Ameer fell in love with 'Yogi' theme

Chennai July 22 (IANS) Tamil director Ameer Sultan is making his debut as an actor with 'Yogi', and says he accepted the film because it explores a never before theme.

'To prepare myself for the role, I took it as a challenge and did rigorous workouts, reduced my weight and went under strict diet,' said Ameer, who directed blockbuster 'Paruthiveeran'.

'We chose to do a movie around Chennai hutments, which are hitherto unexplored. The protagonist Yogeswaran alias Yogi leads a happy-go-lucky life. The sequence of events that disrupts his routine makes up the story,' he added.

While Subramania Siva is weilding the megaphone for the movie, it is being produced by Ameer's home production Team Works and the total budget of the movies is said to be Rs.11 crore.

The film got delayed but now the makers are planning to release it during Diwali.

Commenting upon the delay, Ameer said: 'It is no easy task to shoot in Chennai. Just to shoot one scene we waited patiently for several weeks and it did cost a lot of money. The whole team worked hard'.

Ameer's next directorial venture is 'Kannabiran', which has Jayam Ravi in the lead role.

'It will show Madurai in a different way. There would be no violence or bloodshed. We will begin shooting in a couple of months.'