With Chand Tara: The Legend of Taramati reaching the Cannes Film Festival 2026, Hyderabad’s rich cultural history has found a new global platform.
The film marks theatre veteran Mohammad Ali Baig’s transition from stage to cinema while continuing his long-standing mission of reviving the Deccan’s forgotten narratives.
For decades, Padma Shri awardee Mohammad Ali Baig has built a distinct body of work around heritage storytelling, bringing alive Hyderabad’s layered past through theatre productions rooted in history, culture and identity. With Chand Tara: The Legend of Taramati, the actor, playwright and director takes that vision to cinema, with the film’s trailer premiering at the India Pavilion at Cannes.
Produced in association with Telangana Tourism and recognised by the National Film Development Corporation, the film is inspired by the life of Taramati, the legendary 17th-century singer associated with the Qutub Shahi era. Rather than focusing on royal grandeur alone, the film explores the story of an artiste remembered for her dignity, individuality and devotion to art.
Set during the reign of Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shah, grandson of Hyderabad founder Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, the film traces the relationship between the ruler and Taramati, who chose artistic independence over royal patronage. The narrative also reflects the larger cultural environment of the Deccan, highlighting the cosmopolitan ethos and strong female figures who shaped the period.
Baig not only directs and writes the film but also portrays Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shah. The project reunites him with a historical world he has explored extensively in theatre through productions centred on the Qutub Shahi and Deccan legacy.
Known for his meticulous approach to period storytelling, Baig has recreated the era through extensive research into architecture, costumes, language, music and performance traditions. The film also brings together a strong creative team featuring actors Anupam Kher, Mohan Agashe and Masood Akhtar.
Music forms a central element of the film’s world-building. Composed by Karthik Raja, the soundtrack features voices including Lucky Ali and Vasundhara Das, blending Persian influences with South Indian musical traditions to recreate the soundscape of the period.
Following international presentations of his earlier theatre works at Oxford and Edinburgh, Chand Tara’s Cannes showcase continues Baig’s effort to take Hyderabad’s cultural memory and Deccan heritage to global audiences. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release across India in June.
