“Shruti Haasan is not just my daughter; she’s a star”

…said Kamal Haasan at the launch of his upcoming trilingual, Sabash Naidu, organised at the site of the new Nadigar Sangam building.

Actor Kamal Haasan unveiled the title and motion poster for his next movie at the site of the new Nadigar Sangam building on Friday.

The film, titled Sabash Naidu in Tamil and Telugu, and Sabash Kundu in Hindi, was called a “humorous thriller” by Kamal. Raaj Kamal Films International is producing the film, in partnership with Lyca productions. The film was confirmed to be a spin-off of Dasavathaaram , with Kamal reprising the role of Balram Naidu in this film.

At the event, Kamal revealed that the title was suggested by Ilaiyaraaja, who has been signed as the music composer of this film, marking a return to a Kamal film after 11 years. National Award-winning director T. K. Rajeev Kumar, who previously worked in the 1989 Malayalam hit

Chanakyan, will direct the trilingual.

Sabash Naidu has Kamal teaming up onscreen with daughter Shruti Haasan for the first time. “Shruti is now a huge star; not just my daughter, and her appeal as a star is being used by Raaj Kamal films,” Kamal said. Shruthi, for her part, called the association “coming full circle”.

The cast of the film also includes Ramya Krishnan, Brahmanandham, Malayalam actor Siddique and Bharat Dabholkar of Baba fame. The project is expected to hit the floors at Los Angeles during the second week of May.

The president of Nadigar Sangam, Nasser, thanked his “mentor” Kamal Haasan for choosing to launch his movie at the Nadigar Sangam site, describing the act as a “symbolic initiative to unite all actors in the raising of the association building”. Kamal himself called the event “a first cry for unity”. On the occasion, Subaskaran, founder of Lyca productions, donated Rs. 1 crore at the event to fund the building.