Introduction:
With the Dasara season bringing multiple releases, Dhanush’s self-directed film Idli Kottu quietly entered theatres on October 1, without much publicity. While his films often carry a unique flavor, the question is whether this one managed to leave a mark at the box office. Here’s the review.

Plot Summary:
Shiva Keshavulu (Raj Kiran) runs a small but popular idli shop in his hometown. His handmade idlis are so famous that even people from neighboring villages come to taste them. His son Murali (Dhanush), who is studying hotel management, dreams of turning the shop into a large franchise business. However, Shiva Keshavulu opposes the idea of selling idlis made by someone else under his name. Upset, Murali leaves for Bangkok and works with a well-known businessman (Vishnuvardhan). He also gets engaged to his daughter Meera (Shalini Pandey).

Just as their wedding is about to take place, Murali’s father passes away. When Murali returns to his village for the funeral, he faces unexpected situations. His bond with his father, his relationship with Akash (Arun Vijay), and his childhood friend Kalyani (Nithya Menen) form the emotional core of the story. What choices Murali makes and how his journey unfolds forms the rest of the film.

Analysis:
Idli Kottu is clearly a personal story for Dhanush, inspired by his own roots and the essence of his hometown. The setup nostalgia, memories of one’s village, and the emotional bond with family had the potential to deliver a heartwarming film.The first half feels moderately engaging, with a feel-good atmosphere. But the second half falters with stretched, heavy, and routine scenes lacking genuine emotion. 

The screenplay loses direction, and the bond between Dhanush and his village, which should have been the emotional backbone, isn’t explored strongly enough.Instead of focusing on tender emotions, the film diverts into ego clashes and action sequences, which weaken its impact. Had Dhanush kept the narrative simple and emotion-driven, Idli Kottu could have appealed strongly to family audiences.

Performances:
Dhanush shines as Murali, effortlessly switching between a corporate professional and a rural youth. His natural acting brings credibility to the role. Nithya Menen, as Kalyani, delivers a graceful performance, while Shalini Pandey as Meera is adequate but has limited scope. Sathyaraj as Vishnuvardhan and Arun Vijay as Akash leave a mark. Parthiban and Samuthirakani play their parts well.

Technical Aspects:
GV Prakash Kumar’s background score elevates the film’s mood where the script falls short. Kiran Koushik’s cinematography deserves special mention for beautifully capturing village life and contrasts with urban settings. Editing, however, could have been sharper, especially in the second half.

Final Verdict:
Idli Kottu had all the ingredients to be a heartfelt, feel-good entertainer rooted in emotions. But the lack of freshness in the story and missing emotional depth make it an average experience.