Kerala Hindutva leader threatens to stall B R Shetty's mega movie 'Mahabarata'

Kochi : A Kerala-based right wing outfit has threatened to stall the release of India's biggest ever motion picture being produced by NRI businessman Dr B R Shetty with a whopping investment of Rs 1,000 crore. The film stars the legendary actor Mohanlal.

The upcoming movie that faces the ire of right-wing outfit Hindu Aikya Vedi is based on Jnanpith Award winner M T Vasudevan Nair's acclaimed novel 'Randamoozham' (The Second Turn). Hindu Aikya Vedi president K.P. Sasikala on Monday said her outfit would not allow the release of the movie if it is named 'The Mahabharata.'

"Let me put it in a very simple way. If the film is based on the novel Randamoozham, its title should also be Randamoozham. But if it is named 'The Mahabharata', it should be based on The Mahabharatha penned by Veda Vyasa," she said at a function near here.

Sasikala, known for her radical views on matters related to Hinduism, said the movie will not be allowed to play in theaters, if it is made on the theme of M.T. Vasudevan Nair's novel and carrying the title "The Mahabharata."

"Shouldn't one be wary of having the epic's name for Randamoozham," she asked."Randamoozham" narrates the epic through the eyes of Bhima, the second of the Pandavas.

UAE-based Indian businessman B.R. Shetty is investing Rs 1,000 crore ($150 million) for producing the movie. The movie is being directed by noted advertising filmmaker V.A. Shrikumar Menon.

Well-known Malayalam actor Mohanlal will play the central role of Bhima. It will be produced in two parts and shooting is scheduled to begin by September 2018 for release in early 2020. The second part will be released within 90 days of the first.

Shetty's company had said the film will be shot primarily in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu and will be dubbed into major Indian languages and leading foreign languages.