Suresh Gopi as Raja Ravi Varma

Malayalam action hero Suresh Gopo has been selected to play the role of Raja Ravi Varma, one of the greatest painters in the history of Indian art.

Varma (1848-1906) achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana. His paintings are considered to be among the best examples of the fusion of Indian traditions with the techniques of European academic art.

The Malayalam film Raja Ravi Varma will be directed by Lenin Rajendran. The shooting of the film will start in September and the movie will be ready for release towards the end of the year.

Rajendran said that this film was the first on the artist's life to be made.

"Even though a few similar projects were announced, so far none has taken off and the one which is now under consideration is in English and Hindi," he said.

Raja Ravi Varma would be Rajendran's 13th film. He said the movie would show the trials and tribulations of the great artist who did not get due recognition during his lifetime.
"It was the Diwan of Travancore, Madhava Rao who promoted Varma by inviting him to his residence in Maharashtra and converted his residence into the studio for Varma," said Rajendran.

Gopi said it was a challenge for him to play the role of an artist because it was very different from the action roles that he usually played

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