Kaathal - The Core

The true strength of 'Kaathal' lies in its subtlety and its sincerest portrayal of the LGBTQ community.

The narrative not only highlights the challenges and the struggles faced by individuals associated with this group, but also sheds light on the difficulties faced by their friends and families due to societal and judicial reluctance.

More Importantly, the story does not get vindictive or vilify any specific group or their people or their beliefs. Instead, it tries to offer a compassionate & empathetic perspective on society and the ordinary people who inhabit it.

The story comprehends the various viewpoints without endorsing segregation, nor does it promote coercive cohabitation but it rather advocates for harmonious coexistence through equal rights and understanding.

P. S. Mammootty's remarkable range and diverse script choices, especially at the age of 72 (yes, you heard it right, 72), are truly remarkable!

I knew the theme of the movie from the beginning, and I felt that that is impacting the experience for me.

Jeo Baby probably casted Jyothika and Mammootty, and gave a romantic "Kaathal" title to set a different expectation, and then bring the viewer into the theme as the watching unfolds. That could have added another dimension I feel.

Mammootty has done exceptional acting. Holding all emotions in for most of the time, and breaking up subtly with excellent acting performances.

Jeo Baby has definitely grown a lot with this movie. "The Great Indian Kitchen" had felt like a twelth standard guidebook with explanatory text, an asterisk with a footnote, and some diagrams to drill in the stance. "Kaathal" is beautifully subtle.

Crisp and distilled movie. Very nicely done. There is a short cinematic romantic scene, complete with rain and closeups. Beautiful honest shot that captures the love.

A controversial topic to work with, the movie has reined it in really well. No crass, no overbearing remarks. The director has made a very watchable movie for such a subject. A very mature take.

When I think about the best films on a controversial subject in the past decade, whether it's feminism, AI, urbanization, natural disasters, global warming or a pandemic, the standout film is from Kerala, and now this extends to closet life. It must have been hard for Jeo Baby to finalize a follow-up to the much celebrated "Great Indian Kitchen", but to tackle this issue and get a star like Mammootty involved is without precedent. The result is a film that could never be produced in Bollywood because it would be seen as too much of a commercial risk. Imagine SRK's reaction had he been offered this script.

The story unfolds in a much simpler way than "Kitchen" and it's probably less enjoyable the more you know, because then you're just waiting for the key moments. Jeo Baby has a fantastic talent for visual storytelling, you experience the development the characters go through, particularly Mammootty who might have done his best work here in spite of such a long and illustrious career. Jyothika is a bit too reserved apart from the end, but it is a difficult role.

The two weaknesses of the film are a) the absence of the daughter's opinion which is quite surprising. That's a really important part of the story, I don't understand why this has been omitted. And b) there is no explanation of the crux of the matter, which is just superficially brushed upon, but maybe you have to be queer (like myself) to notice this. Stop reading if you don't want to know too much, continue if you are straight and confused about this bit in the story: if you are gay and identify with the active male role, it is not only common to be pressured into marriage by your relatives, since there's "nothing wrong" with you. You also keep telling yourself that you're nothing like "them" because you talk and behave "normally". There should have been a dialogue about that between the two united friends at the end, we've all been there.

It isn't fair to call this an intense drama about relationships, sexuality, or even politics for that matter. Kaathal is a drama indeed, though its "dramatic" quotient is severely underplayed and kept subtle until the final moments where it all culminates in a stretch of heart-breaking scenes. I like how a mainstream actor who holds major box-office potential like Mammookka chose to play the character of Mathew Devassy. It not only opens the doors to several conversations and discussions but also gives the subject all the attention it deserves.

As a director, I feel Jeo Baby has put his cast to sensational use, and that goes out to every little supporting character as well. I also realized how much I missed seeing Jyothika on screen. The use of rain in the pre-interval stretch beautifully symbolizes the melancholy in the household at that particular point. How rain turns into a rainbow at the end is a neat directorial touch. Mathews Pulickan's music and background score aren't used to amplify emotions in every scene, but reserved for those segments that absolutely require them.

While the courtroom drama in the second half brings plenty of backstory into light, the writers also use this section to ask pertinent questions to the audiences. It even addresses the Decriminalization of Section 377, integrating it as a law point within the story. The best thing about it all is that it treats every character (and their interpersonal relationships) with dignity, even in the toughest of situations. That's, you know, wonderful to see! There's still the (very real) question of Mathew's voting community being equally progressive and accepting (of him), though in this particular film, I like to believe that's the case.

P. S. - Many production houses in the Malayalam industry can learn a thing or two from Mammootty Kampany (and its owner).

If you are a fan of fast-paced masala movies, Kaathal might appear to be a slow drama. However, the emotionally-packed performances devoid of unnecessary drama will keep you hooked till the very end. Don't go by reviews and unfair criticism. Movies like this deserve to be watched in the theatre. I had high expectation from Jeo Baby and as usual, he beats expectations. Rather than waiting for its OTT release, please go and watch movies like these in theatres. Mammotty and Jyotika are brilliant as ever. Sudhi Kozhikode who plays Thankan may not have a lot of dialogues but does full justice to his part through his impecccable ability to emote pain and love. Give Kaathal a chance, watch it without preconceived notions about the genre. Leave your prejudices aside and you'll thoroughly enjoy the movie. Those 120 minutes of your day will be well spent.