Kamal Haasan launches Rashmika Mandanna-led MS Subbulakshmi biopic on 110th birth anniversary

Kamal Haasan formally unveiled Rashmika Mandanna’s upcoming MS Subbulakshmi biopic on the late artist’s 110th birth anniversary, cementing the project as one of the season’s most anticipated pan-Indian ventures. The film will be directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and produced by Allu Aravind, Rockline Venkatesh and Bunny Vas.

Haasan stressed the scope and significance, saying: “MS Subbulakshmi Amma was the musical empress who united India, especially South India, through her voice. She sang in Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and several other languages. No matter which language she sang in, she elevated its beauty through her music. That is the timeless message her music has given all of us.” He added, “MS Amma has been a tremendous source of inspiration in my life. Whenever I listen to her Suprabhatam, Lalitha Sahasranamam, or Rangapura Vihara, my heart is filled with peace and joy. Even Mahatma Gandhi was a great admirer of her music. I also believe Anirudh Ravichander’s musical journey will reach another level with this film. Looking at Rashmika Mandanna, I am not jealous that she got this role. Even if I shaved my beard, I couldn’t portray MS Amma the way she deserves to be portrayed.”

Rashmika Mandanna reacted to the announcement by expressing her gratitude for receiving such an incredible opportunity as an actress. She further stated that she felt immensely proud and honoured to become a small part of the artist’s extraordinary life journey. Mandanna noted that they truly believed MS Subbulakshmi’s blessings would always be with them throughout the making of the film. She also promised to give her complete dedication to the role and do everything she could to portray MS Subbulakshmi Amma in a way that everyone would cherish and appreciate.

MS Subbulakshmi, a legendary Indian Carnatic singer, was born on September 16, 1916, in Madurai, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu). She began learning music at a young age and gave her first public performance at the age of 11 in 1927 at the Rockfort Temple in Tiruchirappalli. She trained in Carnatic music under Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and later studied Hindustani classical music under Pandit Narayanrao Vyas. In addition to her celebrated concert career, she appeared in a handful of films during the 1930s and 1940s, including Sevasadanam and Meera. Subbulakshmi passed away on December 11, 2004, at the age of 88.

The project is described as a pan-Indian venture, with Gowtam Tinnanuri, known for Kingdom, directing and producers Allu Aravind, Rockline Venkatesh, and Bunny Vas backing the film. The launch underscores the scope of Indian cinema’s biopic push, targeting audiences across languages and regions.

For context on verified release status and upcoming projects, see the DPIFF release page. DPIFF will continue to monitor developments on this biopic and provide updates as they become available. For ongoing DPIFF coverage, see the DPIFF News page.