Dorothy Movie Review
Movie: Dorothy
Release Date: 2 Oct 2026
CBFC Rating: A
Run-time: 2h 26m
Starring: Keerthy Suresh, Sananth, Rishikanth
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography: S Thirunavukkarasu
Editor: Ganesh Siva
Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Achin Jain
Telugu Release by Rana Daggubati
Written & Directed by Karthik Subbaraj
Karthik Subbaraj’s Dorothy has been in the limelight ever since its Tamil release on 25 Sep 2026 and for all the right reasons. The film received a thunderous standing ovation at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival on 11 Sep 2026, which speaks volumes about its global appeal. Starring the National Award winning Keerthy Suresh, along with talented actors Sananth and Rishikanth, the film deals with a bold and controversial topic that has sparked important conversations everywhere. The film released in Telugu on 2 October 2026.
Plot
Dorothy story revolves around a beautiful and deep friendship and how it transforms with the entry of a special person. Right from their childhood, Karthi (Rishikanth) and Subbu (Sananth) share an inseparable bond, growing up in the backdrop of a dark and raw world. Their friendship is pure, emotional and unbreakable.
However, their lives take a drastic and beautiful turn with the entry of Dorothy (Keerthy Suresh), a graceful and confident girl. Her arrival not only changes their equation but also opens their eyes to larger truths of society. Where this leads to, and what roles people like Whistle Veeraiya (Muthukumar), a strong transgender character (Jeeva Subramanian), Thangamalar (Muthazhagi), and others play in their journey of self discovery, acceptance and love, forms the rest of the deeply moving developments.
Performances
Keerthy Suresh as Dorothy is simply outstanding and delivers a career defining performance. Though her screen time may seem limited on paper, she breathes life into the character with such grace, dignity and power that she captivates in every frame. She carries the film’s most complex emotions on her shoulders with effortless brilliance, proving once again why she is one of the finest actors in India.
Sananth as Subbu / Dorothy is a revelation. He performs the most challenging role of his career with incredible sensitivity and courage, and he does full justice, creating maximum emotional impact. Rishikanth as Karthi is equally brilliant, portraying friendship, confusion, love and growth with natural ease. The supporting cast is exceptional, Ramachandran Durairaj, Soundararaja, Muthazhagi bring authenticity, while Jeeva Subramanian as a transgender gives a heartfelt, dignified and powerful performance that normalizes rather than glorifies. Muthukumar as Whistle Veeraiya and Gajaraj are perfect in their roles. Every actor adds soul to the film.
Highlights
Keerthy Brilliance
Bold Direction
Ilaiyaraaja Magic
Powerful Message
Drawbacks
Slight Preachiness
Intense Subject
Analysis
The first half of Dorothy is a masterclass in establishment. Karthik Subbaraj, known for his hard hitting films, narrates the childhood, friendship and bonding between Karthi and Subbu with beautiful emotions and his trademark black humor. The friendship feels real and relatable. The second half makes a drastic and bold shift, where the director touches upon contentious and controversial issues like casteism, violence, patriarchy, gender politics and discrimination. He does not confuse but enlightens the viewer by showing immense clarity of thought. He addresses the major issues and then beautifully normalizes them in society, especially LGBTQIA+ rights, with great responsibility.
Technically, the film is grand and world class. S Thirunavukkarasu’s cinematography is captivating, he captures the raw, rustic world and the intimate expressions of actors with perfection, and shoots the confrontations in a chilling yet artistic way. Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja adds immense soul and value, with his background score elevating every emotion to another level. Ganesh Siva’s editing is fine and keeps the narrative engaging. Production values are grand and rich. Overall, Dorothy is not just a film, it is a bold, necessary and powerful conversation starter that will be remembered for its courage and heart.
Rating: 3.25/5
Bottom-line: A Bold, and Brave Attempt
