Chennai: Veteran politician and MDMK Vaiko turns producer with a historical film which chronicles the life and times of Rani Velu Nachiyar, the queen of Sivagangai in the 18th century who fought against the British in India.
Announcing this after staging the play Velu Nachiyar in the city reportedly for the first time, Vaiko said, “I have started a company Kannagi Films to produce a film on Velu Nachiyar, the Veera Mangai (brave woman) of Tamil Nadu. We have been conducting the dance drama Veerathai Velu Nachiar, portraying the valour of the queen from Sivagangai district, which is directed by Sriram Sharma for several years, which has been received extremely well even in foreign locales.”
Manimekalai Sharma, ace Bharatanatyam exponent and wife of the director, played the titular role.
Elaborating the reason for turning a producer the MDMK leader said, “Rani Velu Nachiar was the first Indian woman to fight the British by taking up weapons and she brought laurels to Tamil Nadu through her unparalleled valor even before the Rani of Jhansi. But hardly people are aware of such a brave woman and I feel it is high time I did something about it. Sriram Sharma would also wield the megaphone for the film. The lead actress who would play the protagonist and other casting will be announced soon. Right now we are in the process of preproduction work which needs at least six months.”
TFPC leaders including Nassar, Vishal, Ponvannan, and others like Vivekh, Parthiban, Thambi Ramaiah, Vijayakumar, Nalli Kuppusamy were present on the occasion.
