Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery

Just finished watching this on Netflix, and in summary I could say this is a must watch film.

The film premise may sound simple - solving a case of missing jackfruits, but it is actually a very cleverly and brilliantly written story which touches some of the most critical (and mostly ignored) topics of the Indian society. And it does that in a very simple yet strong and funny way.

The story is written and presented in a very beautiful way. The direction is superb. And the acting, by everyone, is outstanding.

Every moment of the film was enjoyable. If you like good satirical comedy, this would be really worth watching.

A commendable satire that not only bravely addresses all of the pertinent issues bedevilling our society, but also takes sly jabs at the authorities, politically affiliated parties, and, specifically, the police administration.

Despite being quite adamant and sincere in its core objective, the film never gives up its quirky demeanour. It kept the humour going until the story reached its conclusion. And trust me when I say that the final chapter of this tale is one heck of a laughter ride.

P. S. Sanya Malhotra is rapidly emerging as the performer with undeniable versatility and range; I just wish she would keep selecting scripts that would push her further and aid in her acting development. She is unquestionably one of the more promising names out there.

A really good social and political satire. It was also quite refreshing to see the traditional roles and power dynamics being reversed as well. Usually in an Indian crime movie it is usually a male protagonist in a position of power while the female characters just play second fiddle or at best a good sidekick; but Kathal reverses this whole power dynamic that is traditionally seen in a mainstream Indian movie.

It also provides a commentary on the caste dynamics that is still a major part of rural India.

Kathal is a silly comedy mystery but at the same time it does provide a biting social commentary.

"Kathal" is a satirical comedy that delicately delivers powerful messages, particularly targeting the patriarchal ecosystem and caste-divided Bharat. The story revolves around a lost jackfruit and the police's efforts to solve the crime, highlighting how influential politicians often mock the system. Sanya Malhotra portrays Mahima Basor, a delightful character who is passionate about her job, strong, independent, and tender-hearted, as seen in her romantic moments with a constable from an upper caste. Despite addressing numerous societal issues, the movie maintains a light-hearted tone, which contributes to its overall success. Bijaya Raj and his uncle's Hong breed kathal (jackfruit) serve as the focal point of the story. Rajpal Yadav shines in his role as a journalist, while the other performances are average.

Although the movie follows the template set by "Peepli Live," it fails to deliver the final punch and falls flat during the climax. Overall, the movie is enjoyable, except for the climax, which could have been more impactful.

Sanya Malhotra has never disappointed - since Dangal but this is finally the movie that does her talent justice. She almost caries the movie singularly on her shoulder - save the fact that the support cast is just as solid and the two veterans Vijay Raz and Rajpal Yadav just claim their stake of admiration.

Rajpal Yadav gives the performance of his lifetime. I have never been impressed by him this much. (That skullcap I could have done without).

Story, screenplay and dialogues have that Coen brother feel of blending absurd, whimsical and wit - with dark.

Last 15 minutes are disappoint anticlimax where too many loose ends get neatly tied in a hurry and almost give a feel of 1970s "parivarik" drama where everything suddenly gets tidied up for a happy ending. An imperfect end would have been a perfect for a story like this - where something was left without a closure.

Sanya - her performance alone is enough though to make me watch the movie again.