Rashmika Mandanna to Play M.S. Subbulakshmi in New Biopic

Rashmika Mandanna is set to play one of Indian classical music’s most revered figures. The actor will step into the role of M.S. Subbulakshmi, the legendary Carnatic vocalist and Bharat Ratna awardee, in the pan-India biopic MS – A Legacy On Screen, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri.

Mandanna announced the project on Instagram with a carousel that opened with a photograph of Subbulakshmi. In the frame, the actor is seen taking blessings in front of the portrait before the post moves into stills from a film event. Her caption stayed simple: “Eternally grateful for this blessing of an opportunity!”

The response from fans was immediate and affectionate. Many wrote that they believed in her, and one supporter commented that it felt as though “Amma” herself had chosen Mandanna for the role.

Music is not being left to chance

A story centred on M.S. Subbulakshmi cannot treat music as a supporting detail. Anirudh Ravichander has joined the project as composer, and the film marks the first collaboration between Mandanna, Tinnanuri and Ravichander for a single feature.

According to Deccan Chronicle, the makers weighed two approaches early on. Mandanna could sing for the film herself, or she could lip-sync to Subbulakshmi’s original recordings. The archival lip-sync route was eventually abandoned as impractical, and Mandanna is now undergoing intensive Carnatic vocal training.

The decision matters because it suggests the team is investing in preparation rather than relying purely on the legend’s recorded voice. For audiences, that could shape whether the screen takes on a lived-in quality.

What the biopic will cover

• The film will explore different chapters of M.S. Subbulakshmi’s life and career.
• Gowtam Tinnanuri directs the pan-India project.
• Anirudh Ravichander is scoring the music.
• Mandanna’s vocal preparation underlines the emphasis on authenticity.

Subbulakshmi’s contribution to Carnatic music was recognised with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. That legacy gives the film a built-in emotional resonance for Indian audiences, and also sets a high bar for its lead performance.

For Hindi film fans, the casting is also part of a larger pattern. Pan-India projects are increasingly looking beyond the usual commercial templates and drawing on cultural figures whose stories are still widely loved. That gives a young star like Mandanna a chance to balance box-office pull with a role that demands discipline.

Source: The Times of India