Vettaiyan director TJ Gnanavel to helm Dosa King, based on controversial real-life Saravana Bhavan legal drama 

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It is this story that TJ Gnanavel, known for making the gripping Jai Bhim, is set to tell next. Gnanavel, along with Hemanth Rao, will be writing the film that is said to “set the stage for a battle of ambition, power, and justice.” This is familiar territory for Gnanavel, who previously helmed Jai Bhim, which was a legal drama about the underdog fighting against all odds to receive the just recourse. This was based on a true story too. 

Junglee Pictures has acquired the exclusive life rights of Jeevajothi Santhakumar, and the details of the cast and crew is expected to be out soon. 

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In a statement, the makers said, “The fictional drama chronicles events inspired by the rise and fall of the legendary and globally famous empire, Saravana Bhavan, built by P Rajagopal, and the fearless Jeevajothi who took on the powerful tycoon.” Journalist-turned-filmmaker Gnanavel revealed that this was a case he covered extensively as a reporter, and would strive to bring untold facets about the case to the big screen. “While the press sensationalized many details, much of the story remains untold. Dosa King exposes how the system functions, with a focus on the crime and thriller aspects of the narrative. I want to explore the extreme situations of life and tell a deeper story with an untold perspective on the case. This film is my chance to share a story I witnessed firsthand 20 years ago, and I’m thrilled to partner with Junglee Pictures, a studio known for backing important stories that need to be told,” he says.

Meanwhile, Vettaiyan, which also stars Rana Daggubati, Fahadh Faasil, Manju Warrier, and Amitabh Bachchan, is set to hit the screens on October 10 on the festive occasion of Dussehra.

The Saravana Bhavan case

P Rajagopal started as a tea seller and went on to establish the Saravana Bhavan chain across the world, from Singapore to Canada. Known to be a good employer, his downfall began in 2001 after he was accused of threatening, abducting and murdering his employee Prince Santhakumar, in order to marry Santhakumar’s wife Jeevajothi. Rajagopal wanted to marry Jeevajothi on the advice of an astrologer, who predicted marrying the daughter of his employee would bring him good fortune.

Jeevajothi, however, refused the match and went on to marry Santhakumar in 1999. In October 2001, Santhakumar was kidnapped from Chennai and taken to Kodaikanal, where he was murdered. Jeevajothi fought for justice and Rajagopal was arrested in November that year. While he was given a lesser sentence in 2003, in March 2009, a Division Bench of the High Court said the trial court had made a mistake by not sentencing him and his co-accused for murder under Section 302 of the IPC. Later, the Supreme Court upheld the Madras High Court order.