Anishma Anilkumar on Modha Rathri: 'The emotional space drew me in'

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Anishma Anilkumar on Modha Rathri: 'The emotional space drew me in'

Synopsis

Anishma Anilkumar isn't chasing laughs in Modha Rathri — she's chasing emotional truth. The fast-rising Tamil actress says her character's quiet inner world, not the film's comedy, is what convinced her to sign on. With Mythri Movie Makers backing it and a worldwide release on 21 August, the film is her biggest platform yet.

Key Takeaways

Anishma Anilkumar plays the female lead in Raja Karuppasamy 's 'Modha Rathri' , a Tamil comedy family entertainer.
The actress said the character's emotional complexity — not the comedy — was her primary reason for taking the role.
Co-star Rishikanth leads alongside her, with an ensemble including Bagavathi Perumal , Banupriya , and Abdool Lee .
Music is by Bharath Sankar ; the film is produced by Mythri Movie Makers under Naveen Yerneni and Y.
The film releases worldwide on 21 August .

Actress Anishma Anilkumar, who plays the female lead in director Raja Karuppasamy's upcoming comedy family entertainer 'Modha Rathri', says the emotional depth accorded to her character was the primary reason she signed the film. The movie is set to release worldwide on 21 August.

What Drew Anishma to the Role

Speaking to the media ahead of the film's release, Anishma said it was the inner complexity of her character that made the project irresistible. 'What attracted me to Modha Rathri was the emotional space of my character. She is a woman who carries many thoughts and feelings within her, but she doesn't necessarily express everything openly,' she said.

The actress added that she found something 'very beautiful' about portraying such restraint. 'Women often experience many emotions simultaneously, especially when they find themselves in an unfamiliar situation. I wanted to approach her with honesty rather than simply play her as a conventional heroine,' she noted.

Comedy on the Surface, Emotion Underneath

Anishma revealed that the film layers genuine feeling beneath its comic exterior. 'There is humour and entertainment in the story, but beneath those situations are very real emotions, particularly the expectations, nervousness and uncertainties that can surround a woman entering a new phase of her life,' she explained.

She expressed gratitude to both the director and the production team for entrusting her with the role, and praised co-star Rishikanth as 'a wonderful co-star,' adding that she believes audiences will connect with the emotional arc of their characters.

Cast and Crew

Beyond Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar, the film features an ensemble that includes Chetan, A. Venkatesh, Bagavathi Perumal, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L., Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan, Velan, and Kowshik Kabilan.

Music for the film has been composed by Bharath Sankar, with cinematography by Surendran Paranjothi and editing by Ashok Arjunan. Poornima Ramaswamy serves as costume designer and A. Balumahendra as art director.

Production and Release

The film is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the banner Mythri Movie Makers. This marks another significant outing for Anishma, who has been on a rapid ascent in Tamil cinema following back-to-back hits — the Vikram Prabhu-starrer 'Sirai' and Ken Karunas's 'Youth'. With 'Modha Rathri' arriving on 21 August, all eyes will be on whether the film's emotional undercurrent resonates with family audiences.

Point of View

Anishma's strategy of prioritising character depth over star-vehicle roles could set a template worth watching.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Modha Rathri about?
Modha Rathri is a Tamil comedy family entertainer directed by Raja Karuppasamy. It stars Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in the lead roles, with the story blending humour with genuine emotional undercurrents around a woman navigating a new phase of life.
When does Modha Rathri release?
Modha Rathri is set to release worldwide on 21 August. It is produced by Mythri Movie Makers under Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar.
Why did Anishma Anilkumar choose Modha Rathri?
Anishma said she was drawn to the emotional space her character occupies in the film. She wanted to portray a woman who holds many feelings internally without openly expressing them, describing it as a departure from conventional heroine roles.
Who are the other cast members in Modha Rathri?
The film features an ensemble cast including Chetan, A. Venkatesh, Bagavathi Perumal, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L., Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan, Velan, and Kowshik Kabilan.
What are Anishma Anilkumar's recent films?
Anishma has delivered back-to-back hits with 'Sirai', starring Vikram Prabhu, and 'Youth', directed by Ken Karunas, establishing her as one of the fastest-rising actresses in Tamil cinema.
Nation Press
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