Superstar Rajinikanth is getting an animation makeover. He will play an ancient era warrior in a period animated film, Kochadaiyaan — The Legend, directed by his younger daughter Soundarya R. Ashwin.
The 61-year-old superstar has even written the story outline for the film, which is being made on the lines of James Cameron’s Avatar and Steven Spielberg’s TinTin, using cutting-edge 3D animation style, called performance capturing with photorealistic technology.
Kochadaiyaan, a period film, is not inspired by history. “It is a fictitious subject and we are going back in time and the film is a fight between good and evil,” says 27-year-old Soundarya, a first-time director, who aims release the film around the world.
The film, Soundarya says, is a tribute to her father. “I am a die-hard fan of my dad. In my dad’s career he has never made a film in which he has played a warrior. Now, I am showcasing him as one, with a six-pack and bulging biceps,” she says.
Describing the film as the first 3D animation fantasy being made in India, Soundarya says the main inspiration behind the film was her desire to “immortalise” her father.
“This technique allows us to do so much more creatively than what live action films can push. It’s different from visual effects where you shoot live and composite it with a CG background. In this film everything is going to be created in the studio. This is going to be something spectacular visually,” she explains.
“I want to push creativity and set that benchmark where imagination is everything,” says Soundarya, who finished a shoot in London. The film, which also stars Deepika Padukone, is being shot exclusively at Pinewood Studios in Britain.
Rajinikanth, who is proud of his daughter’s work, admits he was uncomfortable working with her in the beginning. “I am really proud and shocked to see my daughter directing. At first I was really uncomfortable, but later I forgot she is my daughter and I could only see her as a director,” the proud father says.
Animation in India is still equated with cartoons, says Soundarya, who is using this film to shatter the perceptions.
“We have the best technicians from the world as a part of this movie. It takes passion, guts and interest, in my opinion, to try something new. It will be path-breaking film for others to follow. I think someone needs to take the first step,” she explains.
Rajinikanth, who suffered major health problems last year, says he is more or less absolutely healthy now. “I am over 90 per cent better now,” he says, even as he admitted that he is very media-shy.
The film, due to be released on November 13 this year, will be released in multiple languages, including English, Hindi and Tamil. It will also be dubbed in multiple languages including Japanese as Rajinikanth has cult following in Japan.
“It has a very strong story value which will appeal to the international audiences. It has been done very carefully to appeal to both Indian and Western sensibilities and it will be of international standards,” says the British producer of the film, Dr Murali.
Rajinikanth is even singing a song in the film. “It’s not singing, but almost like reciting or chanting quotes,” says the film’s music director Rahman, who is making different songs for the Hindi and Tamil versions of the film. “We are creating a whole new dimension of sensibilities, from Hollywood sensibilities to Indian sensibilities, and that’s what I am very excited about,” says Rahman, who is also simultaneously doing a Dreamworks film about monkeys getting inspired by the Ramayana. Soundarya describes herself as a die-hard fan of her father. “It has been a great experience working with my dad and under the guidance of my dad. Many times on the floor the fan in me comes out and the director in me stops and I end up saying ‘action’, but I forget to cut the scene because I want to see more of him acting and performing.”