The scent of roasted coffee beans and steaming idlis was a perfume Shiva Kesavudu knew better than his own. His world, a humble idli shop in the bustling lanes of Shankarapuram, was measured in kilos of batter and the satisfied smiles of his customers.
For his son, Murali, however, that same scent was the smell of confinement.
He watched his father’s calloused hands work the batter, his heart filled not with pride, but with a restless ambition for a life less ordinary. He dreamed of glass skyscrapers, not thatched roofs; of international cuisine, not the humble idli.
Murali’s ambition was a fire that consumed him, propelling him far from the familiar streets of Shankarapuram to the glittering, chaotic city of Bangkok. There, he shed his past, becoming a key partner in the AFC food empire, a kingdom ruled by the formidable Vishnu Vardhan. Murali’s success was swift and dazzling, a testament to his sharp mind and relentless drive. It culminated in the ultimate prize: a proposal to marry Vishnu’s daughter, the elegant Meera. His dreams of opulence were finally within his grasp, the humble idli shop a distant, fading memory.
But destiny, much like Shiva’s idli batter, has a way of fermenting in unexpected ways. A sudden, urgent call from home wrenched Murali back to Shankarapuram. The world he had so eagerly abandoned now demanded his return. It was a journey that would force him to confront the legacy he had run from, to look past the steam and see the strength in his father’s hands, and to understand that some foundations, though humble, are unshakeable.
Back in the real world, Dhanush’s directorial venture, Idly Kadai, which saw him reunite with Nithya Menen and share the screen with a powerful Arun Vijay, had a theatrical run that mirrored its protagonist’s initial struggle. Despite a strong ensemble cast including Rajkiran, Sathyaraj, and Shalini Pandey, and a vibrant soundtrack by GV Prakash Kumar, the film failed to set the box office on fire.
After its October 1st release, its business dipped into single digits within the first week, earning a modest 1.3 crore on its first Wednesday and amassing an eight-day total of around Rs 43 crore. While Dhanush’s loyal fans continued to make a beeline for theatres to catch his latest outing on the big screen, the general audience buzz had noticeably slowed.
Idli Kadai (Idly Kadai) OTT Release Date
As the film’s theatrical chapter began to wind down, the collective anticipation of a wider audience began to pivot towards the digital horizon. The question on everyone’s lips shifted from “Have you seen it in the theatre?” to “When will it be on OTT?” The wait for the cinematic journey of Murali and his father’s idli shop to find a new home was almost over.
The makers have now officially broken the news. The digital rights for Idly Kadai have been acquired by the streaming giant Netflix. The film, which charmed Telugu audiences as Idly Kottu, is all set to make its streaming debut on October 29th. After its four-week theatrical run, the story of ambition, legacy, and the timeless humble idli will be available for viewers to savor from the comfort of their homes, ready to find a new lease of life and perhaps, a more appreciative audience, in the vast world of streaming.