Idli Kadai Movie Review: Tamil star Dhanush has once again donned the director’s hat. His directorial debut, Rayan, released last year, turned out to be a commercial success. Earlier this year, he followed it up with Jabilamma Neku Anta Kopama, which had some interesting elements but failed to resonate with a wider audience.

Now, Dhanush is back with his second directorial venture, Idli Kadai, which has been released in Telugu as Idli Kadai. The big question is, has Dhanush managed to earn full marks as a director with this latest outing? Let’s find out in this review.

Story:
Murali (Dhanush) is the son of Sivakeshav (Raj Kiran), who runs a modest idli stall in the small village of Shankarapatnam. While Sivakeshav earns a respectable living through his business, Murali dreams of a bigger life owning a car, a house, and greater success. Driven by ambition, he leaves his village and moves to Bangkok. In Bangkok, Murali works at a restaurant owned by Vishnu Vardhan (Sathyaraj) and eventually falls in love with his daughter, Meena (Shalini Pandey). Just as their marriage approaches, tragedy strikes Murali’s family back home.

This incident forces Murali to return and take responsibility for his father’s idli stall. However, Vishnu Vardhan’s son, Ashwin (Arjun Vijay), driven by ego and resentment, creates obstacles for him. How Murali handles the challenges, manages his father’s legacy, and protects the family business forms the core of the story. The film also explores the role of Kalyani (Nithya Menen), who supports Murali during his struggles, and whether Ashwin ultimately overcomes his arrogance. The answers to these questions, Murali’s journey, the family dynamics, and his fight to preserve his father’s idli kadai unfold on the big screen.

Analysis:
Dhanush has already established himself not only as a successful actor but also as a director. While his earlier directorial Rayan, received mixed reviews, it still managed to do well commercially. Similarly, even though Jabilamma Neku Anta Kopama had a different appeal, Dhanush’s story choices continue to attract a particular section of the audience.

The same can be said about his latest film, Idli Kadai. Owing to the Karur stampede incident, the film did not receive much promotion. Yet, audiences walked into theaters purely because they trusted in Dhanush’s story selection. As expected, Idli Kadai carries strong father-son emotions and authentic rural elements, making it a well-chosen subject. However, the film isn’t without its flaws. While the story is solid, the pacing feels uneven and at times, slow. With a runtime of 147 minutes, the film could have benefited from tighter editing. Still, Dhanush successfully holds the emotional thread from start to finish, ensuring the audience remains invested in Murali’s journey.

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The film metaphorically feels like eating an idli without chutney; it fills you up, but leaves you craving something extra. For Telugu audiences, the missing “chutney” represents the lack of native flavor in the storytelling. While the film emphasizes the making of idlis (symbolizing the core story), it forgets to serve the side dish that enhances the overall experience.

Performance-wise, Dhanush delivers flawlessly both as an actor and director. Nithya Menen does full justice to her role, while Arjun Vijay shines as the ego-driven antagonist. Shalini Pandey plays her part well, though her role doesn’t leave a lasting impact. Sathyaraj brings in his seasoned presence, grounding the narrative effectively. Overall, Idli Kadai may not be a perfect dish, but it carries enough heart and emotion to connect with the audience, proving once again why Dhanush’s storytelling continues to draw attention.

Plus points:
Dhanush’s acting, direction
carry the emotions till the end,
music by
Nithya Menon

Minus points:
Second half
some lag scenes
slow narration
expected story

Overall movie is good, but there are many missing elements which is not covered. Most people think that this film is incomplete.

Idli Kadai Movie Rating: 2.25 / 5

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