March 14, 2008

KM Music Conservatory launched, learn music from A R Rahman
Maestro A.R.Rahman has formally launched the KM Music Conservatory on March 12 2008 in Chennai. The music school which is currently situated in his studio will now shift to a 3 acre campus with a concert hall, recording studio, state-of-the-art classrooms and accommodation for students which will be full-fledged in two years time. The KM Conservatory will concentrate on both Indian and western instrumental and vocal music technology in collaboration with Audio Media Education, an Apple authorised training centre. Rahman says he welcomes all those musicians who want to teach at the Conservatory.

Rahman said: There are tens of thousands of musicians in India but there is no symphony orchestra with our very own musicians while even smaller countries have their own orchestra. So, the reason to start the KM Conservatory is simple. Most of the young aspiring musicians want to learn more of electronic stuff.

We want to start a course where students learn acoustic instruments as well as electronic instruments. Padmabhushan Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, one of India’s leading Hindustani classical musicians, and his son Mustafa Khan, will be teaching Hindustani classical music to the students at the KM Conservatory. Dr Randy Giles will advise on the academic curriculum. Others in the advisory panel are Founder of Global Rhythms ensemble Prof Srinivas Krishnan, pianist composer Pushkar, voice trainer and composer Wendy Par, and violinist Ladislav.

Prakash Raj with tonsured head Prakash Raj is certainly one of the most all-around personalities in South Indian film industry. He always displayed a rare style of his own, winning admiration from all sections of the audiences. After proving his mettle as an actor, he also succeeded as producer in Tamil. His adaptability to the roles of a villain and character artiste with equal ease is considered his major strength. Sources said, Prakash Raj is going to appear with tonsured head in the forthcoming film of Allu Arjun titled Parugu. The film is directed by Bommarillu Bhaskar with Dil Raju producing it.

Venky in Krish direction
Hero Venkatesh is currently engaged to the film titled Chintakalaya Ravi, the shoot of which was launched recently. He is said to have watched Gamyam and liked it very much. The result is that Venkatesh has shown a lot of interest to do a film with its director Radhakrishna aka Krish and oral discussions are also over, sources said. Ashwini Dutt, who is now doing NTR starrer Kantri, will do this film immediately after Venkatesh present starrer. Tollywood gets ready with red-carpet welcome for the talented.

Tabu romancing Upen Patel? Well at least that is how it looked like for the guests at the Poison club in Bandra. The guests were left gaping at the unusual pair who locked their lips and seemed engrossed in doing so. Apparently Upen and Tabu had arrived separately at the venue with their own set of friends but after bumping into each other the duo sat down for a chat and got comfortable. Too comfortable, we believe, as the pair we seen leaving the pub pretty much stuck together. Another couple in the making??

Puri Jagannadh turns to writing with Chachi Pote? Film maker Puri Jagannadh, known for his flaky romantic action flicks is getting ready to pen the script for two of his upcoming films. Puri, who won a Nandi award for best writer (Itlu Sravani Subramanyam), will be working on the story for his yet-to-be-launched Chachi Pote? That is to star Sairam Shankar in the lead. Puri Jaganndh is presently busy with Bujjigadu…made in Chennai and will begin work on his Ravi Teja starring Neninthe in December this year.