Veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam has praised Karthik Subbaraj's latest Tamil film 'Dorothy', calling the director a "very, very special talent" and describing the film as "very special". His comments come as the Keerthy Suresh-starrer continues to draw attention for its themes and reported denial of a theatrical release in Malaysia.
Mani Ratnam praises Karthik Subbaraj
In a video message shared by the makers of Dorothy on X, Mani Ratnam praised Subbaraj's filmmaking and his place among the younger generation of directors.
"Karthik is a very, very special talent. We have many, many young and promising new directors with us and Karthik is leading the pack. Dorothy is a very special film," Ratnam said.
He also praised the film's cinematic language, visual treatment and technical execution, saying he was "envious" of Subbaraj's control over the film's shots and technique.
Praise for Ilaiyaraaja's music
Ratnam also highlighted the contribution of veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja, whose original score forms an important part of the film.
"The film language is very, very good. Extremely good. Very impressive. I am envious. The control over the language, the shots. The technique. Ilaiyaraaja's music is really something very, very special," he said.
#Maniratnam about #Dorothy :
— Laxmi Kanth (@iammoviebuff007) September 26, 2026
"Karthik is a very, very special talent and a big advantage for Tamil cinema. We have so many promising young directors, and Karthik is the leader of that pack. Dorothy is a very special film. His film language is very, very good and very impressive.…
About 'Dorothy'
Starring Keerthy Suresh, Sananth and Rishikanth, Dorothy is set in rural Tamil Nadu in the 1990s. The story follows two young men whose lives are transformed after Dorothy enters their world, with the film exploring themes including identity, caste, masculinity, compassion and LGBTQIA+ themes.
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this month, where it received a standing ovation. It is backed by Jio Studios and Sikhya Entertainment, with music by Ilaiyaraaja.
#Dorothy review: One of @karthiksubbaraj’s best!
— Nandan (@__nndn__) September 27, 2026
Thank god I never believed in any boycott tags because their narrative is completely different from what’s shown in the film.
Also, may whoever spread those rumors about Keerthy Suresh’s character rot in the deepest pits of hell. pic.twitter.com/VKz2qRRTuz
Reported Malaysia ban
The film has also been in the news over reports that it was denied a theatrical release in Malaysia because of its LGBTQIA+-related content. However, the exact reason for the reported denial has not been officially confirmed.
Despite the controversy, Dorothy has received support from members of the Tamil film industry, with Mani Ratnam's comments adding to the attention around Subbaraj's latest directorial venture.
