John Shea (5/08 Achamundu Achamundu)
India Glitz 5/13/08: John Shea | Achchamundu Achchamundu! | Pics on Extra Mirchi & Flickr
American Villain in Kollywood
IndiaGlitz [Tuesday, May 13, 2008]
A new villain is being introduced into Kollywood in the film 'Achchamundu Achchamundu'. But no wild guesses can bring out the name of the person who is to play the villain in this film starring the young hero Prasanna and smiling Sneha. This is for the first time in the history of Kollywood, a famous Hollywood actor is playing the role of a baddie in this movie. John Shea who was last seen in the film 'Framed', began his career with the film 'Missing' which won the academy award for the best screenplay is to do the above role in 'Achchamundu Achchamundu' John has won the best actor award for the film 'Windy City' in the Montrel Film Festival and has acted in films such as 'Lune De Miel', a French film, 'A New Life', 'Honey I Blew Up The Kid', 'Stealing Home', 'Unsettled Land', 'The Adventures of Sebastian Cole', 'Framed', and the yet to be released 'The Insurgents'. The native of Massachusetts, U.S.A. is not just an actor but also a film director with films such as 'Southie' that won the Jury Award for the best Independent Film at the 1998 Seattle International Film Festival. He has written the story of the film "The Junkie Preist" and will soon be directing a film called 'Grey Lady'. As an actor who is also seriously involved in theatre, John Shea has acted in the plays 'How I learned to Drive' which won the Pulitzer Prize, 'The Animal Kingdom', 'Rosmersholm at La Mama', 'Long Day's Journey Into Night', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Man is Man', and 'The Soldier's Tale'. He has also acted in the television series 'Lois and Clark:The New Adventures of Superman, 'Baby M' which won him an Emmy Award for the best actor and portrayed the role of Harold Waldorf in the hit TV series 'Gossip Girl'. The American actor was also honoured by Amnesty International for his political work after the release of the film 'Missing' and recently received the John F. Kennedy Award for Outstanding cultural contribution by a person of Irish-American descent. Being the founding member of the Nantucket Film Festival, John Shea can be rightly called the complete film personality. John Shea's role of the villain in the Tamil film is sure to be quite different from the villains who have so far been seen in Kollywood.
© India Glitz
Excerpt from Filmibeat 5/20/08: John Shea
American actor John Shea in Tamil film
Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 16:40 [IST]
American Emmy award winning actor John Shea, who acted in Hollywood Movies like A Broken Sole, The Insurgents and Heartbreak Hospital, has been roped in to play the role of a villain in a Tamil film Achamundu Achamundu.
© Filmibeat
Excerpt from IndiaGlitz 5/23/08: John Shea
'Achchamundu Achchamundu' team having a great time in U.S
IndiaGlitz [Friday, May 23, 2008]
The film which for the first time introduces an acclaimed Hollywood actor John Shea as the villain also uses a camera called RED for the first time in Kollywood.
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A session for rehearsing the lines in the script was held at actor John Shea's house in New York. The director through his blog describes John shea as a great host and also says that the people present there had a fantastic time due to John's great hospitality skills and stories from his experiences with the legend Jack Lemmon.
© IndiaGlitz
Excerpt from Galatta 5/23/08: John Shea
John Shea: Villain in Achamundu Achamundu
By Smitha Mathew [ May 23, 2008 ]
John Shea, an Emmy award-winning actor and director, is acting as villain in�Achamundu Achamundu. Director�Arun Vaidyanathan, based in the US, is very�excited about the film. The film, which introduces John Shea to Kollywood, also uses a new technology in film-making called RED which is new in Tamil.
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The director praised John Shea for showing great hospitality during a rehearsal held at his home.
© Galatta
Excerpt from India Glitz 6/23/08: John Shea
Simbu and Prasanna injured
IndiaGlitz [Monday, June 23, 2008]
Prasanna got a blow to his head while filming a fight sequence. Says the director of 'Achchamundu Achchamundu' Arun Vaithyanadhan, 'We were shooting the climax and there was a stunt where John Shea had to punch Prasanna. We rehearsed everything and somehow the timing missed and the punch directly landed on Prasanna's head. I was watching the whole thing in the monitor and realized immediately that the timing had gone awry'.
'Prasanna fell on the floor and I yelled 'CUT' immediately. Stunt coordinator Ian Mclaughlin and the doubles went to the spot with a first aid kit and ice packs. Prasanna was totally shaken up and it was really a hard blow. Things came back to normal in 30 minutes and Prasanna, like a real hero came back to the spot and finished the stunt'. Denying reports carried out in certain sections of the media that an iron rod was used, Arun Vaithyanadhan added, 'there was no rod involved and there are no stitches and Prasanna is fine now. He is a terrific sport. The footage of this accident would feature in the special edition DVD'.
© India Glitz
Excerpt from Extra Mirchi 7/30/08: John Shea
Sneha, Prasanna - Achamundu Achamundu in 18 Different Countries
By mirchi | Jul 30, 2008
Tamil thriller directed by Arun Vaidyanathan stars Prasanna, Sneha and Emmy award winning American actor John Shea. Arun Vaidyanathan, US based software professional turned filmmaker has plans to dub the Tamil Film Achamundu! Achamundu! film in Spanish, French, German, Creole, Mandarin, Mende/Temne, Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Vietnamese, Srilankan and Urudu. The film will be released in 18 different countries.
© Extra Mirchi
Excerpt from South Indian Celebrities 12/30/08: John Shea
Emmy Award Winner John Shea In Kollywood Movie
December 30th, 2008
The Prasanna - Sneha starrer ’Acamundu Achamundu’ is gearing up for release. The post production work is currently on at Plaster City, Los Angeles. The film is directed by Arun Vaithyanathan.The movie features Emmy award winner John Shea in a prominent role.
© South Indian Celebrities
Excerpt from Behind Woods 2009: John Shea
ACHCHAMUNDU ACHCHAMUNDU MOVIE REVIEW
Review by : Behindwoods review board
Casting of Sneha, Prasanna and their daughter and John Shea is perfect.
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John Shea’s performance as the painter is natural and brings a chill down our spine.
© Behind Woods
Excerpt from Mahon About Town 3/14/09: John Shea
Catching Up With: John Shea
March 14, 2009
I got in touch with actor and writer John Shea last week to find out what he’s been working on. When does John sleep, I want to know. Here’s what he wrote:
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I also shot an Indian film called “Achchamundu” opening in India soon, a thriller we shot in Tamil and English; it has an Indian director and cast (I was the only American actor). It’s about ready to begin the festival curcuit in America.
© Mahon About Town
Excerpt from Udhayam Online 4/12/09: John Shea
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR ACHCHAMUNDU ACHCHAMUNDU
American-based Tamilian Arun Vaidyanathan has made every Tamilian proud. His debut directorial venture, Achchamundu Achchamundu has garnered the Best Homegrown Film in the American state of New Jersey at the 7th Annual Garden State Film Festival held in Asbury Park.
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The film stars Prasanna and Sneha with Emmy award-winning actor John Shea playing a crucial role. Rick Pisarro and Vasanth Santhosham are also in the cast. Achchamundu Achchamundu will release this summer (Northern Hemisphere).
© Udhayam Online
India Glitz 5/9/09: John Shea
‘Achchamundu Achchamundu’ goes international
IndiaGlitz [Saturday, May 09, 2009]
Yet another honour awaits director Arun Vaidyanathan’s ‘Achchamundu Achchamundu’ which is now being selected for screening in the 12th Shangai International Film Festival.
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Also part of the cast of Emmy winning actor John Shea, and most part of the shoot was done in the US, being the first Tamil film to be shot by the Red One Camera. Achchamundu! Achchamundu! Has been selected in the International Panorama Section and will be screened during the festival that is held every year between June 13 and June 21. The festival sees as many as 3,00,000 people and the producers of the film, Ananth Govindan, Asma Hashmi, Srinivasan Perumal, Ramzan Lakhani and Arun Vaidyanathan, who is also the director, will be traveling to China during the screening of the film. The film is said to be a thriller, and is being produced in the banner of Project East West. The movie earlier won the Best Homegrown Feature Film in the Garden State Film Festival in New Jersey.
© India Glitz
Excerpt from Times Of India 6/23/09: John Shea
A July dhamaka
TNN 23 June 2009, 12:32am IST
After a successful screening at Shanghai International Film Festival, Achchamundu! Achchamundu! (India’s first Red One feature film) is all set to release on July 10. Certified with a ‘UA’, the Telugu version of AA is also getting ready and if things go as planned, it will hit the theatres simultaneously too. The Prasanna - Sneha starrer has Emmy award winner John Shea in a prominent role
© Times of India
Excerpt from Times of India 7/18/09: John Shea
Achchamundu Achchamundu
Bhama Devi Ravi, TNN, Jul 18, 2009, 01.29AM IST
No alarm bells ring when Robertson (Hollywood actor John Shea) offers to paint their basement for $1500 and drops the rate by $500 on seeing Rithika (Akshaya Dinesh). While the couple gloat thinking it is a bargain, and leave a latch key with him, and even give him the code for the alarm, they fail to notice the 'bad touch' of the painter, who also calls Rithika 'Little Angel.' When he says "catch you later," he means it literally, being a serial offender of children. Shea as the smiling, friendly painter, who lifts dumb bells and plunges his hands in roasted sand to quench his burning desire is simply awesome.
© Times of India
Excerpt from Isai.in 7/19/09: John Shea
Even little Akshaya fits the role, though the real scene stealer is John Shea. His character has been well-etched; the director wants to say that looks are always deceptive. So when the character is introduced, Malini says- “He is such a nice gentleman, old enough to be my father.” John Shea plays the fiend to perfection.
© Isai
Excerpt from Chennai365 7/19/09: John Shea
Achchamundu Achchamundu Movie Review
July 19th, 2009
When a painter (John Shea) enters their neighbour hood, this happy family is unaware of the consequences and the fear this man will bring. Kudos to Prasanna, Sneha and John Shea for doing a remarkable job in their respective roles.
© Chennai365
Excerpt from New Indian Express 7/20/09: John Shea
Actor Prasanna is in seventh heaven after the rave response for his role in Achamundu Achamundu
Author: Rinku Gupta • Published Date: Jul 20, 2009 12:10 AM
“The problem of child sexual abuse is rampant across the world. The story set in the US takes the film to world audiences who would be able to identify with it. I learnt so much working with an American crew and actors like John Shea.”
© New Indian Express
Excerpt from The Hindu 7/24/09: John Shea
Deftly handled drama - Achchamundu! Achchamundu!
July 24, 2009 MALATHI RANGARAJAN
When the seemingly sedate Robinson (John Shea) enters the household to paint their basement, trouble follows.
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And American Emmy Award winning actor John Shea’s menacing eyes and cold demeanour beneath the friendly veneer scare the life out of you.
© The Hindu
Excerpt from India Glitz 10/14/09: John Shea (Picture on The Hindu)
Achchamundu...goes to Cairo
IndiaGlitz [Wednesday, October 14, 2009]
Filmmaker Arun Vaidyanathan's ‘Achchamundu Achchamundu’ has been selected for screening at the 33rd Cairo International film festival. Starring Prasanna, Sneha, John Shea in the lead roles, the movie already made rounds in international film festivals like Garden State film festival, Shanghai International film festival and Digital cinema film festival, Japan.
© India Glitz
Excerpt from India Glitz 10/22/09: John Shea
‘Achchamundu…’, ‘Pasanga’ to be screened at IFFI
IndiaGlitz [Friday, October 23, 2009]
Sasikumar’s production venture ‘Pasanga’ and Prasanna-Sneha starrer ‘Achchamundu Achchamundu’ have made it to the Indian Panorama Section at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Both the films will be screened at the international annual event to be held in Goa from November 23, where cinema lovers from all over the world would participate with great interest.
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Starring Sneha, Prasanna and Hollywood actor John Shea in pivotal roles, ‘Achhamundu…’ revolves around a paedophile targeting a girl child in a Tamil family living in the United States.
© India Glitz
Excerpt from DNA India 10/24/09: John Shea
Emmy winner John Shea plays pedophile in Tamil film
Saturday, 24 October 2009 - 9:48pm IST | Place: Nevada (US) | Agency: ANI
Hollywood actor John Shea is a pedophile in a Tamil social thriller Achchamundu! Achchamundu!
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Other stars of this film, whose title in English means "There is fear! There is fear!", include Prasanna (Kannum Kannum) and Sneha (Silambattam).
© DNA India
Excerpt from Meri News 10/24/09: John Shea
Hollywood star John Shea plays pedophile in Tamil film function
Correspondent 24 October, 2009
Shot in USA in New York and New Jersey, the film revolves around an NRI family, grappling with traditional and modern value systems, is targeted by a pedophile. The film includes John Shea, Andrea Harrison, Prasanna and Sneha. EMMY WINNER John Shea, 60, has been chosen to play the role of a pedophile in a Tamil social thriller “Achchamundu! Achchamundu!”
© Meri News
Excerpt from Silent Critics 4/10/10: John Shea
Achamundu Achamundu Movie Review
April 10th, 2010 | Author: Siddhartha
The surprise package in the movie is John Shea (who also happens to be the associate producer of this movie) has understood the role of a psychotic child molester and has come up with a splendid performance in his allotted screen time.
© Silent Critics
Excerpt from Indo-American Arts Council 11/10: John Shea
10th Annual Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival
MIAAC 2010 FESTIVAL PROGRAM SVA Silas and Beatrice Theaters 333 West 23 Street New York City
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Saturday, November 13 @ 9:30 PM @ SVA Silas Theatre
I AM SCARED (Achchamundu! Achchamundu!)
Written and Directed by Arun Vaidyanathan.
India 2009, 110 min. In English and Tamil. NY Premiere.
Senthil is a software professional with an executive job in New Jersey. He leads a happy middle-class life with his wife and daughter Rinku. One day they hire a housepainter for their suburban home and a series of unsettling events begins to unfold and the executive begins to realize that his wife and daughter are in grave danger. Vaidyanathan’s well-handled and creepy thriller takes you on a suspenseful ride, even as it delivers one of the freshest portrayals of the lives of professional South Asian immigrants in the US. With Prasanna, Sneha, and John Shea.
© Indo-American Arts Council
Excerpt from Deccan Herald 5/18/14: John Shea
Achamundu Achamundu
S Viswanath
Tamil(A) Cast: Prasanna, Sneha, John Shea, Akshaya Director: Arun Vaidyanathan
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Hollywood import John Shea makes his presence felt, while Prasanna as techie Senthil and Sneha as his wife Malini put in a cosy-couple routine.
© Deccan Herald