'Velayudham' is not a remake, says director

'Velayudham', featuring actor Vijay in the lead, is not a remake of 'Azad' as it is perceived, claims its young director Raja.

This fun-filled mass entertainer will take on Surya's '7aum Arivu' at the box office this festive season.

Raja, known as the prince of remakes, asserted that 'Azad' is only an inspiration, Though he has bought the rights of the Telugu film, he has taken only the 'knot' and woven a screenplay that is completely new, he explains.

'Velayudham' is touted as the costliest Vijay film ever backed by the big banner Aascar Films.

Raja started to work on the screenplay a couple of years ago. He took eight months to give shape to the narration, which has to be revised over and over again as Vijay's image and stature has kept growing since 'Kavalan' which was the actor's last release.

Raja's brother Jayam Ravi has been the hero of all the Tamil films from their production house. 'Velayudham' is the only exception where Raja has roped in Vijay whom he describes as superhero.

In an interview, Raja says, 'I envisaged him as a veritable crowd-puller with enormous mass appeal and today he is such a personality in real life.'

'The canvas is vast and the production is on a mind-boggling scale. It will be a Lucullan feast for the young and the old alike,' he adds.

Genalia and Hansika are the female leads. Hansika plays a village girl and Genelia will be seen as a spirited mediaperson.

Santhanam heads a surprisingly large contingent of 30 comedians.

Tom Delmar, the stunt co-coordinator has handled an extremely dangerous train sequence on a bridge, which is 100 ft. above the ground level at Rayagada in Orissa.

Priyan is the cameraman and Vijay Antony is the music director.

In the words of Raja, 'Velayudham will be a sensible commercial film about a superhero who is real'.

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Velayudham