the Cinema Express Award for Best New Director for 1996. Except for the fact that he had served as Director Vasanth's assistant director in almost all of his films, not much has been said about him in the magazines or newspapers. But in the belief that 'silence is golden,' Kalanjiyam hopes to continue his success with Kizhakkum Merkkum. Produced by Amudha Durairaj, the film's poojai was held at the end of September with Nasar, Napolean and Ilaiyaraja gracing the occasion.

Director Bharathiraja's son, Manoj, also enters the newcomers never-ending race to the finish line this year. He is scheduled to star as the hero of the new film which is to be created by the joint effort of Directors Maniratnam and Rajeev Menon. He also appears to be starring in of Bharathiraja's new ventures. Unfortunately, no details known at this time. Meanwhile, there is Kausalya, whose most recent film, Nerukku Ner earned its laurels at the box office alongside the success she had already accumulated with her debut film, Kaalamellaam Kaadhal Vaazhga. Petite and pretty Kausalya, like Roshni, waits patiently for the magical downpour of films with excellent non-kavarchi roles. Hopefully 'Kaalamellaam Waiting Vaazhga' endru aagaama irukka vendum!..

Actually, we should not even be remotely discussing her amongst newcomers, but hey, she was a newcomer this year. Unlike her competitors, ivaroda popularity kodi 'ongi' parakkiradhu.. and for the right reasons of course. Every single film hit gold at the box office, including her debut film, Once More, and others like V.I.P. and Nerukku Ner. With Poochudavaa, Kotteeswaran, Kondaattam and another dozen films, under her belt, including her biggest promotion to date: Heroine of Superstar Rajinikanth's next film scheduled to begin soon.. Simran aavadhu.. newcomer aavadhu!.. No chance! Same cannot be said for the two more Bombay models signed to star in Amaithi Poonga. If not anything else, Ujvaala (sounds like "Ujaalaa") will keep everything white on the sets, or at least that happens to be the name of one of those models. Even though Ullaasam bombed majorly with the audience and the cash registers around the world, Vikram managed to sign a few films. But still, producers are not so confident that he could carry a film all by himself. So, enter Sriram. The truth is that nobody has bothered to find out about poor Sriram yet, except for the fact that Vikram and Sriram both star in Kanngalin Vaarththaigal currently being directed by Muktha V. Sundhar.

Supraja had made it onto the cover of Kumudham magazine in August '97, yet nobody has rushed to interview this lady, who vaguely looks like a newcomer to the industry. Supraja stars alongside Kushboo, Suresh (Panneer Pushpangal), and Manivannan in Ullaththai Killaathay. We will have to wait, just to find out if she is new to Kodambakkam at all! Raju Sundaram, the famous dance choreographer brother of Actor Prabhudeva and the main dancer in many songs including Rukkumani in Roja and Shock adikkudhu Sona in Aasai, has set out to stun everyone with his acting debut in Director Shankar's Jeans. In addition, new Art Director Balu also began work in Jeans, after the huge kalebaram during the strike, which resulted in Thotta Tharani opting out of the film.

The biggest surprise to date comes from the fact that Music Director Ranjit Barot has not signed a single film, even after songs like Vandhadhe Luck-u Vandhadhe, Eechangaatule Kuyil Onnu and Myilu Myilu Myillamma climbed charts to make their mark, while the film V.I.P. accumulated sizeable dough at the box office. Yet, not even a murmur about Ranjit anywhere. Not the same story with Music Director Yuvan Shankar Raja, who piled on the goods as soon as Aravindhan's music hit bull's eye with film music lovers. He signed to compose music for Wanted, Romance and Indian Express (yes, these are tamil movies!)....