Name: Thaai Kizhavi
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 2026-02-27
Rating: 7.5
Cast: Radhika Sarathkumar, Singampuli, Aruldoss, Bala Saravanan, Munishkanth

Chandigarh

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do

Chand Mera Dil

Obsession

War of Shera

Bhooth Bangla

Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam)

Return Of The Jungle

Michael

The Great Grand Superhero - Aliens Ka Aagman

Dhurandhar The Revenge

The Sheep Detectives

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Obsess

Daadi Ki Shaadi

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Kattalan

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Hokum

Passenger

Book tickets for the latest movies now showing in {city} theatres — Bollywood blockbusters, Hollywood releases, and regional hits. Get real-time showtimes, instant seat selection, and the best deals at PVR, INOX, Cinepolis &amp; more on District. {movie}

dds-bg-transparent dds-bg-none dds-border-0 dds-border-solid dds-border-transparent dds-border-0

Peddi

Sarpanch

Scary Movie (2026)

Mollywood Times

Mango Pachcha

Bandar

NRI Dulhan

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Parimala and Co

Irattaiyar

Aati

Tumbadchi Manjula

Sing Geetham

Mruthyudevate

Disclosure Day

Abar Hawa Bodol

Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry

Chhaki Suna

Habeebi

Plan ahead for the most awaited Bollywood, Hollywood, and regional releases in {city}. Browse upcoming movies, watch trailers, check release dates, and book your seats the moment advance booking opens on District. {movie}

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

Horror

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Romance

Thriller

Animation

Discover movies in {city} by your favourite genre — action, comedy, romance, thriller, horror, drama, sci-fi, and family films. Browse genre-wise listings of Bollywood, Hollywood, and regional releases, and book the perfect movie night on District. {movie}

Hindi

English

Punjabi

Malayalam

Tamil

Prefer watching movies in your language? Find the latest Hindi, English, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, and Punjabi films playing in {city} theatres right now. Check showtimes and book tickets instantly on District. {movie}

Rajhans Cinemas, Beside Punjab National Bank, Panchkula

INOX Dhillon Plaza, Chhatbir Road, Zirakpur

PVR DLF City Center Mall, IT Park, Chandigarh

Fun Cinemas Republic Mall, MDC Sector 5, Chandigarh

Salh Cinema, Ramgarh Alias Manda, Morinda

Cinepolis Bestech Square Mall, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Mohali

Cinepolis TDI, Jagat Mall, Chandigarh

PVR Mohali Walk, Sector 62, Mohali

Maurice Multiplex, Barotiwala Road, Baddi

Ayaan Cinemas, Homeland City Mall, Baddi

PVR Centra, Industrial Phase 1, Chandigarh

PVR Elante Mall, Chandigarh

PVR CP67 Mall, Sector 67, Mohali

PVR Cosmo Mall, Cosmo Mall, Zirakpur

INOX NH 22 Mall, Amravati Enclave, Panchkula

7D Masti, Jubilee Walk, Mohali

Find the best cinemas across {city} — from premium experiences like IMAX, ONYX, Insignia, 4DX, and Dolby Atmos to neighbourhood multiplexes and single screens. Pick your favourite theatre and book movie tickets in seconds on District. {cinemas}

An elderly woman holds a family together through authority, memory, and lived experience. When shifting relationships begin to test her influence, long-standing bonds are pushed to their limits. Tradition, responsibility, and survival collide inside the household.

Thaai Kizhavi

Times of India

India Today

A matriarch who's a nightmare for her village is on her deathbed prompting celebrations all around, including in her own sons and son-in-law, and prayers for her death. But when they learn that she has gold stashed somewhere, it sets off desperate attempts by her sons to bring her back from the brink of death. With Thaai Kizhavi, debutant Sivakumar Murugesan spins an entertaining film that's part rural farce and part women empowerment drama. In Radikaa Sarathkumar, he gets an actress of immense stature to effectively portray the badass-ness of his protagonist, and the veteran turns in a mass-y, whistle-worthy performance that makes us feel her presence in every scene despite the character's minimal screen time and see the steely woman behind the prosthetics. The supporting cast is equally terrific all around, and play the perfect second fiddle. The director's rooted storytelling is filled with situational humour, manufactured changes of heart and superb use of Kamal Haasan songs, spanning eras from MSV to Ilaiyaraaja, AR Rahman and even Shankar Ehsaan Loy.


Imagine a foul-mouthed matriarch who terrorises everyone with her mere presence, yet delivers the most valuable lesson on independence, agency and womanhood. If you operate on social media's version of morality, your mind will immediately question this dichotomy. But Sivakumar Murugesan's Thaai Kizhavi grounds you, drags you back to real life and makes you laugh while quietly asking the most important question of all â€” what does it mean to truly live, rather than merely exist in someone else's shadow?
Pavunuthaayi, played by a magnetic Radikaa Sarathkumar, is a widow living life entirely on her own terms. She chases villagers for borrowed money with interest, terrorises grown men who wear their patriarchal mindset like a badge of honour, and takes no prisoners with her sharp tongue. She earns a great deal of hate in the village â€” but Pavunuthaayi is far too layered to be defined by it alone.

When an untoward incident forces her three sons â€” Vijayan (Aruldoss), Uppiliyaan (Singampuli) and Selvam (Bala Saravanan) â€” back under her roof, the drama, chaos and comedy that follows is what Thaai Kizhavi is truly about.
Debutant director Sivakumar Murugesan wastes no time, diving straight into the story. He grabs your attention and does not let go throughout the film's two-hour, 24-minute runtime. Witty one-liners land with precision, and the film's use of classic Tamil film references goes well beyond nostalgia bait. Where many films drop a familiar song or dialogue for a cheap laugh, Thaai Kizhavi uses them with surgical intent. A pivotal scene from Kushi, Vishwaroopam's Yaar Endru Therigiradha, and a track from Virumandi each find entirely new meaning in new context â€” much like how Kamal Haasan's Kanmani Anbodu resonated differently in Manjummel Boys. It is a rare, satisfying trick when it works this well.
The humour in the first half is relentless but never mean-spirited. Murugesan, clearly a student of Kamal Haasan's brand of intellectual comedy, keeps the writing sharp and the situations grounded. He pays tribute to Kamal Haasan throughout. So much so that Kamal Haasan remains a character throughout the film. The second half shifts gears with quiet confidence, weaving in sensitive subjects â€” language imposition, capitalism, misogyny, patriarchy, remarriage, divorce, and the painful reality of children abandoning ageing parents â€” without ever turning into melodrama. The film does not take the moral high road by declaring that people matter more than money. That refusal to be preachy is precisely what makes it stand out.
Radikaa Sarathkumar gets a peach of a role, and she owns every frame. Pavunuthaayi is a woman who has her life in her own hands â€” a privilege she exercises without apology and extends to the women around her. She does not shrink in the face of loss. She rises, and in doing so, quietly sets an example. It's a stellar, career-defining performance.

The ensemble cast more than holds its own. Munishkanth and Bala Saravanan are particularly impressive, delivering both comedy and emotional beats with brilliance. Aathadi Kumaran as a drunkard and Vijaya Ganapathy as Pavunuthaayi's grandson add to the delightful comedy. Composer Nivas K Prasanna's background score elevates key moments, with the devotional Murugar track deserving a special mention. Cinematographer Vivek Vijayakumar captures village life with warmth and simplicity.

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 â€” the work of a filmmaker who clearly had something to say and knew exactly how to say it.

Thaai Kizhavi - Official Trailer | Radikaa Sarathkumar | Sivakumar Murugesan | Nivas K Prasanna

Radhika Sarathkumar

Singampuli is an Indian actor and director. After making Red and Maayavi, he has made a career appearing in supporting roles in films.

Singampuli

Aruldoss is an Indian actor who has appeared in supporting roles in predominantly Tamil language films. Prior to focusing on an acting career, he worked as a cinematographer for several films.

Aruldoss

Bala Saravanan

Ramdoss, better known as Munishkanth, is an Indian actor who appears in Tamil language films. He had notable roles in films, including Mundasupatti, Maanagaram, Maragadha Naanayam and Raatchasan.

Thaai Kizhavi

Thaai Kizhavi(2026)

Movies Now Showing in Chandigarh – Latest Releases & Showtimes

Upcoming Movie Releases in Chandigarh – New Films Coming Soon to Theatres

Movies in Chandigarh by Genre – Action, Comedy, Romance, Thriller & More

Movies in Chandigarh by Language – Hindi, English, Marathi, Tamil & Telugu

Top Cinemas in Chandigarh – Best Movie Theatres & Multiplexes Near You