Veerappan’s wife to play reel life role

(May 04, Chennai, Sri Lana Guardian) Muthulakshmi, wife of slain forest brigand Veerappan, is all set to play the reel life role as she claims that she has signed to act in a movie being produced to portray the ‘exploits’ of India’s most notorious fugitive on the silver screen.

he bandit, Koose Munniswamy Veerappan, successfully evaded the dragnet of the security forces for over four decades until his luck ran out on 18 October, 2004 in Tamilnadu’s Dharmapuri district, when he was killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force Commandos.

‘I have signed an agreement with the producers for acting. They even asked me to co-produce the film, but I will decide on it in a week’s time,’ Muthulakshmi (38) said.

She, however, did not reveal any details and merely said ‘some producers have approached me offering to make a film on my husband. It is yet to take a final shape,’ she said.

Muthulakshmi says she married Veerappan on 1 January, 1990 at Neruppur in Dharmapuri district. She has two daughters by him.

She said she was toying with the idea of producing the film herself as she was apprehensive that others may portray her husband wrongly.

She had even reportedly approached actor Prakash Raj earlier this year.

Bollywood producer Ramgopal Verma was keen on producing a film on Veerappan even when the brigand was alive. But he gave it up after the dreaded poacher was shot dead.

Muthulakshmi, who earlier opposed telecast of a serial on Veerappan titled ‘Santhanakaddu’ (sandalwood forest) in the PMK-backed Makkal TV, has given the go ahead to it now. ‘It is better. They are giving importance to people affected by the STF,’ she said.

Muthulakshmi also said she wanted to build a memorial and install a statue for Veerappan at Moolakadai near Mettur, where he was buried.

She appealed to the government to provide the land to install the statue. She intends to collect donations for the purpose of installing the statue and construction of the ‘mani mandapam’ (memorial). The money would also be used to help her relatives, who, she said, were still in jail.

‘Even four years after the death of my husband, police are harassing me by dragging me to court. Even an arrest warrant has been issued against me in Karnataka just because I am the wife of Veerappan,’ Muthulakshmi said.

She said that her eldest daughter Vidyarani had completed Plus Two and the second one Prabha was awaiting her 10th standard board exam results.

‘If I am dragged to courts like this, my children’s future will be spoiled. I want them to study further. Both the governments should consider my case sympathetically.’

She said educationist and former MP Jagatratchagan, who is from the Vanniyar community to which Veerappan belonged, had been helping educate Vidyarani, who wants to become a doctor, in the last two years.
- Sri Lanka Guardian