Inji Iduppazhagi has garnered considerable attention primarily due to Anushka’s decision to gain weight for her role as the central character. While audiences in southern India, particularly Tamil Nadu, have historically been more accepting of actresses with fuller figures, that seems to be evolving—perhaps influenced by the prevalence of slender leading ladies in Kollywood today, even among those who began their careers with a less slim physique. It’s certainly a bold move for an actress, and Anushka deserves recognition for taking it on. She portrays Soundarya, also known as Sweety, a cheerful young woman carrying extra weight, and generally embodies the character well, although there are occasional inconsistencies in her appearance from scene to scene. Initially, she doesn't quite seem right for the part, especially when portraying bubbly moments, given her often more mature screen presence, but eventually, she wins viewers over with the sincerity of her performance. The film itself shares a similar quality. It takes some time to adjust to its uneven pacing. The story centers on Sweety’s difficulty in finding a suitable partner, compounded by her mother's efforts, and her developing feelings for Abhishek (Arya), a documentary filmmaker and one of the potential suitors who arrives at her home. She initially rejects him, partly just to experience the satisfaction of turning someone down, but they form a friendly connection. As she begins to develop romantic feelings for Abhi, he finds himself drawn to Simran, a slender social worker, leaving Sweety disappointed. Simultaneously, her mother encourages her to join Size Zero, a popular new slimming center. When Jyothi, another member of Size Zero, ends up in the hospital, Sweety discovers it’s due to questionable practices employed by the center. With Abhi's assistance, Sweety launches an awareness campaign, much to the displeasure of Size Zero’s owner Satyanand. Will she succeed in this confrontation? Will Abhishek recognize her love for him? The core issue with Inji Iduppazhagi is that its script feels conflicted, and the tone shifts between lightheartedness and melodrama. For extended periods in the second half, the narrative drifts from Sweety’s personal journey and becomes a fitness commercial (featuring appearances by numerous film stars). This appears to be a deliberate attempt to promote a ‘message,’ which would have been more effectively integrated into the storyline, and the film devotes too much time to this segment. Furthermore, because it was filmed as a bilingual production, the setting doesn't feel entirely authentic. The dialogue, while occasionally clever, feels like a translation from another language, and the actors’ delivery lacks naturalness. With many non-Tamil performers and even Anushka’s voice being dubbed (by Deepa Venkat), there are moments when it’s hard to ignore that we’re watching a dubbed film—an issue reminiscent of Aaha Kalyanam, another Tamil-Telugu bilingual that lacked local flavor. The ending falls into a predictable trap, presenting yet another instance of a well-intentioned man being callously abandoned at the altar so the main characters can achieve their “happy ending.” Despite these shortcomings, the film remains reasonably engaging and successfully captures moments of warmth and joy. The fairytale-like sequences (visually marked by frozen frames whenever Sweety experiences a significant life event) and scenes showcasing her cheerful and helpful nature are well executed, such as her reliance on fortune cookie messages for encouragement and to spread positivity. The supporting actors, including Urvashi, Prakash Raj, and Gollapudi Maruti Rao, deliver memorable performances and help audiences quickly understand their characters. It’s also refreshing to see the hero willingly take a secondary role to the heroine, and the film openly portrays him as the object of desire—a departure from typical portrayals of male leads in other films.

Source on TMDB