Year 2000: Tamil Cinema
Highlights
(Part-2)

The Chronicle Of The Year 2000, Month By Month
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January, 2000:

• Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi declared open the bronze statue of T.R.Sundaram of Modern Theatres, inside the campus of Film Chamber, Chennai.
• Gujarat court issued warrant to Hindi actresses Jugi Jawla, Thabu, RaveenaTandon, Madhuri Dixit, Gulkarni and Karishma Kapoor on charge of having acted in obscene scenes.
• International Film Festival, in which 45 countries took part, started in New Delhi in a grand gala manner. Central Minister Arun Chetley and actors and actresses participated in it.
• Composition as well as recording of background musical scores for Kamalhassan's"Hey Ram" took place in Hungary. Under Ilayaraja's musical direction, Europe's musicians played the instruments.
• Kamalhassan's Fans' Association members conducted a welcome reception in Chennai for Ilayaraja and Kamalhassan on their return to Chennai.
• At a function in Hydrabad, held to felicitate 'Chevalier' Sivaji Ganesan, the Andhra Governor C.Rengarajan presented N.T.Rama Rao Award to Sivaji Ganesan.
• Lata Rajinikanth became the founder of 'Daya Foundation' with the objective of taking care of orphan children. The revenue collected through the function of 'Rajini 25' and through the sales of 'Mayaajaalam' cassettes was said to be utilized for this orphan care service.
• In the International Film Festival, held in New Delhi, the Malayalam movie "Karunam" and a Japanese film won Golden Peacock Award.
• Dinakaran Tamil Daily Cinema Award for the 'Best Actor' of the year 1999 went to actor Ajithkumar. The 'Best Actress' award went to Simran.'Padaiyappaa' won the Best Picture award. The Unparalleled Actor Of The 20th Century award went to Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan.
• Indian Government officially announced that 'Padma Bhooshan Award' is to be conferred on Rajinikanth and A.R.Rahman is chosen to be awarded 'Padma Sree Award'.
• Tamil Film Chamber conference was held. It imposed ban on Tamil film actors and actresses from acting in T.V. serials and programmes.
• Chinthamani Murugesan became the President of the newly -created TamilFilm Chamber.KR.G. took office as it's Additional President, Kalaippuli S.Dhanu as the Treasurer and Abirami Ramanathan as it's Secretary.
• Kamalhassan presented Thirukkural books to 100 poor students as his free gift. 50 newly married couples belonging to Kamalhassan Welfare Association donated their eyes, to be taken away after their death.

• The shooting work of the film "Water" in Kasi faced stiff opposition. Shabna Ashmi shaved her head hair to act in the film.
• Mammootty got the 'Best Actor'National Award for the year 1988 for his performance in the film "Ambedkar"! "Jeans" film won Award for the 'Best Graphics' works. Actor Prakashraj was given Special Award and Parthiban's "House Full" bagged the 'Best Regional Film Award'.
• Ibrahim Rowther introduced a new flag bearing black and red colours and in between them a 'fire-lit lamp' symbol and yellow colour.
• Actor Vijay conducted free marriages for 10 poor couples. He also gave them 50 kinds of marriage gifts.
• Mumbai metropolitan court Judge rejected a case filed against actresses Thabu and six others for having acted too glamorously in films.
• President K.R.Narayanan felicitated Amirtham for having created the documentary film "Anna Vaazhkirar", that won National Award.
• Vijayakanth gave away 2 lakhs 50 thousand rupees as free aid for the family members who had lost their relatives in an accident that happened near Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, when they (the victims) were proceeding to participate in "Vallarasu" film shooting.
• Rajinikanth presented rupees 30 lakhs worth of books as his free gift to poor boys and girls.
• Congress party people staged demonstrations against screening of "Hey Ram" film in theatres in Calcutta.
• 5 persons were arrested after the clashes that burst out at Burma bazaar,Chennai, in relation to the illegal sales of "Hey Ram" V.C.D.s.

•  The 40% tax hitherto levied on cine camera and allied products was said to be reduced to 25%.
• The 15% customs duty on colour positive film and on colour negative film was reduced to 5%.
• Chief Minister Jothi Basu of Calcutta apologized to actor Kamalhassan for the demonstration that was staged against the screening of "Hey Ram" in Calcutta.
• The Hollywood film "American Beauty" bagged 5 Oscars.
• President K.R.Narayanan gave away the Padma Bhooshan award to Rajinikanth. Music director A.R.Rahman and actress Hema Malini received Padma Sree awards.
• The Tamils residing in Kuwait conducted a function in Kuwait felicitating director K.Balachander.
• Vijayakanth bore the educational expenditure of the three girl students viz: Amudhalakshmi, Pandeeswari and Amudha.
• International Festival of Indian Films for the first time took place in London.A.R.Rahman and Ishwarya Rai received awards. Adhul Kulkarni got Best Supporting Actor award. Sarigha received Best Costume Designer award. Manthra received Special Effects award. Best Lyricist award went to Vairamuththu.
• Rajinikanth conducted marriage for 20 couples, presenting them with bountiful marriage gifts. In the last three years he has completed conducting free marriages for 60 couples.

•  A complaint stating that stones were pelted on Kaundamani's house was lodged in the police station.
• The 'Bharata Natyam Arangetram' of Aishwarya, daughter of Rajinikanth-Lata Rajinikanth was staged.
• The case against Ragavendra Kalyana Mandapam, constructed by Rajinikanth, was dismissed.

• K.Rajan was elected as President of Film Distributors' Association. J.V.Rukmanghathan became the elected Secretary.

• Director Bharathi Raja was elected unopposed President of South Indian Film Directors' Association.
• Sivachandran-Lakshmi couple adopted a 5 month old girl baby and gave it the name 'Samyuktha'.
• From July onwards the name of the South Indian Film Directors Association was changed as 'Tamil Film Directors Association' and it was announced by Bharathi Raja.
• Actor Ajithkumar got wounded while he was acting in the film shooting of "Cityzen".
• Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi participated in the 175th day celebration of Ravichandran's 'Oscar Films'',"Vaanaththaippola" and gave away shields to Vijayakanth and other artistes.
• Actresses like Jyanthi, Uma Sree, Abhinaya and others accomplished the ritual of 'Anga Prathadshanam', at the Amman Koil venue in Bangalore by way of praying the Goddess for the release of the abducted actor Rajkumar.
• Financier Bhothra filed a case maintaining that the 'Best Actress' award which was announced to be given away to Roja by the Tamilnadu Government shouldn't be given to her. The High Court that heard the case gave the judgement that it can not impose a ban.
• All Film Distributors Federation was founded at Madurai. R.Selavaraj was elected as it's President.
• Tamilnadu Government's Best Actor award for last year was given away to Sarathkumar. The Best Actress award went to Roja.
• In a meeting convened under the presidentship of Vijayakanth it was decided that the 4 crore loan borne by the Artistes Association should be settled utilizing the own money of the artistes themselves.
• Vijayakanth hoisted the National Flag on 15th August, at the premises of Artistes Association. Later Vijayakanth and Sarathkumar released a white dove enabling it fly into the sky.
• To make it adore the American National Library, Kavingnar Vairamuthtu's poems were recorded on audio cassettes by making Vairamuththu himself read them out loudly in his own voice and style that's unique to him.
• Popular actor Jackie Chan had written a letter to Prime Minister Vajpayee requesting him to ban the killing of cattle.
• 'Dhaya 2000' Talent Competitions were conducted by Lata Rajinikanth.
• Actress Revathy was elected as Joint Secretary of Artistes Association.
• As "Muththu" acted by Rajinikanth-Meena ran for 200 days in Japan, some of the actors and actresses of Japan are now acting in a Tamil film. It's shooting took place in Chennai. Director Nandakumar directs it. Dhaamu and Mayilsamy are also acting in it.
• Actress Meena has made the commitment that she's donating her eyes.
• Vijayakanth conducted free marriages for 48 pairs at Dheni.
• News spread that Income Tax officials conducted sudden raids in the houses of Salmon Khan and Aishwarya Rai.
• An agreement was signed so that Kovai United Hospital and Apollo Hospital would render services on a joint venture basis.

•  Keyaar was elected as Film Chamber President.
• Rajinikanth's daughters Aishwarya and Soundarya, along with other school girls, danced at the 'Dhaya 2000' Talent Competitions conducted by Lata Rajinikanth. From among the participant groups, two best groups were selected and these two were awarded a cash prize of 10, 000 rupees by 'Dinakaran' Tamil Daily Newspaper.
• Rajinikanth wrote story and dialogue for the Telugu film "Royala Seema Ramanna Chaudri".Nepolian acted in it as Jadathari Swamygal. Mohan Babu had acted in it as hero. Suresh Krishna had directed it.
• "Kaatrukkenna Vaeli" directed by Pugazhaenthi and acted by Kushboo-Sujitha was refused censor certificate. Protesting against this, Pugazhaenthi went on fasting for 5 days at a stretch.
• Tamilnadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi ordered complete tax-exemption for the film "Bharathi" acted by Saayaaji Shindey-Devayani. He announced tax concession for "Uyirin Uyirae" and "Gandhi".
• New agreement was signed between Directors Association headed by Bharathi Raja and Tamil Film Producers Council headed by IbrahimRowther.
• Artistes Association members discussed Producer Councils' demand and announced that artistes salary should be settled before the completion of the film work. They also decided not to use cell phone during shooting.
• Without accepting artistes' decisions, producers announced the following resolutions: Only 10% of salary should be paid in advance to the artistes. Excepting 5 specific artistes, in all others' cases there should be salary restrictions. Until these demands are accepted, producers won't start new film projects.

• Every year on his birth day, Kamalhassan is giving away literary award in the name of his mother Rajalakshmi Ammal. Last year, he gave away social service award in the name of his father, Seenivasan.
• Sivaji Ganesan's life history is being compiled in V.C.D. as well as book form, both in Tamil and English languages. Dr. T.S.Narayanasamy compiles this.
• The telecast of 'Kodeeswaran Programme' in Sun T.V. gets started.
• Kamalhassan's "Hey Ram" was selected and sent from India for participation in Oscar Award competition.
• Actor Rajkumar was released by the forest brigand Santhana Veerappan.
• The Artistes Association, Tamil Film Producers Council, Film Chamber and the Producers' Guild conveyed felicitations to Chief Minister KalaignarKarunanidhi for his full-pledged efforts that culminated in the release of actor Rajkumar.
• Chief Minister Karunanidhi gave away Bharathiyaar Award to Kavingnar Vaali.
• Actor Gemini Ganesan-Babuji 'Sadhabishegam' was conducted.
• Kamalhassan participated in the International Film Festival in Mumbai as Special Guest.
• Actress Viji committed suicide because of love failure. In the letter she had written she had made the charge that director A.R.Ramesh was responsible for her death.
• In connection with the suicide of Viji, director A.R.Ramesh was arrested.

• With "Pottu Amman" actress Roja had completed the 100th film of her acting career. Her first film was "Chembaruththi".
• Chief Minister Karunanidhi announced that 17 small budget films would each get rupees 5 lakhs as subsidy.
• The feud between the film producers and the artistes came to an end.
• Rajinikanth was selected as the Best Actor for the year 1999. The Best Film was 'Padaiyappaa' and the Best Actress was Simran as per the announcement of the Tamilnadu Government. Kamalhassan got Sivaji Ganesan award and Vijay was announced as the receipient of M.G.R. Award.

                                                                                            (Concluded).