To coincide with late AIADMK chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s 71st birth anniversary, Director AL Vijay, known for films like Diya and Thalaivaa, made public the tile of his upcoming biopic. Titled Thalaivi and produced by Vishnu Varadhan Induri’s Vibri Media, the film’s title in dark red also has a sketch of the leader holding out two fingers, her party’s symbol.
A photo of director Vijay standing in front of a table spread out with books on Jayalalithaa is also being shared online. Apparently, director Vijay has spent nine months researching for the project.
It has been 9 Months since the research work started for #JayalalithaBiopic titled #Thalaivi By #DirectorVijay also Producer @vishinduri of @vibri_media shares a space with Dir in the pic
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) February 24, 2019
| Music by @gvprakash | DOP Nirav Shah | Edit @editoranthony | @shiyamjack @DoneChannel1 pic.twitter.com/6W2J8BapMC
This biopic will have music by GV Prakash Kumar, Nirav Shah on cinematography and Anthony for editing with stunts choreographed by Silva.
It is also being reported that the production house has obtained a no objection certificate from Jayalalithaa’s nephew Deepak.
Director Vijay’s #Thalaivaa faced a lot of issues for the title. Now the filmmaker's #JayalalithaBiopic titled #Thalaivi, he has got NOC from JJ's nephew Deepak. Life comes full circle for Director Vijay! pic.twitter.com/w3YMwYkTI0
— Rajasekar (@sekartweets) February 24, 2019
In January this year, director Priyadarshini had announced that work on her film, also a biopic on Jayalalithaa, will commence from February 24, to coincide with her birthday. The Iron Lady, as it has been titled, will be bankrolled by Chennai based production house, Paper Tale Pictures. Priyardarshini, an associate of director Mysskin, will be making her directorial debut with this film that stars Nithya Menen as Jayalalithaa. The film’s first-look poster showed actor Nithya Menen looking strikingly similar to the late politician.
In December 2017, Adithya Bharadwaj, producer of Y-star Cine and Television Private Ltd, had announced that a biopic on the late Chief Minister would be directed by veteran director Barathiraja. The film’s title was revealed as Thaai: Puratchi Thalaivi.
When Vibri Media made the announcement on August 15, 2018, it was said that the film would be released to coincide with Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary, on February 24, 2019. However, the team has only now made the film’s title public. More details on the film’s cast are yet to be announced.