The upcoming Tamil romantic family drama Habeebi has cleared all its censorship formalities with a clean “U” certificate and is officially scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2026. Along with the date announcement, the makers also released a comprehensive three-minute-long trailer.
The Story and Cultural Setup:
- The Plot: The story takes place in a Muslim neighborhood in southern Tamil Nadu. The plot revolves around a young romance that creates a division within the community, exploring the conflicts and emotional struggles that follow.
- The Core Vision: Written by V.S. Mohamed Ameen and directed by Meera Kathiravan (known for Aval Peyar Tamizharasi and Vizhithiru), the film is a deeply personal project for the director. It is designed to authentically showcase the unique life, traditions, and emotional landscape of Tamil-speaking Muslims through sincere storytelling.
The Cast and Characters:
- The Lead Actors: The film features actress Malavika Manoj (fondly nicknamed Nilavu Pulla or Moon Child, who plays the character Nilofer Nisha) alongside veteran filmmaker and actor Kasthuri Raja in central, pivotal roles.
- Other Cast Members: The movie also stars Esha, Dhanashree Sudhakaran, Arulkumar, and Anusreya Rajan.
The Technical and Production Team:
- Producers: The project is a joint production backed by Romeo Pictures (led by producer-distributor Raahul), Nesam Entertainment Pvt Ltd, and GKS Bros Production.
- Music: The soundtrack and background score are composed by Sam C.S. A major musical highlight of the film is its first single, titled Vallone (written by Yugabharathi), which used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recreate the iconic voice of the legendary late singer Nagore E.M. Hanifa.
- Lyrics: Additional songs feature lyrics written by Karthik Netha and Mashook Rahman.
- Cinematography: The camera work is handled by Mahesh Muthuswami.
- Editor: Mathi VS.
- Art Direction: Appunni Sajan.
- Sound Design & Mixing: Handled by T. Udaykumar, with sound effects by Arul Murugan.
The clean censorship rating from the Censor Board officials came with appreciation for the film’s presentation as a wholesome family entertainer filled with meaningful values, setting the stage for its worldwide release.