Finally the word is out. It's official and confirmed. Rajinikanth's much-awaited ‘Kathanayukudu’, a remake of Malayalam hit ‘Katha Parayumbol’, will hit the screens on 25 July.

Addressing media persons in Chennai on Wednesday, director P Vasu said, 'the shooting is complete and dubbing is going on right now. Re-recording will commence from Monday'.

The story is about two childhood friends who go different ways in their life as they grow up into adulthood. One ends up a poor barber struggling to make both ends meet and the other as a 'superstar' in the movies. What happens when the two meet after all those years holds the crux, he said.

Jagapathy Babu plays the poor barber and needless to say Rajini plays the superstar. Prabhu, Nayantara, Meena, Sneha and Kushboo are also in the cast.

Produced jointly by K Balachander's Kavithalaya Films and M P Vijayakumar's Seven Arts Films, ‘Kathanayukudu’ has cinematography by Aravindh Krishna and musical score by G V Prakash.

According to Vasu, 'the audio rights of ‘Kathanayukudu’ have been lapped up by Big Music for Rs 2.25 crore, while Pyramid Saimira has acquired the movie's distribution rights for a huge sum.'

Plans are on to release the audio of ‘Kathanayukudu’ on 30 June. A grand function will be held in Chennai in which popular South Indian directors would take part.

The movie was shot in Hyderabad Ramoji Rao Film Studio, exotic locales of Pollachi, Udumalpet and interior parts of Kerala.

Adds Vasu, ' Rajinikanth's contribution to the movie is immense. He was very co-operative. We managed to complete the shooting of both ‘Kuselan’ and ‘Kathanayukudu’ in Telugu in just 82 days. Pasupathi plays the character played by Jagapathy Babu in the Tamil version. Vadivelu is also in the cast in the Tamil version'.

'G V Prakash's music is a major highlight of the movie. The 22-year-old boy has come up with stunning music and Rajinikanth himself appreciated him. So is Aravindh Krishna's cinematography'.

Vasu says, 'the movie has been completed so early thanks to my producers Kavithalaya and Seven Arts Vijayakumar.'

Get ready to be dazzled by ‘Kathanayukudu’ this July, asserts a happy Vasu.

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Watch Pooja of 'Kathanayakudu'