Kamal Haasan turned 72 on Saturday, 7 November, and marked the occasion by sharing a new poster of his upcoming film Sandiyar, directed by SU Arun Kumar. The makers also announced that the film's shoot is scheduled to commence on the same day. In the new poster, Kamal Haasan is seen wielding a pistol, giving a fierce look. Sharing the poster, the makers wrote, "6 ROUNDS, ZERO MERCY. Revenge does give satisfaction, but… Happy Birthday to our SANDIYAR! SHOOT BEGINS TODAY." The poster captures Kamal Haasan in a rugged and intense avatar, with a salt-and-pepper bearded look. He is seen leaning against the window of a car, and blood can be seen dripping near the door handle, pointing to a violent confrontation at the heart of the story.
A title reclaimed after 23 years
The title itself carries history. Sandiyar was the original title of Kamal Haasan's 2004 film Virumaandi, but he was forced to drop the name after it sparked controversy. The word Sandiyar loosely translates to rowdy or troublemaker. The regional political party Puthiya Tamizhagam, led by K Krishnasamy, alleged that the film glorified caste-based violence and claimed it could fuel tensions in southern Tamil Nadu. After a series of protests, Kamal Haasan renamed the movie Virumaandi. Reclaiming the title 23 years later is the story behind the announcement. The film that was once forced to give up the name now carries it, with the same actor in the lead.
The team behind the film
Sandiyar is directed by SU Arun Kumar, and it marks his first collaboration with Kamal Haasan. It is Arun Kumar's sixth film as a director, after his debut with Pannaiyarum Padminiyum in 2014, Sethupathi in 2016, Sindhubaadh in 2019, Chiththa in 2023 and Veera Dheera Sooran in 2025. Kamal Haasan is producing the film under his Raaj Kamal Films International banner along with R Mahendran. The project was earlier referred to by its working title, KH237. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music, continuing his collaboration with Kamal Haasan after Vikram in 2022 and Indian 2 in 2024. The crew also includes cinematographer Sunil KS, production designer CS Balachander and stunt choreographer Anbariv.
A rural revenge drama from Madurai
Sandiyar is described as a rural revenge action drama set against the backdrop of Madurai. The film is expected to reach cinemas sometime next year, though the makers have not announced a release date or the full cast and plot. The poster and the shoot announcement are the first concrete steps for the project. More details about the extended cast and the story are awaited, and the makers have kept the plot under wraps for now. Beyond Sandiyar, Kamal Haasan is set to reunite with Rajinikanth on screen in a yet-to-be-titled project directed by Nelson, their first film together since Ninaithale Inikkum in 1979. He is also returning to the Indian franchise with Shankar's Indian 3.
A birthday with a full slate ahead
Kamal Haasan was last seen in the 2025 action drama Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam. The Sandiyar announcement adds a new film to a slate that already includes the Rajinikanth reunion and Indian 3. He is also backing Dharman, starring Rajinikanth and directed by Ashwath Marimuthu, and Seyon, starring Sivakarthikeyan. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music for all three projects. For fans, the birthday brought a poster, a shoot and a title with a 23-year backstory. The film now moves from announcement to production, with the cameras rolling from the day itself.
