'Aakashagopuram' producer eyes US, Europe markets

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 (IANS) Mohanlal-starrer "Aakashagopuram" is said to be the costliest Malayalam film made so far, but its producer Manu Kumaran says he is not too worried about the box office because they have entered into various tie-ups for its release in the US and Europe.

Made at a cost of nearly Rs.100 million, "Aakashagopuram" is also the only Malayalam film to be shot entirely in Britain. The post-production work was done there too. The movie, which also stars Shwetha Menon, is now set to be released with English sub-titles as well.

"We are the least worried about the box office because we have already entered into tie-ups in the west. A chain of theatres has already decided to screen this film in North America. Likewise, we have taken over a film distribution company in Europe. Moreover, we will be getting subsidies also," said Manu, CEO of Mumbai-based Medient Entertainment Ltd and the son of director K.P. Kumaran.

Based on Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen's classic play "The Master Builder", the film is about an architect whose ambition of being successful keeps him away from other aspects of life.

Now with the film having released in Kerala Friday, the director says he is completely relaxed after all the hard work.

"Yes, I have never ever been so relaxed all these years because this film is an event and has been accepted and I am satisfied," K.P. Kumaran told reporters after a special screening was held here for the media.

This project has been on his mind since 1995 when he scripted it and requested the National Film Development Corporation for financial support.

"I did the scripting then itself but somehow it did not work out and when finally I got the present producers to do this, I was shocked to find that the script I had written was infested by white ants. But then I was relieved because the white ants had eaten only the papers on top and the script was intact," said the director.

"For a quarter of a century this has been haunting me and I am extremely delighted that this film has been done in a non-Kerala background. The visual experience is certainly unique and technically this a mighty step forward," K.P. Kumaran said.

Click the Movie button below for more info:
Aakashagopuram