List of MOvies released this Pongal and where it runs

'Azhwar' the Ajith–Asin-starrer, comes close on the heels of the pair's successful teaming up in 'Varalaaru', which had topped the Deepavali releases. Ajith here plays a ward-boy at a hospital, who, seeing injustice done against the lesser privileged, rises against it. Directed by first–timer Chella, who has apprenticed under S J Suriya, the film is produced by Mohan Natarajan. With music by Srikanth Deva, it has cinematography by Rameshji and stunt choreography by Super Subbarayan. On Location News

Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Sathyam	No.8, Thiru Vi Ka Road, Royapettah Chennai - 14. Ph: 4224 4224
Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Anna	43, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 Ph: 28549086
Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Sangam	870 Poonamallee High Road Chennai -10, Ph: 26411975
Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Kamala	156, Arcot Road Chennai 600 026, Ph: 2483 7000.
Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Bharath	No.40, New No.56,Dr. Vijayaraghavalu Rd., Old Washermanpet, Chennai 600 021., Ph: 25951447/25957907
Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Rohini	141/2, P.H. Road, Koyambedu Chennai 600 107, Ph: 24871481
Alwar	Tamil	4 shows	Mayajaal	East Coast Road, Chennai, Ph: 954114-272860-65

With not much to talk about last year, Vijay opens this year with ' Pokkiri', a remake of a successful Telugu film with the same name. Directing the Tamil version is Prabhu Deva, who, after directing two Telugu films, makes a few changes here. Prabhu Deva is confident that his film would be an equally big success in Tamil, it being a record-breaker in the Telugu, version. With Vijay is lucky mascot Asin. The supporting cast has big names like Napoleon, Prakashraj, Nasser and Mukesh Tiwari. There's Vadivelu for the comedy factor. With camerawork by Neerav Shah, the film has music by Mani Sharma, stunts by Fefsi Vijayan, and the sets by Kathir.

Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Devi	48, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002, Ph: 28593589
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Abirami	152, Purasawalkam High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600010, Ph: 2642 4477
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Udhayam	91, Pillar Road, Ashok Nagar Chennai 600 083. Ph: 24890337
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Mini-Udhayam	91, Pillar Road, Ashok Nagar Chennai 600 083. Ph: 24890337
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Agasthya	231/232, T. H. Road Chennai 600 081, Ph: 25956567
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Rohini	141/2, Poonamallee High Road, Koyembedu, Chennai 600 107, Ph: 24871481
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Mayajaal	East Coast Road, Chennai, Ph: 954114-272860-65
Pokiri	Tamil	4 shows	Prarthana Drive-inn	Injambakkam, Chennai - 600 041 Ph: 24919186, 24850385

With three hits and a flop and the odds favouring him, Vishal opens the year with ' Thamirabharani'. The film is directed by Hari, who has the knack of packaging commercial ingredients in an interesting way and showcasing his actors in an appealing way to their fans. The director, who had introduced Nayanthara to the Tamil screen, has brought in yet another Malayalam actress to Tamil. It's Bhanu (aka Muktha of 'Achan Urangatha Veedu'). There's added value with Prabhu and Nathiya also being part of the cast. Rohini, Vijaykumar, Manorama, Arthi, Akash and Nasser play supporting roles. Produced by the prestigious Vijaya Productions, the film has music by Yuvanshankar Raja, cinematography by Priyan and editing by Vijayan. On Location News

Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Devi Paradise	48, Anna Salai Chennai 600 002, Ph: 28593589
Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Sathyam Complex	No.8, Thiru Vi Ka Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 14. Ph: 4224 4224
Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Padmam	870 Poonamallee High Road, Chennai -10, Ph: 26411975
Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Chandran	91, Pillar Road, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600 083. Ph: 24890337
Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Maharani	538, T. H. Road, Chennai 600 021. Ph: 25951466
Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Rohini	141/2, Poonamallee High Road, Koyambedu, Chennai 600 107 Ph: 24871481
Thaamirabharani	Tamil	4 shows	Mayajaal	East Coast Road Chennai, Ph: 954114-272860-65

It may be just his third directorial venture and the hero's debut film, but ' Paruthiveeran' is a film awaited with much expectation. Because it is helmed by Amir who's earlier release 'Raam' had earned much critical acclaim and commercial success. Also, this film introduces as hero Karthi, younger sibling of hero Surya. So there's the curiosity value of how he would perform. With Karthi there is Priyamani, Saravanan, Ponvannan, Ganja Karuppu, Ammulu, Sampath, among others. "He moulded me like a sculptor, and if my performance is talked about, it is thanks to Amir," says Karthi. He has sung a couple of lines for a song too under the baton of Yuvanshankar Raja. Amir has chosen about 60 villagers to act in his film. The story is set around Madurai and centeres on the life of a brave youth, Paruthiveeran, who becomes the messiah of his people. "I have not cut any corners," says Amir who is also the film's producer.

Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Sathyam	No.8, Thiru Vi Ka Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 14. Ph: 4224 4224
Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Albert	13/1 Whannels Road Chennai - 600 008, Ph: 28535431
Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Suriyan	91, Pillar Road, Ashok Nagar Chennai 600 083. Ph: 24890337
Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Roopam	870 Poonamallee High Road Chennai -10, Ph: 26411975
Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Gopikrishna	Ayanavaram Chennai - 600 029.
Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Rohini	141/2, Poonamallee High Road, Koyambedu Chennai 600 107, Ph: 24871481
Paruthiveeran	Tamil	4 shows	Mayajaal	East Coast Road Chennai, Ph: 954114-272860-65

Jack-of-all-trades T Rajender is back after a long gap with his new release ' Veerasamy'. He scripts, directs, produces, cranks the camera, composes the music and pens the lyrics, apart from playing the lead role. Paired with him is Mumtaz, a Rajender discovery, this film a being re-launch for her. Playing the young romantic hero is Rajees, sharing frames with Sheela and Meghna Naidu. The supporting cast includes Charlie, Murthy, Pandu, M S Bhasker, Muthukalai, Kottachi, Sukumar and S N Parvathi. The sets are designed by Mahi, editing by Antony, and dance choreography by Melvin. The film has been produced on a lavish scale. There are nine songs, Rajender has sung three of them, and son Simbu has sung one song.

A surprise entry among the Pongal releases is the Karthik-starrer ' Kalakkara Chandru' (earlier titled 'Adirshtam'). A long time in the making, the film is a remake of the Jairam-starrer 'One Man Show'. It is about a man in prison who comes out on parole to take part in a game show on a TV channel. The money that he would win would tide him out of a difficult situation. A comic entertainer, it has Kartik paired with Bhuvana aka Anu, and Preethi Varma. The supporting cast has Pandiarajan, Radharavi, Urvasi, Mohanram, Suruli Manohar and Pahalwan Ranganathan. Directed by Raviraja, it is produced by Sampoornammal.

And then there is the film which is probably the most hyped one of the year. The Mani Ratnam-scripted and directed 'Guru', which, apart from its Hindi version, has been dubbed in Tamil for the local audiences. It has the hot pair of Abhishek-Aishwaria Rai, with Madhavan and Vidya Balan in crucial roles. It traces the rise of a simple youth from a small town to being one of the biggest business tycoons of the country. The trials and tribulations, as he rises up the ladder, and the characters he meets on his journey form the basis of the story. The supporting cast has Pratap Pothan and Mithun. Mallika Sherawat's item number is one of the film's highlights. The film's technical crew boasts of names like A R Rehman (music), Rajeev Menon (camera), Srikar Prasad (editing), Vikram Dharma (stunts) and Sameer Chanda (set design). It's a Madras Talkies production of Mani Ratnam – G Sreenivasan.

Guru	Hindi	11.30 a.m., 3.00, 6.30, 10.15 p.m.	Sathyam	No.8, Thiru Vi Ka Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 14. Ph: 28523813, Ph: 28524875
Guru	Hindi	4 shows	Ega	435, Poonamallee High Road, Chennai -600 010, Ph:26411666
Guru	Hindi	11.30, 1.10, 2.30, 4.00, 5.30, 7.10, 8.30, 10.15 p.m.	Mayajaal	East Coast Road, Chennai, Ph: 954114-272860-65
Guru	Tamil	4 shows	Woodlands	10, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600 014, Ph: 28487355
Guru	Tamil	Noon show	Albert	13/1 Whannels Road, Chennai - 600 008, Ph: 28535431
Guru	Tamil	4 shows	Rohini	141/2, Poonamallee High Road, Koyembedu, Chennai 600 107, Ph: 24871481