Kannada film will underline Sivaji-Raj Kumar ties

Bangalore, Nov 16 (IANS) Sivaji Productions, controlled by the family of late Tamil thespian Sivaji Ganesan, is all set to enter the Kannada film industry shortly with Puneet, son of the legendary Raj Kumar, in the lead.

Kannada screen icon Raj Kumar had a special relationship with Sivaji Ganesan. While Sivaji acted in Tamil remakes of many Kumar films, including "Bhoodaana", "Shankar Guru" and "Kasthuri Nivasa", Raj Kumar too starred in Kannada remakes of Sivaji's super hits like "Paasa Malar".

Sivaji also worked in the Kannada film "Schoolmaster", but two of his ambitions remained unfulfilled - to work in a film with Raj Kumar and to produce a Kannada film under his banner with Raj Kumar in the lead role.

Sivaji's son Prabhu, now overseeing the activities of the production house along with his brother Ram Kumar, is a close friend of Raj Kumar's three sons - Shivaraj Kumar, Raghavendra Raj Kumar and Puneet. The friendship dates back to Prabhu's days as a student in the Bishop Cottons High School, Bangalore.

The company, which recently produced the Tamil blockbuster "Chandramukhi" with superstar Rajnikant, has roped in P. Vasu, who directed "Chandramukhi", to wield the megaphone for the film.

Vasu has apparently prepared the script and will start shooting the film after he completes his Telugu film, starring Nagarjuna, which is being produced by Mohan Babu.