Dhanush’s latest venture Idli Kadai made its theatrical debut on October 1 and will hit Netflix on October 29, 2025. The announcement came from Netflix along with producers Dawn Pictures and distributor Red Giant Movies. The rapid shift to digital marks one of the fastest shifts from cinema to OTT for a major Tamil film this year.
From cinemas to streaming in record time
The film will be broadcast in multiple languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi, opening it up to a wider Indian audience. The move continues the industry’s growing preference for short release windows that keep momentum alive while rumors are fresh.
Reports suggest that Idli Kadai has already earned around Rs 75 crore worldwide, of which Rs 58 crore has come from domestic cinemas. For a film driven by emotion and grounded storytelling rather than spectacle, the numbers are considered a solid success.
A chef who finds his roots
Idli Kadai follows Murugan, a talented chef working in a Michelin star restaurant who leaves behind his luxurious life abroad to revive his father’s humble idli shop at home. What begins as a rescue mission becomes a personal rediscovery of family, tradition and purpose.
Dhanush not only stars in the film but also directs and co-produces it through his company Wunderbar Films, alongside Aakash Baskaran of Dawn Pictures. The cast includes Nithya Menen, Arun Vijay, Rajkiran, Shalini Pandey, Samuthirakani, Parthiban, Geetha Kailasam and Brigida Saga.
The music is composed by GV Prakash Kumar, marking another collaboration between him and Dhanush after Captain Miller. Kiran Koushik handles the cinematography while Prasanna GK handles the editing table. Together, the team crafts a film that combines warmth and nostalgia with Dhanush’s signature realism.
Idli Kadai’s theatrical success has been boosted by positive word of mouth, especially its emotional storytelling and relatable themes. Releasing on Netflix in less than a month, the film is expected to find an even larger audience eager for Dhanush’s grounded style of filmmaking.
As streaming platforms continue to bridge the gap between theatrical and digital releases, Idli Kadai stands as a case study in how to keep the conversation alive from the box office to the living room.
Also Read: Dhanush’s 10 Best Movies That Show His Versatility
