Review: Kottukkaali
While credit must go to Vinoth Raj for managing to communicate the seriousness of his story without the help of a background score, the fact remains that this is a film that is largely dependent on the viewers’ interpretative abilities.
Film: Kottukkaali
Cast: Soori, Anna Ben
Writer & Director : PS Vinothraj
DOP: B. Sakthivel
Editor: Ganesh Siva
Rating: 2.5 stars
Director P S Vinoth Raj, whose Koozhangal was India’s official entry to the Oscars, looks to narrate another tale set in rural Tamil Nadu.
What is significant is that Kottukaali has quite a few factors that are strikingly similar to Koozhangal.
While Koozhangal was about the journey a man, accompanied by his son, undertakes to his wife’s place to bring her back, Kottukaali is about the journey a man, who, intent on marrying his niece much against her wishes, undertakes along with his family to a village priest to drive away the “spirit” possessing her.
Both films are about Vinoth’s favourite topic — patriarchy.
However, what sets Kottukaali apart from Koozhangal is the performances of its cast members.
Soori delivers an emphatic performance that stands out. His portrayal of a man, whose voice box has suffered badly because of constantly screaming, is just fantastic. His trembling hand while trying to smoke after having thrashed the girl, who is apparently in love with a boy of another community, speaks volumes of what the director wants to convey.
Anna Ben has nothing much to do. She has only one dialogue in the film and for the most part, pulls a long face. Occasionally, you get to see anger but that is only instantaneous.
The third important performance comes from a rooster that has its leg tied to a stone. It is evident that the director wants you to realise that the girl’s plight is the same as that of the rooster that constantly tries to free itself of its shackles. It manages to free itself once, only to be captured again.
While credit must go to Vinoth Raj for managing to communicate the seriousness of his story without the help of a background score, the fact remains that this is a film that is largely dependent on the viewers’ interpretative abilities. This is a film that is not entertaining and somewhere, as it progresses, you begin to get the feeling that this could have been made into a short film.
If you are of the type that enjoys films like Koozhangal, Kottukkali is bound to impress. However, if you are looking for a film to regale you or help you unwind or take your mind off pressuring situations/ events, Kottukkaali is bound to disappoint.
