Kallappadam Movie Review

Cast: J Vadivel, Lakshmi Priyaa, Gaugin, K, Naren and others

Cinematography: Sreerama Santhosh

Editing: Gaugin

Music: K

PRO: Suresh Chandra

Written & Directed by: J Vadivel

Produced by: Anand Ponniraivan

Banner: Iraivan Films

Release Date: 20-03-2015

Run Time: 02:13:00

Director Vadivel’s Kallappadam is a truthful and sincere debut effort but the film has its fair share of flaws, mainly with the performances of leads who fail to capitalize and leave a mark in the most significant moments on screen considering the fact that the writing has been consistently good right from the start with an effective mix of elements like comedy and emotions before it eventually turns as a thriller that’s worth its salt.

The film revolves around four aspiring youngsters who want to make a film. They have their respective duties cut out – Gaugin plays editor, Vadivel plays director, K plays music composer and Santhosh plays cinematographer. Interestingly, they form the film’s (Kallappadam) technical crew – it’s even said that this is the first time four main technicians are donning a film’s lead roles themselves. Vadivel has woven a lot of realistic elements into the screenplay in a blithesome manner like – a young woman who wants only a cinema actor as her groom but not an ‘editor’ who according to her is nothing but a tailor who cuts the film roll, an artistic producer who is abandoned on the sideways due to the apathy of audiences who failed to recognize the good films he made and left him bankrupted.

Vadivel’s father commits suicide due to the extinction of Koothu in his village, an art form he’s a master at. Vadivel wishes to pay a tribute to Koothu in his first film and narrates his script to few high-handed producers but his efforts go in vain since no one shows interest in his subject which they find non-profitable at the box-office.

In between the first few minutes of the film which showcases the ordeal of four friends to make their dream film and the last few minutes where they actually make their film, Vadivel sandwiches a passable thriller in the form of  a thrilling heist which is somewhat irrelevant to the main plot, but it does keep you on your toes despite the major chunk it takes in the total run-time. There is also a parallel story of an erstwhile successful actress who is down the drain now. How their paths meet and Vadivel, with his bunch of friends, make their film forms the story.

The huge let-down of the film is the performances. While Aadukalam Naren and Lakshmi Priya deliver convincing performances, the four main leads, more often than not, come across as amateurs and their acts don’t strike a chord. This is a grave dampener in an otherwise good content-rich film. K’s background score offers a lovely plethora of scores for diverse situations in the film. Vadivel’s subtlety in carrying forward a sensitive message which could be easily taken for ‘preaching’ is appreciable.

Kallappadam Movie Review Rating:  2.75/5