A key point of contention for the audience is the protagonist’s decision to embrace his father’s impoverished way of life without any attempt at modernization, despite returning from a successful stint abroad. Social media users drew a direct parallel between Idli Kadai and Anjali Menon’s celebrated Malayalam movie Ustad Hotel, which shares a similar theme of a grandson inheriting a family restaurant.
A translated and improvised user critique highlights the fundamental difference:
“‘Idli Kadai’ and the film ‘Ustad Hotel’ share almost the same story. So, why is one celebrated, and the other being torn apart? In the Dulquer Salmaan starrer, the character learns cooking from his grandfather and, importantly, modernizes the shop, turning it into a renovated beach hotel… In contrast, the hero of ‘Idli Kadai’ dresses like his father, makes idlis and grinds the batter the same way until the end, and remains in the same old hut-like shop. Didn’t his father teach him that he should at least build the shop with cement? This is where the film fails as a story. Moreover, if a person spends 10-15 years abroad earning money, wouldn’t he at least build a proper house? What happens to a mud house and shop when it rains?”
This critique crystallizes the sentiment that the film encourages stagnation, failing to reflect the aspirations of the middle class who strive for financial stability, modern amenities, and a better life for their children.
The Allegation: ‘Milking the Middle Class’
One viral meme (depicting a tired, emaciated cow being milked by a caricature of Dhanush) perfectly encapsulated the audience’s frustration, labeling the director’s strategy as “milking middle class”. The accusation suggests that the movie promotes an ideology where the audience is encouraged to stay in their traditional, low-paying jobs while the creator himself earns massive profits.
Several posts echoed this anger, stating:
“He alone earns crores by making films. And we are all supposed to remain beggars? What kind of logic is this?”
“Don’t study, don’t get a good job, don’t even go to a foreign city… he suggests we stay in our village, do the ‘Kuḷa Thozhil’ (ancestral trade), and graze cows. Cringe Dhanush.”
The message is interpreted as a discouragement of social mobility and education, which is seen as a betrayal of the basic raison d’être for most working-class families—to ensure their children don’t endure the same hardships.
Polarized Performances and Flawed Characterisation
Despite the directorial missteps, performances from Dhanush and Rajkiran have been cited by some as the “major pillars of this film.” However, critics noted that even these were insufficient to save a “half baked and middling” script. Other established actors like Sathyaraj and Arun Vijay were criticized for being given “redundant and run of the mill” or “stereotypical” roles.
Another user summed up the emotional disconnect, writing:
“This film isn’t about the realization of the fruitfulness of village life; it’s about a selfish lad who failed to take care of his parents and a coward who couldn’t even call off his wedding properly. What a sorry excuse for a film.”
The overwhelming sentiment suggests that while the film attempted to tap into a core emotion of family and roots, it did so with a forced melodrama and an outdated philosophical take on life, leading to the collective dismissal of the film as a disappointment.