The beginning of Dharmadurai evokes comparisons to Seenuramasamy's earlier movie Neerparavai; a film he made after another project, Idam Porul Yeval, remains unreleased and is even mentioned within this one. Similar to the hero in that previous work, the central character here, Dharmadurai (played convincingly by Vijay Sethupathi), struggles with alcoholism. We first encounter him at a local bar, where his clumsy behavior consistently embarrasses his brothers—each named after figures from the Mahabharata—who even consider harming him to stop him from causing further shame. Only his mother, Pandiyammal (Radikaa), defends him, and it’s clear there's an underlying reason for Dharmadurai’s reliance on alcohol. However, the director delays revealing this backstory, instead choosing to depict Dharma's college years. We are introduced to his group of friends, including Stella (Srushti Dange) and Subhashini (Tamannaah, who deserves recognition for dubbing her own lines), both of whom have feelings for him—one openly, the other silently. Their professor, Dr. Kamaraj (Rajesh), also appears, consistently encouraging them to view their profession as a service and work in rural communities. Eventually, we discover the root cause of Dharma’s need for solace through alcohol. Anbuselvi (Aishwarya Rajesh) is introduced; she's a worker whom Dharma falls in love with, and it becomes apparent that despite his good intentions, their romance ends tragically due to the greed and outdated beliefs of his brothers. Dharmadurai presents a compelling central conflict—how someone with honorable motives can become a burden because of those around them—but Seenuramasamy’s resolution feels incomplete. The director takes an extended period to advance the plot, utilizing a subplot involving a bag of money that Dharmadurai mistakenly takes when he leaves home, which causes problems for his family. While this creates initial tension, it's soon overshadowed by the campus scenes, which feel contrived. A sense of redemption is achieved relatively early in the second half, leaving little else to invest in afterward. The director then extends the film with a less engaging storyline focused on Dharma and Subha, revisiting the money issue through developments that don’t seem natural. Despite these shortcomings, Dharmadurai does have genuinely moving moments, and performances from actors like Aishwarya Rajesh (again cast as a woman of modest means), Radikaa (assured), MS Bhaskar (restrained), and Rajesh (exceptional) elevate the writing in many scenes. The constant emphasis on selflessness can become repetitive, but given today's cynical climate, it does leave you with a sense of warmth. There are several instances—particularly the segment involving Anbuselvi—that showcase what this director is capable of, yet these artificial subplots detract from the film and prevent it from becoming the emotionally powerful experience that it could have been.

Source on TMDB