Pookie (film)
| Pookie | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ganesh Chandra |
| Written by | Puthiya Parithi |
| Produced by | Fatima Vijay Antony |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Ganesh Chandra |
| Edited by | Vijay Antony |
| Music by | Vijay Antony |
Production company | Vijay Antony Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Pookie is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed and filmed by cinematographer-turned-director Ganesh Chandra in his directorial debut. The film stars Ajay Dhishan in the lead role alongside R. K. Dhanusha as the lead actress in her debut. The film is produced by Fatima Vijay Antony under Vijay Antony Film Corporation banner, while the film has music composed and editing handled by Vijay Antony.
Pookie released in theatres on 13 February 2026 and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
Cast
- Ajay Dhishan as Kailash
- R. K. Dhanusha as Aazhi
- Pandiarajan as Kailash's father
- Sunil as Vikas Vibes swamiji
- Lakshmi Manchu as Dr. Chithra
- Indumathy Manikandan as Kailash's mother
- Aaditya Kathir as Kailash's friend
- Vivek Prasanna as Kailash's friend
- Black Pandi as Kailash's gym mate
- Sathya SK as Gym trainer
- M. J. Shriram as Aazhi's father
- Radha
- Ashwin Ram as Rahul
- Shiyara Sharmi as Kavya
- Priyanka
- Manda Fack as Ramu's friend
- A. Rajamani Paati as Aazhi's grandmother
- Varun
- Arun
- Mridhula
- Aishwarya Ragupathi as Keerthi
- Anjali
- Thanga Prakash as Kailash's friend
- Mridhula
- Sathya
- Shaju
- Ajith Koshy as Murugeshan, Kavya's father
- Dubbing Dappa as the voice of dogs and a cat
- Vijay Antony in a cameo appearance in 2 songs
- Silambarasan (archival footage, including from Pathu Thala audio launch)
Production
On 2 September 2025, Ajay Dhishan of Maargan (2025) fame was announced as the lead actor in Vijay Antony's next production venture.[1] Marking his 18th film under his production house Vijay Antony Film Corporation headed by his wife Fatima Vijay Antony, the announcement for this film was made through a first-look poster.[2] R. K. Dhanusha was cast in as the lead actress in her debut alongside Sunil in an important role in the film.[3] The film is directed and filmed by cinematographer-turned-director Ganesh Chandra in his directorial debut,[4] while its story, screenplay and dialogues are written by Puthiya Parithi.[5]
Music
The film has soundtrack and background scored by Vijay Antony.[6] The first single "Manasu Valikithu" was released on 26 November 2025.[7] The second single "Love Advice Song" was released on 20 December 2025.[8] The third single "Pudikaley Pudikaley" was released on 5 February 2026.[9] The fourth single "Jilley Juice" was released on 9 February 2026.[10]
All music is composed by Vijay Antony.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Manasu Valikithu" | Vijay Antony | Vijay Antony | |
| 2. | "Love Advice Song" | Vijay Antony | Vijay Antony | |
| 3. | "Pudikaley Pudikaley" | Lavarathan | Santosh Hariharan, Rukhsar Bandhukia | |
| 4. | "Jilley Juice" | Vijay Antony | Vijay Antony |
Release
Theatrical
Pookie released in theatres on 13 February 2026.[11][12]
Home media
The post-theatrical satellite and digital rights have been obtained by Zee Tamil and ZEE5, respectively.[13]
Reception
Pookie received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and audiences.
Abhinav Subramanian of The Times of India gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Pookie knows its audience and plays to them with a polished hand. It connects in pieces. Whether those pieces add up to a whole is another question."[14] Akshay Kumar of Cinema Express gave 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Pookie mistakes cultural referencing for cultural understanding. By reducing Gen-Z love to buzzwords, the film not only misreads its subject but also robs its characters of interiority."[15]
References
- ^ "Maargan-fame Ajay Dhishan to headline Pookie produced by Vijay Antony". The New Indian Express. 3 September 2025. Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ A, Niranjan (2 September 2025). "Maargan fame Ajay Dhishan's next titled Pookie, a Vijay Antony musical". DT Next. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Sunil joins the cast of Ajay Dhishan's Pookie, produced by Vijay Antony". Cinema Express. 4 September 2025. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Exclusive|Pookie writer explains what convinced Vijay Antony about the title". Cinema Express. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Pookie first promo: Ajay Dhishan and Dhanusha show why breaking up is not easy". Cinema Express. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "After a long gap, Vijay Antony will compose music for another actor!". The Times of India. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Vijay Antony and Ajay Dhishan dance in a 'break-up anthem' song 'Manasu Valikithu' from Pookie". Cinema Express. 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Vijay Antony gives 'Love Advice' in new song from Ajay Dhishan's Pookie". Cinema Express. 20 December 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "பூக்கி படத்திலிருந்து "புடிக்கலே புடிக்கலே" பாடல் வெளியாகி வைரல்". Thanthi TV (in Tamil). 6 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ ""பூக்கி" படத்தின் "ஜில்லே ஜூஸ்" வீடியோ பாடல் வெளியானது". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 9 February 2026. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ Sundar, Anusha (25 December 2025). "Pookie release date: Ajay Dhishan-starrer backed by Vijay Antony to release in February 2026". OTTPlay. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Kumar, Akshay (2 December 2025). "Ajay Dhishan's Pookie gets a February 2026 release". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Kumar, Akshay (8 February 2026). "Zee Network bags Pokies' satellite and digital rights". Cinema Express. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Pookie Movie Review: Relatable set pieces hold a thin thread together". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Kumar, Akshay (13 February 2026). "Pookie Movie Review: A Gen-Z checklist without a beating heart". Cinema Express. Retrieved 13 February 2026.