Dhanush’s dad to direct Jackie Shroff in horror thriller

Director Kasthoori Raja, the dad of ace director Selvaraghavan and top actor Dhanush, is to direct a horror thriller featuring Jackie Shroff, Nikeesha Patel and a newcomer called Meghali in the lead.

Best known for having directed the hit film En Raasavin Manasile, Kasthoori Raja had stopped directing films from 2006.

Announcing his return to direction, the director, who has been a part of the Tamil film industry for over 40 years, said his next film, which incidentally would be his 23rd film, would be titled Paandi Muni.

“I am in that stage of my life where I don’t have to do films now. My sons’ wishes are that I visit Hong Kong, America, Russia and Australia along with their mom. However, I cannot do it. I can’t leave this place or the film industry. I have been working on this script from 2006 and I am very sure that this will be a big hit. In fact, I am so sure that I have been walking with my head held high. I have decided that from now on, the movies that I make will be like this. This is the first film in my rejuvenated film life. I will make films only like this one or I will remain quiet,” the director told media persons at a function organised to announce the project.

Showering praises on Jackie Shroff, who was present on the occasion, the director said, “I narrated this script to Jackie Shroff for over an hour in Mumbai. Suddenly, the man went missing. I wasn’t sure where he had gone. A few minutes later, he emerged in a saffron attire looking like a swami. Directors like us imagine several characters but we need good actors to visualise what we have in mind and present it to us in flesh and blood. I was stunned by the manner in which he had given life to the character I had in mind and that too in minutes. What I saw stunned me. It inspired me so much. After looking at Jackie, who dressed himself up as an aghori, I have been inspired so much that I have now enhanced the character and the script.”

Giving details about the film, Kasthoori Raja said, “Jackie will play an aghori in this film. He is a devotee of Lord Shiva, who believes his spiritual powers are second only to Lord Shiva himself. He has so much power that he can even breathe life into a body. The story takes place 50 years ago. The film is also a triangular love story. On the one hand, there is love that is based on compassion, on the other, there is love that is based on violence. Both are at loggerheads. At one point, compassionate love is overcome by violent love. It is then that the Aghori comes into the picture. The film will be a horror thriller.”

Cinematographer Madhu Ambat will be the cameraman for the film while music for the film will be by Srikanth Deva.