Moneycontrol PRO
Swing Trading 101
Swing Trading 101

Thalaivar 173: Cibi Chakravarty to direct Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan's most awaited film

Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 173 has gained fresh momentum with the makers officially announcing Cibi Chakravarty as the new director. Backed by Raaj Kamal Films International, the film is now gearing up for a planned Pongal 2027 release.

January 03, 2026 / 11:48 IST
Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan star in Thalaivar 173
Snapshot AI
  • Cibi Chakravarty named director for Rajinikanth's Thalaivar 173
  • Production resumes after Sundar C's exit; release planned for Pongal 2027
  • Raaj Kamal Films International and Kamal Haasan collaborate on the project

Rajinikanth's Thalaivar 173, which has been talked about a lot, is back in the news. The makers have officially named Cibi Chakravarty as the film's director. The confirmation, which was shared on social media on January 3, gives new life and clarity to the long-awaited Rajinikanth movie, which had been in limbo for the past few weeks.

The film was made by Raaj Kamal Films International, which is run by Kamal Haasan. It is a big deal that two of India's most famous movie stars worked together on it. Along with the news, the creators shared a mysterious message that said, "Every hero has a family." This hinted at the emotional depth that will be at the heart of the story.

The update comes after the project hit a temporary snag when its original director, Sundar C, left because of creative differences. His leaving had slowed down the movie's progress and made people wonder what would happen next, but the latest news seems to have put those worries to rest.

Cibi Chakravarty became famous for making the hit movie Don. He is known for making interesting commercial entertainers. Reports say that his hiring has made the production team feel more confident because they think his storytelling style fits well with the size and expectations of a movie with Rajinikanth.

Also Read: Producer Naga Vamsi confirms Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom 2 is shelved, says "There is no point in talking about it"

Pre-production is now in full swing again with a new director in charge. Reports say that the team is working quickly to make up for lost time and plans to release the game on Pongal 2027. As Thalaivar 173 moves forward with a new purpose, excitement grows for what is sure to be a big movie event.

After how Coolie did at the box office, it is prestigious for Rajinikanth to deliver a blockbuster at the box office, and hopefully, Jailer 2 is going to break all the existing records.

Bhawana Tanmayi is a Hyderabad-based freelance entertainment journalist. Views expressed are personal.
first published: Jan 3, 2026 11:48 am

Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!

Subscribe to Tech Newsletters

  • On Saturdays

    Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.

  • Daily-Weekdays

    Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.

Advisory Alert: It has come to our attention that certain individuals are representing themselves as affiliates of Moneycontrol and soliciting funds on the false promise of assured returns on their investments. We wish to reiterate that Moneycontrol does not solicit funds from investors and neither does it promise any assured returns. In case you are approached by anyone making such claims, please write to us at grievanceofficer@nw18.com or call on 02268882347