A UAE-based Indian businessman is reportedly putting in £100 million to produce India's biggest ever motion picture, 'The Mahabharata'. To be produced in two parts, the ambitious projects will be directed by ad filmmaker VA Shrikumar Menon, and the shoot will begin in September 2018 with the film aimed to release in early 2020.
Billionaire entrepreneur Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty's organisation UAE Exchange and NMC Healthcare informed that the film will be shot in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu, and be dubbed in major Indian and foreign languages. In an announcement, it was revealed that the project will engage both Indian, and International artistes, including Academy winners. “This film will have an identity across continents.” Padma Bhushan and Jnanpith Awardee MT Vasudevan Nair has written the screenplay. “I am confident that this film will be adapted in over 100 languages and reach over three billion people across the world,” Nair said.
Menon, who has been researching for this project for the past few years, said, “We are fully geared to attain the next level of production quality and visual magic, as well as narrative wizardry with this initiative.” Meanwhile SS Rajamouli too plans a cinematic version of The Mahabharata and has reportedly discussed the idea with Aamir Khan, and considered Amitabh Bachchan for a key role.
