Mohanlal will now act in an Indo-Japanese co production, produced by Japan's PAL Entertainment Production. The film based on the life of unsung hero Ayyapanpillai Madhavan Nair, who fought India's British rulers from Japan, will be directed by Albert, who was the director of last year's panorama entry Kanne Madanguka.

Lal will portray the freedom fighter popularly known as Nairsan, in this untitled film based on the life of Madhavan Nair who was in Japan from 1930 fighting against imperialism.

Leading Japanese actress Shunsuke Matosuoka will star opposite Mohanlal in the film that will depict the era between 1920 and 1970.

"The film will be made in three languages -- Malayalam, Japanese and English -- depending on the scenes. We don't want to lose the essence of the story on the language issue as we are producing a realistic film," said Albert, who has won awards like the Aravindan Puraskaram and Padmarajan special jury award for his debut film.

"Nair hails from Kerala and worked in Japan, rubbing shoulders with freedom fighters like Rash Behari Bose, one of the founders of the Indian National Army (INA). He also conducted an anti-colonial movement against British imperialism in India and other parts of Asia," said Albert, who is finalising the Indian producer for the film.