Ram Gopal Varma to produce film on Veerappan

Noted Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma is planning to make a film on the life of the dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, who was gunned down by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force.

Slain brigand's wife Muthulakshmi told reporters here today that Prashant Pandey, writer of Varma's latest film 'Sarkar Raj', would direct the film on Veerappan and the script was ready.

Muthulakshmi, who had earlier toyed with the idea of producing the film herself, said she had recently met Varma and given him valuable inputs for the movie.

She said the film would track the Veerappan's from his early days to his last when he was shot dead in an encounter with the STF in 2004.

The film would also provide an insight into how she fell in love with the man, who was wanted in connection with over 100 murders, including those of police personnel, besides poaching of elephants.

She said new faces would be chosen for the film and Varma would soon hold a media briefing to announce details.

Muthulakshmi, who is tipped to play her real life role, ruled out any part for her two daughters in the film.

Meanwhile, her desire to build a memorial at neighbouring Moolakadu, where Veerappan's body is buried, appeared to have run into problems amidst reports that the government was against any form of glorification of the smuggler.

While the local panchayat was yet to consider her petition seeking permission for building the memorial, officials said the burial ground came under the Public Works Department and only they could grant the permission.