APJ Abdul Kalam biopic announced at Cannes Film Festival 2025 — cast, director, title, first poster, other details here

Cannes Film Festival 2025: A biopic on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Missile Man of India and the country's eleventh president, is officially in production. The film was announced on May 21 at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2025. The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which started on May 13, is scheduled to conclude on May 24.

Cast and title of APJ Abdul Kalam biopic

National award-winning actor Dhanush will play the title role of APJ Abdul Kalam in the upcoming biopic, titled ‘Kalam,' which carries the tagline “The Missile Man of India.” The story based on Kalam will be produced under the T-Series banner.

The producer, Abhishek Agarwal, known for The Kashmir Files and The Delhi Files, will collaborate with Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Anil Sunkara on the legendary tale. Saiwyn Quadras, of ‘Neerja’ fame, will pen the screenplay.

Bharat Ratna awardee Abdul Kalam made a mark as one of the chief architects of the Indian space programme. He was closely involved in India’s civilian space programme and military missile development efforts and played a significant role while serving in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

About the movie Kalam

Director Om Raut, in a post on X, stated, “From Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the journey of a legend begins… India’s Missile Man is coming to the silver screen. Dream big. Rise higher. #KALAM - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮.”

First poster of the movie Kalam:

The movie will explore the landmark moments of Kalam's life, programmes and the period of presidency. The icon was a noted poet, teacher and a dreamer who sought to bring changes.

“In an era starved of true statesmen, Kalam stood above politics and pettiness. He was a man who was known for the power of education, excellence and indigenous innovation," the filmmakers said in a statement.

Giving details about the narrative, Om Raut added, "To bring his story to the screen is an artistic challenge and a moral and cultural responsibility. It’s a story that’s inspirational for global youth and especially the youth of the Global South. It's the most important experience of my life. His life is a lesson that is bound to connect with people no matter who they are and where they come from.”