'Thalaivi': 4 reasons why Kangana Ranaut is the best choice for Jayalalithaa's biopic

'Thalaivi' is slated to release in theatres on April 23

The trailer of actor Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi, a film based on the life of the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has created a fair deal of buzz among fans as it features the powerhouse performer in a bold new avatar. A section of the audience, however, feels that the Bollywood star is not the right choice for director AL Vijay's magnum opus. Here are four reasons why the 'Queen' of Hindi cinema may just prove to be the best choice for the biggie.

Pan-India connect

There is a perception that the makers of Thalaivi made a mistake by casting Kangana, a 'Hindi actress', to play one of Tamil Nadu's greatest leaders on the big screen. This line of thinking is not justified because cinema is above parochial boundaries. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who was born into a Punjabi family, essayed the role of Manipuri boxer Mary Kom in her biopic. Similarly, Malayalam star Mammootty played the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR in Yatra. By casting Kangana as 'Amma', the makers have broken barriers and made a pan-India film.

Also read: 'Thalaivi' trailer: A treat for Kangana Ranaut fans

Lack of 'safe' choices

Bollywood is home to several talented actors but none of the 'Gen Y' stars, barring Deepika Padukone, have ever been the face of big-budget movies. Taapsee Pannu's Pink for example was shot on a budget of merely Rs 23 crore. The Alia Bhatt-starrer Raazi too was made on a budget of Rs 30 crore. Kangana's Manikarnika, on the other hand, had a budget of around Rs 100 crore. Her experience in carrying a big film makes her a safe choice for Thalaivi.

Kangana's star power

Kangana became the talk of the town when the 2014 release Queen emerged as a big hit at the box office while receiving rave reviews from fans. She consolidated her standing in the industry with Tanu Weds Manu returns, which featured her in a double role. While some of her subsequent releases did not live up to expectations, she bounced back with Manikarnika. The period drama made a decent impact at the box office despite receiving mixed reviews. Her star power is likely to help Thalaivi reach a wider audience.

Up her alley

The trailer suggests that Jayalalithaa will be projected as a naive young woman in the initial portions of the film. If this is indeed the case, the character may prove to be right up Kangana's alley as she played the role of an innocent young girl in Queen. The second half of Thalaivi is likely to focus on Jaya's political career, highlighting her emergence as a mass leader. This again works in Kangana's favour as she had essayed the role of a real-life hero in Manikarnika.