Kaantha Movie Review: A beautifully crafted period saga of ambition and betrayal.
Among star films released this year in Tamil cinema, Dulquer’s Kaantha will make a solid entry as the best movie! Here goes our Kaantha movie review.
Selvamani Selvaraj is a filmmaker to watch out for. With his latest release Kaantha, he has cemented his position as one of the most unique voices of Tamil cinema. After making an impact with his indie debut film Nila and the widely popular docu-drama The Hunt for Veerappan; Selvamani pushes the envelope further with Kaantha – a thriller set in the golden era of Tamil cinema and is based on the clash of two of the most powerful men of that time. It’s both a period drama and a whodunit thriller that manages to serve best of the both worlds to the audiences.
The film opens with a shootout. Neither the victim nor the shooter is revealed. Cut to the next scene, film producer Martin of Modern Studios is seen discussing with Ayya (Samuthirakani) – a veteran filmm…
What begins as a period drama and focuses entirely on the ego clash between two grown men, soon turns into an investigative thriller when the story moves to the second half. However, the film doesn’t play out like a typical thriller as it takes a lot of time to build suspense – brick by brick – only to blow you away with a totally unexpected ending. Hence, one needs to be patient with the film to truly enjoy the pay-off.
Overall, Kaantha will definitely go down as one of the best movies of the year in all of Indian cinema. It’s a rare film that dares to blend artistry with accessibility, rewarding viewers who appreciate layered storytelling and nuanced performances. Selvamani Selvaraj has not just crafted a visually stunning and emotionally rich experience but has also reaffirmed his place among the most inventive filmmakers of our time.
There’s always something intriguing and comforting about retro films. It transports you to a world which you have only heard of and hardly connect with. It puts your mind to work, nudging you to think about how the legends of the past pulled off classics with very little technological assistance. Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Kaantha’ opens its doors to a film set in the 1950s. Does it have enough punch to hold your attention throughout? Let’s find out!
‘Kaantha’ begins with a shootout, and we get visuals of a man drenched in rain with blood-stained footsteps. The story then focuses on Modern Studios owner and producer Martin’s (Ravindra Vijay) meeting with filmmaker Ayya (Samuthirakani) and planning to revive his dropped project, Saantha, due to clashes with the project’s hero, TK Mahadevan (Dulquer Salmaan).
Ayya and TK Mahadevan go a long way and so do their ego clashes. Mahadevan is his protege, and it was Ayya who gave him a new lease of life as an actor. Amid ego issues, Ayya finds his heroine in debutant Kumari (Bhagyashri Borse), with whom he placed a request to headline the film and complete it as Saantha, a film inspired by his mother, which is close to his heart. How will Ayya and TK Mahadevan’s clash affect Saantha, Kumari, and everyone else involved?
The power dynamics keep changing, and one of the crew members gets killed. Inspector Devaraj (Rana Daggubati) arrives at the scene to investigate the murder. All these and more are explored over the runtime of two hours and 45 minutes.
Director Selvamani Selvaraj has a monumental task of pulling off a complex concoction of genres. When ‘Kaantha’ gives us a view of the ego clashes between Ayya and his favourite disciple, TK Mahadevan, it keeps the story tense. You see the two grown-up men one-upping each other and proving their superiority with every given choice. It is through Bhagyashri’s Kumari that we slowly unravel the incidents that led to the fallout between mentor and mentee.
When Saantha is revived, the dynamics have drastically changed. TK Mahadevan is a superstar, while Ayya is a veteran filmmaker approaching the end of his career. The growing tension between the two and the urge to attack each other keep the movie going. When Kumari enters the picture, it softens the men, especially Mahadevan. ‘Kaantha’ presents the stories of these three people and how they have an untenable effect on each other and on us as well. Dulquer and Samuthirakani’s performance speaks for itself as they keep guessing as to who is right.
But when ‘Kaantha’ becomes an investigative thriller, it hardly has anything going for it. The second half, fronted by charming Rana Daggubati, is restricted by the lack of clues, which makes the investigation repetitive. It exposes the dark intentions of men who enjoy a following and a reputation among the audience. But, deep down, they are just two men consumed by ego, who face imminent repercussions.
Dulquer Salmaan, as TK Mahadevan, delivers what can only be described as a career-defining act, mastering both the superstar swagger and the vulnerable depths of his troubled character. Samuthirakani’s Ayya, as the idealistic but aging mentor, is a perfect foil, their on-screen confrontations charged with history and unspoken pain. Bhagyashri Borse, making her mark in Tamil cinema, becomes the emotional anchor, especially as the story shifts focus in the latter half. Rana Daggubati’s Inspector Devaraj, while somewhat restrained by the screenplay, still commands attention each moment he is on the screen.
‘Kaantha’ is a technically sound film with impeccable production design. The authentic period setting is beautifully realised, with cinematography (by Dani Sanchez-Lopez) transporting viewers to the 1950s Madras film industry. Music by Jhanu Chanthar and Jakes Bejoy is another highlight, seamlessly shifting between classical and modern tones to amplify the mood of each pivotal moment.
‘Kaantha’ starts strong, engaging viewers with its depiction of ego clashes, nostalgia, and the intricacies of old-school filmmaking. However, despite technical polish and strong performances, the film falters in its latter half, unable to sustain its initial intensity or deliver a satisfying resolution.
RATINGS : 4.5/5
PRO D’one
