Tamil star Dhanush’s latest family drama Idli Kadai (released as Idli Kottu in Telugu) has delivered a solid performance at the box office. Directed by Dhanush himself, the film features Nithya Menen as the female lead and boasts an impressive ensemble including Arun Vijay, Sathyaraj, Samuthirakani, Shalini Pandey, R. Parthiban, and Rajkiran. Produced jointly by Aakash Baskaran and Dhanush, the movie is set against a rural backdrop and blends comedy, drama, and action while highlighting strong family emotions and realistic storytelling.
The film’s theatrical run saw a worldwide gross of ₹71.32 crore, with ₹12.5 crore coming from overseas markets. In India, it collected around ₹50.48 crore net, driven by a first‑day tally of ₹11 crore and a strong opening weekend. Critics gave mixed to positive reviews, praising Dhanush’s direction, his emotional performance, and GV Prakash Kumar’s music, while noting some clichés in the second half. The heartfelt narrative resonated well with audiences, especially in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities, fuelling solid word‑of‑mouth and a steady theatrical hold.
Following its four‑week theatrical stint, Idli Kadai made its digital debut on Netflix on 29 October 2025. Available in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam, the film quickly climbed to the second spot on Netflix’s global trending list, winning hearts across languages. Viewers have highlighted the film’s authentic rural flavour, emotional depth, and the chemistry between Dhanush and Nithya Menen as standout elements.
The success on OTT has further cemented Dhanush’s reputation as a versatile actor‑director capable of delivering both commercial appeal and heartfelt storytelling. Fans are now eagerly awaiting his next project, speculating whether he will explore another genre or continue focusing on rooted family narratives.