Rashmika Mandanna will be seen in a new biopic on the life of legendary Carnatic singer M.S Subbulakshmi, set to be called “MS – A legacy On Screen.” The project was inaugurated on September 16 at Chennai on the occasion of the 110th birthday of the renowned singer.
The movie is a combination of Rashmika, director Gowtam Tinnanuri, and music composer Anirudh Ravichander. It’s being made by Allu Aravind, Rockline Venkatesh and Bunny Vas under Geetha Arts, Rockline Entertainment and Bunny Vas Works.
The launch ceremony was held in The Music Academy, Chennai, which is closely related to classical music in India. Veteran actor Kamal Haasan was also at the event as the chief guest and he gave the first clap, which formally started the film.
After months of speculation and reports, Rashmika’s casting was officially announced by Geetha Arts as Subbulakshmi. The production house revealed her as the lead when the title, director and composer were announced.
Addressing the occasion, Rashmika said it was a great honour and spoke of the responsibility of playing the role of a person whose music has left a huge impact on the Indian culture. During the inauguration, she enlightened that her voice of Subbulakshmi was so powerful and she will do her job with caution.
Kamal Haasan also pointed out the challenge that is ahead of Rashmika. He said it was comparable to the challenge of playing a music icon like Michael Jackson, who was already beloved all over the world, as was Subbulakshmi.
The well-known Subbulakshmi or M.S. Amma was born in 1916 in Madurai where her family had a long tradition of music. She started her training in Carnatic music at a tender age and emerged as one of the most influential vocalists of Indian classical music.
Her career was to eventually expand beyond India. She worked at the leading international stages and played a significant role as a cultural ambassador of the country. In 1966, she was to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the first Indian musician to do so. She was also a guest at Carnegie Hall and the Edinburgh International Festival.
Subbulakshmi was also an Indian film actress. She also acted in movies like Sevasadanam, Sakuntalai, Savithiri and Meera. Her role in Meera was especially popular and it brought her music and persona to light to the masses who were not involved with the traditional Carnatic music world.
She was eventually to receive some of the highest accolades from Indian music. In 1974, she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and in 1998, she was the first musician to be awarded the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, by the Government of India.
The movie is being made as a pan-India affair with a Telugu director, a top Indian actress and one of the most popular music composers of the country. The duo is likely to bring Subbulakshmi’s tale outside the confines of classical music.
The launch was also accompanied by a number of performances with a theme dedicated to Subbulakshmi’s music. The ceremony commenced with Thyagaraja’s Pancharatna Kritis followed by a celebration of people from the cinema and Carnatic music fraternities.
The makers have yet to announce the film’s full cast, dates or all the production details. They are also yet to announce how much of Subbulakshmi’s life the film will cover.
The timing of the project is important during an era when Subbulakshmi’s legacy is under a spotlight of significance; the launch is timed with the 110th birthday of Subbulakshmi. The film marks the beginning of a whole new kind of acting for the actress Rashmika, where she has to play one of the most identifiable cultural icons in India.
The film will be helmed by Tinnanuri, who will direct the movie taking Anirudh as music director and the film will be a mix of historical tale narrated by Subbulakshmi and a movie set in the modern era, keeping her music at the core.
