Sundar C’s magnum opus Sangamithra, which has been planned as a trilingual in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, was launched amidst fanfare last year in Cannes International Film Festival and even before the buzz died down, Shruti Haasan walked out of the project citing reason that she was not given the full script as promised when she had accepted the offer.
However, producer Hema Rukmani clarified that Shruti didn’t walk out. They chose to not work together as things didn’t work out with her effectively. She was eventually replaced by Disha Patani and the project was supposed to go on the floors from December last year. Following the delay in the commencement of the shoot, rumours made the rounds that the project has been shelved.
Earlier this week, speaking to reporters at the press meet of his upcoming release Kalakalappu 2, director Sundar C clarified that the film has not been shelved. "It's a film with mammoth scale. A film of that grandness needs perfect planning and we are doing the pre-preparation work for the last one and a half years. Unlike other films where work on graphics will be done only after shooting, here in Sangamithra, we have started it before shooting,” Sundar was quoted by Deccan Chronicle. Apparently, the shoot of Sangamithra is expected to commence from April or May.
Tipped to be made on a budget of Rs. 150 crores, the project will star Arya and Jayam Ravi, and the latter had said that he will be required to beef up for the role. Going the Baahubali way, the project is believed to be made as two parts over the course of next 18 months.
To be bankrolled by Sri Thenandal Films, the film will have music by double Oscar-winning A R Rahman, who is kicked to be part of this project. At Cannes, he had said, “It’s a very ambitious film. Six months back when I heard just 30 minutes of the narration, it was good enough for me to come on board.”