Director Shankar’s former assistant G.Ananthanarayanan is directing his first movie, Valmiki. The title is an unusual one and the director explains, “Just like sage Valmiki was a reformed dacoit, my hero changes overnight to a new leaf”

Akhil of Kaloori fame plays Pandian, a pickpocket, while Meera Nandan, the girl who made her debut in a Malayalam film Mulla plays Vandana. The heroine runs a crèche and an incident unites the lead pair. What change happens to the hero and how makes a change to many lives in the society is the story.

Alagappan is the cinematographer who has done over 40 Malayalam films. He is the man who shot Nayanthara, Meera Jasmine and Prithviraj in their debut movies. The script was exciting enough for him to migrate from Malyalam cinema to do this movie.

The young and chirpy Meera Nandan was a TV anchor before she was spotted by the director. The girl fits the role of Vandana completely and that is one of the reasons Ananthanarayanan was eager to convince her to take up this film though she does not know Tamil.

The shooting is going to take place in some slums and the director has already taken the lead pair to the areas to make them familiar with their surroundings. The music is by Illayaraja and editing by VT Vijayan. Vaali does the lyrics.

Ananthanarayanan completed a characterization workshop with the artistes during the rehearsals so as to make them fit the character. Lets see how this ex-assistant of Shankar fares in Kollywood.