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| Prithviraj & Asif Ali in a football movie |
Prithviraj has found a teammate in Asif Ali. The two will lead the project, The Beautiful Game, a football-themed movie, which will mark photographer-turned-filmmaker Jamesh Kottakkal's debut.
While Prithviraj and Jamesh announced the project in 2014 during the last FIFA World Cup, finding a suitable backer behind the scenes had been a challenge till Asif decided to join them.
Asif tells us, "I heard the script and loved it. I am sure Prithviraj had the same reactions. It's an ambitious movie about a local football team from Malappuram making it to the big league. The Beautiful Game is inspirational and power-packed —it will have everything a sports movie should have." Its director Jamesh Kottakkal says the plan is to begin filming by March 2016, aiming at an year-end release. "The movie will also have veteran players such as I M Vijayan, Joe Paul Anchery and U Sharaf Ali apart from a few African players," he shares.
Asif also reveals that the team is planning an audition in Malappuram to rope in young talents. "It's a full-length sports film, something that has never been attempted in Malayalam. So, we are planning to cast guys who can dribble and pass, as well as act," says Asif. The makers had finalised Prithviraj's dates only recently. The Anarkali star, who has hit a purple patch of late, has signed up for several big projects for next year.
Prithviraj and Asif had earlier teamed up for Anil Radhakrishnan Nair's Saptamashree Thaskaraha that had Prithviraj as a conman who assembles a motley crew of thieves for a heist.
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