By Ayesha Khan 
Chennai, November 13: The news of Sundar C stepping away from Thalaivar 173 has landed awkwardly, mostly because of how quickly it happened. The film was introduced to the world on November 5 with the kind of excitement usually reserved for festival releases. After all, it isn’t every day that Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan decide to share space again.
And then, within a week, the director is gone. No warning signs. No slow build-up. Just a short statement explaining that he had to walk away due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, as reported by Mathrubhumi. The first clue didn’t even come from him. NDTV pointed out that his wife, Khushbu Sundar, briefly posted about it before removing the update. The official confirmation only came later through his publicist.
For a project of this size, that’s a clumsy rollout. It immediately made people wonder what went wrong.
A Film Driven Almost Entirely By Emotion
There’s a reason this has become such a talking point. The film didn’t need a teaser or poster to create buzz. Those two names were enough. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan carry decades of history and personality, and the idea of seeing them together again felt like a once-in-a-generation moment. Fans reacted as if they’d been waiting since the 90s for this.
That’s why Sundar C’s exit feels heavier than a typical directorial reshuffle. This production already means more to people than whatever story it’s planning to tell. It taps into nostalgia, rivalry, reverence, political memory, everything.
So when the director leaves before anything has even begun, it rattles the mood a bit.
The Timing Raises More Questions Than Answers
The Indian Express had noted that the project was still in an early phase. That means a director leaving now isn’t supposed to derail things. But leaving eight days after a celebratory announcement isn’t common either.
The Times of India has already flagged the speculation running through the industry: talk of creative disagreements, pacing issues, scheduling trouble. None of it is confirmed. And to be fair, none of it has been denied either. The silence from the production has only amplified the guessing.
There’s no clear indication of conflict. But when something changes this suddenly, people naturally start joining the dots on their own.
The Work Ahead For The Team
The biggest challenge right now is restoring confidence. The project needs a new director, and the choice will shape everything that follows. A new filmmaker might come with their own approach, which could adjust timelines, sets, crew, tone, and even release plans.
According to the Times of India, the producers will start the search immediately. But this isn’t a situation where anyone can be plugged in. Whoever walks in will have to carry the weight of a film that’s already become symbolic, even before shooting a single scene.
Fans are understandably impatient. They weren’t expecting turbulence so early.
How The Industry Is Reading It
People inside the Tamil film world aren’t panicking. They’ve seen enough large projects reinvent themselves mid-way. But this specific one is under a brighter spotlight. When a film carries two giants, every small development becomes a headline. And this wasn’t a small development.
Partners who were likely circling the project will now wait for clearer signals. Massive productions tend to influence everything from release calendars to overseas distribution strategies. A top-level change often forces everyone to slow down and reassess their next step.
Why This Moment Stings More Than It Should
At the heart of it, this isn’t about contracts or schedules. It’s about anticipation. The announcement on November 5 didn’t just reveal a film. It reopened an entire chapter of Tamil cinema’s cultural memory. People saw hope for a kind of cinematic reunion they weren’t sure would ever happen again.
When a project built on that kind of emotional foundation stumbles, even briefly, the disappointment spreads fast. Not anger, just a drop in the excitement.
The big picture hasn’t changed. But the mood has, a little.
What Happens Now
Everyone is waiting for one thing: the name of the new director. That decision will decide how quickly the project regains momentum. A swift and confident replacement would steady the narrative. A long delay would do the opposite.
Right now, the only confirmed details are the ones repeated across major publications: Sundar C has stepped down, his reason remains vague, Khushbu’s initial post was deleted, and the production is preparing to regroup.
Everything else is speculation. The film hasn’t collapsed. It’s simply adjusting after an unexpected jolt.
And given the two stars leading it, the project isn’t going anywhere. It just needs a clean re-start.
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- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
