Highlights:
- Kalyani Priyadarshan stars in Tamil film Genie, performing belly dance in the song Abdi Abdi.
- Fans praise her versatility, noting her shift from a superhero in Malayalam film Lokah to a commercial dance number.
- Kalyani describes the song as challenging and integral to Genie’s story.
- The film features music by AR Rahman and choreography by Ganesh Acharya.
Transition from superhero to commercial dance
After her superhero role in the Malayalam film Lokah, Kalyani Priyadarshan takes on a commercial musical number in the Tamil film Genie. The song Abdi Abdi features Kalyani and co-star Krithi Shetty in red outfits performing belly dancing alongside Ravi Mohan.
Kalyani shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the song was a new challenge:
“As an actor, I always try to push and challenge myself to do things I’ve never done before. This song was one of those moments.”
She also highlighted how the number contributes to the story:
“When our director Bhuvanesh told me about it, I was amazed at how nicely he made such a commercial musical piece into a real and important part of Genie’s story. I worked super hard and tried something new, and I really hope you all like it.”
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Fan reactions
Fans were impressed by Kalyani’s performance, praising her range and versatility. Many highlighted her ability to transition from a superhero role in Lokah to a glamorous dance number in Genie, with one fan commenting, “Get a girl who can do both.” Others added, “#KalyaniPriyadarshan owning 2025 in every possible way,” while some wrote, “New age of Mayya mayya. Krithi as always nailed it but Kalyani came out of syllabus!!”
Several fans also compared her to veteran actresses, noting her willingness to explore different genres. One wrote, “#Lokah -> #Genie. Though Genie was filmed even before Lokah, what a changeover from KalyaniPriyadarshan. The Superhero Women -> Glam Heroine role.” Another said, “No offence, but #KalyaniPriyadarshan truly deserves praise for her willingness to try new things and explore her range as an actor.”
Not all reactions were positive; some viewers felt she appeared out of place in Genie compared to Lokah. One fan commented, “Wotha f*ck, what the hell is #ARRahman doing here. #Kalyani looks so misfit, like I can't see this after Lokah. Sundar C vibes are strong with #Genie movie.” Another wrote, “They tried to show her glamour in Genie but she was way more hot in Lokah!”
Film details
Genie is directed by Bhuvanesh Arjunan and produced by Ishari K Ganesh under Vels Film International Ltd. The cast includes Ravi Mohan, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Krithi Shetty, Devayani, and Wamiqa Gabbi. Music is composed by AR Rahman, and the song Abdi Abdi is choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.
