It is official, Tamil superstar Rajniknath's next film is going to be Kuchelan, a Tamil remake of the Malayalam film Katha Parayumbol directed by M Mohanan that is making waves in Kerala.

Katha Parayumbol, written by Sreenivasan (he also acted in the film), one of the finest script writers in the country, was recently in Chennai to screen the film for Rajnikanth , his old classmate. The duo studied together at the Adyar Film Institute. Rajni, floored by its simplicity, wanted to act in the film.

One wonders whether Sreenivasan got the inspiration for the story from Rajni's life itself!

Anyway, the Malayalam original is about a two classmates -- Sreenivasan (barber) and Mammootty in a guest appearance as a superstar) who lose touch and come face to face after some years have passed. What the villagers in the barber's village don't know is that the barber once helped his classmate realise his dream of becoming a filmstar. Now, as the superstar comes to the village to shoot a film, news of their friendship spreads like wildfire.

The highlight of the film is the last thirty minutes of Mammootty's sterling performance.

Now, Rajni will take on Mammootty's role in the Tamil version aptly titled Kuchelan with reference to the lives of Lord Krishna and his poor friend Kuchelan.

Pasupathy, who made a great debut in Kamal's Virumaandi will act as the barber while Simran will take on Meena's role (barber's wife).

Co-produced by Seven Arts and K Balachander's Kavithalaya, the Tamil version will be directed by P Vasu, who remade Manichitrathazhu in Tamil as Chandramukhi.

P Vasu has clarified that he would make necessary changes with Tamil audience in mind like he did in Chandramukhi.

And whether this means that the guest role of the superstar will undergo a change, only time will tell.