It has been a while since director Pa. Ranjith's Neelam Productions announced that it will be producing a sports biopic starring Dhruv Vikram in the lead. The film based on former Kabaddi player and Arjuna awardee P. Ganesan aka Manathi Ganesan is a Mari Selvaraj directorial. Latest on this film is that actress Anupama Parameswaran has been approached to play female lead.

Excited to associate with @mari_selvaraj for his third film. Am sure his and #DhurvVikram combination will be a successful one. Thanks to @GRfilmssg and @LRCF6204 for setting this up.😍😍😍😍🌸 @officialneelam2 @pro_guna #மகிழ்ச்சி 😊🌸 pic.twitter.com/tbXKXow5Ps

— pa.ranjith (@beemji) January 28, 2021

Anupama Parameswaran made her Tamil debut with Kodi (2016), and has since appeared in Kollywood films like Thalli Pogathey (2021) and Siren (2024). If on board, the Dhruv Vikram-Mari Selvaraj Kabbai film will be her fourth outing in Tamil. It is worth mentioning here that actress Darshana Rajendran has previously been linked to the movie, but there have been no official updates on her casting. 

Manathi P Ganesan hails from a small village called Manathi which is located in the Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu. In 1995, he became the second Kabbadi player from Tamil Nadu to receive the Arjuna award, and till date no other Tamil Nadu player has received an Arjuna award for Kabaddi. P Ganesan is a distant relative of director Mari Selvaraj. 

Manathi P Ganesan in 1995-96 receiving the Arjuna Award from the President of India

(L-R: Manathi P Ganesan with actor Dhruv Vikram)

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[Update: March 12, 2024] It has now been officially announced that Anupama Parameswaran is on-board Dhruv Vikram, Mari Selvaraj's Kabbadi film as female lead. 

Some partnerships redefine the game, and this is one of them!@ApplauseSocial and #NeelamStudios join forces for @mari_selvaraj's epic sports drama.
Starring #DhruvVikram and @anupamahere, get ready for something special🎬@nairsameer @deepaksegal @beemji @Tisaditi pic.twitter.com/dYiGc5iroR

— Neelam Studios (@NeelamStudios_) March 12, 2024