The teaser for Kaantha just dropped, and it’s packed with vintage vibes, emotional chaos, and one explosive father-son showdown. Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, this Tamil-Telugu bilingual is produced by none other than Rana Daggubati and Dulquer Salmaan, who also stars in the film alongside Samuthirakani.
And honestly? It’s not your typical period drama.
Set in 1950s Madras, Kaantha doesn’t just play with retro aesthetics—it dives deep into the emotional wreckage between a strict filmmaker father and his superstar son. From what we saw in the teaser, this one’s less about lights and cameras, and more about personal demons and broken dreams.
A Story Where Cinema Meets Conflict
The teaser opens with a fictional horror film called Saantha, touted as the first horror flick being made in Tamil-Telugu. But before the screams begin on screen, they start behind the scenes.
Samuthirakani plays the respected, temperamental director everyone calls Ayya. He’s old-school, intense, and clearly carries years of unspoken pain. His son—played by Dulquer Salmaan—was trained under his watchful eye to become a film star. But now, all that prep seems to have gone sour.
Despite Dulquer’s respect for his father, Ayya isn’t ready to return the sentiment. There’s a moment in the teaser where Ayya literally chokes his son in a fit of rage. In another scene, he hurls furniture mid-argument. It’s personal. Raw. And real.
Dulquer vs Samuthirakani: Clash of Titans
What makes Kaantha so gripping is that the stakes aren’t fictional. This is about family. About legacy. And about ego. The kind of ego that simmers silently before exploding in front of a camera crew.
And when Bhagyashri Borse’s character—an actress caught in the middle—gets promoted as both “hero and heroine,” Dulquer’s character snaps. He goes rogue, renaming the film Kaantha, stripping it from his father’s control. It’s a bold move. One that sparks a full-blown cinematic rebellion.
From those few seconds of footage, you can already feel that Kaantha isn’t just going to be another retro drama. It’s a tribute to cinema’s golden age while questioning the price of ambition and artistic control.
Who’s Behind the Madness?
Director Selvamani Selvaraj seems to have a strong grip on storytelling rooted in the past but laced with present-day themes. Rana Daggubati’s involvement as producer suggests high production values, and Dulquer’s performance promises emotional weight and screen presence.
The visual style leans heavily into vintage studio sets, bold lighting, and carefully crafted costume design. You feel the 1950s all around—from the classic filmmaking tech to the tension bubbling under star-studded surfaces.
Why Everyone’s Talking About Kaantha
Apart from being released on Dulquer Salmaan’s birthday (July 28), the teaser’s strength lies in how it teases emotional turmoil without overexplaining. It lets the drama breathe.
Also, the idea of a film within a film—where real-life father-son tensions play out while making a horror movie—is a meta move that feels fresh and layered.
Will Dulquer’s character win this personal battle? Will Ayya accept that times have changed? Or is this feud too far gone? The teaser leaves you asking all the right questions.
One to Watch Out For
If you’re into period dramas, industry politics, or just enjoy watching powerhouse performances collide on screen, Kaantha is one to keep on your radar. The teaser hints at a stylish, gritty film that’s not afraid to confront uncomfortable truths.
Whether you’re Team Ayya or Team Son, one thing’s for sure—Kaantha is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally charged and visually rich films of the year.
