The first look of the movie ‘Karinthandan’ with award-winning actor Vinayakan in the title role was released recently. However, the announcement of the movie which will be directed by Leela Santhosh, came as a shock for another filmmaker.
Gopakumar GK, who is currently working as an assistant director and finance controller on the sets of forthcoming Mammootty-starrer 'Maamaankam', claimed that he had prepared the script for a movie titled ‘Karinthandan’, almost a year ago. “I had been working for this movie for the last three years. I had even registered the title of the movie,” he said.
Gopakumar told Onmanorama that he would seek the legal course if anyone tries to release the movie by the title ‘Karinthandan’. He added that he had spoken about his movie to filmmaker Leela earlier and that he didn’t understand why such a move was being made now.
“The ‘Karinthandan’ I envisaged is not limited to Kerala alone, it would be a pan-Indian movie. The movie, which will be made on the standards of Hollywood, will feature many actors from different film industries. A Canadian company has already agreed to be a part of the movie’s production. The discussions are in the final stage and the estimated budget is almost Rs 60 crore,” said Gopakumar about his ‘Karinthandan.
Gopakumar told that he would begin the pre-production works of his movie after the shooting of 'Maamaankam' wraps up. The filmmaker, who vows that he would proceed with the project, however, warned that the makers of ‘Karinthandan’ directed by Leela cannot use the title.
“Leela is my Facebook friend. One she asked me whether I was interested to proceed with the project. I replied I was already working on it. I came to know that she was doing this project only when the poster came out. She didn’t even reply when I messaged her to enquire about it,” Gopakumar claimed.
Announcing the movie ‘Karinthandan’ through his Facebook page, in December last year, Gopakumar had written that his movie was an epic of the Alloka tribe and its warrior leader Karinthandan.
‘Karinthandan’ directed by Leela Santhosh, the first filmmaker from a tribal community, is bankrolled by Collective Phase One headed by noted director–cinematographer Rajeev Ravi.
