If industry rumors are to be believed, renowned director Shankar is contemplating turning his dream project, ‘Velpari’, into a dual hero subject by considering casting Tamil star Vikram and Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh in the lead roles. Shankar has long cherished ‘Velpari’ as his passion project, which is based on the historical novel ‘Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Pari’ written by Tamil author Su Venkatesan.
Speculations circulating within the industry hint that the well-known production house Pen Media is exploring the possibility of producing this film. The production house has reportedly requested Shankar for the film’s budget and the expected timeline for its completion. However, there has been no official confirmation on these developments yet.
‘Velpari’ narrates the tale of a legendary Tamil king renowned for his bravery, governance skills, generosity, and compassion. The phrase ‘Mullaikku Theru Koduthaan Pari’, widely used in Tamil Nadu, originates from a poem praising Pari’s act of offering his chariot to save a jasmine shrub. Pari is among the seven celebrated philanthropists in Tamil literature.
During a speech on Velpari, Shankar revealed his quest to read ‘Veera Yuga Nayagan Vel Pari’ during the Covid-induced lockdown. Despite his initial struggle to find a copy, director Vasanthabalan facilitated Shankar’s access to the book through the author, Su Venkatesan. Impressed by the novel’s depth and historical insights into a ruler from two millennia ago, Shankar expressed his admiration for the richness of the narrative.
