Anyone expecting an encore from the Vijay &
Murugadoss combination following the success of Thupaaki is sure to be
disappointed with Kaththi.
Muragadoss earned his street cred in the Tamil film
Industry through movies like Ramana & Ghajini that were lauded for their
“intelligence”. After a disastrous 7am Arivu, Murugadoss recaptured his mojo in
Thupaaki with his brilliant rendition of the “sleeper cell” network. However,
that brilliance seems to have deserted him in Kaththi.
At the heart of Kaththi is one man’s fight against the
exploitation by a Corporate Cola Giant in a village in Tamil Nadu. Vijay essays
the role of Jeevanandam, an Msc Hydrology graduate hailing from the same
village, who takes up the fight with the Corporate Giant. And he also plays a
second role, that of Kathiresan, a convict held in Kolkata prison. Jeeva and
Kathir swap places through an accident, and the rest of the movie revolves
around how each of them overcomes their respective challenge & brings the
corporate giant down.
Satish, Samantha & Neil Nitin Mukesh play sidekick,
heroine & villain in completely forgettable & unnecessary roles.
Same goes for Anirudh’s music. The songs sound familiar
and give you the feeling that they are a remix of Anirudh’s previous
compositions. The selfie song stands out, if not for anything, for Vijay’s rendition.
There are a few sequences that are good. Choreography in
the Airport song is nice. The mass suicide scene is gripping, as is Vijay’s
discourse to the press & media on the social problem that is the center
piece of the movie.
My disappointment with Kaththi is twofold: Firstly, the
movie is visually unimpressive. There are no standout sequences that warrant
repeated viewing. To the contrary, the movie feels like a labored effort that
is drab throughout. Secondly, the social commentary is incomplete. Neither is
the social problem addressed in detail, nor does the movie offer any kind of
solution, be it tenable, preposterous or otherwise.
As I leave the cinema
hall, I’m left with the feeling that the makers of this movie are taking the
viewing public for a ride by making a populist movie that exploits the plight
of our farmers without answering any of the serious questions raised.
Bottom line – One time watch
Overall Rating – 2.5/5
Disclaimer – Views expressed here are personal and do not carry any prejudice to anyone.
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