Fans are thrilled. Trade circles are happy. All because of one reason- an official announcement from Superstar Rajinikanth on his next film- 'Kochaidaiyaan'- which will be made as 3D film using motion capturing technology.

While some say that 'Sultan The Warrior' has only been given a new avatar, circles close to the development deny it, saying "though the basic knot may be the same, Kochaidaiyaan is a fresh project for which story, screenplay and dialogues are written by KS Ravikumar."

"Why Rajini has involved himself in this project when he was about to start Rana with the same Ravikumar?" To this question, the sources reply: "Since Rana requires a lot of hard work from Rajini, the top actor wants to warm him up with a quickie, and that's Kochadaiyaan."

An official press release said on Thursday: "The film is produced by Eros International and Media One Global Entertainment Limited. The work is progressing in a fast pace and is scheduled for release in August 2012. Rajinikanth would act in Rana following Kochadaiyaan in 2012."