Rajni takes on Jaya

Tulika

The three-year wait has finally come to an end.

When Rajnikanth announces a film, the fun begins -- a bit of gossip here, a trickle of information there, a gradual build up of momentum, all leading up to the grand release.

His latest venture is no exception. Baba will have Suresh Krssna, the director of Kamal Hassan-starrer Abhay (Aalavandhan in Tamil) at the helm.

It also stars Manisha Koirala and another female star playing the two leading roles opposite Rajnikanth. Manisha, we are told, was signed on at Kamal's recommendation (Kamal having worked with her on the Shankar-directed film Indian and Suresh Krssna's Abhay).

Kamal is also believed to have recommended Simran for the second female lead slot, having recently worked with her on Pammal K Sambandham.

The storyline seems very interesting. It is no secret that Jayalalitha Jayaram, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, seems to rub the swarthy superstar the wrong way. Thus, in his recent films, his dialogues have been specifically written to reflect two themes: That he is no supporter of the lady politico and that one of these days, he will enter politics for real and shake things up good.

Baba continues the trend. The storyline revolves around a public figure who takes sanyas [meditation] -- and then a political development and the rise of a particularly obnoxious politician, forces him to come out of his self-imposed isolation for the sake of society.

Is this an indication that, as happened on a famous occasion earlier, Rajnikanth readying to assume a high political profile and throw his weight behind the opposition DMK once more?

The answer to that one is anybody's guess.