Jai, Harish Uthaman shine in Susienthiran’s return to form- Cinema express

Have you ever ever questioned what would a Drishyam/Papanasam be like if it was Jai as a substitute of Mohanlal or Kamal Haasan enjoying the lead? Undecided if there might be a extra random thought, however that is precisely what director Susienthiran develops in his newest directorial, Kuttram Kuttrame. There are a whole lot of beats in Kuttram Kuttrame which are much like the Jeethu Joseph directorial, however this movie is its very personal beast and fairly an fascinating one at that. 

Kuttram Kuttrame may be referred to as part 2 of the Susienthiran Cinematic Universe. After a slightly lacklustre few outings on the motion pictures, Susienthiran is again with a movie that could be very a lot set in the identical universe as his 2021 movie, Eeswaran. By the way, the protagonist can also be named Eeswaran, and the movie stars Bharathiraaja in a pivotal, albeit totally different position. The movie begins with three deaths that happen over 20 years however are related by the date. The Chekov’s Gun has glorious use within the third act and it’s spectacular how the writing organically will get to the purpose with out overtly harping on the coincidence.

Solid: Jai, Harish Uthaman, Bharathiraaja, Smruthi Venkat, Dhivya Duraisamy

Director: Susienthiran

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Whereas the movie does begin with three deaths, it’s the fourth that is available in quickly after that units the ball rolling on this taut 100-odd minute movie. Eeswaran’s spouse Kokila (Dhivya Duraisamy) is discovered lifeless one morning after overdosing on sleeping tablets. Jai’s sister, niece Priya (Smruthi Venkat), and Kokila’s dad and mom imagine it to be a case of suicide. Nonetheless, Kokila’s uncle, Naatraayan (Harish Uthaman), who’s the native police inspector, suspects a case of foul play and needs to research Eeswaran and household. When the investigation faces a collection of roadblocks, retired DSP Muthukaruppan (Bharathiraaja) known as in to resolve issues. 

Not like in a Drishyam, we’re stored at nighttime if Jai’s Eeswaran is definitely harmless. When requested by native bigwigs if he certainly was behind the demise of his spouse, a poker-faced Eeswaran says, “Naa unmaiya sonna, naalu peru baadhika paduvaanga, unmaiya marachaa oruthanga mattum dhaan baadhikka paduvaanga” (If I say the reality, 4 individuals shall be affected, but when I cover it, just one must be affected). It’s virtually like a play on the well-known Nayagan dialogue. With the innocence of Eeswaran settling itself in a slightly gray space, all of it hinges on Muthukaruppan’s investigation. Nonetheless, it isn’t the best of investigative processes as a result of all Muthukaruppan does is sit with a bunch of suspects and ask a number one query simply in time for the characters to go on a flashback. This lack of rigidity within the investigation is fortunately offset by how Susienthiran will get to the underside of what occurs. I additionally preferred how there’s a skinny layer of darkish comedy too that provides levity to the gloomy nature of the movie. 

With Ajesh’s music bolstering the narrative, Kuttram Kuttrame sticks to a slightly sedate tone all through that works very a lot in favour of the movie. This sombreness can also be seen within the visuals of Velraj. Contemplating how the movie unfolds throughout a funeral, there may be an invisible clock ticking within the background that gives an exquisite sense of hurriedness, which pervades the movie. It’s virtually just like the occasions on the display screen are unfolding in real-time regardless of the narrative shifting between timelines with uncanny ease. One other spectacular side of Kuttram Kuttrame is how the worldwide pandemic is used within the background. That is one thing that was seen in Susienthiran’s Eeswaran too. Not like the STR-starrer that had the pandemic as a significant plot level, this time round, contemplating how the world has virtually accepted the pandemic, Kuttram Kuttrame has mask-wearing individuals, with out focusing an excessive amount of on that side. Factors to Susienthiran for establishing the pandemic by means of his movies, and it’s one thing that’s not seen in lots of different mainstream movies launched up to now two years. 

With a number of tales being narrated one after the opposite, it’s as much as Jai and Harish Uthaman to carry the movie collectively, and each of them do a commendable job of it. Identical to how Kuttram Kuttrame might be pegged as an honest return to type for the filmmaker, it additionally does an identical service to Jai’s profession. As Eeswaran, he’s as steely because the position requires him to be, and likewise brings in an understated sense of sympathy to his efficiency. Harish Uthaman being the star of his present shouldn’t come as a shock anymore as his consistency has been admirable over time. We even have the age-old trope of two ladies preventing over a person, however there’s a twist there too that one way or the other manages to thrust a semblance of novelty into the template. Whereas Smruthi’s character arc permits us to be extra invested together with her, Dhivya is given a significantly uncooked deal however she does get an opportunity to redeem herself within the final act, and the actor does handle to do it. 

Regardless of being billed as a whodunit of kinds, Kuttram Kuttrame works extra as a household drama, however retaining its playing cards near its chest does make the Susienthiran directorial participating. It may not be an efficient investigative thriller nevertheless it did not actually need to be. It may not be a compelling household drama, however that’s okay. It may not be the extreme love triangle that the movie hints to be, however fortunately, it does really feel like the correct factor. It may not be the homicide thriller that one would possibly assume it’s, however it’s a homicide thriller that we didn’t actually assume it will be. Mainly, as Susienthiran neatly ties a number of threads into a phenomenal little bow to provide us a surprisingly efficient movie, which acts as a reminder that the largest kuttram that we will do is to put in writing off a filmmaker who gave us movies like Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu, Azhagarsaamiyin Kuthirai, Naan Mahaan Alla, Pandiyanaadu and Jeeva.