Aishwarya Rai’s fight with Rajinikanth

Ash’s ability to do stunts was evident in her films like Dhoom II and Jodhaa Akbar. The actress is now learning Karate from noted Karate master Ramesh to do some daredevil stunts in the Shankar-directed Endhiran. From what we heard, the sources close to the team say, Ash will have a fight sequence in the film, where she will test her fighting skills on Rajinikanth. Sources say that Endhiran has a scene where Rajini teaches martial arts to Ash and an interesting fight sequence has been canned.

Hariharan lends his voice to Endhiran

The project Endhiran is moving fast with amazing scenes and sets at different locales around the globe giving a rewarding shape to Shankar's dream with Super Star in cast. With the music for the film being composed by the Oscar winner A R Rahman and some new technologies being used in the composition, there is definitely no doubt about the songs dominating the musical charts.

The title song in Rajini's movies generally are rendered by the music legend SPB. This time sources say that the title song of Endhiran has been delivered by Hariharan. Rajini plays the roles of both a robot and a scientist.

Endhiran’s new gadget

Here’s latest from the Endhiran sets. Shankar has hired a modified Maruti Gypsy for his fantasy-thriller Endhiran. The Maruti Gypsy, reportedly altered by a noted mechanic in Pudupet, Chennai, cost around Rs. 3 lakhs for the modification.

The same vehicle, according to the mechanic, was also used for election campaigning and Shankar got bowled over by its design and hired it for the flick. The Gypsy, as huge as a bus, has 20-inch wheels fixed to it with significant modifications also done to the engine.

Rahman’s special instrument for ‘Endhiran’

Remember the postlude in the pensive jazzy Rehna Tu in 'Delhi 6'? That was made possible with the help of what is called the Continuum Fingerboard.

It is not an instrument in itself and works like a synthesizer of sorts, to enhance what any other instrument produces. The continuum does not come with traditional keys and has a touch screen with very long music sustenance. This was developed in the University of Illinois and has been used in Indian cinema only by AR Rahman. World over, there are said to be only eight people using the finger continuum.

Of course, AR Rahman’s penchant for technology is known. The academy winning composer started out only as a keyboard arranger, and legends are innumerable about how Rahman was always keen on the gadget side of things. It was for this reason that he got noticed even in his first film ‘Roja’, which was a whiff of fresh air, when it released.

The continuum, along with the accordion, was played by Rahman himself in Rehna Tu, apart from him singing as well. It is now said that Rahman is using this in great measure in Rajini’s 'Endhiran', for which the Oscar Tamilan is composing music.

Continuum Fingerboard

Ash talking Tamil

She had done before, she has done it now. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had tried her skills in Kollywood and had delivered mind blowing performances in ‘Iruvar', ‘Jeans’ and ‘Kandukonden Kandukonden’ and went on to earn appreciation from South audience. Now, she is back again in Shankar’s magnum opus ‘Endhiran’ and ‘Robot’ in Hindi, with leading hero and Superstar Rajinikanth.

The movie team has found that this former Miss. World has exceptional grasping powers. She impressed all, including the Superstar, with her good hold on the Tamil language that she had mastered in a very short span of time. But Ash is only amused about it and said that regional languages were not a problem for her, at the same time she was not at all familiar with Tamil. The team were prepared to have re-takes while shooting the Tamil version but “she was soon rattling off the dialogues and getting hang of the emotions with equal skill in both the Hindi and Tamil takes. So much so that Rajini Sir was taken aback,” sources said.

Initially, it was said that she had easily learnt the ropes of Karate, which was necessary for her character in the movie.

Should we say she is ‘Mistress of Talents’?

Rahman uses novel concept for Endhiran

If you have listened to Rehna Tu in Delhi 6, you cannot miss the final piece in the song, a peculiar type of instrumentation. Are you still wondering about the instrument that was used? It is in fact the Continuum fingerboard. This is a touch screen keyboard and is being used only by the rarest of rare music composers. AR Rahman has tried the usage of this novel instrument in Delhi 6 and happy with the results he is now using this Continuum fingerboard for Endhiran. But the news here is that it not for a single song but for the whole movie. With this novel concept there is no doubt the songs will top the charts.

"I knew the story of Endhiran 10 years ago”

Art director Sabu Cyril, in a recent interview to a magazine, said that director Shankar narrated the story of Endhiran to him 10 years ago. He recalled the photo shoot that took place with Kamal Haasan but the project did not materialize any further. Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan also opted out of Endhiran and finally Rajinikanth lapped it up. Sabu said that Rajini is the most apt hero to play the role. The proud art director said that he was signed up for the venture 10 years ago. Sabu said that he had used Aluminum Composite Panels to create sets for Endhiran. These are not only cost effective but can be reused and environmentally safe. The art director added that Aluminum Composite Panels have been used in the Indian cinema before.