A M Ratnam Kollywood TOAST Now Tollywood's ???

 At one time in Kollywood, the name A M Ratnam meant hits and viewers clapped when his banner name came on screen, His success ratio was high. He made films with Kamal Haasan, Pawan Kalyan Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Chiranjeevi, Vikram ,Prabhu Deva and Dhanush. Then we saw that Ajith gave him a three film deal so as to bail him out of a financial crisis. Whether it helped him or not is not known but trade figures show that these films were hits. Later I was told that his two sons – Jyoti and Ravi ‘s ambition to turn Director and hero and Dad funding them were reasons for his downfall. In fact, there is a Kerala connect to Rathnam’s success story. He acquired the rights of film God Father directed by Siddique- Lal and he cast N N Pillai itself in the Telugu version and Bhanumathi for role played by Philomina. He put Sukunya ( Telugu debut) for Kanaka and Jagapathi Babu for Mukesh. He took upon himself the Director’s mantle. It was a blockbuster hit that put Babu in the running. Tasting success, he took Malayalam film Mithunam and remade it with Jagapati Babu and Gautami and also directed it. It was a super flop.

When Ratnam turned Independent Producer after graduating from Vijayshanthi’s makeup man  to her executive Producer for her home Production, many traditional Producers ( ones who are second generation producers) looked at him with shock . Walking around with a small towel on his shoulder he was rolled into a production boy to the BOSS. His success created lot envy. With flops, they all had this look of `I Told You So’. I put him as jury member of our South Screen Awards . Then Editor Rauf Ahmed came to Chennai to meet the jury  members. He got introduced to the jury. After the meeting, he came out and asked me on what basis I had  put Rathnam as jury member representing the Producer’s category as he was a makeup man turned Producer, Rauf said that iconic names from Producer’s list were those that were in Bollywood awards jury member list.

I told him that from Kamal Haasan to many have worked in the banner of Ratnam and his hits total box office figures far outreached the so called iconic banners. I told him that I could have got the icons to give consent to be on the jury but they would not be coming for the screenings. In contrast Rathnam took his job seriously. Anyway in Rauf’s words- Harm has been done and cannot be undone.

I lost touch with Ratnam. Once me and a few Shirdi Bhakths visited the temple that he had built in Chennai suburbs.. Today in Telugu filmdom most talked about name is A M Ratnam. As producer of the film which has Pawan Kalyan as hero , he is facing a barrage of notices from people who have given him money for films that he started and never took off or one that got released but he did not pay back. Read on :

Hari Hara Veera Mallu has landed in unexpected trouble just a few days ahead of its release. A complaint has been filed against the film’s producer, AM Ratnam, with the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce by Asian Enterprises for recovery of dues amounting to Rs. 2.60 crore with interest for the refundable advance they paid for the movie ‘Oxygen.’

Another complaint was filed by Mahalaxmi Films against Sri AM Ratnam for recovery of Rs 90 lakhs for the movies ‘Muddula Koduku’ and ‘Bangaram.’ The chamber has requested the distributors of HHVM to cooperate in resolving the matter and help Asian Enterprises and Mahalaxmi Films in recovering their dues before the release of the HHVM in the Nizam region.

It remains to be seen how HHVM producer AM Rathnam will resolve the issue and ensure a smooth release for the movie on such short notice. Stay tuned to 123telugu.com for further updates. The website uploads a circular from Telangana Film Chamber.

If Rathnam clears his debts or still better makes profits, he will come back to Kollywood  and with this film , his son Jyoti Krishna as a Director would arrive. If not ? LETS BE POSITIVE