Modha Rathri

Modha Rathri
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRaja Karuppasamy
Written byRaja Karuppasamy
Produced byNaveen Yerneni
Y. Ravi Shankar
StarringRishikanth
Anishma Anilkumar
CinematographySurendran Paranjothi
Edited byAshok Arjunan
Music byBharath Sankar
Production
company
Distributed byAGS Entertainment
Release date
  • 21 August 2026 (2026-08-21)
Running time
143 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budget₹3–5 crore

Modha Rathri (transl. First Night) is an 2026 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by Raja Karuppasamy in his directorial debut and produced by Mythri Movie Makers.[2]The film stars Rishikanth (in his debut as lead actor), Anishma Anilkumar, Shelly Kishore, Chetan and Bagavathi Perumal in lead roles.

The film was officially announced in May 2026 under the tentative title MythriTamil03, as it is the Mythri's third Tamil production and the official title was announced in same month.[3][4]The film has music and background score by Bharath Sankar, cinematography handled by Surendran Paranjothi and editing by Ashok Arjunan.

Modha Rathri was released in theatres on 21 August 2026 and received critical acclaim from critics.

Plot

The story follows Maruthanayagam "Maruthu" and Muthuselvi, two relative strangers who are pushed into an arranged marriage due to intense family pressure and village traditions. Maruthu is a reluctant groom who has recently returned after working in Dubai for six years, while Muthuselvi enters the union under her mother's strict orders while secretly nursing a heartbreak of her own.

Cast

  • Rishikanth as Maruthanayagam "Maruthu"
  • Anishma Anilkumar as Muthuselvi[5][6]
  • Shelly Kishore as Selvi
  • Chetan as Poosari
  • Bagavathi Perumal as Saravanan
  • A. Venkatesh as Velayudham
  • Abdool Lee as Kannan
  • Sangeetha Balan as Gomathi
  • Banu Priya as Devi
  • Sumithra Devi L as Keerthi
  • Varshini Karmegham as Ramya
  • Karthikeyan DK as Karuppu
  • Velan as Chermadurai
  • Kowshik Kabilan as Somu
  • Raja Karuppasamy as Kadhalan, Muthuselvi's ex-love interest

Production

Development

Modha Rathri was announced in May 2026 as the third Tamil-language production of Mythri Movie Makers. The film marks the directorial debut of Raja Karuppasamy, who also wrote the screenplay. It was produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner. The film was described as a rural comedy drama set around an unusual wedding, with unexpected incidents and lies unfolding over the course of a single night.[5]

The film's first-look poster was unveiled by filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj on 1 May 2026. The announcement revealed that the story takes place during a single night surrounding a wedding and revolves around the events that occur when several characters become caught up in the situation.[5]

Casting

Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar were cast in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Chetan, A. Venkatesh, Bagavathi Perumal, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L, Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan DK, Velan and Kowshik Kabilan.[5]

Anishma Anilkumar was cast as Muthuselvi, while Rishikanth plays the male lead. The film marked Anishma's next major Tamil project following her appearances in Sirai and Youth.[7]

Filming

Principal photography commenced following the film's announcement in May 2026. The shooting was completed by 1 July 2026, with the makers announcing the completion of filming after wrapping the production.[8]

Surendran Paranjothi handled the cinematography, while Ashok Arjunan served as the editor. Bharath Sankar composed the music, with A. Balumahendra serving as the production designer and Poornima Ramaswamy as the costume designer.[8]

Music

The music and background score is composed by Bharath Sankar, in his maiden collaboration with Rishikanth and Raja Karuppasamy. The audio rights were acquired by T-Series. The first single titled "Dai Dakka" was released on 8 August 2026.[9]The second single titled "Mudhala Mudiva" was released on 18 August 2026.[10]The last single titled "Modha Rathri" was released on 20 August 2026.[11]The entire soundtrack album was released on 20 August 2026.

All lyrics are written by Yugabharathi.

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Dai Dakka"Bharath Sankar4:10
2."Mudhala Mudiva"Saindhavi
Abhay Jodhpurkar		4:12
3."Modha Rathri" (Title Track)Sublahshini3:02
4."Modha Rathri" (Title Theme)Bharath Sankar0:51
Total length:12:15

Release

Theatrical

Modha Rathri was released in theatres on 21 August 2026, coinciding Milad un-Nabi weekend.[12] The film was distributed by AGS Entertainment in Tamil Nadu.[13]

Home media

The post-theatrical digital streaming rights were acquired by Netflix.

Reception

Critical response

Modha Rathri received critical acclaim from critics.

Akshay Kumar of The New Indian Express and Cinema Express gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Modha Rathri, replete with love, laughs and entertaining characters, gives courtship a chance in a hurried arranged marriage, finding a tiny room for two people to get smitten".[14][15]A critic from Pentagan Media gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Barath Shankar’s upbeat background score elevates the quality of the comedy scenes that follow spontaneously through the length and breadth of the film.".[16]

Abhinav Subramanian of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "Rishikanth is fine, an unhurried presence in a film full of flapping arms. Anishma is alright in a part that asks for sporadic outbursts and long glum stretches. Bagavathi Perumal gets the loudest assignment and knows exactly how irritating to make it; most of the laughs come at his expense. The rest are sufficient. Shot across a handful of locations, the film looks functional more than flattering".[17]Ananda Vikatan rated the film 43 out of 100.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Modha Rathri". Central Board of Film Certification. 18 August 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "அனிஷ்மா, ரிஷிகாந்த் நடிப்பில் உருவாகும் 'மொத ராத்திரி' திரைப்படம்!". Dinamani. 2 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "🎺🎺 #MythriTamil03 title look today at 6.03 PM 💥💥 Stay tuned!". X. 1 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "One unusual wedding brings two strangers together for one memorable night ✨ #MythriTamil03 is #ModhaRathiri ❤‍🔥 A rural comedy drama film that you will enjoy with your family ❤️". X. 1 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Rishikanth, Anishma Anilkumar join hands for Modha Rathiri; Lokesh Kanagaraj unveils poster". Cinema Express. 2 May 2026. Archived from the original on 11 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Lokesh Kanagaraj unveils title 'Modha Rathiri' for Rishikanth–Anishma film, IBW News: English News, Breaking News in English, ताज़ा हिदी समाचार". Indian Broadcasting World. 2 May 2026. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Anishma Anilkumar-starrer Modha Rathri cleared for release with U/A certificate". DT Next. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 "It's a wrap for Rishikanth-Anishma Anilkumar's Modha Rathiri; here's all we know". Cinema Express. 1 July 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  9. ↑ ""மொத ராத்திரி" படத்தின் பர்ஸ்ட் சிங்கிள் வெளியானது". Daily Thanthi. 8 August 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "முதலா முடிவா? மொத ராத்திரி பாடல் வெளியீடு!". Dinamani. 19 August 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "#ModhaRathri title song out now 💥💥". X. 20 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Rishikanth-Anishma Anilkumar's Modha Rathiri locks release date; First look poster out". The New Indian Express. 30 July 2026. Archived from the original on 9 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "AGS boards Modha Rathri as distributor". Cinema Express. 18 August 2026. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Modha Rathri Movie Review: Consummate writing lights up this wedding comedy". The New Indian Express. 22 August 2026. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Modha Rathri Movie Review: Consummate writing lights up this wedding comedy". Cinema Express. 20 August 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "MODHA RATHIRI – FILM REVIEW". Pentagan Media. 20 August 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Modha Rathiri Movie Review: Predictable village farce with enough funny detours". The Times of India. 20 August 2026. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "மொத ராத்திரி விமர்சனம்: கலகல காமெடி விருந்தும், மொய் வைக்கப்படும் மெசேஜும்! கல்யாணம் களைகட்டுகிறதா?". Ananda Vikatan. 21 August 2026.
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