Kodi' movie review: Strong characterization and powerful cast makes it a winner
Mumbai: ‘Kodi’ marks national award winning actor Dhanush’s maiden attempt on a dual role in his career and he has been paired with Trisha for the first time. Durai Senthilkumar has chosen a political thriller for his partnership with Dhanush and though the storyline of a revenge drama is very routine, it is his commercial packaging with strong characterization and a powerful cast that shines through.
Kodi and Anbu (both played by Dhanush) are twins by birth. For Kodi, politics becomes part of his life even as his dad (Karunas) nurtures that in him. He is aggressive but is also a very straightforward person. Anbu is a docile person who works as a college professor. Kodi falls for the over ambitious Rudra (Trisha) who is also in politics from childhood from the opposite party. While Kodi is the youth wing secretary of his party and a prospective candidate, Rudra’s party selects her for an upcoming bye-election. Meanwhile, Anbu is in love with Malathi (Anupama Parameswaran), a smalltime egg vendor.
A stage comes when the power hungry Rudra feels that Kodi might spoil her prospects of winning in the forthcoming elections and murders him at the place where the duo usually meets. The rest is about how Anbu gets dragged into a political drama. He goes all out to find out his brother’s murderer.
Dhanush steals the show with his impeccable performance. Though he is not convincing as a professor (himself looks like a student), Dhanush’s amazing screen presence elevates the film by several notches. Trisha gets a bold and solid role, which is a rarity for heroines in Tamil cinema. The actress has utilized it well and comes out with a brilliant performance. Anupama Parameswaran as the bubbly girl fits her character. SA Chandrashekar, Maarimuthu, Saranya Ponvannan, Kaali Venkat and other supporting cast chip in with their best. While the first half moves at a slow pace, Durai makes it up in the post interval portions with a gripping screenplay. The twists and turns and the social messages carries this film over the finish line.
Santhosh Narayanan’s songs are good and his background score elevates the proceedings. Venkatesh’s cinematography goes well with the mood of the film. Overall, ‘Kodi’ with some fine performances, especially Dhanush’s, and neat screenplay is an engaging political drama.
