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Dorothy is the Tamil crime drama in which Keerthy Suresh plays the title role. It is a feature film, not a series, written and directed by Karthik Subbaraj (Petta, Jigarthanda DoubleX), with music by Ilaiyaraaja and newcomers Sananth and Rishikanth as the two friends at its centre. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and has been in cinemas since 25 September 2026. The film is reported to start streaming on 23 October, but the makers have not confirmed that date. Below are the story, the cast, where the release stands and a mix-up about the film's decade.
Dorothy quick facts
- Format: Feature film (not a web series)
- Language: Tamil, with a Telugu version released later
- Genre: Crime drama / friendship drama
- Director: Karthik Subbaraj, his tenth film as director
- Music: Ilaiyaraaja, his first film with Subbaraj
- Producers: Jio Studios, Sikhya Entertainment and Subbaraj's Dhammam Films
- World premiere: 11 September 2026, Toronto International Film Festival
- In cinemas: 25 September 2026 (Tamil); Telugu version on 2 October 2026
- Runtime: About two and a half hours
- Streaming: Reported for 23 October 2026, not officially confirmed
What is Dorothy about? (no spoilers)
The story is set in rural Tamil Nadu, around Madurai, and follows two inseparable childhood friends, Karthi and Subbu. Their bond is tested when Dorothy, a warm and outspoken woman, comes into their lives and starts to push back against the prejudice around them. Later in the film, one friend is sent to find the other. Reviewers say that journey brings out themes of caste, violence and guilt.
It gets labelled a crime drama, but several reviews describe it as a friendship story first, one that revisits and questions the classic Tamil village romance. Its handling of gender and sexuality has divided audiences: some viewers praised the film for it, while others called for a boycott. Subbaraj has publicly defended the film's message of acceptance.
Is Dorothy set in the 1980s or the 1990s?
Sources disagree. Some coverage, including Filmibeat's, describes Dorothy as set in the 1980s. The trailer coverage and Esquire India place it in the early 1990s, and at least one report gives the year as 1995. Ilaiyaraaja's songs deliberately recall his 1980s and 1990s sound, which may explain why people mix up the period.
There is a second possible mix-up. Keerthy Suresh has another crime drama on the way that really is set in the 1980s: Akka, a gangster series produced by Yash Raj Films, where she stars opposite Radhika Apte. It is set in a fictional 1980s South Indian city. If you searched for "Keerthy Suresh's 1980s crime series", you probably meant Akka, which is covered further down.
Dorothy cast and crew
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Keerthy Suresh | Dorothy |
| Sananth | Subbu |
| Rishikanth | Karthi |
| Karthik Subbaraj | Director, writer |
| Ilaiyaraaja | Music and lyrics |
| Tirru | Cinematography |
| Ganesh Siva | Editing |
| Jyoti Deshpande, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Achin Jain | Producers |
Dorothy release date: where it stands
- Festival: The world premiere was on 11 September 2026 at TIFF in Toronto, where the film was reported to get a standing ovation.
- Cinemas: The Tamil version opened worldwide on 25 September 2026. A Telugu version followed on 2 October through Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media.
- Box office: Esquire India, citing trackers, put the India net at about ₹11 crore over the first eleven days, calling the run modest but steady. No official figures have been released.
- Streaming: Several outlets, including Filmibeat and Esquire India, report that Dorothy will begin streaming on 23 October 2026, less than a month after it reached cinemas. Neither the makers nor the streaming platform had confirmed the date as of 17 October, and some listings still show it as "to be announced". Treat the date as likely, not final.
Dorothy teaser and trailer
The title teaser came out on 5 August 2026 and was presented by Dhanush. It has very little dialogue and introduces Keerthy as Dorothy, with quick glimpses of Karthi and Subbu. The full trailer followed in mid-September, a week before release, and leans into the friendship and the violence that follows. Dhanush later called the film a masterpiece on social media. His own recent film, Idli Kadai, is streaming on NoWireTV (see our Idli Kadai guide).
Keerthy Suresh's other recent work
- Akka (series): YRF's period gangster drama with Radhika Apte, directed by debutant Dharmaraj Shetty. According to reports, it premieres on 30 October 2026, a week after Dorothy's reported streaming date.
- Baby John (2024): her Hindi film debut, opposite Varun Dhawan.
- Mahanati (2018): her Savitri biopic, which won her the National Film Award for Best Actress and is still her best-known role.
Waiting for Dorothy to stream? Tamil movie channels KTV HD and Sun TV HD are streaming live on NoWireTV, along with Star Vijay HD. For Telugu, there is Sun Gemini Movies HD and ETV Cinema.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Dorothy a movie or a web series?
Dorothy is a feature film. It opened in cinemas on 25 September 2026 after premiering at TIFF. Keerthy Suresh's web series is a different project, Akka.
When will Dorothy release on OTT?
Multiple reports point to 23 October 2026. As of 17 October, neither the makers nor the platform had officially confirmed it, so the date could still change.
Who directed Dorothy?
Karthik Subbaraj wrote and directed it. It is his tenth film and his first with Ilaiyaraaja, who composed the music and wrote the lyrics.
Who plays who in Dorothy?
Keerthy Suresh plays Dorothy, Sananth plays Subbu and Rishikanth plays Karthi, the two childhood friends whose lives change when she arrives.
Is Dorothy available in Telugu?
Yes. A Telugu version reached cinemas on 2 October 2026 through Rana Daggubati's Spirit Media. The original language is Tamil.
Is Dorothy set in the 1980s?
Reports differ. Some say the 1980s, while the trailer coverage and several reviews place it in the early-to-mid 1990s. Keerthy's 1980s-set crime drama is the series Akka.
