Tamil remake of Nandanam

Scenarist-turned-director Ranjith's Malayalam super hit Nandanam (2002), which was the debut film of both Prithviraj and Navya Nair, will soon be remade in Tamil by Ranjith himself. This will be the Tamil directorial debut of Ranjith, who was recently in the news for making Prithviraj-starrer Thirakkatha, reportedly a romantic film based on the life of late actress Srividya.

Produced by veteran producer Shogun Mohan, the Tamil version of Nandanam will have Prithviraj reprising his original role; it is most likely that Priyamani will be his heroine in this musical love story. The surprise element is a cameo by Dhanush as a human avatar of Lord Krishna.

The Tamil screenplay is being written by writer-director Viji, who wrote the screenplay of Mozhi and also wrote and directed Vellithirai. The shooting will start in January 2009, after Prithviraj and Priyamani complete the shooting of Mani Ratnam"s Ravana.

Nandanam revolves around young Balamani (Navya Nair in the original), an orphan who comes to Guruvayoor to work as a maidservant in a big Tharavadu (ancestral home) near Guruvayoor temple. Her employer is an old lady Unniamma (Kaviyoor Ponnamma); three other old ladies also live in the house. All she yearns for is a 'darshan' of the deity, Lord Krishna, but somehow, she never makes it to the temple although she can hear the sound of poojas and bhajans daily. Balamani shares her sorrows and worries with a picture of the idol kept in her room.

One day, Balamani has a dream of marrying a man of high status. She feels that this is what her lord has in store for her and she starts believing in her dream. Into this sitution arrives Manu (Prithviraj), Unniamma's only grandson, to spend few days with his grandmother before going abroad to pursue his studies. Balamani realises that he is the man of her dreams.

Balamani and Manu soon fall in love despite Balamani's reservations about their difference in status. However, their happiness does not last long, as Manu's widowed mother Thankam (Revathy) fixes his wedding with her friend"s daughter. It is too late when Manu confesses his love to his mother. Manu and Balamani decide to part ways not to hurt his mother"s feelings.

Balamani finds it really difficult to forget her dream and strives hard to hide her grief. But Unni (Aravindan), the man living next door understands her feelings and constantly assures that her miracles do happen and dreams are achievable. Will Balamani's dreams come true? That constitutes the rest of the story.