Chennai: Director Karthik Subbaraj has described his newly released film Dorothy, starring Keerthy Suresh in the lead, as the most emotional story he has told so far.

The filmmaker shared his thoughts about the film on social media shortly before its release, saying that the experience of making Dorothy had affected him personally and professionally.

Subbaraj, known for films including Pizza, Jigarthanda and Petta, said that although Dorothy is his 10th film, he was as excited and nervous about its release as he had been for his debut film.

‘Dorothy’ is closest to reality

Reflecting on the making of the film, Subbaraj said the days he spent working on Dorothy had changed him as a person, filmmaker, artiste and human being.

He described the film as the closest to reality among the films he has made so far and called it the most emotional story he has told.

The director also revealed that the story draws from several real incidents from the 1990s. He said the decision to bring such a story into the mainstream was accompanied by questions about the belief on which he was making the film.

Subbaraj said his answer was his belief in the audience.

The filmmaker’s comments indicate that Dorothy is rooted in real-life incidents while being presented as a mainstream cinematic experience. However, he has not disclosed the specific incidents or details that inspired the story, keeping the central elements of the film away from audiences ahead of its release.

Karthik Subbaraj urges audiences to avoid spoilers

Ahead of the release, Subbaraj also made a special request to audiences not to seek out spoilers before watching the film.

He urged viewers to experience Dorothy without knowing major plot details in advance, saying that the film would be best experienced in theatres without prior information about its story.

The director also appealed to audiences who watch the film not to reveal spoilers or share clips that could disclose important moments to those who are yet to see it.

The request is particularly significant given his statement that the film is based on real incidents and that its emotional impact is central to the viewing experience.

Subbaraj said he wanted audiences to experience the film in the same way as the team had intended, without key developments being revealed beforehand.

Keerthy Suresh leads the film

Dorothy features Keerthy Suresh in the lead role and marks another collaboration between Subbaraj and a prominent South Indian actor.

While the director has kept several aspects of the film under wraps, his comments have positioned the project as a departure in terms of its emotional approach and its grounding in real-life incidents.

Subbaraj compared the anticipation surrounding the film’s release to the excitement and nervousness he experienced when Pizza, his debut directorial venture, was released.

He said the team was eager to finally present Dorothy to audiences after completing the filmmaking process.

‘My belief on the audience’

In his message, Subbaraj emphasised his confidence in audiences and their willingness to engage with a story that is presented without revealing its major twists or developments beforehand.

He said the team had reached the point where it was ready to hand the film over to viewers, describing the feeling as similar to a child showing its first painting to its parents.

The director encouraged audiences to watch Dorothy in theatres and expressed confidence that the film would connect with them emotionally.

With the film now released, audiences can experience the story without the advance disclosures that Subbaraj has specifically asked viewers and media platforms to avoid.

The director’s comments ultimately centre on two aspects of Dorothy: its inspiration from incidents of the 1990s and the personal emotional impact the filmmaking process had on him. By withholding further details, the filmmaker is seeking to preserve the experience of discovering the story in theatres.