Review Overview
Performances
Story & Narration
Technical Aspects and Music
Worthy attempt in the forest genre.
Kadamban is a valid reason why Arya should do more action films, for it nicely balances out the essentials of an engaging entertainer. A time-pass outing if not anything else.
Cast: Arya, Catherine Tresa, Deepraj Rana, Super Subbarayan, Madhuvanti Arun & others
Cinematography: SR Sathish Kumar
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Editing: Dev
Art Direction: AR Mohan
Stunts: Dhilip Subbarayan
Written & Directed by: Ragava
Produced by: Super Good Films & The Show People
Release Date: 14-04-2017
Run Time: 02:18:00
Just as he was getting weary on the tightrope between being a chocolate boy or a baddie, Arya seems to have finally found his mojo in his latest release Kadamban. The film is a valid reason why he should do more action films, for it nicely balances out the essentials of an engaging commercial entertainer.
Set in a forest region known as Kadamba, the film focusses on deforestation and land grabbing by the white collars in order to bring up milestone industries at the homeland of Arya and his dears. The conventional narrative structure of the film is basically a trial and error method adopted by the bad guys in order to overthrow the local people and occupy the land. In between all the tension come the human values, dramatic emotional sequences and an underwhelming love track between the lead pair.
Forgetting the hiccups, what makes Kadamban worth a watch is a handful of unseen reveals brought to the fore by Ragava, acting as the high points of the film. Whenever one feels that the film is slowing down, there is something to widen your eye. The lives of the people residing in the forests has been authentically captured to an extent, and the techniques and their living is what may be the pull factor for your attention. At the end of the day, credit has to be given to the team for pulling off the climax sequence as promised during their promo campaign. It is the only portion of the film where everything works in tandem, with Yuvan too saving his best for last after his middling work throughout.
Though better casting would have largely helped the film, Kadamban’s big positive lies in its visual offerings, giving you terrific sceneries shot at real locations. The editing should have been a touch crisper, for there are jumps at places which obstruct the flow.
Despite all odds, Kadamban is a worthy attempt in the forest genre by Ragava. It is Arya’s best film in recent times, ending up as a time-pass outing if not anything else.