Now that it has been almost confirmed that Mani Ratnam has dropped his magnum opus project based on Kalki’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, we hear that the director would start a fresh film, that too at the earliest.

“This one would be a contemporary entertainer with mass elements, quite on the lines of the ace filmmaker’s earlier ventures Agni Natchathiram, Nayagan and Thalapathi,” say sources in the know.

A popular actor will play the lead role, they say and add: “As in the past, Mani Ratnam may not make an official announcement on this project too till he completes considerable part of the shoot.”

“Will the protagonist be Vijay, who has been roped in by Mani for Ponniyin Selvan?” To this question, the sources say: “Though there is a possibility for it, the director has to take the final call.”