{{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 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=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'' (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 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 = <!-- Automatically generated with User:JPxG/TrackSum.js --> }}
==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