Kayadu Lohar roped in as the female lead for Gautham-Simbu's Vendhu Thaninthathu Kaadu

Fans of Simbu and Gautham Menon were elated when the latter had announced through social media that the two of them are joining hands for the third time. The titled announced for the project was Nadhigalile Neeradum Suriyan, and AR Rahman coming on board was more than what fans could have asked for. Later, rumours started surfacing that the film's title may change. A few days ago, Gautham released the first look of the project, which had Simbu in a never-before-seen avatar, with the new title - Vendhu Thaninthathu Kaadu. Quite surprisingly, this is for the first time that Gautham is making a film in a rural backdrop in his two-decade career. 

On Monday, speculation has been doing the rounds that actress Kayadu Lohar will be playing the female lead in the project, though an official announcement is yet to be made by the makers. The actress, who was roped in to essay the role of the legendary Nangeli in the Mollywood period flick, Pathonpathaam Noottandu, is now doing a project in Kannada, too. She was last seen in the Sandalwood flick, Mugil Pete. 

The first schedule of the movie, bankrolled by Ishari K Ganesh, is now progressing at a brisk pace in Tiruchendur. We hear that the makers will be heading abroad to shoot a few crucial portions of the project. A couple of stills from the shooting spot was leaked on social media which went viral in no time. Radhika Sarathkumar was spotted with Simbu in one of the leaked stills. Jeyamohan will pen dialogues for the film which has editing by Anthony and lyrics by Thamarai.

Simbu, who has lost a few kilos for his character in the film, has Venkat Prabhu's Maanaadu expecting a theatrical release in October, whereas Gautham Menon has Vikram-starrer Dhruva Natchathiram and Varun-starrer Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha.