Thalluri's Jewel in the making

Two years after his controversial drama 2.37 about teen suicide was feted at the Cannes [ Images ] Film Festival, Australian director Murali Thalluri is back with another film, Jewel.

The film, which will be shot in Hindi in India [ Images ] is, according to Thalluri, a tale about two young boys who are sold into slavery but escape with a rare jewel.

'It's an old-fashioned David Lean-style epic adventure,' he told The Sydney [ Images ] Morning Herald.

The idea for the movie came to Thalluri while travelling through India.

Meanwhile, the filmmaker who comes from an Indian-Australian family said he doesn't regret making 2.37, a film, which he claimed was inspired by the suicide of a friend named Kelly, and his Thalluri's own attempt when he was 19.

'I did what I thought was right. It's all just a bit of a hazy memory now. I've just learnt my lessons, I've grown up a lot,' he told the paper.

The controversy arose over suggestions that he had invented the story about Kelly's suicide -- a claim he termed 'offensive … rude … ridiculous'.

In the picture: Singer Kate Alexa and Murali Thalluri at an event in Melbourne [ Images ], Australia [ Images ].

Phototograph: Getty Images