Radhika Sarathkumar’s village drama ‘Thaai Kizhavi’ is set for its OTT release on March 26, following a successful theatrical run. The film, backed by Sivakarthikeyan Productions, garnered over Rs. 72 crore worldwide and is praised for its modern take on the genre. Viewers can now catch the acclaimed performance of Radhika as the spirited matriarch on JioHotstar.

The Tamil rural entertainer ‘Thaai Kizhavi’ has locked its OTT release window. Following a massive 20-day theatrical streak that saw it gross over Rs. 72.18 crore worldwide, the Radhika Sarathkumar-starrer is transitiong to OTT platform on March 26. Backed by Sivakarthikeyan Productions, the film has been lauded for reviving the “village drama” genre with a modern, progressive twist. Whether it’s the hilarious bickering of the three sons or Radhika’s whistle-worthy performance as the matriarch of Usilampatti, ‘Thaai Kizhavi’ is poised to become one of the most-watched digital premieres of the summer.

‘Thaai Kizhavi’ to stream from March 26

The latest update concerns the film’s OTT release, which has created fresh excitement among fans. A report from The Indian Express suggests that JioHotstar has acquired the digital rights for ‘Thaai Kizhavi’. The film is expected to start streaming on March 26. After performing well in theatres, there is a strong expectation that it will reach a wider audience through OTT platforms. Viewers who missed watching it on the big screen are now eagerly waiting to watch it from the comfort of their homes.

‘Thaai Kizhavi’ story and Radhika Sarathkumar’s performance

Radhika, who has impressed fans for more than four decades, delivered a marvelous and astonishing performance in the film. She appears as Pavunuthai, a spirited and courageous woman from Usilampatti, an obscure village in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. The movie is a rural family entertainer with a social message directed by Sivakumar Murugesan. While a few viewers felt certain aspects could have been improved, many appreciated her acting, especially in the climax scenes that highlight women’s strength, independence, and voice.

‘Thaai Kizhavi’ box office success

Released in theatres on February 27, the film received positive reviews and performed well at the box office, grossing approximately Rs 75 crore worldwide in just 20 days. The film features a fantastic supporting cast—Munishkanth, Singampuli, Bala Saravanan, and others—who form the backbone of the film, making it relatable to the audience.

Referring to a twist in the sequel, one X user joked, “thanku for your sacrifices Sir! Never knew you are our own unknown Men.” Another wrote, “Day 1 as a Spy in Pakistan,” referring to an old meme from when Dhurandhar was released. While some called him out for watching a pirated version of Dhurandhar 2, others asked him to ‘enjoy’ and ‘leave a rating’.

This is not the first time that Pakistan has found a way to watch Dhurandhar despite the ban. Similar videos had surfaced during the film’s December release. Pirated copies of the film also found its way to Pakistani markets in February this year after its Netflix release for as low as ₹16. Despite that, Dhurandhar trended at #1 on Netflix.

She then went on to talk about how directors in India are not given enough recognition and said, “They are overworked, underpaid and bullied by superstars. As a result, I never meet any young person—insider or outsider—who dreams of becoming a filmmaker, director of photography or any other technician. Everyone claims to be talented, but they only want to be actors. Here is a superstar filmmaker shining brighter than any hero. Today, so many youngsters are watching his story who will aspire to be like him and take the film industry to greater heights!! Salutations, sir @adityadharfilms.”

Apart from her, S. S. Rajamouli also praised Aditya for “hitting it out of the park” with Dhurandhar 2, while Rakesh Roshan commended him for “starting a new era of filmmaking” with his latest release. The director also received applause from stars like Ram Charan, Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun, among others.

The film opened to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and broke box-office records. It took a bumper opening, collecting ₹146 crore in India and ₹240 crore worldwide. So far, the film has minted over ₹370 crore globally, surpassing the lifetime collection of War 2. The film continues to perform strongly at the box office.