YOU'VE read the poems, bought the T-shirt, now here's the movie. Robert Burns could be about to be immortalised on celluloid with Robert Carlyle in the role of Scotland's national poet alongside actress Emma Thompson.

Serious discussions are taking place to put the bard's life story on the big screen and South Ayrshire Council is considering backing the venture financially.

Alloway would be one of the sets for the film which would centre on the love between Burns and Clarinda Nancy Agnes McLehose, who inspired him to write Ae Fond Kiss, which Sir Walter Scott described as the ''essence of a thousand love tales''.

Burns wrote the poem to Clarinda on their final parting when she went to the West Indies to rejoin her husband.

Emma Thompson has been mentioned for the role of Mrs McLehose and Alloway Productions has been set up by producer Eddie Crozier and Braveheart actor James Cosmo to make the film.

A South Ayrshire Council spokesman confirmed the council had been approached by Mr Crozier and Cosmo. The ''Braveheart factor'' of attracting visitors is a prime concern for such a project, and the council is keen to invest in the first film on Burns.

Mr Jim Rae, of South Ayrshire Council, said a figure of #15m had been mentioned to make the film.

''The synopsis we have involves the story of Burns going to Edinburgh from Ayr and how he managed to interest people in him who would not normally have stopped an Ayrshire farmer and ploughman for a conversation. Then he met the woman known as Clarinda and they wrote love letters to each other.''

Despite various other amours, Burns was said to be heartbroken when Clarinda went to the West Indies to rejoin the husband who had abandoned her.

Mr Crozier said: ''We will be making a major announcement about the film in the next 14 days. It will be a large production and filming will start in Alloway.

''This story of unrequited love was the catalyst for Ae Fond Kiss, and we will be approaching two big names for the role. The budget will also be commensurate with a project of this scale.''

Mr Crozier would not deny that Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson had been approached.

Mr Crozier has produced for television and theatre, and James Cosmo played William Wallace's fellow freedom fighter in the Oscar-winning film.

Leading Burns scholar Ken Simpson said: ''It was a deeply passionate relationship but mainly on paper. Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson might well provide the right sexual chemistry. I think it would do well at the box office but in some ways it is a pity there are no plans for a film which would take a more extended view of the life of Burns.

''The process of making Burns into an icon has led to a reduction of a complex human being to a set of stereotypes. Such a movie would only focus on one aspect of Burns. It's important to remember that he wrote brilliant acerbic satires as well as poignant lyrics.''

Mr Crozier added: ''This will be a large production on the scale of Braveheart.''

Or as the bard said:

Some rhyme a neebor's name to lash;

Some rhyme (vain thought) for needfu' cash;

Some rhyme to court the country clash,

An' raise a din;

For me, an aim I never fash;

I rhyme for fun...

And, he might have added, film.

q Fans of Ewan McGregor are set to find out what makes the star tick with the release of a book tomorrow. It is written by Laura Jackson, who is based in Elgin, Morayshire. But cinemagoers expecting the author to dish the dirt on McGregor, 28, who was born in Crieff, Perthshire, are in for a disappointment, as Jackson says that he genuinely seems to be a nice guy.