Coming as a big moment in Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan , it reunites the two iconic leads and signals a landmark production
It is produced through the latter’s banner Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI) and will be released during the Pongal season 2027 through the leading distributor Red Giant Movies.
The announcement mentions that the collaboration is in a way, a celebration of the long-standing friendship between Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, which has lasted for around five decades. The statement emphasized that the project brought together not only two of the biggest names of Indian cinema but also honors their shared legacy and creative bond.
The film will be directed by Sundar C., known for his commercial entertainers and his previous work with both stars-he directed Rajinikanth in the 1997 film Arunachalam. Given this reunion after almost three decades, expectations would be that the project would aim for mass-entertainment appeal backed by the calibre of its lead actor and producer.
The title of this film, Thalaivar 173, designates Rajinikanth’s 173rd outing as a lead actor, and the crew has confirmed the target release around Pongal 2027, thus making this one of the most anticipated Tamil films in recent times.
Although the key cast and crew beyond the lead actor, the director, and production house have not been formally announced, fans are excited. The Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan pairing, especially under the latter’s production company with Sundar C. at the helm, is regarded as a momentous cinematic event.
While no confirmation has been made on the music, social media conversations and fan forums have already begun to speculate and make their strong preferences known. Several fans of the project have called for music composer Hiphop Tamizha Adhi to be brought into the mix-especially given that he has collaborated several times with Sundar C recently on films such as Aambala and Aranmanai 2. They say this will gel with the director’s style and bring in a fresh energy.
In contrast, other reports point out that Rajinikanth’s films since 2019 have, for the most part, featured music by Anirudh Ravichander, and the change in music team would represent a departure.
While speculation continues on casting, genre, and other production details, the one thing clear is that the film is being framed as a major moment in Tamil cinema-one that brings together legends but also seeks to leverage a large-scale and festive release slot and broad appeal.
The choice of Pongal-a time when Tamil films traditionally do well at the box office-points to confident backing. All told, Thalaivar 173 materialises as that rarest of jewels-an amalgamation of screen legends, presented with the backing of one of the most respected production houses, and helmed by a commercially successful director at the perfect time to benefit from one of the key festival release windows.
When story, cast, crew and audience expectation are aligned, the film may mark that defining chapter in both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan’s careers, as well as set a new benchmark for Tamil cinema collaborations themselves.
