Film on slain bandit Veerappan

Latest from RGV: Film on slain bandit Veerappan
16 Jun 2008, 0014 hrs IST, Bharati Dubey,TNN

Ram Gopal Varma plans to transport Veerappan from real to reel life.
MUMBAI: Ram Gopal Varma is all set to make a film on sandalwood smuggler Veerappan's life very soon. The slain dacoit's wife Muthulaxmi flew down specially to meet Varma and his team and discuss the film's storyline.

"Veerappan's wife visited us. After listening to our intentions she gave us valuable inputs and insights into the true story of Veerappan. She is completely endorsing and standing by the project," Varma said.

Speaking about the film, the director said: "It will be a film on the story of Veerappan's life and the men who killed him. The film will track Veerappan from the time of his being just a skinny, pale teenager to how he metamorphosed into a cunning chameleonic monster. It will show his charismatic childlike behaviour that made many men dismiss him off as a buffoon until he killed them."

Varma is impressed by Muthulaxmi: "She is a lady who is in total command. She told us about her first meeting with Veerappan and how they fell in love. My film will also tell the story of Muthulaxmi, the girl who fell in love with him."

Varma and Ekta Kapoor will be only playing the role of producers in the film. "It will be directed by Prashant Pandey, the writer of my film ‘Sarkar Raj'. It will primarily cater to the national audience, but, as Veerappan is known at an international level, it is bound to arouse interest outside India," he says.

Varma intends to cast only newcomers in the film.

"Prashant wants that the look and characters should approximate a sense of reality. This is required to maintain the film's authenticity and the power of its telling. He believes that when the audience comes to see this film in theatres, they already know that it is a true story. They must have a first hand connection with the characters. They should not make associations because the idea is to show them a police officer, an informer and an outlaw rather than an actor who would carry a baggage of associations with him or her," Varma explains.

Although Varma refused to comment on Muthulaxmi's acting debut in the film, sources said there is a good chance that she would play a part in it. If sources are to be believed she is also likely to get a certain cut in the profits of the film.