'Kaantha': Case Filed Against The Dulquer Salmaan Film

Just two days ahead of the theatrical release of Dulquer Salmaan’s period drama Kaantha, the grandson of Tamil actor and singer M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar has filed a petition in a Chennai court seeking to halt the film's release. The film was slated to release on November 14. The petitioner alleged that the film would portray his grandfather in a negative light. Although the makers of the film haven’t put out an official clarification, they have maintained that the film is entirely fictional. But several accounts have drawn parallels between Dulquer Salmaan’s character in the film with that of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The film is being directed by Selvaraj Selvamani.

According to reports, Rana Daggubati, a co-producer of Kaantha, was also named in the same petition. The petitioner added that he was not informed of the film’s story and that the makers had not sought permission to make a film about M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The hearing is now scheduled for November 18th. The court has reportedly issued notices to the movie’s producers, including Dulquer, seeking an explanation on the matter. It remains to be seen if this case will obstruct the release of the film on Friday, the 14th.

The film has already undergone production delays. Speaking about this in an interview with THR India, Dulquer said. “I shouldn’t have been so relaxed about it,” he admitted. “I kept worrying that if I didn’t show enough interest, they might go to someone else. I was genuinely greedy about wanting to do this role (in Kaantha).”

The film is co-produced by Daggubati, Dulquer Salmaan, Prashanth Potluri, and Jom Varghese, under the banners of the actors' production houses, Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films. It will be lensed by Dani Sanchez Lopez. The film’s technical crew includes names like Jhanu Chanthar, who composes the music. Ramalingam helms the production design, Lewellyn Anthony Gonsalves edits the film, and Thamizh Prabha contributes to the screenplay.