No big stars; unknown, 63-year-old as lead actor. But Tamil film creates box office history, earns Rs 50 crore

A Tamil movie without the presence of a major male superstar has turned into an unexpected success story at the box office. Titled Thaai Kizhavi, the film places veteran actor Radhikaa Sarathkumar at the center of the narrative, portraying a tough and calculating elderly woman who earns her living as a moneylender. Since its theatrical debut, the movie has been receiving enthusiastic reactions from audiences and critics alike. Positive word of mouth has helped it gather momentum in cinemas, allowing the collection figures to grow steadily with each passing day. Recently, the production team confirmed that the film has surpassed the impressive milestone of ₹50 crore in worldwide gross earnings within just ten days of its release.

The project has been produced by actor Sivakarthikeyan through his production house Sivakarthikeyan Productions, while the direction has been handled by filmmaker Sivakumar Murugesan. The movie arrived in theatres on February 27 and quickly caught the attention of viewers for its strong storyline and the commanding performance delivered by its lead actor. The production company recently took to social media platform X to celebrate the film’s achievement. In their update, they announced that the worldwide gross box-office collections had crossed ₹50 crore within the first ten days, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming appreciation and support the movie has received from audiences across different regions. The team also acknowledged the viewers for helping transform the film into a massive commercial triumph.

Industry tracking portal Sacnilk reported that by the eleventh day of its run, the film had generated approximately ₹43.36 crore in total gross revenue, while the net earnings stood at around ₹37.85 crore. These numbers were recorded from 13,470 screenings across its primary market, indicating strong attendance in theatres and a consistently growing audience base.


The storyline of the film centers on Pavunuthaayi, the formidable seventy-year-old moneylender portrayed by Radhikaa Sarathkumar. Her adult sons confront her with demands to divide the family wealth and transfer ownership of her assets to them. However, she firmly refuses, declaring that she intends to retain control of her fortune and enjoy it for the rest of her life. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when she becomes paralysed, prompting her greedy sons to return with renewed interest. They are convinced that she has hidden a valuable treasure somewhere, a secret location known only to her.

Alongside Radhikaa Sarathkumar, the film also features performances from actors such as Singampuli, Aruldoss, Bala Saravanan, Munishkanth, Ilavarasu, George Maryan, and Vettai Muthukumar, who contribute to the gripping family drama.