Onir gives his writer the director's chair

Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) Filmmaker Onir, who got critical acclaim for his directorial debut 'My Brother Nikhil', has now signed on his writer Ashwini Malik to direct his next 'Kill Chhabra', a crime thriller.

'He has written the script keeping himself in mind as the director. I think he is capable and will do justice to the film,' said Onir.

As of now, Sanjay Suri, Gul Panag, Rannvijay and Manav Kaul have been finalised for the cast.

Malik had penned down the dialogues for Onir's last film 'Bas Ek Pal' and has also written the script of his next directorial venture 'Sorry Bhai' that will star Shabana Azmi, Chitrangadha Singh, Boman Irani, Sharman Joshi and Sanjay Suri.

'The film is the story of six youths and one of them gets killed by Chhabra, the main antagonist, because of being witness to a crime. The other five friends, who are not criminals, plan to avenge the death of their friend by killing Chhabra,' Malik told IANS.

With the film, Malik is trying to clear people's misconception about crime.

'The film shows that committing a crime is not as easy as shown in films and serials. It shows the preparations and difficulties faced by people in planning a criminal activity.

'Violence has been all so intensely and naturally around cinema and television that we have completely become insensitive to it. This is what concerned me as a writer. So I thought, if I am in a situation where I have to commit an act of violence - what would I do - this is what inspired me to write the story,' said Malik

Direction is not new to Malik - he has directed various TV serials and an English film 'Clever and Lonely' which starred television actors Aamir Bashir and Nilanjana.

'Kill Chhabra' will be shot in a start to end schedule of 40 days in September or October, and will be released in 2009.

Sanjay Suri is jointly producing the film with Onir. Gaurav Dayal, who has composed for Onir's 'Sorry Bhai', is scoring the music for the film.