Kamal Haasan's Dream Film Stalled for 18 Years

Kamal Haasan, celebrated for his visionary filmmaking, has had several projects stalled, including an ambitious film based on Kalaripayattu titled 'The 19th Step.' This historical film, penned by Jnanpith Award winner MT Vasudevan Nair and helmed by Bharat Bala, was initially slated for a second-half 2009 production start. Walt Disney India was set to finance it, with Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano and Asin Thottumkal in lead roles, and Haasan portraying a martial arts guru. The narrative was to follow a Japanese samurai learning Kalaripayattu secrets in Kerala.

The project faced significant hurdles, with production halting approximately 20 days before its scheduled commencement. Bharat Bala confirmed the delay in a March 2013 interview, citing difficulties that led to shelving the film, though he expressed hope of revisiting it with a fresh cast. He explained the title referred to transcending the 18 steps of Kalaripayattu mastery to achieve realization.

In 2016, Philip Lee, known for producing Hollywood blockbusters, joined the project, envisioning it as an Indo-Chinese collaboration. However, this collaboration also failed to launch the film. Bharat Bala later revealed in a 2019 interview that Haasan's departure for another project contributed to the film's indefinite delay, comparing its potential to 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.' The passing of MT Vasudevan Nair in December 2024 prompted Bala to reminisce about their unfulfilled collaboration on 'The 19th Step.'