Rithik Rahman at 02:28, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T02:28:09Z

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{{Short description|2024 Indian-Tamil language film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Dhonima poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Jagadeesan Subu
| writer = Jagadeesan Subu
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Sai Devanand S
* Sasikala S
* Sai Venkateswaran S
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kaali Venkat]]
* [[Roshni Prakash]]
* [[Vivek Prasanna]]
}}
| cinematography = Packiaraj<br/>Sajith Kumar
| editing = Tamil Arasan
| music = EJ Johnson
| studio = SSBV Learn and Teach Production Private Limited
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2024|9|20|df=yes}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Dhonima''''' is a 2024 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by Jagadeesan Subu. The film stars [[Kaali Venkat]], [[Roshni Prakash]], and Vishav Raj in the lead roles. [[Vivek Prasanna]], Kannan Ponniah, Rajesh Sharma, [[P. L. Thenappan]], Kalki Rajan and others appear in supporting roles.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 September 2024 |title='தோனிமா' திரைப்படத்தின் டிரெய்லர் வெளியீடு |url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/CinemaNews/kaali-venkats-dhonima-trailer-released-1122493 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916135343/https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/CinemaNews/kaali-venkats-dhonima-trailer-released-1122493 |archive-date=16 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |work=[[Dina Thanthi|Daily Thanthi]] |language=ta}}</ref> The film has music composed by EJ Johnson, cinematography handled by Packiaraj and Sajith Kumar and editing by Tamil Arasan.<ref name="announcement1" />

''Dhonima'' released theatrically on 20 September 2024.

==Plot==
{{More plot|date=November 2024}}
The story revolves around 'Dhonima', a female [[Golden Retriever]] puppy rescued by Dhanam from a dustbin and she takes it to her home. Her husband, Kotti is an alcoholic who does not care about his son Dravid who has a hearing issue, while Dhanam's only goal is to save enough money for her son's surgery.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Kaali Venkat]] as Kotti
* [[Roshni Prakash]] as Dhanam
* Vishav Raj as Dravid
* [[Vivek Prasanna]]
* Kannan Ponniah
* Rajesh Sharma
* [[P. L. Thenappan]]
* Kalki Rajan
* Aadukalam Stella
* Rajamani
* Maya Munieshwaran
* Vichithiran
* Sasi
* Mogli K Mohan
* Karthik Munees
}}

==Production==
Jagadeesan Subu, who earlier directed ''[[Sigai]]'' (2017) and ''[[Bakrid (film)|Bakrid]]'' (2019) announced through a title reveal video, the title of his next film ''Dhonima'' starring [[Kaali Venkat]] who was last seen in ''[[Kurangu Pedal]]'' (2024), along with [[Roshni Prakash]], and Vishav Raj in the lead roles.<ref name="distributor">{{Cite news |last=Spark |first=RK |date=12 June 2024 |title=காளி வெங்கட் ஹீரோவாக நடித்து இருக்கும் தோனிமா! இயக்குனர் யார் தெரியுமா? |url=https://zeenews.india.com/tamil/movies/kaali-venkat-and-roshni-prakash-starring-dhonima-movie-directed-jagadeesan-subbu-509833 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917023421/https://zeenews.india.com/tamil/movies/kaali-venkat-and-roshni-prakash-starring-dhonima-movie-directed-jagadeesan-subbu-509833 |archive-date=17 September 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=[[Zee News]] |language=ta}}</ref><ref name="announcement1">{{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title='Bakrid' director Jagadeesan Subu's next with Kaali Venkat titled 'Dhonima' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bakrid-director-jagadeesan-subus-next-with-kaali-venkat-titled-dhonima/article68276900.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615202901/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bakrid-director-jagadeesan-subus-next-with-kaali-venkat-titled-dhonima/article68276900.ece |archive-date=15 June 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title=Director Jagadeesan Subu's next titled 'Dhonima' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/director-jagadeesan-subus-next-titled-dhonima/articleshow/110892860.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613054936/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/director-jagadeesan-subus-next-titled-dhonima/articleshow/110892860.cms |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

[[Principal photography]] took place around Chennai, mainly in areas like [[Anna Nagar]] and [[Kolathur, Chennai|Kolathur]] and wrapped up after 36 days in early June.<ref name="shoot">{{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title=Bakrid director Jagadeesan's next is titled Dhonima |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/cinema/bakrid-director-jagadeesans-next-is-titled-dhonima-789543 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613031327/https://www.dtnext.in/news/cinema/bakrid-director-jagadeesans-next-is-titled-dhonima-789543 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=[[DT Next]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title=Kaali Venkat, Roshni Prakash team up for 'Dhonima' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/Jun/11/kaali-venkat-roshni-prakash-team-up-for-dhonima-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622141517/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/Jun/11/kaali-venkat-roshni-prakash-team-up-for-dhonima-3 |archive-date=22 June 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

==Music==
The music and background score is composed by EJ Johnson. All the songs were penned by S Gnanakaravel. The first single, "Moradaa Un Thaali", released on 26 June 2024, which had vocals performed by [[Shankar Mahadevan]], and [[Vandana Srinivasan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 2024 |title=First single from Dhonima Moradaa Un Thaali out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Jun/26/first-single-from-dhonima-moradaa-un-thaali-out |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828145421/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Jun/26/first-single-from-dhonima-moradaa-un-thaali-out |archive-date=28 August 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |newspaper=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref> The second single,"Kaalam Oda", released on 10 September 2024, which had vocals performed by [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2024 |title='Kaalam Oda' song from Dhonima out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/10/kaalam-oda-song-from-dhonima-out |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910080005/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Sep/10/kaalam-oda-song-from-dhonima-out |archive-date=10 September 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |newspaper=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Moradaa Un Thali
| length1 = 5:04
| writer1 = S Gnanakaravel
| extra1 = [[Shankar Mahadevan]], [[Vandana Srinivasan]]
| title2 = Kaalam Oda
| length2 = 3:07
| writer2 = S Gnanakaravel
| extra2 = [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]
| title3 =
| length3 =
| writer3 =
| extra3 =
| total_length = 
}}

==Release==
=== Theatrical ===
''Dhonima'' was released theatrically on 20 September 2024.<ref name="release">{{Cite news |date=28 August 2024 |title=Kaali Venkat's Dhonima gets a release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Aug/28/kaali-venkats-dhonima-gets-a-release-date |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828135705/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Aug/28/kaali-venkats-dhonima-gets-a-release-date |archive-date=28 August 2024 |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Narayani M of ''[[Cinema Express]]'' rated two out of five and stated that "''Dhonima'' has its heart in the right place and holds great potential to become a heart-winning drama."<ref>{{Cite web |last=M |first=Narayani |date=21 September 2024 |title=Dhonima Movie Review: Even Kaali Venkat's acting can't save this meandering drama |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2024/Sep/21/dhonima-movie-review-even-kaali-venkats-acting-cant-save-this-meandering-drama-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922142032/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2024/Sep/21/dhonima-movie-review-even-kaali-venkats-acting-cant-save-this-meandering-drama-2 |archive-date=22 September 2024 |access-date=26 September 2024 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref> Roopa Radhakrishnan of ''[[The Times of India]]'' rated the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and opined that "even though ''Dhonima'' gets many moments right, it falls short of becoming a solid drama."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Roopa |date=20 September 2024 |title=Dhonima Movie Review : Falls short of becoming a solid drama |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/dhonima/movie-review/113528593.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920160514/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/dhonima/movie-review/113528593.cms |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}

[[Category:2024 Indian films]]
[[Category:2024 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2024 drama films]]
[[Category:2024 films]]
[[Category:Films about dogs]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Dhonima - Revision history

Rithik Rahman at 02:28, 3 March 2026