Karunanidhi's family acquires rights of forthcoming Tamil blockbuster

Chennai, Oct 24 (IANS) Dayanidhi Azhagiri, grandson of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, has acquired the theatre-release rights of director Gautham's forthcoming film 'Vaaranam Aayiram'.

The film, starring Surya and Sameera Reddy, will be released by Cloud Nine, a company owned by Dayanidhi Azhagiri, Nov 14.

According to sources in Tamil Film Distributors' Association, 'Vaaranam Aayiram' was produced by Gautham-owned Photo Factory for Aaskar Films on a first copy basis.

Its rights were said to have been acquired initially by Gemini Film Circuit for Rs.160 million and later after reverting back to Gautham for a higher fee, it has landed in the hands of Karunanidhi's grandson and he will share its satellite rights with Kalaignar TV, another company owned by Karunanidhi's family, the sources added.

The Azhagiri family also owns a cable company called Royal Cable Vision.

The chief minister's family is well-established in film business.

'Kuruvi', a film starring Vijay, was recently produced by Udayanidhi, who is the son of Karunanidhi's politician son M.K. Stalin. Another grandson of the chief minister is remaking a Rajnikant starrer 1980 hit 'Murattu Kalai'.

Arivunidhi, Karunanidhi's eldest son M.K. Muthu's son who is a doctor by profession, has turned singer with a film called 'Perumal'.

Besides being rehabilitated into the first political family after dalliances with the opposition by Arivunidhi's networking, Muthu's movie career was also resurrected through a song in the same movie.

Meanwhile, not to be left behind by the younger lot of his family, Karunanidhi is said to be working on three movie scripts, sources close to the chief minister added.

Karunanidhi's estranged grand nephews -- Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran -- control the multi-billion rupee Sun empire that comprises multiple television channels in all south Indian languages, cable company Sumangali Cable Vision, several radio stations and multi-edition newspapers.

Dayanidhi Maran, seen as a political opponent of the Karunanidhi clan, recently met the chief minister and handed over his resignation letter from the Lok Sabha in line with the ruling DMK's decision to support Sri Lankan Tamils.

It is yet another move for rapprochement between the once closely-knit families, DMK sources added.