Kathakali

My review: Kathakali

Pandiraj's tryst with action thriller, "Kathakali" promises much with its mood and making but falls short with its lackluster pace and paucity of thrills. A good script on paper would have been a pacy, hair-raising thriller in the hands of a better director who is adept in making movies of such genres. Pandiraj who is used to be making mild, slower family oriented feel good movies kinda directed this script also in the same manner. As a result the kind of impact the movie ought to have made with the viewers remains unfulfilled. 

Since most of the story takes place within 24 hours time frame, I would have liked a little more meat in the proceedings rather than presenting us with the same happenings again and again giving you a feeling of being exasperated. Also there is nothing much in the name of twists and turns in the plot that keeps you glued to the screen. The stretch with Iman Annachi is a case in point which just drags the screenplay without much to offer to the plot. And they could have very well done away with the thread involving Catherine Theresa and focused more on the cerebral manner in which the protagonist tries to get away from the muddle he is trapped in.

Vishal has done very well in his understated performance after similar one gained accolades for him in "Pandiyanadu". The manner in which he has allowed his character to get bullied and ragged by female lead augurs well for him. Catherine Theresa's characterization is straight out of the files of homes that look after intellectually challenged. Karunas' is another irritating character along with his wife's which is more of a cartoonish caricature than anything else.  Others in the  supporting cast have performed adequately.

Hiphop Thamizha's background score is a torture to your hearing sensibilities while the two songs that the movie has are all good. Movie is technically sound and rich. Major part of its credit should go to the movie's cinematographer Balasubramaniam. 

On the whole, "Kathakali" is an average thriller that promises a lost but some how fails to deliver.

Bottomline: Mundane making.

2.5/5