Chalo Chennai, says Kamal Haasan (South snippets)

Chennai, June 20 (IANS) After successfully holding an international screenwriting workshop here, acclaimed actor-director Kamal Haasan now plans to produce, direct and act in some short films - based on the Tamil Nadu capital.

"My whole life revolves around Chennai. I can never forget those moments I spent in Kodambakkam and AVM Studios. I am surprised to see the old Chennai onscreen," Kamal Haasan told reporters after announcing his new venture.

"Can we imagine the sight of chariot hurtling down the Mount Road and people walking leisurely on the stretch? Our attempt is not towards making some money, it is recording the historic memory of Chennai," said Kamal Haasan, who is known for his experiments on screen.

Stating that he would wield the megaphone for one of the short films, Kamal Hassan said: "From over 250 participants of the Chennai Screenwriting Workshop, we would handpick the works of 30. That would be added into short films."

Besides Kamal, veteran film maker and director of L.V. Prasad Film and TV Academy V. Hariharan would choose the scripts.

The initiative was inaugurated by acclaimed French director and Oscar winner Jean Claude Carriere, who recalled his association with Chennai.

"For me India is South. It is the land where strongest tradition of arts exists," said Carrierre, who has penned the script for Kamal Haasan's "Marudhanayagam", which never took off.