Tamil News

Soundarya Rajinikanth To Serve As A Member Of The Animal Welfare Board Of India

By Priya Saravana
Soundarya Rajinikanth at Announcement of Aishwarya Dhanush Appointment as UN Women's Goodwill Advocate for South India

Filmmaker Soundarya Rajinikanth has been co-opted as a member by the Animal Welfare Board of India. In addition to this, Soundarya will also serve as a member of it’s Performing Animals Sub Committee (PASC), according to a recent press release. The Kochadaiiyaan director confirmed the news through her official Twitter account.

 

PASC oversees the use of performing animals in films, Tv serials/commercials etc. One has to notify and get prior approval from the committee before using them in movies.

Interestingly, this appointment comes just weeks after Soundarya met prominent animal activist and the Cabinet Minister Of Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi. The filmmaker had also visited the AWBI office in Chennai earlier this month to promote the use of graphics instead of live animals in films. “It is possible to use graphics in place of live animals for film shooting as technology has been developed to create visual effects like live animals. She is ready to share her experience with film producers.”

Soundarya had made no secret about her love for animals. During the infamous dog-throwing incident, which happened in July, she vociferously condemned their actions.

On the career front, Soundarya is working on a new script. “Moving away from animation, my upcoming film will be a romantic comedy and I’m working closely with my brother-in-law (actor Dhanush) on the script. Hopefully, it will all come together soon,” she told in an interview.

Meanwhile, she also recently confirmed that a biopic on Rajinikanth will be made. She said, “Yes, we are planning a film on my father’s life. My sister Aishwarya is writing a book on my dad. The film seems to be a natural progression from there.”

Soundarya Rajinikanth is credited with helping Kabali materialise. After her father said that he liked director Pa Ranjith’s Madras, she met the director and asked him to write a story for Rajinikanth.

In 2014, Soundarya had directed Kochadaiiyaan, which starred Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone. She also produced Goa in 2010 through her Ocher Studios.

 

Priya Saravana is a Alum at Silverscreen India, and can be reached by email at priya@silverscreen.in