Raghu Thatha (translated as Grandfather Raghu) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language political comedy film, marking the directorial debut of Suman Kumar. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films, this film also serves as the production company’s first Tamil venture. The Raghu Thatha Movie Download stars Keerthy Suresh, along with M. S. Bhaskar, Ravindra Vijay, Devadarshini, Jayakumar Parameswaran Pillai, Rajeev Ravindranathan, Anandsami, Rajesh Balachandiran, and Aadhira Pandilakshmi in key roles.
The project was officially announced in December 2022, along with its title Raghu Thatha. Filming began the same month, primarily in Chennai, and was completed by mid-May 2023. The film’s music was composed by Sean Roldan, with cinematography by Yamini Yagnamurthy and editing by T. S. Suresh.
Raghu Thatha was released in theaters on August 15, 2024, coinciding with India’s Independence Day. The film received mixed reviews from critics.
Raghu Thatha Movie Storyplot
Kayalvizhi Kayal Pandian is an upper-division clerk at the Valluvenpettai branch of the Madras Central Bank, known for her strong feminist beliefs and activism against the imposition of Hindi. She also writes stories under the male pseudonym Ka Pandian to avoid the lower readership often faced by female writers at the time. In the past, Kayal and her grandfather, Raghothaman, successfully shut down the Bharathiya Bhasha Ekta Sabha, a Hindi organization led by Ranganathan in their village, earning the admiration of the villagers. Despite pressure from her parents to marry, Kayal refuses. She is offered a promotion on the condition that she transfers to the Calcutta branch and passes the Hindi Pratmika exam.
Meanwhile, Raghothaman experiences stomach pain, and a doctor recommends a barium swallow test, which leads to a misdiagnosis of stomach cancer. Upon learning of this, Raghothaman expresses three final wishes: to eat biryani at Buhari Hotel in Madras, take a photo with M. G. Ramachandran, and see Kayal married. Reluctantly, Kayal agrees to marry to fulfill his last wish. She proposes to Tamilselvan, a family friend and engineer who appears to share her progressive ideals. However, things take a turn when Kayal receives an anonymous letter revealing her true identity as a female writer using a male pseudonym. Suspecting Tamilselvan, she eventually discovers his regressive beliefs and realizes she must avoid the marriage.
With her brother Shankar’s support, Kayal decides to pass the Hindi exam to secure a transfer to Calcutta, despite her reservations. She and her friend Alamelu plan to learn Hindi from Suneel, a bank peon. As Tamilselvan grows suspicious of Kayal’s secretive behavior, she arranges for an earlier exam date and, with Shankar’s help, devises a plan to smuggle the question paper out of the exam hall for Suneel to answer. After several challenges, the completed answer sheet is returned in time. When Tamilselvan confronts her, Kayal boldly stands her ground, hoping he will call off the marriage. However, Tamilselvan feigns reform, claiming he accepts whatever decision she makes, thwarting her plan once again.
Meanwhile, Ranganathan, seeking revenge for his previous humiliation, gets permission to reopen the Valluvanpettai Hindi Sabha. He also learns from an anonymous letter that Kayal took the Hindi exam for a promotion and that her wedding is imminent. As the wedding preparations continue, Kayal’s sister-in-law Poonkothai suggests abducting the groom. A fake letter lures Tamilselvan to an isolated location, where he is beaten and locked up. Though Kayal believes the marriage is stopped, Tamilselvan returns, and the ceremony resumes. However, Ranganathan interrupts the wedding to announce the reopening of the Hindi Sabha, prompting Kayal to halt the proceedings and declare that she took the Hindi exam only to prevent her marriage.
Kayal accuses Tamilselvan of being impotent, hoping to provoke his true nature. In response, Tamilselvan reveals his male chauvinistic attitude, and Kayal draws a parallel between the imposition of marriage and the imposition of Hindi. Meanwhile, the doctor informs Raghothaman that his cancer diagnosis was incorrect, leading Raghothaman to angrily slap the doctor. Tamilselvan continues to pretend he’s a changed man, but his mother sees through his act and slaps him, putting an end to the marriage for good.
Raghu Thatha Movie Release Date
Raghu Thatha was released in theaters on August 15, 2024, to coincide with India’s Independence Day. The distribution rights for Tamil Nadu were secured by Red Giant Movies and PVR Inox Pictures. The film premiered on ZEE5 on September 13, 2024.
Raghu Thatha Movie Cast Details
- Keerthy Suresh as Kayalvizhi Pandian Kayal / Author KP
- M. S. Bhaskar as Raghothaman
- Devadarshini as Alamelu
- Ravindra Vijay as Tamilselvan Selvan
- Anandsami as Ranganathan
- Rajeev Ravindranathan as Ashish Guptha
- Jayakumar as Sundarapandian
- Rajesh Balachandran as Shankar
- Aadhira Pandilakshmi as Lakshmiammal
- Janaki as Tamilselvan’s mother
- Chu Khoy Sheng as Suneel Kumar Lepcha
- K. S. Mippu
- Mukesh
- Manoj Kumar Kalaivanan as Dr. Chandrasekhar
- Ismath Banu as Poonkothai
Raghu Thatha Movie Crew Details
Director: Suman Kumar
Writer: Suman Kumar
Producer: Vijay Kiragandur
Starring: Keerthy Suresh, M. S. Bhaskar, Devadarshini, Ravindra Vijay
Cinematography: Yamini Yagnamurthy
Editor: T. S. Suresh
Music Composer: Sean Roldan
Production Company: Hombale Films
Distributor(s): Red Giant Movies, PVR Inox Pictures
Raghu Thatha Movie Review
M. Suganth of The Times of India rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising composer Sean Roldan for his lively score, which helped the director present even a tragic subject like cancer with a lighthearted approach. Avinash Ramachandran of The Indian Express gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, stating that Raghu Thatha aims for a lot but falls short due to inconsistencies between the setup of jokes and their punchlines. Anusha Sundar of OTT Play also rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, noting that while Raghu Thatha has intriguing plotlines and interconnected subplots, the overall execution is lacking. Although some one-liners are effective, and Keerthy Suresh carries much of the film’s weight, it ultimately fails to be a wholly satisfying experience. Janani K of India Today gave it 2 out of 5 stars, commenting that despite its potential, the film does not fully succeed as a satire on Hindi imposition and patriarchy. Similarly, Jayabhuvaneshwari B of Cinema Express rated it 2 out of 5 stars, pointing out that despite strong performances, the film suffers from an inconsistent narrative and underdeveloped themes, leaving the audience feeling confused and unsatisfied. Latha Srinivasan of Hindustan Times summarized it as a misfire, describing Raghu Thatha as a tiresome watch that neither elicits laughter nor evokes a sense of triumph for the character Kayal.
Raghu Thatha Movie Highlights
- Strong Performances: Despite the film’s mixed reviews, the performances, especially by lead actress Keerthy Suresh, were noted as one of the film’s strengths. She manages to carry much of the narrative on her shoulders.
- Unique Plotlines: The movie explores interesting and interconnected subplots, tackling themes like Hindi imposition, patriarchy, and other social issues, offering a fresh perspective.
- Satirical Elements: Raghu Thatha attempts to address serious themes with a satirical edge, providing commentary on social issues through a blend of humor and drama.
- Sean Roldan’s Music: The film’s score, composed by Sean Roldan, was praised for its jaunty and lively nature, adding a layer of insouciance even to the film’s heavier moments.
- Blend of Humor and Drama: While not entirely successful according to some critics, the film tries to balance humor and drama, aiming to present serious topics in a lighthearted manner.
- Cultural and Social Commentary: Raghu Thatha touches upon cultural and social issues, particularly focusing on the imposition of language and gender norms, adding depth to the narrative.
- Moments of Effective One-Liners: Despite criticism about the film’s overall execution, some one-liners and humorous elements were noted to be effective, providing occasional laughs.
- Attempt at Breaking Stereotypes: The film attempts to break stereotypes related to language and gender roles, making it a thought-provoking piece despite its flaws.
Raghu Thatha Movie Screenshots
Raghu Thatha Movie Trailer
‘Raghuthatha’ starring Keerthy Suresh, M.S.Baaskar, Ravindra Vijay and Devadarshni. ‘Raghuthatha’ movie is directed by Suman Kumar and produced by Vijay Kiragandur. To know more about ‘Raghuthatha’ trailer watch the video.
Raghu Thatha Movie Download Filmyzilla MP4/720p …
Raghu Thatha Movie FAQs
1. What is the main theme of Raghu Thatha?
- Raghu Thatha addresses social and cultural issues, focusing on topics like the imposition of language, particularly Hindi, and the challenges of patriarchy. It attempts to present these themes with a blend of humor and drama.
2. Who is the lead actor in the film?
- Keerthy Suresh plays the lead role in Raghu Thatha. Her performance has been highlighted as a strong point of the film.
3. How was the music received in the movie?
- The music, composed by Sean Roldan, received positive remarks for its lively and upbeat nature. It was noted for adding a sense of lightness to even the more serious aspects of the film.
4. Is Raghu Thatha a comedy or a drama?
- Raghu Thatha is a satirical drama with elements of comedy. It attempts to address serious social themes with a satirical edge, though the balance between humor and drama received mixed reviews.
5. How did critics receive the movie?
- The movie received mixed to average reviews. While the performances and unique plotlines were appreciated, critics pointed out inconsistencies in the narrative and a lack of depth in handling certain themes.
