For those who religiously follow news on Raavanan and flip channels to catch its trailer, the wait is nearly over.
To be released this Friday, the film by Mani Ratnam has spurred excitement among movie-goers for more reasons than one. If the cast is the key attraction for some, the storyline has also drawn the attention of many.
Twenty theatres in the city and suburbs such as Ambattur and Tambaram will release the Tamil version of the film. With the year turning out to be rewarding, thanks to a handful of hits, the impending release of the film has doubled the happiness of the theatre-owners.
“This is by far the biggest release this year. We expect the film to do really well as it now has the attention of three film industries — Tamil, Hindi and Telugu,” says C.T. Valliappan, one of the directors of Kamala Cinemas.
Being a straight release in two languages, theatre-owners had the difficult choice of choosing the most lucrative version.
While a majority of theatres have opted for Raavanan, the Hindi version ‘Raavan' is also finding takers among multiplexes.
However, languages do not matter much for fans of Vikram who are excited about what is touted to be the actor's most significant project in his career.
“We are certain that both the Tamil and Hindi versions will run to packed houses. The trailers are promising and we expect the film to be a complete entertainer,” says M.Suryanarayanan, president, All India Chiyaan Vikram Fans' Welfare Association.
The actor, playing antagonist in Tamil and protagonist in Hindi, is sure to make waves among Tamil audience, he adds.
“While the bookings start from Wednesday for theatres, the rush has already begun. The number of special tickets that our association usually gets has, in fact, been cut down to meet the demand,” says a member of the Fans' Welfare Association.
Film industry sources predict that the simultaneous release will pay off well economically, as both the versions have two common actors – Vikram and Aishwarya Rai.
“While Vikram plays contrast roles, the versions will help promote each other,” Mr.Valliappan says.
