Kamal Haasan's Long-Awaited Film Planned At 20 Finally Reaches Screens as He Turns 71
Decades-old project reaches audiences after an extraordinary wait.
Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has revealed that a film he was originally expected to star in during his early twenties is finally set for release more than five decades later. Speaking at an event in Hyderabad held in honour of filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, the 71-year-old actor reflected on his long association with the celebrated director, whose upcoming musical Sing Geetham is scheduled to release on June 11.
Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, 94, is widely regarded as the world’s oldest living and active filmmaker. He recently surpassed the record set by filmmaker Clint Eastwood, who directed Juror #2 in 2024 at the age of 93. At the event, Kamal praised the veteran director’s enduring passion for cinema and his ability to remain creatively engaged despite his age.
Recalling their early collaborations, Kamal said he first met Singeetham when he was around 21 years old and was eager to learn from him. He described himself as an “assistant director” in spirit while also being associated with projects as an actor and producer. The actor noted that working alongside Singeetham provided valuable creative experiences that shaped his understanding of filmmaking.
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Kamal revealed that during one of their early meetings following a Filmfare Awards event in Mumbai, Singeetham narrated two film ideas. One of those concepts eventually became Apoorva Sagodharargal, which was initially discussed under the title Advaita. The second idea was Sing Geetham, a project that remained unrealised for decades despite repeated discussions between the two. According to Kamal, Sing Geetham was originally envisioned with him in the lead role when he was just 20 years old.
However, the film could not be mounted at the time and remained in development for nearly 45 years. Reflecting on the unusual journey of the project, Kamal said some ideas are timeless and that the film’s eventual release is a testament to Singeetham’s creativity and persistence. The long-awaited musical will now feature Ahilya Bamroo, Ayaan K., and Shalini Kondepudi in lead roles. For Kamal, the film’s release marks the fulfilment of a vision first conceived in his youth and serves as another example of Singeetham Srinivasa Rao’s remarkable commitment to storytelling across generations.
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