Cinema VinesRashmika Mandanna has confirmed that she will portray the legendary Carnatic vocalist and Bharat Ratna awardee M.S. Subbulakshmi in an upcoming biopic. The actress announced the role on Instagram, describing the opportunity as an “absolute honour.” The film, titled MS – A Legacy On Screen, will be directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, known for hits such as Kingdom and Jersey, and the score will be composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
The first look and title reveal are scheduled for September 16 at 5:15 p.m. Geetha Arts, one of the production houses backing the project, posted the details on X, noting that the ceremony will feature actor‑producer‑parliamentarian Kamal Haasan as the chief guest. The social‑media caption read: “A LEGACY begins with an unforgettable celebration. Witness the grand launch of #MS – A Legacy On Screen, celebrating Bharat Ratna #MSSubbulakshmi Amma's 110th Birth Anniversary with Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan garu as the Chief Guest.”
M.S. Subbulakshmi, whose full name was Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, was born on 16 September 1916 in Madurai. Over a career that spanned nearly seven decades, she became the face of Carnatic music, performing worldwide in Europe, North America and even at the United Nations General Assembly. Her repertoire included classics such as “Nagendra Haraya,” “Siva Panchakshara,” and countless hymns by the poet Annamacharya.
In 1998, Subbulakshmi became the first musician to receive India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, and later the Ramon Magsaysay Award. After the death of her husband, Kalki Sadasivam, in 1997, she retired from public concerts, with her final performance that same year. She passed away on 11 December 2004 at the age of 88.
Senior Content Producer Santanu Das of the Hindustan Times has been following the project, noting the film’s potential to bring the iconic singer’s legacy to a new generation. The biopic’s launch on September 16 is set to coincide with Subbulakshmi’s 110th birth anniversary, promising a celebratory tribute to a musical legend whose melodies continue to resonate across generations.
