'Thalaivar 173': Rajinikanth And Kamal Haasan To Collaborate With Sundar C

Tamil cinema legends Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are coming together for an exciting new project with filmmaker Sundar C. Tentatively titled Thalaivar 173, the film is produced by Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI) and is scheduled to release during Pongal 2027, with distribution handled by Red Giant Movies. The announcement was made on November 5 in a press release by RKFI, which described the project as a historic collaboration celebrating fifty years of friendship and artistic camaraderie between the two stars.

The reunion buzz began after the release of Coolie, Rajinikanth’s latest film with Lokesh Kanagaraj. At the NEXA SIIMA Awards 2025 in September, Kamal Haasan officially confirmed the news. Rajinikanth later told reporters that the project was in the planning stage. While there had been speculation that Lokesh Kanagaraj might direct the film again, it has now been confirmed that Sundar C will helm the project.

Sundar C made his directorial debut in 1995 with Murai Maman and has since delivered popular and critically acclaimed films, including Ullathai Allitha, Arunachalam, Anbe Sivam, Kalakalappu, and Aranmanai.