Kamal stepped out?

With effortless emotions and high production value Director Bharat Bala introduced a fresh outlook on filmmaking. In fact AR Rahman’s master piece Vande Matharam has been cherished as a visual treat because of this Indian born American director’s inspirational picturization. We notice that stories with the sketch of crossing two or more cultures are been special interest for him right form his maiden venture ‘Hari Om’.

What next? As we all know the director is preparing for his second film, ‘The 19th Step’, co-produced and distributed by the Walt Disney Company. The film is scripted by renowned writer MT. Vasudevan Nair who has drafted certain historical happenings that took place in Kerala in 14th century related to Buddhism. The story of this film revolves around a Japanese Samurai warrior Kenji (Tadanobu Asano) who travels to Alleppy in Kerala, to learn the secrets of the ancient Dravidian martial art Urumi (multi-swordfight technique) one among the techniques of Kalaripayattu. Kenji learns the art of Urumi from a veteran martial art trainer Narayana Gurukal. In the process, a silent yet passionate love grows within Kenji when he sees the beautiful Chera Princess Meenakshi (Asin).

The attention-grabbing part of the report comes here. The role of the guru who teaches this martial art for the hero seems to create vagueness in the film’s progress. Earlier Padmashree Kamal Hassan was set to do the role of the martial art trainer as he was the only person who is acquainted with the art of Kalaripayattu among Indian actors.

It is said that Kamal accepted this offer since he felt that his portion was a meaningful one. When all went on fine, the script was revised as it seemed to be lengthy and slow in paced. This is where the exact problem peeped out. When Kamal went through the altered version of the script he felt unsatisfied, since the Japanese Hero’s character was much more important than his. It is also whispered that Kamal suggested a few changes in the script so as to improve his portion. After which it is alleged that the writer refused to make any further changes in the script and told, it is the script that decides the characters in the story and he is only instrumental. As if this confusion is not enough, here came the real shock for Director Bharath Bala when Kamal backed off from the project saying that he is too busy for the next 2 years.

Since the situation was tight and had already decided the production design, set arrangement and the call sheets of other artists, the director decide to cast Vikram for Kamal’s character. Vikram is also said to move away by telling that he is not familiar to the ancient martial art but will decide and tell later.

Do we notice something fishy when it comes to the story saying that Kamal backed off due to change in script? If we observe one contrary point that Kamal is a person who gives utmost importance to script so, would Kamal have reacted in such a manner? This is the million dollar question in everyone’s mouth in the industry as of now.

We can just hope that this cross-cultural film brings in a greater understanding of our diverse world. There is always a need for such scripts, especially with today’s rapid globalisation, where borders are constantly crossed. This film is a trilingual that will be filmed in Tamil, English and Japanese, as well as dubbed versions in Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. We have lots in store for you all out there, just get back for more!