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Will
the present day Kamal fit into Marudhanayagam?
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Marudhanayagam
– the name conjures up the regally
attired Kamal twirling his moustache in
a sculptured pose. And it remains frozen
as it is. If there is one film that Kamal
would like to see the light of day, it is
about this warrior-prince. The film based
on painstaking research by a dedicated team
has been caught in a limbo. Several Tamil
historians have lent their expertise in
this project as they were convinced of Kamal’s
artistic and cinematic credentials.
Kamal’s repertoire is truly staggering.
In a career spanning nearly four decades,
he has performed roles of every genre. He
has successfully reinvented himself so as
to come up with thumping performances. |
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His
intuitive understanding of cinema and penchant
for innovation urge him to plough back funds
into bold and experimental films. Some clicked
like Appu of Apoorva Sahodarargal, the thaatha
in Indian or Shanmugi mami in Avvai Shanmugi
while many bit the dust most notable being
Hey Ram. Yet, he plods on with great hope.
The making of Marudhanayagam is a different
ball game altogether. Kamal’s grand
inauguration of the shooting in the presence
of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II
in 1997 made headlines. Nothing much has
happened thereafter. |
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Apparently,
Kamal has shelved the project for shortage
of funds. It is quite difficult to buy this
argument as Kamal commands great respect.
It is perhaps his stubbornness to launch
the film under his own Raajkamal banner
with attendant conditions, which has put
off prospective collaborators. In the recent
past, there have also been some bitter episodes
with producers like Thanu(Aalavandhan) and
Kaja Moideen(Vettaiyadu villaiyadu). The
negative fallout of those issues is probably
the lack of interest shown by outside producers
for Kamal’s dream film. |
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| However,
he has been enthused by the recent foray
of the Ambanis into film medium. Besides,
he is also shuttling abroad often these
days to curry up NRI funding. The story
is set in a region with deep casteist divisions.
Several threads of history are mixed up
with legend. The political protests which
could raise the heat and bring negative
publicity is another deterrent.
If money were the problem, Kamal would have
no difficulty in the current scenario as
Sanjay Leela Bansali’s Devdas was
made at Rs. 50 crores and Aamir’s
Mangal Pandey took Rs. 30 crores. Kamal’s
budget for Marudhanayagam, which would mark
his debut as director also, is slightly
higher than Rs. 50 crores which would not
be a big issue.
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But
the nitty gritty would have to be ironed
out before the film goes on the floors.
There are some aspects of Kamal’s
approach which need to be smoothened.
For a man who has tasted vetrikkani, it
is a pity that his magnum opus remains an
ettaakkani. We just hope, that Kamal doesn’t
feel that these grapes are sour!!
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