Michael Madsen to star in Anushka-Madhavan’s crossover thriller

Hemanth Madhukar was a gawky 15-year-old when Michael Madsen shot into limelight as Mr Blonde, the crackpot who bites off a cop’s ear in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. So, to direct Madsen in a first-of-its-kind South Indian cinema-meets-Hollywood crossover film, is a dream come true for the Telugu boy. “I’m been a huge fan of Madsen and have enjoyed watching his work in films like Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs.Getting to meet him to narrate the story of Silence itself was a big deal. And to my suprise, he immediately agreed to come on board. He loved the idea of doing a crossover between Hollywood and Indian cinema,” reveals the 41-year-old, speaking to Hyderabad Times.

Touted to be a horror-thriller, Silence features an ensemble cast headlined by Anushka and Madhavan. “Michael Madsen is not playing a supporting part. He’s one of the leads and is vital to the story,” reveals Madhukar, who earlier directed films like A Flat, Vastaadu Na Raju and Mumbai 125 km. The film, slated to go on the floors on April 5, features an ensemble cast comprising Indian and Hollywood stars, says the director. “We’re not calling Silence an international film just for the sake of it. The film is set in Seattle and will feature 40 Hollywood
actors, including some well-known names. We will reveal a big name every week,” says Madhukar, adding, “Unlike regular films, which are shot abroad only for a few segments in the film, this will be based entirely in the United States and will feature American actors in supporting cast as well.”

The filmmaker is tight-lipped about the plot of the film though. “All I can say right now is that the film is a horror thriller that will leave the audience at the edge of their seats. The film will release in English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil languages,” he says, signing off.