Ravana: Sita sides Ravana, not Rama

Peter Hains, the famous Hollywood stunt master who choreographed the action scenes and special effects of the big budget movies like Anniyan, Sivaji - The Boss, and Dhoom, has arrived at Chalakkudy, Kerala, to join for the shooting of ace director Mani Ratnam's latest film Ravana. The fight scenes of the film will be shot under his supervision.

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Prithviraj and Vaiyapuri are also in the location of the film which is now being shot at Malayatoor forest near Kochi. Ravana is the modern adaptation of epic Ramayana.

Unlike the epic, Ravana, the ruler of Lanka, who kidnapped Sita, is the lead of this film. As per the sources, the film culminates with Sita taking the side of Ravana, instead of Rama who suspects her chastity after having spent so much time in Ravana"s custody. It is said that the memories of the poacher Veerappan will also be a highlight of the film.

Mani Ratnam is making this film in Hindi and Tamil simultaneously. In Hindi version, Abhishek Bachchan will play Rama, while Vikram will be Ravana. On the other hand, in Tamil Vikram is Rama and Prithviraj is Ravana. Aishwarya Rai will play Sita in both versions. However, Mani is yet to finalise an actor who will play Lakshmana.

The shoot was temporarily halted by the Kerala Forest department early in this month, when the forest officials found that the crew had constructed huts inside the forest, which was against the terms of sanction. However Mani, Ratnam was later given conditional sanction to continue shooting in the forest.