The launch of the upcoming biopic on legendary Carnatic vocalist MS Subbulakshmi brought together several prominent personalities from the Indian film industry. Actor and Member of Parliament Kamal Haasan attended the event and spoke about the significance of the project, while also expressing his admiration for composer Anirudh Ravichander’s evolving musical journey.
The film stars Rashmika Mandanna as MS Subbulakshmi and is being directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. The project also marks another association between Tinnanuri and Anirudh, following their collaborations on Jersey and Kingdom.
During the launch, Kamal Haasan reflected on MS Subbulakshmi’s enduring contribution to Indian music. He described her as a musical empress whose voice helped connect audiences across India, particularly in South India. He highlighted her ability to sing in multiple languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada, noting that her renditions enhanced the beauty of every language.
Kamal also spoke about his own connection with Subbulakshmi’s music. Recalling how her devotional works have affected him personally, he mentioned listening to her Suprabhatam, Lalitha Sahasranamam and Rangapura Vihara and said they fill him with a sense of peace and happiness. He also recalled that Mahatma Gandhi was among her admirers.
The actor congratulated producers Allu Aravind, Rockline Venkatesh and Bunny Vas for taking up the project, calling it a significant addition to their production journey. Kamal also participated in the launch by giving the film its first clap, formally marking the beginning of production.
Kamal Haasan Draws Parallels With Anirudh’s Career
Kamal Haasan also highlighted what he believes could be an important phase in Anirudh Ravichander’s career. Drawing comparisons with career-defining films from the past, he said the MS Subbulakshmi biopic could potentially bring a major shift in the composer’s trajectory.
Kamal cited filmmaker K Balachander’s Arangetram (1973) and K Viswanath’s Sankarabharanam (1980) as examples of films that became significant milestones in their respective careers. He suggested that the upcoming biopic could have a similar importance for Anirudh.
Kamal further praised the direction in which Anirudh has been moving professionally, adding that he was pleased to see the composer exploring new territory.
The two have previously worked together on Indian 2, the 2024 sequel to Kamal Haasan’s 1996 film Indian. Their association on the project brought Anirudh into one of Tamil cinema’s established franchises.
Anirudh and Gowtam Tinnanuri, meanwhile, share an existing creative partnership. The composer provided the music for Tinnanuri’s acclaimed Telugu sports drama Jersey, and the pair later reunited for Kingdom.
Rashmika Mandanna to Portray MS Subbulakshmi
The biopic will see Rashmika Mandanna take on the role of MS Subbulakshmi, one of the most celebrated figures in Indian classical music. Known particularly for her contribution to Carnatic and devotional music, Subbulakshmi built an influential career spanning several decades and earned recognition well beyond India.
The film is expected to explore important chapters of her life and musical journey, bringing her legacy to the screen through a combination of a prominent cast and creative team.
The project is being produced by Allu Aravind, Rockline Venkatesh and Bunny Vas under Geetha Arts, Rockline Entertainments and Bunny Vas Works respectively.
For Anirudh, the film also represents an opportunity to work within a musical framework considerably different from the contemporary commercial sound that has characterised much of his recent work across Indian cinema.
With Gowtam Tinnanuri directing and Rashmika Mandanna portraying the legendary singer, the MS Subbulakshmi biopic has already generated interest because of its subject and creative lineup. Kamal Haasan’s comments at the launch have further drawn attention to Anirudh’s involvement and the potential significance of the project in his musical career.
