To be produced by Walt Disney, 19 Steps is an Indo-Japanese film starring Kamal Hassan, and Japanese superstar Tadanobu Asano.

19 Steps, that will go into production in April 2009, will be released in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Japanese.

The story, set in the 9th century, is about a Samurai warrior (Tadanobu Asano) trying to learn Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s ancient martial arts form, from a Kalaripayattu guru (Kamal Hassan).

Asin Thotumakkal will star in 19 Steps with Kamal Hassan

Asin plays a Malayali princess who falls for Tadanobu Asano.

Asin has said that she will learn Kalaripayattu for 19 Steps.

19 Steps will be released in 2010.

Asin who made her debut in Sathyan Anthikkad’s Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), hit the big time with Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2003).

Asin also won the Filmfare Award for the Best Telugu Actress for Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka.

She then acted in movies like Lakshmi Narasimha, M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi, Chakram, and Ullam Ketkumae.

The biggest hit of her career  has been the blockbuster Ghajini, both the Tamil version (2005) and the Hindi version (2008). She won the South Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the first and the 2009 Filmfare Best Hindi Debu Award for the latter.

Asin’s  next movie is Vipul Shah’s London Dreams with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan.

Kamal Hassan will play a Kalaripayattu guru in 19 Steps

Kamal Hassan’s last movie was Dasavathaaram, in which he teamed up with Asin. In Dasavathaaram, Kamal Hassan plays ten different roles.  The movie was directed by K.S. Ravi Kumar.

Kamal Hassan’s first movie Kalathur Kannamma won him the National Award for Best Child Artiste.

Since then, has won three National awards for Best Actor, for Moondram Pirai (1982), Nayagan (1987), and Indian (1996).  He has also won Filmfare Best Tamil actor awards for Apoorva Raagangal (1975), 16 Vayathinile (1977), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Thevar Magan (1992), and Hey Ram (2000).

He also won the Filmfare Best Kannada actor for Pushpak (1988).