The star power of Tamil superstar Rajnikanth is simply awesome. Whether he is the lead actor or guest appearance, any film of his becomes the hottest property in the entertainment market.
Just look at the way Kuselan, a quickie planned with Rajnikanth in a 'guest role', is grabbed by Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Limited, Singapore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pyramid Saimira Group.
Also Read: Rajni to take on Mammootty
The company has bagged the rights of worldwide release with 11 years Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Kuselan, in both Tamil and Telugu. Though the company has not disclosed the amount, rumours have it that the film was bought for an estimated sum of Rs 60 crore!
The company plans a worldwide release the movie by the end of July 2008.
Kuselan is produced by Seven Arts Films from Kerala and Kavithalaya Group promoted by K Balachandar. In Telugu, it is co-produced by Vyjanthi Movies.
Pyramid Saimira had earlier distributed and exhibited Rajni's Sivaji in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Malaysia in 252 screens with 928 shows daily and 6.78 lakh seats.
Kuselan is the Tamil remake of Kadha Parayumbol, one of the most talked about and successful films made in Malayalam in recent times. The way Sreenivasan developed a simple tale of a friendship between a barber and a superstar, into a very appealing screenplay without slipping into melodrama was highly appreciated in Kerala. Rajni who saw the film got so emotional that he hugged Sreenivasan.
Sreenivasan played the barber and Mammootty the superstar. In Tamil, Pasupathy plays Sreenivasan's role and Rajni Mammootty's. Meena, who played Sreenivasan's wife in the original, has done the same role in Tamil too.
Mammootty appeared for just half an hour in the original. It is for sure that P Vasu who directs Kuselan will make the role longer for Rajni like he did in Chandramukhi (a remake of Manichitrathazhu.)
Priyadarshan is remaking the film in Hindi as Billoo Barber with Irrfan Khan playing the barber's role while Shah Rukh Khan as the superstar.
It is interesting to see so many versions of Kadha Parayumbol in 2008!
