Review of ‘Kala’ 2021: A Psychological Thriller by Rohith V. S.

Introduction

The film is not out yet, so I don’t know if I can fetch out a futuristic review for this Indian film. I’ll surely post a review after I watch the film when it is released on OTT.

Plot Summary

‘Kala’ is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language psychological thriller directed by Rohith V. S. and written by Yadhu Pushpakaran and Rohith V. S. It stars Tovino Thomas and Sumesh Moors in the lead roles, with Lal Paul and Divya Pillai in supporting roles. Chaman Chakko is the editor of the film while Akhil George handles the cinematography. Dawn Vincent composes the background score and audiography.

Synopsis

The plot revolves around Shaji, a headstrong yet undereducated individual with a jenni attitude of superiority. He engages in various businesses, all of which end in failure, leading to a simple life and his family owning agrarian fields. His father, Raveendran, looks down on him. Shaji plans to steal some pepper stored in his father’s house, in an attempt to cover one of his debts, involving people from his father’s workforce. One of the victims is a person whom Shaji had killed before by poisoning his Cane Corso dog. Shaji does not care about the revenge and tries to handle the situation, but it escalates into a violent and bloody confrontation, revealing an animalistic side in both individuals. At the end, the attacker, by successfully convincing Shaji, takes his beloved Rawani dog as his own. The film challenges viewers to reflect on the concepts of good and evil.

Views from Top Critics

Vagueness is the hallmark of this Tovino Thomas-starrer all through which leaves too much to our imagination. Right from the exact reasons for the fear and mental pressure that Shaji’s wife talks about to Shaji’s past and the reasons for his peculiar nature are painted in broad strokes, leaving too much to our imagination. - Sr Praveen in Hindu Kala has the texture of an old-school Hollywood western as well as a spaghetti western. It’s a revenge drama that later transforms into a home invasion thriller. - Sajin Shrijith

Personal Review

Story and Direction

I must say that the review is a mixed bag. The idea is good, with themes of animal cruelty, caste and class divide, and various complexes of human nature making the film intriguing at times and watchable as a whole. However, there are two things that I did not like:

Long periods of extreme violence: The extremity of the violence portrayed, while sometimes novel in its rawness and masculine show, is often too much to endure. It reminded me of Antony and Kuttachan in the LJP movie Jallikkattu. 'The success of the film ultimately is its stylisation of the moral tale which doesn’t feel empty the way it did with Jallikkattu', Prathyush Parsuraman in First Post. However, I think this reviewer has lost the philosophical punch in Jallikkattu. Vagueness in interpretation: The film might be portraying animal cruelty, class conflict, or a masculine show of revenge and home invasion. Tovino’s dog, portrayed by Sumesh Moor, is back by Sumesh Moors character, but he did not kill. Is there any hidden meaning here? The film is a little too vague.

Performances

The lead actors, Tovino Thomas and Sumesh Moors, delivered excellent performances. Tovino’s portrayal of the 'clumsy-yet-stylish' personality was well-received. Moors, on the other hand, was exceptionally bold and masculine as he went to any length to achieve his revenge. His teeth, fully opened, reminded one of animal energy. Lal and Divya Pillai also acted well in their roles as Shaji’s father and wife.

Camera, Sound, and Editing

The camera work is excellent, as are the landscape and other visuals, catching the eye of the viewer. The editing is also nice with the help of the incisive sound design. The film flows with a lot of raw energy.

Personal Verdict

Overall, I give 4/5 for this movie. It is watchable, with a lot of raw energy and philosophical depth.