Movie Name : Idli Kottu
Release Date : Oct 1, 2025
Cast : Dhanush, Nithya Menon, Arun Vijay, Shalini Pandey, Sathyaraj, Rajkiran etc.
Director : Dhanush
Music Director : G.V Prakash Kumar
Andhrawatch.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
In Shankarapuram, Shivakeshavulu (Raj Kiran) runs the most famous Idli Kottu in the entire district. His son Murali (Dhanush), however, doesn’t want to confine himself to the small-town eatery. After completing his Hotel Management course, he works hard for years and earns a top position at AFC, a popular restaurant chain in Bangkok owned by Vishnuvardhan (Sathyaraj).
Impressed by Murali’s skills and character, Vishnuvardhan not only values him as an employee but also wishes to make him part of the family by marrying him to his daughter Meera (Shalini Pandey). With his wedding day fast approaching, Murali suddenly loses both his parents due to a tragedy. After returning to the village, he decides to remain there to fulfill his father’s last wish, which is to stay back and take care of the Idli Kottu.
But his return is far from smooth. Ashwin (Arun Vijay), Vishnuvardhan’s son, attempts to ruin the food place and exile Murali. How Murali overcomes these hurdles, earns the villagers’ affection and support, and carries on with the legacy of his father is the heart of the story. An additional layer of complexity to the drama is added with the entry of Kalyani (Nithya Menen), whose arrival turns Murali’s saga in unpredictable directions. These answers drive the film’s plot.
Review:
Dhanush shines in his performance, balancing emotional depth and mass appeal flawlessly. His ability to layer the character and deliver exactly what fans expect is truly commendable.
The other positive thing is the balanced characterization. Dhanush makes sure that each character has significance and contributes to the narrative. His screen presence with Nithya Menen, again sparkles. Nithya is lovely as a village girl, and Shalini Pandey is a perfect fit for her character. Sathyaraj is impressive as a strong businessman, and Arun Vijay gives depth to his character.
One of the movie’s key emotional anchors is Raj Kiran’s role as Dhanush’s father, which leaves an impression with its emotional sequences and soulful monologues. To accompany, Samuthirakani gives a worthy performance.
The biggest takeaway from this film is of course Dhanush himself, who once again justifies to all of us why he is India’s most versatile actor. He takes a simple story, and turns into a thriller and emotional roller coaster that truly is felt by the audience. In the first half of the movie we are treated to some touching scenes, meaningful dialogues, and heartfelt moments that especially resonate with middle-class families.
Conversely, the latter part of the film decreases in speed. A 20–30-minute interval is a bit slow, and some of the nativity-oriented scenes would look melodramatic to Telugu viewers. Some of the sequences featuring Arun Vijay and Sathyaraj seem unoriginal, recalling similar tale paths.
Technically, the movie ranks high. With excellent production values, GV Prakash’s music uplifts the emotions, and Kiran Koushik’s cinematography captures the rural and urban landscapes with ease. The Telugu dubbing is excellent with forceful dialogues that appeal at once to the audience.
Dhanush as a director exhibits great improvement over his previous Raayan, presenting a much more refined and emotionally charged product.
Overall the movie is a touching family drama. Barring slight lapses in the second half, it is a well-worthy and emotionally engaging watch, and Dhanush once again demonstrates that he knows how to hit the right note with his audiences.