The smashing success of Malayalam film Kasturiman -- starring Kunchako Boban and Meera Jasmine in leading roles -- has motivated Lohitadas, the movie's scriptwriter-director, to remake it in Tamil.
Kasturiman, if you recall, revolved around the tale of a poor girl who found work as a maid so she could earn enough to study in college. But at college she hid her real identity. She dressed impeccably. She also travelled to college by scooter.
And of course, she fell in love.
But this love story had an unusual twist. The heroine is braver and more practical than the usual filmi heroines -- she takes on the burden of helping the man she loves realise his dream of becoming an IAS officer. She works hard so he can attend a coaching class in Delhi.
Popular thought the film was, Kasturiman was criticised for the expensive clothes Jasmine wore in the film. Audiences found it rather unbelievable that a young girl who had to work as a maid for a living could afford obviously expensive designer wear.
In the Tamil remake the film's name and leading lady remains the same. But it will star Prasanna of Five Star and Azhagiya Theeye fame. Hopefully the wardrobe expert will take care to dress Jasmine down this time.
Incidentally Prasanna will have another September release called Kanda Naal Mudal, directed by Mani Ratnam's assistant Priya. And the Tamil Kasturiman is Jasmine's first Tamil film since Mani Ratnam's Aayutha Ezhuthu.
