Dulquer Salmaan's Kaantha Teaser Cleared By Censor Board, Set For Birthday Release
The teaser of Dulquer Salmaan's upcoming film Kaantha has been cleared by the Censor Board and is expected to release on July 28, which is the actor's birthday. Kaantha is based on the life of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, known as the first superstar of Tamil cinema. The film will follow his rise to fame and personal struggles in the 1950s, set against the backdrop of post-independence Madras. Dulquer plays the lead role, stepping into the shoes of the legendary actor.
The teaser has a runtime of 2 minutes and 14 seconds and promises a rich, period-style glimpse into Bhagavathar's world. The film is directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, who is known for the Netflix documentary The Hunt for Veerappan. This marks his debut as a feature film director.
The movie is backed by Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media and Dulquer's Wayfarer Films. Dulquer, who was first cast only as the lead actor, later joined as co-producer too.
#Kaantha Teaser Censored 👍Length : 2.14 Mts #DulquerSalmaan pic.twitter.com/fBua5Wrvl2
— Cine Loco (@WECineLoco) July 26, 2025
In a recent interview with THR India, Rana said he couldn't imagine anyone else playing the part. 'Each story decides who its actor is in some manner, and everyone is right for a certain role… The second I heard it, I didn't see anyone but Dulquer in it. So I was like, if he was not in it, we probably wouldn't have made the film," he said.
In a grand start to their highly anticipated collaboration, Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media and Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films had earlier held a puja ceremony in Hyderabad to mark the official launch of their multi-project venture. The production houses shared glimpses from the ceremony, showcasing the cast and crew in attendance.
The caption for the shared pictures read: 'Introducing #KAANTHA, an epic collaboration between Rana Daggubati and Dulquer Salmaan. Spirit Media and Wayfarer Films bring you a story that merges artistic storytelling with innovative filmmaking. We are thrilled to embark on this journey. The puja is complete, and we can't wait to start rolling!"
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Kaantha also features Bhagyashri Borse and Samuthirakani. During the puja ceremony, the cast and crew, along with visitors, were dressed traditional attire. Rana Daggubati's uncle, actor Venkatesh Daggubati, led the ceremonial clap, with his wife Miheeka Bajaj and father Suresh Babu also in attendance. Prominent producers and Venky Atluri, director of Dulquer Salmaan's Lucky Baskhar, also attended the ceremony.
While the theatrical release date hasn't been announced yet, fans are already buzzing. Dulquer's recent film Lucky Baskhar did well at the box office, and Kaantha is expected to be another big moment in his career. The teaser release on his birthday is being seen as a special gift for fans.
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First Published:
July 27, 2025, 11:14 IST
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