46 - BILLA (2007)
Billa, is a Tamil language film directed by Vishnuvardhan, is a remake of the blockbuster 1981 film, Billa, though it borrows its key theme from the re-vamped Don starring Shahrukh Khan. The film is set to be released in India on December 12, 2007 and is set to be simultaneously released internationally.
The film stars Ajith Kumar, Nayanthara, Prabhu Ganesan, Rahman, Namitha and Rose Dawn in a guest appearance. 80% of the movie was shot in Malaysia, and was filmed around the tropical Langkawi island as well as the towering Petronas Twin Towers and the Jalan Masjid India area, which is the 'little India' of Kuala Lumpur.
For Billa the original cast was to consisted of Rajini in 1980. Now Ajith Kumar is set to start in the remake of same film. Nayanthara and Namitha are all set to play the lead ladies in Billa such as Praveena and Sripriya did in the previous version. The film is well supported by the rest of the cast. Director Vishnuvardhan along with producers selected the appropriate cast for the film.
- Ajith Kumar as Billa: Director Vishnuvardhan first met Ajith on the set of Aalwar, where he appraoched him for a role in his new movie. In preparing for the role, Ajith got tips from Rajinikanth in order to perform with a suitable style. He also studied films such as Don and Billa.
- Ajith Kumar as Raja: In preparing for the role, Ajith got tips and ideas from Rajinikanth in order to perform with a suitable style. He also studied films such as Don and Billa. The role consisted of road dancing, so Ajith spend days preparing a look for this role[2]
- Nayanthara as Roma : Nayanthara was approached very late by Vishnuvardhan afetr condiering many other heroines including some in Bollywood. Her role is to kill Billa, but then after learning that he is dead she falls in love with Raja.[3]
- Namitha as : The girlfriend of Billa who is part of the drugs gang, she even rescues Raja in a way when removing the bullets from Nayanthara's pistol. She was a late call of for the film after Shriya and Reema Sen were considered for the role.[4][5]
- Rose Dawn as :She plays Nayathara's sister in law but tragically dies in the hands of the gangster Billa.[6]
- Prabhu as DSP: The DSP who tracks down Billa and arrests him sending out an imposter by the name of Raja who looks exactly like Billa. Prabhu's call up was a huge boost for the film as his recent films Thamaraparani and Unnakum Ennakum have been huge hits from a supporting role.
- Rahman as Drug Lord: The Drug Lord is a corrupt drug dealer. He is the leader of Billa and at the end joins in the search for a diary or disc with the hidden information of the gang.