Apoorva Singeetam: Kamal Haasan hosts retrospective film festival, celebrates Singeetam Srinivasa Rao

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan is hosting a retrospective film festival in Chennai, celebrating the cinematic legacy of iconic filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. In the past, Kamal and Singeetam formed one of the most successful actor-director duos in the Indian film industry, delivering several hit movies.

The retrospective, titled Apoorva Singeetam, will feature some of the celebrated movies of the duo. The festival kicked off on Sunday evening with a screening of Raja Paarvai (1981). This film holds a special place in Kamal's career as it marked the inception of his production banner, Raaj Kamal Films International, and was also his 100th film.

Kamal Haasan's tribute to Singeetam Srinivasa Rao

Raja Paarvai follows the story of Raja, a visually impaired violinist portrayed by Kamal. His life takes a dramatic turn when he becomes the prime suspect in a murder case, leading to a narrative that unfolds as Raja struggles to prove his innocence while battling his own limitations.

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan sowed the seed, so Manjummel Boys could eat the fruits 30 years later

Although Raja Paarvai faced mixed reviews from critics and audiences upon its initial release in 1981, it has since attained cult status, becoming an important film in the joint filmography of Kamal and Singeetam.

Apoorva Singeetam film festival

The screening of Raja Paarvai saw the participation of the who's who of the Tamil cinema industry. Alongside Kamal and Singeetam, directors such as Mani Ratnam, Rajiv Menon, Santhana Bharathi, Chidambaram of Manjummel Boys fame, and Arun Matheswaran, known for Captain Miller, were among the high-profile attendees who had the opportunity to watch the movie alongside the masters themselves.

ALSO READ: Amid Manjummel Boys success, here's how Kamal Haasan, Ilaiyaraaja conjured up iconic Kanmani Anbodu

The screening was also followed by a Q&A session led by Kamal and Singeetam.

The week-long festival will take place at NFDC's theater in Adyar, Chennai. Pesum Padam will be screened on March 18, Apoorva Sagotharargal on March 19, and Mumbai Express on March 20.

While the movies of Kamal and Singeetam may not have always received immediate appreciation upon their initial release, they have all gone on to become timeless masterpieces, inspiring generations of filmmakers.

Watch 50k+ Titles on SonyLiv, Zee5, Fancode and 20+ OTTs and 250+ Live TV channels with OTTplay Premium subscription at just ₹75 for the first month.