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Ron Howard to remake Albhudhadweep

Leonardo DiCaprio, the Titanic hero is to play the lead role of the Hollywood remake of a Malayalam film Albhudhadweep. Prithiviraj played the role in the original version. The story is about four navy officers Hari (Prithiviraj), Joseph (Jagathy), Jagadish and Indrans being marooned on a remote island after their helicopter crashes in the sea. They reach this island where all men are dwarfs but the women are normal and beautiful. According to the folklore, some local deity has cursed the men who became dwarfs! About 300 dwarfs have acted in this film. The fantasy fairy tale directed by Vinayan was a slow starter but gained momentum later.

Famed Hollywood director Ron Howard, director of English films like A beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 who was on a holiday to India happened to watch Albhuthadweep in a theatre at Cochin, Kerala. The film has fascinated the director so much that he immediately decided to remake it in English. He contacted director Vinayan and the formal agreement will be signed by Ron Howard’s assistant Michael John on the 18th of this month. “All the 300 dwarfs will take part in the English film too. Usually we borrow ideas from Hollywood. Probably this is the first time they are taking our theme,” said director Vinayan.