Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, 22, court awarded him the death verdict on five counts on Thursday. He has also been given a life period on five counts. Kasab has been found guilty of murdering seven citizens, helping murder 159 others and waging war against India through a 62-hour siege beginning November 26, 2008.
While announcing the verdict, the judge M L Tahiliyani said words could not explain the cruelty of the 26/11 attack. "This man has lost the right of receiving humanitarian benefit," the judge said. He said that there would no possibility that Kasab would change and that there was no choice but to give the death penalty. He observed that undue sympathy would do harm and leniency could not be shown.
Judge Tahiliyani also said this was a case of "exceptional depravity" and rubbished claims that Kasab was subjective by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He said Kasab had willingly joined the LeT and was under no pressure to do so.
Raavanan is almost prepared and for Vikram it's an added dream come true. “You know, I used to think one film each with Mani Ratnam and Shankar and I wouldn't mind retiring in that blaze of wonder,” Always a picture of sparkle, mention Ratnam and his Raavanan (Raavan in Hindi), and Vikram's energy level revs up further! He plays solid roles in both the Hindi and Tamil versions of the film — Raavanan is being dubbed in Telugu too. “Audiences in Andhra are hurdle to be floored by the subject,”
Amusingly, he isn't replicating the Tamil role in Hindi. “Here I'm Veera and in Hindi, Dev,” he smiles and on a serious note adds, “I hear that it's the first time in the world that an actor concurrently plays two completely different roles in two languages of the same film.”
Raavan isn't just Vikram's first project with Ratnam. It is also his first directly Hindi film. That he is being launched by the same apparent maker whom he yearned to work with sometime ago is a bonus! “You said it. Though Aparajith didn't do too well, it's been telecast over 17 times so far. Yet Raavan is my first Hindi film,” he explains.
After the Hindi audio launch in Mumbai, the attention he got from the girls in exacting was astonishing. “I mean, after all these years…” he laughs merrily.
Not many know that Vikram had earlier screen-tested for Mani Ratnam's Bombay. “But the wait has been worth it. Over the years, I've evolved as an actor. I feel in Raavan Mani has transcended his previous achievements.
Working with Ratnam has been an charming experience for Vikram. “He's open to your inputs. Raavanan And his energy is incredible. After a day's work, we would go over the scenes to be shot the next morning, costumes et al, before we dispersed. He would mull over them all night and be ready with the changes he wants.” ”
They've also shot in the remote areas of Kolkata and the rarely-visited terrains on the other side of Chalakudi. “Manikandan and Santhosh Sivan have captured them so beautifully on camera,” comments Vikram.
