The Hindi remake of Tamil film Kalyana Samayal Saadham (KSS), which was rumoured to be shelved, is very much happening. Speaking to City Express from Mumbai, director RS Prasanna says Bollywood director Anand L Rai has obtained the rights of the film.
“Lekha Washington suggested that we have a special screening in Mumbai, in January, 2014. Anand Rai was one of the invitees, and he loved the film. After the screening got over, he told that we could remake the film in Hindi. But the process took its own time,” Prasanna shares.
Though it took three years for the whole project to materialise, Prasanna didn’t lose hope. “I felt a strange connect with Anand ever since I met him. He’s a wonderful person to work with. Though I was new to Bollywood, he put me in ease. I am directing the film, and the story is mine. We are hiring a person to work on the dialogues and screenplay,” he adds. Titled, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, the film has been scheduled to release on August 25, 2017.
“Many people were asking me why didn’t I direct anything post KSS. Everyone was interested to know the developments of my film, which was motivating. I made a full-length English film ‘On A Quest’ on Swami Chinmayananda last year. It wasn’t for a theatrical release. Anand was busy with Tanu Weds Manu: Returns. So, I had to wait. Somehow I knew we were going to collaborate. It was a calling sorts,” he smiles.
In what way Shubh... would be different from KSS? “I’d not say this is a remake, but a re-take or an adaptation of my previous film. We locked the script, and are in talks to finalise the cast and crew. In a week, everything will be zeroed in on,” he shares. Based on Tam-Brahm wedding, KSS opened to excellent reception from critics and the audience for its novel way of storytelling.