Thanksgiving Event for the Movie ‘Habeebi’!
A thanksgiving event was held for the film Habeebi, directed by Meera Kathiravan and starring Kasthuri Raja, Malavika Manoj, and others. The film was produced by Nesam Entertainment, GKS Pros Productions, and Romeo Pictures.
Lyricist Yugabharathi said, “I have known Meera Kathiravan since his days as an assistant director. He has worked hard for years to achieve this kind of success. My thanks go to everyone who made this possible. It is particularly delightful to see Kasthuri Raja in an acting role; he is sure to be the go-to choice for ‘father’ roles in future successful films. Meera Kathiravan has portrayed the lifestyle of the Muslim community in a way that is unprecedented in Tamil cinema. There was a long-standing debate in Tamil cinema about why Muslims were consistently portrayed as terrorists after the 1980s. Prominent directors felt that only someone with intimate knowledge of Muslim life could make an authentic film about them, so they encouraged Meera Kathiravan to take on the project. He agreed, and Habibi is the story he had carried in his heart ever since. It is deeply satisfying to see it released and succeed after six years.”
Lyricist Karthik Netha said, “Meera Kathiravan has turned a life he personally witnessed and experienced into a film, without forcefully pushing a specific agenda. He wrote the screenplay realizing that this film is something everyone needs. We live in an era where violence is celebrated and normalized, often providing a perverse sense of gratification. Amidst this, Habibi has arrived as a film that offers us all solace. Only when this film achieves significant box-office success will more movies of this kind be made. I urge those who haven’t seen it yet to go to the theaters and watch it.” Editor Mathi said, “I am happy that my second film turned out to be a historic success. Thank you for the opportunity. Best wishes to everyone who worked on the film.”
Art Director Appunni Sajan said, “I am happy that this film has achieved massive success. Best wishes to everyone.”
Actress Anusreeya Rajan said, “The support fans are showing for this film is truly gratifying. Thank you all.”
Actress Malavika Manoj said, “This is my debut film. It is deeply satisfying to see it released after all these years and to have earned so much love from so many people. Thank you.”
Actor Eesa said, “Since the film’s release, many people recognize and congratulate me; they treat me with the affection one would show a family member. I thank the director for the opportunity, the media for taking the film to the audience, and my fellow actors.”
Sound Mixer Udhayakumar said, “The credit for the sound mixing goes entirely to the director; he decided the precise sound levels for every scene. Sam C.S.’s background score was also a major strength. Thank you.”
Actress Jayashree said, “I didn’t expect to be given such a significant role in this film. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Actress Malar said, “I thank director Meera Kathiravan for choosing me for this role. I am a YouTuber; many people recognized me from the film and offered their appreciation. Please help take this film to even more people. Thank you!”
Actor Kaushik said, “This is my first film. I thank Meera Kathiravan for the opportunity and the film crew for their cooperation.”
Actor Sun Sahul said, “The media and cinema are like family to me! I joined this project because it is a story rooted in my own soil. Beyond just being a film about the land, it portrays the Islamic way of life. Because it speaks to universal themes—relationships, joys, and sorrows—the whole world is celebrating it. Thank you for the opportunity.” Siddha physician Sivaraman said, “It was Director Ram who introduced this film to me. Watching it with my family left me deeply moved. Tirunelveli is my hometown, and I am familiar with the lifestyle in Kadayanallur; I have many Muslim friends. I have often been distressed by how Muslims are portrayed in recent films, but this movie offers a sense of relief from that. Films like this deserve great success.”
Director Tamil remarked, “It has taken a century for a full-length film centered on the Muslim community to appear in Tamil cinema. It takes courage to portray an authentic way of life on screen without resorting to fiction. The actors have delivered outstanding performances. I wish the film immense success.”
Director Raju Murugan said, “Meera has been a friend of mine for many years. Every film she has directed in Tamil is significant. She has constantly been navigating the balance between quality cinema and commercial viability. Habibi has brought her well-deserved, resounding success. Muslims hold a rich history in Tamil literature—spanning from the Seerapuranam to the works of Thoppil Mohamed Meeran—and have played a significant role in Tamil Nadu’s political history. Yet, there has been a lingering regret that this representation was missing from Tamil cinema. Portraying them simply as human beings, and their…”
“For me, true Dalit or Islamic cinema is that which authentically reflects the lifestyle and emotions of the community on screen. I view the film Madras as a landmark in Tamil cinema; similarly, Habeebi marks the beginning of a new era for Islamic cinema. I see the film’s success amidst so much noise as a sign of great hope. After a hundred years, this film has opened a significant new door. May many more socially conscious films follow. Kasthuri Raja sir has delivered a magnificent performance in this movie. Meera should create many more works like this.”
Producer Suresh Kamatchi said, “I knew Kasthuri Raja sir as a director, but seeing him as an actor in this film left me awestruck. Audiences will certainly embrace good films; people have immense faith in cinema. It is our duty to understand this and make films with a sense of social responsibility. There is no need to view this merely as an ‘Islamic film’; it is a story about a community within Tamil society that has embraced a particular faith. Cinema has played a major role in portraying Muslims as terrorists. We must ensure this film becomes a huge success to help rectify that perception.”
Actress Dhanashree said, “My thanks to the entire film crew!”
Director and actor Kasthuri Raja said, “First, I thank my wife for allowing me the freedom to act in this film. I also thank all my co-stars for their cooperation. After the release, I watched the movie with my sons, daughters, and grandchildren. My daughter Vimala Geetha was moved to tears. Dhanush watched it and remarked that I had acted in a film that brought me honor. I thank Meera Kathiravan for giving me this opportunity. This film and the character of Yusuf feel like a rebirth for me. I sometimes feel as though I have truly transformed into a Muslim in real life. I often wonder if I should adopt the name ‘Yusuf’ as an actor, just as I am known as ‘Kasthuri Raja’ as a director.” “My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this film—Meera Kathiravan—possible. This film is going to garner numerous awards.”
Producer Karuppasamy said, “The film Paranthu Po was a success. Following that, Habeebi has also proven to be a hit for us. I thank everyone who worked hard behind this project.”
Producer Ibrahim said, “I thank all the media outlets and fans who took this film to the public and made it a success!”
Director Meera Kathiravan said, “I wish for this to be considered my debut film in the 110-year history of Tamil cinema. The stage at Prasad Labs is familiar to me, yet this feeling is entirely new, as this is my first-ever ‘thank you’ event. I feel a sense of bashfulness when veterans like Kasthuri Raja refer to me as ‘Guru’; this is a first for me. I thank my family for allowing me to enter the world of cinema. My gratitude goes to the entire film crew. Producer Suresh Kamatchi stepped in to provide financial support during a critical moment. The film gained visibility only after Director Ram championed it; he didn’t do this simply because he is a friend—he does the same for all good films. Cinema has played a major role in portraying Muslims as terrorists, and it is up to us to change that narrative. I consider it a huge success that this film has shifted the perspective regarding Muslims. Thank you all.”
