Before they became the poster boys of new-generation Tamil cinema, Nalan Kumarasamy and Vijay Sethupathi began their journey with short films. Their experience in the format is evident in ‘Kutty Story’, a four-part anthology.
The final short, directed by Nalan and starring Sethupathi, takes the top spot while Gautam Menon’s film comes a close second. The other two shorts from A L Vijay and Venkat Prabhu leave us asking for more.
Nalan uses dark humour to great effect to showcase a marriage rocked by infidelity and mid-life crisis. Aditi Balan, who was ferocious in ‘Aruvi’ (2016), delivers a subtle yet arresting performance, reminding us of her abundant talent. Sethupathi pulls off the humour act in his typical effortless manner. Unlike many shorts which struggle to provide a closure, Nalan’s film lands a knockout punch.
Gautam Menon directs and stars in a classy short on platonic love. The premise of ‘a boy and girl can never be friends’ is age-old but his writing adds freshness.
Portraying the imperfections of a relationship, Gautam is close to reality. Catchy dialogues and a lovely Amala Paul make the narrative engaging. The only negative is Robo Shankar’s misfiring comedy.
A L Vijay disappoints with his highly convenient take on premarital pregnancy. The film has bizarre conceits.
A controlled Megha Akash proves to be a consolation. Venkat Prabhu shows love through the gaming world but fails to fully execute his unique idea. The director of ‘600028’ has moved away from his favourite genre — comedy — but he might be better off sticking to it.