Pa Ranjith announces Bollywood debut with Birsa Munda biopic

Speaking to TNM earlier, Pa Ranjith had confirmed the news and said that the film would begin shooting in May 2019.

Flix Films

Ace Tamil film director Pa Ranjith has announced his Bollywood debut with a film on the life of Birsa Munda, a tribal leader from Jharkhand who stood up to British colonial oppressors in the 19th century.

The announcement came on November 15, which is also commemorated as Birsa Munda Jayanti or the birth anniversary of the leader.

Namah Pictures, the makers of the film, said in a tweet on Friday, “On the occasion of Birsa Munda Jayanti, Namah Pictures proudly announces a film based on the life of the revolutionary leader to be directed by filmmaker @beemji . #BirsaMunda - a real life hero who single handedly raised an army of tribals and fought against the British.”

On the occasion of Birsa Munda Jayanti, Namah Pictures proudly announces a film based on the life of the revolutionary leader to be directed by filmmaker @beemji . #BirsaMunda - a real life hero who single handedly raised an army of tribals and fought against the British. pic.twitter.com/5pbsXkLOyf — Namah Pictures (@namahpictures) November 15, 2018

Pa Ranjith also expressed his excitement in a tweet on Friday. Stating that he was elated to be making his Bollywood directorial debut, he also revealed that the film would be based on Aranyer Adhikar, a Bengali novel written by Mahasweta Devi.

Johar to all! Elated to be making my Bollywood directorial debut with @namahpictures @shareenmantri @kishor_arora for the film on revolutionary leader #BirsaMunda.Film will be based on #MahaswetaDevi’s “Aaranyer Adhikar”(Jungle Ke Davedar).Magizhchi! https://t.co/suGebUfNaO — pa.ranjith (@beemji) November 15, 2018

Speaking to TNM, Pa Ranjith had earlier confirmed the news.

“The research work is going on now. We haven't decided on the cast or any of the other details now. It's being produced by Namah Pictures which made Beyond the Clouds. We're hoping to shoot from May next year,” he said.

When asked about the shift from Tamil to Hindi, the filmmaker explained that the film warranted such a move.

"I feel this will be a very important film. And cinema isn't restricted by language. It's a visual medium. I was inspired to enter cinema because of 'The Battle of Algiers.' My Tamil films have travelled across the country, but yes, I do feel that for a subject like this to reach everywhere in India, Hindi would work better," he said.

Ranjith, who has directed four critically-acclaimed Tamil films, is currently receiving praise for his recent production Pariyerum Perumal which has received rave reviews from across the country.