The trailer for Idli Kadai (Idli Kottu in Telugu), starring and directed by Dhanush, strongly suggests thematic similarities to Mahesh Babu's 2019 film Maharshi. Both stories center on a protagonist who rises from humble, rural origins to achieve professional success in the corporate or culinary world, only to face a crisis that prompts a return to their roots to reconnect with family, tradition, and community values. Like Maharshi, Idli Kottu too frames it as a battle between modernity and heritage.
Social media reactions to the trailer also describe Dhanush's movie as an emotional drama with similarities to Maharshi.
Since Maharshi was headlined by a superstar with an action hero image, expectations from it imposed certain limitations on the imagination of the director. The inclusion of a glamorous heroine like Pooja Hegde and Devi Sri Prasad's commercial songs were conscious choices emanating directly from Mahesh Babu's presence.
In contrast, Idli Kottu seems to be a more grounded human drama. Instead of a glam doll, you have Nithya Menen playing a saree-clad female lead. While the hero in Maharshi schooled even the Chief Minister about agri reforms, Dhanush in Idli Kottu is more of an underdog with little interest in changing the system. Or so it seems from the trailer. Idli Kottu will head to theatres on October 1st.
