‘Dorothy’: Karthik Subbaraj’s film gets standing ovation during world premiere at TIFF

The premiere took place at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre, with Karthik joined by Keerthy, Sananth and Rishikanth, alongside producers Guneet Monga Kapoor, Achin Jain.

Set in the early 1990s, Dorothy follows Karthi and Subbu, two boys who grow up within an unforgiving landscape of rural Tamil Nadu. “When a misfortune befalls Dorothy (Keerthy Suresh), a member of the household who always treated the childhood friends with gentleness, the story takes an unexpected turn, shifting from their mere survival into a harsh, scorched-earth reality shaped by rigid patriarchal hierarchies and everyday violence,” read a synopsis posted on TIFF website.

Speaking about it, Karthik said in a statement, “Dorothy is a story that comes from a place and culture I know intimately, but its questions around friendship, prejudice and human connection are universal. To have its world premiere at TIFF is incredibly special. It gives the film an opportunity to reach audiences across the world while staying true to the story I wanted to tell. And to have Ilaiyaraaja sir’s music accompany that journey makes it even more special.”

Producer Jyoti Deshpande, President, Jio Studios, said, “Cinema has the ability to cross languages when the emotion at its centre is universal. Dorothy is a powerful example of that. Karthik has crafted a story about friendship, identity and human dignity that can resonate far beyond its language. At Jio Studios, we are proud to bring this deeply human story to audiences, and its premiere at TIFF is a significant moment for the film and a proud one for Tamil cinema.”

Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, added jointly, “TIFF has been an important part of Sikhya’s journey, and bringing Dorothy here feels particularly special. At its heart, Dorothy is a deeply human story about identity, belonging and the courage to find your way back to yourself. Working with Karthik and Jio Studios has brought together different strengths and perspectives, with the shared belief that a strong Indian story can find an audience anywhere.”

Ilaiyaraaja has composed the film’s original score and songs. Its 18-track OST was also presented as a live musical experience in Chennai recently, with musicians performing the Dorothy score continuously for around 40 minutes.

Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain in association with Dhammam Films, Dorothy will be released in theatres on September 25.

Karthik’s previous directorial was Retro, starring Suriya. With Pooja Hegde, and Joju George in prominent roles, Retro hit the screens on May 1, 2025.