Kozhikode: The Rs 1,000 crore multilingual film based on eminent writer M T Vasudevan Nair's epic novel 'Randamoozham' may not take off as the writer stands firm that he wants the screenplay back.
Director Shrikumar Menon flew into Kozhikode on Saturday to persuade MT to withdraw his case seeking return of the script, but the author did not yield.
'Randamoozham' is based on the Indian epic Mahabharata.
MT says the script, in Malayalam as well as English, based on his novel, was given to Menon on the pledge that the filming will begin within three years. But the project hasn't taken off even after four years. He then approached a court in the city, seeking return of the script.
The Kozhikode Munsif Court had banned the director as well as the producer from using the script as their agreement with MT had lapsed.
Menon spent 20 minutes with MT and pleaded with him to withdraw the case, but the writer did not relent. It is understood that MT wasn't interested in listening to the explanation offered by Menon for the delay of the project. MT, as the author is popularly known, insisted on getting his work back, and offered to return the money paid for it.
It is understood that MT was also peeved by the fact that the director had earlier ignored a lawyer's notice send to him. Menon rushed to meet MT even as the court is set to take up the case again on October 25.
The epic film was planned with Mohanlal in the leading role of Mahabharata character Bheema, and with a huge star cast drawn from different languages.
Multimillionaire expat businessman B R Shetty was to fund it, and had expressed his deep passion for the theme, and had insisted the other day that the production will indeed go ahead. Sources linked to the project had claimed this would be the most expensive film ever made in India.
Menon, an ad filmmaker, has meanwhile completed filming of his Mohanlal-starrer 'Odiyan,' which would hit the screens this month.
