Shamitabh

Shamitabh
Promotional poster
Directed by	R. Balki
Produced by	Sunil Lulla Gauri Shinde Rakesh Jhunjhunwala R. K. Damani Abhishek Bachchan Dhanush
Written by	R. Balki
Starring	Dhanush Amitabh Bachchan Akshara Haasan
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography	P. C. Sreeram
Edited by	Hemanti Sarkar
Production company	Hope Productions Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Wunderbar Films Balaji Motion Pictures
Distributed by	Eros International MAD Entertainment Ltd
Release date	6 February 2015 (2015-02-06)
Running time	135 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	₹250 million

Shamitabh is a 2015 Indian satirical film written and directed by R. Balki. The film features Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Haasan, in her debut, in the lead roles. The film is jointly produced by Sunil Lulla, Balki, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, R. K. Damani, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sunil Manchanda and Dhanush under their respective production banners. Ilaiyaraaja composed the soundtrack album and background score, while cinematography was handled by P. C. Sreeram. The film released to positive reviews with critics praising Dhanush and Amitabh's performances.

Danish (Dhanush), born mute in rural Igatpuri, loves films. He acts out scenes before his class, amazing his peers and teacher, and spends all his time in the local Paradise theatre. He even tries to board a Mumbai bus to go become a film star but is pulled off by his mother's friends. When he grew up, Danish brings pakodas to the local video-store owner and watches films every day. His mother feigns illness and keeps him from going to Mumbai but when she dies, Danish leaves for Mumbai.

Danish gets into Film City past its guards and finds shelter in an actor's vanity van, hiding under the sofa. Travelling around in the empty van, Danish desperately tries to meet directors but cannot. He meets assistant director Akshara Pandey (Akshara Haasan) who is impressed by his talent. She shows his video, shot on her phone, to a director but he rejects casting a mute hero. Akshara's father, a doctor, treats Danish after he gets into a fight with security guards. On his recommendation, Danish and Akshara arrive at Finland to meet his friend who shows Danish their new "Live Voice Transfer Technology", that uses embedded micro-recorders and ear-pieces and enables mute people to communicate via a "borrowed" voice.