That Is Mahalakshmi: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Unreleased film directed by Prashanth Varma}}

| editing        = Goutham Nerusu

'''''That Is Mahalakshmi''''' is an unreleased Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[comedy drama]] film directed by [[Prasanth Varma]], produced by Manu Kumaran, and bankrolled by Taizoon Khorakiwala. The film is a remake of the 2014 [[Hindi]] film ''[[Queen (2013 film)|Queen]]''. The film stars [[Tamannaah Bhatia|Tamannaah]], with [[Shibani Dandekar]], Roopa Lakshmi, Samarth Ashok Hegde, [[Geetanjali (actress)|Geetanjali]] and [[C. V. L. Narasimha Rao|CVL Narasimha Rao]] in supporting roles.

* [[Shibani Dandekar]] as Vijaylakshmi

* [[Siddu Jonnalagadda]]  

In June 2014, [[Viacom 18 Motion Pictures]], the producers of the Hindi film ''[[Queen (2014 film)|Queen]]'' (2014), made an official announcement that they hold sold the remake rights for the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada versions of their film to [[Thiagarajan]], who would make the films through his production studio, Staar Movies. Viacom put a caveat in the agreement that the principal photography of any of the films must start by 8 June 2017, else the rights would revert to Viacom.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/thiagarajan-bags-rights-to-remake-queen-down-south/article6104057.ece|title=Thiagarajan bags rights to remake 'Queen' down south|last=Ians|newspaper=The Hindu |date=11 June 2014|accessdate=29 September 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Soon after the announcement in June 2014, several Indian directors and actresses expressed their desire to do the film, but Thiagarajan maintained that no one had been finalised and that he was still considering his options.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140627/entertainment-tollywood/article/radha-mohan-direct-queen|title=Radha Mohan to direct Queen?|date=27 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/priya-anand-is-ready-to-be-tamil-queen-tamil-news-112263.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150519/https://www.indiaglitz.com/priya-anand-is-ready-to-be-tamil-queen-tamil-news-112263.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2018|title=Tamil Cinema News – Tamil Movie Reviews – Tamil Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz Tamil|website=indiaglitz.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodlife.com/south-gossip/queen-south-indian-remake-thiagarajan-yet-to-finalise-the-leading-lady/|title=Queen South Indian remake: Thiagarajan yet to finalise the leading lady!|last=IANS|website=bollywoodlife.com|date=10 July 2014|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> Thiagarajan announced his potential plans of casting [[Lisa Haydon]] to reprise her supporting role and for his son [[Prashanth]] to act in the film, but remarked that he was unsure if Prashanth would accept to play a character with "grey shades".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/south_indian/thiagarajan-to-remake-queen-in-four-languages/article_34ac009a-fe4b-11e3-a05e-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Thiagarajan to Remake 'Queen' in Four Languages|first=R.M. Vijayakar, India|last=West|website=indiawest.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/no-pressure-on-prashanth-to-be-in-queen-remake-thiagarajan/|title=No pressure on Prashanth to be in 'Queen' remake: Thiagarajan|date=12 June 2014|website=indianexpress.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> [[Samantha Ruth Prabhu|Samantha]] held discussions about portraying the film's lead role during July 2014, but turned the film down after being unconvinced about the way the original script was set to be adapted into the South Indian languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140701/entertainment-tollywood/article/actress-samantha-rejects-queen|title=Actress Samantha rejects Queen|date=2 July 2014|website=deccanchronicle.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140815/entertainment-kollywood/article/basking-freedom|title=Basking in Freedom|date=15 August 2014|website=deccanchronicle.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>

After a period of inactivity and further media reports about the casting of the lead actress, Thiagarajan revealed in February 2016 that he had signed on [[Revathi]] to direct the Tamil version of the film, while [[Suhasini Maniratnam|Suhasini]] would work as the dialogue writer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/revathy-to-direct-tamil-telugu-remake-of-queen/article8182557.ece|title=Revathy to direct Tamil, Telugu remake of 'Queen'|last=Ians|newspaper=The Hindu |date=2 February 2016|accessdate=29 September 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Soon after, [[Nayanthara]] turned down the opportunity to work on the film citing scheduling issues during early 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/nayanthara-is-not-a-part-of-queen-remake-news-tamil-qdrkrocjcfgfb.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317200238/http://www.sify.com/movies/nayanthara-is-not-a-part-of-queen-remake-news-tamil-qdrkrocjcfgfb.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2016|title=Nayanthara is not a part of 'Queen' remake|website=[[Sify]]|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> In mid-2016, [[Trisha (actress)|Trisha]] was also approached to play the lead role but conflicting schedules meant that she could not sign on to appear in the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/trisha-approached-for-queen-remake-news-tamil-qg3o75eghcdid.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702153015/http://www.sify.com/movies/trisha-approached-for-queen-remake-news-tamil-qg3o75eghcdid.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2016|title=Trisha approached for 'Queen' remake|website=[[Sify]]|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/trisha-nan-still-front-runner-for-queen-tamil-remake-2883782/|title=Trisha Krishnan still front-runner for Queen Tamil remake|date=29 June 2016|website=indianexpress.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> The media also linked actresses [[Parvathy Thiruvothu|Parvathy]] and [[Nithya Menen]] to the lead role, but neither were signed on.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Nithya-Menen-in-Queen-remake/articleshow/46594619.cms|title=Nithya Menen in Queen remake? – Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=29 September 2017 |last1=Pillai |first1=Radhika C. }}</ref> During an interaction with the media in November 2016, Thiagarajan revealed that he had finalised Revathi to direct the Tamil and Malayalam versions of the film, while Anish Kuruvilla and [[Prakash Raj]] would make the Telugu and Kannada versions respectively. He added that [[Tamannaah]] would feature in the lead role of the Tamil version, while [[Amala Paul]] and [[Parul Yadav]] would reprise the role in the Malayalam and Kannada versions respectively. He also stated that [[Amy Jackson]] was signed on to feature in all four versions of the film in the role originally portrayed by Lisa Haydon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulte.com/movienews/53858/Dilemma-on-Tollywood-Queen-Continues|title=Dilemma on Tollywood Queen Continues|website=gulte.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/finally-it-is-tamannaah-to-do-queen-remake-news-tamil-ql2pUMcgejddd.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129084625/http://www.sify.com/movies/finally-it-is-tamannaah-to-do-queen-remake-news-tamil-ql2pUMcgejddd.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2016|title=Finally, it is Tamannaah to do 'Queen' remake!|website=[[Sify]]|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Tamannaah-is-the-Tamil-Queen/articleshow/55666447.cms|title=Tamannaah is the Tamil Queen – Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=29 September 2017 |last1=Sundar |first1=Mrinalini }}</ref> In April 2017, Tamannaah stated that the film was shelved, though Thiagarajan refuted her claim and stated that production would begin in May 2017. He revealed that talks with the actress to play the lead role had fallen through after a dispute over her remuneration for the lead role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/queen-tamil-remake-starring-tamannaah-shelved-kangana-ranaut-4610553/|title=Kangana Ranaut's Queen Tamil remake shelved, confirms Tamannaah|date=12 April 2017|website=indianexpress.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/130417/queen-remake-is-still-on-thiagarajan.html|title=Queen remake is still on: Thiagarajan|date=13 April 2017|website=deccanchronicle.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>

In June 2017, further confusion about the remake arose after two separate production houses apart from Thiagarajan's Staar Movies had claimed rights to the film. As per a contract signed on 30 July 2016, Staar Movies agreed to enter into a co-production agreement with Mediente International Films Ltd and Liger Commercial Brokers for the making of the films. However a mutual cancellation form was then signed between the parties on 5 April 2017 after Mediente allegedly failed to pay the consideration provided under the agreement.<ref name="gc">{{cite web|url=https://silverscreen.in/tamil/features/what-ails-the-queen-remakes/|title=What Ails The 'Queen' Remake? – Silverscreen.in|date=13 June 2017|website=silverscreen.in|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> Then, as per a contract signed on 21 April 2017, Staar Movies agreed to assign the rights of all four South Indian versions of ''Queen'' to Golden Crab Film Production Ltd. In order to avoid the reversion of rights back to Viacom due to three years of inactivity, Staar Movies and Golden Crab swiftly began shooting the film on 17 May 2017 with a series of supporting actors including [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] under the title of ''Vaanil Thedi Nindren''.<ref name="gc" /> However, on 3 June 2017, Staar Movies again assigned and transferred the remake rights of the film to Mediente and Liger, with the Kannada version of the film titled ''[[Butterfly (upcoming film)|Butterfly]]'' featuring Parul Yadav, starting immediately with [[Ramesh Aravind]] taking over as director. Staar Movies then produced a declaration affidavit on 14 June 2017 that any agreement with Golden Crab Films was false.<ref name="gc" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2017/jun/04/i-feel-like-a-queen-to-have-my-film-launched-on-my-birthday-1612873.html|title='I feel like a Queen to have my film launched on my birthday'|website=newindianexpress.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>

[[Kajal Aggarwal]] revealed in August 2017 that she had agreed terms to play the lead role in the Tamil version of the film, which would also be directed by Ramesh Aravind and produced by Mediente, and that the film's shoot would begin in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/life-style/celebrity/desi-news/south-india/kajal-aggarwal-talks-vivegam-and-future-films-1.2079053|title=Kajal Aggarwal talks 'Vivegam' and future films|first=Mythily Ramachandran, Special to|last=tabloid!|date=23 August 2017|website=gulfnews.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kajal-aggarwal-to-play-lead-in-queen-remake-news-tamil-rizmSoaeahcjf.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826013003/http://www.sify.com/movies/kajal-aggarwal-to-play-lead-in-queen-remake-news-tamil-rizmSoaeahcjf.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2017|title=Kajal Aggarwal to play lead in 'Queen' remake|website=[[Sify]]|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, it was revealed that [[Tamannaah]] would work on the Telugu version of the film which would be directed by [[Neelakanta (director)|Neelakanta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/060917/neelakanta-to-helm-queens-telugu-remake.html|title=After Kajal gets confirmed for Tamil version, Tamannaah bags Telugu remake of Queen?|date=6 September 2017|website=deccanchronicle.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref> Amala Paul also opted out of the Malayalam version citing date issues and was later replaced by [[Manjima Mohan]]. [[Amy Jackson]] was initially in talks to play the role Lisa Haydon played in ''Queen'' however opted out due to unavailability of dates and creative differences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/aug/16/i-want-to-be-more-choosy-about-my-films-amala-paul-1643671.html|title=I want to be more choosy about my films: Amala Paul|website=newindianexpress.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/070917/manjima-is-malayalam-queen.html|title=Manjima is Malayalam Queen|date=7 September 2017|website=deccanchronicle.com|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/amit-trivedi-to-make-his-kollywood-debut-with-queen-remake/articleshow/60807113.cms|title=Amit Trivedi to make his Kollywood debut with Queen remake – Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=29 September 2017 |last1=Suganth |first1=M. }}</ref> Filming began on 2 November 2017. Two months later, Neelakanta left the film,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/queen-telugu-remake-tamannaah-bhatia-responds-to-reports-of-director-neelakanta-quitting-over-creative-differences-4305541.html|title=Queen remake: Tamannaah Bhatia responds to reports of director Neelakanta quitting over creative differences|date=January 16, 2018|work=Firstpost|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en-US}}</ref> and was replaced by Prashanth Varma. However, Neelakanta soon decided to direct the Malayalam remake titled ''[[Zam Zam (film)|Zam Zam]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/280518/prasanth-varma-to-helm-queen-remake.html|title=Prasanth Varma to helm Queen remake|date=2018-05-28|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}</ref>

|genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]