Thaai Kizhavi
| Thaai Kizhavi | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sivakumar Murugesan |
| Written by | Sivakumar Murugesan |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | Radikaa Sarathkumar |
| Cinematography | Vivek Vijayakumar |
| Edited by | San Lokesh |
| Music by | Nivas K. Prasanna |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | AGS Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 142 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | ₹9 crore[2] |
| Box office | ₹70 crore[3] |
Thaai Kizhavi (transl. Godmother)[4] is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by Sivakumar Murugesan, in his directorial debut. Produced by Sudhan Sundaram and Sivakarthikeyan under Passion Studios and Sivakarthikeyan Productions, the film stars Radikaa Sarathkumar in the titular role, alongside Singampuli, Aruldoss, Munishkanth, Bala Saravanan, and Ilavarasu.
Thaai Kizhavi released in theatres on 27 February 2026 to critical acclaim, who praised the performance of Radikaa Sarathkumar.
Plot
An aged money lender Pavunuthaayi lives in Kadupatti village, Madurai along with her daughter Suruli and her grandson. She is feared by the fellow villagers and respected by her family. One day she takes ill and lies on her death bed. News reaches her three estranged sons Uppiliyan, a sound technician in Karumathur, Vijayan, an auto driver in Vadipatti and Selvam, a flower seller at Usilampatti who arrive at her home. 2 Idly, Suruli's estranged husband also arrives at her home. All of them have an eye on their share of Pavunuthaayi's wealth. As the village prepares for Pavunuthaayi's impending death, a jeweller named Gold Kumar arrives at the place and confides to her sons about 160 sovereign (1 sovereign = 8 grams) of gold jewelry she had purchased from him after investing her savings in a chit fund. Determined to find the place the jewelry is kept without the knowledge of 2 Idly, her three sons must now figure a way to keep Pavunuthaayi alive with the help of a fellow villager Pennycuick.
Cast
- Radikaa Sarathkumar as Pavunuthaayi
- Singampuli as Uppiliyaan
- Aruldoss as Vijayan
- Munishkanth as K. Pennycuick
- Bala Saravanan as Selvam
- Ilavarasu as Gold Kumar
- George Maryan as Sign Language Interpreter
- Muthukumar as 2 Rooba Idly
- Raichal Rabecca as Suruli
- Athadi Kumaran as Vesakutta
- Hu Chen De as Dr. Hu Chen De
Production
On 24 December 2025, Sivakarthikeyan's company Sivakarthikeyan Productions announced that they would join hands with Sudhan Sundaram's banner Passion Studios for the film Thaai Kizhavi.[5] The film is directed by debutant Sivakumar Murugesan, who previously worked as an assistant director and screenwriter in Kadaisi Vivasayi (2022) and Aan Paavam Pollathathu (2025), and would feature Radhika Sarathkumar as the lead actress.[6] The technical crew includes music composer Nivas K. Prasanna, cinematographer Vivek Vijayakumar and editor San Lokesh.[7] Because the story is in Madurai, some of the actors trained to speak in the Madurai dialect.[8]
Release
Theatrical
Thaai Kizhavi released in theatres on 27 February 2026.[9] Earlier it was scheduled for 20 February 2026.[10]
Home media
Thaai Kizhavi's post theatrical streaming and satellite rights have been acquired by JioHotstar and Vijay Television respectively.[11]
Soundtrack
| Thaai Kizhavi | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |||||
| Released | February 5, 2026 | ||||
| Label | Saregama India Ltd | ||||
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The soundtrack is composed by Nivas K. Prasanna. The first single "Thaai Kizhavi Varaa" sung by Sivakarthikeyan was released on 5 February 2026.[12] The second single "Mattikitan Minorkunju" sung by Sublahshini and Alex Samuel Jenito was released on 21 February 2026.[13] Additionally the songs "Injerungo" from the 2000 film Thenali, "Engeyum Eppothum" from the 1980 film Ninaithale Inikkum, "Yellelama" from the 2011 film 7 Aum Arivu, "Megham Karukkuthu" from the 2000 film Kushi, "Maada Vilakkae" from the 2004 film Virumaandi, "Yaarendru Therigiratha" from the 2013 film Vishwaroopam, "Vikram Vikram" from the 1986 film Vikram,"Karbagraham Vitu Samy Veliyerathu" from the 2004 film Virumaandi and "Kadavul Amaitha Vaitha Medai" from the 1974 film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai are reused in the film crediting the original composers.[14]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Thaai Kizhavi Varaa" | Karumathur Manimaran | Sivakarthikeyan | 4:50 |
| 2. | "Mattikittan Minorkunju" | Arunraja Kamaraj | Sublahshini, Alex Samuel Jenito | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Enga Vechi Podhachita" | Arunraja Kamaraj | Nivas K. Prasanna, Arunraja Kamaraj | |
| 4. | "Aaradi Kaathirukku" | Jegan Kaviraj | Aditi Shankar | |
| 5. | "Amma Thaaye" | Jegan Kaviraj | Nivas K. Prasanna | |
| 6. | "Manadhiley" | Vijay Sethupathi | Nivas K. Prasanna, Alex Samuel Jenito | |
| Total length: | 25:20 | |||
Reception
Yashaswini Sri of The Indian Express gave 4/5 stars and wrote, "Thaai Kizhavi is a well-written, well-acted rural entertainer that works as a comedy drama, and leaves you thinking a little after the credits roll. Radikaa Sarathkumar reminds everyone why she belongs at the center of a film. A solid watch".[15] Janani K of India Today gave 4/5 stars and wrote, "Thaai Kizhavi is well-intentioned, sharply executed, quietly radical and much-needed in today's world. It champions financial independence and women's agency without ever feeling like a lecture. Sivakumar Murugesan's final frame is wholesome, powerful, and unmistakably progressive — the work of a filmmaker who clearly had something to say and knew exactly how to say it".[16]
References
- ^ "Thaai Kizhavi". Australian Classification Board. 24 February 2026. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Radikaa-Sivakarthikeyan's Thaai Kizhavi grosses Rs 50 crore globally". DT Next. 9 March 2026. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ Sundar, Anusha (6 March 2026). "Thaai Kizhavi box office collection day 8: Radikaa Sarathkumar film witnesses major dip in one week; daily earnings drop to Rs 1 crore". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "Sarath Kumar on Thaai Kizhavi vs Aazhi clash: 'If my wife wins, I win...'". Cinema Express. 12 February 2026. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Sivakarthikeyan's SK Productions presents Radikaa-led Thaai Kizhavi". The New Indian Express. 10 December 2025. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ "Thaai Kizhavi: Sivakarthikeyan Reveals His Upcoming Production Featuring Radikaa Sarathkumar in the Lead Role". Zoom. 24 December 2025. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ Kumar, Akshay (9 December 2025). "Makers drop stills from Radikaa Sarathkumar's Thaai Kizhavi". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ B, Jayabhuvaneshwari (26 February 2026). "Bala Saravanan: The politics of Thaai Kizhavi is important and relevant". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "Thaai Kizhavi, starring Radikaa Sarathkumar, gets new release date". Cinema Express. 14 February 2026. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Nasreen, Raisa (24 December 2025). "Thaai Kizhavi: Sivakarthikeyan Announces Next Film As Producer Starring Radikaa Sarathkumar In The Lead". Times Now. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Kumar, Akshay (12 January 2026). "Radikaa's Thaai Kizhavi digital and satellite rights sold". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ "Sivakarthikeyan lends his vocals to Thaai Kizhavi's peppy first single". Cinema Express. 5 February 2026. Archived from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "'Maatikitaan Minorkunju' from Thaai Kizhavi released". Cinema Express. 21 February 2026. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Chandar, Bhuvanesh (26 February 2026). "'Thaai Kizhavi' movie review: Radikaa Sarathkumar's masala comedy of gold standards signals a commanding new filmmaking voice". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Sri, Yashaswini (27 February 2026). "Thaai Kizhavi movie review: Radikaa Sarathkumar-starrer is a witty, laugh-out-loud rural drama". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026.
- ^ K, Janani (26 February 2026). "Thaai Kizhavi review: Womanhood, wit and Radikaa Sarathkumar in all her glory". India Today. Archived from the original on 4 March 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.