Kuppathu Raja Movie Review
Kuppathu Raja firmly establishes what matters most in the script – and to Rocket, its protagonist. It’s the “area”, the locality they live in… and in this case, it’s the noisy environs of North Madras.
Rocket does what Vikram did in last year’s Sketch – he seizes vehicles from people who cannot pay back their dues. Everybody in the area borrows from, who else, but a ‘Seth’, who is as cliched as they come. Rocket works for him on the very few occasions when he’s not out drinking, joking around with friends, or indulging in needless brawls in the name of showing off.
Rocket makes a living by seizing vehicles from people, who cannot pay back the local moneylender (a similar premise was explored by Vikram in Sketch). Just before the interval, there is an unexpected killing, which becomes a turning point in Rocket’s life. And post-interval, he teams up with his sworn enemy and goes on a vengeful spree.
The other major distraction in Rocket’s life is his girlfriend Kamala (Palak Lalwani), a fiery person who has a love-hate relationship with him. Then there is newcomer Mary (Poonam Bajwa), who likes him as a friend. The portrayal of women characters in such films is sexist and therefore, objectionable. Bajwa is referred to as “Biscothu aunty” and whenever she appears in the frame, the camera zooms in on her navel more than her expressions. 10-year-old kids demand money from the hero and later, the heroine for giving them salacious details on what’s happening in the neighbourhood. All the love portions in the film are crass.
If you are looking for something positive in the film, it is Mahesh Muthusamy’s camera and recreation of North Madras with sets that look authentic, including the narrow streets. Praveen KL’s cuts give a pacey feel to the 126-minute film. The songs and fights are spread across the film and at times, appear out of nowhere. GV Prakash, after his brilliant performance in Sarvam Thala Mayam, is wasted in Kuppathu Raja. Yogi Babu does his regular walk in the role of a comedian, but the jokes fall flat. Parthipan and MS Bhaskar do what is expected of them.