Dhanush praises 'Modha Rathri' team, calls Tamil film 'heartwarming'
Synopsis
Dhanush’s glowing X post for ‘Modha Rathri’ is more than a celebrity shoutout — it is a lifeline for a debut-heavy rural comedy that has already emerged a hit. For first-time director Raja Karuppasamy and debutant hero Rishikanth, the National Award-winner’s public stamp of approval could be the difference between a decent run and a genuine breakout.
Key Takeaways
Dhanush praised Tamil rural comedy 'Modha Rathri' on 9 September , calling it ‘heartwarming’ and urging families to watch it in theatres.
The film, directed by debut filmmaker Raja Karuppasamy , released on 21 August with a U/A certificate and has been reported as a box-office hit.
Rishikanth makes his debut as a leading hero, playing character Maruthanayagam ; Anishma Anilkumar plays Muthuselvi .
The film is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y.
Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner.
Music is by Bharath Sankar ; cinematography by Surendran Paranjothi ; editing by Ashok Arjunan .
National Award-winning actor and filmmaker Dhanush has publicly praised the cast and crew of the Tamil rural comedy 'Modha Rathri', describing the film as ‘heartwarming’ and urging audiences to watch it in theatres with their families. The endorsement, shared on 9 September via his X account, has drawn fresh attention to the debut-heavy production that released on 21 August this year.
Dhanush's X Post and What He Said
Taking to his X timeline, Dhanush wrote: ‘#ModhaRathri is such a heartwarming film. Have to applaud this wonderful effort by a bunch of first-timers. Please don’t miss it in theatres with your families! #RajaKaruppasamy @iam_rishikanth #AnishmaAnilkumar.’ The post specifically tagged director Raja Karuppasamy and the film’s two leads, Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar, amplifying the film’s word-of-mouth at a crucial post-release window.
About the Film
'Modha Rathri', directed by Raja Karuppasamy, is a rural comedy entertainer set over the course of a single night, centred on an ordinary village wedding that spirals into a rollercoaster of comic misunderstandings, unexpected twists, and emotional moments. The film was cleared for release with a U/A certificate by the Censor Board and has since been reported to be performing well at the box office, emerging as a hit.
Rishikanth, who plays a character named Maruthanayagam, marks his debut as a leading man through this film. Anishma Anilkumar, who portrays Muthuselvi, had previously earned appreciation for her performances in 'Sirai' and 'Youth'. The supporting cast includes Chetan, A. Venkatesh, Bucks, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L., Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan, Velan, and Kowshik Kabilan, among others.
What the Makers Said
Producer Naveen Yerneni of Mythri Movie Makers had earlier said: ‘The very first narration made us laugh, smile and imagine how audiences would react inside a theatre. That’s when we knew this story deserved to be made. ‘Modha Rathiri’ has everything we enjoy as movie lovers: humour, emotions, relatable characters and endless entertainment. Raja Karuppasamy has brought that energy beautifully onto the screen & our entire cast and crew have worked with incredible passion to complete the film on schedule.’
Director Raja Karuppasamy said: ‘I couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to my journey as a filmmaker. My heartfelt thanks to producers Naveen Yerneni sir and Y. Ravi Shankar sir for believing in me and trusting this story. More than anything else, I hope audiences walk out of theatres smiling, laughing and talking about these characters long after the film ends.’
Technical Crew
Behind the camera, Surendran Paranjothi handled cinematography, Ashok Arjunan served as editor, and Bharath Sankar composed the music. Costumes were designed by Poornima Ramaswamy, while art direction was managed by A. Balumahendra.
Why Dhanush's Endorsement Matters
Dhanush’s backing carries significant weight in Tamil cinema, given his standing as a National Award-winning artist with a massive pan-India following. For a film driven largely by newcomers, a public endorsement of this nature can meaningfully extend its theatrical run and push fence-sitters into buying tickets. Notably, ‘Modha Rathri’ joins a growing list of low-budget Tamil productions that have punched above their weight in recent years, buoyed by strong content and social media momentum. With Dhanush’s post now circulating widely, the film’s box-office performance in its remaining theatrical window will be closely watched.
Point of View
Even as streaming algorithms reshape audience behaviour. What is more interesting is the film itself: a single-night, single-location rural comedy driven entirely by first-timers that has reportedly held its own at the box office. Tamil cinema has seen a quiet wave of such content-first, budget-light productions outperform expectations — and ‘Modha Rathri’ appears to be the latest entry in that pattern. The real story is not Dhanush’s tweet, but whether this film’s success accelerates investment in similarly unconventional Tamil projects.
NationPress
9 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dhanush say about 'Modha Rathri'?
Dhanush called ‘Modha Rathri’ a ‘heartwarming film’ on his X account on 9 September, applauding the effort by first-time filmmakers and urging audiences not to miss it in theatres with their families.
When did 'Modha Rathri' release and what is it about?
‘Modha Rathri’ released on 21 August this year with a U/A certificate. It is a rural Tamil comedy set over a single night, following a village wedding that descends into comic misunderstandings and unexpected twists.
Who are the lead actors in 'Modha Rathri'?
‘Modha Rathri’ stars Rishikanth, in his debut as a leading hero, and Anishma Anilkumar, who previously appeared in ‘Sirai’ and ‘Youth’. Rishikanth plays Maruthanayagam and Anishma plays Muthuselvi.
Who directed and produced 'Modha Rathri'?
The film was directed by debut filmmaker Raja Karuppasamy and produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner.
Why is Dhanush’s endorsement significant for 'Modha Rathri'?
As a National Award-winning actor with a large Tamil and pan-India following, Dhanush’s public praise can meaningfully extend the film’s theatrical run and attract audiences who may not have been aware of the debut-heavy production.
