Rashmika Mandanna calls it an ‘absolute honour’ to play legendary Carnatic singer MS Subbulakshmi in biopic

Gowtam Tinnanuri will direct the biopic, while Anirudh Ravichander will compose the music.

Actor Rashmika Mandanna is set to portray legendary Carnatic singer and Bharat Ratna awardee MS Subbulakshmi in her biopic. The actor took to Instagram on Tuesday to confirm that she will be playing the iconic singer in the biopic drama, calling it an ‘absolute honour’.

Rashmika announces biopic

The title and the first look will be launched on September 16.

The post had details about the crew of the film. The film will be directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, who has made films like Kingdom (starring Vijay Deverakonda) and Jersey (starring Nani). Anirudh Ravichander will compose the music of the film. The title and first look will be announced on September 16, at 5.15 pm.

In the caption, Rashmika wrote, "Some legends live beyond time. Some melodies live beyond generations. And some stories wait for the right moment to be told. Today, that journey begins and What an absolute honour it is."

MS Subbulakshmi, short for Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was an Indian Carnatic singer of incredible repute. She was born in Madurai in September 16, 1916. By the end of her nearly 70-year-long career, she had become the face of Carnatic music, taking the ancient, south-Indian tradition well beyond its select audience.

She sang in Europe, North America and at the United Nations General Assembly. Her voice, which was the stuff of countless, often exclusive, classical concerts, also awoke devout Hindu households across the country with perfect renditions of Sanskrit hymns.

She immortalised many songs, including 'Nagendra Haraya,' 'Siva Panchakshara,' and innumerable songs by the poet Annamacharya, and in her career teeming with accolades was awarded the country's highest honour Bharat Ratna, in 1998. She was the first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna followed by being the first Indian musician to be awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award.

The passing of her husband, Kalki Sadasivam in 1997 led her to permanently retire from public concerts, the last of it being held the same year. She passed away on December 11, 2004 at the age of 88.