Dorothy review: Karthik Subbaraj's daring mainstream ode to love and acceptance

Dorothy movie review: Directed by Karthik Subbaraj and starring Sananth and Rishikanth, Dorothy is a generational mainstream drama centered on love of all forms. The film explores a relationship that challenges one's moral and societal expectations while navigating emotion, acceptance and patriarchy.

In Short

• Set in 1995 Madurai, explores caste and friendship between Subbu and Karthi
• Film blends violence, comedy, love and social issues effectively
• Post-interval turns into a road movie highlighting acceptance and change

Even before Dorothy could hit theatres, it made all the noise on social media. Thanks to the fabulous response the Karthik Subbaraj directorial received after the screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). A standing ovation, glowing reviews and what not! After working with industry greats, director Karthik Subbaraj is back in his most comfortable space with two promising performers, Rishikanth and Sananth.

Set in a Madurai village in 1995, Dorothy follows Subbu (Sananth), the son of a local gangster Veeraiya (Muthukumar), and his friendship with Karthi (Rishikanth). Despite their differences in caste, economic status and social standing, the two grow inseparable. As children, Subbu constantly tells Karthi to "be a man" and not cry. A Bruce Lee fan, he teaches Karthi to embrace life, enjoy its smallest joys and fight back when needed.

As they grow older, their personalities begin to change. Subbu, who once believed boys should never cry, finds himself breaking down over the injustices around him, while Karthi becomes increasingly drawn to violence. Their lives take another turn when Dorothy (Keerthy Suresh), Subbu's sister-in-law, enters the picture. An untoward incident involving her triggers Subbu's repressed emotions and brings a decades-old truth to the surface. How his family reacts, what Karthi makes of the revelation and whether their friendship survives it form the crux of the story.

A quick pause here — and mild spoilers ahead. The truth at the heart of Dorothy is best experienced on screen, so consider this your cue to watch the film before reading further.

Director Karthik Subbaraj has always been the filmmaker you're in awe of. His works always trigger curiosity irrespective of how his previous films performed. Dorothy is one such film. And the way it begins immediately draws you in. Karthi, in his bare tone, says he's killed Subbu (not a spoiler) and is now heading home with his body. The story then travels back and forth, letting us step into a ride that's riddled with violence, random kills, some hilarious stretches about the two friends, inclusivity and acceptance.

Dorothy begins as a rural drama that lays bare the violence, caste discrimination and injustice meted out to people from socially backward communities. But, it never gets heavy. Subbaraj weaves comedy, love and heartbreak into this violence-overloaded world that even a glimmer of hope feels close to reality. It is in these stretches that we begin to revel in the world of Subbu and Karthi without it getting overbearing. It just hits all the right notes.

Post-interval, Dorothy takes a massive turn, both genre and story-wise, like most of Karthik Subbaraj's films. It becomes a road movie with a rage-filled Karthi and a transformed Subbu at its centre. The dynamic between them has changed. While Subbu remains Subbu, he gets to lead a life that he always wanted to live. That decision brings 'shame' to his family and, on this journey, we begin to consume what Subbu is going through.

Not just his family, even Karthi doesn't warm up to Subbu, who wants to lead his life the way he wants to. Karthi judges him, feels ashamed of the decade-long friendship they shared and even goes to the extent of killing him. But, Dorothy gives Karthi the time to retrospect. And on their road trip, Karthi sees Subbu for what he is and acceptance follows.

The story meanders through the road trip, only to find its footing soon enough. With Dorothy, Karthik Subbaraj gives a mainstream treatment to a story that revolves around a sensitive issue that still needs understanding, acceptance and validation. And this needs guts. To have made Dorothy for the mainstream audience is a decision that Subbaraj can be proud of.

Sananth as Subbu delivers a performance that definitely needs a mountain of appreciation. From being a joyful child to becoming a compassionate human being, Sananth lived as Subbu. As Karthi, Rishikanth makes one understand that acceptance (with respect to one's societal mindblock) will take time. And that is the film's biggest strength. Keerthy Suresh as Dorothy descends as an angel and propels the story forward.

Dorothy also majorly works because of its brilliant supporting cast. Muthukumar's Veeraiya is a patriarchal and casteist gangster, who swears by family pride. Everything else comes after for him. And you want to hate him whenever he's on the screen. Subbu's two brothers, who are consumed by alcoholism and anger, remind us that people like them do exist and in the majority.

Apart from the writing, performances and the making, composer Ilaiyaraaja holds the film together. His background score makes the film feel rooted yet international at the same time. Cinematographer Tirru shows Madurai's landscape in all its glory. Whether it's the lush greens or the dried up fields, everything looks beautiful on screen.

Through Dorothy, Karthik Subbaraj teaches one that compassion does find its way. And with his outing, he proves that a film which will most likely be branded arthouse, needed mainstream acceptance. The film's climax can receive polarising reactions, but, if it triggers a much-needed conversation in society, it's Dorothy's biggest success.

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