Kaashmora Movie Review
Review Overview
Performances
Story & Narration
Technical Aspects and Music
Relentless efforts, middling results!
Kaashmora ends up as a borderline passable multi-genre offering that might pick your interest. The film has a little bit of everything, but what it could have done with is some more clarity. Nevertheless, the horror-comedy genre which is a crowd favorite now in TN is a given, and that should help to get the job done.
Cast: Karthi, Nayanthara, Sri Divya, Vivek & others
Cinematography: Om Prakash
Music: Santhosh Narayanan
Editing: Sabu Joseph
Art Direction: Rajeevan
Stunts: Anbariv
Written & Directed by: Gokul
Produced by: Dream Warrior Pictures
Distribution: Thenandal Films
Release Date: 28-10-2016
Run Time: 02:44:00
It takes great conviction to converge a number of genres into one. With a two-film old director like Gokul trying to mix up horror, comedy, thrills and period spectacles into the tag of an entertainer, the herculean task set before him is something that needs a lorry of Red Bulls. In his latest offering Kaashmora, the director sits as a cat on the wall, taking a safe route in a story which needed a composed head.
In Kaashmora, what’s the most appreciable, is Gokul’s core idea of blending the lines of a fake black magician with a historical segment which is best explained through the visuals. The thirty minute long episode towards the end is its lynchpin, packed with wondrous staging that is skilfully choreographed as well. But on the way to this much hyped chapter, the film has comic scenes interspersed with serious ones, both of which become an ephemeral ultimately. By the time one reaches the third act, it is easy to realize the ‘something missing’ feel which lingers throughout the movie.
When things are left hanging, the film needed a saviour to bring up the underdevelopments in its script. And to the rescue comes Karthi, who has seemingly walked a different path in terms of his body language and dialogue delivery. He is pretty comfortable as Kaashmora, while the second character Raaj Nayak comes off with terrific styling and costumes. There is also a third surprise suit, which is middling to say the least. On the other side, it is Nayanthara who is the highlight of Kaashmora. Sporting on grand costumes as the brave princess Ratnamahadevi, she oozes beauty all over the screen in a role only she can do. Vivek is present for comic relief and does bring about the occasional laugh, while Sridivya is just there to fill up a space. Some more depths into the characters of Kaashmora would have really made that world more exciting than what it is today.
Technically, Kaashmora gets past the line. Om Prakash’s camera captures the dark locations with enough detailing, while the editing passes muster. Santosh Narayanan’s music doesn’t work out well this time, paving way to tunes which act as speed-breakers. When it comes to the VFX, sets and costumes, hats off to the team for pulling off the impossible with minimum compromises. The visual grandeur which Kaashmora offers accounts to more than half of the price you will be paying to watch the film.
Kaashmora ends up as a borderline passable multi-genre offering that might pick your interest. The film has a little bit of everything, but what it could have done with is some more clarity. Nevertheless, the horror-comedy genre which is a crowd favorite now in TN is a given, and that should help to get the job done. Let’s wait and see.
Kaashmora Movie Review Rating: 2.75/5