Kidaari movie review: Interesting film with violence, gore and contrivances

CAST: Sasikumar, Nikhila, Vela Ramamoorthy, Suja Varunee, Mu Ramasamy

DIRECTION: Prasath Murugesan

 

A murder attempt in a village seemed to have left no apparent trail. Kombaiya Pandian (Vela Ramamoorthy)– a big shot from Sattur in Virudhunagar, was brutally stabbed and nobody knows who had committed the crime. And thus begins Kidaari, a revenge and betrayal story that cycles through a number of possible culprits through a very systematic, chapter-wise method.

Pandian of course has had numerous enemies in his lifetime. Each one had good reasons to get rid of him. Pulikuthi Pandian (OAK Sundar) is a businessman who was bankrupted by Pandian’s unethical tactics. It’s very well plausible that he could have committed the crime. Bombay Selvam has more personal reasons to commit the deed: his father was murdered by Pandian himself. Meanwhile, Loganayagi (Suja Varunee) and Gandhimathi Nathan loses their little son, the fault of which can directly be attributed to none other than Pandian himself. And if this isn’t messed up enough, Pandian’s own son, Udayanambi has been harboring murderous grudges for years.

Director Prasath Murugesan goes about chronicling each one of these suspects in a very systematic way. For a large part, the recounting of each tale becomes the film itself: where they started, how it all began, and how it could have lead to blood. Pandian’s godson, Kidaari (Sasikumar), is the only person who seems to be firm in his actions. One by one he dismantles his godfather’s enemies and remains loyal to the end.

The choice of actors for these roles have been excellent, and this indeed translates to the believability of their past. Other aspects such as the music by Darbuka Siva and cinematography by Kathir have been toned down to suit the mood of the hour. They’re dark and a bit morose at times.  Instead of Kidaari, the movie could have been aptly titled Aruval (sickle).

Sasikumar repeats his Subramaniyapuram act and the movie has plenty of Sasikumar-ism. Vela Ramamoorthy simply excels. Napoleon is back after a gap in an extended cameo. Nikhila is just about adequate.  One wish a performer like Suja could have been given more screen space. Veteran KN Kaalai who was given a meaty role steals the show with his comic act.

Though most of the scenes are contrived, Kidaari still is an interesting film that uses a narrator to drive the viewer and the scenes. All the parts of it add up really well in the first half, only to dwindle down and become predictable towards the end. Also, too many subplots and innumerous characters walking in an out add to confusion. Some suspense aside, surprise is definitely not a strong element here. Morbidity sets in with too much of violence, blood and gore.