Actor Dhanush has recently addressed criticism regarding a childhood story he shared about selling flowers to afford idlis. The story, which he initially recounted at the audio launch of his upcoming film Idli Kadai, sparked debate online, with some questioning the authenticity of his claims, considering his father, Kasthuri Raja, is a film director.
Dhanush's film Idli Kadai, set to release on October 1, 2025, is a slice-of-life drama centered around a protagonist who returns home to revive his father's idli shop. The film stars Rajkiran, Nithya Menen, Arun Vijay, Sathyaraj, and Shalini Pandey. At a pre-release event, Dhanush clarified the context of his childhood and the financial situation of his family.
Dhanush explained that he was born in 1983, and his father became a director in 1991. He stated that the first eight years of his life were spent in poverty. Even after his father became a director, he had the responsibility of caring for four children, including providing for their education. Dhanush said that around 1994-1995, their financial situation improved, and they began to enjoy a better lifestyle.
The actor elaborated on his earlier statements about his family's financial constraints. He recounted that when he and his siblings were young and asked their parents for money, they would not always receive it immediately, as the household operated on a tight budget. Dhanush emphasized that he and his siblings understood their family's situation and did not want to burden their parents. As a result, they would often work in the fields to earn money and buy their own idlis.
Dhanush fondly recalled those times, stating that "an idli kadai is a very important aspect of my childhood". He and his sister and cousins would wake up at 4 AM to collect flowers from the fields and sell them to earn money. With the money they earned, they would buy four or five idlis. Dhanush said that the taste of those idlis, earned through hard work, remains unmatched to this day. He considers Idli Kadai a tribute to that part of his childhood.
At the audio launch of Idli Kadai in Chennai, Dhanush shared that he and his cousins would wake up at 4 AM to collect flowers to sell, so they could afford idlis. They would work for over two hours and earn a little over ₹2 each. With that money, they would buy four to five idlis.
Dhanush also shared the inspiration behind the film's title. He recalled a time when he was abroad with his manager and director Ashwath Marimuthu for a meeting. While passing time, he listened to Ilaiyaraaja's music, which made him nostalgic. The song "Naan Erikaarai" reminded him of his childhood summer holidays in his mother's native village. He remembered being around eight years old and spending months in the village, where he was captivated by an idli shop. These memories ultimately inspired him to name his film Idli Kadai.
