Theni Kannan is a journalist from Chennai who focus on films. He has earlier worked with many renowned Tamil dailies and weekly magazines. He has collections of few lyrics and short stories penned by him.
In 2107, ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ Tamil magazine’s editor M.P.Udhayasooriyan has approached him to write a short story for their magazines 9th year Annual Edition. Theni Kannan scripted the story assuming that Actor & Chief Minister Late. M.G.Ramachandran visiting Theni for an election campaign and the happenings there. He titled his script as ‘Ithayakani’. P.Karunakaran, Editor of an education magazine who read the short story titled ‘Ithayakani’ at that time had suggested Theni Kannan to elaborate the story and make a movie out of it. Taking the suggestion of Karunakaram, Theni Kannan elaborated the short story with few commercial aspects into it suitable to make a feature film.
Later the short story penned by Theni Kannan titled as ‘Ithayakani’ was published in the 9th year Annual Magazine of ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ as ‘Ithaya Veenai’ changing it’s name alone with the full consent of Theni Kannan.
Theni Kannan says that he had discussed about this story with few of his friends and some assistant director friends. He alleges that an assistant director to whom he had narrated the story, later joined with Director Ponram as an assistant director. Ponram had earlier directed ‘Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam’ & ‘Seemaraja’. Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam succeeded at box-office, whereas Seemaraja failed to succeed.
News started speculating that Ponram has planned to direct a movie and director Sasikumar and Sathyaraj would be playing lead roles in the movie. Recently the first look and title of the movie was released. The movie of Ponram directorial was titled as ‘MGR Magan’ and the first look had Sathyaraj and Sasikumar in it.
Theni Kannan says that he was shocked when he saw the title and poster design of MGR Magan and had called up the assistant director and had enquired about the same. It is said that the assistant director to whom Theni Kannan had narrated the script earlier told Theni Kannan that in Theni Kannan’s ‘Ithaya Veenai’ it was scripted as MGR and nephew and in his director Ponram’s MGR Magan, it is scripted as MGR and son. It seems Theni Kannan had elaborated script by making the optional artistes for his movie and the same had been star-casted in the movie titled ‘MGR Magan’. Kannan had asked about it with the assistant director and the assistant director replied in a way to safe-guard his director and told Theni Kannan that the stories could be similar but different in the treatment of the story and screenplay. Here leads the doubt though the treatment of the story and screenplay is different and the story is similar, then it clearly explains that both the stories are the same.
Theni Kannan speaking to us said that his intention was not to spoil the release of the film, but he was literally upset about the story theft that keeps continuing in Tamil film industry. He quoted that recently Vijay’s ‘Sarkar’, Jayam Ravi’s ‘Comali’, S.J.Suriya’s ‘Monster’ have been alleged of story theft and the original script writer had approached the Hon’ble Courts seeking justice for them. The original script writers of Sarkar and Comali gained justice by having a thank-card mentioning the original script-writers name in the beginning of both the movies. As far as Monster movie is concern, the case is still continuing in the court.
It is said that Theni Kannan had approached one of the senior lawyers in India through his friend about this issue. The lawyer has assured to support him to appear as a counsel for him if needed. Theni Kannan while talking to us said that, he was very much particular in getting credits for his story and not to spoil a movie by dragging the issue to the court hall.
Now it’s the turn of Director Sasikumar acting in a movie alleged with story theft. These kind of story thefts not only wound the creativity of the original story-writer, it monetarily affects the producer of the movie where it’s business gets stuck-up.
We can’t just say that Theni Kannan would be so soft without approaching the court seeking justice. Hope he is hiding the truth that he is proceeding with some legal action in regard to the story theft.
At last the movie MGR Magan lands in trouble. Let’s wait and watch the truth behind the story of Theni Kannan’s ‘Ithaya Veenai’ vs Ponram’s ‘MGR Magan’. MGR Magan has been planned to be released for Pongal 2020 along with Rajinikanth’s ‘Darbar’.
