Not a long leap forward for Tamil cinema, ambitious director S. Shankar has been rumored to be in talks with National Award-winning actor Dhanush for a pivotal role in his grand magnum opus, Velpari. This is at the same time that Shankar is struggling to recover from recent failures to return to his long-cherished dream of being in top billing as the top hitmaker of India.
At D55 there is a Strategic Meeting
After Shankar was caught at the formal pooja ceremony at Dhanush’s 55th movie (tentatively titled D55), directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, rumors about the two teaming up reached a fever pitch. Shankar reportedly took the opportunity to ask whether Dhanush was available as a central character in Velpari, industry insiders said.
RTake Studios adds more salt to these rumors. Velpari, which the production house, which is currently backing D55, is reportedly in the early stages of discussions to co-produce. The deal, if completed, would address the major budget challenges that have held up the project.
A Global Vision: India's 'Game of Thrones'
Velpari is based on the historical novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Pari, written by Su Venkatesan. The tale covers the life of the illustrious tribal king Vel Paari, the epic struggle of a warrior battling the combined forces of the Chera, Chola, and Pandya empires.
Shankar called the project a three-part saga planned globally. “I loved Enthiran, and now it is Velpari,” Shankar said recently, making comparisons between the magnitude and the visual ambition of the film, to how it plays with international epics like Avatar and Game of Thrones.
The Growing Ensemble Cast
Dhanush has been the new heavyweight on the cast for the project, but he joins an already star-studded roster of rumored candidates:
- Chiyaan Vikram: Long rumored to lead, it will be the third straight time he has had a role with Shankar after Anniyan and I.
- Ranveer Singh: Shankar is apparently in talks for the Bollywood superstar-blended dual-hero action film.
- Suriya: A former favorite of the pair for the title role of Vel Pari, though the official confirmation for his role has yet to be forthcoming.
Why This Matters for Shankar
After poor performances in both Indian 2 and Game Changer, Velpari is a high-stakes "rebirth" for Shankar. Breaking away from past political thrillers to delve at depth in Tamil history and literature, Shankar tries to use the “Pan-India” trend of such historical epics as India's landmark films is expected to go on taking it to the box-office in recent years.
Pre-production is said to have been in full swing, and the beginning date of filming is predicted to be June 2026.
