Nayanthara to Star in Period-Action Drama ‘Rakkayie’ for India’s MovieVerse Studios (EXCLUSIVE)

India’s MovieVerse Studios, a division of IN10 Media Network, is making its entry into Tamil-language cinema with “Rakkayie,” starring Nayanthara. The period-action drama marks the directorial debut of Senthil Nallasamy.

The project, which will see Nayanthara in an action-oriented role, is set to be co-produced with Chennai-based Drumsticks Productions, known for films like “Yaanai” and “Imaikkaa Nodigal.” The film will receive a multi-language release across Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada markets.

“In a land where justice is but a memory, there lived a mother whose world was her child. But when her daughter’s life is threatened by a monster. She does not flee… she does not falter. Instead, she declares war,” posted Nayanthara about the film to her 9.5 million Instagram followers.

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The production has assembled key technical talent, including composer Govind Vasantha, cinematographer Gautham Rajendran and editor Praveen Antony.

MovieVerse launched in 2023 with a diverse slate.

“Our aim has always been to engage in storytelling that transcends geographical boundaries,” said Aditya Pittie, managing director of IN10 Media Network. “This film is a significant milestone in that direction, as we continue to solidify our commitment to producing world-class content in multiple languages.”

“’Rakkayie’ is a film that has been carefully crafted to push boundaries. We are proud to be producing this film, bringing together the powerhouse talent of Nayanthara and a wonderfully crafted story that is steeped in cultural ethos and will connect with the masses,” added Vivek Krishnani, CEO, MovieVerse Studios.

Nayanthara, dubbed “Lady Superstar” in South Indian cinema, recently appeared in Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Jawan” and has led films like “Netrikann” and “Kolamavu Kokila.” The film’s title teaser was released to coincide with the actor’s birthday on Nov. 18.

Production is set to begin shortly, with “Rakkayie” representing the first of several planned regional ventures for MovieVerse Studios.

The announcement comes amid controversy surrounding Netflix documentary “Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale.” The actor recently took to Instagram to address a dispute with producer-actor Dhanush over the use of footage from their 2015 film “Naanum Rowdy Dhaan” in the documentary. Nayanthara claimed Dhanush denied permission to use content from the film and served her with an INR100 million ($1.1 million) legal notice over three seconds of behind-the-scenes footage. The documentary, which includes unprecedented access to Nayanthara and her husband Vignesh Shivan, who directed “Naanum Rowdy Dhaan,” also features appearances from Rana Daggubati, Taapsee Pannu, and Nagarjuna. It premiered on Netflix on Nov. 18.