Dhanush’s latest directorial Idli Kottu, a simple emotional drama, released quietly on October 1st. With little hype from promos or songs, fans are now curious if Dhanush can shine again as a director.
Idli Kottu Movie Story: Murali (Dhanush) leaves his village and father Shivakeshava (Raj Kiran) for a high-paying job, but remains unhappy. He plans to marry Shalini Pandey’s character and settle in Bangkok, but his father’s death brings him back home. The story of Idli Kottu explores his experiences in the village and what he does with the idli maker that reminds him of his father.
Performances: Except Arun Vijay and Shalini Pandey, most actors performed well, though their characters and looks didn’t fully suit the film. Geetha Kailasam, playing the mother, stood out with a strong performance, beautifully designed by Dhanush. Raj Kiran created magic with his presence despite limited screen time. Dhanush impressed with his natural acting, while Sathyaraj did a decent job in his key role.
Technical Aspects: Idli Kottu features impressive cinematography, especially the memorable cow chase sequence. While the art department worked hard, some sets and surroundings felt unnatural. GV Prakash Kumar’s songs may not stand out alone, but they enhance the film’s emotions, with the background score effectively bringing the village to life. The Telugu dialogues are well-written, often expressing feelings naturally through supporting characters.
The film’s main strength and weakness is Dhanush. As a director, he creates touching scenes, but as a writer, he falls short. Key conflicts, like why his character stayed away from his parents or the grey shades in other characters, are unclear, leaving the story emotional but lacking a strong conflict.
Analysis: In Idli Kottu, the emotional scenes are strong enough to move the audience, but without a solid conflict to support them, the film feels incomplete and less satisfying.
Verdict: Idli Kottu has several emotional and tear-jerking scenes, but the absence of a strong, well-defined conflict and unclear character motivations weaken the overall impact. While the moments touch the heart, the film struggles to fully engage or satisfy the audience.
Bottom Line: Uneven emotional experience.
Rating: 2.5/5
