After weeks of relentless speculation, Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International has officially announced that filmmaker Cibi Chakravarthi will direct Rajinikanth’s next, tentatively titled Thalaivar 173. The makers marked the occasion with a striking poster that sets the mood for the film. Featuring a black cloth scattered with needles and a gun in the background, with multiple scissors placed in the foreground, the visual teases a narrative that blends stylised action with dramatic undertones. The poster also bears the line, “Every hero has a family,” signalling that the film will weave in a strong emotional and family oriented thread.
The Big Reveal That Clears The Air
The project will have Anirudh Ravichander returning to compose the music, continuing his successful creative partnership with the superstar. Thalaivar 173 is being readied for a festive Pongal 2027 release, which interestingly aligns with the production house’s original timeline from when the film was first conceived.
The announcement finally brings clarity to a project that has been the subject of constant chatter ever since Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan confirmed their collaboration at a public event last year. However, the film soon found itself mired in uncertainty when Sundar C, who was initially associated with the project, exited citing “unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances”.
Every HERO has a FAMILY#Arambikalama #Thalaivar173 #SuperStarPongal2027 @rajinikanth @ikamalhaasan @Dir_Cibi @anirudhofficial #Mahendran @APIfilms @homescreenent@RKFI @turmericmediaTM @magizhmandram pic.twitter.com/IkVVMgi3q8
— Raaj Kamal Films International (@RKFI) January 3, 2026
His departure opened the floodgates to speculation, with reports claiming that several directors had pitched scripts to Rajinikanth. Filmmakers such as Ramkumar Balakrishnan of Parking, Dragon director Ashwath Marimuthu, Nithilan Saminathan, SU Arunkumar, and RJ Balaji were all said to be in the fray. The eventual selection of Cibi Chakravarthi has therefore come as a genuine surprise to fans.
Why Cibi Chakravarthi Is A Fascinating Choice
Cibi Chakravarthi made his directorial debut with the 2022 hit Don, starring Sivakarthikeyan. The campus drama, anchored in a poignant father son relationship, emerged as a box office success and established Cibi as a filmmaker who could blend commercial elements with emotional storytelling. While he has only one film to his credit so far, his ability to connect with family audiences appears to be a key factor behind his appointment to helm a Rajinikanth vehicle.
Cibi is also expected to reunite with Sivakarthikeyan for an untitled project soon, though an official confirmation is awaited. For Thalaivar 173, the filmmaker is likely to scale up his sensibilities to match Rajinikanth’s towering screen presence, while retaining the emotional depth hinted at by the poster’s tagline.
Anirudh’s association further boosts expectations. The composer has previously delivered chart topping soundtracks for Rajinikanth in Petta, Darbar, Jailer, Vettaiyan, and Coolie, and is currently working on Nelson Dilipkumar’s Jailer 2, which is slated for release on June 12 this year. His understanding of Rajini’s mass appeal has made him a vital ingredient in the superstar’s recent successes.
According to the makers, filming for Thalaivar 173 will commence in the coming days, with announcements on the cast, technical crew, and production schedule to follow shortly. There is also intrigue over whether Kamal Haasan will share screen space with Rajinikanth. The two legends last appeared together in Thillu Mullu in Tamil and Geraftaar in Hindi, both in the early eighties, and there has been no confirmation yet about a reunion in this film.
Produced by Kamal Haasan and R Mahendran under the RKFI banner, Thalaivar 173 now moves into active production mode, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated Tamil releases of Pongal 2027.
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