Who is Cibi Chakaravarthi? He is set to direct Rajinikanth’s Thalaivar 173 after Sundar C exit. Check his education and career

After weeks of uncertainty and multiple changes behind the scenes, Rajinikanth’s much-anticipated next project has finally found its director. Filmmaker Cibi Chakaravarthi has been officially announced as the man who will helm the superstar’s upcoming film, tentatively titled Thalaivar 173. The announcement, made on Saturday (January 3), brought clarity to months of speculation and marked a major turning point for the project.

Thalaivar 173 official announcement and poster

Produced by Kamal Haasan under his banner Raaj Kamal Films International, Thalaivar 173 is expected to be a big-ticket Pongal release in 2027. The production house confirmed the news with a brief yet celebratory social media post. Before Cibi was finalised, several renowned names such as Nelson Dilipkumar and Lokesh Kanagaraj had been linked to the project, adding to the anticipation around who would ultimately take charge.



The film, however, has had a rocky road to this point. Actor-director Sundar C was initially announced as the director in November last year.

While the decision drew mixed reactions from fans, it was short-lived. Just days later, Sundar C stepped away from the project, citing unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances. This led to rumours that his script had been rejected, speculation that was later dismissed by his wife, actor-politician Khushbu Sundar, who termed the chatter baseless. Kamal Haasan also addressed the situation calmly, stating that as a producer, he believes the healthiest approach is to move forward with a script that the lead actor truly connects with.

Following Sundar C’s exit, the spotlight turned to Cibi Chakaravarthi, a filmmaker who has long spoken about his admiration for Rajinikanth. After the announcement, Cibi shared an emotional message on social media, recalling how meeting Rajinikanth as a fan once felt like an impossible dream.

He revealed that he had earlier come close to directing the superstar but had missed the chance, adding that finally getting the opportunity now felt surreal. Cibi also quoted Rajinikanth as telling him that dreams do come true and miracles do happen, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for trusting him with such a significant film.

All you need to know about Cibi Chakaravarthi

Cibi Chakaravarthi made his directorial debut in Kollywood with Don in 2022. Starring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, along with SJ Suryah, Samuthirakani, and Priyanka Mohan, the coming-of-age entertainer struck a chord with audiences and emerged as a commercial success. Following the film’s release, Cibi had shared that Rajinikanth appreciated Don and spoke to him at length about cinema and storytelling, a moment the young director has often described as life-changing.


Interestingly, Cibi’s journey into films was not a conventional one. He reportedly holds a civil engineering degree from Bannari Amman Institute of Technology and later transitioned into the film industry, driven by his passion for storytelling and cinema.

On the work front, Rajinikanth is gearing up for Jailer 2, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, while Kamal Haasan is currently shooting for a yet-to-be-announced project after his recent appearance in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life. With Thalaivar 173, Cibi Chakaravarthi now steps into the biggest challenge of his career. Stay tuned!