Veerappan's biopic set to release on February 14

Attahasa, the bilingual biopic of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, directed and produced by AMR Ramesh, has been making headlines ever since it was announced.

First, it was curiosity about the content that generated the hype and next it was the stay on its screening sought by the forest brigand's wife Muthulakshmi that kept the film in the news.

The film is making news yet again, but this time for the right reason. Attahasa is finally set for a February 14 release, after the Chennai High Court cleared the film for screening both in Kannada and Tamil. The court, however, has suggested that some scenes be removed.

It may be recalled that Muthulakshmi had alleged that the director had fabricated the story. Even Nakkheeran journalist Gopal, who was the mediator in the actor Rajkumar kidnap case, had approached the court fearing that the character in the film that was based on him was misrepresented.

Director Ramesh has been maintaining that his film is based only on facts. "Anyone is free to approach the court in the name of justice. But I wish to clarify that my film doesn't intend to defame anyone. I just want to present the facts about Veerappan. I have sourced authentic information from not only police officers but also close aides and childhood friends of Veerappan," he claims.

In fact, the director is said to have held meetings with Muthulakshmi as well and even suggested that she act in the film, or at least assist him in scripting that part of the film that features Veerappan's marriage. But things didn't work out as Muthulakshmi is said to have demanded a huge sum of money in return.

As for the cast, Kishore plays Veerappan while Suresh Oberoi plays film actor Rajkumar who was kidnapped by Veerappan. Arjun Sarja plays an STF officer.

The entire film has been shot in the late forest brigand's strongholds of Dharmapuri, Gopinatham, Satyamangalam, Gajanur, MM Hills, Gadde Saalu and Hogenakkal Falls, among others.

While the film has been titled Attahasa in Kannada, in Tamil it is called Vanayudham. After Cyanide and Police Quarters, this will be Ramesh's third reality-based film