Dhanush's latest film Idli Kadai released worldwide on 1st October as the actor's release for the Pooja holidays. The feel-good drama has received mixed reports generally but seems to be working with its core audience in Tamil Nadu as the early estimates are pouring in.
The three-day gross of Idli Kadai is reported to be approximately Rs 23 crore in Tamil Nadu with trends suggesting a super-strong five-day extended weekend for the film. The acid test for the film will obviously be on Monday but so far, it seems like the film will do reasonable business in the state even as fortunes have plummeted elsewhere. Whether the film becomes profitable overall is a tough ask at the moment but in Tamil Nadu, it appears to be heading towards the safe zone.
Idli Kadai follows Raayan and Thiruchitrambalam as Dhanush's films in the food genre, if you can call it so. The three films are unrelated and aren't part of any universe officially but have a common factor - Dhanush taking the food route for different reasons. The other common factor is that the Tamil Nadu audiences seem to be relishing the actor returning to such down-to-earth characters that defined his career in the first place.
Thiruchitrambalam - Dhanush as a food delivery agent
As the flawed character Pazham, Dhanush breathed life into a common man's life. His performance as a food delivery agent who has deeper frustrations in life was relatable for the common audience who connected to his sorrows. While food isn't the main element in the film, it does play a character of note. The film was Dhanush's first Rs 100 crore grosser worldwide.
Raayan - Dhanush as a street food vendor
Dhanush as Raayan runs a mobile fast food shop with his brothers but as we know, it wasn't his primary profession. A former gangster who knows the losses that crime provides, he seeks solace in a peaceful life and food business steps in as a reliever for him, although it is only temporary as fate would have it. While his character is larger than life to some extent, Raayan's problems are relatable for all of us. Raayan became Dhanush's first Rs 150 crore grosser worldwide.
Idli Kadai - Dhanush as a chef
This time, food is indeed the main character of a Dhanush film as his Murugan travels the full circle of being a chef who wants to reconnect with his roots and father's dream of running a Idly shop in rural Tamil Nadu. The script takes us through his full journey of emotions right from elation to nostalgia with food being the central tool of this film. Idli Kadai has taken a decent opening worldwide with a large chunk coming from Tamil Nadu.