For a filmmaker whose stories have often found their energy in the peculiarities of Tamil life, Toronto offered an interesting test. Would a story rooted in rural Tamil Nadu, its social hierarchies and its particular rhythms travel beyond the culture that produced it? The first response appears to have been encouraging.
Dorothy, Karthik Subbaraj's 10th directorial, received a standing ovation following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday. The film, starring Keerthy Suresh, Sananth and Rishikanth, was screened in the Centrepiece section of the festival, with the principal cast and filmmaker attending the premiere.
The response adds another layer to what was already a significant festival outing for the film. Dorothy is the first Tamil feature to premiere at TIFF in a decade, and its selection has marked a notable return for Tamil cinema to one of the world's major film festivals. The film is set in the early 1990s and follows two childhood friends, Karthi and Subbu, whose lives change after a misfortune involving Dorothy, a woman who has shown them kindness.
Karthik said ahead of the premiere that having Dorothy open its journey at TIFF was “incredibly special”, adding that the festival gives the film an opportunity to reach audiences around the world while remaining true to the story he wanted to tell. He also singled out Ilaiyaraaja's music as making the journey even more special.
The film's international reception also comes after a deliberately unconventional combination of talent. Keerthy, Sananth and Rishikanth headline the film, while Ilaiyaraaja has composed its original score and songs. The composer recently saw the Dorothy soundtrack presented as a live musical experience in Chennai, with musicians performing the score continuously for around 40 minutes.
Dorothy is backed by Guneet Monga Kapoor, Achin Jain, and Jyoti Deshpande under the Sikhya Entertainment, Dhammam Films and Jio Studios banners. The film, written by Saravanan Chandran along with Karthik, is scheduled to release worldwide in theatres on September 25.
