George Orwell called sport “War Minus The Shooting” in an essay on sporting spirit, where he said that competitive sports trigger intense nationalistic rivalries and aggression. I am just wondering if that could be called “War PLUS the shooting” now.
Allu Arjun’s brother and popular Telugu actor Allu Sirish announced his engagement date via an official post on social media. The actor is set to tie the knot with his girlfriend, Nayanika, and shared that his engagement will take place on October 31, 2025.
Allu Sirish announces engagement to GF Nayanika
Taking to Instagram, Sirish expressed how blessed he feels to make this announcement on the birth anniversary of his late grandfather, Allu Ramalingaiah.
Sharing the post, he wrote, “Today, on the birth anniversary of my grandfather, Allu Ramalingaiah garu, I feel blessed to share something very close to my heart-I will be getting engaged to Nayanika on 31st October.”
“My grandmother, who recently passed away, always wished to see me married. Though she is not with us, I know she is blessing us from above as we begin this journey together. Our families have embraced our love with immense joy,” Sirish added.
Here’s the official post:
Who is Allu Sirish?
Allu Sirish is the youngest son of producer Allu Aravind and the brother of actor Allu Arjun. He made his debut in Telugu cinema as a lead actor in the film Gouravam. The social thriller directed by Radha Mohan was produced by Prakash Raj and co-starred Yami Gautam. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil.
Later, the actor appeared in Kotha Janta, directed by The Raja Saab director Maruthi. The comedy-drama, featuring Regina Cassandra as the female lead, received mixed reviews. A year later, starred in Parasuram’s Srirastu Subhamastu, a romantic comedy alongside Lavanya Tripathi, which was produced by his father, Allu Aravind.
In 2017, Allu Sirish made his Malayalam cinema debut with the Mohanlal-starrer 1971: Beyond Borders. Directed by Major Ravi, the film was the 4th installment in the Major Mahadevan film series, where Sirish portrayed the role of Second Lieutenant Chinmay.
Afterwards, he also appeared in Okka Kshanam (2017) and in 2019, he starred in the comedy-drama flick ABCD: American Born Confused Desi. The film tells the story of an Indian-origin American man forced to stay in India due to his careless lifestyle. It was a remake of Dulquer Salmaan’s Malayalam movie of the same name.
Allu Sirish was last seen in the lead role in the fantasy actioner Buddy (2024), where he played a pilot who helps a woman whose soul is trapped inside a stuffed teddy bear. The movie was a remake of the Arya-starrer Teddy.
ALSO READ: Idli Kadai Review: Dhanush starrer is a partially entertaining family drama that ends up uncreative and melodramatic
Idli Kadai, starring Dhanush in the lead role, was released in theaters on October 1, 2025. Written and directed by Dhanush himself, the family drama also features Nithya Menen, Arun Vijay, Rajkiran, and others in pivotal roles.
If you are heading out to watch the movie in theaters this week, here’s the Pinkvilla review.
The Plot
Idli Kadai presents the story of Murugan, a youngster whose parents run a small yet famous idli shop in their village. Coming from humble beginnings, Murugan builds a career in catering and lands a job at Vishnu Vardhan’s luxurious hotel chain.
Amidst his hard work, Murugan falls in love with Vishnu Vardhan’s daughter Meera and decides to marry her. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when his father passes away. Even though he doesn’t want to cancel his wedding, he decides to return to his hometown despite threats from his fiancée’s family.
In a heated moment, Murugan calls off his marriage and retreats to his village. Once back, he decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and run their idli shop. But Meera’s brother Ashwin stands in his way, seeking revenge for tarnishing their family’s public image.
What happens to Murugan and how his rivalry with Ashwin affects the idli shop forms the crux of the story.
The Good
The biggest strength of Idli Kadai is the simple and innocent relationship shared between Dhanush’s Murugan and his father (played by Rajkiran). Both actors are known for their powerhouse performances, and this film relies heavily on their ability to deliver heartwarming moments.
Though the storyline struggles to maintain its original intent, the movie is elevated by impressive performances from the main cast. As the film progresses, Dhanush strikes a balance between portraying a timid character and stepping into the shoes of a hero in a classic good vs evil narrative.
On the technical front, Idli Kadai boasts some beautiful soundtracks composed by GV Prakash Kumar. The soulfulness of the songs and scores blends well into the narrative, offering a refreshing experience with organic music rather than tracks crafted for viral social media appeal.
Additionally, the production design, cinematography, and editing deserve special praise.
The Bad
Idli Kadai is riddled with cliches right from the start. What begins as a personal journey of self-identity and returning to one’s roots gradually devolves into a generic good vs evil conflict, lacking credible development.
As a result, many characters in Idli Kadai come off as artificial with staged emotions. The screenplay is bland and uncreative, making it difficult for viewers to connect with the characters. The lackluster writing and stale treatment force a viewer to rub their foreheads at times, making it a tiresome watch.
The execution by director Dhanush is sub-par at best, even though it is an improvement over the mess that Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK) was, but the bar remains too low.
The Performances
Idli Kadai has strong performances by the ensemble cast led by Dhanush. While the Raayan actor holds together the story and prevents it from crumbling apart, veteran actor Rajkiran delivers such a nuanced and layered portrayal.
With an intense and impressive performance by Arun Vijay as the prime antagonist, Nithya Menen does a solid job as the female lead, exuding charm throughout. Moreover, Shalini Pandey also makes a commendable impact despite her limited screentime.
Watch the trailer of Idli Kadai
The Verdict
Idli Kadai is a predictable and melodramatic venture starring Dhanush in the lead role. With every nook and cranny of the story falling into textbook cliches, this film ends up being the second-best effort in Dhanush’s directorial career, after Pa Paandi.
If you enjoy sentimental family dramas set in villages, featuring a hero vs villain trope, then this film might be worth your time.
ALSO READ: Idli Kadai Twitter Review: Read 9 tweets before watching Dhanush and Nithya Menen starrer