Tamil (U/A) ****
Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Sanchita Shetty, Simhaa, Ashok Selvan
Director: Nalan Kumarasamy
Every once in a while cinema audiences are provided a pleasant surprise. Like a bolt out of the blue in the form of Soodhu Kavvum. Reinforcing discerning movie-goers’ belief in clean cinema is Nalan Kumarasamy. One must deservingly give him all kudos for being a braveheart in treading the less trodden trail. Kumarasamy and his enterprising Kavvum speak of how a scintillating screenplay and sensible narrative can work wonders.
Be it performances by the principal players, iced with captivating cinematography, or sparkling dialogues... every ensemble that went into making the movie has fallen beautifully in place to make Soodhu Kavvum a black, cheeky thriller.
Stylishly shot, at the pivot of Kavvum is a kidnap that goes awry. Das, a doddering 40-plus man, ekes out a living by kidnapping! He has a cohort in lassie Shallu who appears in his dreams, besides being his conscience keeper. With three other freeloaders — Kesavan, Sekar and Pagalavan — Das kidnaps a minister’s son, which is quite contrary to his credo as the gang always targets middle-class citizens. Thereon, it’s a mad run with the incompetent kidnappers goofing up.
The film brims with funny, outrageous twists, and the climax is simply a scream.
It is a cakewalk for Vijay Sethupathy while Sanchita Shetty as his girlfriend is smashingly up to it. A great one-time watch.