- By Simran Srivastav
- Fri, 19 May 2023 04:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kathal Review: What happens when the police have to search for MLA's stolen jackfruits instead of focusing on other important cases? This is the plot of the satirical comedy film 'Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery'. Starring Sanya Malhotra, Vijay Raaz and Rajpal Yadav in the lead roles, the movie is streaming on Netflix.
The Story:
The prized and rare jackfruits owned by a local politician Munnalal Pateria (Vijay Raaz) in Madhya Pradesh get stolen from his garden. He asked the police to find his jackfruits and a young policewoman, Mahima Basor (Sanya Malhotra) and her team are assigned to the task. Amid trying to find the jackfruits, Mahima comes across some bigger problems.
Review:
What works for the film
'Kathal' has an easygoing narrative throughout the film and does not complicate the storyline. The movie has its fair share of some hilarious moments without making its characters caricatures. There is a perfect balance between the subtle humour and the emotions portrayed by the actors. It shows rural Madhya Pradesh perfectly with beautiful set designs featuring vibrant colours, streets, shops, etc. Even though 'Kathal' talks about many different social issues like dowry, caste system and patriarchy, the social message is not forced upon you in a preachy manner.
'Kathal' also does not give the stereotypical image of the police, who are either shown as ruthless, macho or very righteous. Here, the characters are empathic but have their own flaws, which makes them relatable to watch.
View this post on Instagram
What does not work
'Kathal' starts with the investigation of the stolen jackfruits but it has too much on its plate. The movie tries to show various social issues and their consequences in a subtle way but it does not leave any impact on you in the end. The discussions about misogyny, the patriarchal system, dowry and discrimination based on caste, among others, get lost amid its humour. Even though the movie is only 1 hour and 55 minutes long, it seems stretched in some parts and can take away your attention while watching.
Performances:
In 'Kathal', every actor gets their own moment to shine even in their short scenes. Sanya Malhotra stoles the show as Inspector Mahima and shines in both comedic and emotional scenes. She delivers her humourous dialogues in a subtle manner which makes her performance praise-worthy. Anant V Joshi as constables Saurabh Dwivedi and Sanya Malhotra's love interest gives a sincere performance and brings innocence and charm to his acting.
Neha Saraf and Govind Pandey get their moment to shine in their supporting roles. Whereas, Rajpal Yadav as journalist Anuj is hilarious to watch but does not bring anything new to the table. Even though Vijay Raaz as MLA is a treat to watch, he remains underutilized in the film.
Final Thoughts:
'Kathal' creates a perfect balance of subtle humour while talking about some sensitive issues. It does not have any laugh-out-loud moments but the movie is enjoyable and the performance by the star cast is definitely praise-worthy.
Directed by: Yashowardhan Mishra
Streaming On: Netflix
Star Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Anant V Joshi, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Neha Saraf and Govind Pandey
