Raja Karuppasamy is a Tamil filmmaker who made his feature directorial debut with Modha Rathri, a rural comedy-drama that arrived in theatres on August 21, 2026. But Raja’s journey to the big screen is not simply the story of a first-time director. Before entering filmmaking, he worked in the press and media field and spent years pursuing his ambition of making films.

What makes his debut particularly interesting is that Raja did not limit himself to writing and directing the film. He also appeared in the film as Nithish, the character who has a connection with Muthuselvi’s past.

Since its theatrical release, Modha Rathri has also received public appreciation from prominent names in Tamil cinema, including Silambarasan TR, Dhanush and Kamal Haasan. The film began streaming on Netflix on September 18, 2026, giving Raja’s debut a new audience beyond its theatrical run.

Who Is Raja Karuppasamy?

A Tamil director, writer and actor best known for Modha Rathri. The film marks his feature directorial debut, with Raja credited as its writer and director.

Before moving into filmmaking, Raja worked in the press and media field. His experience there became part of the journey that eventually led him towards cinema.

The movie also shows another side of Raja’s involvement with the project. Along with writing and directing the film, he stepped in front of the camera to play Nithish, the ex-love interest connected to the film’s central conflict.

Raja Karuppasamy’s Journey From Media to Cinema

Raja’s journey into filmmaking took years rather than happening overnight.

His background in the press and media world gave him experience of observing people, personalities and everyday situations. Those observations eventually became part of his filmmaking journey.

In interviews, Raja has spoken about the difficulties involved in getting his first feature made and the responsibility he felt after Mythri Movie Makers decided to back his story.

He has also spoken about the importance of casting. For Raja, finding actors who genuinely fit their characters was an important part of creating the film. That approach is particularly visible in the movie, where the story depends heavily on the personalities of its central characters and the people surrounding them.

What Is Modha Rathri About?

At the centre of the movie are Maruthanayagam, also known as “Maruthu”, played by Rishikanth, and Muthuselvi, played by Anishma Anilkumar. Their marriage is arranged under circumstances that are far from straightforward.

Maruthanayagam / “Maruthu” enters the marriage carrying his own emotional baggage, while Muthuselvi has a love story of her own that complicates the situation.

The wedding eventually takes place, but the real chaos begins on their first night.

Secrets begin to surface, relationships become complicated and the characters find themselves caught in a situation that neither of them expected.

The film uses this unusual wedding-night premise to combine comedy, drama, romance and mystery, with much of the story unfolding around the central couple and the people connected to them.

Raja Karuppasamy as Nithish in Modha Rathri

One detail that makes Raja’s involvement in Modha Rathri even more interesting is his appearance as Nithish.

Nithish is the ex-love interest connected to Muthuselvi’s story. Raja therefore wasn’t only responsible for creating the film’s story and directing the actors; he also portrayed one of its characters himself.

For a first-time feature director, taking on an acting role at the same time adds another layer to his involvement with the film.

It also means that Raja experienced Modha Rathri from both sides of the camera, as the filmmaker shaping the story and as an actor participating in it.

The Cast of Modha Rathri

The film features a mix of young performers and experienced supporting actors.
The principal cast includes:

• Rishikanth as Maruthanayagam / “Maruthu”
• Anishma Anilkumar as Muthuselvi
• Raja Karuppasamy as Nithish
• Bagavathi Perumal
• Chetan
• Abdool Lee
• A. Venkatesh
• Shelly Kishore
• Sangeetha Balan
• Banupriya
• Sumithra Devi
• Varshini Karmegham
• Karthikeyan
• Velan
• Kowshik Kabilan

The film’s ensemble nature is important because much of its humour and drama comes from the interactions between the characters rather than just the lead pair.

The Technical Team Behind Modha Rathri

Raja Karuppasamy handled the writing and direction of the film.
The technical team includes:

• Writer & Director: Raja Karuppasamy
• Producers: Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar
• Music: Bharath Sankar
• Cinematography: Surendran Paranjothi
• Editing: Ashok Arjunan
• Production Design: A. Balumahendra
• Costumes: Poornima Ramaswamy
• Lyrics: Yugabharathi

The film was produced under the Mythri Movie Makers banner, with T-Series associated with its music and presentation.

Silambarasan TR Praises Modha Rathri

Raja’s debut received attention from established names in Tamil cinema soon after its theatrical release.

Silambarasan TR publicly appreciated Modha Rathri and its team. Raja later spoke about receiving a call from Silambarasan, during which they discussed the film and its technical aspects.

For Raja, the interaction was particularly meaningful because Silambarasan did not merely offer a general compliment; according to Raja’s account, they discussed specific elements of the filmmaking process as well.

Dhanush Also Praises Modha Rathri

On September 8, 2026, Dhanush took to X to praise Modha Rathri, calling it a “heartwarming” film and applauding the work of its first-time team. He also urged audiences to watch the movie with their families in theatres.

Dhanush specifically mentioned Raja Karuppasamy, Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in his post.

For a debut filmmaker and a team containing several first-timers, the public appreciation added another notable moment to the film’s post-release journey.

Raja Karuppasamy and Kamal Haasan

Another significant chapter in Raja Karuppasamy’s journey came through Kamal Haasan.

Raja has spoken about Kamal Haasan’s cinema as an important influence on his own relationship with filmmaking. Raja shared his thoughts following his interaction with the veteran actor. For Raja, meeting someone whose films had played an important role in his understanding of cinema became an emotional moment.

His comments also highlighted how strongly cinema had influenced his own journey from aspiring filmmaker to someone finally directing a feature film.

Modha Rathri Theatrical Release Date

Modha Rathri was released in theatres on August 21, 2026.

The film arrived as a Tamil comedy-drama with Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in the lead roles and Raja Karuppasamy making his feature directorial debut.

Modha Rathri OTT Release Date and Platform

After its theatrical run, Modha Rathri made its way to streaming.

The film premiered on Netflix on September 18, 2026. Netflix India South confirmed the streaming release, with the film available in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

This OTT release has given viewers who missed the theatrical run an opportunity to discover Raja Karuppasamy’s debut from home.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Raja Karuppasamy

Who is Raja Karuppasamy?
Raja Karuppasamy is a Tamil filmmaker, writer and actor who made his feature directorial debut with Modha Rathri in 2026.

What is Raja Karuppasamy’s debut movie?
Raja Karuppasamy made his feature directorial debut with Modha Rathri, which was released in theatres on August 21, 2026.

Did Raja Karuppasamy act in Modha Rathri?
Yes. In addition to writing and directing the film, Raja Karuppasamy plays Nithish, the ex-love interest connected to Muthuselvi’s story.

What is the runtime of Modha Rathri?
Modha Rathri has a runtime of 2h 24m.

Who stars in Modha Rathri?
Modha Rathri stars Rishikanth, Anishma Anilkumar, A.Venkatesh.

Raja Karuppasamy’s journey is an interesting example of a filmmaker finally getting his feature-film opportunity after years of pursuing cinema.

With Modha Rathri, he took on multiple responsibilities — writer, director and actor — while introducing audiences to a story built around marriage, relationships, secrets and the unexpected chaos of one night.

The film’s theatrical release on August 21 was followed by public appreciation from Silambarasan TR and Dhanush, while Raja’s interaction with Kamal Haasan added another memorable chapter to his early career.

Now that Modha Rathri is streaming on Netflix, Raja’s debut is reaching an even wider audience.

Have you watched Modha Rathri on Netflix yet? What did you think of Raja Karuppasamy’s debut? Let us know in the comments below!