Kaththi Movie Review

Cast: Ilaya Thalapathy Vijay, Samantha, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Sathish and others

Cinematography: George C Williams

Music: Anirudh

Editing: Sreekar Prasad

Art Direction: Lalgudi N Ilayaraja 

Stunts: Anal Arasu

PRO: Riaz Ahmed & Diamond Babu

Written & Directed by: AR Murugadoss

Production: Lyca (Gnanam in TN) & Ayngaran 

Release Date: 22-10-2014

Run Time: 02:46:00

As of yesterday morning, uncertainty gloomed over the release of Kaththi in Tamil Nadu. But, today, we witnessed the film earlier than everyone else, except few parts in the world. After the tumultuous last few days, Kaththi hits over 450 screens in Tamil Nadu alone with the compromise between the protesters that the logo of Lyca will not be present in the film’s digital prints and publicity materials. And yes, the production house has kept the word. They have replaced Lyca Productions with ‘Gnanam Presents’, Lyca’s erstwhile name. Gnanam Foundation was founded by Subaskaran Allirajah in 2010 and it was under this name they bankrolled Cheran – Sneha starrer Pirivom Santhippom. 

Kaththi makes a profound impact to tell the public a burning issue largely under-discussed in the national media! ARM and Vijay’s second in a row and to give you the hint, you just need to forget Thuppakki from your mind to see what Kaththi has really offered in the cracker day. The expectations being sky high and as a maker, to subside hunger for the fans is always a bigger task and ARM has just made it easy and versatile.

Kaththi makes two characters to speak out loud; Kathiresan and Jeevanandham are two sides of the sharp knife and is handled with no cuts by the director through his explicable screenplay. The first half seems a bit lazy and slow paced but it starts well past 45 minutes into the runtime. Kathiresan escapes prison and makes him listed in the wanted chart following hands with pal Sathish and plans out an escape to Bangkok. Meantime he happens to meet Ankitha(Samantha) and falls for her at the first sight and takes it smooth and impressive for a romantic track. Samantha has travelled through the film supporting him which will be a bit relief for the female roles who is in search of a space to justify and exhibit their roles. Sathish has been impressive and getting the experience to handle single comedy tracks and has farely won the audience with his timing dialogues.

Vijay has certainly changed his way and has come out perfectly let it Jeevanandham the silent revolutionist who has shown a different feel to the character and made it stronger and stronger with his restrained dialogues. One Powerful statement can be a proof “namma pasiku mela sapdura oru idly kuda nammalodathu kedaiyathu” well executed punch-line about communism. Kathiresan has taken time to showcase of what he is capable and the first half he gives his leisure time to enjoy the comedy, romance and ends the fun with the interval block with a message to Neil Nitin Mukesh I am Waiting.

The second half is the real timer and every clock striking one, there are flavors of entertainment and thrill. Kathiresan bursts out his anger for the social cause understanding the pain of what a farmer suffers in the interiors of the state. Kathiresan takes one step higher to make the people in the city to understand what pain it takes for a person who firmly believes in agriculture in his life. Kathiresan studies the complete history of the exploitation by the corporate to the villagers and how he overcomes the mighty corporate with his aged brigade is the scene by scene thriller throughout the second half. The replacement of Jeevanandham by Kathiresan is not a risk taken and all it took was violence with brilliance to overcome the bad ending to tell the public what is good. Some real astonishing show from the old age brigade formed by kathiresan and certainly creams out real applause from the audience. Neil Nitin Mukesk comes in as the corporate business man and walks it smartly with his rough character and fits in the cup. What a con Kathiresan offers to the farmers and how he justifies the replacement he made for jeevanandham who is well built as a social activist is Kaththi in short.

AR Murugadoss’s subtle references to various scams in the country shows his guts. He manages to provoke the emotions in the common man with his searing dialogues. His digs at 2G scam, capitalism, airline scam reveal the ugly contradiction and the surreal world we live in. Murugadoss has once proved his mettle with his razor-sharp, thought-provoking dialogues.

Briefing the technical aspects cinematographer George C Williams has been impressive and his good flow continues with ARM team. Anirudh has rocked it again with some new flavors for Vijay mentioning “Selfie Pulla” has already given enough credits from fans. Perhaps the song placement seemed quick and hasty which loses pace.

Kaththi Movie Review Rating: 3.5/5