WHAT HAPPENED TO MARUDHANAYAGAM?? KAMAL HAASAN TALKS ABOUT HIS 'LIFETIME DREAM' PROJECT IN BB TAMIL 5!

Apart from the daily episodes, fans eagerly wait for the one-and-a-half-hour long weekend episodes where Actor-Politician Kamal Haasan would join and discuss the week's highlights. The host of the show usually also announces the contestants who are safe to be inside the house and the ones who will be eliminated. The 'Vikram' actor has also been recommending books from varied genres for the last two years during all Sunday episodes for viewers to read and reflect on life and history.

In yesterday's episode (October 17) of Bigg Boss Tamil 5, where the first elimination was announced, Kamal Haasan spoke about a book that is written by Writer Vanamamalai. "The name of the book is 'Thamizhar Naatupaadalgal'. In the movie 'Thevar Magan' (1992), the song 'Inji iduppazhagi', there's a line that says 'Marakka Manam Kooduthillaye..' which was my favourite line from the book. It was told by me to Poet and Songwriter 'Vaali' who inturn incorporated it into the song," he said.

"Later, when I wanted to make a commercial film, I came across the song 'Kansakipu Sandai'. If we are able to read, talk and learn about the man, it is because of that song. The name of the protagonist from that song is Mohammad Yousuf Khan or Maruthanayagam, a Tamil hero,” stated Kamal Haasan.

Adding on to it, he said, "The songs which are in our language, should not just be safeguarded in Tamil but also in any language. The footprints that we walked are in it. Real histories are frozen inside it without being eroded over time. We have to search for it, read and understand it." 

Kamal Haasan's long-delayed ambitious project was a Rs 85-crore historical venture based on the life of 18th century warrior Marudhanayagam Pillai who went on to become Muhammad Yusuf Khan, a commandant of the sepoys of the British East India Company's Madras Army, who had contributed to India's freedom struggle.

The project, which was started in 1997, however, failed to see the light of day despite several attempts of revival as it ran into financial troubles a year after the launch. It is to be noted that it was only on October 16, 24 years back that Queen Elizabeth II spent 20 minutes in the sets of the movie in the MGR film city. A short battle scene was shown to her.

Apart from the Queen, other guests who were part of the event then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Congress leader Moopanar, journalist Cho Ramaswamy, Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan, Bollywood actor Amrish Puri.