M.S. biopic: the rights are still off-screen
The makers promise authenticity. A 2025 court order says a written licence may matter. The announcement does not say whether one exists.
The biopic launch is scheduled; the announcement does not identify its written licence.
Rashmika Mandanna has been announced as M.S. Subbulakshmi in a new biopic produced by Allu Aravind, Rockline Venkatesh and Bunny Vas, with Gowtam Tinnanuri directing and Anirudh Ravichander composing. Kamal Haasan is scheduled to attend the launch at Chennai’s Music Academy. The film’s title and first look were announced for September 16. (Geetha Arts; Pentagan Media)
The production’s publicity says years were spent securing “rights, permissions, literary sources and family associations”. It does not identify a single right-holder, licence, biography, recording or written consent. That omission is not a minor detail: a Bangalore civil court judgment dated October 15, 2025 restrained productions based on Subbulakshmi’s life without a proper licence from the plaintiff, while allowing projects backed by valid written licence or consent. The judgment recorded, but did not finally establish, claims involving an earlier Rockline project. (Indian Kanoon)
The makers have not publicly explained whether the current film has that licence, relies on independently researched material, or will use archival recordings. The announcement confirms only that Anirudh is composing. The film may be carefully researched. At present, the public record confirms the casting more readily than the permissions. The launch has a date; the paperwork remains a mystery guest.