With state honchos and AIADMK cadres celebrating the 71st birth anniversary of late CM J.Jayalalithaa on Februrary 24 in garlanding her statues, cutting cakes, declaring financial schemes for the poor and performing annadhanams, K’town’s ace filmmaker Vijay, gearing up with a biopic of Amma announced the title of the film on the occasion.
The movie has been titled Thalaivi. Vijay spoke to DC about his magnum opus, saying, “Thalaivi is the journey of our late former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa amma who reigned supreme in a male-dominated world. In fact that was my main inspiration to make a biopic on her. I know it is a huge responsibility and I make sure that it will be an honestly portrayed amma biography”. The Madarasapattinam director reveals that ace writer Vijayendra Prasad, father of SS Rajamouli of Baahubali and Mersal fame, has been brought on board for screenwriting and composer GV Prakash will join hands for the music. Nirav Shah is behind the camera. The movie will chronicle Jaya from her childhood to her entry into films in 1965 with Vennira Aadai and her meteoric rise in politics till her final days.
On the research for the film, Vijay says, “I want everything that we project is as authentic as possible and we did extensive research for the last nine months. After penning several drafts, the final draft of the script is ready. Most importantly, our producers Vibri Media have taken a proper No Objection Certificate to make a biopic on Jaya Amma from her nephew Deepak.” The movie is likely to go on floors from April.
Vijay was unwilling to be open about the lead lady who would portray JJ, but a close source revealed that talks are on with top Bollywood actresses including Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. All three actresses are known for their power packed performers with Balan and Ranaut being part of female centric biopics like The Dirty Picture (on Silk Smitha) and Manikarnika (on the Queen of Jhansi), and Aishwarya having already played the role of Jaya in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar (1997) which was also her debut in Tamil.
Vijay's earlier film Thalaivaa with Thalapathy Vijay got dragged into controversy and its release was delayed due to reported opposition from the then ruling AIADMK in 2013.
