Kamal Haasan, who is currently busy with both political and film commitments, frequently encounters questions about the future of the shelved project Marudhanayagam, which was announced back in 1997 in a grand event with Queen Elizabeth II as the special guest. While the film was shelved due to budget constraints and was failed to be revived despite many attempts, queries on the project continue to come up in press interactions every year or two.
In a recent conversation with the press ahead of this year's International Film Festival of India in Goa, a reporter probed him on Marudhanayagam's revival to which he replied, "I have interest in reviving it. With today's technological advancements, I hope that this is also possible." Kamal's response has sparked curiosity among fans and audiences once again, with many hinting that the multifaceted actor may use artificial intelligence to bring the project to the big screens.
It is to be noted that the actor travelled to the US earlier this year to learn about the scope and limitations of AI. During the time, he said in an interview, "I went to the US with the intention of learning AI. But, it's beyond me and beyond all of us. I feel we shouldn't touch it without proper understanding. When it comes to cinema visuals, it's at a nascent stage. It's a broad spectrum. AI will be there in your life, my life and everyone else's. It's like our computer. That's how I think. We should not feel threatened by AI."
During the same time, he also visited the San Francisco headquarters of the AI-powered search engine Perplexity AI and met the company’s CEO Aravind Srinivas.
Discussions surrounding Marudhanayagam came about once again on social media following the release of SS Rajamouli's Varanasi glimpse which features Mahesh Babu in the lead. During the grand title launch event, and in the short video, he was seen riding a bull (created using CGI) with a trident in hand, hinting at a story around him rising to save the world from a catastrophe. Many on social media had drawn parallels between Varanasi and Marudhanayagam, stating that Kamal had used a real bull for his unfinished production almost three decades ago.
Marudhanayagam was conceived as a grand historical epic, directed and produced by Kamal Haasan under his Raaj Kamal Films International banner. The screenplay was co-written by Haasan and renowned novelist Sujatha. With a proposed budget of Rs 80 crore, the film was positioned to be one of India's most ambitious and expensive projects of its time.
Last seen in Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, Kamal Haasan is currently working on KH 237 with noted stunt directors Anbariv as the directors. He is also backing the much awaited film with Rajinikanth, Thalaivar 173.
