K. Balachander's 'Naan Avanillai' in new package

Veteran Director K. Balachander's film "Naan Avanillai" in which yesteryear matinee idol Gemini Ganesan played the lead role, is being repackaged under the direction of Selva.

The old story and the scenes have been adopted without any modifications for the new film of the same name. And at the same time all other features of the new film are in keeping with the modern trend. All songs excepting the old melody, "Radha…O… Radha', are new.

Jeevan is considered the most suitable actor today to don the role which Gemini Ganesan played in the old film. Jeevan plays five characters with as many heroines -- Sneha, Namitha, Malavika, Jyothirmayi and Keerthi Chawla. Lakshmi, who played opposite Gemini Ganesan in the old film, plays the role of Sneha's mother.

The five heroines are given equal roles treating all of them on a par, thereby ensuring that they work in perfect harmony. All the five have also been allotted one song each. The director's experience has been that during the shooting he has faced no 'ego' problems among them. They work as friends and with a team spirit, according to production unit sources. Some scenes with these actresses were shot at the Rajaji Memorial Hall, Chennai, earlier this month.

Selva claims that the trend of making old films in modern settings began in Bollywood and it was he who first took the initiative in Kollywood in this regard. When he saw K. Balachander's "Naan Avanillai", he immediately decided to remake the film as the story is suited to today's trend. It was hard to get producers to make old films again, but producer Nemichand showed interest and came forward to produce the new "Naan Avanillai" with Jeevan in the lead role.

Associated with Selva in the venture are cinematographer U.K. Senthil Kumar, music director Vijay Antony, editor Suresh Urs, dialogue writer Pattukkottai Prabhakar and stunt directors Dinesh and Supreme Chandar.