It's arguably the phenomenal hit of Tamil cinema. The new Rajnikanth fantasy Chandramukhi (no relation to the Salman Khan dud of the same name!) has grossed over Rs 70 million across Tamil Nadu and is still rocking.
The film, originally made in Malayalam as Manichithra Tazu (1993) and in Kannada as Aabta Mitra (2003), was turned into a Tamil-Telugu money-spinner in 2004.
The coveted Hindi rights of Chandramukhi have gone to South's well-known ad maker Narren Aditya. A hefty sum -- Rs 10 million -- was exchanged between the producer Appachan who owns copyrights for the original and Hyderabad's production house Creative Commercials before Chandramukhi became Narren Aditya's film in Hindi. Aditya is now stationed in Mumbai to finalise Bollywood's behemoth for the Hindi version.
"It will have to be none other than Amitabh Bachchan," he says, oozing confidence. "No one has the stature and superstardom to carry off a role of such immeasurable fantasy and flamboyance. I don't think I can make the Hindi Chandramukhi unless Bachchan agrees to play the lead," says Aditya, who has so far made foray into ad films only.
"I have two Hindi films on my anvil -- Chandramukhi and an epic love story which I have named Saaz. It is set during the Goan Liberation Movement. It's the story of a Goan boy, Goan girl and a Portuguese officer. Sahara is to produce the film."
Aditya has not decided the rest of the cast. He has found the young actor whom he considers the best bet for the young Goan lover-boy. "The minute I saw Sammir Dattani, I knew his was the face for the lead in Saaz. It's a face that tempts the camera."
While he prepares to shoot the huge-budgeted epic love story, he is frantically finalising Chandramukhi logistics. "I won't rest until Bachchan says yes."
