Production: 2D Entertainment Cast: Bhanupriya, Karthi, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sathyaraj, Sayyeshaa Saigal, Soori Direction: Pandiraj Screenplay: Pandiraj Story: Pandiraj Music: D Imman Background score: D Imman Cinematography: R Velraj
Director Pandiraj of Pasanga fame had announced earlier that his film Kadai Kutty Singam, starring Karthi in the lead, would be ‘the’ film on farmers. He also claimed that after this movie, the perception of farmers amongst people would surely change.
However, if the director hoped to change anybody’s perceptions with a few punchlines on why farmers and farming are important, it comes across as a feeble attempt.
For starters, it appears as if the director has binge-watched all Tamil soaps ever made, which has definitely paid off in the film’s second half. It has all the ingredients of a soap opera – drama, emotion-packed dialogues and plenty of crying.
The film revolves around Gunasingam, a proud farmer, who is hailed as a revolutionary farmer. Pandiraj’s attempt at making the audience connect to the happenings proves to be successful in the latter half of the film, with the narrative finding a smooth path as it progresses. The director also demonstrates his experience in bringing out the life of the character, not just through the writing but also by extracting lively performances from the actors. Even though there are over 10-15 people playing central characters, each of their approach to take charge of the situation at hand is impressive.
Speaking of which, Karthi fits the bill and portrays his role with conviction and subtlety, while Sayyeshaa is endearing throughout. Priya Bhavani gets a meaty role and aces it, while Sathyaraj, Arthana, Viji Chandrasekar, and Banupriya have their moments. Soori’s one-liners are admirable, though helter-skelter. His combination with Karthi is something to watch out for. Mostly, it is the situation that plays the antagonist, as the villain doesn’t make a major impact, though having his share of adding nuisance to the story-line. On the flipside, as most of the sequences are dialogue and conflict-driven, a section of the audience might feel that it is too dramatic. Which beyond a point, hurts the engagement factor.
I cannot believe that one could have made a movie in today’s time and age where women – much like Victorian England (where marriage was the be-all and end-all) and post-war Europe (with its depleted male population) – are so desperate for men’s attention. And Singam’s two nieces are dying to grab his eyeballs and affections in a community where it is perfectly legitimate for a man to marry his aunt’s daughter.
But Singam has his heart set on an outsider, Kannukiniyal (Sayyeshaa), who despite pomp and luxury, prefers to travel to college by public transport – a practice which later becomes an excuse to meet her man. However, Singam’s love for her is vehemently opposed by his two aunts, each dreaming of getting him for her daughter. Obviously, his huge inheritance appears to be at the bottom of the older women’s desperation to hook their younger brother.
Tamil cinema is not new to family dramas and rural stories; but what Kadai Kutty Singam lacks is a balance. By packing all these elements together, Pandiraj seems to have given the audience an entertainer that might attract family audiences who will reminisce about the good old days of big family gatherings.
Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film’s producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
