Director Shankar receives legal notice from producer Aascar Ravichandran for Anniyan remake

Anniyan Remake: Director Shankar receives legal notice 

Director Shankar announced yesterday that he is going to remake his blockbuster film Anniyan in Hindi with Ranveer Singh playing the lead role.

Now this sudden announcement has agitated producer Aascar Ravichandran. Aascar Films' head Ravichandran has sent a notice to director Shankar for announcing a remake without getting his permission. 

Anniyan (2005) is a psychological thriller film directed by Shankar. The film had actor Vikram and actress Sadha performing the lead roles. The film was produced in Tamil by Asscar Films Pvt Ltd. 

Since yesterday was Tamil New year, director Shankar took to Twitter to announce that he can’t wait to shoot the remake of Anniyan in Hindi with Ranveer Singh playing the lead role. 

This announcement seems to have irked Aascar Ravichandran and he has sent notice to Shankar and the producer Jayanthilal Gada, who has been roped in to produce this film under the banner PEN Media. 

Ravichandran stated that he is the sole owner of the rights of the film and that the Hindi remake cannot go ahead without his permission. He has stated in the letter, “I am utterly shocked to know, that, you are likely to undertake the Direction of a Hindi film by adopting the story of the movie Anniyan. You are well aware of the fact that I am the Producer of the said movie Anniyan.”

Further, he has also written, “I wish to remind you that after the not so successful film BOYS directed by you, you were under severe stress due to dented image. Still, I have provided the opportunity to direct the film Anniyan after which you have regained the lost ground.” 

He has mentioned in the letter sent to the director that he had paid writer Sujatha for the story and hence it belongs to him, so Shankar should immediately stop proceeding any further with the film.

With this letter, Ravichandran has also attached the legal notice. Now, this issue has created big speculation in the Tamil film industry. Shankar is already in trouble for completing the film Indian 2 and this has come up as another challenge for the ace filmmaker. 

Lyca Productions is bankrolling the film Indian 2. The production house approached the Madras High Court praying for a ban on Shankar to move to other projects before finishing Indian 2. The court refused the plea in an earlier hearing. Now on a new petition, the High Court has allowed Lyca Productions to go for an appeal against Shankar directing other movies.