Thaai Kizhavi
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Sivakumar Murugesan
Written by Sivakumar Murugesan
Produced by
  • Sudhan Sundaram
  • Sivakarthikeyan
  • Kalai Arasu
Starring
  • Radikaa Sarathkumar
  • Singampuli
  • Aruldoss
  • Munishkanth
  • Bala Saravanan
Cinematography Vivek Vijayakumar
Edited by San Lokesh
Music by Nivas K. Prasanna
Production
companies
  • Passion Studios
  • Sivakarthikeyan Productions
Distributed by AGS Entertainment
Release date
  • 27 February 2026 (2026-02-27)
Running time
142 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Tamil
Budget est. ₹10 crore[2]
Box office est. ₹81.80 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 and commercial success.

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 Rooba 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 of gold jewellery[a] she had purchased from him after investing her savings in a chit fund. Determined to find the place the jewellery is kept without the knowledge of 2 Rooba 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 Jawaharlal Nehru alias 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.[6] 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 Radikaa Sarathkumar as the lead actress.[7] The technical crew includes music composer Nivas K. Prasanna, cinematographer Vivek Vijayakumar and editor San Lokesh.[8] Because the story is in Madurai, some of the actors trained to speak in the Madurai dialect.[9]

Soundtrack

Thaai Kizhavi
Soundtrack album by
Nivas K Prasanna
Released February 5, 2026 (2026-02-05)
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Language Tamil
Label Saregama
Producer Nivas K Prasanna
Nivas K Prasanna chronology
Kumki 2
(2025)		 Thaai Kizhavi
(2026)
External audio
audio icon Official Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The soundtrack is composed by Nivas K. Prasanna. The first single "Thaai Kizhavi Varaa" sung by Sivakarthikeyan was released on 5 February 2026.[10] The second single "Mattikitan Minorkunju" sung by Sublahshini and Alex Samuel Jenito was released on 21 February 2026.[11] 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.[12]

Track listing
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

Release

Theatrical

Thaai Kizhavi released in theatres on 27 February 2026.[13] Earlier it was scheduled for 20 February 2026.[14]

Home media

Thaai Kizhavi's post theatrical streaming and satellite rights have been acquired by JioHotstar and Star Vijay respectively.[15] It began streaming on JioHotstar from 10 April 2026.[3]

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".[16] 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".[17] Bhuvanesh Chandar of The Hindu wrote, "Throughout Thaai Kizhavi, I often found myself wondering if this was the work of a debutant. This is the work of an all-new filmmaking voice that doesn’t wish to be constricted to set patterns".[18]

Notes

  1. ^ 1 sovereign equals 8 grams.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Thaai Kizhavi". Australian Classification Board. 24 February 2026. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b "Radhika's Thaai Kizhavi Worldwide Gross Box Office enters 80cr+". sacnilk.com. 13 April 2026.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "How Much Is 1 Savaran Gold in Grams: Full Value Revealed". Attica Gold Company. 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 31 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "'Maatikitaan Minorkunju' from Thaai Kizhavi released". Cinema Express. 21 February 2026. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  12. ^ Thaai Kizhavi (Motion picture) (in Tamil). Passion Studios and Sivakarthikeyan Productions. 2026.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.