Of history and heroic tales

Tamil treats

Trade pundits say that as of now, Suriya-starrer 7 Aum Arivu, Vijay’s Velayudham and the Tamil version of Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra One might be the biggest gainers. Till a week ago, Osthi starring Silambarasan and Dhanush in Mayakkam Enna were also on the list, but they have backed out of the race.

Velayudham, directed by Jayam M Raja, features Vijay, Genelia D’Souza and Hansika Motwani in the lead roles. Produced by Aascar Ravichandran, it is a big-budgeted venture that will be screened in more than 400 screens this festive season in Tamil Nadu alone.

The film is about a milk vendor who becomes a messiah for the masses. Inspired by the Telugu hit Azad, the film was shot in rural and urban areas of Tamil Nadu. Says the director, “I always wanted to make a film with Vijay. A pacy script with commercial elements thrown in, coupled with Vijay’s charisma, is what Velayudham is all about.”

Commenting on his experience of working with Vijay, Raja says, “Though he enjoys super stardom, he is humble. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and is a director’s actor.” Vijay, the Ilaya Thalapathi of Tamil cinema, says, “Velayudham is a special film because it is not just a commercial entertainer but a movie that speaks about corruption.”

7 Aum Arivu, another Diwali release, is a sci-fi medical thriller that brings together the Ghajini team — director A R Murugadoss, music composer Harris Jayaraj and actor Suriya.

Suriya plays the role of a circus artiste and a Buddhist monk named Bodhi Dharma, hailing from Tamil Nadu, who later travels to China. Sruthi Haasan, elder daughter of Kamal Haasan, is making her debut in Tamil cinema with this film produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Movies. Says Suriya, “The story is inspired by Bodhi Dharma’s story — a Buddhist monk who hailed from Kanchipuram. Son of a Pallava king in the 6th century, he later became a monk and prophesied the teachings of Buddha. He is still worshipped in China and other parts of the world. But people in India are unaware of this historical figure. Hopefully, 7 Aum Arivu will help spread the word.”

Ra. One, the Tamil version of Shah Rukh’s Bollywood magnum opus of the same title, will also release in Tamil Nadu during Diwali. Leading distributor and theatre owner Abirami Ramanathan has acquired the release rights and he is expected to market the movie in a big way, adding strength to the already-aggressive marketing strategies adopted by Shah Rukh Khan.  Produced by Gauri Khan for Shah Rukh-owned Red Chillies Entertainment and Eros International, the film is written and directed by Anubhav Sinha.

An important highlight of the film is a cameo by superstar Rajinikanth, which is expected to draw a large number of audience to theatres. Expressing his respect for the legendary actor, SRK was recently quoted as saying, “Rajini sir is a living legend. I was overwhelmed by his gesture. I dedicate Ra.One to him.” He added further, “I believe film buffs will enjoy Ra.One as we have ensured that it is an entertaining film. The Tamil and Telugu versions will release simultaneously with the Hindi version.”

This Diwali, Tamil cinema buffs are definitely in for a treat.