Movie Name: Idli Kottu
Rating: 2/5
Cast: Dhanush, Nithya Menen, Rajkiran, Sathyaraj, Arun Vijay, Shalini Pandey, Samuthirakani, and others
Director: Dhanush
Produced By: Dhanush, Aakash Baskaran
Release Date: 1st October 2025
Dhanush presents the emotional drama, Idli Kottu (Idli Kadai in Tamil). While the film’s trailer created decent expectations, it failed to generate significant buzz among audiences. Let’s dive into the review to see how the movie turned out.
Story:
The story of Idli Kottu follows Murali, who moves to Bangkok after completing his hotel management studies. However, he fails to live up to his father’s expectations. Realizing this too late, he returns to his hometown and takes over his father’s idli shop. The film then focuses on the conflicts that arise from this decision.
Performances:
Dhanush, as usual, puts in effort, but both his character and performance feel flat. Nithya Menen plays a supportive role, but her character offers her no real challenge. Shalini Pandey suits the role of a spoiled rich girl, though the film doesn’t give her much scope to shine. Arun Vijay does a decent job as the villain, but his role lacks the impact needed to stand out.
Rajkiran delivers strongly in the most crucial role, as expected, while Sathyaraj looks fine as a wealthy father. However, Samuthirakani, Parthiban, Ilavarasu, and the other supporting actors don’t leave much of an impression.
Analysis:
Dhanush directs Idli Kottu while also playing the lead role. From the very beginning, the story feels predictable, aiming for emotional appeal in a familiar way. Unfortunately, the film leans too heavily on melodrama in the first half, though a few emotional moments do connect. The interval action sequence feels forced and only hints at what’s to come.
The second half starts in a routine manner and drags on without much strength. The subplot involving the attack on Dhanush, the villagers, and Sathyaraj’s family comes across as exaggerated and unnecessary. Arun Vijay’s performance, along with his character, lacks the intensity expected from a strong villain. The romance between Dhanush and Nithya Menen is predictable, while the emotional bond with the villagers is underdeveloped.
The narrative slows down further during the Samuthirakani track, and the climax involving Arun Vijay and Shalini Pandey ends on a weak note
Positives:
- A Few Emotional Scenes
- Performances
Negatives:
- Overboard Melodrama
- Outdated Writing
- Forced Emotions
- Dragged Narration
Idli Kottu Movie Review and Verdict:
Overall, Idli Kottu (or Idli Kadai in Tamil) could have been a touching film. However, apart from a few emotional scenes, it feels clichéd, outdated, and stretched.