Radhika’s grandmother acting and earning Rs 50 crore: Thai Kizhavi rocks the Tamil box office
Thai Kizhavi, a rural drama starring Radhika Sarathkumar playing the role of a sharp-tongued grandmother, became one of the most profitable films of Tamil cinema in 2026. Its success challenges traditional Kollywood formulas by focusing on strong female characters and profit-sharing with the cast and crew.
Three months into 2026, can you believe that a rural drama centered on a septuagenarian matriarch is achieving unprecedented success in Tamil cinema?
Kollywood, as the Tamil film industry is called, has for years worked on a fairly predictable formula for success: a male star, a big budget, an action-heavy narrative and release timing around a festival or holiday. Throw in some emotion, love and melodrama, and you get a perfect commercial entertainer that will appeal to all age groups.
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Thai KizhavDirected by debutant Sivakumar Murugesan and produced by Sivakarthikeyan Productions, it completely rejects this formula – and the box office has rewarded it richly.
The film, in which 63-year-old Radhika Sarathkumar plays a sassy, independent grandmother named Pavunuthayi in the 70s, was reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 9-10 crore. Since then it has grossed almost Rs 50 crore globally in 10 days and is still continuing its dream run in theatres. In an industry where low- and medium-budget films regularly struggle to recover their costs, Thai Kizhav Quietly has become one of the most profitable Tamil films of 2026 so far.
why and how did it happen Thai Kizhav Has it become the flavor of the season? Let us find out the reasons behind its success which seems almost personal to everyone who watches it.
A flawed but progressive matriarch at the center
For Tamil cinema fans, Thai Kizhav (literally meaning ‘grandmother’ in English) is a term that people use regularly. While on hearing this word, the name of late Manorama, a Kollywood icon comes to mind. Thai KizhavThis film by Shivakumar Murugesan has now given it a new meaning.
Seldom in any Tamil film has an older woman been placed at the center of a commercial film. Even if some films work, these characters often become second or third characters after the hero takes over. But, Thai KizhavDespite being set in a village, it offered a significant commentary on women’s agency, financial independence, and relationship with the world around them.
But Radhika’s Pavunuthayi is not a supporting character or a plot device. That’s the movie – loud, flawed, funny and deeply human.
Radhika Sarathkumar, a veteran Tamil cinema actress with decades of experience, plays what many consider to be the pinnacle of her career. After watching the film, it is hard to imagine anyone else as Pavunuthayi. Her widely acclaimed performance has made the character a feminist icon who resonates not only with older audiences, but also among young women today.
Humor makes Radhika’s film stand out
While Radhika’s Pavunuthayi is at the center of the story, she is barely able to talk for 20 minutes and lies in bed for the remaining two hours and 24 minutes. Beyond Radhika, it is the supporting characters – her three sons and a daughter – played by Aruldoss, Singampuli, Bala Saravanan and Raichal, besides Munishkanth as a villager, who keep the audience engaged with their antics.
At its core, Thai Kizhav It is about a matriarch, who is also a moneylender, and her three sons vying for her property and savings as she remains bedridden. It’s the humor that makes such a clichéd story stand out from the crowd. The humor is funny and thought-provoking at the same time. The comedy, sometimes political, sometimes zany, helps you connect with the characters and makes you wait for what’s going to happen next in the movie.
Even the supporting characters like Veshakottan (played by Aathadi Kumaran), Vijaya Ganapathy as Pavunuthayi’s grandson and the daughters-in-law get their moments to shine. They do and how!
profit sharing decision
What have you made? Thai Kizhavi’s Even more important than the success is the decision taken by its makers. In a move that Radhika herself described as a game-changer, the production team decided to share profits with her – a gesture that is far from standard practice in the industry.
Speaking at the film’s success meet, Radhika said, “Hats off to producers Sivakarthikeyan and Sudhan. For the first time in the Tamil industry, a heroine has been given a share in the profits in addition to her salary.”
Calling it a historic moment, Radika said the move could redefine the industry. “Till now, only heroes got such opportunities. Thai Kizhav She has opened a new path and I believe female artistes will welcome this change.”
Why did Thai Kizhavi work?
Thai Kizhavi’s The success can be attributed to several factors working in its favour. The film came at a time when Tamil cinema was facing a long-term drought (since November 2025), with many big budget releases either performing poorly or getting delayed. Into that vacuum came a small, well-crafted film that had a clear identity and was verbally strong.
The humor of the film is another important factor. Sivakumar Murugesan’s writing is sharp and relevant, using classic Tamil film references organically rather than merely pandering to nostalgia. The comedy lands without any impact, and the emotional beats gain their weight in the second half.
Sivakarthikeyan’s support also gave the film credibility and visibility that a production of this scale might have otherwise struggled to achieve. His production house has shown a consistent willingness to support content-driven films Thai Kizhav Perhaps this is the biggest success so far.
Radika Sarathkumar called Thai Kizhavi’s Theatrical performance is a true success. He said, “The film collected Rs 50-60 crore with a ticket rate of Rs 150. To show the collection, tickets for big hero films are sold at Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000. If you look at it the right way, we have done better than everyone else. That is true success.”
Thai Kizhavi’s Success is not limited to box office figures only. This is a testament to the fact that audiences are willing to watch films that are honest, well-made and different, even if they don’t have big stars. In an industry that often forgets the scale of ambition, Thai Kizhav A timely reminder that the most important thing a Tamil film can do right now is tell a good story well.