Ponniyin Selvan actor Vikram-Pa Ranjith film to go on floors in July?

We had told you Chiyaan Vikram, whose latest release was Mahaan (streaming on Amazon Prime Video), would team up with Pa Ranjith on a content-oriented political film. Bankrolled by KE Gnanavel Raja’s Studio Green, this one, is Vikram's 61st project. The latest information is that this yet-to-be-titled venture will go on floors this July. Earlier, the makers had announced that the shooting would begin in March, but, owing to unforeseen reasons, it has been postponed.

A source tells OTTplay, “The pre-production work is going on in full swing. We are planning to shoot across the country, in a single schedule." Tentatively titled Maidhaanam, this Vikram-Pa Ranjith film will go on floors in Karnataka, where the unit will shoot for 25 days, and eventually move to Gujarat, Kerala and some interior districts in Tamil Nadu.

Though rumours suggest that Anirudh would be composing the music for Vikram 61, an official confirmation is awaited. (Pa Ranjith, who has teamed up with music director Santhosh Narayanan in all his films, has been trying to find a different combination, this time.)

The source adds, "Vikram will be seen playing a power-packed role that revolves around traditional bodybuilders in Tamil Nadu. He will be seen working out using the ‘karlakattai’ technique." Multiple reports suggest that the makers may finalise the title, Maidhaanam, as the story deals with the local playground, and the politics involved in it.

Just like Ranjith's previous works, this is also expected to discuss some kind of politics. Details related to the project are currently under tight wraps.

Further, did you know that Pa Ranjith first narrated the story of Chiyaan 61 to Vijay? A report published in the Times of India says, "After the success of Kaala with Rajinikanth, Pa Ranjith had narrated a superhero subject to Vijay. But the actor wasn't interested in it." We need to wait and watch if Vikram-Pa Ranjith's film is the same superhero subject or a fresh script.

Meanwhile, Ranjith recently completed the shoot of Natchathiram Nagargirathu, starring Kalidas Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, Sarpatta Parambarai-fame Shabeer Kallarakkal and Kalaiayarasan in lead roles.

Vikram, on the acting front, has Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan, Cobra by Ajay Gnanamuthu, and the long-delayed Dhruva Natchathiram, up for release.

As a producer, Pa Ranjith is awaiting the release of J Baby, featuring Urvashi in the lead. Additionally, Pa Ranjith is bankrolling Seththumaan, which will be directly on the OTT platform SonyLiv, on May 27. Seththumaan was recently premiered at the Chennai International Film Festival.