‘Kaantha’ teaser: Dulquer Salmaan leads a stylish period thriller set in Tamil cinema’s golden age

The teaser of director Selvamani Selvaraj’s upcoming period drama 'Kaantha' was unveiled on Monday, coinciding with lead actor Dulquer Salmaan’s birthday. The film, jointly produced by Spirit Media and Dulquer’s Wayfarer Films, is set to release on September 12.

Set in 1950s Madras, 'Kaantha' follows the behind-the-scenes drama of a fictional film production. The story begins with the announcement of a movie titled 'Saantha', touted as Tamil cinema’s first horror film, being made by Modern Studios. Samuthirakani plays Ayya, the film’s director and writer, while Dulquer stars as its leading man.

The teaser hints at creative clashes between Ayya and the actor, who were once close collaborators but are now at odds.

Ayya is shown as the mentor who once shaped Dulquer’s career, but their visions for the project increasingly diverge. While Ayya insists on giving the heroine a more central role, Dulquer is seen making his own changes to the film. In a symbolic move, he even changes the film’s title from 'Saantha' to 'Kaantha'.

Described as a gripping dramatic thriller, 'Kaantha' promises to transport viewers into a pivotal era in Tamil cinema, where tradition clashed with modernity. The film stars Bhagyashri Borse alongside Dulquer and is backed by a strong technical crew. Cinematography is handled by Dani Sanchez-Lopez, music is composed by Jhanu Chanthar, with art direction by Tha. Ramalingam and editing by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalves.