The upcoming period drama Kaantha, starring Dulquer Salmaan, is reportedly inspired by the life of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, who is often regarded as Tamil cinema’s first superstar. The film, set in the 1950s, explores the fraught relationship between a rising actor and an established director.
Speaking at the film’s trailer launch, Dulquer Salmaan described the project as a “once-in-a-lifetime chance” and a “very important Tamil film” in his career. “Director Selvamani Selvaraj and I have been working on this for the last four to five years. I first heard the script in 2019,” he stated, noting the extensive script meetings he attended for the project.
The film’s narrative centers on the dynamic between T.K. Mahadevan, a rising actor played by Dulquer, and Ayya, a powerful director played by Samuthirakani. The story is set against the backdrop of the vibrant studio culture of 1950s Kodambakkam. “You will see how cinema flourished here in ‘Film Studios’. We have celebrated that studio culture in Kaantha,” Dulquer explained.
Director Selvamani Selvaraj, for whom this is a debut feature, said the film was born from his love for cinema. “Cinema taught me many things that no book or individual could teach,” he remarked. “My first film is about cinema itself. I have designed and filmed the personalities of the 1950s and the mental struggles within them.”
The film also stars Rana Daggubati, who is also a co-producer, and marks the debut of actress Bhagyashri Borse. Samuthirakani described his involvement in the project as a pivotal moment, stating, “My cinema journey can be divided into before and after Kaantha.”
Produced by Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films, Kaantha is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 14.