Urumi Preview

Urumi ('Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal') is an upcoming historical epic film made in Malayalam, Tamil and English. (Urumi means the weapon Surul Pattai in Tamil.)

Though the film is seen as a Malayalam film its large canvas makes it a world film. The English version of the film has been titled 'Vasco Da Gama', while the Tamil version is 'Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal'.

The film will have two versions for screening. One a standard three-hour theatrical version and the second is a 90-minute English version for the international market.

The script of the film originally thought in Malayalam is written by Shankar Ramakrishnan and directed by Santosh Sivan. Prithviraj, Santosh Sivan and Shaji Natesan are the producers.

The film Urumi ('Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal') - with the tagline - The boy who wanted to kill Vasco Da Gama - is set in the backdrop of the fierce warrior clans of Northern Kerala in the sixteenth century and focuses on the cult of a hero Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar (Prithviraj) - a man with an epic mission. His target and mission is to resist or kill Dom Vasco da Gama, the Viceroy of Portuguese Empire in India.

The film is spread between the second and third visit of Vasco da Gama to India and chronicles a varied version of how Vasco da Gama could have met a bloody death in AD 1524. In the journey of Kelu- the warrior he has to encounter the seamless conflicts within the kinsmen and also Kings, ministers, peasants and a warring Muslim warrior princess Ayesha (Genelia) of the famed Arackal Sultanat.

Kelu has a forte, a legendary golden Urumi ('Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal'), specially made from the left over ornaments of the dead women and children who were burnt alive in the massacre of a Mecca Ship, Miri, commanded to be set on fire and drowned by Vasco da Gama during his second visit to Kerala in AD 1502.

Kelu is supported by Vavvali, (Prabhudeva), his childhood friend and in a way his elder brother, though he comes from the Muslim neighborhood.

Kelu tracks his mission through the wily roads of treachery, treason and a hidden passion to reach a master plan to create his own army of the people - against the mighty Empire. His action in creating an organized revolt becomes the first of its kind movement against the first Colonial Advance in India.

Sivan tries to ask was Vasco da Gama an explorer or an invader?   Sivan explores beyond what our text books had taught about the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama that he found the sea route to India, landed in Malabar Coast and went back with a lot of pepper.

The shooting of 'Urumi ('Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal')' started in August 2010 and it largely happened in Kerala and the dense forests of Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra.

Urumi ('Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal') has a stellar star cast lead by Prithiviraj and Genelia. Prabhu Deva and Nithya Menon are in important roles. Tabu, Vidya Balan and Arya play significant cameos. The bubbly Genelia is debuting in Malayalam and she is paired opposite Prithvi for the first time. This will also be the first Malayalam film for Arya and Vidya Balan.

Deepak Dev has composed the songs and the background score for the movie. Sreekar Prasad is the Editor and Anal Arasu is the Action director. Astounding camera work is also by Santosh Sivan

'Urumi ('Pathinaindham Nootrandu Uraivaal') is expected to release worldwide in all versions March 31, 2011 as a big summer release.