Dubbing goes out of the window. Why have a dubbed version when everyone is prepared to go that extra mile and make a bilingual? So we will have two Kanthaswamys instead of one, come 2008. Not two Kanthaswamys in the exact sense of the word but two nevertheless.

In the face of the growing audience for Tamil films in Andhra Pradesh and Vikram’s already fairly strong fan base in the state the unit has decided to make two versions of Kanthaswamy simultaneously.

The Telugu version of Kanthaswamy has been titled Mallanna, something we hear is one of the names of Lord Shiva. So we are having Kanthaswamy (Lord Muruga) in Tamil Nadu and Lord Shiva in Andhra Pradesh. With Vikram having agreed to do the project which will be his first straight Telugu film as hero and Shriya having no problems with the Telugu version with all the experience of having done many movies in the language the Andhra audience can look forward to a real treat in mid 2008. What with the mileage that has been gained by the 8 minute teaser (very long length for a teaser) the expectations have started building up. Kanthaswamy’s fate especially at the Telugu box office is going to be a major yardstick to judge future Tamil movies with good star value for feasibility as bilinguals.

Kanthaswamy is set to be formally launched with a puja on the 23rd in Chennai and the very next day in Hyderabad. So there you have it, Kanthaswamy and Mallanna- a 2008 treat for all Vikram fans. By the way don’t forget Bheema that will hopefully be out some time soon.