A film is to be made on the life and times of St Thomas, one of principal disciples of Lord Jesus, a noble missionary, involving about 25 foreign and local artistes.
CHENNAI: A film is to be made on the life and times of St Thomas, one of principal disciples of Lord Jesus, a noble missionary, involving about 25 foreign and local artistes, as well as actors from Hollywood.
The movie, to be produced by city-based St Thomas Apostle of India Trust at a budget of Rs 50 crore, would be made in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi and in many other foreign languages, film project coordinator Paulraj Lourdusamy said here.
"About 120 specialists will work in the project to make the movie more qualitative, compared to a Hollywood movie. We have even met Hollywood actor Mel Gibson and Canadian Director Arcand for their support in making the movie," he said, adding that shooting for the film would begin by next January. It is expected to be completed by 2010.
He said Munnar and Idukki in Kerala have been chosen as the locations for shooting the film, as these places would provide a perfect ambience to trace back the time and shoot the historical aspects of St Thomas, who is said to have landed at a port, named Palayoor near Guruvayoor, which was a priestly community then.
St Thomas later left Palayoor in AD 52 for southern Kerala, where he established the Ezharappallikal or 'Seven and a half Churches.' These churches are at Kodungallur, Kollam Niranam, Nilackal (Chayal), Kokkamangalam, Kottakkayal (Paravoor), Palayoor (Chattukulangara) and Thiruvithamkode (Travancore) the half church.
After establishing seven major communities of Christians in Kerala, St Thomas moved to the eastern coast and founded a community in Mylapore in Madras (now Chennai).
He continued with his preachings at a mount in Chennai, which was later named after him as St Thomas Mount.
Paulraj said a major part of the movie would be shot in Kerala as the saint had spent a considerable part of his life in the state, spreading the message of Jesus Christ.
"We have not finalised any actor for the protagonist's role though we have zeroed in on a group of foreign actors. We have met several Tamil actors, seeking their cooperation for the movie," he said, adding he had done a thorough research to write the screenplay and script for the movie.
"I have visited all the places where the saint had stayed during the course of his life. Though we are planning a world wide release, the movie will be definitely released in the US, Canada and India simultaneously," he added.
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