Malayalam star Dulquer Salmaan is currently juggling a string of projects, with his newest release Kaantha hitting theaters on November 14. Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, the film features Samuthirakani and Bhagyashree Borse in pivotal roles. The posters, trailer, and songs have already generated strong buzz, and with the release just three days away, the hype on social media is soaring.
Rumors suggest Kaantha is a biopic of legendary Tamil actor MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the first Indian superstar. Out of his 14 films, 10 were massive hits, with Haridasu standing out as a blockbuster. A bitter dispute with a director spiraled into a murder trial that landed MKT in jail for two years, shattering his glittering career. He died at 49 after a life of dramatic highs and lows.
Born on March 1, 1910 in Trichy to a poor goldsmith family, Thyagaraja displayed an innate musical gift early on and earned formal Carnatic training. Renowned mentors bestowed him the title “Bhagavathar,” reflecting his devotion to divine music. He began his career as a stage performer and classical singer in the late 1920s before making his film debut in 1934 with Pavalakkodi, followed by the hit Naveena Sarangadhara (1936).
His stardom peaked in the late 1930s and early 1940s with iconic films like Chitamani (1937), Ambikapathi (1937), Thiruneelakantar (1940), Ashok Kumar (1941), and Sivakavi (1943), cementing his place as one of the highest‑paid actors of his era. Dulquer Salmaan portrays MKT, while Samuthirakani takes on the director’s role, promising a compelling cinematic tribute to Tamil cinema’s first superstar. Kaantha is slated to release on November 14.