New Delhi : The magic of MGR, one of Tamil cinema’s towering legends would be seen once again on the big screen with a new film portraying him in an animated format.

Titled Puratchi Thalaivan (Revolutionary Leader), the 3D film by Venky Rao under the banner of Mayabimbam Media Pvt Ltd.

 

A trailer was released on January 17 to coincide with the 92^nd birth anniversary of the icon.

 

“Despite stars like Vijay and Ajith being hero worshipped, the craze for MGR still exists. This will be highlighted a step further by Puratchi Thalaivan,” says producer Sridevi Rao.

 

The film, she says, promises to be an unusual fair in the field of animation and is expected to enthrall fans of the superstar, who later entered politics and went on to become the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

 

MGR dominated Tamil cinema for decades starring in a lot of romance and action-based films.

 

“Since people in Tamil Nadu were not aware of animation films earlier, we had taken up our first venture with caricature models, simple storylines conveying a message,” says Rao.

 

For this film, the iconic status of the late actor made Rao choose MGR over present day superstars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, Ajith and Vijay for the film.

 

“MGR is the icon, who can give proper and powerful message to the public even today. His style and mannerisms are copied by present day onstage and silver screen entertainers. He is the only hero who has active fan base till date, who worship him as god even 20 years after his death.” On December 24, 1987 the day the actor died, mass hysteria gripped Tamil Nadu with reports of numerous people attempting self-immolation.

 

Production for the film will take around 10 months and it would be out in theatres next year.