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Kaduva Movie Review: Prithviraj Sukumaran & Shaji Kailas Bring Back The 'Naadan' Action In Style!
Kaduva, the highly anticipated Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer has finally released. The senior filmmaker Shaji Kailas made a massive comeback to the film industry after a long gap of over 8 years with Kaduva, which is a period action film set in the 1990s. Vivek Oberoi plays the lead antagonist in the Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer, which is bankrolled by Prithviraj Productions and Magic Frames.
What's Yay:
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Shaji Kailas' signature making style
Background Score
Action Choreography
What's Nay:
The not-so-new storyline
Plot
Kaduvakunnel Kuriyachan AKA Kurian Koruthu (Prithviraj Sukumaran) is a successful planter who leads a peaceful life with his wife Elsa (Samyuktha Menon) and three kids. He is a much-loved and respected personality in his locality. However, things take a different turn after Kuruvachan gets into a major clash with IG Joseph Chandy IPS (Vivek Oberoi), a senior police officer.
Script & Direction
Shaji Kailas, one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Malayalam cinema, makes a fantastic comeback with this entertaining action film. Scriptwriter Jinu Abraham has made Kaduva an engaging cinematic experience with his carefully-crafted script, despite having a not-so-new premise.
The biggest strength of Kaduva is the way it handles the face-off between two equally powerful men. The film worships its hero, but does not always portray him as the most flawless man. Instead, what we get is a tussle between two flawed and egoistic men who go beyond all limits to win. Both the protagonist and antagonist get well-defined character arcs, and the face-off between them is highly impactful. The well-placed action sequences are a treat to watch.
However, the film does falter when it comes to its supporting characters that remain monotonous. Also, it leaves many loose ends, and conveniently forgets certain plot points that had potential. The spark dulls in the second half and the film concludes with a predictable, convenient climax.
Performances
Prithviraj Sukumaran has done a brilliant job with the character Kaduvakunnel Kuriyachan. The multi-faceted talent once again proves that he is the perfect choice to pull off the larger-than-life characters and mass films from his generation, with his stellar performance.
Vivek Oberoi has portrayed the character IG Joseph Chandy IPS and his understated rage, to near perfection (A special mention to actor Vineeth, who dubbed for Oberoi). Samyuktha Menon, even though she has delivered a decent performance, seems miscast in her role.
The rest of the star cast, including Janardhanan, Baiju, Alencier Ley Lopez, Innocent, Seema, Kalabhavan Shahjohn, Rahul Madhav, Joy Mathew, Shivaji Guruvayoor, Arjun Ashokan, Priyanka, and others are good in their respective roles.
Technical Aspects
The cinematography by Abhinandan Ramanujam creates the perfect visual backdrop for the action thriller. The editing by Shameer Muhammed is decent.
The action choreography by the senior stunt choreographers Kanal Kannan and Mafia Sasi is top-notch. The art and costume departments have created the perfect setting for a film that is based in the Kerala of 1990s.
Music
Jakes Bejoy once again proves his caliber with the exceptional background score, that brings life to Kaduva. Among the songs, 'Paalvarnna Kuthiramel' leaves an impact.
Verdict
Kaduva is a complete treat for the audience who missed the 'Naadan' action films in Malayalam. Prithviraj Sukumaran's impeccable screen presence and Shaji Kailas' signature filmmaking style make this action thriller an enjoyable theatre experience.
