Now, all of a sudden, both the films are going to kickstart back-to-back. Vishnu, who is known for his stylish entertainers, is one of the few filmmakers in Kollywood who has an opening.
In an interview to CT, Vishnuvardhan says, "For the last 18 months, I had both these scripts ready. But everything had to fall in place and it looks like I will start both the films now. I'll start Pawan Kalyan's The Shadow in the first week of March. It is a gangster film about a protagonist on a journey and his fight within himself as he discovers that you can't fight your own dynasty. Jackie Shroff, Tanikella Bharani and Brahmanandam will be part of the cast. And then, there'll be Sarah Jane and Jiah Khan. Music is being composed by my buddy Yuvan Shankar Raja and P S Vinod will be the cameraman.
Meanwhile, the director is gung-ho about Billa 2. Says an excited Vishnu, "The film, which will start rolling at the end of April, is something that I'm eagerly looking forward to. Ajith sir is my all-time favourite star and we had a ball making Billa. Billa 2 is a prequel that will start in a small coastal town in south Tamil Nadu and travel to Goa and from there to some of the most exotic places in the world. The film is about how a guy from a small town in TN goes on to become the most stylish and powerful underworld don.
Vishnu is quite clear about Ajith's look in the film. "He has to look younger than he was in Billa. At the moment, he has a George Clooney-style sexy look with a salt-and-pepper stubble for Venkat Prabhu's Mankatha. For Billa 2, he will undergo a complete transformation. My team consisting of designer Anu Vardhan and cinematographer Nirav Shah are taking a lot of trouble trying to work out the new look. Yuvan's songs and background score will be an all-new experience.
About others in the cast and the heroine, Vishnu says, "Prabhu sir will definitely be a part of Billa 2. We have embarked on a hunt for the heroine. Just like how the leading lady is important in a James Bond film, my heroine has to be super sexy, smart and savvy. We are looking for somebody like Nayan — before Billa, she had a demure image but post the release of the film, she turned out to be a phenomenon. If we don't find anybody in the south, we will go to Mumbai.
So, how does he plan to work on two films in different languages simultaneously? "I had locked both my scripts some time back. When I write a script, it will be a shot-by-shot description including details about location and other technical data. So, at the time of the shoot, it becomes easy and cost effective. I've always completed my shoots in less than 90 days. Both my films will release in 2011," signs off Vishnu.
Source: Times of India 02-feb-2011
