KOCHI: ‘Urumi’ is set in northern Malabar in the 16th century. Prithviraj plays Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar, who sets himself on a mission — to assassinate Vasco Da Gama, the Portuguese Viceroy. The film is spread between the second and third visit of Gama to India and chronicles a varied version of how he could have embraced death in AD 1524.
Kelu has a legendary golden ‘urumi’ made from the ornaments of the women and children who were burnt alive during Gama’s second visit to Kerala in AD 1502.
The film, which has been structured in the pattern of a ballad, tracks down the tale of Gama escaping an attempt on his life. Prabhu Deva plays Vavvali, Kelu’s childhood friend, while Genelia D’Souza plays Ayesha, a Muslim warrior princess. Vidya Balan and Tabu have also been cast in cameos.
Santhosh Sivan has handled the cinematography and Sreekar Prasad has edited the film.
The musical score is by Deepak Dev. Shaji Nadesan, Santhosh and Prithviraj have produced the film under the banner of August Cinema. The historical epic is made in Malayalam, Tamil and English. ‘Urumi’ will hit theatres on March 31.