Mammootty to act in Kannada film

Bangalore, Oct 21 (IANS) Malayalam superstar Mammootty, whose recent film "Pazhassi Raja" is breaking records at the box office, has signed his first Kannada film.

The film will be directed by Abhay Simha of "Gubbachchigalu" fame. Talking to IANS, he said that his long wait to work with Mammootty has finally ended.

"I had sent the script to Mammootty sir through e-mail an year ago. He confirmed his acceptance and then his secretary got in touch with me. Then I personally went to meet him in Thiruvananthapuram. We had several discussions about the dates. Mammootty sir will finalise the dates within a few days," Simha told IANS.

In the film Mammootty plays a Malayalee settled in Karnataka. To be produced by well-known filmmaker K. Manju, the film will also be made in Malayalam and is likely go on floors early next year.

"Now, I have got a good producer who has a great passion to make films," said Simha.

Manju and Simha were in Pollachchi, Tamil Nadu Monday to finalise the deal with Mammootty who was shooting there for director Shafi's film "Chattambi Nadu".

"Now we will start looking for a heroine. We are also planning to rope in Kannada artists and technicians to work on the project," said Simha.

He has engaged Chandrashekhar, well-known associate director of Kannada films, to help him in the dialogues department. Chandrashekhar says Mammootty is very particular about his Kannada accent.

An alumni of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Simha has written the story and script of the film which deals with a successful and respectable person searching for his roots after reading some old book in his house.

Simha's "Gubbachchigalu" was screened at 14 international film festivals and was also recipient of a state award in the best child artist category.

Producer Manju is also ecstatic about a film with Mammootty.

"Abhay Simha has written a wonderful script for Mammootty sir. I am sure Kannada audience, who value quality in films, will welcome internationally acclaimed actor like Mammootty sir wholeheartedly.

"It is another attempt by my production house to make films with talented National Award winners like Kamal Haasan and Mammootty. The film will be simultaneously made in Kannada and Malayalam," said Manju who produced "Rama Shaama Bhaama" earlier.

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Pazhassi Raja