Keerthy Suresh's Dorothy, Karthik Subbaraj's 10th film, set for Toronto premiere

Karthik Subbaraj's Dorothy will have its world premiere in TIFF 2026's Centrepiece section. The selection places his 10th feature on an international stage ahead of its September 25 release.

In Short

• Dorothy will have its world premiere at the 2026 TIFF
• The film stars Keerthy Suresh alongside Sananth and Rishikanth
• Ilaiyaraaja composes the music for Karthik Subbaraj's 10th directorial venture

Director Karthik Subbaraj's next film, Dorothy, has secured a world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it will be screened in the prestigious Centrepiece section. The announcement was made alongside the unveiling of the film's title, giving audiences their first official look at the project ahead of its theatrical release on September 25.

Starring Keerthy Suresh in the lead alongside Sananth and Rishikanth, Dorothy marks Karthik Subbaraj's 10th directorial venture. While the makers have kept the story under wraps, the newly released title poster draws inspiration from India's fading highway truck art tradition, hinting at a road journey that forms the backdrop of the film.

The TIFF selection marks another international outing for the filmmaker, whose work has often blended commercial storytelling with distinctive genre filmmaking. The Centrepiece section, formerly known as Contemporary World Cinema, showcases acclaimed filmmakers and world premieres from across the globe, making it one of the festival's key programmes.

Another highlight of Dorothy is its music. The film unites Karthik Subbaraj with legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, with the project marking the maestro's 1,540th film as a composer. Earlier this year, Karthik had announced the collaboration while congratulating Ilaiyaraaja on completing 50 years in cinema.

Produced by Jio Studios and Sikhya Entertainment in association with Dhammam Films, Dorothy is backed by Jyoti Deshpande, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain. The film is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on September 25, shortly after its festival premiere.

Karthik's last directorial Retro, starring Suriya and Pooja Hegde. While the film received mixed reviews upon release, it was praised for its visual style and performances.

With Dorothy now heading to one of the world's biggest film festivals before its theatrical release, attention has shifted to what the filmmaker has in store for his milestone 10th feature.

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