Rajinikanth to play Tiruvalluvar in Rs 50 Cr film

 

Superstar Rajinikanth is likely to play the role of ancient Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in the Rs 50 Cr film titled St. Thomas being produced by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chennai-Mylapore. The film will also have actors like Ajith, Vijay and Vikram in guest appearances.

The film is to be produced in the name of St. Thomas Apostle of India Trust, which is headed by Archbishop A.M. Chinnappa and narrates the life and times of the apostle St Thomas. An important part of the film is St. Thomas’s meeting with sage poet Tiruvalluvar.

The film is to be launched by the Tamilnadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, on Thursday. Hollywood actor James Caviezel, who played Jesus in Passion of the Christ, may act in the film as Jesus. Another Hollywood actor will play the role of St. Thomas.

Dr Paulraj Lourdusamy, the chief researcher and script-writer of this film, has three doctorates earned from various foreign universities. He spent one year in libraries across the world to find the existing literature on St. Thomas. Well-versed in French, he did the script in French first and then in English.

The script is currently being translated simultaneously into Tamil and Malayalam. The film will be made in Tamil and Malayalam first. The shoot will be conducted in Idukki and Munnar region in Kerala which still preserves the 2,000-year old bio-diversity intact.