Kallattam movie review: An average affair
Kallattam is very touching and emotive in parts but that alone won't suffice to make up the plastic feel.
Mumbai: An inspector Tamilarasan (Nandha) is given the task of investigating a money trail that leads into a nexus of sorts. Mahendran (Richard) borrows money from an exploitative lender, the purpose of which was to pay for his baby daughter's (Rithvika) surgery. Tamilarasan’s investigations lead him to Ezhumalai (Ezhumalai) a person with whom he has some history. Suddenly, the case becomes a lot personal.
With such being the case, the rules of the game change completely. Ezhumalai tries to one-up Tamil by attempting to get him arrested. The wily cop in turn decides to not follow the law anymore. What happens next, whether things get resolved, and where each party ends up forms the remainder of Kallattam.
Directed by Ramesh Gandhi, Kallattam is very touching and emotive in parts. All three male characters have daughters towards whom they're very affectionate. The criminal nexus have a methodology to their madness that is very novel for a film of this kind. But the plot meanders along aimlessly and the characters are very disjointed. One is rarely given a chance to get into the film and live the scenes as and when they develop.
Nandha has given an admirable performance, but that alone won't suffice to make up the plastic feel of the personalities. Had the director concentrated on a consistent racy screenplay, the film would have been more engaging. Overall, Kallattam is average at best.