Anantha Narayanan - Going the Shankar way

Director Shankar's former assistant Anantha Narayanan known to be an avid reader and keen thinker is wielding the megaphone for a movie titled 'Valmiki'.

The debutante director says, 'it is an unusual title and will be very different. Just like sage '€˜Valmiki'€™ was a reformed after being a dacoit, my hero turns overnight into a new leaf'.

'Kallori' fame Akhil plays Pandian, a pickpocket, while Meera Nandan, the girl who made her debut in a Malayalam film '€˜Mulla'€™, plays the female lead.

The heroine runs a crèche and an incident unites the lead pair. The change that comes over the hero and how it makes a change to many lives in society forms the story.

According to Anantha Narayanan, 'the whole movie is set in north Chennai. The very mention of the place makes one think of blood, gore and violence. But that won't be the case. It is about a man who commits petty crimes and how his life takes a turn'.

On his association with Shankar, he says, ' Shankar always gave us independence. He expects his assistants to develop individuality. Though I learnt the nuances of film-making from Shankar, I will always follow my own way'.

Music is by Ilayaraja and editing by VT Vijayan. Vaali does the lyrics and Alagappan handles the cinematography.