Mumbai set for Rajnikant's magic again

Mumbai, Feb 27 (IANS) After regaling countless fans in Mumbai with 'Sivaji: The Boss', Tamil superstar Rajnikant is all set to win hearts again with the dubbed version of his Tamil blockbuster 'Chandramukhi'.

Thanks to distributor Dilip Dhanwani of the Royal Film Company, cinegoers will be able to hear the Tamil icon spout dialogues in Hindi in his inimitable style.

Aware of Rajnikant's huge fan following in Mumbai, Dhanwani decided to release the dubbed version of the movie, produced by N. Rathnam. It will hit the theatres this Friday.

Altogether 150 prints will be shown in multiplexes and single screen cinemas, which is an unprecedented record for a dubbed movie.

'Though Rajnikant has stopped acting in Bollywood films because of his preoccupations in his home state, his magical popularity outside South India has not yet diminished. The Hindi film audiences still remember his acting style and dialogue delivery. I am sure, they will like him in 'Chandramukhi',' which was a big hit in the south,' Dhanwani said.

In anticipation of the release, Mumbai has already been plastered with 30-feet cutouts of the actor in full regalia, looking at Mumbaikars at strategic points all over the metropolis.

It remains to be seen if the ageing south Indian star manages to cast his spell on the new generation of Hindi movie audience grown on movies featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and other Khans.

But Dhanwani is confident about the Tamil superstar's pull at the box-office, despite the fact that Akshay Kumar starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' was loosely based on the movie.

The film also casts Jyotika Ganeshan, Nayanthara, Vineeth and Malvika in key roles.

Written and directed by P. Vasu, the original Tamil movie has been produced by Ramkumar Ganeshan and was released in Tamil Nadu in 2005.

It ran for three years before it was voluntarily withdrawn from cinemas recently to make way for other movies waiting to be released.

Made on a budget of Rs.220 million, the Tamil version grossed Rs. 1.5 billion (Rs.150 crore) in Tamil Nadu and it also bagged five National Awards in 2006.

The movie has some fast numbers composed by Vidyasagar.

The Tamil version of 'Chandramukhi,' in fact, is based on a Kannada movie called 'Apthamitra' which again is based on 'Manichitrathazham' in Malayalam.

'Chandramukhi' was earlier dubbed in Telugu and also in German. The movie also had a Bengali version called 'Rajmahal,' starring Prasenjit Chatterjee.