Producer-director T Rajendar never does things in half measures. So when he makes a lavish set for a song, he spends Rs 10 million on it.

And when he's hit by misfortune, it really lays the whip on him. So bad a time has he had that he thought that maybe changing the name of his film's Monisha to Monisha En Monalisa may help.

The trouble he's had includes the recent flood in Madras that washed away a set erected on the banks of the Cooum.

But Rajendar's one tenacious chap, shooting yet another complicated song, Tholapesi Ennai... with telephones as the theme. There's also a gigantic phone, complete with dial and working disc.

And if you thought he was behind the times there, never fear, for he has even put up a giant cellular phone on the sets too.

Chakki's baby named at last

Discussing expensive films, we must tell you about actor-director Parthiban who lost millions on his shelved projects, Karupannaswami, Kaangeyan Kaalai and Sothu Katchi.

Parthiban's burnt fingers seem to be healing now since he's busy directing his next film, Houseful. As the title suggests, it is do with a cinema hall. Parthiban has adopted a theatre in Madurai and is busy shooting somewhere within.

The question is whether Houseful will live up to its name in the theatres.

Six of the best

The pretty Bhanu Priya got married recently. And that kind of messed up her life. For hubby is in the US of A and she's here, meeting commitments to Sun TV, since she stars in a role in its daily soap, Shakti.

The solution was to get her character conveniently bumped off and a new character, played by Sukanya, being brought in. Nice, ain't that. Makes us wish we could do that kind of replacement in real life too, doesn't it?

Keeping her feet up