Will Pazhassi Raja ever see the light?

Legendary M.T. Vasudevan Nair, director Hariharan and superstar Mammootty's forthcoming biopic magnum opus, the historical film Pazhassi Raja, which was finally scheduled for release on Vishu (April 14), has been postponed to Onam (September). This is the sixth time that Pazhassi Raja's release is being postponed since it started in 2007.

The shooting of the film has been constantly dragging for the last two year due to unseasonal heavy rains, clashes in the dates of the artists and the accidental death of two crew members. However, megastar Mammootty, who was determined to complete the movie as early as possible, had recently earmarked nearly three weeks to complete the final schedule at Madikkeri in Karnataka. Thanks to Mammootty's efforts, the entire shoot is now over. The post production work is to begin in Chennai.

Music maestro Ilayaraja has scored music to the lyrics written by poet O.N.V. Kurup in this film, produced by Gokulam Gopalan with a whopping budget of more than 20 crores. The re-recording will begin after Sreekar Prasad completes his editing. The film, with a lot of special effects and graphics, is expected to be completed in approximately three or four months.

Pazhassi Raja tells the story of the legendary ruler and warrior Pazhassi Raja, popularly known as the Lion of Kerala, who took on the British in the forests of Malabar in the 18th century. He is considered to be the first freedom fighter of India. The movie will showcase his heroic fights against the British in the jungles of Wayanad during the 1790s.

Mammootty, who had played the hero in Hariharan's previous historical venture Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), plays the title role as Pazhassi Raja, while Suman plays the villain Pazhaiveetan Chandu. Tamil actor Sarath Kumar plays Edachena Kunkan, the chief lieutenant of Pazhassi Raja. Others in the cast are Padmapriya, Kanihaa, Manoj K. Jayan, Thilakan, Jagathi Sreekumar, Suresh Krishna and Kalabhavan Mani.