Rana hasn't been cancelled

On May 1 I reported that Rana had started principle photography. Now it seems that, in the Indian press at least, stories about the film being cancelled due to lead actor Rajinikanth’s ill health are circulating. The below letter states two things - these being that the star is ill BUT all this means is that the film will be slightly delayed and not cancelled.

19th May 2011
To whom so ever it may concern
Respected Sir / Madam,
We have been getting some disturbing feedback about the film Rana being cancelled. This, we would like to ascertain is a totally false newscast. It is natural for people to fall ill and as our leading star is now not so well, we feel unpleasant about these rumours confirming the film being dropped. Rana is Superstar Rajini Sir’s dream project and his brain child and hence he is very much keen on undertaking it and completing it successfully. His ill health might have caused a minor glitch initially in our shooting plans but Rajini sir is all positive about recovering and getting back into action. Moreover we have Deepika Padukone’s dates only from post July. Any and every news cast that you might have witnessed in any media confirming the project dropped is, we are sorry to state, completely false. The shoot is just postponed temporarily awaiting his complete and total recovery. Subsequently he is now on his way towards a speedy recovery and we shall be releasing Rana the following year (2012) as planned.

Thanks and Regards
K.S.Ravikumar
Director

Eros International’s RANA starts shooting

Rajinikanth’s next magnum opus commences shoot in Chennai

London, 28 April 2011: Eros International Plc (Eros International), the largest integrated film studio in the Indian media & entertainment sector, has announced the commencement of the shoot of Rajinikanth’s ‘RANA’ on 29th April 2011. Directed by K.S. Ravikumar, the film’s shoot will commence with a puja by Rajnikanth along with the cast and crew in Chennai to mark the auspicious occasion.

Announced earlier this year, Rana will be a live action magnum opus with Rajinikanth playing triple role and will be released in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu. Along with Rajini, the film stars Deepika Padukone, Ileana D’Cruz and Sonu Sood.

Speaking on the occasion, Director Mr. K.S Ravikumar said, “Rana has a strong story, a very interesting ensemble cast of actors coupled with super star Rajinikanth in a triple role and promises to have some stunning visual effects that will surely take Indian cinema to the next level.

Mr. Sunil Lulla, Executive Vice Chairman, Eros International Plc added, “It is indeed a proud moment for us and we are very excited to be a part of this ambitious project with Rajinikanth, one of the most popular actors of all times. We are expecting this to be a landmark film for all those associated with this project”.

The music for the film is being scored by A R Rehman, director of photography Ratnavelu and editing would be done by Antony. The technical director is Soundarya Rajnikanth, of Ocher Visual effects UK, a subsidiary of Ocher Studios Pvt Limited, and Charles Darby of Eyeqube Studios, renowned visual effects luminary and an Emmy award winner, is the creative and special effects director on the film. The film is scheduled to release in FY 2012.

Eros International along with NextGen Films, will produce the film through Rana Production Ltd., UK.