'Kathanayakudu' has released with heightened fanfare and is running to packed houses in Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. As already reported Rajinikanth's 'Kathanayakudu' is the remake of the Malayalam film 'Katha Parayumbol' written by Sreenivasan.
Another Malayalam filmmaker who has been quite successful in Hindi films as well, Priyadarshan, is remaking the film in Hindi with Shahrukh Khan and Irfan Khan in the lead roles and the movie is called 'Billoo Barber'.
There was speculation in the media that 'Kathanayakudu' would be dubbed in Hindi soon. According to this information, Shahrukh Khan was reportedly in panic because Hindi audiences would see Rajinikanth in the role he is slated to play. 'Billoo Barber is expected to be released during the Diwali season.
This report also added that Rajinikanth had stepped in and assured Shahrukh Khan that the dubbed version of 'Kathanayakudu' would not be released before Diwali.
A new light is now thrown on this entire episode. Director Priyadarshan has declared that 'Kathanayakudu' cannot be dubbed into any other language.
Says Priyadarshan, 'when P. Vasu and his team approached Sreenivasan for acquisition of copyright, he consulted with me. We agreed to go ahead with all their requests because they were adamant Rajinikanth would be cast in the film. However, we made sure to include a clause that said 'Kathanayakudu' cannot be dubbed in any other language'.
Priyadarshan also added that 'Billoo Barber' would be very different from 'Kathanayakudu'. 'Only the ending of both the movies would be the same. I have always maintained that Irfan Khan would be the main character of the film and not Shahrukh Khan'.
'Rajinikanth is introduced in the film riding a winged horse. My portrayal of the 'superstar' character would be more on a realistic approach. It will be very different from 'Kathanayakudu'' said an assertive Priyadarshan.
With Priyadarshan's statement, all speculation as to 'Kathanayakudu' spoiling Shahrukh Khan's dreams can be laid to rest once and for all.
