# Penguin (பென்குயின்) (film)
Released in 2020, **Penguin** (பெண்குயின்) marks the first film written and helmed by Eashvar Karthic, an Indian Tamil-language mystery thriller in which [Keerthy Suresh](https://www.edgepedia.org/keerthy-suresh) plays a pregnant woman tormented by nightmares over the unsolved abduction of her first child.[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) Kaarthekeyen Santhanam, Sudhan Sundaram, and Jayaram produced the film for Stone Bench Films and Passion Studios, with [Karthik Subbaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-subbaraj) supporting it; because theaters in India were shut during the COVID-19 lockdown, it premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 19 June 2020 instead of getting a cinema release.[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | Eashvar Karthic, in his directorial debut[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) |
| Lead cast | Keerthy Suresh (Rhythm), with Linga, Madhampatty Rangaraj, and Master Advaith[2](https://www.ragalahari.com/movies/info/95930/penguin-keerthy-suresh.aspx) |
| Release | 19 June 2020, direct-to-streaming on Amazon Prime Video, in Tamil and Telugu with a Malayalam dubbed version[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) • [3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/06/18/karthik-subbaraj-on-releasing-penguin-digitally-on-ott.html) |
| Runtime / certificate | 2 hours 12 minutes; CBFC certificate UA[2](https://www.ragalahari.com/movies/info/95930/penguin-keerthy-suresh.aspx) |
| Music and crew | Music by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography by Karthik Palani, editing by Anil Krish[2](https://www.ragalahari.com/movies/info/95930/penguin-keerthy-suresh.aspx) |
| Production schedule | Script written within 18 days; shooting completed within 36 days between September and November 2019 at Kodaikanal[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) |
| Reception | Mixed reviews; the Indian Express critic rated it 1.5 out of 5, the Times of India 2.5 out of 5[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/penguin-keerthy-suresh-release-live-updates-6465883/lite/) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/penguin/movieshow/71633196.cms) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and title
Rhythm, a pregnant woman about to have her second child from a second marriage, is traumatized by nightmares in which she sees a man with an umbrella harming her lost son Ajay from her first marriage, and she sets out on a dangerous journey, along with her trained dog, to solve the mystery of his disappearance.[6](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/penguin) • [7](https://www.jiotv.com/full-movie/penguin--tamil-/54ebf69bd9985659a8ce6da94ac01526) The film opens with a person dressed as [Charlie Chaplin](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-chaplin) slaying a child with an axe while whistling "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"; [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) noted that the director sustains the suspense through the runtime.[8](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/penguin/penguin-review.html)
The title refers to the short story of how a penguin goes to any extent to save the life of its offspring.[8](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/penguin/penguin-review.html) Director Eashvar Karthic said the core idea came from a simple thought: what if an ordinary homemaker faced an extraordinary situation, and the name fell in place as the story grew.[9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/jun/18/what-if-there-were-a-hitler-in-chaplin-asks-penguin-director-eashvar-karthic-2157902.html) Producer Karthik Subbaraj described the premise as attractive: a mother, who is also pregnant, pushing herself to find her missing child.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/karthik-subbaraj-penguin-keerthy-suresh-6463203/)
## Production
The project was announced in August 2019.[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) Karthic finished the screenplay in 18 days, and filming, done at [Kodaikanal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kodaikanal), wrapped in 36 days over September to November 2019.[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) Karthic came to cinema from outside the industry: he quit a banking career in 2013, worked in theater to develop his writing, took small acting roles in films including *Magalir Mattum* and *V1*, and was introduced by his friend Linga, who acts in Penguin, to [Vijay Sethupathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-sethupathi), who directed him to Stone Bench Films.[9](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/jun/18/what-if-there-were-a-hitler-in-chaplin-asks-penguin-director-eashvar-karthic-2157902.html)
Karthik Subbaraj, known for directing *Pizza* and *Petta*, produced the film through his Stone Bench banner to promote new directors, and said the entire film rests on Keerthy Suresh's performance and character.[3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/06/18/karthik-subbaraj-on-releasing-penguin-digitally-on-ott.html) Suresh, a National Film Award winner, said she had been looking for a strong women-centric [Tamil script](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-script) after *Mahanati* and called Penguin one of the most interesting projects she had worked on.[11](https://press.aboutamazon.com/in/2020/6/amazon-prime-video-unveils-trailer-for-keerthy-sureshs-upcoming-psychological-thriller-penguin) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/penguin-keerthy-suresh-release-live-updates-6465883/lite/)
## Release
Penguin premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 19 June 2020, made simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu with a Malayalam dubbed version, and was available to Prime members in India and more than 200 countries and territories.[3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/06/18/karthik-subbaraj-on-releasing-penguin-digitally-on-ott.html) • [11](https://press.aboutamazon.com/in/2020/6/amazon-prime-video-unveils-trailer-for-keerthy-sureshs-upcoming-psychological-thriller-penguin) Amazon announced it as the third of seven Indian films in five languages to premiere directly on the service.[11](https://press.aboutamazon.com/in/2020/6/amazon-prime-video-unveils-trailer-for-keerthy-sureshs-upcoming-psychological-thriller-penguin) It was the second mainstream Tamil feature film to take the direct OTT route, after Jyotika's *[Ponmagal Vandhal](https://www.edgepedia.org/ponmagal-vandhal)* premiered on the same platform the previous month.[12](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/karthik-subbaraj-on-theatre-vs-ott-battle-technological-growth-is-inevitable-we-have-to-adapt-1689885-2020-06-17)
The trailer was unveiled on 11 June 2020 by actors Dhanush, Nani, and Mohanlal on their Twitter accounts.[13](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/penguin-trailer-launch-keerthy-suresh-6453677/) Subbaraj said the team did not regret the digital release, though he noted the difficulty of gauging audience reactions without a theatrical screening, and said a later theatrical release was unlikely because the film was an [Amazon Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-prime) exclusive.[3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/06/18/karthik-subbaraj-on-releasing-penguin-digitally-on-ott.html) The Central Board of Film Certification cleared the Tamil video version, 132.24 minutes long, with a UA certificate on 21 July 2020.[14](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/RTI2.pdf)
## Reception
Reviews were mixed, with critics praising Keerthy Suresh's performance and the cinematography while criticizing the inconsistent writing.[1](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV) Manoj Kumar R of the Indian Express rated it 1.5 stars out of 5, writing that the grisly sequences did not add up to much against a weak plot, though he credited Suresh for trying to make the best of the material.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/penguin-keerthy-suresh-release-live-updates-6465883/lite/) In a follow-up piece he called the film ambitious but flawed, saying Karthic knew his stuff as a director but had room to improve as a writer.[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/opinion-entertainment/keerthy-suresh-penguin-is-ambitious-but-flawed-6467096/) The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/penguin/movieshow/71633196.cms) Behindwoods called it a compelling enough thriller with minute novelties in screenplay and filmmaking, and noted a climactic twist in the Karthik Subbaraj style.[8](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/penguin/penguin-review.html) Gulf News found that the film falters midway with an unconvincing plot and loose ends that are never addressed.[16](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/penguin-review-thriller-disappoints-despite-keerthy-sureshs-performance-1.72183814) The Print recommended watching it for Suresh and the beautifully shot scenes of horror.[17](https://theprint.in/feature/penguin-review-watch-it-for-keerthy-suresh-and-beautifully-shot-scenes-of-horror/444671/)
## References
1. [Penguin, Google Play Movies description](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Penguin?hl=en_US&id=8A4F9304148DBD9FMV)
2. [Penguin (2020) cast and crew, Ragalahari](https://www.ragalahari.com/movies/info/95930/penguin-keerthy-suresh.aspx)
3. [We don't regret releasing 'Penguin' digitally: Karthik Subbaraj, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/06/18/karthik-subbaraj-on-releasing-penguin-digitally-on-ott.html)
4. [Penguin release highlights: Keerthy Suresh gets rave reviews, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/penguin-keerthy-suresh-release-live-updates-6465883/lite/)
5. [Penguin Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/penguin/movieshow/71633196.cms)
6. [Penguin streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/penguin)
7. [Penguin (Tamil), JioTV](https://www.jiotv.com/full-movie/penguin--tamil-/54ebf69bd9985659a8ce6da94ac01526)
8. [Penguin (aka) Penguinn review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/penguin/penguin-review.html)
9. [What if there were a Hitler in Chaplin, asks 'Penguin' director Eashvar Karthic, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/jun/18/what-if-there-were-a-hitler-in-chaplin-asks-penguin-director-eashvar-karthic-2157902.html)
10. [Karthik Subbaraj: The premise of Penguin is attractive, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/karthik-subbaraj-penguin-keerthy-suresh-6463203/)
11. [Amazon Prime Video unveils trailer for Keerthy Suresh's upcoming psychological thriller, Penguin, Amazon Press Center](https://press.aboutamazon.com/in/2020/6/amazon-prime-video-unveils-trailer-for-keerthy-sureshs-upcoming-psychological-thriller-penguin)
12. [Karthik Subbaraj on theatre vs OTT battle, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/regional-cinema/story/karthik-subbaraj-on-theatre-vs-ott-battle-technological-growth-is-inevitable-we-have-to-adapt-1689885-2020-06-17)
13. [Penguin trailer launch: The trailer of Keerthy Suresh-starrer is out, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/penguin-trailer-launch-keerthy-suresh-6453677/)
14. [CBFC certified films list (RTI document)](https://www.cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/RTI2.pdf)
15. [Keerthy Suresh-starrer Penguin is ambitious but flawed, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/opinion-entertainment/keerthy-suresh-penguin-is-ambitious-but-flawed-6467096/)
16. ['Penguin' review: Thriller disappoints despite Keerthy Suresh's performance, Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/penguin-review-thriller-disappoints-despite-keerthy-sureshs-performance-1.72183814)
17. [Penguin review: Watch it for Keerthy Suresh and beautifully shot scenes of horror, The Print](https://theprint.in/feature/penguin-review-watch-it-for-keerthy-suresh-and-beautifully-shot-scenes-of-horror/444671/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films of the 2020s › Tamil films of 2020 and 2021*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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